EPCOT'S 25TH Birthday

[Honeymooners1021]

Has anyone heard anything about Epcot's 25th birthday celebration in Oct '07. I know it is a little early but in Oct '07 I will be 25 too!!! Thinking about planning a trip especially if they are going to have a big celebration.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

The Epcot celebration is one of the things that's rumored to possibly be announced today. In fact, I was just logging on to see if anything had been posted yet.

 

[m_kasch]

Honeymooners1021 -- I am wondering the same thing!! I will also turn 25 next year, although not in Oct, and I thought it was cool to share the same birth-year with EPCOT!! Also, congratulations on your upcoming wedding -- I was married on Oct 22, and also went to Disney for my Honeymoon. Wear your wedding ears -- you get cool stuff!!

 

[Honeymooners1021]

Honeymooners1021 -- I am wondering the same thing!! I will also turn 25 next year, although not in Oct, and I thought it was cool to share the same birth-year with EPCOT!! Also, congratulations on your upcoming wedding -- I was married on Oct 22, and also went to Disney for my Honeymoon. Wear your wedding ears -- you get cool stuff!!

I would love to wear the hats but DF would rather die. He informed me that he is way to cool for the hat with the mouse ears! We will wear the honeymoon buttons! I was thinking that I might order an EPCOT shirt and have some catchy slogan on it especially since it is the year of a million dreams and I would LOVE to spend a night in Cindy's castle

 

[MJMcBride]

I'm not sure if they will make a big deal out of it. I don't think its "sexy" enough to build a marketing campaign around like The Million Dreams deal going on now.

 

[ChrisFL]

I'm not sure if they will make a big deal out of it. I don't think its "sexy" enough to build a marketing campaign around like The Million Dreams deal going on now.

Since Epcot now doesn't stand for what it did back when it opened as EPCOT Center I'd tend to agree...there's nearly nothing futuristic about it anymore and nothing new in the World Showcase since the 80's

 

[MJMcBride]

Since Epcot now doesn't stand for what it did back when it opened as EPCOT Center I'd tend to agree...there's nearly nothing futuristic about it anymore and nothing new in the World Showcase since the 80's

I agree that its not the same park. But I meant that people in general don't relate to it like MK or DL. Those "birthdays" mean something to the general populace as opposed to us diehards who celebrate the anniversary of the Wedway People Mover.

 

[mitros]

Since Epcot now doesn't stand for what it did back when it opened as EPCOT Center I'd tend to agree...there's nearly nothing futuristic about it anymore and nothing new in the World Showcase since the 80's

Yea Chris, that whole "nothing new in WS" thing for over 20 years now is really depressing. Hard to believe they can't get another country to ante up for a new pavilion. After 20 years yet! It would certainly bring a lot more traffic to WS. If it wasn't for the changes they made at some of the shows out there, and Iluminations, there would not be much of a reason for "repeat customers" at WS.
To the best of my knowledge, the only new thing out there is the movie in China. {I think it's new }

 

[Sarangel]

The movie in China is new(ish), Canada is rumored to be working on a new movie, and they are trying to woo another country for the World Showcase (I have it on excellent authority that Spain had signed a deal before it changed governments, and that only the new government's unwillingness to spend that much $$ on overseas advertising killed the deal).

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Yea Chris, that whole "nothing new in WS" thing for over 20 years now is really depressing. Hard to believe they can't get another country to ante up for a new pavilion. After 20 years yet! It would certainly bring a lot more traffic to WS. If it wasn't for the changes they made at some of the shows out there, and Iluminations, there would not be much of a reason for "repeat customers" at WS.
To the best of my knowledge, the only new thing out there is the movie in China. {I think it's new }

Yes, the CircleVision movie in China was updated a few years ago. The museum exhibits in Mexico, Japan, and China are updated every few years. The shows at the Americas Gardens outdoor theater are constantly changing. But, overall, World Showcase doesn't change much.

As far as getting "another country to ante up for a new pavilion," keep in mind the the World Showcase pavilions are not sponsored by national governments (with the exception of the Kingdom of Morocco) and never were.

Most pavilions have business sponsorships, often involving a company that has a major retail or dining presence in that pavilion, such as Mitsukoshi in Japan.

I've long wished that India, Brazil, Russia, Thailand and Greece would be added to Epcot. However, unless significant sponsorships are forthcoming, none of these are likely to happen.

 

[vonpluto]

FWIW, here are some rumors that popped up across the web last week:

Rehab of Imagination rumor is back
Three Cabelleros overlay for El Rio(again)

New sit down eatery in WS
Using WOL pavilion for special events
New film for France
No funding for a new WS parade
New Illuminations in the works

Also, some chatter about the new higher ups at WDW feeling that EPCOT's 25th IS special.

 

[Another Voice]

keep in mind the the World Showcase pavilions are not sponsored by national governments (with the exception of the Kingdom of Morocco) and never were.

Norway was another government sponsored pavilion up until about four years ago or so. They got fed-up with the poor maintenance, lack of results and poor support they received from Disney and stopped paying.

So far the grapevine isn't showing any events for Epcot's 25th anniversary. Considering Disney is in a middle of huge marketing campaign that doesn't even bother to make a difference between Disneyland and Walt Disney World ("Disney Parks - Where Dreams Come True"!) - I can't see Burbank putting any kind of money into a single park, especially one they deeply hate.

 

[ChrisFL]

I can't see Burbank putting any kind of money into a single park, especially one they deeply hate.

But they're possibly putting money into DCA which they hate

No, I dont expect them to put more money into Epcot either.

 

[MJMcBride]

The movie in China is new(ish), Canada is rumored to be working on a new movie, and they are trying to woo another country for the World Showcase (I have it on excellent authority that Spain had signed a deal before it changed governments, and that only the new government's unwillingness to spend that much $$ on overseas advertising killed the deal).

The rumor (yes according to Jim Hill) is that an Asian company is in negotation. Who knows. India would be nice.

 

[Disneybag]

Any idea what 35th means in relation to Epcot? They're on some kind of special button. I went to Food and Wine last night and the CM's at the booths were wearing them. Also, they have new name badges. City and state are back. However, the French flag was replaced by "français." They look larger too... I'm going to stop by Guest Relations and see if they have the 35th buttons...

 

[2Xited4Disney]

the 35th anniversary of WDW was Oct 1st

 

[Honeymooners1021]

****BUMP****

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The logo for the 3-day pin event next September is Mickey with Figment!

 

[King Triton]

I love Epcot BUT I sure do miss my three favorite rides.....1) 1st Imagination ride 2) World Of Motion and 3) Horizons. Disney should have kept those awesome rides. Epcot will never be the same. Those wonderful dark rides showed the true Disney magic. What a pitty they are gone forever.

 

[mitros]

FWIW, here are some rumors that popped up across the web last week:

Rehab of Imagination rumor is back
Three Cabelleros overlay for El Rio(again)

New sit down eatery in WS
Using WOL pavilion for special events
New film for France
No funding for a new WS parade
New Illuminations in the works

Also, some chatter about the new higher ups at WDW feeling that EPCOT's 25th IS special.

Yea, same old, same old..........