Opinion Poll: Should EPCOT secede from Disney World?

[An1mag1qu3]

I think its great the way it is! Just the right amount of things to keep kids happy but mainly geared for adults.

Except the fact that it's a shell of it's former self, and is probably the biggest tragedy in theme park history, but you know it's "great"!

 

[BeachClub2014]

I voted "No", but I do think it needs some serious attention by Disney. I have been going to Epcot for well over 15-years and have watched it slowly offer less and less in terms of unique or interesting entertainment or shopping offerings. The parade they had in WS back in 2000 was amazing, one of the best parades in my mind, is one example. Scaling back, and in some cases almost eliminating the shopping "experience" for the host country of each pavilion reduces the experience. Leaving huge buildings empty of any activity or experiences, except for during specific festivals sure seems like a waste of space.

 

[liquidbase]

I voted "No", but I do think it needs some serious attention by Disney. I have been going to Epcot for well over 15-years and have watched it slowly offer less and less in terms of unique or interesting entertainment or shopping offerings. The parade they had in WS back in 2000 was amazing, one of the best parades in my mind, is one example. Scaling back, and in some cases almost eliminating the shopping "experience" for the host country of each pavilion reduces the experience. Leaving huge buildings empty of any activity or experiences, except for during specific festivals sure seems like a waste of space.

I would like to see a new permanent attraction in the former Wonders of Life pavilion.

 

[Rivermonster]

I'm sorry, but I'm a little offended by this question

That said...yes, it needs help...but secede? Ummm, no. I'd rather see Hollywood Studios...errr, MGM...I mean, working title, secede first...just saying

 

[Motherofcats8]

Could it? Yes. Should it... absolutely not! The synergy of Disney product with Epcot Science and culture is needed to make Epcot what it is. I guess I'm one of the old timers who really doesn't mind the changes that have happened. I never liked going until they started the festivals, changed the old attractions to the new ones, and I was also one who thought that it was a good idea to incorporate characters and Disney story into the park to appeal to more ages. Sorry, but old Epcot was a snooze-fest. I would have rather been on a marathon of Small World for 24 hours. I don't believe that Epcot would make it without the Disney product and reputation. The loss of Annual Passholders and multi-day tickets would kill it too. I'm with Magic Fanatic on this one!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

That would be cool. Checkpoints at the bridge to show your papers, replace the shuttle barges with gunboats and arm the monorail for sort-of-quick strikes on the TTC. Epcot could then expand its territory to take DHS, and the final battle for AK could be done on lion-back.

if nothing else, the Mouse could get a movie out of it. Which would lead to more rides

They could protect the borders by catapulting stale school breads to warn off illegals trying to cross over and infiltrate!
BTW-I voted no!

 

[Yellowstonetim]

Except the fact that it's a shell of it's former self, and is probably the biggest tragedy in theme park history, but you know it's "great"!

Shell of it's former self!?!?

Biggest tragedy in theme park history!?!?

I've told you a billion times not to exaggerate!

Epcot is fantastic as-is. To many it is their favorite park as-is. We went in 2013. Beautiful, clean, fun, and one of the most unique theme parks in the world! The countries are awesome. Is it perfect? No. It could use an update to the empty pavilion, but we do multiple days there and it is great. Some of the best rides in the world and there is no place on earth like World Showcase.

People discount the synergy of the 4 unique parks at WDW. Even with an Animal Kingdom in transition, Hollywood Studios updating, and Epcot with an empty pavilion, it is the most fantastic destination in the world. There is enough at each park today to keep me coming and having a blast. I'm going to Universal for 2 days in a 2 week stay this fall, which will be great. I love some of the things Uni is doing. But it still doesn't hold a candle to WDW's star. Shell? Tragedy? I don't think so.

 

[>Ash<]

SO....hang on... you want to seperate EPCOT form Disney? WHY? Disney created epcot? why would epcot split from its own creator? and to be fair it cant! disney own epcot epcot is disney! why would they make there own park indipendant? sorry just dont get this at all!

 

[Stitchypoo626]

No, even as a kid and now a teenager EPCOT and World Showcase is my favorite place to visit in the Parks. I went once with my parents when I was younger during the Food and Wine Festival and it was fantastic. Of course I couldn't drink, but the food at the stands was awesome. I love the show at the United States Pavilion and also a lot of the other attractions. The places to eat there are also awesome. Future World also has some great things too, but could use some new stuff.

 

[rteetz]

SO....hang on... you want to seperate EPCOT form Disney? WHY? Disney created epcot? why would epcot split from its own creator? and to be fair it cant! disney own epcot epcot is disney! why would they make there own park indipendant? sorry just dont get this at all!

It's theoretical. It would ever happen but it's what if. Disney does own Epcot but they could sell it if they wanted.

 

[rteetz]

Shell of it's former self!?!?

Biggest tragedy in theme park history!?!?

I've told you a billion times not to exaggerate!

Epcot is fantastic as-is. To many it is their favorite park as-is. We went in 2013. Beautiful, clean, fun, and one of the most unique theme parks in the world! The countries are awesome. Is it perfect? No. It could use an update to the empty pavilion, but we do multiple days there and it is great. Some of the best rides in the world and there is no place on earth like World Showcase.

People discount the synergy of the 4 unique parks at WDW. Even with an Animal Kingdom in transition, Hollywood Studios updating, and Epcot with an empty pavilion, it is the most fantastic destination in the world. There is enough at each park today to keep me coming and having a blast. I'm going to Universal for 2 days in a 2 week stay this fall, which will be great. I love some of the things Uni is doing. But it still doesn't hold a candle to WDW's star. Shell? Tragedy? I don't think so.

Epcot isn't terrible but it's not where it used to be. I think the recent closure on innoventions shows that. I think with a few updates and additions here and there it would be a perfect park but that takes time and money that Disney doesn't seem willing to spend. DHS isn't updating yet and who knows when it will start because they seem to keep pushing whatever they are going to do back. I'd also argue even though that I haven't been there that TDL is the most fantastic destination in the world. Epcot center as it was once called was a permanent worlds fair something that had incredible new tech in future world and the countries well represented in wold showcase. Today we have arrendale taking over Norway and innoventions closed up I think it is somewhat a shell of its former self but is that going to stop me from going? Not yet at least if they continue it very well could. The path Epcot is on is not a good one for the park.

 

[Planogirl]

Could it? Yes. Should it... absolutely not! The synergy of Disney product with Epcot Science and culture is needed to make Epcot what it is. I guess I'm one of the old timers who really doesn't mind the changes that have happened. I never liked going until they started the festivals, changed the old attractions to the new ones, and I was also one who thought that it was a good idea to incorporate characters and Disney story into the park to appeal to more ages. Sorry, but old Epcot was a snooze-fest. I would have rather been on a marathon of Small World for 24 hours. I don't believe that Epcot would make it without the Disney product and reputation. The loss of Annual Passholders and multi-day tickets would kill it too. I'm with Magic Fanatic on this one!

This just illustrates how different we all are. I consider today's Epcot a snoozefest and loved the old version. Whenever we go I like to ride the few rides and see the sea life and I'm ready to go.

 

[Josh Hendy]

Most successful companies become victims of their success. Once you have millions of customers, you can't please them all because millions of people have millions of different tastes and preferences. Even if you try to please the majority of them, there is still potentially a very large minority of customers who won't like what you're doing to pander to the majority.

Not only that, but a very large company has many different products and business units and they will inevitably tend to focus on the small number that make the most money and neglect all of the other products and business units. Niche products hold no interest to big companies, they only interest small companies, usually startups who have no cash cows to nourish and no legacy business culture (read: entrenched bureaucratic deadwood).

Also, the bigger the company, the more detached most of its employees become from the customers. Pleasing their boss and catching the eye of their boss's boss and their boss's boss's boss is a lot more important to keeping their job and getting promoted than listening to real customers.

That is why Epcot might potentially be a better park if was a completely separate, standalone product. It is obvious that absolutely nobody with any serious drag at Disney Corp is saying, "How can we make Epcot a world-beating, first-class theme park, what do we have to spend to make it so, and what will our return on investment be?" The people that DO have serious drag at Disney are talking about DVC conversions, IT megaprojects which tie together bookings across the entire resort, maximizing hotel occupancy with meal plans and other promotions, and leveraging the latest hit movie to maximize the sale of T-shirts and plastic figurines ... with the lowest possible capital investment.

Read that last sentence again ... do you see anything in there which would DIRECTLY help make Epcot a better park?

If Epcot was a completely separate business, the owners/managers would have no choice except to make it the best possible destination, because they wouldn't have any other way of making money.

 

[An1mag1qu3]

Shell of it's former self!?!?

Biggest tragedy in theme park history!?!?

I've told you a billion times not to exaggerate!

Epcot is fantastic as-is. To many it is their favorite park as-is. We went in 2013. Beautiful, clean, fun, and one of the most unique theme parks in the world! The countries are awesome. Is it perfect? No. It could use an update to the empty pavilion, but we do multiple days there and it is great. Some of the best rides in the world and there is no place on earth like World Showcase.

People discount the synergy of the 4 unique parks at WDW. Even with an Animal Kingdom in transition, Hollywood Studios updating, and Epcot with an empty pavilion, it is the most fantastic destination in the world. There is enough at each park today to keep me coming and having a blast. I'm going to Universal for 2 days in a 2 week stay this fall, which will be great. I love some of the things Uni is doing. But it still doesn't hold a candle to WDW's star. Shell? Tragedy? I don't think so.

You obviously never went before 1997...

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I went the year after it opened, several times in the late 80's, and again several times in the 90's. Changed yes. Some for the better, some not. Terrible? Tragedy? Shell? No. Not by a long shot! The place is awesome. It is all in the perspective.

 

[liquidbase]

Some of the original attractions are my favorites.

 

[rteetz]

I went the year after it opened, several times in the late 80's, and again several times in the 90's. Changed yes. Some for the better, some not. Terrible? Tragedy? Shell? No. Not by a long shot! The place is awesome. It is all in the perspective.

So letting pavilions sit empty and rot is awesome?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

So letting pavilions sit empty and rot is awesome?

That's a pretty straight forward, cut and dry question...

Likely to be ignored or completed sidestepped

 

[Yellowstonetim]

So letting pavilions sit empty and rot is awesome?

That's a pretty straight forward, cut and dry question...

Likely to be ignored or completed sidestepped

No, I didn't say an empty pavilion was awesome. I said Epcot as-is, is awesome. Epcot as a whole. Ask the average person as they exist at the end of the day and they will tell you they loved the place. My last visit I loved the place. I didn't see any "rot" nor did I see anything falling apart. Place looked beautiful. It is my second favorite after Animal Kingdom. Will I like it when they do something with the pavilion? Sure. Hope they do. But when you walk through the whole place and look at it objectively, it is an amazing and wonderful theme park. It would not be one of the top attendance parks in the world if this was not true. Calling it terrible, a shell, a tragedy, is just bombast.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

In agree the language might be a bit overboard...

But empty/mothballed pavilions with no replacement for a $100 gate is just not very easy to justify.