Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<How so? I, of course, am comparing EPCOT, to everything they have done, not just what got them started, and comparing so, in concept.>> Disneyland redefined everything and anything having to do with rides/amusements to the point where people are still attempting to imitate and replicate its success today. EPCOT was a nice concept for a park, but it was fairly boring. I'd be lying if I said I'd trade the Epcot of today for the Epcot of '82, other than the original JII.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>> Disneyland redefined everything and anything having to do with rides/amusements to the point where people are still attempting to imitate and replicate its success today.<<< Agreed. But when it comes to concepts and ideas in the parks, EPCOT's ideas of futurism, and world culture are much more grand, I think than the "storytelling" of DL. >>>EPCOT was a nice concept for a park, but it was fairly boring. I'd be lying if I said I'd trade the Epcot of today for the Epcot of '82, other than the original JII.<<<< Disagree totally. It was allowed to become boring, and stale, and outdated, and then finally radically changed in 1994. And I'll be totally blunt, Hokie...If anyone thinks, or thought, that EPCOT is, or ever was boring, that person can't have too much going on upstairs regardless of what they come to a theme park for. The quality and level of showmanship in EPCOT is and was more than enough to support itself and be interesting. I'm not debating this point ad nauseum, it's just how I feel. EPCOT is only boring if you think it is...or, rather, don't think.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<And I'll be totally blunt, Hokie...If anyone thinks, or thought, that EPCOT is, or ever was boring, that person can't have too much going on upstairs regardless of what they come to a theme park for. The quality and level of showmanship in EPCOT is and was more than enough to support itself and be interesting.>> Sure. The showmanship was great. But I don't want to go to a theme park now and sit on omnimover after omnimover. I really, really don't. I need some adrenaline. You can say I'm stupid for doing so, but you'd be wrong.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Sure. The showmanship was great. But I don't want to go to a theme park now and sit on omnimover after omnimover. I really, really don't. I need some adrenaline. You can say I'm stupid for doing so, but you'd be wrong.<<< I don't say you are stupid. I agree. They needed to add thrills, not rip out everything and put thrills in place of what made EPCOT, EPCOT.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Well in a perfect world, they would have added to what was there instead of replacing, I agree.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Disney used to do stuff like that.... Heck they still do it for the most part in the MKs. No one is ripping out THOSE classics...
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Even though I really wouldn't mind if some of them were. Key word: SOME
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Nah...I can't see that. Gotta keep the "heart and soul" of the MK, and just add to them. Besides, they'd never do that to Pan and Snow.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Pan maybe. Snow sucks. That thing needs an update even worse than Pan.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer I disagree, it's the other way around...Snow actually looks to be in better condition. Pan is falling apart.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Sure. The showmanship was great. But I don't want to go to a theme park now and sit on omnimover after omnimover. I really, really don't. I need some adrenaline. You can say I'm stupid for doing so, but you'd be wrong. ------------- serious question, not being a smart alec- but how do you feel about art museums, science museums , Smithsonian etc. ? I realize they are not amusement parks yet they are educational/amusement entities..especially say the Air & Space museum etc. and there is no adrenaline rush. ee I had no problem stepping away from go fast rides to ride omnimovers galore because of the content..my world didn;t even need a Mission: Space type ride there, but I likely am in the minority on this ( and yes, although each passing years I do less of them not so much by choice - I like coasters and thrill rides )
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Disneyland redefined everything and anything having to do with rides/amusements to the point where people are still attempting to imitate and replicate its success today. EPCOT was a nice concept for a park, but it was fairly boring. I'd be lying if I said I'd trade the Epcot of today for the Epcot of '82, other than the original JII.>> But did you see the EPCOT Center of 1982? Were you even alive? EC was as astounding and groundbreaking in 1982 as DL was in 1955. I'm sure some folks thought DL was boring back then because they were used to the seaside amusement piers in SoCal and elsewhere and didn't get it. And EC was a far more adult concept than DL to be fair. But I was a teen, and not even a dweeb/geek (they were into Dungeons and Dragons in my day), and I was absoluely awed from the first time I rode out to the construction site to the first time I looked up at SSE or rode on sunshine thru the age of the dinosaurs or found out why it was Fun To Be Free or took a boat tour of tomorrow's harvests or took a journey into imagination with Dreamfinder and Figment. And that was before I hit a WorldKey terminal and made a day of reservation for dinner at San Angel Inn or Alfredo's ... and then got to travel the world in a day. Sure, it's not as big a deal to many today (myself included) since I have visited all WS countries there on Day 1 except for Japan, but back then, I hadn't even hit Canada yet. And the merchandise ... just high quality, genuine and thematically right. EC aimed so high. And in many cases it hit the ball out of the park. Epcot is a pale comparison of EC and one that truly lacks an identity, especially in FW.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> serious question, not being a smart alec- but how do you feel about art museums, science museums , Smithsonian etc. ? << I like all of those sorts of places and spent many days in the DC museums and galleries when I lived in the area, but I think EPCOT was only a limited success for a person like me. I liked the rides like SSE and Horizons, but I never felt like they were educating me in a serious way. I appreciated the ambition of the rides, and I think with more modern technology they probably could have been a lot more effective. The spirit of inspiration was stamped on all of the rides, but I don't know how much intellectual 'content' riders came away with. The educational content of the rides was, for the most part, pretty superficial as well. I suppose some guests came away from EPCOT Center with the desire to go learn more about 'energy' or 'communication' or hydroponics, but I'm guessing far more simply took the rides as theme park entertainment and moved on with their lives after they left the park. I guess I like the ambitious idea of EPCOT Center more than the park itself, especially given that it would never be built by today's WDC.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>But I was a teen, and not even a dweeb/geek (they were into Dungeons and Dragons in my day)<<< Hey, nothing wrong with playing D&D or even better, AD&D. Heck, if more of todays imagineers had, maybe the modern offerings wouldn't be so fey.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>The spirit of inspiration was stamped on all of the rides, but I don't know how much intellectual 'content' riders came away with. The educational content of the rides was, for the most part, pretty superficial as well. I suppose some guests came away from EPCOT Center with the desire to go learn more about 'energy' or 'communication' or hydroponics, but <<< This is why I used to love Disney sooooo much. It inspired me, to learn much more, to be in awe of humanity, to be the person I am to a degree. I am afraid princess meet and greets and adrenalin rides do nothing of that sort. I miss old school Disney. And I know I am not alone. EC was amazing, something I obsessed about. And yes, because of it, I did do more research about computers, and hydroponics and many other things. And as someone who has been to all the countries represented (I didn't know Spirit had been to Morocco), and having lived in 4 of them, I think they did a fantastic job (shame they are even dumbing those down though).
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I liked the rides like SSE and Horizons, but I never felt like they were educating me in a serious way. I appreciated the ambition of the rides, and I think with more modern technology they probably could have been a lot more effective. The spirit of inspiration was stamped on all of the rides, but I don't know how much intellectual 'content' riders came away with. The educational content of the rides was, for the most part, pretty superficial as well. I suppose some guests came away from EPCOT Center with the desire to go learn more about 'energy' or 'communication' or hydroponics, but I'm guessing far more simply took the rides as theme park entertainment and moved on with their lives after they left the park. I guess I like the ambitious idea of EPCOT Center more than the park itself, especially given that it would never be built by today's WDC.<<< They were not supposed to educate you to the point of tears, I agree. The main goal is entertainment, inspiration, and showcasing optimism. EPCOT did that perfectly. >>> I miss old school Disney. And I know I am not alone. EC was amazing, something I obsessed about. And yes, because of it, I did do more research about computers, and hydroponics and many other things. And as someone who has been to all the countries represented (I didn't know Spirit had been to Morocco), and having lived in 4 of them, I think they did a fantastic job (shame they are even dumbing those down though).<<< Agreed. EPCOT, though slightly misguided and dumbed down, still has that feeling to it, and that message. With every trip back there, I realize more and more that it still "works". It just needs a few little touches to get it back in shape.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Swiss Family, Snow White, CoP(only if moved), maybe even Pan. << I'm afraid that would totally rip what's left of the heart, and soul right out of the Magic Kingdom. that's just my antiquated opinion though.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<This is why I used to love Disney sooooo much. It inspired me, to learn much more, to be in awe of humanity, to be the person I am to a degree. I am afraid princess meet and greets and adrenalin rides do nothing of that sort.>> So ... do I take a shot at my pal, Dave? Nah ... I'll just say I largely agree. EC was definitely an inspiring place. Epcot still is ... but much less so, unless you never visited from say 1982-1995 and don't recall the real place. <<I miss old school Disney. And I know I am not alone. EC was amazing, something I obsessed about. And yes, because of it, I did do more research about computers, and hydroponics and many other things. And as someone who has been to all the countries represented (I didn't know Spirit had been to Morocco), and having lived in 4 of them, I think they did a fantastic job (shame they are even dumbing those down though).>> Nope. Never been to MOrocco yet. I was talking about the original 1982 nations. Morocco was added in 1984 as I am sure you know from you Disney History Tablets! ;-)
