Originally Posted By arstogas Nice comments on my post, thanks. EPCOT Center, as I'll always call it, is still my favorite park, second being Disneyland, with AK coming up to third, I think. I loved what someone else said about AK being a very romantic park... Epcot is like that, but AK is really almost kind of spiritual, and that's a neat accomplishment for concrete and fiberglas, I think. >>>But within Disney not just Eisner, I suspect, lacks the vision necessary for the Epcot Center we remember. <<< Well, the late eighties and the nineties cultivated and encouraged a great cynicism in our culture, but I think lately, that's being reversed some. People are people, everywhere, even at WDI... But we can only hope that if this cynicism infected some of the vision of people at WDI, then some of this resurgent "hope" for a better future, a vision for what can be, is also going to be released like an anxious racehorse from WDI's gates. I think that there are probably enough there who DO understand what EPCOT Center was about, that can lead new plans for its growth. The problem is, to bring surprise and update the mission of the place, will take a lot of money. And until the current mindset of the upper executive eschelon is overturned by a new wind in leadership, we're going to see bandaids in fits and spurts. But you know, the great thing about Epcot is that World Showcase, largely, really still works. I would like new movies, new attractions, but what's there is very entertaining. If they concentrated 75% of their money on Future World, and 25% on WS, I think that would work. But that overall sum should be a LOT of money. Remember that by the time HORIZONS opened in 83, overall investment was about 1.1 billion dollars. Adjusted for inflation, that's probably equivalent to what was invested in DisneySea, and so to "reinvent" attractions with that same feel, but a whole new approach, we're easily looking at several hundred million dollars, IF they use their dollars wisely. The price tag for SPACE is in excess of $200 million, and the proposed thrill ride add-on for TLS is about another $140 million. But I say, bring it on! They will easily pay for themselves over time... I do believe that someone, eventually, is going to wake up to what's there, the potential of what could be, and we'll enjoy an "EPCOT Center Renaissance".
Originally Posted By TammyMullins When I first starting going to EPCOT I was not a big fan. Now it is one of my favorite parks. I didn't give myself a chance to like it because my daughter was so young. Now we both enjoy it. Everytime we go we pick a different country to eat dinner in. It is a great time now everytime we visit. Four days and counting until my next trip.
Originally Posted By SMCM Being a former cast member at Epcot and a current cast member at MK, let me just say that at Epcot these days, the average guest HATES the place. Kids don't like it because there aren't any real rides right now besides Test Track (by rides, they mean attractions that move faster than 2 mph). The average adult gets upset because they're there "not to learn but to have fun." And let's face it, Future World is just not a very fun place right now. And if some reason you haver an aversion to shows, like many guests do for some reason, Epcot as a whole isn't fun. Spaceship Earth - I love this attraction, but then again, I have a history degree and love that sort of thing. Whenever I go there with other people, they look past the ambition of the attraction and talk about how boring it is or how rough the ride is. Innoventions - Or better known as "the shortcut to Test Track." This is where I used to work and trust me, most guests do not want to be there. Most of the exhibits are either too boring for kids (and honestly, most adults), or too much of a video game are for adults (but make for a good dumping place for the kids while the adults go to World Showcase). Ellen's Energy Adventure - While a vast improvement over the old Universe of Energy attraction (or better known as the most boring 40 minutes of my life), it is still TOO LONG. It is fairly entertaining, but after the first half an hour of the attraction, it really begins to drag. I wish they could figure out a way to cut it down a little. When a guest finds out how long the attraction actually lasts, they never want to go to it. Wonders of Life - Body Wars...Ugh. Simulators used to be quite a hot attraction when they first came out, but now people just find them boring and too rough. Nevermind that Body Wars looks like it hasn't been changed or cleaned up since the attraction opened. Plus, you really learn NOTHING from it other than if you ever enter the human body in a microscopic vehicle, make sure you have enough energy to escape. Test Track - People come to the park JUST to ride this ride. People love this ride..Except when it is down. Which is a lot; Which is every day; Which is multiple times every day. This ride has got to be the buggiest thing I've ever seen. Not to mention the fact of the lack of brain power it takes to come up with an attraction that has to shut down whenever there is even a threat of rain in Florida..WHERE IT RAINS EVERYDAY IN THE SUMMER! Imag - You all know the problems with this attraction. Hopefully they will fix it right this time, but for now Honey, I Shrunk the Audience is the only thing there. At least that is a very good show. I just wish I knew why they took out Dreamworks upstairs. That was always my favorite part of the Imag ride and maybe behind Horizons, my favorite area of Epcot. The Land - Talk about an area that was RUINED by Fastpass. People didn't used to care as much about The Land boat ride...Until they added fastpass which caused everyone to think it is a big attraction. Now the attraction always has a longer wait than it deserves. I kid you not, last time I was in the park as a guest with other people, Epcot was so dead that Test Track was walk-on...Yet, The Land boat ride had a 90 minute wait time. Yes, a 90-minute wait time. And this isn't the only time it has been like that. I can't exactly explain it, either. I like the boat ride and all, but there is no way in hell I'm waiting over an hour to go on it, especially when there is not a line for any other attraction in the entire park. The Living Seas - I love this attraction, though I heard they are taking out the ride portion of it. Unfortuantely, for guests who have already been or plan to go to Sea World, this is just a mini-version of that to them. Wold Showcase- I love this area, but by the time guests with kids work their way back to it, the kids have has enough of shows and presentaions, and want RIDES. This is so unfortunate, because the best shows in any of the parks are in World Showcase for the people who have the patience to wait for and sit through them. However, patience is at a premium if you've spent most of your day listening to your kids complain or going through exhibits that bore you. There's a reason why Epcot's attendance has dropped so drastically and they've cut staff so much. It's simply not a must-see park for guests anymore. There are three other at Disney that are more kid-friendly. Epcot is great for well-educated people without small children and for Disney nuts, but the vast majority of guests don't fall under those categories. The tragedy of Epcot is that it is an "adult park" that doesn't even appeal the average American adult anymore.
Originally Posted By TammyMullins The people who got cut from EPCOT did they get transferred to another park? When I was there in October there didn't seem to be alot enthusiasm from the CM's which is a shame. I love this park now and unfortunately when Mission to Space opens that will be one of the only attractions getting any use.
Originally Posted By woody >>let me just say that at Epcot these days, the average guest HATES the place.<< This is really sad because I really like the park. Perhaps its a change of the times. When I went there a few years ago, the attendance was very good. Very crowded. Maybe things deteriorated, but its attendance is second to MK. I can't think up of a solution except to add new rides. Unfortunately, Disney doesn't do that these days.
Originally Posted By SJHYM I disagree with much of what SMCM says but the biggest thing I disagree with is "the avg Guest hates the place" Way too big a generalization. And I know many many people who Love EPCOT, myself included
Originally Posted By aquamoptop SJHYM I have to agree. But I also know a lot of people that dislike it for the reasons he stated above. i really think that the people that DONT like EPCOT are the ones out for thrills. They need to stick to amusement parks if they dont want to be educated and want to be thrown around on a ride. If everybody or at least more people were like us and enjoyed the EPCOT center of yesteryear than wouldnt some of our beloved rides, like Horizons, still be there?
Originally Posted By chipm EPCOT was always our favourite park. And i couldn't exactly tell you why. As we all know it's almost a conundrum, and parts of it are poles apart. But in the 80's and early 90's it really worked. When changes were made i accepted them. I understood that for the concept of EPCOT to work it needed to evolve. And it always amazed me how they juxtaposed the future with the past - how you could look over from China or Japan and see the gleam of future world. But two things happened. The became misguided, less honourable, motivated by cash at bank or corporate sponsors, than a genuine desire to educate and entertain. and at the same time i became a little more cynical, more demanding and questioning. Perhaps because of these changes? i don't know... But Ellens energy adventure just doesn't seem to possess the same power and authority of Universe of Energy (Which, despite it's ponderous nature and heavygoing narrative i stiill enjoyed) And JIYI seems flippant and crass whereas the original was magical and inspirational. Image works was a celebration of our own creativity as was Communicore (though in a far more limited fashion) But Innoventions, though it suggests an exploration of Design, problem solving and Discovery, is in fact a a heartless corporate marriage of amusement arcade and showroom. But World Showcase is still beautiful and proud. It hasn't been marred by cheap stick on icons or needless ride closures. And although at times i'm reminded of the fact that it's a very blinkered and politically correct construction of 'the world' , at it's heart is sincerity, culture and beauty. But to get to World Showcase, one must walk through Future World. Past the grave stones. Past the neon signs. Past the hard sell. And right now we would rather not do that. Right now we don't think it's worth it. So we don't go. Which makes my family sad.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn As much as I gripe about the current-day Imagineer-wannabe's who redesigned Future World, EPCOT Center is still, by far, my favorite park, and one of my favorite places to go on the face of the earth. My resume has been on the desk at Walt Disney Imagineering in for a year. I know where I'd like my focus to be.
Originally Posted By kkingnf When newcomers to Disney ask which park to go to first, I always tell them to go to Epcot. Epcot is a park that is different from the rest of the theme parks. If they go to that one first, then they can enjoy it for what it is...a great theme park. Sure, it doesn't have as many thrill rides as say the Magic Kingdom...but it is a great park in its own. I would sooner they visit Epcot first and like it then to go to one of the other parks and expect this one to be the same (and be disappointed). As for the article, I thought it was well written. Everybody has their own
Originally Posted By andeeor2 For someone that I so heartily disagreed with last week, he is right on the money with his assessment of Epcot. I have long felt that Epcot was a very disjointed venture, with no element of cohesiveness. Future World definitely needs something to bring it together, I just wish I knew what. Maybe that is what the Imaginears are running into, as well. I hope that Disney will continue on its trend to let corportate sponsers show their knowledge, as in Test Track, and the upcoming Mission Space. Only then will Future World become what is should have been all along--- not just some big advertisement for the corporate sponsers. As for the World Showcase. The movies in each of the pavillions are enlightening, but haven't been updated in years. New, and interesting attractions need to be incorporated into the World Showcase. As it is now, it is little more than an international shopping mall and restaurant area. I do, however like the incorporation of Kidcot... that is a start, albeit a small one in getting the interest of the children who visit this park with their parents. Hopefully Disney will realize the success of Test Track, and the future Mission Space, and be on the road to recovery.
