Rumor: EPCOT New Countries Coming!

[amw]

I know guide books are outdated well before they are published... but in the 2008 Unofficial Guide, Jim Hill hints the new country would be from Asia with a themed-ride.

Since they already have China and Japan... India perhaps or Phillipines

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I know guide books are outdated well before they are published... but in the 2008 Unofficial Guide, Jim Hill hints the new country would be from Asia with a themed-ride.

Jim Hill does not have a good batting average when it comes to his rumors becoming realities.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Since they already have China and Japan... India perhaps or Phillipines

Other countries that are technically in Asia are Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Georgia, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakstan, Korea (North), Korea (South), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen.

But I don't expect any of them in 2008.

Seriously, I would gladly see any of them added to World Showcase. Some of you are probably thinking, "Horace, why in the world would you want to see countries like North Korea or Iran added to World Showcase?"

The point is that World Showcase is not about governments; it's about people and their culture (art, history, food, music, architecture, food, language, and so on). By that standard, World Showcase would feature the traditions of Persia, not the government of modern-day Iran. And it would be Korea, not North Korea (or South Korea, for that matter) -- just as it was Germany, not West Germany or East Germany, when Epcot opened before the fall of Communist East Germany.

I'm not saying that Persia or Korea would be my top choices. But with a good restaurant, appropriate shopping, and a creative attraction, any national culture in the world could make a good addition to World Showcase.

 

[hopey1kenobi]

As explained earlier in this thread, the World Showcase pavilions are not funded by the governments of the countries (Morocco is a notable exception).

I may be wrong, but I believe that the Canadian Tourism board help fund the new additions to "'Oh Canada" and the French tourism board funded "Impressions de France" in the French pavilion.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I may be wrong, but I believe that the Canadian Tourism board help fund the new additions to "'Oh Canada" and the French tourism board funded "Impressions de France" in the French pavilion.

In 1982, France had four "participants."

1. Barton & Guestier (wine)
2. Guy LaRoche (fashion/fragrance)
3. Lanson Champagne (sparkling wine)
4. The French Chefs (dining)

As far as I know, "Impressions de France" was entirely funded by Disney.

In 1982, Canada didn't have any "participants." As far as I know, the original "O Canada" 360-degree movie was entirely funded by Disney.

For the new version of "O Canada," the Canadian Tourism Commission lobbied to have Disney change the movie, and, according to press reports, "played a role in creating the new version, and agreed with Disney on the choice of Short as narrator." I don't know if that means some actual funding, or just consultation about content (and possibly assistance for such things as permits for filming).

There is a widely held belief that World Showcase pavilions are analogous to world's fair pavilion, with national governments pouring millions of dollars into the pavilions for the prestige and promotion of their countries. That might be what Walt Disney Productions hoped would happen, but it didn't happen for Epcot's 1982 opening, and it really hasn't happened to any degree since.

I think the Norwegian tourist agency had a presence in the Norway pavilion for a number of years. There have also been foreign government tourism agencies involved with some temporary Food & Wine Festival displays. And there may have been some other cases when a government tourist office was involved in small way handing out brochures.

 

[MJMcBride]

I'd be happy to see Spain added to World Showcase.. Actually, I'd be happy to see any additional country added, including any of the countries listed in this thread.

Thats about right

And that Jim Hill "rumor" was in last years UG as well

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

Actually, speaking of Jim Hill, he has an interesting story on his site today regarding an Orlando company contracting with Disney to help negotiate new countries to open pavilions in World Showcase.... One country he talks about is Austraila.. It was an interesting article.... And a very good read....

 

[plutospup]

Hill talks about Lionsgate International LLC. Follow the link toward the bottom of the page regarding "strategic planning" http://lionsgateinternational.com/aboutus.aspx

I wonder if this is new, or not.

 

[MJMcBride]

Actually, speaking of Jim Hill, he has an interesting story on his site today regarding an Orlando company contracting with Disney to help negotiate new countries to open pavilions in World Showcase.... One country he talks about is Austraila.. It was an interesting article.... And a very good read....

Frankly, I would prefer an Australia land at DAK

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Despite the obvious cultural differences, does anyone think that 2 more Spanish-speaking countries in Epcot Ctr might dilute the sense of variety?

I do. I would rather see India, Greece, Russia, Australia, or Kenya in that space.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I forgot about Egypt!

 

[burberryplaid]

Hill talks about Lionsgate International LLC. Follow the link toward the bottom of the page regarding "strategic planning" http://lionsgateinternational.com/aboutus.aspx

I wonder if this is new, or not.

Looks like this page is being updated or removed because there's nothing there now.

Jim Hill talked a bit about his story on yesterday's WDW Today podcast is anyone is interested.

I would love to see an Australian Pavillion, simply because I have a thing for Austrailia. I wouldn't mind seeing Greece or Argentina in there. (I have a friend from Argentina who is always talking about the food and it sounds pretty good to me!)

Like most people though...I won't believe it until they make an official announcement.

 

[MJMcBride]

Isn't Kenya kind of Harambe-ish?

 

[Another Voice]

Isn't Kenya kind of Harambe-ish?

You know - if we can have 57 different versions of Finding Nemo crammed all over property, don't you think we might be able to have two representations of a quarter of humanity?

 

[MJMcBride]

You know - if we can have 57 different versions of Finding Nemo crammed all over property, don't you think we might be able to have two representations of a quarter of humanity?

I'm just saying that since we have Harambe, if we are going to build a new "country" it should be someplace like Argentina or Egypt.

And who said 57 versions of Finding Nemo was OK

 

[plutospup]

Looks like this page is being updated or removed because there's nothing there now.
.

Interesting that the entire Lionsgate International LLC website has gone blank. Pages of goals and information to bring new pavillions to EPCOT Center have suddenly gone blank. As much as I would love to see new pavillions at EPCOT, I'm thinking this was just a ruse.

 

[Another Voice]

I'm just saying that since we have Harambe, if we are going to build a new "country" it should be someplace like Argentina or Egypt.

If your going to play that game - we already have Mexico and Morrocco too!

Why can't you leave Harambe as a background for a park that's supposed to be focused on animals, and re-build the Equatorial Africa pavilion to celebrate the human cultures of the region? Each place now serves a different purpose and makes both of them unique. To me that makes a lot more sense than two complete retellings of Nemo (as both the ridette and the fish-on-sticks puppet show are).

The original goal of the parks was to make each one unique - the Magic Kingdom for children and families and EPCOT Center for adults and teenagers. But now all Disney can think of is product placement. The parks don't have a target audience anymore, and that's making them disfunctional. WDW would be much better served by figuring out what makes a place appealing to which audience and making that work instead of dumbing down each park to the likes of the lowest common demoniator.

 

[Another Voice]

Sorry - was posted twice.

 

[MJMcBride]

Why can't you leave Harambe as a background for a park that's supposed to be focused on animals, and re-build the Equatorial Africa pavilion to celebrate the human cultures of the region? Each place now serves a different purpose and makes both of them unique. To me that makes a lot more sense than two complete retellings of Nemo (as both the ridette and the fish-on-sticks puppet show are).

I agree with you that it makes more sense than 2 Nemo attractions (can't stand the puppet show by the way).

From a personal point of view, an Egypt, India, Brazil, or Argentina would be better than a Equitorial Africa or Spain. But any new country would be welcomed. I'm just talking about personal preference and the biggest reason for me to have say Argentina over Equitorial Africa is that Harambe to a degree covers that area of the world.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I don't see much difference between Egypt and Morocco...but the rest of Africa would be fairly interesting... I remember on one of the Amazing Races they went to a village that had four groupings representing the architectures of different tribes. Something like that would be really neat. As for Australia...how is it so different from the American, British and Canadian pavilions? An Argentina would only be in addition to Mexico (and perhaps Morocco since that has a bit of the middle east and spain to it).