Originally Posted By oc_dean Pardon me if this has already been discussed before .... but tonight (Sunday) I caught a few pretty good specials ... One - This lady's favorite picks between DL/DCA and WDW (fairly informative and interesting) .. and another extensive and updated show on WDW and it's history. Wonder if anyone had any thoughts on them. They were pretty interesting .. if not a bit too "sugar coated" and gloss over a few particularly important "foot notes" in the history of Disney. One ... they show Walt talking about EPCOT ... and Walt is being pretty descriptive about it suppose to be an experimental prototype community of tomorrow .. Next, it shows Marty Sklar and a couple other top imagineers going over how they had two concepts: World Showcase and Futureworld .... But didn't exactly explain how and why they went from an "experimental community of tomorrow" to an elaborate worlds fair. ie - Gloss over "certain" details. And I turned my head in disgust as imagineers talk about their "latest and greatest" Monsters Inc Comedy Club! But as this is the TRAVEL CHANNEL .. We're not exactly going to get an honest discussion that WDW doesn't always get things right ... As the Travel Channel is there to paint only the most perfect picture to entice new "travelers" to visit WDW. Any thoughts on these "Travel Channel" specials?
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I've seen the special you're talking about with Samantha Brown. I enjoyed it, even though it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I haven't seen these most recent shows, but it does sound like they may be better than the ones made for the past couple years. However, I don't think I've ever found anything that clearly says how they got from EPCOT to Epcot Center. We can all put two and two together to see that they realized building a city on that scale probably wouldn't work, so they took a few select ideas from the original plans and turned it into a theme park, but I don't really think I've ever seen or read anything official (or unofficial and reputable) that gave any reason for the change.
Originally Posted By dshyates I believe the change from EPCOT to EPCOT Center is pretty simple, and makes perfect sense. EPCOT was a project title not a place. The place is the entire FL property. EPCOT is a plan for guided development to a massive end goal. It was not supposed to all debut as a massive city. It is to grow into a massive city. Wih Celebration and the CP "dorms", it is becoming sort of close to what Walt envisioned. As in a place to live, work and play. That said, the reason the location for the park known now as Epcot was chosen, is it is roughly the center of the property and was to become the central hub for the whole property. Therefore it is EPCOT's Center.
Originally Posted By USCSurfer What amazed me watching these shows was how much attention to detail...and money!! they put into the WDW complex. The innovation and technology really is impressive. I think Disneyland will always hold a special place for Disney fans, being that it's the original, but WDW seems to get a lot more quality attention. I know it draws more people than Disneyland, but being that Disneyland is the original, it should get some of its own special attention, and in some ways should be a showplace for the company. It doesn't have the room that WDW has, but what room they do have should be taken to the highest level of quality. That was the one thing I couldn't help but think as I watched those shows last night. Tomorrowland, not looking much different than when Walt was alive, really should be given some attention...and soon. It's nice to see they are feeding some money into DCA. It also needs to be brought up to the next level. As it stands now, much of it seems like a glorified carnival. And it seems that that's what Walt didn't want. Starting with the ferris wheel. As they noted on one of those programs last night, Disneyland has always been so many steps above every other amusement park out there. It is unique, and they will never catch up. Disney has a monopoly on that special magic that the others will attempt to emulate, but will never realize. IMO, DCA needs to be taken to a level that looks more Disney....not just like another typical carnival. I think you can keep the boardwalk theme, but you need to infuse more Disney into it somehow.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 These shows are old. They replay them ad nauseum, but that's how The Travel Channel programs itself anyway. The newest one is the Samantha Brown Favorites with much of the footage/segements taped in 2006 and 2007.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo USCSurfer. The grass is always greener. Personally if it were't for DAK and Epcot, I would never care if I didn't go to WDW again, yet we are obsessive about DL and find it to be better in almost every way than wdw or DLP (both of which are closer to us in the UK). Bigger does not always equal better, and this is especially true in WDW's case.
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove Never having been to WDW/Epcot/etc., I've found the old versions and these two new ones fascinating. I really liked that vine lady that came to life and that Everest ride looks neat...and the animals... It was kind of funny to watch the little boy next to Samantha as she chattered away during Soarin'. He looked kind of annoyed.
Originally Posted By mickey_ring Maybe I heard it wrong, but on the show where Walt describes EPCOT, he called it the Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow... I wonder when the word Community replaced City?
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>These shows are old.<< How old .. is old though? They showed the Finding Nemo additions to EPCOT and Animal Kingdom .. plus (ack!) Monsters Inc. Comedy Club .... which are all recent additions.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Oh my god ... how can I forget .... I wanted to CHOKE ... when they said .... Oh, know we have 2 versions of Mission:Space. As IF it was something soooo special they are offering now! What a great way to spin the fact someone died .. and they HAD TO DO SOMETHING!
Originally Posted By oc_dean Anyway .... the two shows on WDW are pretty good. Showing off the most recent things leading up to last year. Just be ready to roll your eyes .... as they spin some things ... As if the "Walt Disney World Resort TM" can DO NO WRONG! Gag me with a spoon!
Originally Posted By oc_dean Travel Channel has some good stuff! That night .. it went from those two WDW shows ... to the latest and coolest coasters in US parks to "the does and don't s" to Cruises. I was glued to the tv for 4 hours!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Yeah, Dean, but those same shows will be repeated all summer long ... and long after.
Originally Posted By christiemarsh88 <<<They showed the Finding Nemo additions to EPCOT and Animal Kingdom .. plus (ack!) Monsters Inc. Comedy Club .... which are all recent additions.>>> Dean, the rest of the show has remained unchanged for at least 2 years, probably much longer. They just add new segments every now and then when a great new attraction is added to the park--I'm waiting for the TSM (TSMM?) segment to be added! Anyone notice if they changed references to MGM to DHS?
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 They need to change Samantha saying the Grand Mariner orange whatever is so great. On her reccomendation, I tried it, was ok, but not as refreshing at the English Rose at R&C. We ate at Yak & Yeti, and with a name like Yak Attack, I had to try it, that was a good drink too.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Ok bobbe. I'm not a big fan of Gran Marnier. So looking for alternatives. What is in an English Rose? And what is in a Yak Attack? Also, how was Yak and Yeti?
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Hate when anyone asks me what's in a drink, I don't know, I'm not usualy a drinker. But I love fruity drinks when it's hot, I find them very refreshing. Orange, papaya, pineapple and of course some rum. But don't have 2 English Roses on an empty stomach! We had sit-down lunch at Y&Y, it was very nice, there were 10 in the group (4-65) and we all found something good on the menu. Decor/atmosphere and service vg. One of my kids picked up the tab for that one so I don't have the receipt to remember what we had. Would eat there again.
Originally Posted By Disney Joy Glad the show was repeated ~ since it was my first time seeing it. There will still probably be lots others that see it the first time as summer goes on. I enjoyed it ~ nothing new I hadn't seen on the web. I last went to WDW 1998. Sure was exciting to watch. I was glued to the set also. The coasters couldn't handle that one.
