Some Changes at Epcot I didn't like...

[Epcot650]

Went for a short trip to Disney this year and like always spend a lot of time at Epcot. A few things had changed since 2005 which I didn't like:

- Shop in Norway was carrying plastic Disney toys/dolls in the last room where you pay for items. This used to have original products from Norway, why sell Disney toys (which you can find anywhere at DW) in a Norway pavillion? If I want that type of experience I can go to Busch Gardens.

- I like the old Ice Station Cool, now there is no interesting entrance, feels more like a corporate pavillion.

- What happened to the elevators at the Living Seas?

Some of the magic seems to be leaving Disney, get back on track!

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

I agree about Ice station cool, and am curious as to why they would sell reg. Disney Toys at Norway. Were they viking themed in any way?
As far as Living Seas goes, I am fairly certain this has to do with the new Nemo and Friends ride, which I think sounds awesome. To me, these types of little changes don't bother me too much, but I can see how it might bother other people

 

[civileng68]

I agree with the Ice Cool station. I haven't been in it since it changed, as that was my favorite part.

I love theming but, at the Living Seas, it just took too long to get into the area. I actually liked the Hydrolators area, ALOT. I thought the room you were in when boarding the hydrolators was very cool.

However, much of the hydrolators was not functional any longer. The walls which were supposed to move upward, in many cases did not, leaving part of the room moving and part not. It obviously just became out-dated.

My personal problem in the past was, you went into a line, then went into a holding room, then went to the hydrolators boarding room, boarded the hydrolators, took a fake ride downward, all to simply get to the main attraction. It was a lot of work.

 

[bicker]

It's not clear to me that some of the Norway-specific items were selling. I couldn't believe how much space there was, there, devoted to some rather expensive items. It seemed to me to be a big waste of space, since folks don't go to the World Showcase to buy brand-name overcoats for 40% more than they could get them at LL Bean or JC Penny. They didn't need that much space for the items that were truly unique -- that you couldn't find anywhere else in the United States. Boiling down the stock to just those unique items makes a lot of sense to me. What they do with the rest of the space doesn't really matter much, AFIAC. Space shouldn't go to waste, so if guests are willing to buy it if you sell that stuff there, why not sell that stuff there?

 

[mking624]

Went for a short trip to Disney this year and like always spend a lot of time at Epcot. A few things had changed since 2005 which I didn't like:

- Shop in Norway was carrying plastic Disney toys/dolls in the last room where you pay for items. This used to have original products from Norway, why sell Disney toys (which you can find anywhere at DW) in a Norway pavillion? If I want that type of experience I can go to Busch Gardens.

As bicker mentioned, if people are willing to buy it, why not sell it? I do believe the Norway pavilion is in Disney World so I'm not really seeing an issue with them selling Disney toys.

- I like the old Ice Station Cool, now there is no interesting entrance, feels more like a corporate pavillion.

Well...it IS a corporate pavilion. Yeah, the old entrance was much cooler, but clearly they had their reasons for taking it down.

- What happened to the elevators at the Living Seas?

The hydrolators were taken out...partly due to them being outdated and not everything in them working properly all the time, and partly due to the new Nemo ride going in.

Some of the magic seems to be leaving Disney, get back on track!

So them selling their own products, them putting in new rides and trying to remove things that no longer function correctly...that's losing the magic? I know people don't adjust well to change (hey, you're talking to the person who was not impressed with the revamp of POTC), but Epcot is about tomorrow...which means that things should and will change from time to time. Can't have a community of tomorrow living in yesterday.

 

[Daryl]

Yes, but some change is good and some...well, less magical Watching kids walk past snow on a hot day, even get into snowball fights, getting hit with that Arctic blast in July, that was such a simple concept, and very well executed! It made me think, wow they really got this right!
Those Norwegian items did make that pavilion feel a little more special, at least to me. Wish they would have kept a few.
The hydrolators were cool,(i once watched a kid spend about 12 mins. ruminating over weather he had been duped by the effect) but I'm really looking forward to Nemo

 

[CheshireVal]

- Shop in Norway was carrying plastic Disney toys/dolls in the last room where you pay for items. This used to have original products from Norway, why sell Disney toys (which you can find anywhere at DW) in a Norway pavillion? If I want that type of experience I can go to Busch Gardens.

And the restaurant used to be an authentic Norwegian experience.... why put Disney princesses in there?



In all seriousness, though, I am bugged by the standardization of merchandise all across Disney now. It used to be that different stores carried different items... now it's all very generic. (With the exception of WS, which I hope doesn't continue the trend. )

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

Daryl: I am sure they still have genuine Norweigian itmes. I haven't been since last december, but I cannot imagine them taking out all the unique items. My guess is that some space is now being used for Disney merchandise. I don't really think this is a big deal, I would be mad if all the stuff was gone! I am semi-glad the hydrolators are gone, they never seemed to work quite right and I never *felt* like I was going under water. Again, this is just me speaking, and I am not trying to discount anyone else's opinion.

 

[shurik92]

I was also disappointed with the change to the Ice Station Cool. It did seem to loose some of its appeal.
Norway on the other hand still carries allot of authentic Norwegian merchandise. In fact the selection of authentic merchandise in the WS only seemed to improve in the past couple of years.

 

[MartDM]

Wow, I hope they haven't done away with the authentic Norwegian items. My husband loves to get a new troll each time we go and I think the sweaters are fabulous. I'll be really disappointed if we can't get our usual souveniers!

 

[JESW]

My biggest complaint about Ice Station Cool was the fact they were out of most of the drinks when we went this past April AND August! What's up with that??

Jill

 

[The Mick]

Wow, I hope they haven't done away with the authentic Norwegian items. My husband loves to get a new troll each time we go and I think the sweaters are fabulous. I'll be really disappointed if we can't get our usual souveniers!

Don't worry about - they have not done away with any Norwegian items. The layout of the Puffin's Roost has simply been changed around some. Just just about everything that was in the front section is simply in another area now.

The store is essentially split into 3 sections. The first section as soon as you enter does now have standard disney items as well as SOME norwegian items...mostly authentic candy and snack food.

The second (middle) section is still the perfume/jewelry area.

The third section (the one with the HUGE troll) now houses most of the items that WERE in the front area before (shot glasses, key chains, t-shirts, authentic wine, etc.) in addition to most of what was there before (trolls, CDs, books, toys, viking helmets, etc.).

Granted, I think we all would like for the whole thing to have stayed strictly norwegian items, but to me it's not a big deal because they didn't really get rid of anything (or if they did, I didn't notice). So I think all they're doing is making better use of their space.

 

[The Mick]

My biggest complaint about Ice Station Cool was the fact they were out of most of the drinks when we went this past April AND August! What's up with that??

Jill

Yes, it's very hit or miss now. I was there last Friday and they had the Italian Beverly drink available for the first time in MONTHS. Kinley too and a couple others. But most of the others were still out.

 

[Leota]

Don't worry about - they have not done away with any Norwegian items. The layout of the Puffin's Roost has simply been changed around some. Just just about everything that was in the front section is simply in another area now.

The store is essentially split into 3 sections. The first section as soon as you enter does now have standard disney items as well as SOME norwegian items...mostly authentic candy and snack food.

The second (middle) section is still the perfume/jewelry area.

The third section (the one with the HUGE troll) now houses most of the items that WERE in the front area before (shot glasses, key chains, t-shirts, authentic wine, etc.) in addition to most of what was there before (trolls, CDs, books, toys, viking helmets, etc.).

Granted, I think we all would like for the whole thing to have stayed strictly norwegian items, but to me it's not a big deal because they didn't really get rid of anything (or if they did, I didn't notice). So I think all they're doing is making better use of their space.

Please tell me that the section at the back containing the Norwegian items still contains the sweaters & Helly Hansen gear. I buy myself some Laila & a Helly jacket every trip. I have no interest in generic WDW souvies at this point, but I love to treat myself to World Showcase goods, especially my Helly. It was still there 4/06. I am looking forward to picking out my winter gift from Norway.

As far as Ice Station Cool - What a complete letdown. That went down in Epcot history along with the Original JII, Horizons, & Cranium Command. Club Cool is sterile & malfunctioning.

 

[MartDM]

Thanks for the clarification The Mick!

 

[The Mick]

Please tell me that the section at the back containing the Norwegian items still contains the sweaters & Helly Hansen gear. I buy myself some Laila & a Helly jacket every trip. I have no interest in generic WDW souvies at this point, but I love to treat myself to World Showcase goods, especially my Helly. It was still there 4/06. I am looking forward to picking out my winter gift from Norway.

As far as Ice Station Cool - What a complete letdown. That went down in Epcot history along with the Original JII, Horizons, & Cranium Command. Club Cool is sterile & malfunctioning.

Yes, that area is still there. I think that's The Fjording (sp). All the Helly Hansen gear is still there. I didn't include this in the previous post because that was just the Puffin's Roost. But yeah, it's still there!

Club Cool is indeed a disappointment. But heck...it's free soda. Where else in WDW can you get anything for FREE? Sure the charm of Ice Station is gone, but seriously, the free soda giveaway is not something WDW has to do.

 

[ilovedale3]

Yes, the Helly clothing was still there and as of last week, a LOT of it was on sale!!!!

 

[Corryn]

And the restaurant used to be an authentic Norwegian experience.... why put Disney princesses in there?

I thought the same thing, but then I thought about how Norway is soooo Fairy Tale,
My husband's surname is Thorgersen (Torgersen) which means Son Of Thor, so you know Norway is on our list of Must-See's at EPCOT.
They don't have Puerto Rico, Spain or Hungary in EPCOT for me to enjoy, so I celebrate part of his heritage!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Ice Station was cool, Club Cool is not.

 

[IwasatWDWforamonth]

I love Helly stuff too glad to hear thats still there,,, I did find an awesome helly jacket at overstock.com though for 27 dollars.