Originally Posted By TDLFAN Well folks, Disney has done it again. The De-beautification of WDW continues and the last effort is grand, and totally hideous. Not to mention horribly sad. Why go to China when you can see the Great Wall right here at EPCOT Center?? Check these pics (and read the captions for more scorching commentary) <a href="http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32618582&f=0" target="_blank">http://albums.photo.epson.com/ j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32618582&f=0</a> You are forewarned... next time you visit EPCOT Center... be prepared to walk a little farther to access the Bin Ladden Security check points when you arrive. Also, when it's time to leave.. be prepared to walk a little farther to get to the few exits the Great Wall of EPCOT now offers. These walls have effectively killed the look of EPCOT's cosmetics at the front of the park ticket booths. And while I appreciate the little effort they did to add some logo touches, the walled fence is hideous, cuts thru the gardens like a hose that has been out in the sun too long, and they are simply unnecesary. If WDW management thinks these gates make their parks a bit safer.. well NO. They make controlling the crowd to/from the park better, but safer?? NO. It's yet another sad reminder of what has happened to this nation in the past 7 years. Why not make 9/11 a national holiday so we can continue to milk this fear for centuries to come...? That is if this Earth of ours last that long! What a contrast of idealisms when you have to go thru a gate and security check to go into a freaking theme park, then they end the day with a very dated message of hope and positive outlook with Illuminations. I am totally disgusted with this latest initiative at WDW.
Originally Posted By mstaft I think the gates serve their function. I'm not a nervous traveler but I am glad for the security. Having extensive security prior to 9/11 might have saved alot of lives and alot of heartache. I wouldn't call the area "gardens", more like a landscaped parking and pickup/drop off area.
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Originally Posted By Doobie Please discuss the gates if you want and leave the rest for World Events. Doobie.
Originally Posted By figment1986 I was at epcot, and got on SSE. i agree that the barrier is huge and annoying, the security check points get worse since this morning they did not use the other side and only used under the monorail. great photos have fun across the pond.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Just for reference, how tall are the walls? They look like they're about 4 ft tall, which doesn't really do much other than block foot traffic. Unless they have people standing around watching them, it seems like it would be pretty easy for someone to just walk up to one side of it, and pass something off to someone on the other side, defeating the purpose entirely.
Originally Posted By figment1986 they have people watching the gates spread apart. They apparently have a system set up, even though it funnels everyone into 1 of 2 check points, and usually only 1 is open most of the time? these new gates replace the older temporary queue stanchions. I'm indifferent, they look out of place defiantly. But they did attempt to give it an Epcot touch... if only they were a different color and matched the architecture better.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN The point remains... how does this make the park safer? I would have prefered metal detectors at each turnstyle, honestly!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo What a waste of time, money, and just another misguided step in the swamps of Florida. Sigh
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << These walls have effectively killed the look of EPCOT's cosmetics at the front of the park ticket booths. >> Huh? The cosmetic appeal of ticket booths? Give me a break.
Originally Posted By jrh GOOD GREIF!!!!!!!! Fine, If all of you don't like it, I will be more than happy to E-mail WDW and tell them to get rid of the gates and put the wand back up! Come on people, before EPCOT 25 happend, I don't think there was an old EPCOT Logo left in the park.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "Come on people, before EPCOT 25 happend, I don't think there was an old EPCOT Logo left in the park." Nope, there's been at least one that's been there since opening day. While it might be hard to see, and even harder to remove, it's been there, and I'm pretty sure it's not the only one (although I have no idea where others might be). <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2hfe6v" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/2hfe6v</a>
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 They're very ugly, very inconvenient (as is the whole new 'crowd flow' at the entrance) and do absolutely NOTHING to make you any safer (kinda like taking your shoes off to get on a plane). If an 'evildoer' is going to do something at a theme park, well, these ridiculous little gates won't do a thing. Maybe making everyone enter in the nude would ... but would you really want to subject yourself to that kind of pure terror?
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror >>>Maybe making everyone enter in the nude would ... but would you really want to subject yourself to that kind of pure terror?<<< Not in Central Florida.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^Yes, and where would people stick their money and credit cards ... the important stuff? (don't answer ... rhetorical!)
Originally Posted By Skellington88 I personally think the world would be a better place if people walked around nude in EPCOT you can keep important itmes like credit cards in a Hulk Hogan-esque fanny pack that is easably checkable at the main enterance.
