Old Epcot is missed

[wtg2000]

If not a Russian pavillion, I think a pavillion for Spain, Brazil, Kenya, Australia, Austria, Egypt or Switzerland would be a good addition.

Good ideas.

I don't think we'd see Kenya since Africa is already represented in AK. Some for Australia. I think they would put a section in AK - unless Australia wanted to pay for an EPCOT pavilion which I've never heard any rumours about.

Spain is being rumoured about.

Switzerland was also mentioned back in the early 90s but apparently financing fell through. It may have had a Matterhorn-type ride.

Not to slag Austria because it's a beautiful country but they may feel it's a bit too much like Germany. Reports said that Disney turned down a Korean proposal, citing it was too much like Japan or China.

Brazil would be neat and different. I'd love to see Egypt as it has so much to draw from artistically.

Apparently, it cost a lot to build a pavilion - at least $50 million by the host country. So they need sponsors - corporations. Ironically, I'm sure there are countries that would love the exposure but can't afford to build one. The countries that could (France, Canada, Germany, etc) had the money but probably didn't need the exposure as much!

I would love to see Russia - although the food we had there wasn't up to much. But then we probably didn't eat in very good places. One morning for breakfast the hotel gave us a cheese sandwich swimming in butter (which nobody could stomach) and a bottle of coke!

 

[texas8891]

I think a Swiss ski attraction would be great or an Egyptian tomb thrill ride would be a great addition. They could even add a ski type attraction to the Canadian pavillion if they wanted to hold down expenses.

 

[treesinger]

I would love to see Greece!

 

[wtg2000]

I would love to see Greece!

Is it still playing on Broadway?

Here are my thoughts on Greece and Egypt - strictly speculation.

I think the reason we got Morocco and not Egypt is because the former has a King and he can just say we're building a pavilion. The latter has a president and parliament so it's not as easy unless they get a corporate sponsor. The problem is that I don't know if Egypt have any corp. that would benefit. Their two biggest economic sectors are tourism (made up of smaller entities) and the Suez Canal. So I'm not sure who would put up the money- except for maybe the government tourism board.

As for Grease, sorry Greece, it's a small country population-wise whose biggest product is already tourism. I think they mostly cater to European package tourists for all their resorts. Maybe they don't feel that a pavilion in America would really benefit them, or again maybe they didn't have a corporation to help with the financing.

My Mom once saw plans for a gleaming white Greek hotel to be build on Seven Seas Lagoon (she got 10 Disney dollars for doing the survey!).

 

[King Triton]

These are some GREAT ideas!!!

Instead of Disney buying the Muppets for mega millions, they should build these pavillions instead. You could have a new cool dark ride with each new country pavillion added.

Let's do it!!

 

[eeyore0062]

I never liked to go to Epcot before, but now I really enjoy it. It needed an update, and there is still work to be done. I am glad they have some thrill rides, and that they are incorporating some of the movies into the pavillions, like adding Finding Nemo to the Living Seas... what a great idea. I think that the coming "Soaring Over California" is going to be a big hit, and Mission Space is "out of this world".

Now, if they could just update some of the World Showcase with some new and exciting shows, rides and exhibits!

 

[ShadowWind]

I've just discovered this forum for the first time today and I must say it's great reading all the opinions and comments on one of my favorite subjects.

I always loved the dark rides of EPCOT and other parks because the audio-animatronics and creative vision of these rides really thrilled me no end. Being an artist myself, I was just amazed at how wonderful these visions were. My favorite scene in World of Motion is the scene where the car meets the horsedrawn carriage in the streets, with the chickens and fruit all over. People don't realize how much thought and creativity goes into a scene like that. Most other scenes in WoM and Horizons and Journey were like this. The new generation seems to think that basically it's only thrilling if it's a physical thrill. It's a shame that that is the case, but it's true. For me, they've gutted Epcot beyond repair. In my last trip there, I spent 2 hours there just to see what was new (and since I can't do thrill rides), there wasn't really anything).

I don't agree on Living Seas, I love to relax in there and watch the dolphins and the fish, the jellyfish are awesome. I do kinda like the Finding Nemo references, I think it connects the attraction more to the kids. I would love to have seen them do the original attraction as it was designed in the EPCOT book.

Disney needs to get back to what sets them apart from the rest of the theme parks, and that is their magic and whimsical look at life and life's moments. It can be done. Just look how popular Pirates and Mansion are. I think that TT and M:S could have been built in separate buildings, but that's just me. At least we didn't lose Country Bears here in WDW, like they did in California.

 

[NandP]

I just listened to the President of WDW (I forget his mname) Give speech at the Feb 11th Investors meeting... ...

Near rthe end he mentions a new attraction called "expedition Everest" big news at the meeting... I guess that can be a thrill ride..
Here's the link to the audio, or just poke around teh site, there's lots of speeches...

Speech

 

[aikodude]

The dark rides must stay! ESPECIALLY Space Ship Earth!!!

We're going back in May this year. Just last night while lying quitely in bed and talking about the trip to my little one - 6 (this'll be her 5th time at WDW!) I asked her what she wanted to do the very first thing when we got there. Almost immediately she said the first thing she wants to do is go on Space Ship Earth! (The big globe at epcot daddy!)

Disney really needs consider the appeal a cool dark ride has on a hot florida day. Her second favorite is Ellen's Energy Adventure. ("ENERGY! ENERGY!!!")

 

[eeyore0062]

Expedition Everest is a thrill ride slated to open in early 2006 in Animal Kingdom. The premise is a train ride to the top of Mt Everest, but the travelers meet up with Yeti (the abominable snowman), sending the train backwards through the mountain at breakneck speed. Both a dark ride, and a thrill ride, it should appeal to many and is designed as a family coaster experience. It is also to be the the tallest "mountain" in the WDW mountain range at nearly 200 ft above the ground.

I think that this concept of combining dark and thrill rides could be used to great effect in Epcot, as well. Epcot definitely needs more of a face lift, and needs to appeal to a wider audience. As I said before, Mission Space and Test Track, as well as the forthcoming Soaring Over California are a good start, but they are just that, only a start.

 

[caseymaureen]

I would love to see a Brazilian pavilion, and I would love to see something on Australia although that's more likely at Animal Kingdom. There was a mini Spain pavilion set up for the Food & Wine festival in 2002 that we were told was a kind of test for the real thing- not sure how it went. A Spain pavilion would be very nice, as I think a Greece pavilion would be. Both have distinctive architecture and culture. I think the only problem would be the space limitation, but I think they could at least a few more in there.

 

[wtg2000]

Epcot definitely needs more of a face lift, and needs to appeal to a wider audience. As I said before, Mission Space and Test Track, as well as the forthcoming Soaring Over California are a good start, but they are just that, only a start.

A wider audience? It's interesting but there are people who can't ride TT or M:S whereas I doubt there was anyone who couldn't ride Horizons or World of Motion.

I think the only problem would be the space limitation,

There's room for plenty more.

 

[texas8891]

I also think that it would benefit Epcot to add more live performances to the Future World section. They have some performances near the fountains periodically during the day, but I think more performances on either side of Future World would be nice. If you're not in one of the pavillions, there is often little going on in the area.

 

[wtg2000]

The inclusion of video games in the post M:S area shows the audience they are going for. My Mom, who didn't wish to ride, had nothing to do but sit on a bench waiting for me. I guess they want the teens to go on these rides and adults who don't wish to be blasted into space to head to WS and shop and eat in expensive restaurants.

Did anyone notice the similarities between M:S and Star Tours?

M:S - hypersleep
ST - hyperspace

M:S - exit to an asteroid field
ST - exit to a comet field

M:S - descend and swerve through canyons on Mars
ST - descend and swerve through canyons on the Death Star

M:S - sweeping left turn
ST - sweeping right turn

M:S - Brakes!
ST - Brakes!