I am beginning to lose hope...

[flicx]

I really think this plan is going to backfire. Eventually people will stop going to the other 3 parks unless they have AP' s or park hoppers.. Why use a ticket if there's not enough to keep you entertained? I think this is another consequence of FP.+

I agree the last trip we made we did half days at AK and studios and Epcot. Honestly they need to start doing something at those three. The rumor of star wars land has gotten old. Time for a date already. Epcot has been neglected for years now, when are they gonna just fill the empty spots? Maybe in a few years the whole avatar thing gets done. Right now attraction growth at Disney World is stagnant! Oh how I miss the 90's when attractions were being built almost yearly.

 

[cakebaker]

I would rather see Epcot become a ride park than one big bar! Don't get me wrong, I love the WS but now Epcot seems to be the party park. They don't want to do anything that will interfere with the Food and Wine festival and now the Flower and Garden has the same kiosks. I think future world need a lot of love.

I never get that feeling. We've been to 2 F&W festivals and honestly have never seen anyone I'd consider drunk or acting anyway that would lead me to believe that- but I'm pretty oblivious to other people around me at Disney. We did have a group that had obviously been to the F&W festival on the bus with us late one night, but they were hilarious and had the whole bus laughing and singing- actually don't know if there were drunk or just having an incredible amount of fun.

I don't think it's an either/or situation. I agree that it needs some updates, some are in the works now from what I read. I do think they waited a little long, but better late than never. I just don't want it to be an amusement park. I love the feel of Epcot as it is.

 

[Planogirl]

I think that Epcot can be both a bar and an amusement park (which is really what a themepark is). It can also be educational and offer great entertainment and excellent dining. It does some of this but Epcot really seems to be all over the place nowadays. Much of the food is mediocre, many of the rides are that or worse and entertainment has decreased in quality. Education has pretty much disappeared.

I really wonder what Epcot is supposed to be about now. I see it as a few good rides, a handful of decent restaurants and a place to get an expensive drink. Theming is obviously irrelevant. What is it evolving into? Anything in particular?

 

[Cormoran]

I think that Epcot can be both a bar and an amusement park (which is really what a themepark is). It can also be educational and offer great entertainment and excellent dining. It does some of this but Epcot really seems to be all over the place nowadays. Much of the food is mediocre, many of the rides are that or worse and entertainment has decreased in quality. Education has pretty much disappeared.

I really wonder what Epcot is supposed to be about now. I see it as a few good rides, a handful of decent restaurants and a place to get an expensive drink. Theming is obviously irrelevant. What is it evolving into? Anything in particular?

To me, it seems to be transforming into a shopping mall with a food court. I enjoy it, but when I think the admission being the same a MK, I get a little annoyed. Actually when I compare any of the parks to MK, I get annoyed. there's a reason MK is always crowded, there is so much more to do.
Soarin' is slated for a new film, but when? I wish there were more science exhibits. I wish Nasa and Disney would collaborate on some displays. What I would like to see is a display on how inventions for space travel have improved our lives on Earth. The one thing I really appreciate is the Sum of All Thrills because it shows people that physics is essential for building a roller coaster.

 

[Planogirl]

To me, it seems to be transforming into a shopping mall with a food court. I enjoy it, but when I think the admission being the same a MK, I get a little annoyed. Actually when I compare any of the parks to MK, I get annoyed. there's a reason MK is always crowded, there is so much more to do.
Soarin' is slated for a new film, but when? I wish there were more science exhibits. I wish Nasa and Disney would collaborate on some displays. What I would like to see is a display on how inventions for space travel have improved our lives on Earth. The one thing I really appreciate is the Sum of All Thrills because it shows people that physics is essential for building a roller coaster.

I love the idea of space exhibits! I'm not a fan of Mission Space but something like that could really be interesting.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

The one thing I really appreciate is the Sum of All Thrills because it shows people that physics is essential for building a roller coaster.

Maybe it's simply a sign of getting old, but I enjoy the design process of Sum of All Thrills more than the ride itself. I was bummed it was such a truncated part of the experience. I would love to see more cerebral, hands-on attractions at Epcot.

 

[dayvewc]

To me, it seems to be transforming into a shopping mall with a food court. I enjoy it, but when I think the admission being the same a MK, I get a little annoyed. Actually when I compare any of the parks to MK, I get annoyed. there's a reason MK is always crowded, there is so much more to do.
Soarin' is slated for a new film, but when? I wish there were more science exhibits. I wish Nasa and Disney would collaborate on some displays. What I would like to see is a display on how inventions for space travel have improved our lives on Earth. The one thing I really appreciate is the Sum of All Thrills because it shows people that physics is essential for building a roller coaster.

Shopping mall with a food court!! I love it.

Epcot is my favorite after MK, but I agree it could still use some love and upkeep.

This next is pure speculation, but concerning the new Soarin' film - isn't DisneyLand getting the upgrade film in May when they start the 60th birthday celebration? As a guess, I would think that WDW will get it either at the same time, or after DL finishes the birthday year. Which, if it winds up being May of 2016, wouldn't that pretty well line up with when the Soarin' theatre remodels and expansion are supposed to be finished? That makes sense to me, but no one is accusing Disney of making sense (just of making lots of cents!!)

 

[Cormoran]

That makes sense to me, but no one is accusing Disney of making sense (just of making lots of cents!!)

OK you get the award for bad pun of the day! Thanks for that, very clever!

 

[dayvewc]

OK you get the award for bad pun of the day! Thanks for that, very clever!

My students periodically refer to me as the "pun"-isher, due to my preference for really bad puns, and having to listen to my jokes is a "pun"-ishment. Sometimes even thought to be cruel and unusual. lol

 

[JimmyV]

I wish Nasa and Disney would collaborate on some displays.

When Epcot first opened, my brothers and I had a running joke of seeing how many references to the Space Shuttle we could find. Every pavilion, (and I mean EVERY pavilion) had some sort of reference to or video of a space shuttle lifting off. The truth is, space exploration has become so low key lately that there is little that could be represented at Epcot in any meaningful way. No one really knows or cares what is going on at the ISS. And a bunch of satellites the size of Smart Cars are roaming around the solar system sending back photos. Not much for Disney to build off of.

 

[Laketravis]

Right now attraction growth at Disney World is stagnant! Oh how I miss the 90's when attractions were being built almost yearly.

I really wonder what Epcot is supposed to be about now. I see it as a few good rides, a handful of decent restaurants and a place to get an expensive drink. Theming is obviously irrelevant. What is it evolving into? Anything in particular?

What I would like to see is a display on how inventions for space travel have improved our lives on Earth. The one thing I really appreciate is the Sum of All Thrills because it shows people that physics is essential for building a roller coaster.

I love the idea of space exhibits! I'm not a fan of Mission Space but something like that could really be interesting.

I would love to see more cerebral, hands-on attractions at Epcot.

I can't tell you how many times I've had the same thoughts while walking around "Future World" and thinking how the world must have ended in the early 90's and I must be the only person left.

Because not only are there so many things from the present that could be brought in, the "future" certainly contains even more and exciting possibilities than it did when Epcot opened. It wouldn't be terribly expensive to bring Innoventions up to date or for that matter any area of FW with a few of the thousands of things that didn't even exist just 20 years ago.

 

[MrInfinity]

I would rather see Epcot become a ride park than one big bar! Don't get me wrong, I love the WS but now Epcot seems to be the party park. They don't want to do anything that will interfere with the Food and Wine festival and now the Flower and Garden has the same kiosks. I think future world need a lot of love.

Heh.. Why? I'm kind of happy with it being one big bar. It's definitely the coolest and biggest bar I've ever been to. I bet Disney makes boatloads on Epcot. Think about it... Families go to Disney world. Kids want rides and characters, they get them. But rides are just one part. Think of all the food blogs... no other park in the world generates the food interest that WDW does, and that is largely due to Epcot. We've been going to WDW since Epcot opened, plus 3 times in recent years, and I am STILL having a hard time choosing just two restaurants to do at Epcot... So many we haven't tried. We spend 2 days at Epcot, and we're a family with little kids.

I definitely understand if you're a local or been way more than us, and now you go for the rides, then at Epcot, most of the WS is dead to you. Locals generally are not going to want to pay such prices for dinner on a random Thursday night visit. But the vacationer, does want these experiences.

I really wonder what Epcot is supposed to be about now. I see it as a few good rides, a handful of decent restaurants and a place to get an expensive drink. Theming is obviously irrelevant. What is it evolving into? Anything in particular?

I also don't like where they've gone w the World Showcase. When you ditch Norway for Frozen, you're abandoning the concept of touring around the world. I would rather see Epcot go more authentic, with more food and more drinks, not less. But, such is life, Disney does need to make things repeatable and cost effective, so maybe a taco there isn't exactly a taco you'd get in Mexico, and it's more a cross of something mass producable that gives you a glimpse of Mexico at the same time... but I'm okay w that.

I don't think they should in any way drop countries from their WS.

Rides needing a makeover? Well... their 4 biggest rides either have recently been revamped, or are being revamped. MS and TT got an overhaul (go on use the word "cardboard cutouts", you know it's coming! people who don't like the changes are quick to speak negatively about them)... Soarin is getting a new theater and movie, and Maelstrom got gutted. Not that I agree w turning it into Frozen, but that makes for all 4 headliner rides getting some sort of overhaul. Does it need something new? Of course. Ellen needs to go, and that turned into a new zone, like they have the Land, and the Sea, and that area should be something new.

That corner will not sit dead forever. Should have gutted Ellen to make Frozen, but that's moot.

 

[JimmyV]

Because not only are there so many things from the present that could be brought in, the "future" certainly contains even more and exciting possibilities than it did when Epcot opened. It wouldn't be terribly expensive to bring Innoventions up to date or for that matter any area of FW with a few of the thousands of things that didn't even exist just 20 years ago.

I've often wondered why Future World, (particularly Innoventions) isn't a lot more like the convention room floor at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show. Granted, companies are not going to want to trot out their latest and greatest products for Epcot. But even if Epcot had on display the stuff from the 2012 CES, think how much cooler it would be. And I also think that the GM pavilion should be home to the concept cars that GM puts on display at the Detroit Auto Show. Seems as if they have had the same "car of the future" there for a decade.

 

[JimmyV]

(go on use the word "cardboard cutouts", you know it's coming! people who don't like the changes are quick to speak negatively about them)

Without belaboring the "cardboard cutout" criticism, I think both sides of the debate can agree that the "makeover" of TT was not an "advancement" in terms of technology or concept. If it was, I surely missed it.

 

[WillAustin]

No one really knows or cares what is going on at the ISS. And a bunch of satellites the size of Smart Cars are roaming around the solar system sending back photos. Not much for Disney to build off of.

Sure there is. They could show what it's like to be on the ISS, with a full-size walk through. They could have a Mars rover set up showing Mars. There's a lot of exciting things they could use.

 

[JimmyV]

They could show what it's like to be on the ISS, with a full-size walk through.

But that would just reveal how boring it is. Better to have people dream about the space exploration that they wish we were engaged in as opposed to having them witness what we are really doing. I think a 24/7 live feed on a video screen would be cool. And a way for guests to interact with the cosmonauts/astronauts who are up there.

 

[Cormoran]

Heh.. Why? I'm kind of happy with it being one big bar. It's definitely the coolest and biggest bar I've ever been to. I bet Disney makes boatloads on Epcot. Think about it... Families go to Disney world. Kids want rides and characters, they get them. But rides are just one part. Think of all the food blogs... no other park in the world generates the food interest that WDW does, and that is largely due to Epcot. We've been going to WDW since Epcot opened, plus 3 times in recent years, and I am STILL having a hard time choosing just two restaurants to do at Epcot... So many we haven't tried. We spend 2 days at Epcot, and we're a family with little kids.

I definitely understand if you're a local or been way more than us, and now you go for the rides, then at Epcot, most of the WS is dead to you. Locals generally are not going to want to pay such prices for dinner on a random Thursday night visit. But the vacationer, does want these experiences.



I also don't like where they've gone w the World Showcase. When you ditch Norway for Frozen, you're abandoning the concept of touring around the world. To the dismay of Cormoran, I would rather see Epcot go more authentic, not less. But, such is life, Disney does need to make things repeatable and cost effective, so maybe a taco there isn't exactly a taco you'd get in Mexico, and it's more a cross of something mass producible that gives you a glimpse of Mexico at the same time... but I'm okay w that.

I don't think they should in any way drop countries from their WS.

Rides needing a makeover? Well... their 4 biggest rides either have recently been revamped, or are being revamped. MS and TT got an overhaul (go on use the word "cardboard cutouts", you know it's coming! people who don't like the changes are quick to speak negatively about them)... Soarin is getting a new theater and movie, and Maelstrom got gutted. Not that I agree w turning it into Frozen, but that makes for all 4 headliner rides getting some sort of overhaul. Does it need something new? Of course. Ellen needs to go, and that turned into a new zone, like they have the Land, and the Sea, and that area should be something new.

That corner will not sit dead forever. Should have gutted Ellen to make Frozen, but that's moot.

Sorry, Fuzzy, but I'm a light weight in the drinking Department, so 2 and I'm done! I also can only eat so much.

I don't understand why you say to my dismay, you want WS to be more authentic. I agree with you! Oh wait a sec, is the world coming to an end, since we agree? Anyway, I wish the WS had more merchandise from the countries, without Disney characters.

OK Fuzzy, there was the TT revamp about 2 years ago, and there was the SE revamp about 5 years ago, and now Maelstrom is being Frozen. But what else? I've heard the Soarin' Rumor but nothing else. Have dates been announced or is it as illusive as Star Wars Land in DHS? I've heard that Figment is going away. If it's true it's a shame because I love that song and character. But really, Epcot needs a lot of help. There is room in Futureworld for a lot more than what they have.

I understand what you're saying about the restaurants, but is it worth a theme park admission to dine in one of these pavilions? I don't have an AP.

 

[WillAustin]

But that would just reveal how boring it is. Better to have people dream about the space exploration that they wish we were engaged in as opposed to having them witness what we are really doing. I think a 24/7 live feed on a video screen would be cool. And a way for guests to interact with the cosmonauts/astronauts who are up there.

Like you said, there is plenty of recent tech that would be cool to show. Frankly my Oculus VR headset here at home is much cooler than almost anything in Innoventions.

 

[Cormoran]

But that would just reveal how boring it is. Better to have people dream about the space exploration that they wish we were engaged in as opposed to having them witness what we are really doing. I think a 24/7 live feed on a video screen would be cool. And a way for guests to interact with the cosmonauts/astronauts who are up there.

That's a great idea. But I also think they could talk about the development of passenger space travel, colonization of the moon and Mars, Space elevators, Nano Technology, the importance of being able to recycle 100% in order to sustain life on another planet. I think there are a lot of things that could be explored and be really interesting. Half of KCS is being leased to different companies who are developing rockets to deliver satellites and payloads to the ISS. There are so many areas that could be explored.

 

[Laketravis]

But even if Epcot had on display the stuff from the 2012 CES, think how much cooler it would be.

See, that would be awesome - and if they perpetuated the sponsorship model they could have some really great technology on interactive display at little or no cost. Some of the CES stuff might admittedly be niche' but it's a great example of how they could honor the "Future World" concept. Otherwise, just go ahead and relabel that part of Epcot "Yesteryear".