Originally Posted By kennect I am having mixed feelings here...The Land pavillion now features this new ride Soarin...OK but I don't get how the land figures into the look of an airport....Land and air don't mix in my mind....I do like the look of what is shown in the photos but I somewhat agree with Ars....I will just have to see it myself to make a final call....Regardless I am glad to see something being done at Epcot....It seems all we have heard over the last couple of years is Mission Space....
Originally Posted By pheneix >>>What is this LOVE AFFAIR Disney has lately, with SHOPPING MALLS?<<< Well, everyone says that Disney is turning their theme parks into one giant shopping mall....
Originally Posted By mickey_ring Thanks for the info about dining. Fast casual... Fasual? I guess that is a nicer way of saying cafeteria style.
Originally Posted By Chelledun I miss the fountain I think, but the new food stuff looks very nice. I am remaining open minded until I get to walk in and see it all at once
Originally Posted By arstogas The food offerings look like a great addition... I just wish they hadn't made the whole thing that - an average American Mall food court.
Originally Posted By pheneix Sadly enough, the in-depth D-Troops.com tour of The Land has forced me to re-evaluate my opinion of the redo. The metal handrails just don't work at all. Too spartan, too much like everywhere else. That and some other little things, like the removal of all references to the original symbol of the pavilion (a pennant shaped icon), really don't settle too well with me. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things I like in there (new signage, the new seating arrangements, new balloons), but I really think there are some simple things that could have been done to make the building feel more natural. Sigh... I'm gonna end up nit-picking this thing to death until I end up not liking it at all.
Originally Posted By CTXRover ^^Yea, the metal handrails could have been replaced with something more natural, like wood. But that doesn't really bother me either. The overall look of the pavilion is very bright, open, and inviting. I know/knew people will start to nitpick it apart, but it would be hard to argue that they (WDI) cut any corners here. Its a wonderfully done job. I was excited when I realized what I had originally thought about the dining area when I first so the photos here on LP. There are in fact four separate areas, one themed to each of the four seasons. Seen in most pics are the fall (the dark red area), spring and summer. The winter seating section resides in an area that was formerly part of the queue for Living with the Land boat ride and can't be seen in most pics. I really like the new look of the pavilion and am not going to change my original opinions because some start to disagree. There are things here and there I would have done differently and I'm always interested and open to hear what others think, but the overall design, from the new food area to the entire Soarin' addition, is great. It seems most are liking it too. The Land has finally gone from a pavilion most entered simnply to eat lunch or dinner into a must-see attraction.
Originally Posted By Indigo A lot was done overnight. Today they had brought in all the chairs, some of the soda dispensers, additional cabinetry, and more. I can confirm that there is no dedicated space for a store. Spoke with a CM who was amazed at that fact himself (he came over from Merchandise to work Soarin'). If anything there will be merch carts somewhere. I can also confirm that there is fastpass for both Soarin' and Living with the Land. I'm going to recommend getting FPs for both attractions which probably means you'll have to leave the pavillion and return to experience both. Alternatively you can try to FP LWTL and single-rider Soarin', but you risk getting a bad seat and/or having to wait a long time if the SR line is long. Finally, someone asked if the dome that used to cover the garden out front had been removed. It has. Much taller Birch/Alder trees are there and would quickly outgrow the height of the old dome. It's a nice touch, I think.
Originally Posted By CTXRover ^^Anything special about the chairs? Did they bring in any tables yet? I was just wondering if the tables or chairs would have colors or other elements that would make them "specific" to the respective seasonal section they are in (fall, summer, spring, winter) or if all the tables and chairs are pretty much identical for all 4 seating areas.
Originally Posted By DTroops_Com I'm somewhat glad that we posted "Living without the Land." Because when I first heard about this change last summer, I expected some really bad things. Then, I started having hope. That was after I saw the balloons - right here on laughingplace. So whenever I went to Epcot, I went straight to the Land... excited to see the brand new stream being creative, flipping out after seeing the Symbiosis sign being reinstalled. And, of course, pleased that the side entrance murals stayed. So when I entered The Land, the other day, I was speechless. The area LOOKED nice. The new color roof scheme (light blue, sunshine, balloons) were GORGEOUS. Looking down, I saw lots of white. No Land symbol. Instead, a white wall. Metal railings. The area looked more industrial than natural. Apparently, green bars down the side of the interior represent "tree trunks." Since when are tree trunks green? I was most dissappointed by the "trees." These are the giant metal structures that rise up to the second level. (In fact, some Cast Members said they represented clouds...others said they represented hang gliders). In anycase, I had previously heard that the design called for trees to be installed. (I had assumed they would be real trees!) The Sunshine Seasons looks amazing. For an airport or mall. The seating arrangements made me feel extremely dillusional, but I am curious to see what the new tables look like. The loss of an origial, identiable dining location to a standard counter service area is disappointing. I have heard mostly good things about the new Land rehab. But during my entire visit inside the Land, I kept asking myself: "Why do I not like you?" Is it because half of the pavilion stays true to what we're promised outside? (Symbiosis in Circle of Life and Living with the Land) With the other half dedicated to a Travel Agency (Soarin', Behind the Seeds)? I then realized the Land was suffering from schizophrenia. It tried to be two opposite things: an industrial area and a natural habitat. These are opposites, and when mixed together, create for a poor pavilion update. The good things are great, the bad things would be also if they were located elsewhere... where they belong. Thus, those looking at the pavilion will say 'nice work!' Are they looking at how nice the pavilion looks? Or do they believe it actually IMPROVES the themes of man's interaction with nature? I will agree that Soarin' is an OUTSTANDING addition to the Land. And I believe that, if the crowd situation works out (remember, Land is #2 with attendance, without an E-Ticket... bringing Soarin' in could congest crowds up the escalators to a queue OUTSIDE the pavilion, according to a CM), Soarin' belongs. But Soarin' didn't HAVE to bring along a travel agency to infest the rest of the pavilion. I consider this another Journey into Your Imagination in the sense that ANOTHER attraction (Honey I Shrunk the Audience) took over the original, imaginative area. In this case, an exact duplicate of a ride already available to Disney fans took over The Land. The result in Imagination? No Imagination. The result in the Land? Barely any Land. Airports: Frantic. Industrial. Farmer's markets: Peaceful. Symbiotic. And the guests brought in by Soarin' may indeed complement the new frantic atmosphere. I remember when benches used to line the sides of the upper level. It was because The Land was always a peaceful area where guests could kick back and enjoy the beautiful view Disney gave guests. That view is still available with the balloons, but the newer design hardly adds to that relaxation, away from the thrills and hype that range from Test Track, Mission Space... and even into Imagination (in terms of show elements). For those of you interested in more photos: <a href="http://www.d-troops.com/news.php#479" target="_blank">http://www.d-troops.com/news.p hp#479</a> We will be featuring an editorial on Monday.
Originally Posted By CTXRover ^^Could it be we are overanalyzing this? Sure, but that's what we are all here for anyway. Very well thought out comments/opinions. I must start to wonder though if the preconceived and widely held belief of those at D-troops before the rehab started that they were going to ruin the Land by turning into anything from an airport to a travel agency hasn't tainted the ability to see beyond that and see it with an open mind. While I can see the point of view that the central food court now resembles either a modern day mall or airport, the same could easily have been said about the former look as well, only in that case it presented it in a very dated look. One could argue that the former look was not one of a hopeful and brighter future, but a darker, less colorful, less imaginative food court area (although I miss the fountain still) The loss of the farmer's market idea does seem to come with it a loss of the whole "symbiosis" theme though. However, the previous layout not only created confusion and separation of families and their payment plans if everyone wanted something different from each stand, but one could argue that its only tie to "the land" was that farmer's grow food on the land and so voila! it has to do with the land. That's very integral to the symbiosis theme, but not necessarily integral to the theme of a "land" pavilion. That idea of symbiosis though lives strong in the new pavilion in all THREE main attractions, unlike the previous version of the pavilion. The new food court area on the other hand, creates a dining experience that tries to recreate the 4 seasons that are so integral in the natural events that occur throughout the year. The 4 seasons not only govern the changes in our landscape, but they also govern the way man "lives" with the land. The new food area does this through bright, vibrant and bold colors throughout 4 separate dining sections representing each season, but also creatively attempts to add smells and tastes meant to represent each season. That seems much more appropriate to the pavilion whose central them is "the land". I will agree that the new land appears to be less natural and more industrial. Does that ruin it though? Certianly not. The metal handrails are probably its only real downfall in that regard. Overall though the new look seems more spacious, brighter, livlier and overall just more modern and cleaner. The overall theme of the Land seems to have been strengthened as well. Gone is a show that taught us what was good to eat and what wasn't inside a theatre themed to a rock n roll event that pulled you right out of the farmer's market theme of the central part of the pavilion. In its place is an exhilirating experience that allows most guests the opportunity to take in aerial views of some of the Earth's most stunning natural wonders from snow capped mountains and dense forests, to oceans and deserts. Integrated into the film are views of man's symbiosis with the land as well, views of cities, bridges and farming communities. The airport themed queue is subtle and beatifully crafted using a lot of natural looking elements such as dark woods and natural looking and feeling curved lines. The overall look of the pavilion is wonderful, imo. Will it be dissected apart, sure. Does that mean WDI "ruined" the pavilion. Absolutely not.
Originally Posted By DTroops_Com This is what we said about The Land: "The Land is now closed for rehab, so we wish Walt Disney Imagineering and management the best of luck in the pavilion's redesign. We certainly hope the vital themes of the Land are brought to even better heights when the pavilion reopens in April. If you are concerned about the future spirit of the pavilion, please write Disney as soon as possible, as the rehab is already under way!" and "Although "Soarin' Over California" fits optimally into Condor Flats in Disney's California Adventure theme park, the EPCOT creative team is not molding "Soarin'" to fit the theme of The Land; rather, it is adjusting the focus of the entire pavilion to accommodate an already narrowly focused thrill ride. At *risk* are the tranquil and serene atmosphere of the pavilion, which has long reflected the beauty of Mother Nature, as well as its central theme of symbiosis between mankind and his planet. Without creatively adjusting such a clone as Soarin', the core message of a pavilion becomes diluted. A "quick fix up," without a substantial inventive process behind it, only loosens the inspiring, educational, and aesthetic threads that hold together a park like EPCOT." I believe Soarin' is an excellent addition, like you. To make this most general (not to overanaylze): It looks like an airport. That's as general as I can be, and as I mentioned above, the comibination does not improve the story. For the food, or shall we say 'food court,' I can only HOPE more theming will be put into it. From what I saw, there was no theming to the seasons, making me think nothing major will be added within the next week before opening. We can hope, though, that something indeed DOES bring "Seasons" SUBSTANTIALLY into the Land's story. It, as well as the seating arrangements, could just as well be from the All Star Resorts. . . In defense of the Farmer's Market/Food Fair: The farmer has always been the closest to the Land, raising crops and working with the Land for food production. This is what the story of the Land told us - that we were taking part in that relationship, presented in Living with the Land. I wouldn't have minded a change in layout, but I certainly miss the concentration on story. Although the green bars may represent trees and the white walls represent clouds, the comibination, in my opinion, does not enhance The Land theme, contrasting to what the exterior promises us.
Originally Posted By CTXRover <<From what I saw, there was no theming to the seasons>> The four central balloons are each reflective of a season with a central Earth balloon. The four dining areas are brightly colored abstract reflections of a particular season. The dark red area is representative for fall for instance. The new tables recently installed have table-covers that further that season themeing. The tables in the fall section have leaves. The summer section have suns, etc. The 4 different food counters also attempt to create smells and tastes of the 4 seasons. These are quotes from a recent Disney press release that will help explain the motive behind these four food areas: 1.Wood-Fired Grill Shop Wood-fired grills and rotisseries are center stage with fresh vegetables inspired by AUTUMN. 2.Sandwich Shop Made-to-order sandwiches are served on artisan breads inspired by baking traditions of the WINTER months. 3.Asian Shop Wrapped around a 6-foot-long Mongolian barbecue and wok station, this area serves noodle bowls and stir-fries inspired by crisp, spicy flavors of SUMMERtime. 4.Soup/Salad Shop Inspired by the abundance of growth and the celebration of the SPRING, fresh salads are prepared on stage. Here is also another part of a recent press release that may also help explain the newer, brighter, bolder look of the pavilion: "The décor has been re-imagined, with -- fittingly for The Land -- colors and textures inspired by nature and Earth's natural environments. The center of the space is an abstract representation of sky with blue background and long golden sweeps of sunshine. Five balloons are suspended in the atrium, four to represent the four seasons, the fifth balloon in the center representing Earth. Large green abstract tree trunks reach up the building's columns." Nobody has to buy into that explanation, but WDI created a new modern, abstract look to create a "new" Land. The center focus/theme does not seem to be an airport. I can see that point of view when its pointed out, but it wasn't my first thought at all.
Originally Posted By DTroops_Com Yes, I've read all of that... and I did see the great work done to the balloons and roof. Simply beautiful. I know what Seasons represents - I have known since it was released - but I didn't SEE the themes in the forefront of the new Seasons location. It looked like any cafeteria X. Of course, as I said, I hope that substantial work is done to truly put Sunshine Seasons in that "seasonal" theme. . . they have a few days.
Originally Posted By arstogas Here's what Epcot has NOWHERE: An indoor terrarium/park environment, under glass. A literal "ecosystem" enclosed in a futuristic biodome. Aside from the actual "living laboratory/farm biomes" of the LIVING WITH THE LAND ride. But you can't really "walk" in that environment... it's in and out on a boat. A setting like (forgive the example) the "Genesis Cave" from Star Trek 2 would have been wonderful, daring, brilliant, and happily worlds away from the bland mall-like environment so devoid of creativity that was the final result. I KNOW that something like this wouldn't have had to cost much more than what they built. It's just the CHOICES being made are just so wrong-headed and dull. I shiver to think of what might replace Wonders of Life.
Originally Posted By SIR at X-S Tech Searching through these posts, I think someone mentioned that the sign for Symbiosis was reinstalled? Are they showing that film again? Instead of Circle of Life? That would be a surprising but welcome change.
Originally Posted By dixielandings Im glad they kept the ballons I will miss the Mickeyrooni and cheese
Originally Posted By Labuda Does the fast-casual dining description sound like the Pepper Market over at CSR to anyone else? (See CTXRover's post #15 in this thread for details Disney has given on the new Sunshine Food Fair.)
Originally Posted By Indigo It's not like Pepper Market in that you pay before you eat. It's really almost exactly like Pop Century's food service. (Hopefully faster!)
