EPCOT's 25th?

[sorcerermick]

So, next year is EPCOT's 25th anniversary. Does anybody know if there will be any special celebration happening? I have read rumors of Illuminations being changed for the anniversary, but I don't know how true that may be. Has anybody heard anything yet, or is it too early?

TIA

 

[Wendy1953]

Hope someone has more info on this!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Hope someone has more info on this!

The current Happiest Celebration on Earth, celebrating 50 years of Disneyland, is officially supposed to last 18 months. That would mean it would last until some time in November 2006. I wouldn't be surprised if it's extended through the end of January 2007, to give the traditionally slow month of January a boost.

The grand opening of Walt Disney World, including the Magic Kingdom, was October 1, 1971. So, this year, on October 1, 2006, WDW will be 35 years old. I'm sure there will be some banners and special pins for WDW's 35th anniversary, but nothing big.

The grand opening of Epcot (originally EPCOT Center) was October 1, 1982, So Epcot will be 25 years old on October 1, 2007. Disney is likely to treat this as a big event, possibly with another 18-month "celebration," at least at WDW.

I would expect any tentative plans for such an event to remain secret (except for a few intentional and unintentional leaks) until Disney determines the timing is right for an announcement — possibly using the 35th anniversary of WDW to announce the coming of the 25th anniversary of Epcot), or else waiting until some time after the end of the Happiest Celebration on Earth.

 

[DisInsider]

I'm not sure if they will do anything or not. Epcot hasn't really had any big anniversary celebrations. WDW only had the big 25th anniversary celebration that ran from 1996 through 1997, another 18 month thing. I think WDW might wait until #40 in 2011. That way they can celebrate four decades of the Florida resort. If they start with Epcot25, they might be pressured to do a DAK10 in 2008 and MGM20 in 2009. Not sure all this would fly. And with nothing much new going on over at Epcot, I doubt it will get a big party.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Epcot hasn't really had any big anniversary celebrations. WDW only had the big 25th anniversary celebration that ran from 1996 through 1997, another 18 month thing.

The only time that there's been a major marketing event focused on Epcot was the Millennium Celebration in 1999 and 2000.

25 years is viewed as a significant milestone — much more than 20, 35, or 40 years. The 25th anniversary of Walt Disney World, with the theme of "Remember the Magic," was a huge success. So the timing is right for a celebration focussed on Epcot in 2007.

Disney is always looking for ways to increase attendance at Epcot. The park has a huge capacity, and typically operates way below capacity.

It doesn't even matter if there's not much new at Epcot in 2007. In fact, the whole idea is that a marketing event is less expensive than new, compelling attractions. Borrowing a page from the Millennium Celebration, Disney could put a parade into Epcot, set up temporary attractions in World Showplace (the former Millennium Village), hang a bunch of banners, redecorate the ugly wand over Spaceship Earth, promote anything that's changed in Epcot over the past few years as "new," and spend millions on advertising to get the word out.

 

[DisInsider]

I agree that banners, some sprucing up and possibly and update to Illuminations would work. The difference, I believe with WDW is that they won't go overboard with nationwide advertising, etc. to promote a celebration for just Epcot. The miillenium celebration was one thing because they were able to spread it through the whole resort.

Epcot has an image problem. That is that many people don't even know what it is. The second WDW theme park is well known by all of us, but there are millions of people who still think WDW is nothing more than the Florida version of Disneyland. Marketing won't do tie-ins with McDonald's, Nestle or other companies to promote ony Epcot. So therefore I believe that if they are going to do anything, it will have to be a celebration for the entire resort.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The difference, I believe with WDW is that they won't go overboard with nationwide advertising, etc. to promote a celebration for just Epcot. The miillenium celebration was one thing because they were able to spread it through the whole resort.

Do you remember "100 Years of Magic," celebrating the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth, which ran from October 1, 2001, through February 28, 2003? That one focussed on Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park, with the out-of-place Sorcerer's Hat, which destroyed the view up Hollywood Boulevard to the Chinese Theatre? There was also "Walt Disney: One Man's Dream," a good exhibit and film, but primarily of interest to big Disney fans. Okay, there were also new or revised parades at each if the parks. (Do you remember how Tapestry of Nations became Tapestry of Dreams?)

There was national advertising for "100 Years of Magic" too, even though it really wasn't much of an event.

My point is that the Disney marketing folks advertise some sort of 18-month (or so) "celebration" every two or three years. The "celebration" advertising seems to work. The 25th anniversary celebration was wildly successful, but seemed to draw guests primarily to the Magic Kingdom. Subsequent celebrations have tried to direct guests to other parks.

So, I'm expecting a big marketing event that uses the 25th anniversary of Epcot as the justification, with the story that the other three WDW theme parks are somehow "helping" Epcot celebrate.

I hope it will be more than just some banners and an update to IllumiNations. It would be a good chance to replace the movies in World Showcase, to reuse the former Millennium Village facility, to premier whatever updates will be made to Spaceship Earth due to the sponsorship by Siemens, and maybe even to do something with the shuttered Wonders of Life pavilion. I won't hold my breath for new, permanent countries in World Showcase, but maybe we'll get some temporary countries, such as during the Food & Wine Festivals.

We'll see!

 

[dbm20th]

This could be a chance to re-introduce the new EPCOT to the American public. With Nemo, SOarin, TT and MS, there is a lot more than people may remember. The 25th could be an excuse to up the marketing in the park. But I don't think we'll see as much as we did during the HCOE in the way of changes.

There are many rumors floating around EPCOT now, probably more than any other park. It stands to reason these additions may come along side a marketing blitz for the 25th. Just speculation

 

[sorcerermick]

I'm excited about the possibilities! I surely would love to see a parade return around the showcase. Only time will tell

 

[jeanylaser]

i am glad the parade will return in epcot but what is the new parade name?

 

[gtrist4life]

Bumping.
Any more news on Epcot's 25th? Do you think we'll hear something during the press events later this month or do you think they'll wait until the end of summer?

 

[Mickmse2002]

Bringing back a parade would be a nice touch for a prospective 25th anniversary celebration at Epcot. I miss the parade.

 

[Mickey1122]

As much as I love Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, it has been around ofr years, and a new show would be nice. A parade would be cool, but it might be hard in WS because there is only one path. You would be stuck where you are until the parade finished.
I really hope that they do lots of banners, re-open the Millenium Village, create a new, even more powerful Illuminations, make FW more futuristic, and make WS shine. FW could do with more 'future.'
There is SO MUCH potential. I hope that they take advantage of it, and do more than 'national treasures.'

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Please note that this thread (including my earlier participation in this thread) goes back to March 2006 — almost 10 months ago.

Although I still hope the Disney will celebrate Epcot's 25th anniversary, I think a large scale celebration with refreshed attractions and extra shows and exhibits is now far less likely.

Epcot will be 25 years old on October 1, 2007. The Year of a Million Dreams marketing campaign will be coming to a close around that time. So it still makes sense to celebrate Epcot's 25th anniversary beginning October 1, 2007.

However, it seems that Disney Parks & Resorts upper management now sees the parks as some sort of global brand instead of as individual, unique parks, each having their own history, traditions, and guest memories. That's how we got the silly Year of a Million Dreams campaign.

Maybe Disney is quietly and secretly working on new movies for Canada, France, and Norway. Maybe the current update to Mexico will be worthy of national advertising. How about a new parade with the artistry of Tapestry of Nations? How about great show in the America's Gardens Theater? The World Showplace could house special exhibits and food options, just as during the Millennium Celebration. And "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth" could end its long run in favor of a fresh, new Illuminations 25th Anniversary Edition.

Unfortunately, I don't think much (or any) of this will really materialize. Right now, I'm expecting little more than some banners and pins. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[kjkcool]

The Year Of A Million Dreams celebration ends December 2007.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The Year Of A Million Dreams celebration ends December 2007.

Yep. "The Year of a Million Dreams" run from October 1, 2006, through December 31, 2007. I guess "The Year of a Million Dreams" sounds better than "The 15 Months of a Million Dreams."

That doesn't mean that Disney has to ignore Epcot's 25th anniversary (October 1, 2007) entirely, but it reduces the likelihood that Epcot's milestone will be the basis for a major "celebration."

Disney could have built their 2007 marketing around Epcot's 25th anniversary rather than "The Year of a Million Dreams." Back in March 2006, I thought that might happen. It could have a great way to focus attention on Epcot and to for Epcot to get funding for much-needed updates and improvements.

Oh, well.