Epcot's newest attraction just turned 10!

[ArwenMarie]

Don't forget that Soarin is a direct clone of the Original in DCA - just without the nice theme and queue area. So it wasn't even really a 'fresh unique ride'.

And it doesn't even make sense for Florida...flying over California?

 

[BeachClub2014]

I certainly wouldn't argue if Disney slapped more E-ticket rides/attractions into Epcot. But I don't think it critical. I think they could easily add more live entertainment that is themed to the different pavilions and areas of future world that would enhance the entertainment value of the park, keep people interested, keep it fresh and meshes well with the focus on hawking food, beverages and trinkets.

 

[chrisaman]

I won't return to Epcot, DHS, or AK until there is a new E-ticket attraction built. I'm not "down on Disney" but I just don't see any reason to return to do the exact same things, maybe after 5 years or so but not before then. All 3 of those parks are half-day parks to me. Last time I went to MK Splash Mountain was closed and the Dwarfs mine train was open yet so next Orlando trip I'll make a stop at MK and spend the rest of it at Universal as that is all new to me. But if Disney built new attractions at the other parks, I'd happily go back.

Shorter lines for me!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Shorter lines for me!

I think you should pay double for your tickets from now on...afterall - Disney has given you so much and you should pay them back

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The food & wine festival has been expanded to 8 weeks. Last year, Epcot added food/drink booths for holidays around the world festivities.

I was a big fan of food and wine...for many years

But after seeing it at flower and garden...and hearing that they jam them in there for christmas as well...I'm officially over it.

It's just so money pimpin'/tacky to keep relentlessly beating the horses as they do now.

No pride or dignity in Florida anymore.

Not Disney's fault...it's ours at this point when you get down to it.

 

[yitbos96bb]

And how many attractions have closed and/or been neutered since the late 1990's? At the end of the day, EPCOT has less attractions today than it did in the late 90's. If that is how you "grow" a theme park, I would argue that they're doing it wrong.



If that truly is the case, then why is EPCOT the only park in which you can only choose one FP+ "crowd pleaser" per day? Plain and simple, there is very little of substance within the park. The FP+ tiers are an open acknowledgement of this by TWDC.

I can't disagree with you more on this one.

He is clearly talking from a business decision standpoint, not a Disney fan standpoint. And he has a point. The lack of attractions have clearly started catching up to the studios, but there isn't evidence that EPCOT is losing attendees.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I was a big fan of food and wine...for many years

But after seeing it at flower and garden...and hearing that they jam them in there for christmas as well...I'm officially over it.

It's just so money pimpin'/tacky to keep relentlessly beating the horses as they do now.

No pride or dignity in Florida anymore.

Not Disney's fault...it's ours at this point when you get down to it.

On the reverse side, those that might not get to make F & W have an opportunity to experience a similiar type festival experience other times of the year. But then the local towns where I live all put on multiple festivals yearly and Chucago is filled with many different events... So I guess I'm just used to it.

 

[rteetz]

He is clearly talking from a business decision standpoint, not a Disney fan standpoint. And he has a point. The lack of attractions have clearly started catching up to the studios, but there isn't evidence that EPCOT is losing attendees.

That's because of food and wine and flower and garden those are huge attendance and money makers for Epcot.

 

[Joe in VA]

Totally agree on the Frozen stuff. 10 years since a new attraction? Pathetic.

10 years at Epcot with no E ticket in sight, 10 years between Everest and Avatar at DAK, and seven years since an E-ticket was added at HS. The only Eticket ride added among all four parks in the last 6 years is Mine Train. Pretty pathetic. Lots of restaurants, DVC additions, and park add-on parties, but hardly a thing for people who actually like rides. Just cancelled my MDW trip, just felt like there was nothing to ride last time and I can find much better restaurants in Vegas, Hawaii, NYC, etc.

 

[rteetz]

10 years at Epcot with no E ticket in sight, 10 years between Everest and Avatar at DAK, and seven years since an E-ticket was added at HS. The only Eticket ride added among all four parks in the last 6 years is Mine Train. Pretty pathetic. Lots of restaurants, DVC additions, and park add-on parties, but hardly a thing for people who actually like rides. Just cancelled my MDW trip, just felt like there was nothing to ride last time and I can find much better restaurants in Vegas, Hawaii, NYC, etc.

Mine train isn't an e ticket. Solid D ticket by not an e ticket. If the original plan for mine train happened it would've been an E but it's not.

 

[Planogirl]

That's because of food and wine and flower and garden those are huge attendance and money makers for Epcot.

So many people seem to have blinders on when it comes to Epcot too. Epcot is nothing like it once was. I'd be willing to bet that there are fewer attractions and that the food isn't as good as it once was. But slap a few princesses here and there and some people just go on about how amazing Epcot is with its two major rides and shopping/dining mall. Nice shopping/dining mall but still that nonetheless.

I was guilty of that myself for a long time. But they pushed me over the edge. I'm wondering if anyone else will eventually get pushed beyond that edge.

 

[rteetz]

So many people seem to have blinders on when it comes to Epcot too. Epcot is nothing like it once was. I'd be willing to bet that there are fewer attractions and that the food isn't as good as it once was. But slap a few princesses here and there and some people just go on about how amazing Epcot is with its two major rides and shopping/dining mall. Nice shopping/dining mall but still that nonetheless.

I was guilty of that myself for a long time. But they pushed me over the edge. I'm wondering if anyone else will eventually get pushed beyond that edge.

Sums it up pretty well. Disney of course feels that there will be new guests that will get suckered in like we once were and they have no problems. I think eventually if they keep on this path they will have a big problem on their hands.

 

[Andrew015]

He is clearly talking from a business decision standpoint, not a Disney fan standpoint. And he has a point. The lack of attractions have clearly started catching up to the studios, but there isn't evidence that EPCOT is losing attendees.

Universal: 14% gain YOY
Magic Kingdom: 6% gain YOY
Hollywood Studios: 2% gain YOY
EPCOT: 1.5% gain YOY

The first two have new attractions (Universal's being significant, and you can see how they were rewarded). I would hardly call EPCOT's recent performance evidence of success. It is clearly in need of dire help, and Anna and Elsa are the only help in sight. If you think the suits at TWDC are happy with 1.5% in EPCOT, keep on dreamin'.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Universal: 14% gain YOY
Magic Kingdom: 6% gain YOY
Hollywood Studios: 2% gain YOY
EPCOT: 1.5% gain YOY

The first two have new attractions (Universal's being significant, and you can see how they were rewarded). I would hardly call EPCOT's recent performance evidence of success. It is clearly in need of dire help, and Anna and Elsa are the only help in sight. If you think the suits at TWDC are happy with 1.5% in EPCOT, keep on dreamin'.

Attendees is one measure but profit is the other. Epcot may be wildly profitable in terms of all of the restaurants and the festivals.

 

[rteetz]

Attendees is one measure but profit is the other. Epcot may be wildly profitable in terms of all of the restaurants and the festivals.

It is very profitable because of the festivals

 

[ahoyle]

Its really sad seeing how much Disney has stagnated over the past decade. I think this will come to bite them as soon as the economy turns again. Then Disney will once again have to court the local and regional visitors, who they have turned off quite a bit in recent years (IMO). Meanwhile, Universal keeps churning out better and bigger rides across town. SeaWorld is adding a great coaster next year too. As much as everyone on here will talk about how Disney is more than rides. It starts with rides. Everything else just adds to the experience. Its like saying you go to the ballpark for everything but the game. Yeah, some people will go for a hot dog and nostalgia, to experience a nice facility with good food, but most are there for the game. And those that come for nostalgia aren't going to frequent like those that are there for the game.

 

[Joe in VA]

Yikes, so one new E-Ticket in the past ten years over four theme parks? Worse than I even imagined. Yet, all of the talk of so much expansion/construction.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Yikes, so one new E-Ticket in the past ten years over four theme parks? Worse than I even imagined. Yet, all of the talk of so much expansion/construction.

The term "e ticket" is very subjective now too...

On one hand, the big line justifies it...but on the other, e tickets were reserved for the marquee new experiences/technology/thrills...

So Everest...even in its 65% state...would be an E... Soarin is more like a D - but E is ok...

Mine train is not...it doesn't hold up compared to the other 3 rides in the park... So it isn't an E

Midway is most certainly not - it's a good flat ride - but is a product of a huge crowd with little to do...very much like soarin and the mine train.

Now we have this Elsa magical river cruise...

I can feel my blood pressure boiling preemptively now for those that will throw the term "e ticket" around for this thing...

No...no...NOOOOOO!

Don't do it. Unless
They have te boat resemble the scene where the parents take the boat - instead of Olaf
Singing...

Then we got something, Baby

What's more...I have this sneaking suspicion that avatar is gonna open without an E ride...maybe more like a B and maybe a C/D

The one saving grace there is that it's Cameron and the common sense tells us he's putting skin in the game...

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think that the idea of D or E or whatever tickets is fluid. It's all based on demand today. Country Bear Jamboree used to be an E ticket.

Mine Train, based on demand, is certainly an E ticket today. And the Frozen ride in Epcot will be too. So is Soarin. Maybe a better term is high-demand rides. Headliners works too.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I think that the idea of D or E or whatever tickets is fluid. It's all based on demand today. Country Bear Jamboree used to be an E ticket.

Mine Train, based on demand, is certainly an E ticket today. And the Frozen ride in Epcot will be too. So is Soarin. Maybe a better term is high-demand rides. Headliners works too.

Then the whole term should be thrown away...

Because the demand for these new rides is much more a reflection of the "sit and spin" period at wdw that is...finally...mercifully...starting to be acknowledged by both sides of the isle to have ACTUALLY OCCURED...mostly under the great CEO CMB...

But of course...the mouse benefits... Because the customers are voluntarily lowering there standards and the value of their currency without a peep of complaint.