EPCOT's 25th Birthday

[KathyRN137]

Any news/rumors about how WDW will celebrate Epcot's 25th anniversary this October?

Kathy

 

[ChrisFL]

yes, officially they AREN'T

 

[adabob]

Now i had read that they were going to change illuminations and tweek it alittle and the bring back the parade and when it was done everything would be normal

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There are some changes going on at Epcot, primarily due to the sponsorship money that's coming in from Siemens. The major changes are the announced refresh of Spaceship Earth, the already open update of the Spaceship Earth post-ride area, and the rumored refresh of Illuminations (sponsored by Siemens' Sylvania Lighting brand).

Sure, Disney could market the Siemens changes, along with any enhancements that have been made to Epcot over the past two years (such as The Seas with Nemo and Friends). There will undoubtedly be some pins and other commemorative merchandise.

It remains to be seen if there will be any effort to draw attention to the 25th anniversary of Epcot -- or if Disney Parks & Resorts management has decided that all future marketing efforts must be global (like the silly Year of a Million Dreams). In that case, the 25th anniversary of Epcot is not global enough.

Disney could have used the 25th anniversary of Epcot for a major focus on Epcot -- one that provides temporary and permanent enhancements to the park. If they had, we'd know about it by now because there would now be work going on all over the park.

 

[KathyRN137]

Bummer.

 

[adabob]

I thought that would be that would be the " celebration" for that year

 

[Nom]

I actually planned my trip this year to coincide with the 25th anniversary, as EPCOT Center is my fave park... so needless to say I was very sad to hear that there are no official celebrations planned, plus that Spaceship Earth will be closed (the rehab is desperately needed I know, but the icon of the park closed on the 25th anniversary of its opening? I guess that just illustrates that the neglect of this park has been going on for a long time.)

 

[DisOrBust]

We can all pray they take the wand down to celbrate the 25th!

 

[crazy4wdw]

We can all pray they take the wand down to celbrate the 25th!

It's rumored that the wand may be coming down this fall! Rumor has it that as part of the deal with Siemens, the wand would come down once the update of Spaceship Earth was completed. We'll have to wait to see if this actually happens.

 

[ASilmser]

It's rumored that the wand may be coming down this fall! Rumor has it that as part of the deal with Siemens, the wand would come down once the update of Spaceship Earth was completed. We'll have to wait to see if this actually happens.

Just curious crazy4WDW, what's your source for that information?

 

[edcrbnsoul]

See my signature.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Just curious crazy4WDW, what's your source for that information?

I've seen it rumored on other disney discussion boards over the last two to three days. Don't know how accurate the "rumor" is.

 

[YoHo]

Yes, I've heard rumblings about it. Nothing official.

 

[ChrisFL]

its been posted on screamscape as well

 

[mitros]

There are some changes going on at Epcot, primarily due to the sponsorship money that's coming in from Siemens. The major changes are the announced refresh of Spaceship Earth, the already open update of the Spaceship Earth post-ride area, and the rumored refresh of Illuminations (sponsored by Siemens' Sylvania Lighting brand).

Sure, Disney could market the Siemens changes, along with any enhancements that have been made to Epcot over the past two years (such as The Seas with Nemo and Friends). There will undoubtedly be some pins and other commemorative merchandise.

It remains to be seen if there will be any effort to draw attention to the 25th anniversary of Epcot -- or if Disney Parks & Resorts management has decided that all future marketing efforts must be global (like the silly Year of a Million Dreams). In that case, the 25th anniversary of Epcot is not global enough.

Disney could have used the 25th anniversary of Epcot for a major focus on Epcot -- one that provides temporary and permanent enhancements to the park. If they had, we'd know about it by now because there would now be work going on all over the park.

Ahh, they suck.......... And I meant that in the nicest way!

 

[HarambeGuy]

We were in Epcot on its actual 20th birthday in 2002 and boy did they celebrate with...well, nothing. This is no surprise at all. A crying shame, but no surprise.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Let's all say DOWN WITH THE WAND, DOWN WITH THE WAND, DOWN WITH THE WAND................