Originally Posted By jmuboy I don't see it happening - but would love to see Egypt added. Lots of potential there. Otherwise, would love to see a ride in Japan or Italy. Or both. A gondola ride past faux facades like at Disney Sea could work for Italy. The original idea of adding a bullet train ride through the history and culture of Japan could also be cool. Eash "stop" along the way could be another scene from the country's very interesting past. Very cool concept - but that's just me. I would like to avoid a big thrill ride for World Showcase. But more of a big thrill family ride that would be a crowd draw (like Soarin' is - fun but not high speed, high thrill mega attraction).
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Normally, I'd add a long post about all the countries once planned. All the kewl plans. All the expansion pads available. Even talk about some that came very close. But why bother? Disney's corporate mindset now is they're never expanding World Showcase unless someone comes in and pays 95% of the costs. So ... talking about what I'd like to see added is like talking about what I'd like Santa to bring me tonight. They both aren't happening. So why waste time?
Originally Posted By Manfried jmuboy said: " A gondola ride past faux facades like at Disney Sea could work for Italy." Oddly enough if you look back at some of the EPCOT history stuff out there, you will indeed find a gondola ride in the plans. But it never happened. Why?
Originally Posted By mousermerf They ran out of money. Disney footed the bill for the vast majority of the original showcase, and when Future World ran over budget in many areas they started cutting World Showcase while it was being built - that's how we ended up with empty show areas like in Japan and Germany. Those project were cut during construction.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Well, if you want to get catty - the decisions to cut were made at the right places since for years most people have been oblivious to the fact that they simply ran out of money. Whereas a project like DCA just looks cheap, and likely had similar funding issues. Part of being a good designer is knowing where to make the cuts - salvaging Future World was the right decision at the time. Now the current DisCo needs to invest in finishing World Showcase.
Originally Posted By Manfried Does Disney have any money to do the job of "finishing World Showcase?" It doesn't appear they are interested in doing anything there. They should. That park could hold a lot more people and it would probably boost attendance.
Originally Posted By ExpDave In the last several years since much of anything has been done in world showcase in Future World Disney has added Test Track (I would have loved to have seen WOM), Space, redone Living Seas, Spaceship Earth, and added Soaring. I think it is FAR past time they give World Showcase much needed attention. In fact frankly I'd love it (but know it won't happen) if the whole park became a World Showcase and FW was transitioned into more countries. Leave SE but perhaps make it really look like Earth.
Originally Posted By brotherdave I love the entire Worlds Fair concept of Epcot. But World Showcase needs to be updated. I wouldn't even care if only one new country were added once every 10-20 years, but it's already 21 years since Norway was added. And aside from some attraction and restaurant changes and upgrades, and the temporary Millennium Village of 2000, nothing really has happened here. No new attractions, no new countries. I really hope that before Norway's 25th anniversary, something major will be announced for World Showcase. But I won't "hold my breath" that this will happen. Just wishful thinking...
Originally Posted By mousermerf I believe that Disney thinks redoing O Canada, redoing China's film to Reflections of China, tweaking the American Adventure, really redoing El Rio to be Gran Fiesta Tour, etc.. counts as putting something new in World Showcase. Sadly, no one else notices or agrees.
Originally Posted By danyoung >I believe that Disney thinks redoing O Canada, redoing China's film to Reflections of China, tweaking the American Adventure, really redoing El Rio to be Gran Fiesta Tour, etc.. counts as putting something new in World Showcase. Sadly, no one else notices or agrees. < Once again we completely disagree, mousermerf. While I'd love to see new countries or new attractions in WS, I'm very happy with the "new" that they've brought to the above attractions. I know I couldn't wait to see the new American Adventure movie. And while I'm a bit disappointed with Gran Fiesta, it's not like what was there before was any great attraction either, and at least they were trying. Bring on the new E tickets, but kudos to freshening up several dated attractions (and please, don't EVER change the movie in France!!!).
Originally Posted By leobloom >>(and please, don't EVER change the movie in France!!!).>> Ditto, ditto, ditto. Great music and movie. The only attraction that is the same as it was when Epcot Center opened, right?
Originally Posted By Manfried Impressions de France is the only original opening day EPCOT Center attraction left. As nice as it is, however, I think that have 25-plus years it, too, is do for a re-think. Oh, and I recently saw the Martin Short version of "O Canada." It was a cheap update. They used a lot of footage from the old show I saw a couple of years ago.
Originally Posted By leobloom >>As nice as it is, however, I think that have 25-plus years it, too, is do for a re-think. Oh, and I recently saw the Martin Short version of "O Canada." It was a cheap update. They used a lot of footage from the old show I saw a couple of years ago.>> The Martin Short update is what makes me think a France update could be horribly misguided. The China update from a few years ago is nice, but the Martin Short film---well, it was okay the first time I saw it, but I don't really feel the desire to see it again. Whereas France is always a must-see for my family.
Originally Posted By mousermerf France's film was done by a french filmmaker as a sort of love letter for the country. That's why it works. It's actually a good film and not just a throwaway travelogue. It's hard to conceive of a theme park film as being worth much, but france's film actually rates well with current audiences. It's the Pirates or Haunted Mansion of theme park films.
Originally Posted By Labuda Man, y'all are making me feel just a tad angry with myself for not having seen Impressions de France on this trip!
Originally Posted By danyoung >France's film was done by a french filmmaker as a sort of love letter for the country.< Hmmm. From Theme Park Insider: Director and Director of Photography – Rick Harper Producers – Rick Harper and Bob Rogers Writers – Bob Rogers and Rick Harper And of course a fabulous music track arranged and conducted by Buddy Baker. Not a frenchie in the bunch!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Man, y'all are making me feel just a tad angry with myself for not having seen Impressions de France on this trip! << It's making me angry that we waited until our last day to get a chance to see it. I remember thinking as soon as I came out of the theater that I wanted to see it again, but that I knew we weren't going to have time. And we spent over half of our 10 days in Epcot, and only managed to see it once...grr at me!
Originally Posted By leobloom >>Not a frenchie in the bunch!>> Why let the facts get in the way of the truth?!
