And in some cases.... The past's incorrect information.
It wouldn't bug me so much if we had more....inspiration. Ok.... So the Future is the present.... but where is that hope for the future? Where is the inspiration in what you learned or experienced to maybe help you go into the future?
I remember as a kid riding attractions that looked into the past, showed us where we've been, how we got to where we were... and even maybe gave a little nudge to make you ask where we are going based off what you experienced. Spaceship Earth and the future of communication (which we've exceeded with the internet)...The Living Seas with the birth of the seas, our early exploration of them, the underwater Sea-base Alpha, and the amazing treasures we were yet to discover.... The Land w/ the boat ride, A fun little show that taught us about proper nutrition (kinda important in a super-size me society today, don't you think?).... Journey into Imagination w/ it's fun little ride that helped show what the imagination was capable of, and the wonderful playground upstairs that managed to get your imagination running wild.... World of Motion, with the history of transportation leading us to a possible future of getting from point A to B.... Horizons with it's fun visions of the future that could be.... Wonders of Life with Body Wars that was a fun way to see the inner workings of the body, Cranium Command and it's representation of the mind and body's interactions, and the films and entertainment throughout the "lobby" area all about our body and health.... And even Universe of Energy.
Kids today? Not so much. Spaceship Earth still helps accomplish this (even with the triangles). The Land's Boat ride does. And maybe to a small extent, World of Energy does...(although it's so dated it doesn't have the impact it used too.). Everything else is more about the entertainment but has lost the education and inspiration.
I understand the problem with designing FutureWorld is that the present always catches up. It's the same problem Tomorrowland has had in one way or another since
Disneyland first opened. But they could always aim just a little higher. If you design for the present, it just gets "old" quicker. If you design with the idea of inspiring without maybe getting into so much detail about the future, It becomes timeless. (or a much easier/cheaper refurb). If you leave the Future up to the imagination... and give the guest the building blocks and inspiration during the attraction, Then the Future is always there, and always changing, because the guest will imagine the Future as they see it and be able to compensate for the present catching up and surpassing what we thought possible when the attraction was designed and built.
.....why do I suddenly feel like a crotchety old man?