Project Gemini

[tfc3rid]

Screamscape has some additional fodder for the rumor boards today on the Rumored Epcot Project:

Project Gemini - Rumor - (11/11/02) Lately there has been a lot of talk about something called Project Gemini. It seems to mean different things to most people, but what seems to be in agreement is that this is a giant plan from corporate to possibly spend anywhere from $300-400 million on a variety of projects and updates all over Epcot to breath new life into the park. According to once source, the blue sky plan for WDI at one point was to think up all new projects and enhancements for virtually every pavilion in the entire park, with the exception of Space, Test Track and the American Adventure. They would then weed this down to what was financially and technologically feasible. The funding itself is apparently what was being set aside in the master plan for a possible fifth theme park, but it was agreed upon that they need to fix up what they have first before moving ahead with yet another park.
Currently it seems that most of the rumors are centered about ideas for Future World pavilions, but there were a few tossed in for World Showcase as well. Some of these are just blue sky dreams while others may stand a chance of becoming reality... only time will tell.
Rumored Possible Attraction Ideas -
Soarin’ Over Epcot - (Rumor listed above)
Creating some kind of Rolie Polie Olie attraction in one of the Innovention wings.
Universe of Energy may attempt to make an obvious tie in to the Monsters Inc. film.
Body Wars was once looking at a new ride concept that would involve Toy Story characters.
China - A new CircleVision film, perhaps tied development of a new attraction for HKDL.
A Broadway style theater (Hyperion Theater) to replace the small stage in America pavilion
An undersea themed theater for life performance acts (Little Mermaid?) next to Living Seas.
I’m sure there are other projects as well, but this gives you an idea. Meanwhile the latest word is that we may hear something about this in early 2003 when they start to talk about the opening of Space and what the future holds for Epcot (ie: The next WDW celebration).

 

[All Aboard]

My first reaction to this is not favorable. It appears that this plans moves Epcot further from its original intent. If Walt's vision for Epcot (the community of tomorrow) can be called Epcot 1.0, then we got Epcot 2.0 (a theme park that shows off what may be coming in the near future with respect to how we live, eat, communicate and move around.)

This sure sounds like Epcot 3.0, a venue for a variety of disjointed attractions without much in the way of a common theme. What disturbs me the most is that Disney movies may now be core to the theme of many attractions. I liked the fact that this (with the exception of the movie that replaced Symbiosis) didn't exist at Epcot. If Sully, Mike and Rolie Polie Olie invade Future World, the park really changes it's feel in my opinion.

I'm all for updating attractions in Future World and always have been. But, this is not the direction I'd prefer.

PS, after reading this I noticed that my post count was reduced by roughly 700. Is this a new punishment system?? Landbaron, you'll be negative shortly after your return

 

[Bstanley]

Yikes!

Personally I don't like the name - Gemini.

Smells too much like a plan to break EPCOT into two parts/two gates.

 

[raidermatt]

Screamscape

Screamscape actually has quite a few new updates from Friday and Monday.

Besides the Epcot and Forbidden Mountain updates...

Classified as a "crazy" rumor, but a rumor nonetheless, is another 4D theatre for Disney Studios, with this one based on Finding Nemo.

Tower of Terror 4 is said to be excellent. The author says he rode it twice and its full of surprises.

The Philharmagic story involves Mickey getting ready to conduct an orchestra, only to have Donald snag his sorcerer hat, and of course instigate full-fledged mayhem. Wdwmagic.com also said that "groundwork for all the animatronics is also going in right now". This does sound promising, but its all in the execution.

The Cheesecake Factory contract in DQ is said to be coming to an end, and a rumor has an ESPN Zone taking over, and possibly taking more space, possibly the entire building. I'm not sure what this would mean to the ESPN Club on the BW.

Certainly there are a lot of questions surrounding all of these, but at least its something to talk about. Hasn't been much going on lately...

On Project Gemini, no mention of the park-splitting idea. Hopefully, its a dead issue.

Anybody else with inside info on this or anything else?

 

[Another Voice]

Quick comments –

Plans like these go on all the time at WDI. You’ve got a bunch of people sitting around turning out ideas trying to find one that is good, or at least one that the parks will pay for. Most of the time, the ideas change radically over time – ‘Mickey’s Philharmonic’ started out as a ‘Soaring Over California’ clone for the Magic Kingdom (amazing what budget cuts can accomplish, isn’t it?).

A ‘Monster’ remake for ‘Universe of Energy’, ‘Nemo’ and ‘Rollie’ for Imagination are just ideas following the old “if it’s marketing it has a better chance of getting approved” reasoning that produced all those rumors about all those ‘Atlantis’ rides and the ‘Lilo’ remakes of ‘Tiki Room’ and/or ‘Alien Encounter’. And soon you’ll be hearing rumors about Eddie Murphy recording a new narration for ‘Haunted Mansion’ too and a Johnny Depp figure being built for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’.

The DisneyQuest rumor is becoming less of a rumor everyday. There are “rumors” that DQ’s large exhibits will find their way to Disneyland to fill in all of the empty buildings that make up the “New Tomorrowland”. The ESPN Zone’s have been holding their own and Disney is “rumored” to be anxious to have a flagship restaurant at WDW.

About Project Gemini – let’s just say there’s a group working on “how do we get Epcot’s attendance up” and another group working on “how do we make the most money from the Epcot parks”.

Everything comes down to money. There’s no chance Eisner would approve $300-$400 million in capital spending at the parks. All that WDI is hoping is that they can come up with a few small ideas (think ‘Tarzan’s Treehouse’) just to keep everyone working until the Big Guy is replaced by someone who cares about running theme parks.

 

[tfc3rid]

I hear ya' AV.

Project ideas can be floated anytime, I as an engineer know that all too well. What it comes down to is the Almighty dollar and a commitment to make things happen. Disney has not shown the commitment to take the chances they used to keeping in mind $$. Thus, we get projects like Dino-Rama or Flik's Fun Fair as opposed to Beastly Kingdom or Fire Mountain.

AV is right. Until the someone is in charge of Disney who is commited to Capital Expenditures which are new and creative. Or...how about just having Mr. Eisner commited?