Epcot in 10 years

[MCsMommy]

My husband and I both felt the same way about Epcot (the golf ball part, not the World Showcase). It was like a bad 1980s time machine. It's showing age so badly. We both wondered in 10 years if it will even exist, I can't imagine paying a park ticket to get into "the prototype of the future" when it looks as dated as Tomorrowland minus the kitch of the 1930s.

What to you think will happen to Epcot long term? I think WS has lasting potential, but I would never pay to go back to the front part.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

When was the last time you were at Epcot? Just curious if it was recently.

I love Epcot and enjoy 'futureworld'. We, as farmers and ranchers, especially like 'the Land'. We love Soarin' too. I love SpaceShip Earth and find it to be one of my favorite rides. The other attractions are okay to great but nothing screams outdated to me (well, maybe Imagination but I liked the original version anyway!) I always enjoy new rides but do like to see the good rides stay (Soarin would be one of those!)

 

[MCsMommy]

we went last Saturday, 1/29.

 

[imthatgirl]

What is outdated? The outside of the buildings? Well, they're just buildings, I can't see too many people really caring all that much.

As for the "whats to do at EPCOT", well since they keep adding things I don't see how it can be considered outdated. Sure some of the things in the innovations buildings aren't so original anymore, but you can say that about anything you do a week after it's been built. Disney is no different. The new ride Sum of all Thrills is quite a new spin on those design it yourself rollercoasters. As long as they keep adding things like that, how can it become stale?

 

[PoohsFan1]

I disagree. My family loves Future World just as much as World Showcase and will continue to love it just as much in 10 years. I do agree that there are some attractions that should have a major overhaul, but they have done a great job with the ones they do have. Plus they have changed it a bit with Mission Space, Soarin, and Test Track...plus they have refurbed the Living Seas and Spaceship Earth from when Epcot first opened. I would love to see them do something with the Wonders of Life Pavilion within the next 10 years...something they will use year round rather than just for special events.

 

[skater]

Its astounding how different we all really are . Epcot is my favorite park - I'm not sure I would go to WDW twice a year without Epcot. And I don't find it dated at all. I love everything about it including Soarin', Test Trek, Sunshine Seasons food court, the music, and yes, that big ball including what's inside it. But to each his own .

 

[lugnut33]

My husband and I both felt the same way about Epcot (the golf ball part, not the World Showcase). It was like a bad 1980s time machine. It's showing age so badly. We both wondered in 10 years if it will even exist, I can't imagine paying a park ticket to get into "the prototype of the future" when it looks as dated as Tomorrowland minus the kitch of the 1930s.

What to you think will happen to Epcot long term? I think WS has lasting potential, but I would never pay to go back to the front part.

Is it just the structures that you consider dated? Are the rides dated? What exactly do you consider dated within Future World?

Remember, the original idea was that Epcot would showcase technologies of the future brought to you by forward thinking companies. It was never meant to be a thrill park.

My favorite place in all 4 parks happens to be Future World. I love the way it was constructed with one side having the straight line futuristic shapes and the other side with curvy down to earth styling. The one building that just doesn't do it for me is the Imagination Pavillion, which houses an old dated ride.

If you look at Communicore East and West they are doing a great job currently of housing some very fun and advanced attractions. Have you spent much time in Communicore?

I do agree that some of the construction can become dated looking, afterall it is almost 30 years old!! And some of what we as a society view as futuristic has changed.

I do believe that there will be a concerted effort in the next five years to refurbish Epcot. However, with Cali. Adventure and the Fantasyland expansion taking up a bunch of the budget dont' expect to see much change at Epcot real soon.

Haha, I called it Communicore instead of Innoventions. I'm old.

 

[ChrisHartman]

Its kind of all or nothing, you don't pay separately for the "front" vs. the "back"

We went to Epcot for the first time last October and thought it was a fantastic park. It was one of our favorites, we went at least 3 times during our trip and will include it in our plans to return. Its actually the main reason we're returning so quickly, we both wanted to see more of Epcot.

I think Epcot will be there for a long time to come. I think most people would tell you its their favorite park behind to Magic Kingdom...I'd even venture a guess that some like it even better.

But, if you're going there only to see what the future is supposed to look like, I'll agree you won't get your expectations met.

Personally, I love "Future" World and World Showcase both. Granted its not actually the "future", but it is still a fantastic area of the park with lots to see and do. I think the original futuristic aspect has taken a back seat to the attractions that are there now. I'd recommend going again, but if you don't, its no skin off my nose. LOL

 

[willowsnn3]

Give it another try. First trip my dd & I both said we didn't care if we ever went to Epcot again. Second trip we went back supposedly just for Askerhaus Princess breakfast & Test Track. Found out there was just so much more than first impressions could give. I think we were just overwhelmed with all of WDW on the first trip that we didn't give Epcot the right perspective.

 

[Sorsha]

I love Epcot, I don't think I would continue to go back to WDW without Future World/Epcot. In fact, I wish they would leave it alone and STOP taking the classics out (Horizons, World of Motion), but I do understand why it had to be done.

I adore The Land and Ellen's Energy Adventure. Spaceship Earth is wonderful, and The Seas is awesome (once you get past that annoying little orange fish...)! I really do enjoy Test Track, and most of all I just love the atmosphere... I love the buildings and the fountains and the music, the flowers and the way the pathways light up and sparkle at night.

If it were up to me, I would completely revamp Innoventions, find something spectacular to replace Wonders of Life, and return Imagination to its former self - keeping Captain EO, which I love. And truely, I would dump Mission Space - but I know that will never happen, so I can live with it.

But still, I can spend 3 days in Epcot and never get bored... its my home away from home.

 

[Sassagoula Billy]

The day Disney touches the Contemporary is the day Future World gets the wrecking ball.

 

[crazedprincess]

Wow, how strange! I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "dated". We were there on the exact same day as you, last Saturday and we also went back on Tuesday. On Saturday we concentrated on the front part and on Tuesday we did the World Showcase. We all LOVE Epcot so much and it is only second to Magic Kingdom. And a very very close 2nd, I might say. My girls enjoyed Innoventions so much and we loved Soarin' and Test Track. We did everything except Ellen's ride and Captain EO. My youngest daughter LOVED Spaceship Earth so much we had to do it twice. They better not ever close Epcot!!!

 

[mjp12831]

I agree with op - the outward appearance of the park (the buildings and layout) do really look dated. They're particularly funny because you know it was supposed to look "futuristic" when it was built. Now it looks like a bad parody.

I disagree with op if referring to the contents of the park - theres a lot of unique interesting things in future world - it's a cross between a great science museum, a great children's museum and an amusement park. Nothing else like it anywhere.

 

[tinkkkloveee13]

my family loves epcot!!! we stay at BW or BC just for that reason!! We go to Epcot at least once a day!!!!

 

[txmomto1]

It's sort of silly looking for the "future" but I think that's part of it's charm. It's really my favorite park.

 

[Satchmo128]

I don't necessarily think that the Future World part of Epcot should be changed or eliminated, but it definitely isn't our favorite part of WDW. So many people LOVE Epcot, I think that any major changes would be met with MUCH opposition.

 

[lblume91]

On our first 2 trips to WDW (back in '99 & '01), Future World was boring, the place that we waited in for World Showcase to open. We were so pleasantly surprised when we went back in '06 at how much more stuff there was to do! I realize alot of it was there before but just didn't appeal to us. Adding Nemo & Soarin' were huge pluses for us.

I guess I've never noticed the exteriors of the buildings as being dated. They each have their own look & I appreciate them for what they are. Everyone is different in their likes & dislikes. For example, we love AK but constantly see other people slam it. To each their own...

 

[kmk1180]

Wow I couldn't disagree more about OP opinoin.
We loved Future World. Were there just last week with our 3yr and 5yr old.
SE is one of their favorite rides in all of WDW.
We were there at open and hit Soarin first then, The Land, Seas, Imagination, a couple meet and greets, taste tested at ICE Cool
(most memorably moment of our trip is our 5yr son trying Beverly.)

Didn't even step foot into WS till 1pm.
That's not even including Test Track, MS or UoE.
Add those it's late afternoon till we get to FW and it's easily a full day park.

Can't wait to go back in Oct for the F&W fest.

 

[disnut8]

I agree with op - the outward appearance of the park (the buildings and layout) do really look dated.

I don't even agree with the buildings looking dated. Mission:Space building looking dated? Really? The jumping fountains and the backwards water at Imagination dated? The rushing water aside of The Living Seas dated? The entire Spaceship Earth with it's revolutionary way of funneling off rain dated? Test Track with the outside track going over the waiting entrance dated? The fountain and its show dated? The ever changing exhibits inside Communicore, er, Innoventions dated? OK, I have to give you The Land because, well, it's land and you really can't change that too much - the layers representing the earth's crust on the outside of the building really can't change for about a million years.

No, I don't think Future World is dated. Maybe if you've been there often enough, you might be getting tired of seeing the same old buildings but they are not dated, in my opinion.

 

[yarlenna]

Another one for LOVING EPOCT Both my DH and I go to EPOCT more than all other parks combined. If EPOCT goes, we would not renew our passes. I think it is wonderful that there are choices and things for many people to enjoy.