Lets pretend for a moment...

[°O°Joe]

...that Epcot has two separate gates. (yes I know technically it does...) but I mean a separate gate for Future World and a separate gate for World Showcase.

How would you rate Future World compared to the (now) four other parks? The reason I ask is because, listening to podcasts lately, I've realized that what Future World once was, isn't anymore. (I don't know if that makes any sense...)

I guess similar to Tomorrowland at MK, Future World just doesn't seem so futuristic anymore. Especially now with the "Pixarazation" of the place. I don't know why they just don't change the name, or go back to their roots, and actually build some futuristic attractions.

I guess I don't even know what direction they're heading with the themeing of the place...

Other than Mission Space - where's the future in "Future World"? Any thoughts...??

--Joe

P.S. I do like Epcot, it's my second favorite park - but mostly because a couple attractions in Future World, and World Showcase... Spaceship Earth,
Soarin and all of World Showcase carry Epcot IMO...

 

[Hobbes]

I know I'm in the minority here, but if I could only use 1 gate at Epcot, it would be the front one-Don't get me wrong, I love WS but I love all of FW (Except MS ) and I can't imagine not doing SE, TT, HISTK and the rest-Yes I do everything-except MS. I COULD imagine missing WS altogether if time dictated.

 

[grinningghost]

My DH and I would differ greatly here. He would pick FW and I would pick WS. He's one of those all-American guys that likes American everything, has no desire to travel abroad, only likes American food - he could live without WS for sure.

 

[marksor]

That's a good question to ponder but difficult to answer. To answer my way around it I would consider the World Showcase part of the park to be a fancy ethnic "restaurant row" and nothing more. Future World does have some "must-do" rides/attractions such as Soarin', Mission Space, Test Track, Shrunk/Audience- I would probably view this as being on par with the Studios park.

 

[goofyernmost]

...that Epcot has two separate gates. (yes I know technically it does...) but I mean a separate gate for Future World and a separate gate for World Showcase.

How would you rate Future World compared to the (now) four other parks? The reason I ask is because, listening to podcasts lately, I've realized that what Future World once was, isn't anymore. (I don't know if that makes any sense...)

I guess similar to Tomorrowland at MK, Future World just doesn't seem so futuristic anymore. Especially now with the "Pixarazation" of the place. I don't know why they just don't change the name, or go back to their roots, and actually build some futuristic attractions.

I guess I don't even know what direction they're heading with the themeing of the place...

Other than Mission Space - where's the future in "Future World"? Any thoughts...??

--Joe

P.S. I do like Epcot, it's my second favorite park - but mostly because a couple attractions in Future World, and World Showcase... Spaceship Earth,
Soarin and all of World Showcase carry Epcot IMO...

Part one...World showcase, by itself, does not have enough to do to warrant the cost of a ticket as a separate gate. Unless you want to pay a lot of money to mostly walk and look at buildings and gift shops.

Part two...I have been going to Epcot since it opened as EPCOT Center. Quite frankly with the exception of Innovations and Horizons it dealt very little with the future. If you think about it was mostly the past to the present with just hints of future. Energy, Sea, Land, WoL, WoM were just history or present and Figment was just how to exercise your Imagination. I think the new Epcot is much more entertaining and fresh. I miss some of the old dark rides and I am almost ecstatic about the fact that Spaceship Earth is a singular design that won't allow to much tampering to be done. Epcot was educational and in many ways still is. Mission Space may not be ones cup of tea but there is plenty to do for everyone. World Showcase...a pleasant walk with some fascinating shows (American Adventure), but not enough to carry itself.

 

[BTown]

I think I understand where the OP is coming from. I'm only 23, so I was born the same year Epcot opened, so I dont have that hands on experience with the park from the very beginning. But even as a small child, Epcot (Future World specifically) was always my favorite park. Back in those days, with World of Motion, Horizon's, etc, Epcot was a romanticized view of this wonderfully bright future, which seemed to be straight out of a science fiction novel from the 50's (much like MK's Tomorrowland). But, as I've gotten older, and have looked into the park more, I realize that that was never the intention of the park. From the beginning, Epcot, or FW, was suppose to be a showcase for new ideas and technology which would be obtainable in our lifetimes. Of course, if anyone remembers Horizons, we all know that the future presented in that attraction was not the future which was just over the horizon. Also, in World of Motion, remember the concept 2000 cars? Which look and function not at all how cars today, or in 2000 look and function.

But honestly, I believe that the future presented in the FW of the 80's was not some unobtainable dream, but what the thinkers and doers of the 70's thought would be around the corner in the coming century. Of course now, here we are, as the first decade of the 21st century comes to an end, we have a much better view of whats to come. I think this is why the attractions of old got replaced by more modern attractions.

Also, I beleive now that Epcot isnt about showcasing the ideas of a future 50 years from now, but rather showcasing the future that is right at our finger tips. Truly a world of tomorrow which we can see is only right around the corner, and not at all out of reach.