Guardians of the Galaxy Coming to EPCOT?

Although I think that Energy desperately needs an update (at the very least, it's needed a thorough refurbishment for 4-5 years now to keep it from falling apart), I really don't think that this is the right move. As much as Frozen doesn't fit in Norway, at least there was a tenuous connection; this just seems to be someone saying "Hey, we want to build this ride, let's plop it here" without any regard for why that location is chosen. I know that IP-driven attractions are popular right now, but I question the long-term popularity of GOTG; unlike Cars and Avatar, it doesn't have a particularly unique setting to save it over time, and it just feels like a flash in the pan for popularity

Part of what is so frustrating about Epcot is how much space there is to do things, yet they insist on closing the existing attractions. There's a whole pavilion right next to UOE that has been shuttered for over a decade, and now serves as a glorified convention center for about a third of the year. There are countless other empty expansion pads and parts of buildings that are just waiting for additions, but instead they decide to close down one of the handful of rides in the park. When it opened, Epcot was a gloriously fresh take on the theme park experience, but the way that it's been operated and developed in recent years is just depressing

I'm excited about a possible redo of the Communicore/Innoventions buildings. They've been emptying out for years, and in April they felt very unwelcoming with all the closed areas. I hope that the current plan is better than the haphazard addition of meet & greets that they've been doing; almost anything would be an improvement at this point. Hopefully they'll address the plaza area too, since it's a mishmash of ideas through the years at this point; a cohesive approach would be a great start

 

I would rather that Universe of Energy received a GOTG makeover than have it inflicted on the Tower of Terror. ToT is a fantastic attraction with a setting and backstory that works. Energy has no direct or logical connection with Ellen... it was totally based on the fact that Ellen was very popular at the time the attraction was redone. They should be able to do the same with GOTG. We are Groot.

 

I think the 'Ellen' version of 'Universe of Energy' has been out of date for years.

And while I don't understand what a connection to 'Guardians of the Galaxy' might be, I'd welcome something new.

And by the way, who is the Lead Imagineer for EPCOT? Wonder what the Master Plan looks like?

 

There is so much room at EPCOT. I think I would try new things in opens spaces before tearing down a functioning attraction. The dinosaur exhibit near the beginning of that ride to me was beautiful. I would miss that. The rest? Not so much.

 

Does it drive anyone else nuts that the traveling water fountains never work. I can't help trying to diagnose the problem and then having to fight the urge to climb in and try to fix it. I know it is a detail but it draws my eye every time.

 

I would like to see Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot's Universe of Energy!

 

There's one vote!

 

I have no idea, but it sounds like there are several medium-sized projects coming up in the next few years, hopefully adding up to a somewhat larger overall impact for the park. There are so many underutilized areas of the park right now (especially in Future World, whose woes were highlighted during the recent Soarin' closure) that it really makes me hope that they have some bigger plan for the seemingly haphazard changes

I will say that pretty much all of WDI's recent projects have been very well executed with lots of details. It's just the project choices themselves that leave me scratching my head. There's a great pool of talent in today's WDI, but I really question the logic of the bigger decision makers

 

Which fountains? I don't remember any "travelling" fountains near the Universe of Energy. There's the reflecting pool out front of the pavilion, and the lava effects in the dinosaur part, but that's all I can think of

Are you talking about the jumping fountains over by Imagination? Ever since they closed the upper level Image Works, it's rare that I actually go to the upper plaza so I hardly ever see whether those fountains are working. It's a shame, since those were a memorable part of my childhood visits, but the current layout makes it hard to get to them

 

Yes, the fountains in front of imagination. Also the fountains underground in splash mountain. I love the effect. It's so neat when they work.

 

I agree. Other than the fact that Ellen's Energy Adventure needed to be replaced 5+ years ago, there's really nothing about this that I like. It doesn't fit the theme of the park, and I always kind of liked that the park didn't have any rollercoasters or other ride systems that are commonly found in most parks

I also really don't like the apparent recurring theme of the "Marvel theme park universe" (jeez, I hate that), that the attractions don't transport guests to new and exciting places, but are located in the parks themselves. Mission:Breakout! is set in DCA, rather than in Hollywood or some other part of the state, and it seems like this will be set Epcot, rather than some planet or something. And justifying it by saying that a character visited Epcot as a kid is a total cheat. I visited lots of places that wouldn't be appropriate for an attraction about me to be set

 

Welp, today was the last day for the Universe of Energy. During the final ride through this evening, it broke down as the vehicles were entering the dinosaur scene and was evacuated. Initially the CMs said that they would reopen it for a (second) final ride through, but ultimately determined it would take too long, so the breakdown ended up being the end. The ride has been in serious need of maintenance for years (when was the last time the panorama curtains in Theater 2 worked?), but it's still sad to see it go out with such a whimper.
http://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2017/08/13/ellens-energy-adventure-evacuated-final-ride/

Although the ride length pose challenges to modern parkgoers, it's a shame to see such an innovative (and massive) attraction be closed forever; especially when it's only being converted into queue space for the next attraction that's largely in a new structure

 

I certainly agree that Ellen needed a makeover, not the least because it's kind of questionable having an oil company (particularly one best known for a certain well-known oil spill involving a tanker in Alaska) talking about the future of energy. But the "rolling theatre" ride system displaced the Omnimover as my favorite from the moment I first encountered Ellen and GMR back in 2000.

Then again, Ellen has been in Jeopardy for some time. (Pun intended: Maybe Heinlein was right: maybe we do laugh because it's the only way to keep from crying.)

 

Read about the breakdown too, FerretAfros. Fun.

Sure, I rode 'The Universe of Energy' during my first trip to EPCOT Center in Spring of 1986 with a girl I was in love with who had never visited any Disney theme park. That trip was one of the most amazing Disney theme park experiences of my life -- second to my first trip to Disneyland in 1969.

But it's time for UOE to go.

And like other attractions that leave, I'm reminded of that first trip to Walt Disney World - which convinced me to get my first job out of college working Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes. And I get a little sentimental.

'Willoughby -- next stop -- Willoughby'

 

Wow. I thought adding GOTG at TOT at the DLR was crazy... Does no one think before they retheme something back there? *LOL* Just planning my upcoming trip has reminded me how vastly different the thinking is for WDW versus DLR. Space issues in California should not translate into park theming schizophrenia in Florida. YOWZA! With all that land in Florida, you'd think they'd try for something more cohesive in each park. What gives?

 

It's cheaper to retheme a ride than build from scratch.

 

Yes, but it still makes things disjointed as all get out. DCA is going to end up with some serious weird if the current trend holds. Pixar / Marvel / Hollywood mash up, with a smattering of things. And they still have never really capitalized on the long parade route with a GREAT parade. The last time I watched an entire parade in that park was when it had MSEP before it went back to Florida AGES ago...

 

I don't think current management really thinks along those lines. They would rather get a property out there in order to draw guests to buy things rather than trying to get something that fits the surrounding area. GOTG still brings in at least the same number of guests as the TOT did. Theme park goers don't seem to care or even notice that this big ugly building has nothing to do with California.They only see a ride they need to ride to check off their ride list.