EPCOT Rumors

[Spacedog1975]

Increasing capacity or upgrading Soarin' both make sense.

Permanently shuttering Imagination makes no sense. It would further diminish Future World in an unsustainable way (IMHO). Further, the appearance of Dreamfinder at D23 suggests that a return to the original show is at least under consideration.

I hate to think Future World will have lost 3 significant pavilions without much effort to replace them.

 

[kim_o]

It would be a nice upgrade as well if Disney went to a digital format for Soarin so that they could change the scenes used in the ride. Imagine riding Soarin three times and seeing a different "show" each time. Having a rotation of ten or twelve shows would make it a fresher experience.

When I was on the undiscovered future world tour, out cm stated that this was the future plan. There will be 5-6 different experiences that cone up randomly (similar to star tours).

 

[cmusschoot]

Love the idea of a Soarin' with random movies tied to them...ala, Star Tours!!!

Also Like the idea of a princess area meet and greet...that being said, I have never had to wait long to see princesses in Epcot...you just have to time it right...
My girls are 6 and 3 - prefect princess ages, maybe in a few years this idea wouldn't be so appealing

 

[surferdave]

How to drain you Dragon 2

For some reason it makes me happy that my typo worked out so well! I'm just going to struggle to avoid calling the movie that out loud now.

I stand by my statement, this still looks better than the current Soarin screens.

 

[SoarinSC]

Love the rotating shows idea for Soarin...as long as it also means an upgrade in image quality. No more dark spots, please!

 

[briand1023]

So an improved Soarin' but a lost Imagination.....

 

[hedberg1661]

How to drain you Dragon 2

I did the same thing when I read that.

 

[lauran cameron]

So an improved Soarin' but a lost Imagination.....

I am really truly hoping with all my might that they are re-doing imagination yet again to include the original dynamic duo.

They had dream finder and figment at the last two D23 expo. I hope they're not just teasing us.

 

[pitterpint23]

The reason the queue is so long is that Soarin' is in an entirely separate building from The Land Pavilion.

I can confirm this. Worked there in 2010.

 

[pitterpint23]

Although they aren't open those closed pavilions are at least in use. Can't say for what, but they are.

 

[manning]

Now for the real story and I got this from three CM and verified by seven bus drivers.

To save money Epcot will be closed. To additionally save money, like River country, will not be torn down. The monorail will be turned into a money stream. It will be used as a paid tour called "this was Epcot". See, they where thinking ahead when they ran it through the park.

You can take it to the bank.

 

[doconeill]

One thing holding back updating Soarin' films/converting to digital is that it is basically an Omnimax (aka IMAX Dome) film. Special digital 4k laser projectors are just now becoming available to IMAX theaters. Now that they are out, they have the ability to project large enough and bright enough to be equivalent to the 70mm film format.

How easy this will be to adapt to an Omnimax-type projection (offset fisheye lens), including the fact that two projectors are actually used in tandem, remains to be seen.

IF they were to build a third theater, I'd expect it to be done with a conversion to digital, and not with the now 40 year old technology.

And if hey do this, and update the film, or even make it variable like they did with Star Tours, they are going to need more capacity.

It looks to me like they could add a third queue straight ahead from where they send you down to Concourse 1 or 2. There is space back there where they could tack on to the building.

 

[pitterpint23]

One thing holding back updating Soarin' films/converting to digital is that it is basically an Omnimax (aka IMAX Dome) film. Special digital 4k laser projectors are just now becoming available to IMAX theaters. Now that they are out, they have the ability to project large enough and bright enough to be equivalent to the 70mm film format.

How easy this will be to adapt to an Omnimax-type projection (offset fisheye lens), including the fact that two projectors are actually used in tandem, remains to be seen.

IF they were to build a third theater, I'd expect it to be done with a conversion to digital, and not with the now 40 year old technology.

And if hey do this, and update the film, or even make it variable like they did with Star Tours, they are going to need more capacity.

It looks to me like they could add a third queue straight ahead from where they send you down to Concourse 1 or 2. There is space back there where they could tack on to the building.

I worked soarin in 2010 and the imax room is pretty awesome. But I could totally see them going digi for the new building

 

[pitterpint23]

Now for the real story and I got this from three CM and verified by seven bus drivers.

To save money Epcot will be closed. To additionally save money, like River country, will not be torn down. The monorail will be turned into a money stream. It will be used as a paid tour called "this was Epcot". See, they where thinking ahead when they ran it through the park.

You can take it to the bank.

Rofl. You and I can be friends lmbo

 

[Miked0292]

Now for the real story and I got this from three CM and verified by seven bus drivers.

To save money Epcot will be closed. To additionally save money, like River country, will not be torn down. The monorail will be turned into a money stream. It will be used as a paid tour called "this was Epcot". See, they where thinking ahead when they ran it through the park.

You can take it to the bank.

Somehow this would not shock me

 

[xDisneyAngelx]

I would be surprised if they close Imagination and refurb it to like the original and then remodel the second floor. I mean look how many of us miss that. The ride now is boring and short. I mean if they can bring the original Enchanted Tiki Room back who says they can't bring back the original Imagination.

 

[beer dave]

I would be surprised if they close Imagination and refurb it to like the original and then remodel the second floor. I mean look how many of us miss that. The ride now is boring and short. I mean if they can bring the original Enchanted Tiki Room back who says they can't bring back the original Imagination.

One of the figment characters or the moon with Eric Idle on it would have to light on fire first.

 

[the who #3]

i am pleased that they are expanding soaring but not pleased about imaginations. does anyone know the date for closure? i feel a real need to see it at least one more time before closure.

 

[doconeill]

i am pleased that they are expanding soaring but not pleased about imaginations. does anyone know the date for closure? i feel a real need to see it at least one more time before closure.

Both are still just rumors as far as I currently know.

 

[OKW Lover]

i am pleased that they are expanding soaring but not pleased about imaginations. does anyone know the date for closure? i feel a real need to see it at least one more time before closure.

Since this whole thread is just about a rumor there is no way to know if, or how long, Imagination will be open. Its also not confirmed that Soarin is changing.