Originally Posted By mrkthompsn There’s some fascinating chatter throughout the Silicon Valley blogosphere of something big about to happen for EPCOT and other Disney properties. Sources suggest that the Cupertino, California giant Apple is finalizing talks with Disney, and is gearing to establish sponsorship of EPCOT - not any single pavilion, but ~all of EPCOT itself~. The deal has been in the works since last August, and rumors suggest that Laurene Powell Jobs (wife of the late Steve Jobs) has been promoting the effort. She has recently been active with Disney executives as she is a current member of the Disney Board of Directors (as inherited from Steve). The deal supposedly involves contract buyouts of all current sponsors (GM, Siemens, etc.) and a whopping $2.5 billion cash injection into major upgrades around the park, including a "transportation upgrade and expansion" (whatever that means), attraction & theming expansion, and other "social engaging features". Expansion of the California property was also mentioned via buyouts of neighboring properties, but not figures mentioned. The rumor stems from developers closely related to this summer's announcement of Apple iOS7 for Apple’s mobile devices. Apple is adding what is being touted as "Disney Integration", which will spread throughout many of its apps and services. Special "Disney features" will be integrated into Siri, Photos, Camera, Music, iWorks, Mail, Maps, Podcasts, iBooks, iTunes, and iTunesU. Apple is also planning a Pandora/Spotify-like music streaming service which will also include certain Disney Integration features. There are suggestions that many special features will only be active upon entering Disney parks, cruises, resorts, and mall stores. (I guess these features will only be available using iOS devices.) Mrs. Jobs has been passionate about Disney and the repurposing of EPCOT especially, and desires to bring it to a higher level of use and social connection. (The California expansion hinting may lead to a rebirthing of Westcot?) No word on timing, but Wow. This will certainly be interesting.
Originally Posted By Blufusion12 Thing is I think if Steve had'nt passed . he would had have maybe have done something to repair Disney. He was one of the largest share holders after they biught Pixar. He had vision and the strenght and "the Ball "to tell them where they went wrong with EPCOT CENTER. And I think he would have done something in his power to change it to what it's promise was. I love Epcot but not as much now. It's so 80's now. The living Seas when it 1st opend was a great wonfer. but now it looks like a family aquarium that hasn't had the water changed in yrs.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ I doubt it. He would have been more into the whole NexGen and My Magic+ thing than doing anything to actually improve the park experience. Jobs was a visionary, but his scope was very narrow.
Originally Posted By Manfried EPCOT could become Star Wars Land. Spaceship Earth could become the Death Star, Future World becomes Coruscant, and the World Showcase countries become the various planets.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn Steve & George Lucas are headed for the secret base on the far side of the moon with all the others. They'll be safe when the comet strikes
