Epcot Looks Run Down In Many Areas - Especially Bathrooms

[SweetSpot]

We are locals and spend a good deal of time in the parks. The decline of care has become so evident lately. While waiting in line a long time in America waiting for food I was able to look around and notice how run down and grungy it is starting to look. The bathrooms, specifically in America and United Kingdom are discusting. Not just dirty because of sloppy people, there was no grout in the tiles and what was there was covered in mildew. The toilet seats were covered in peeling paint, the stalls filthy, cracked and rusted. I've seen highway rest stops in much better condition. I thought I was the only one noticing until I was standing in line for the concert and several people started a conversation on the conditions of the bathrooms.

Yes ago, I remember joking that if you dropped something, someone would rush up with a broom and pan and make it disappear. Now prices are increased across the board yet service, quality and upkeep is on the decline. It's sad.

 

[lugnut33]

In before the "it's not Disney's fault" crowd comes in.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

We have loved Epcot over the years, but at this point most of the park feels very dated, so much so that for our family trip later this year we think that we may skip Epcot and one other Disney park and do Universal for a couple of days. Things have been permanently closed (boat ride in Norway) and in the process of long term renovation (Soarin') and other attractions such as Ellen's Energy Adventure, Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, etc. are in dire need of updatin. Also the movies back in the country pavilions (China, France) haven't been updates in decades. I could go on with other examples, but for us it is time for a rest!

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think you make a good point. Just like a home bathroom, at some point bathroom tiles and fixtures need to be replaced. There are a lot of bathrooms at the parks that could use an update.

 

[tlmadden73]

Pretty much sure if it wasn't for the festivals and people who somehow like to pay a pretty big cover charge to eat and drink around World Showcase, that Epcot would be a ghost town and feel like that old tiny, local amusement park you used to go to as a kid but hasn't been updated in the decades since you've gone.

That being said, no excuse for a bathroom in disrepair.

 

[Sparkly]

What is is with people and bathrooms?????????

 

[mshanson3121]

I'm planning on skipping Epcot next year when we go. My kids hated TT, they enjoyed a few parts of World Showcase, but honestly it was too hot and too much walking for them. They would enjoy the Frozen Ride and a few others, I'm sure, but I'm really not interested in spending a day's admission off our tickets for 3-4 attractions.

 

[pa. dad]

We have loved Epcot over the years, but at this point most of the park feels very dated, so much so that for our family trip later this year we think that we may skip Epcot and one other Disney park and do Universal for a couple of days. Things have been permanently closed (boat ride in Norway) and in the process of long term renovation (Soarin') and other attractions such as Ellen's Energy Adventure, Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, etc. are in dire need of updatin. Also the movies back in the country pavilions (China, France) haven't been updates in decades. I could go on with other examples, but for us it is time for a rest!

We love Epcot also but there are some things in need of replacement or refurbishments.
Ellen's Energy would top the list for me. They were still running the Circle of Life when I was there in Jan- not sure if that is now gone or not? If it's not, that would be another one in need of replacement. I'm glad Eo was replaced as I am not the Michael Jackson fan.
The other thing I see at Epcot is the unused buildings that used to house major things. The Wonders of Life building had 3 attractions and now it just sits vacant. The Odyssey building is awful big just to house a restroom.
There is more potential there that they just aren't taking advantage of.

 

[MainMom]

I agree that Epcot needs some major help in all areas. I'm hoping that after AK is completed they will announce something for Epcot including a new night show. Illuminations used to be my favorite, but I'm over it at this point.

 

[mom2rtk]

What is is with people and bathrooms?????????

How about "What is it with Disney and all their dirty bathrooms lately?"

 

[Disneylover99]

That's a shame about the washrooms in America. Aren't they just a few years old?

 

[ArwenMarie]

I'm planning on skipping Epcot next year when we go. My kids hated TT, they enjoyed a few parts of World Showcase, but honestly it was too hot and too much walking for them. They would enjoy the Frozen Ride and a few others, I'm sure, but I'm really not interested in spending a day's admission off our tickets for 3-4 attractions.

Epcot is skippable for us now. Since we go in the summer, WS is brutal during the day. This trip we might go over for a bit if we get a Frozen FP but if not that's fine too

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I agree that Epcot needs some major help in all areas. I'm hoping that after AK is completed they will announce something for Epcot including a new night show. Illuminations used to be my favorite, but I'm over it at this point.

That's rich. Wait until 2022 to start doing anything significant at Epcot. (nothing personal)

We could always all move to Shanghai and have access to a nice WDW again {sigh}.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I actually have a lot of nostalgia when I go to Epcot. Part of me loves that it looks just like it did when I first fell in love with it when I visited as a kid. Perhaps we should call it EPCO1985.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

But it's not Disney's fault. It's the people who mess it up...did I really say that.

 

[kaytieeldr]

In before the "it's not Disney's fault" crowd comes in.

It's not Disney's fault. I'd tell you whose fault it is, but that would bring in politics

 

[Sparkly]

How about "What is it with Disney and all their dirty bathrooms lately?"

Have you been to WDW lately? Were the bathrooms dirty to you? They were not to us in November. Now public loos here...that's another story.

But I don't tend to spend more time in the loo then is needed so maybe I just don't notice?

 

[SweetSpot]

What is is with people and bathrooms?????????

It wasn't just the bathroom, as I said it was also inside America's quick serve as well as most of the other world. (Japan did seem well kept in every way though) The bathroom was the one that really pushed the point as it was discusting. I'm not prissy and it doesn't have to be perfect but they are so run down and terrible. For the price of everything, not acceptable.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

EPCOT needs some help, but we just returned yesterday and didn't have a problem with any bathrooms in any park. YMMV

 

[RhodyChief]

We spent so little time in Epcot in January I think there we logged more minutes walking than actually time spent on attractions. We had park hoppers and didn't use any fastpasses for Epcot, just did single rider Test Track and Living with the Land after breakfast at Garden Grill (which was excellent and highly recommended.) It really feels like Disney is just letting the "attraction" of eating and drinking around the world carry the park until Frozen and Soarin are completed. For us, Epcot has become a distant 4th in how we rank the parks.