News Round Up 2016

[STLstone]

I think the true "education" component of EPCOT will become less and less. I recall even under the proposed Project Genesis it would have pushed the park to be less "educational" and more about "discovery" ... and so I think things can still fit into that theme

Having Froway encourages people to visit the pavilion and Discover about Norway
Nemo helps draw people in to discover about the oceans and sea life
Guardians of the Galaxy could be the same - draw them in to discover about space travel or something like that (though not sure how this would fit into another pavilion when they already have Mission Space). The obvious pavilion to put something brand new in would be Wonders of Life so unless they are using that to teach about different species or something, not sure how it fits

For me, the original concept of the educational aspect of EPCOT has not "worked."

I put "worked" in quotes because I'm clearly wrong based on 2 facts:
1) There does not seem to be any problem with attendance. If you believe TouringPlans crowd tracker, it's packed as much as the other parks.
2) I have never skipped the park in my 4 Disney trips as an adult (when I got to make the decisions - of course my parents dragged me there when I was younger).

I'm still going, everyone else is still going, so why do I feel like the education aspect is a failure?

 

[Redcon1]

While I'm happy to hear that EPCOT may be getting some love, I'm sensing that Disney may be throwing the educational aspects of the park out the window (starting with Froway...well, probably really with The Seas with Nemo & Friends). And that makes me sad. Unless they somehow can tie it into to some science (space/astronomy?).

I can't see why Disney couldn't use GOTG as the theming but still have a learning experience to it. They've used plenty of their characters in the past to teach the public about different subjects and in an enjoyable way.

Sad though, it seems Disney doesn't really care about educating while entertaining anymore. As a child, I always learned and remembered many science and history facts from Walt's TV show and the parks, while having a blast and having the time of my life.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Re: Educational, Epcot has been falling down in this area for years. The whole energy pavilion is severely outdated. They've got what, spaceship earth and if you stretch, test track?

For me, the original concept of the educational aspect of EPCOT has not "worked."

I put "worked" in quotes because I'm clearly wrong based on 2 facts:
1) There does not seem to be any problem with attendance. If you believe TouringPlans crowd tracker, it's packed as much as the other parks.
2) I have never skipped the park in my 4 Disney trips as an adult (when I got to make the decisions - of course my parents dragged me there when I was younger).

I'm still going, everyone else is still going, so why do I feel like the education aspect is a failure?

EPCOT was built based on the idea of the pavilions being sponsored ... when the sponsors left due to challenges in the economy Disney wouldn't update the pavilions - or if/when they did it was with characers and fun attractions, not the educational aspect really

It's one thing to have a pavilion touting the wonders of Life and being educational about that when Metlife was paying for it .... now that they are out it becomes the Fodd & Wine festival center

 

[rteetz]

Any further news on the rumored MSEP/PTN swap?

It's only a rumor right now and it seems the good sources aren't saying anything about it.

 

[rteetz]

News

Sandtastic weekends coming to the Swan and Dolphin

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wal...-world-swan-and-dolphin-later-this-summer.htm

 

[rteetz]

Photo update

A look at DHS

http://micechat.com/129425-dateline-disneyworld-hollywood-studios-news-and-photos/

 

[rteetz]

News

Disney parks blog live stream for 4th of July fireworks

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ney-fireworks-on-monday-july-4-at-850-p-m-et/

 

[crazy4wdw]

News

Disney parks blog live stream for 4th of July fireworks

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ney-fireworks-on-monday-july-4-at-850-p-m-et/

I hope they have their act together for the live stream this year. Last year, the website crashed and the live stream never made it to the "blog".

 

[rteetz]

News

Norway's Stave church is open after its refurb

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...the-norway-pavilions-stave-church-exhibit.htm

 

[mikepizzo]

I hope they have their act together for the live stream this year. Last year, the website crashed and the live stream never made it to the "blog".

I remember being so confused thinking I missed it. I think the streams have gotten better though. Can't remember the last one I watched (Fantasmic? Illuminations? Christmas Parade?) but I remember watching it thinking it went off mostly without a hitch.

 

[Tam&Sam]

News

Uniqlo opens at Disney Springs July 15th

http://www.**************.net/2016/06/uniqlo-set-to-open-disney-springs-location-on-july-15/

AWESOME!!! Thank you for the update rteetz, I had been waiting for a long time to figure out if it would be open for my next trip!

 

[MommaBerd]

Re: Educational, Epcot has been falling down in this area for years. The whole energy pavilion is severely outdated. They've got what, spaceship earth and if you stretch, test track?

I know, but I have hoped and dreamed that they would bring back the "awe and wonder" of the pavilions I knew as a child. Like many others, I was hoping they would engage in some corporate sponsorships with tech companies or biomedical, or university researchers, etc. How cool would it be to go from outer space to under sea to robots to nanotechnology... Inspire our kids to be innovative and to DREAM!

For me, the original concept of the educational aspect of EPCOT has not "worked."

I put "worked" in quotes because I'm clearly wrong based on 2 facts:
1) There does not seem to be any problem with attendance. If you believe TouringPlans crowd tracker, it's packed as much as the other parks.
2) I have never skipped the park in my 4 Disney trips as an adult (when I got to make the decisions - of course my parents dragged me there when I was younger).

I'm still going, everyone else is still going, so why do I feel like the education aspect is a failure?

Education doesn't have to be a drudgery! I was dragged there as a kid too, but once I was there, I thought it was awesome!

 

[Goofy2015]

Thoughts on Guardians of the Galaxy Epcot attraction rumor:

• It is way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way better then the Tower of Terror retheme rumor. I mean come on the Tower of Terror is now the icon of Hollywood Studios.
  • I get it, the rumor is more DCA based.
  • Seriously, the Tower of Terror retheme may be the dumbest idea in the history of ideas.
• Epcot's Future World is a questionable choice because I still think of Epcot as a learning, exploring, and discovery experience. But it is better then sticking the attraction in the Italian pavilion.
• The best and most common sense choice is to have the attraction in Hollywood Studios, but if that steers away the dumb idea of retheming the Tower of Terror to Guardians then I will gladly take it in Epcot.
• Overall, I would love to see a GOTG attraction. I love the movie. Come on guys, just retheme Rock and Roller Coaster that seems like an easy and simple solution. No wait that is a dumb idea, maybe the Guardians can replace Timon & Pumba for the Circle of Life movie in the Land pavilion.

 

[AngiTN]

News

Sandtastic weekends coming to the Swan and Dolphin

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wal...-world-swan-and-dolphin-later-this-summer.htm

I first read this as

Sadistic weekends coming to the Swan and Dolphin

I thought, that's a new turn for WDW, and it's neighbors (in this case)

 

[skier_pete]

Sadistic weekends coming to the Swan and Dolphin

It's a special event where you pay to get in to the special event, only to find that there's an even more special event INSIDE the special event that you have to pay for again...this goes on for 16 times until you get to the final most VIP level, and you find yourself on a shuttle to the airport.

 

[Phicinfan]

Rumor - per Spirit

Fantasmic 2.0 for 2017 not sure if this is for DLR or DHS, it wasn't clear in his post.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

It's a special event where you pay to get in to the special event, only to find that there's an even more special event INSIDE the special event that you have to pay for again...this goes on for 16 times until you get to the final most VIP level, and you find yourself on a shuttle to the airport.

everyone knows the most VIP level is just Jack Nickelson in a broom closet

 

[Maineiak]

It's a special event where you pay to get in to the special event, only to find that there's an even more special event INSIDE the special event that you have to pay for again...this goes on for 16 times until you get to the final most VIP level, and you find yourself on a shuttle to the airport.

 

[mara512]

It's a special event where you pay to get in to the special event, only to find that there's an even more special event INSIDE the special event that you have to pay for again...this goes on for 16 times until you get to the final most VIP level, and you find yourself on a shuttle to the airport.

Post of the day!

 

[rteetz]

Rumor - per Spirit

Fantasmic 2.0 for 2017 not sure if this is for DLR or DHS, it wasn't clear in his post.

Yep posted that. Seems its more for DLR but I would imagine some updates to DHS as well.