Save Epcot!

[Horizons1]

Does anyone else miss the Epcot of the 80s? (a.k.a. Epcot Center)

I just got back from a trip and was insanely disappointed with Epcot. Its completely different from what it used to be, practically a completely different park! It used to be my absolute favorite park in WDW, and after last trip, it is now my least favorite. I wish they would bring back the great Epcot classics, like World of Motion, Horizons, the old Land pavillion and Living Seas! There was a certain charm to these dark, slow moving rides, and the 70's utopian architecture.It was a nice break from the "in your face disney" of the magic kingdom. There was something about it that was so special.

Now before everyone gets in a tizzy over how Soarin and Mission Space are the most popular attractions and that the old Future world was outdated, I'm one step ahead of you, I get it. Just mourning the death of one of my favorite places in the world. I like the new additions (soarin, mission space, nemo) but they felt out of place at Epcot, especially Nemo. (Although I do feel they incorporated Soarin' appropriately, but the rest of the Land feels like a suburban mall food court!)

I've heard numerous times about how Epcots attendance was dropping, and was getting a reputation for being boring, but is there anyone out there that feels the same way I do? Any other 80's kids who miss the old Epcot? Anyone else think its going down-hill?

 

[castleeto]

I miss the old Epcot. I agree that they need to keep it fresh and updated, but I wish that the new additions were somewhat educational. It seems like it has been dumbed downed somewhat in recent years.

For example, my dd loved the new Nemo ride, but I wish they had taught me something about the ocean, instead of just showing me the story from the movie. The old Living Seas movie was getting a little old, but it taught me something, and I liked that!

I know people in the past complained that it was too boring and educational, but there have to be some other people like me who don't mind learning something while being entertained!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

We ALL miss those old rides. There is talk about it all the time. I absolutely LOVED World of Motion but I also LOVE Test Track. I'm sad about Horizons but I just have to keep telling myself that change is what Walt wanted. I still find myself calling it EPCOT center, too and find myself capitalizing the word, as it originally was an acronym. I also remember when it was called Epcot '93, Epcot '94 and so on. But I have to say, it was just in the past couple of years that I came to accept the fact that EPCOT is NOW my favorite park over the MK. (I had a hard time admitting that to myself. It was only with counseling from my sister who told me to just accept it!!) Lastly, I think that while I'll visit Future World once or twice during my vacation, I could easily spend a few hours every day in World Showcase, which is just what DBF and I are planning to do in two weeks!!

I have to say to the OP, don't be "insanely dissappointed." I have a hard time with change too but you have to try to forget about that and just enjoy all the great things that you remember that ARE still there and some of the great NEW things they have added.

 

[ChrisFL]

Actually its kinda odd...dividing Epcot into its 2 sections, World Showcase has barely changed at all since it opened, and Future World has changed almost entirely (to the point where there's not much "Future" left)

I agree that the older attractions had a lot to offer and I wish they would have updated them without totally removing them, especially Horizons and Imagination.

I still think they should add a new pavilion and call it "New Horizons" with the spirit of the old one.

I disagree with those people who say we can't see the future because we have everything so quickly these days. There's still tons of stuff we haven't explored yet, so many places the future can take us. Horizons was not outdated in the slightest (even the hairstyles are back in fashion now!)

 

[MaxsDad]

I agree that the old rides were classic but they needed more than an update.

I think with regards to the whole Epcot learning thing it is important to remember that there are some rides that are there for learning but are unfortunately always closed, Body Wars and Cranium Command, I think that is the bigger shame that these types of rides don't have sponsorship so they can't afford to run them. I also don't know how much I actually learned on Horizons or Imagination, more about dreaming ideas which in my opinion can still be found at Epcot.
I would think Disney might be interested in sponsoring their own rides, not like they don't have the money for it. Those are two rides that I would love to try but have never even had the chance to go on and if they are always going to be closed then those are just wasted pavilions.

 

[Grand Admiral]

I miss the futuristic aspects of Epcot.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I love Epcot and think it has only gotten better.

I'm with you on the Nemo ride, though. It's great for kids who are "into" Nemo, but who over the age of 12 is actually loving this ride? You go past a bunch of screens, for Pete's sake. The part where it feels like you have reversed direction is cool, but the ride, IMO, sucks. They could have done something much more creative.

 

[Goofy'slady]

I agree to a point. I will agree that the old rides were great and hold special memories for all those who experienced them in the 80's, however if Future World still had all of those same rides and never kept up with the times or atleast made an attempt by adding new things then I'm sure we'd be complaining about that too. Lord knows how many threads there have been about things need to be redone, rehabbed or completely done away with. If it ALWAYS stayed the same then it wouldn't be Future World it'd be Stuck in the Past World.

I personally liked the old rides but I do not mourn for them as some other do. I think Disney has done a wonderful job by keeping some old and updating other attractions with newer things, keeping it fresh and new. Because lots of people don't adapt well to change, especially if they don't like the changes someone is bound to be dissappointed. That's the great thing about Disney, what you don't like someone else loves ten times over; there's something for everyone.

Toya

 

[ChrisFL]

I agree to a point. I will agree that the old rides were great and hold special memories for all those who experienced them in the 80's, however if Future World still had all of those same rides and never kept up with the times or atleast made an attempt by adding new things then I'm sure we'd be complaining about that too. Lord knows how many threads there have been about things need to be redone, rehabbed or completely done away with. If it ALWAYS stayed the same then it wouldn't be Future World it'd be Stuck in the Past World.

I personally liked the old rides but I do not mourn for them as some other do. I think Disney has done a wonderful job by keeping some old and updating other attractions with newer things, keeping it fresh and new. Because lots of people don't adapt well to change, especially if they don't like the changes someone is bound to be dissappointed. That's the great thing about Disney, what you don't like someone else loves ten times over; there's something for everyone.

Toya

The problem is that often times, Disney will update or replace an attraction that turns out worse than the original...like Journey into Imagination's newer versions, or IMO Horizons to Mission:Space.

I think Disney is too often in the mode where they neglect an attraction for so long that people stop enjoying it so they rip it out and put a new one in, when the original would have been better if it was freshened up, modernized, etc.

Epcot (now a name, not an acronym anymore) is missing the sense of awe and wonder it used to have. I honestly don't miss all of the attractions, the old Living Seas seacabs ride through wasn't very exciting, but at least SeaBase Alpha had some educational value, now it seems to be missing that.

I dont miss World of Motion that much, but Test Track, while fun, isn't really what EPCOT Center was supposed to be about either, it's firmly planted in "today" not yesterday's outlook or tomorrow.

I honestly dont know why its still referred to as "Future World" in the front half of the park, it's missing the future for the most part.

 

[disneyphilip]

I think that the new Epcot is great and way more accessible to kids and families than it used to be.

I miss the old Epcot attractions as much as the next person, but times do change. And changes have to be made in order to keep the turnstyles rolling.

The new Epcot attractions ARE educational and do get guests interested in learning about the subjects covered in them. I don't think they've dumbed it down in any way.

 

[Horizons1]

I wasn't saying they should've kept it exactly the same, I was saying I didn't like the direction they're taking it in. Oh, and I don't have a problem with change, I'm actually all for it.

(I miss its old Identity is what I guess I should say)

 

[WDW Fan]

I agree in part. I definitely miss the World of Motion and even miss Horizons. I think the Nemo ride in the Living Seas was a nice makeover that keeps the kids entertained and has a good relationship to the theming overall. I do long for that old feeling you use to get in Future World at times though. Time moves on I guess and Disney needs to keep things fresh to get people to come back year after year.

 

[Horizons1]

The problem is that often times, Disney will update or replace an attraction that turns out worse than the original...like Journey into Imagination's newer versions, or IMO Horizons to Mission:Space.

I think Disney is too often in the mode where they neglect an attraction for so long that people stop enjoying it so they rip it out and put a new one in, when the original would have been better if it was freshened up, modernized, etc.

Epcot (now a name, not an acronym anymore) is missing the sense of awe and wonder it used to have. I honestly don't miss all of the attractions, the old Living Seas seacabs ride through wasn't very exciting, but at least SeaBase Alpha had some educational value, now it seems to be missing that.

I dont miss World of Motion that much, but Test Track, while fun, isn't really what EPCOT Center was supposed to be about either, it's firmly planted in "today" not yesterday's outlook or tomorrow.

I honestly dont know why its still referred to as "Future World" in the front half of the park, it's missing the future for the most part.

I agree with you completely Chris

 

[DOOM1001]

Honestly it had to change,I remember walking around EPCOT back in the days and it was empty,if you don't make new attractions that are fun and thrilling people WILL stop coming!!I like the idea ChrisFL has of a new pavillion and calling it New Horizons.I would remove Universe of Energy and Wonders of Life,which is already removed and make a big new pavillion that has an educational attraction as well as having a major attraction that is thrilling.For example in the Land Soarin is great but it also has Living with the Land which I also love and is educational.

 

[mickeymousemom]

I remember visiting Epcot Center for the first time in the mid 80's and how fast it became my favorite place in the world. I'd never seen anyplace like it. The rides to me were absolutely amazing!
I only just like Test Track. I'm bored with MS. I can't understand how hard it is to make Disney understand how bad we'd all love to see the original JIYI. I haven't ridden Ellen's Energy Adventure in 3 years. I loved the original much more.
I wish like heck they could bring back Horizons and WoM, but I guess I have to accept that things change in time and go on. But boy....I miss the heck out of the original Epcot!

 

[Horizons1]

I like the New Horizons idea too. It may be the element the new Future World is missing. I'm really not into Mission Space. I found it boring after riding it once.

Its not the change that bothers me, its the direction the park is moving in. It feels waterdown to me. I'm all for new attractions of all kinds, but from an artist's point of view, it lacks the original identiy of EPCOT center. I deffinitely DON'T think they should keep the same rides forever and only mildly touch them up every now and then. I think its great to completely redo attractions, and in some cases gut them and start from scratch, but as long as it stays true to the original concept of the park. Its what made Epcot...well...Epcot! Its identity is what stood it apart from the rest of the parks. I've noticed that all 4 parks are slowly blending together.

There are ways of keeping its old identity, while still appealing to the masses. Its all in the execution and art direction. I think ChrisFL really hit the nail on the head earlier.

 

[Macca1111]

I know people in the past complained that it was too boring and educational, but there have to be some other people like me who don't mind learning something while being entertained!

Yep. I miss it too.

 

[DanMedix]

While I love some of the new stuff (Mission Space at the top of that list), I do believe that the founding ideals behind EPCOT should remain fundamental in the park. Innoventions should be updated CONSTANTLY with the latest and greatest. The New Horizons Idea is wonderful, and very well could be integrated with some of the current themes. For example, Mission Space could be just a PART of a larger area devoted to Space travel, technology, and exploration. Also, Test Track could delve more into the past, present, and future of transportation. Things like this could help bring the old spirit back.

 

[zaxmom]

I kind of remember World of Motion. The waiting area seems to stick out in my mind. What was Horizons like, I am drawing a blank? My family only went one or twice after EPCOT was opened and these were gone when I started taking my own children.

By the way, I miss the futuristic aspect of Epcot myself. My kids however on our last trip enjoyed it more than I ever thought they would. They were only 3 and 5 at the time. I thought it was going to be a 1/2 park for us and it ended up being 2 days. The could have rode Test Track 20 times and could have spent 6 hours in the aquarium, though. 5 years later they may be harder to please.

 

[mstew99]

I'm really sad because body wars is one of my favorite rides, but I haven't got to ride it in about 10 years because i'm never there when it's open. I know they rake in the money down there, I can't understand why it isn't feasible to keep all of the attractions open (unless they're being refurbed of course). I have another trip in September, so another trip with no body wars


Can someone remind me of what Horizons was? Before last year, I hadn't been there since the early 90's. I see pictures where we're standing out in front of it, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was like/about.