Save Epcot!

[wendy46001]

Now, why does anything at Epcot have to be educational? I don't go to WDW to learn anything. I go to be entertained, have fun and escape reality for a period.

And this is why we have the EPCOT of today (not to pick on you) but its a general tourist thought...I'm on vacation i dont want to learn...

Its the sad truth...My issue with the cot is they are missing the opportunity to disguises learning and make it fun...

Look at the wonders of life pavilion rotting in the corner...that had potential...and they dropped the ball....they set up how to improve your batting/golf swing...but could have added the physics that make it possible...not just watch this video and take a swing...Body wars was ok...a little refresher and they could go into the directions of robots in surgery...

World of motion was great...test track is a good start...but why not have a few more exhibits at the end about the science of crash testing ...instead of another gift shop??

and dont get me started on what they did to mexico...if your going to update a ride ....UPDATE IT....dont just dummy down the videos so we are yet again sitting in another cheap cartoon...honestly by the end i didnt care where Donald was...(at least the new tequila bar will make the ride more enjoyable)

I just think they need a little more effort and they could come to a happy compromise between what is educations/the future and what is a theme park

 

[DisMN]

As for asking about what technology could we see coming soon? There's a lot of it, which I've covered before. The show on Discovery "2057" has a lot of things about technology thats being created and eventually we'll all use.

But to people like Robo, there IS no future, because "we're living it now".

As long as you have people believing there's nothing left to create, nothing special left to happen in our future, then we be facing an uphill battle to bring new ideas, new technology and new inventions to the table.

I hope some day someone in charge at Epcot brings back the educational aspect of that park. The place HAS been dumbed down significantly in the past 10 years or so.

 

[mstew99]

As neat as the old rides were, they were just that... old. Sure Horizons and WOM were great rides, but they became outdated. It was no longer future world, but museum world. With a section of the park like this, it has to be updated to keep ahead of the current day. Yeah, they have been falling behind by adding attractions that really don't fall into that category, so a lot of people are definitely right on that argument. But you watch the news, read magazines or journals, there are new technologies in science, medicine, automotive.. anything really, coming out every day. I still enjoy EPCOT, but I can see where people are coming from on both sides of the discussion. I think they've made it a pretty healthy mix, to try to please everyone (people who want to learn, thrill seekers, and children.)

 

[ChrisFL]

As neat as the old rides were, they were just that... old. Sure Horizons and WOM were great rides, but they became outdated. It was no longer future world, but museum world. With a section of the park like this, it has to be updated to keep ahead of the current day. Yeah, they have been falling behind by adding attractions that really don't fall into that category, so a lot of people are definitely right on that argument. But you watch the news, read magazines or journals, there are new technologies in science, medicine, automotive.. anything really, coming out every day. I still enjoy EPCOT, but I can see where people are coming from on both sides of the discussion. I think they've made it a pretty healthy mix, to try to please everyone (people who want to learn, thrill seekers, and children.)

Ok, what part of Horizons was old? (and I mean the parts that were supposed to be in the future)

Of course the hair styles and ride films at the end could use some freshening up, but what else?

 

[goofybabe2001]

Please show us what the future holds ,I used to love all the original rides and pavilions because I thought how cool would it be to have that or live there one day.Now all we have is the present is there no future in the Disney Imagineers eyes..

 

[perdidochas]

Well, I think in America, and maybe some other countries, our schools often don't let us enjoy education as much. I mean finding teachers who actually ENJOY what they're teaching makes a huge difference in people wanting to learn.

Most teachers start out truly enjoying what they teach. It gets beaten out of them by apathetic students, heartless administrators and the older teachers, in about the time it takes them to get tenure :-(

So the knock against EPCOT being educational was probably part of the overall problem that people didnt want to be reminded that they're learning something or like they're in school

 

[perdidochas]

that's it!!!! Communicore East and West. I loved that place. Thanks for the name

Am I the only person (besides hubby and daughters) that really feel like I am at EPCOT only after a boat ride in The Land. Is that still there? Tell me they didn't replace it.

That's still there. We generally ride it either just before or after Soarin'

Is the "food rocks" gone now? My kids liked this when they were younger, Had To see it every time.

It's gone, and been replaced by "Circle of Life" A fairly lame film.

 

[jdb0822]

I remember taking my wife to Epcot a few years back and telling her about the horizons ride, of course we get there and its gone. lol.

On a side note, I agree with some that future world is lacking a bit in "future" stuff. I think Test track is awesome, but I also think they could have enclosed the track (the fast part) and gave the illusion that you were driving in a flying car or something to that effect.

And why is it that I could go on Body Wars as a kid, and now its practically impossible? (always closed!).

As for Nemo, its nice to mix up things a bit and add attractions that will appeal to smaller kids as well.

 

[Horizons1]

I think it would be great to see a pavillion on City Living in the future, or something along those lines. Something to focus on life in the future within artificial enviornments, planned cities, and architecture. Just go all out with it, and push their imaginations as far as they could. I guess this would go along with the "new horizons" idea. It would also be a great way to talk about the original EPCOT city that Walt wanted to build.

imagine the cool attractions that could go along with this pavillion!

 

[FlowersChild]

Since many of you miss the attractions of the old days of Epcot (and I'm not saying it's anything wrong with that, not in the LEAST) but if half of the park has very little if anything at all that you're interested in why continue to come back? No disrespect but Future World is HALF the park. What really is the pull that keeps you coming back visit after visit? Is it the hope that perhaps this visit will be the visit where all the magic of the old Epcot returns and all will be well again?

I'm really not poking fun I'm really interested in hearing why you continue to come back if you're so dissapointed in what it's become over the years. Me personally I loved the old Epcot and I love the new Epcot and I'm fine with the direction I believe it's heading in.

Toya

I will not flame you. I will be happy to talk to you in a nice way. I think it's good when we can all be nice and kind to eachother

Anways I have the Annual Pass and I can get into all 4 theme parks every day of the year. My favorite park is the Magic Kingdom and I think I spend like 85 % or 90 % of my park time in there. But I also love the other 3 parks.

I also really love the Epcot of today. I just like some of the old rides better. I guess one reason why I like some of the old rides better is because they are the first rides that I remember from Epcot. It's kinda like how I like the Star Wars films the best when I see them as they were in 1977,1980,1983. I like to look at the Star Wars films with the changes that they made in 1997 and 2004, but I like them the best when I see them as they were in 1977,1980,1983. I was 6 years old when Return of the Jedi came to the Cinema in 1983 and I remember going to the Cinema to see it

I like the Epcot of today for many reasons. One reason is even though there have been lots of changes, it's still the same park that I remember going to when I was around the age of 8 and 9 The park has changed, but it's the same park. I also like Epcot, because it's in DisneyWorld and there is just a special Magic that I feel when I am in DisneyWorld I also like the new rides in Epcot. I like some of the old rides better, but I still like the new rides.

Also Epcot has Princess story book dining It's so much fun to see those Princesses at Akershus royal banquet hall in Norway in Epcot Those Princesses love me

I love all the different countries in Epcot. It's fun to take photos in those countries and I enjoy eating in those countries. I took Ollie my Norway doll with me when I ate in Norway I purchased a little doll named Gretchen and she is from Germany and I am going to take her with me when I eat in Germany on my next trip I am also going to purchase a doll with the name of Julissa who is from Mexico and I am going to take her with me when I eat at Mexico on the first night of my birthday vacation in DisneyWorld

It's also fun to walk over to the Epcot Resorts to get something to eat. There is a nice character breakfast called the Cape May and it's at the Beach Club ( the Beach Club is an Epcot Resort ) I am a big fan of Minnie Mouse and Minnie Mouse is at Cape May I also like to walk over to Mgm at times

One of my favorite photos of me with Minnie Mouse is when I was in Epcot Minnie Mouse is always really short, but she was extra short on this day I am 6 foot 3 and Minnie wanted to kiss me When Minnie kissed me I had to bend down like crazy and Minnie had to reach up and this made the photo extra adorable

There are many things about Epcot that I enjoy The Magic of Disney lives in Epcot just as it lives in the other parks So I have a lot of fun in Epcot

If you want to see that photo of little Minnie giving me a kiss go to this link

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1328678&referrerid=&highlight=minnie+mouse+and+tiny+tim

 

[Robo]

Food Rocks?
It's gone, and been replaced by "Circle of Life" A fairly lame film.

Not quite.

Food Rocks was in a theater downstairs in The Land.
That theater was deleted to install the FP machines and entrance/exit to the queues for Soarin'.

There was always a 'conservation' film of some kind in the theater that now plays "Circle of Life."

 

[Disney Padawan]

And this is why we have the EPCOT of today (not to pick on you) but its a general tourist thought...I'm on vacation i dont want to learn...

Its the sad truth...My issue with the cot is they are missing the opportunity to disguises learning and make it fun...

Look at the wonders of life pavilion rotting in the corner...that had potential...and they dropped the ball....they set up how to improve your batting/golf swing...but could have added the physics that make it possible...not just watch this video and take a swing...Body wars was ok...a little refresher and they could go into the directions of robots in surgery...

World of motion was great...test track is a good start...but why not have a few more exhibits at the end about the science of crash testing ...instead of another gift shop??

and dont get me started on what they did to mexico...if your going to update a ride ....UPDATE IT....dont just dummy down the videos so we are yet again sitting in another cheap cartoon...honestly by the end i didnt care where Donald was...(at least the new tequila bar will make the ride more enjoyable)

I just think they need a little more effort and they could come to a happy compromise between what is educations/the future and what is a theme park

This, sadly, is the way society seems to be headed, Disney knows this & are giving people what they think they want.

Please show us what the future holds ,I used to love all the original rides and pavilions because I thought how cool would it be to have that or live there one day.Now all we have is the present is there no future in the Disney Imagineers eyes..

I would love to see a "future pavilion" maybe it could feature a Horizons 2 ride. There's so many subjects out there for "edutainment" purposes but Disney doesn't seem interested.

 

[DisMN]

World of motion was great...test track is a good start...but why not have a few more exhibits at the end about the science of crash testing ...instead of another gift shop??

You know, this is an interesting thought. I wonder if Disney.....especially the Epcot people, have considered putting some of the queue exhibits into the exit area? So often I've been interested in learning more AFTER I've been on the ride or seen the main show......I wouldn't mind stopping to see a little more detail about the things I just experienced instead of an immediate funnelling of guests into a gift shop. In FACT, I might hang around longer and a little slower on the exit MIGHT mean more money in the gift shop, no?

Just an idea.......

 

[Horizons1]

You know, this is an interesting thought. I wonder if Disney.....especially the Epcot people, have considered putting some of the queue exhibits into the exit area? So often I've been interested in learning more AFTER I've been on the ride or seen the main show......I wouldn't mind stopping to see a little more detail about the things I just experienced instead of an immediate funnelling of guests into a gift shop. In FACT, I might hang around longer and a little slower on the exit MIGHT mean more money in the gift shop, no?

Just an idea.......

I agree. I feel the same way you do about exhibits after the ride.

It makes me think of the early space mountain concepts. The "thrill ride" aspect of it (the rollercoaster) was just one part of a larger pavillion. Guests could bypass the rollercoaster section of the attraction and still get something out of it, since there were many other exhibits and attractions that all tied together under one theme. I feel that the Future World Pavillions should be more like this. I always feel kind of rushed out the pavillion (or rather into the gift shop) after some of them (Test Track specifically)

 

[PatriciaH]

Yes, I miss the old Epcot Center. I think the dark rides had much more re-ride potential than something like Mission Space. MS has not done too well for what they spent on it. Oh well-should have kept Horizons Imagination was an awesome dark ride and they ruined it big time. The Life pavilion being closed all the time is an embarrassment too. Something should have gone in there for the 25th anniversary. I loved the original Living Seas film-very dramatic. I liked the original El Rio. I do love Sorin but hate the loss of Kitchen Kabaret/Food Rocks. I guess we have to just watch old ride video.

 

[PatriciaH]

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!!

See, I was just watching old ride footage and Epcot was PACKED outside of Horizons, WOM, etc.. There were lines longer than TT/MS today. It was not summer either!

 

[mstew99]

Ok, what part of Horizons was old? (and I mean the parts that were supposed to be in the future)

Of course the hair styles and ride films at the end could use some freshening up, but what else?

That was the main problem, the ride itself was supposed to be of the future, but it became old (physically). There were plenty of ideas in there that hasn't happened yet, some that likely won't happen, and some that are still imaginable. Technology has come a LONG way since the ride originally opened, and instead of tearing it down, they could have used our new-age technology to make it a stunning future display. I didn't want to come off sounding like these rides needed to go... trust me, i'd be much happier with an updated WOM and Horizons than TT and MS.