Originally Posted By wedroy1923 Is anyone else sad to see the old facade go? I understand change, and I think these changes - though I have not seen them first hand - will be great for The Living Seas (with Nemo and Friends). But as I looked at the pictures of the new facade, I thought back to story John Hench told (and I hope I'm remembering this right) about the folks at United Technologies saying The Living Seas building should be "white." Hench supposedly told them that he had like 60 shades of white to select from and what shade of "white" would they like? Okay, I'm kind of babbling . . . I guess my point is I just hate to see John Hench's "white" building slowly go from a work of art to just something to match the characters appearing inside.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 As for me I am finally glad to see updating done without ripping out the old attraction completion and replacing it with a thrill or semi thrill ride (i.e. M:S & TT )
Originally Posted By CTXRover <<That isn't a rumor>> Its just semantics. I always consider anything that either isn't officially announced or I haven't seen in a press release a "rumor" until it comes a reality. I may have missed a press release that mentioned the seagulls, but so far I've only heard it on various message boards and fan sites. Plans change all the time, even during the construction of a ride. Either way, now that the new Seas pavilion DOES have seagulls installed, does anyone know if they are the AA type like DL is reported to get? I imagine if they keep the wave effect around the right-side of the sign that the seagulls could react to that each time.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I'm awaiting completion of the whole place before offering an opinion. I do know that the original Living Seas as opened in 1986 was amongst WDI's best work because of the way it transported you to another place, entertained you on the voyage, taught you when you were there and then offered you a great meal when you were finished exploring. Disney doesn't do attractions like that anymore.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA ^^well said, Spirit of 74. I really enjoyed the pre-show queue -- not only the content, but they way the designers kept you moving from one section to the other -- gave you the sence of leading up to something and not just walking back and forth in a switchback queue. And I always enjoyed the movie 'The Seas' -- what a great set-up to the rest of the attraction. 'And they rain....and rain....and rain. The deluge.' Then going to that mid-80s computer graphic animation 'Try to imagine, just for a moment' -- then it ended with 'We welcome you to The Living Seas. We welcome you to Sea Base Alpha.' -- cut to a live shot of those futuristic hydrolators -- we walk out of the theater and BOOM! THERE THEY ARE!!! kewl stuff.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^Very kewl Jim, very kewl. I admit it, without apology, I am an EPCOT Center geek. What an amazing place it was in its first decade.
Originally Posted By Skylardad Right there with you Jim and Spirit! I was at TLS Saturday and they have extended the character concept from the exterior into the interior as well. This move improves on the blah blue everywhere. I wonder if this was planned all along or if someone said, "you know this blue is blah so let's add something?" Regardless of how great this attraction may be when they are done with it, it's story and concept are in the wrong place. As you said Spirit, they don't make 'em like they use to! Vintage Epcot attractions were about much more than 2-3 minute dark rides of popular stories and characters. They were truly an experience.
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror There was a sense of drama - a real sense of "here is the future at its boldest" with the original Seabase Alpha. That's been dying for quite some time, and now, it's officially dead. The attraction is now a whimsical and somewhat educational celebration of all things aquatic, but it's no longer one of the best punctuation marks of "Future World."
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<The attraction is now a whimsical and somewhat educational celebration of all things aquatic,>> I agree! But I think its still a good thing. <<but it's no longer one of the best punctuation marks of "Future World.">> I agree again. But what is? Test Track? Soarin? Future World needs some much needed help.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn The blue makes it look rather retro-Tomorrowlandy. After all is said and done, what should they rename 'Future World' to? 'Wowserland'? 'Random Stuff World'? 'Marketeering Center'? 'Fill-in-the-Blank Acres'?
Originally Posted By CTXRover ^^Discoveryland/world is still an absolutely perfect name for FutureWorld imo. I know it's been a rumored name change in the past, but it fits perfectly into what that half of Epcot is all about. The idea of living underwater or in space is not quite an ideal vision of the future as it was in the '80s so if they really wanted to continue with the future idea, most of the pavilions would need complete themeatic changes. Keeping major attractions relevant when they focus on what the future may hold in this day and age is not smart financially or practically in that it will be dated before it even opens.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Wowserland< not sure what this even means, but it makes me laugh...this is a funny word --LOL !!!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Disney doesn't do attractions like that anymore.<< At least not in Orlando my dear Spirit friend. Leemac comaplints often that TDS is "too real a place" for him... and I feel that is the greatest compliment to Disney's Imagineering. When you visit TDS, take a stroll alongside the Venetian Gondola canal and tell me you are NOT in Venezia.
Originally Posted By Skylardad I have always viewed EPCOT as a park of discovery so, IMO, I would not have a problem with a name change unless they use it as an excuse to not challenge themselves with ideas about the future. In other words, don't turn EPCOT into an extention of the Magic Kingdom. EPCOT needs and should have its own identity. Unfortunately, the current Future World is becoming more of a Magic Kingdom extention and has not challenged guests to look to the future and dream about possibities the way it use to. I think its funny that the monorail spiel from EPCOT to the TTC still claims the spirit of EPCOT (which quotes the old Horizons song) is still built on the philosophy "If we can dream it, we can do it!" Most of what Future World offers is entertaining but deals more with what is happening now - concepts that have been around for the past 10 or so years. Here is my synopsis of what "Future" World is now... There is no future in Test Track; UOE talks about alternative energy concepts that were in use when the attraction was "updated" a decade ago; M:S deals in astronaut training methods that have been in place since the Apollo missions of the 60's and 70's; The Living Seas has become a Fantasyland dark ride attraction; The Land features the same alternative crop production that was futuristic to us 20 years ago; and Imagination explores the 5 senses and optical illusions that we studied and awed at when we were 5 years old rather than show what the imagination is capable of doing. Many people comment / criticize that the EPCOT attractions of old were dating themselves, etc. To some extent I agree that there were necessary changes to be made to physical portions of the original attractions but not in concept and certainly not in complete gutting or demolition of a classic attraction. Let's take Horizons as an example... The Omnimax movie needed to have new footage and narration to keep it relevant (the space shuttle footage was during the 1981-82 missions when the external fuel tank was painted white and kept the foam together), and it could have used some updated AAs and some changes in scene decoration. However, its concept of future living and exploration remained fresh and would still be fresh today. In fact almost all of its depictions of the future are still in the distant future - such as their take on commercial travel to space and the ocean; sea and space colonies; city communities featuring holographic communication and in-home hydroponic gardens; and high-speed land, sea, and space commuters. It also featured ride concepts that were unique. In fact, one of its scene highlights is now one of the most popular EPCOT attractions, right down to the smell of oranges. The Omnimax theater sequence was part of the inspiration for Soarin' - an attraction that is very relevant today in concept and technology. Unfortunately, Future World has the same challenge that Tomorrowland has and that is technology and innovations are moving at a faster pace than ever - making it difficult to develop attractions based on the ideas of what society will do and use in the future. In EPCOT's case it is a fine line to walk - you want to depict what the future will bring but you don't want to cross over into sci-fi. I agree that Disney has a financial responsibilty and it would be irresponsible to keep making attractions that look into the future - only to have that future become a reality in 5 years or less. However, creating a 5 year attraction would be the fault of the Imagineers to not have a bolder vision. I think it is still realistic to create concepts of future lifestyles or scinetific exploration in Communication, Energy, Health, Space, Transportation, The Oceans, our Land, and Imagination (which is only limited by the individual). All of these are general topics that have unlimited possibilities and are relevant in our everyday life. Virtually speaking, you cannot have one without the other and there are advances in each of these topics every day that can fuel the imagination.
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror >>>In EPCOT's case it is a fine line to walk - you want to depict what the future will bring but you don't want to cross over into sci-fi.<<< Go back and pay attention carefully to what Ray Bradbury said in the Disney Treasures "TOMORROWLAND" DVD set. I'm paraphrasing him here, but basically he says "the future is ALWAYS sci-fi". By that he means, prognosticating anything, building any kind of future, means you must dream it first. The cave drawings were sci-fi. Before you could eat the ox, you had to dream of a way to bean it over the head or stab it. Then you built a club and actually DID it. Then you ate spare ribs. The future is always sci-fi. You don't fear that. You embrace it. How do you frame it? Silly? With Stitch? That's what you can do in the Magic Kingdom (though you don't have to do it silly at all). But in EPCOT, you can do it with gravitas, with wit and whimsy, you can do it anyway you want... but if you really want to imagine the future - it's always going to be delving into science fiction.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Unfortunately...<< Unfortunately, the kids today don't give a hoot about discovering EPCOT but riding it, and since the baby boomers who now run WDW (or Disney as a whole) do not feel the Disney Legacy is worth preserving or is outdated, EPCOT will continue to evolve into a wannabe MK. Wait until the Volkswagen Grand Prix (Germany) or the Runaway Metro Nightmare ride (France) are added to World Showcase. And my favorite, "Ride a Burro in Mexico City" simulator ride. I can see the lines reaching Future World for that one.
Originally Posted By MPierce TDLFAN, is that Burro ride going to be a dark ride, with a catchy Mexican tune playing in the back ground? I hope so, can't wait! Anway, thanks for the pictures ssWEDguy. I think all these changes were needed for the LS. They have to make changes, to keep people interested enough to return to the park. Right or wrong, adding characters, and rides seems to be what the Higher Ups think will accomplish this. The beauty of Epcot is what keeps me going back. Well that, and maybe the beer too!
