Please Put Epcot Out Of Its Misery!

[joy13]

Yeah I hope Future World is their next major renovation and not(shudder) Avatarland.

I can agree with both sides of the argument on this thread. I think some complaints are overblown, and I think some really good points/ideas have been brought up for improvement. The thing I agree most with is what you just said - "Avatarland" I think if Disney actually goes through with that idea, it would be a huge mistake! Does anyone ever think about that movie anymore. It was a big deal for a few months. I understand using movies like Harry Potter, Star Wars - that had several blockbuster movies (and books) but to base something that huge off of one movie, that doesn't seem to be cared about anymore seems crazy to me.

 

[PolynesianAlex]

Sorry, but I think your family misses a lot! My family loves Epcot, and not just the World Showcase.

You seem to forget that Soarin is a fairly recent (and huge) addition to Epcot. Spaceship Earth was recently redone, and Nemo was added to the Seas ride. Plus they are updating TestTrack (hence the singers). Do they need to do more? YES! But they haven't been ignoring Epcot. Far from it.

Fairly recent? 8 years isn't recent

 

[MrRob]

So I read some of this thread last night and it really got me thinking about Epcot. I've come to conclusion that yes, Future World is a big mess. It has lost the spirit upon which it was built and literally every attraction in Future World save maybe one or two would need major work to become what it once was.

Ultimately Future World was founded on the idea of intellectually exciting rides. Over time they switched their focus from intellectually exciting to physically exciting, but they failed on that front. At the end of the day Mission Space and Test Track don't hold up to what modern thrill rides offer in other parks. So now it's neither intellectually or physically exciting.

EPCOT was Disney trying to make good on Walts dream of the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow. Future World was going to showcase the future we could hopefully look forward to while exploring all facets of our world. Arguably that's what it was when it opened in the 80s. You had really engaging and thought provoking rides like Horizons and Spaceship Earth. Sure they weren't exciting the way a roller coaster is, but that was never the point.

I think Future World could be saved, but it would mean drastic changes, such as redoing rides like Test Track and Mission space completely, and refocusing on what made Epcot exciting to begin with, a vision of our possible future.

Just a short example: Mission Space skips over all of the important and exciting aspects of going to Mars, and focuses on just the two that could be easily recreated with a jet ride. The take off and landing? Really? I want to see what life in Space would be like. I want to see what could happen to humanity when it lives on another planet. I want to see the technology we'll use to overcome the problems that arise in sending man across space. I don't care about the G forces of a takeoff and a shaky landing on an unrealistically placed runway at the edge of the cliff.

Anyway I could go in depth over each attraction, but that would probably break the character limit I'm sure. In any case, as much as I love WDW, I'm sad to think about how much better Future World could be if Disney focused on it's core premise.

 

[sexyravenfan]

When I was younger, I LOVED Kitchen Kabaret! Most people are so healthy food crazy now they should bring that back. Audio animatronic fruit and veggies singing veggie veggie fruit fruit..its def better than Captain EO!

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Its def better than Captain EO!

Anything is better than Captain EO (excluding you Stitch's Great Escape).

 

[familyfirsttimer]

We just rode Living with the Land last week and we always skipped it before. It was actually really cool to go through the greenhouses and see all the cool engineering that is going on with the produce.
I think this is another example of some "sleepers" that might really be interesting.

We also did Sum of all Thrills and that was COOL! Use a little math to desighn your ride and then ride it...another cool thing.

I agree that the "future" piece of things is outdated but I do enjoy the vairety of things that Epcot offers and reminds me why one size does not fit all.

 

[ols386]

I love walking through the World Showcase at Epcot, and many of the restaurants there, and I like Soarin, other than that, there isn't really anything else there that excites me.

Test Track is ok, World of Energy with Ellen is ok (nice place to go and sit down in the a/c for awhile and get cooled off).

If it weren't for World Showcase, I'd probably skip Epcot.

 

[xipetotec]

I agree on all counts, except for that part about Figment...I like Figment.

I like Figment too! I also like the current Spaceship Earth, Soarin, Mission: Space AND the Nemo ride.

So I don't quite agree with OP that it's dire. HOWEVER I do find it a shame that the Wonders of Life has been sitting there dead, and energy Adventure could use an update.

 

[Greenfield1984]

OP I have a feeling you've just been to Epcot too many times. I'm sure that most first time visitors would still be impressed by what Epcot has to offer, and not just the world showcase.

I myself have visited the world 7 times now and Epcot has been, and continues to be, my favorite park. I easily get a full day of enjoyment of futureworld, another at world showcase, and still feel i need a third day to be fully satisfied.

Just thinking of Epcot now fills me with warm fuzzy feelings.

That being said it may just be that Epcot isn't your cup of tea. Which is fine. Different people like different things. Thats the great thing about Disney. There are tons of alternatives out there. But to put Epcot out of its misery because you don't think its up to par is unnecessary.

For now bypass Epcot and let us Epcot lovers continue to frequent the park. I'm sure if attendance goes down then Disney will do some major changes.

Heck even if attendance doesn't go down Disney probably will do something major to Epcot. Right now though I think Disney is spending too much money on other parks to worry about Epcot. Give it time though. Epcot will get its turn.

 

[maxiesmom]

They close down Test Track until Dec 1st & what do they do? Get more singers. Do they get a special rate on singers or something? The BEST part of Epcot at Christmas was the dancing arch of lights to the majestic Christmas music!!!!

Nah, the best part is the extra bit they add onto Illuminations. Gives me the chills to hear it.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We spend more time in Epcot than any of the other parks. I must agree thought that it needs some work. A new film for Soarin would be nice. Please, please let's get rid of Captain Eo for good this time. I still love riding Spaceship Earth.

 

[jade1]

I wouldn't mind an "all world showcase" EPCOT actually. Its getting to be our fave in all of WDW now that the kids are all 21. As long as the new countries added have some attractions in them-and keep SE of course. Maybe integrate Soarin into some country.

 

[richmo]

I wouldn't mind an "all world showcase" EPCOT actually. Its getting to be our fave in all of WDW now that the kids are all 21. As long as the new countries added have some attractions in them-and keep SE of course. Maybe integrate Soarin into some country.

Just kidding on this, but turn FW into American Showcase. The Land w/Soarin' - California, Test Track - Michigan, Mission:Space - Florida, Universe of Energy - maybe Texas, Living Seas ...hmm, maybe Alaska or Hawaii. Get some of the other states to contribute as well Or get some corporations to kick in, kind of '64 World's Fair-like.

 

[lugnut33]

So I read some of this thread last night and it really got me thinking about Epcot. I've come to conclusion that yes, Future World is a big mess. It has lost the spirit upon which it was built and literally every attraction in Future World save maybe one or two would need major work to become what it once was.

Ultimately Future World was founded on the idea of intellectually exciting rides. Over time they switched their focus from intellectually exciting to physically exciting, but they failed on that front. At the end of the day Mission Space and Test Track don't hold up to what modern thrill rides offer in other parks. So now it's neither intellectually or physically exciting.

EPCOT was Disney trying to make good on Walts dream of the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow. Future World was going to showcase the future we could hopefully look forward to while exploring all facets of our world. Arguably that's what it was when it opened in the 80s. You had really engaging and thought provoking rides like Horizons and Spaceship Earth. Sure they weren't exciting the way a roller coaster is, but that was never the point.

I think Future World could be saved, but it would mean drastic changes, such as redoing rides like Test Track and Mission space completely, and refocusing on what made Epcot exciting to begin with, a vision of our possible future.

Just a short example: Mission Space skips over all of the important and exciting aspects of going to Mars, and focuses on just the two that could be easily recreated with a jet ride. The take off and landing? Really? I want to see what life in Space would be like. I want to see what could happen to humanity when it lives on another planet. I want to see the technology we'll use to overcome the problems that arise in sending man across space. I don't care about the G forces of a takeoff and a shaky landing on an unrealistically placed runway at the edge of the cliff.

Anyway I could go in depth over each attraction, but that would probably break the character limit I'm sure. In any case, as much as I love WDW, I'm sad to think about how much better Future World could be if Disney focused on it's core premise.

For a newbie, that's a pretty darn good post MrRob and I agree with everything you said. I would really love to see a ride focused on quantum physics in our universe, there is so much neat stuff in that realm. Just imagine a room on multi-verses and another one on creating something from nothing.

 

[mjallemand]

The loss of Horizons, World of Motion, Wonders of Life, (The Original) Journey Into Imagination, and (The Original) The Living Seas combined is likely one of the biggest tragedies in the history of The Walt Disney company. Epcot just doesn't feel the same without everything being connected with over overall narrative of education through entertainment.

That being said, it shouldn't be "put out of its misery". As bad as we all think it may be now, it was great just a mere 15 years ago. So, by my math, it may take only a mere 15 years to get a shred of its former greatness back.

Or it may get worse. We'll see.

 

[idofabric]

We first rode Soarin' in ECPOT, then went to Calif and rode the orginal one...what a vast diffrence! Just the wait line in Cal. is so much better. And while we were there, they didn't have any line at all, we walked on. Oh, except for the talk I had with an Imagineer...who was talking about the "new" Soarin' in WDW...and we were told that the film in WDW was going to be the same as Cal. for a while, the plan was for a new film to be made that showcased all of the USA.....still waiting for that. And if you look on Google Earth you will see that there is a ton of space for more countries in WS.
This all being said...lots of CMs/Imagineers tell guests stuff they think is true, or is true when it is passed along, but then Disney changes plans.
The countries in WS were sponsored by the countries themselfs...in this day and with the way most of the countries are just trying to pay off the debt they owe, which country would have the money to invest in ECPOT?
I think that the entire park was/is/has been or was planned to be a coop. effort between countries in the WS, and companies in FW. Who has the money today? Disney doesn't, if you believe the reasons they give yearly for the upcharg of ticket costs/meals/rooms...and with all the work going on at WDW I bet the annual August ticket costs at gonna go way up...
I agree that there is a lot that needs to be done in the entire WDW. I do think it still looks a lot better then other parks, but have noticed that it is not as clean as it used to be.
ECPOT has been our family favorite, and is still our favorite for years. I don't think we have been in FW for years, except for when SoATs first opened. We do pass through both sides when we need to get away from crowds on the way to other attractions, or when we need protection from the weather. Otherwise since the plastic robots have gone away we haven't been in either.
Really want more countries!!! And maybe FW could be used for special events for Flower/Garden or for Food and Wine. Think of all the indoor stuff they could do. Cooking school! Indoor class on hydro gardening for homes....there must be a ton of ideas they could put in place in those 2 big places! And there are a lot of companies that would get a once a year shot at showcasing their products...solar engery in a do-it-yourself format...recycling workshops- junk into art....make and take mini gardens....?

 

[queenofpainting]

Yeah, I have to admit that while I admire the ambition and intent of Epcot, it's by far my least favorite park and does, indeed, need a makeover or at least one more impressive attraction (anything from a coaster to a general thrill ride to an all-ages show—not Captain EO, though I haven't seen that yet). Imagineers should be clever enough to work in an educational angle into such an attraction, I'm sure. I actually haven't been on Mission Space yet, because I'm afraid my motion sickness will get me, so that basically leaves me with the big, must-see attractions being Test Track (but not for my upcoming trip, sadly!) and Soarin'. I enjoy walking around World Showcase, like many do, but I do also like some thrills somewhere.

 

[Fantasmic23]

- The whole Test Track refurb fiasco, punctuated by the hastily thrown-together Test Track singers - somewhere Up With People is laughing hysterically

- When you ask you kids what they enjoyed most at Future World, and they say Living With the Land, it's time to re-evaluate things


That's at least more interesting than watching Alex Trebek banter with Bill Nye the Science Guy.


Epcot - time to step up. You have Figment and the Test Track Five. Think about it

 

[NotUrsula]

Thanks.

I YouTube searched - couldn't find it. I was using Test Track Five or something, I dunno.

O M G

I'm embarrassed for them. This is awful. Really bad. Good grief.

LOL, they LOOK like a demo team from Mad Science, but they sound like trouble.

Here's an idea, HIRE a demo team from Mad Science. Kids love them, they tend to be good at presentations, and guests might learn a little something without even realizing it. When you see 5 guys in lab coats walking around with what looks like apparatus on a cart, cool pyrotechnics really SHOULD be the payoff for stopping to watch them.

 

[Planogirl]

I just watched the Test Track Five or whatever they're called. Test Track is DS' favorite ride and I just have to get him to see this.