The Future of Future World

[J. Thornhill]

I’m sure this has been endlessly chewed over on these boards, but I wanted to make a few comments on the only aspect of my recent trip which caused me any significant disappointment. The state of Future World at Epcot is atrocious. This area was once one of my favorites but has since been allowed to deteriorate to such an extent that it made touring unpleasant. I generally overlook small lapses in maintenance, as in the past I felt confident that they would be quickly addressed. From what I saw at Future World last week, I’m not sure what Disney’s intentions are for this area. Aside from the oft-mentioned dirt and chipped paint, there are overall aesthetic inconsistencies that are somewhat disturbing. Brand new signs in the midst of 20 year-old landscaping do not an update make. Test-track now looks out of place in its current setting, and I suspect Mission Space’s ultra-modern design will appear even more so. An over-reliance on exposed concrete as an architectural and landscape element is a mistake. This may have been a popular, modern and inexpensive option during conception, but today it simply appears shabby and unremarkable.

I understand the challenges involved in maintaining a futurist theme over the course of 20 years, but I think Disney must do a better job here. Unlike the Tomorrowland update, there is little thematic recourse in this case but to change the entire appearance. I wouldn’t begin to offer conjecture on specific design schemes, but I can recommend updating the materials used. Since 1982, there have no doubt been significant advances in the development of low maintenance building materials. Disney would do well to consider these during any future rehabs.

Future World continues to be a visual marvel at night, and I think I will restrict any future visits to those hours.

How many of you would object to the closing of Future World for a year or more to make such improvements? Any thoughts?

J.-

 

[wdwguide]

They typically close one pavilion at a time when it comes to upgrades, which are expected to kick in again around 2004. They wouldn't and IMHO shouldn't shut down the entire park (which it would come down to, since people wouldn't just pay for the World Showcase).
I agree that Future World's themeing doesn't always blend very well, and some updating in that area would definitely not hurt, either.

 

[YoHo]

There has been a very fundimental shift in architectural sensibilities in the last twenty years. and that particular aspect of future world will take a significant amount of time to redo.

The best example of this may very well be baseball stadiums. Time was 20 years ago where concrete multipurpose behemoths populated the landscape, now, as shown with Pac Bell Park, Coors Field and Miller Park, the trend is to the more intimate feel of Yankee Stadium or Wrigely Field. Future World will need to change as well. Certainly getting ahold of some modern architecs would help. The true Irony is, that for all its retro Kitzche and Gold/Bronze Trim, Tomorrowland actually offers more of that atmosphere that is popular.

Were I in Charge, I would certainly do some color Scheme changes and add some more Intimate fascades to the buildings.

 

[wdwguide]

There should always be a good balance between rehabs of existing attractions and the construction of new ones. Recently, neither has been done satisfactory in most cases

 

[Baileymouse]

DH said that Future World looks like the set of Star Trek: The Motion Picture - very 1979 vision of the future. It does need updating but I don't think it should be extremely difficult. A little trim could go a looong way. It's hard to predict the future, that's the problem. By the time the future arrives your vision is in the past. Tomorrowland is one of my favorites because of its retro kitsch feel. However, Future World still has so much to offer.

 

[Testtrack321]

As for redoing FW, Disney has begun. In 94' they redid the Innoventions plaza. In 99' they redid the main enterence. My guess is that in 04' they will redo west side then in 09' redo east side, if not earlyer.

 

[*Glitter Serenity*]

I totally agree with Testtrack321, for what it's worth. Yeah, the "future" section of EPCOT needs some definite updating and revamping, but it -has- been getting better. (Although I can't imagine how crappy the place looks with the main fountain behind Spaceship Earth drained. *sigh*)

*Serenity*

 

[Liam]

Love Epcot but Universe of Energy has got to go. The Ellen and Science guy movie thing has got to be the worst thing at WDW I have ever seen. Whoever thought up that awful thing should be drowned in seven seas lagoon.

 

[JustBob]

I disagree! The Ellen and Science guy refurb took what I thought was the world's lamest attraction and made it bearable!

 

[wdwguide]

Next time they'll hopefully get the science right, too. The current version is pretty embarassing as far as the "facts" go.

 

[Liam]

I agree that the U of E was lame before Ellen & Science Guy. But, If you are going to go through all the trouble to refurb something, how about a show that doesn't offend our intelligence. If you have over a 4th grade education this pavilion, (basically, it's a movie theater with some dinosaurs), lacks any real substance. Epcot is supposed to teach about the future of our world. I want to hear things that I didn't learn back in jr. high school.

 

[YoHo]

But Liam, What's the target audience and what's the current state of our education system?

You may be lucky that you know these things now adays. I'm far more distressed by wdwguides comments.

 

[OnWithTheShow]

I agree that Universe of Energy is much better than it used to be. I also disagree that maintenece and rehabs have been lack. Both sides of Innoventions are now much more entertaining. The entrance plaza and foutnain plaza have new looks, test track has a new look and soon space will add to then new look. As much as you all would wish that it would be done all at once it is not financially feasible, but it is being done.

 

[Baileymouse]

Ellen's Universe of Energy is lame and definitely dated. They used Ellen when her show was popular but it's been off for so long now that no one understands why they used her.

At least it's not the same show that ran there originally. During out 1995 visit my husband, who was working his way thru graduate school as an Admin Assistant at Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, fell out of his seat laughing. The movie shots of the guys at PPL working on Fusion were soooo out of date. The same Physicists were still in Princeton but they were all at least 20 years older. He couldn't wait to get back and tell them about it.

Most of Future World could stand a good sprucing. The big pavilions need to have better rides, and the innoventions stuff really should be rehabbed every year. Technology changes just too fast.

 

[Planogirl]

I hope that they don't ever make the FW pavilions TOO educational though. Nothing like sitting through an endless lecture about energy on a hot day while on vacation.

I much prefer this version of UoE to the old one. Ellen doesn't bother me and I really like Bill Nye. Please keep him at least.

What exactly is inaccurate? I admit that I tend to go into a daze and not really listen while on this ride.

 

[ContempoSMT]

Why would you close such a great place in disney world for a year. There are so many great rides that you would miss. That idea is stupafying!

 

[Jackie H.]

To say that Ellen & Bill Nye are boring....well, you must have never visited UoE with the original show! Then, the whole idea was just to try to hang in there until the ride started! I think Ellen is funny at times and Bill Nye is extremely kid friendly....making science interesting to kids is Bill Nye's specialty and he is great at it.

As for what is incorrect, I don't know because I too do not remember much of anything they said.

WDW Guide, will you elaborate?