Originally Posted By Doobie No, they don't. There is a WDW Official Album that includes some Epcot songs, but there's no CD just for Epcot. A new official album is supposed to be released any day now. Doobie.
Originally Posted By jedijoemadman I have always loved EPCOT. Being a fan of science fiction and science fact, and being a writer of science fiction, a trip to EPCOT has always helped fire my imagination. I do have to admit, however, that I find it a little disturbing that the park does seem to be replacing old standards with more "thrill" type rides. Mission:SPACE is great, but to limiting to guests because of its extreme nature. It also replaced one of my personal favorites, Horizons. And I felt that World of Motion was just fine as it was, with no need to "thrill it up" with Test Track. I understand the necessity of keeping things fresh. Walt Disney himself was a great advocate for changing and "plussing" the attractions. A great deal of my problem just lies with my sense of nostalgia. Those attractions have some very fond memories attached to them, and it's a bit disappointing to not be able to share the same experiences with my kids. That being said, EPCOT is still a great park. I love being there during the Christmas season and seeing the countries of World Showcase all decorated, and to hear the American Adventure singers do traditional Christmas carols. And it's great to be able to get a taste of all the different cultures of countries I may never have the chance to actually travel to. EPCOT may not be what Walt intended, but I don't think he'd be too disappointed with the way his dream was reinterpreted.
Originally Posted By Doobie My first visit to Epcot was in 1997. I don't have any particular nostalgia for Horizons (I thought it was just ok) or World of Motion (I never experienced it), so that's not an issue for me. While I personally don't like Mission: Space I think it fits very well into Epcot. What bothers me more (not to bring another topic into this one) is the characters added to the Seas and Mexico. I think it was done well in Mexico, though. Kind of the price to be paid to make what will never be a major attraction interesting to a bigger audience. And while I'm not a fan of the new Canada film, I am glad they didn't add characters there. That gives me hope that adding characters isn't the automatic thing to do for all attraction modifications. Doobie.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Always have liked EPCOT,even though I miss a few of the attractions now gone, and a really vibrant Innoventions. Not a MS fan either, but I am certainly OK it is there ( I like TT so maybe my taste in rides is just different) - For an oldie like me - when you add things like the Flower Power concerts -( a yard of Ale from R&C ) -and the view behind the stage - the water and SSE, it truly is as good as it gets. Now to someday make it to the food & wine event
Originally Posted By imtigger2 Hi Doobie! .. I know I'm a little 'late' to comment on this post, but it seems to be a topic that keeps on giving here For me, Epcot IS Walt Disney World. It's the first part my wife Laura and I HAVE to visit every time we come to WDW. We get our 1st tickets there and then after our traditional photo in front of Spaceship Earth with tickets in hand (whaaa hoooo!), we bath ourselves in goosebumps standing in front of that wonderful geo-whatever-spere just thinking "wow.. we're here!" Epcot offers something that only be partially match by AK, and that's the fact that it takes it's time with you. We usually walk in with no agenda in mind, we just let Epcot take us where it wants to. Am I making sense? Ha! At MK for example, you're walking into a crowded Main Street USA(tm) and you need to CHOOSE your path and PLAN which attractions to hit NOW and which to save for a parade time, etc.. At times, if you don't do it with precision and experience, you're standing in lines and bumping into groups of people all day. At Epcot, we don't do that. We walk in without a care or thought it seems. With that.. "so, what looks good?" feeling and it's nice to not have to stress and rush so much. Thanks for the write up Doobie. You nailed it all the way through. Epcot IS special and I hope it remains that way for a long time to come. Take care, Dan B Carlsbad, CA
Originally Posted By friarthe How nice, this is the most upbeat thread I've seen on LP for ages. But how can you talk about Epcot's greatness without mentioning the cheesetastic, if incomprehensible, Mexico and Norway rides? Geez I love those. And yes, I've watched the Horizons video from Extinct Attractions so many times I think I'll burn it out. That was up there with Pirates, HM, and Peter Pan for awesomest dark ride ever.
Originally Posted By Doobie As much as I love Epcot, I wasn't too big a fan of Horizons. And Norway ... well, I only go there for the movie I did like the original Mexico ride, though, but I like the new one even better (except for the music). Doobie.
Originally Posted By SFH >>As much as I love Epcot, I wasn't too big a fan of Horizons.<< Oh, that's it Doobie! I can't believe you were one of my groomsmen. ;-) I LOVED Horizons. I considered it the "theme centerpiece" of Future World. SFH
Originally Posted By Doobie I know a lot of people who feel that way about Horizons. What can I say? They're wrong Doobie.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Ya, but this comes from the guys who falls asleep on PotC - the greatest disney attraction ever ;-P
Originally Posted By Doobie That's true. And don't even get me started on Small World. <- does not properly represent the size of my smile! Doobie.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well, at least you have great taste in restaurants, parks and princesses.
Originally Posted By Doobie Thanks - not necessarily in that order. Seriously, I think I just came to Horizons too late (1997 just before it closed). I never saw the classic Epcot and if I had, I might feel differently. But the Epcot I knew in 1997 and know today, for that matter, still make it my favorite park. Doobie.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 That's because Epcot was created on such a grand scale and with so much talent that even years of mismanagement hasn't destroyed the inate wonderfulness of the place. It's certainly not the cohesive whole it was in its first 10-15 years. But alone, it would be worth a 2-3 day visit to WDW. FWIW, the place is now in good hands in Jim MacPhee ... although sadly he has been shot down lately on some things that would have improved the guest experience. As for Horizons, I loved it ... I also regularly napped in it ... the ONLY WDW attraction I can say that of ... but it was the perfect attraction to sum up the EPCOT FW story ... SSE did/does not do that despite what some think. Horizons was the attraction that tied up all of the themes of the other pavilions in one neat, long, imersive package.
Originally Posted By jedijoemadman Again, just my opinion, but HORIZONS was future world to many of us who saw it in its glory. Like Star Trek, it gave us a vision of the future that could awe and inspire youth and adults alike. I was 13 the first time I rode it, and it never paled for me, even into my twenties. Granted it could have used some updating, some of the costumes were starting to look more like Austin Powers than the world of tommorrow, and I understand that the building was structurally unsound towards the end, making its demolition a necessity. Sorry, waxing nostalgic again. I'll shut up now.
Originally Posted By Doobie I wish I had come to the park at some point when Horizons and World of Motion were still around. Maybe I'd have different feelings. That quintessential Epcot attraction has always been Spaceship Earth for me. Even though I did ride Horizons a couple of times, it just seemed rather ordinary to me compared to Spaceship Earth. But don't forget that big grain of salt - I don't like POTC. Doobie.
Originally Posted By frostysnowman I totally agree with the sentiments in this blog and the comments of the rest of you. Epcot is the favorite park of my husband and I, AND our eight year old daughter. In particular, she can't get enough of Mission: Space (the milder version of that ride).
