tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post116961723817048284..comments2023-11-05T00:52:41.562-07:00Comments on EPCOT Central: I ♥ EPCOT. Honest.Epcot82http://www.blogger.com/profile/14763893513279437902noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-16225563043085619872007-02-21T16:08:00.000-08:002007-02-21T16:08:00.000-08:00I love a number of things at EPCOT center (I to wi...I love a number of things at EPCOT center (I to will never let the name go). Spaceship Earth this is my favourite disney ride still operating. To me it is everything great about the future, that hopefully we'll live to see. The land it still works despite the changes brought on by soarin' I was expecting to hate it now (even though I lost intrest in that corner of the land after kitchen cabaret left) but <BR/>I was pleasently surprised. This is the one area of EPCOT center that has not lost it's resolve of 1982 one bit. I haven't been in the living seas since it's changed, It was under construction last time I was there and I didn't go in. I dislike going to half open Pavilions. Journey into imagination, I loved the original and try as I might to hate this one I can't, plus the fountains are beyond rad. I also greatly enjoy Universe of energy. This is the only update that I feel didn't lose any education value. And world showcase is still perfect.<BR/><BR/>my only concern is with the new pavilions test track and space though great rides I find thaey fall short fo EPCOT. but they shouldn't in concept they are perfectly adequite perhaps some more pavilion instead of shop. and don't get me started on innoventions.<BR/><BR/>I do have to agree that EPCOT is still a place you can spend days in as I do without relying on nostalgia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-30332834440247006022007-02-21T10:22:00.000-08:002007-02-21T10:22:00.000-08:00all I can say is "on the money" i am glad to see ...all I can say is "on the money" i am glad to see that other people feel the same way i do about EPCOT. EPCOT is by far my favorite park in the world, and i remember what it was like when it first opened in 82. i miss communicore terribly, and there are things about the park that drive me up the wall because they are so dated. overall, WDW truly is the best place in the world - that is why we had our honeymoon there, and we joined the DVC, so the memories that i had growing up at disney can be shared by my children.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-80178498075159419252007-02-18T06:10:00.000-08:002007-02-18T06:10:00.000-08:00I appreciated the comment that someone made about ...I appreciated the comment that someone made about the physical size of Epcot, and particularly about Future World. That aspect of size also relates to the pavilions/attractions, especially in the initial versions. In many of the pavilions... SSE, Energy, the (Living) Seas... there was so much space for each attraction that you couldn't help but have an immersive experience. And with a large amount of space, you had a lot of time to experience the attractions in the pavilion... even if it was just a long ride like SSE.<BR/><BR/>Contrast that with Mission:Space, and you see how the elements of an immersive experience are abandoned. Most of the interior seems to be the queue; then you have a four-or-five minute ride and that's it. Even the post-show area seems like it was the victim of budget cuts... smallish and dominated by a big video game. The comparison is all the more obvious when you compare M:S to the completely immersive experience that was Horizons. The same could be said (although they did a much better job with it) for Test Track.<BR/><BR/>I have heard rumors that UOE is not long for this world; I can only hope that the replacement (for this 45 minute experience!) is more than just a quickie thrill ride, and with something for the guests to take away from the experience, even if it's just a few thoughts on energy conservation. About the only thing that most guests take away from M:S is a headache.<BR/><BR/>One of the nice things about Soarin' is that the large, airy queue seems to be appropriate for the ride experience. For that ride, the music, the atmosphere seems to be about right, although I do think the ride could be a few minutes longer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-52124106201882307302007-02-12T12:30:00.000-08:002007-02-12T12:30:00.000-08:00Have a great time, Kim!I have to admit, I am a tad...Have a great time, Kim!<BR/><BR/>I have to admit, I am a tad embarrassed at how often I play both of those songs myself!Epcot82https://www.blogger.com/profile/14763893513279437902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-48846549351983235662007-02-12T12:26:00.000-08:002007-02-12T12:26:00.000-08:00You nailed everything I also find gloriously endea...You nailed everything I also find gloriously endearing about EPCOT. I'm returning to WDW for Spring Break to celebrate MY 25th B-day AND EPCOT's!!! <BR/><BR/>You and I love the same things about this place. I can hardly keep from running through the park just to get to everything I love about it that much quicker. I keep the Illuminations music & We Go On at hand on my iPod at all times! <BR/><BR/>That's all. =)kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06391483165437282420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1170757729686410072007-02-06T02:28:00.000-08:002007-02-06T02:28:00.000-08:00I have to agree that the best thing about Epcot is...I have to agree that the best thing about Epcot is the atmosphere (even moreso since Disney seems intent on ruining the individual elements). The music, the architecture, the sense that there is more at work than a simple collection of interesting and fun things to see and do.<BR/><BR/>More than any other Disney park, Epcot is great just for wandering around, absorbing everything. How many families never even see the little Japanese museum tucked in the back or learn the about the acoustics in the dome in China? How many people have actually seen <I>all</I> the live entertainment? Gone backstage at the Land or the Seas?<BR/><BR/>No one can claim Epcot is a "one day park" and seeing something you've never noticed before, even after you've been there dozens of times, is it's own sort of magic.<BR/><BR/><I>I think the public has caught-up with Epcot, as more and more people tell me after their vacations that it was their favorite park.</I><BR/><BR/>I think this might have more to do with us than the park itself. Epcot has always been the park with the most adult appeal and I've found that the older I get, the more my peers enjoy it. Reliving your childhood in the MK is one thing, but you can't really appreciate Epcot to its fullest without a sense a perspective.<BR/><BR/>As for dropping attendance...I'd really like to see some numbers, but the one obvious necessity of a park like Epcot is the continual need for progress. Not the backwards-looking toonification that's going on now, but the constant advancement of ideas and exhibitions to keep ahead of the times. You can't build something called "Future World" and then let all the tech become outdated. When Innovations is less interesting than the local Circuit City, the solution is to look forward, not back.Captain Schnemohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15112333068173312142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1170449515667872842007-02-02T12:51:00.000-08:002007-02-02T12:51:00.000-08:00I don't even know where to begin, Tomorrow's Child...I don't even know where to begin, Tomorrow's Child.<BR/><BR/>If you know anything about the history of Disney theme parks (which, strangely, most Disney theme park executives don't), you'd know that the attendance slump isn't just normal -- at this point, it can be predicted. Disney did a brilliant, unprecedented job marketing EPCOT Center at the time; one executive said the goal was to "make sure every person in the United States has heard of EPCOT Center," and they came close.<BR/><BR/>There was never a perception at the time, either in the media or from guests, that this was an "educational" park. That was never the aim of EPCOT, either. It was not focused on cute and cuddly Disney characters, nor was it centered on thrilling roller coasters. It was a new breed of theme park, and what Disney did so incredibly well was communicate that to guests.<BR/><BR/>It would be hard to argue that EPCOT "does not appeal to the masses" when it remains what it has been from Day One: The second most-attended park at Walt Disney World and one of the five most visited theme parks in the world.<BR/><BR/>"Nobody" wanted to go? Even at its lowest ebb, EPCOT Center still attracted more people than any theme park in the United States except Disneyland and The Magic Kingdom. Hardly a disaster, I'd say.<BR/><BR/>Nor would I say "Disney cannot afford to run it." That's just silly. I don't know what the park's operating budget is annually, but my guess is that it's substantially lower than the amount of money Disney will lose on <I>Apocalypto</I>.<BR/><BR/>I never forget that this is a business. How could that be forgotten?<BR/><BR/>But I believe it's a business whose owners (the shareholders) expect and are entitled to a different definition of "success." Anyone who invests in Disney, whether at the institutional or individual level, understands that it is inherently a creative business. Creative ventures come with more risks than traditional business initiatives. The folly, I believe, is trying to manage a creative business to traditional corporate expectations. The only way truly revolutionary success comes in a creative business is by "betting the farm," something Wall Street is loathe to see happen.<BR/><BR/>When you try to manage a creative business on a quarter-to-quarter, FY-to-FY model, you end up with mediocrity. Open the movie section of your local paper and you'll see what I mean: It's filled with movies that make a profit (and thereby satisfy investors), but that have no shelf life, do not succeed creatively and really are not much more than time-fillers.<BR/><BR/>Again, if that's ALL you expect out of your business, then fine. I believe Disney <I>used to</I> expect more.<BR/><BR/>They used to dream of building a place like EPCOT Center. Today, they're content to half-heartedly manage a park called Epcot.<BR/><BR/>This investor/owner wants more than that.<BR/><BR/>(All that said, if you're so down on the "educational park," why did you choose the name "Tomorrow's Child"?)Epcot82https://www.blogger.com/profile/14763893513279437902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1170429398200886732007-02-02T07:16:00.000-08:002007-02-02T07:16:00.000-08:00The Epcot you loved? After the first five years, ...The Epcot you loved? After the first five years, people stayed away in droves. Nobody wanted to go to the "educational park." The bottom line -- the park is too big and too expensive to run. If it does not appeal to the masses, Disney cannot afford to run it. Don't forget that this is a business, and stockholders expect a profit... not praise from superfans.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1170304134542154652007-01-31T20:28:00.000-08:002007-01-31T20:28:00.000-08:00This video along with the incredible clips and awe...This video along with the incredible clips and awe-inspiring music embodies what you talk about on your blog. Enjoy.<BR/><BR/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdDuIJiJBjMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1170300398650309652007-01-31T19:26:00.000-08:002007-01-31T19:26:00.000-08:007. The sheer audacity of the concept;!!!Epcot's a ...<I>7. The sheer audacity of the concept;<BR/></I><BR/><BR/>!!!<BR/><BR/>Epcot's a <I>grownup's park.</I> Kids want to come, they have to play grownup.<BR/><BR/>What a great bunch of posts here. Epcot is one of the most beautiful parks in the world's history. My favorite: the rock-fusion bagpiper in England, I forget the band's name. They were superb.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1170225345886917592007-01-30T22:35:00.000-08:002007-01-30T22:35:00.000-08:00Ah, remember the days when people used to dress up...Ah, remember the days when people used to dress up, even at Walt Disney World? But that's a different story altogether. Thanks for sharing some nice memories!Epcot82https://www.blogger.com/profile/14763893513279437902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1170220338650651252007-01-30T21:12:00.000-08:002007-01-30T21:12:00.000-08:00I remember going to EPCOT Center back in 1984 with...I remember going to EPCOT Center back in 1984 with my family. I was 7 years old at the time. I remember playing the Imagination area with the pin needles and all the other interactive games. My grandparents even let me get a plush Figment stuffed toy that was pretty big! I remember watching the Presidents and even dressing up in nice clothes to eat dinner at the Japanese area. I remember being in awe as we came around the corner and saw the brontosaurus area of the Universe of Energy ride. The room was so large and swampy feeling! It was so cool! I love EPCOT. i was just there this past weekened but only very briefly. My first time back there since 1984. I am now obsessed with it and reading everything about it online. I want to go back before they tear down all the old attractions!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169842758117971902007-01-26T12:19:00.000-08:002007-01-26T12:19:00.000-08:00I love:1. International Gateway and each country's...I love:<BR/><BR/>1. International Gateway and each country's individual music loops;<BR/>2. The hopefulness of the World Showcase cast members;<BR/>3. The subtle changes in architecture between Future World East and West;<BR/>4. The Innoventions music loop;<BR/>5. The rose garden;<BR/>6. Standing in Future World, looking at Spaceship Earth and hearing/seeing the monorail 'whush' by;<BR/>7. The sheer audacity of the concept;<BR/>8. Did I mention the music?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01089551498853338032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169792298200957572007-01-25T22:18:00.000-08:002007-01-25T22:18:00.000-08:00YOU rock for caring so much about EPCOT! :-)YOU rock for caring so much about EPCOT! :-)Epcot82https://www.blogger.com/profile/14763893513279437902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169790910508551352007-01-25T21:55:00.000-08:002007-01-25T21:55:00.000-08:00Thank you so much for creating this blog. I too a...Thank you so much for creating this blog. I too am a fan of EPCOT and deep down, I hope that EPCOT becomes what it really should be. It should be appreciated for its uniqueness and I being the same age as it, I feel like it would be wonderful to see EPCOT as an adult that helps tell people of innovation and what may be in the future for all of us. <BR/><BR/>EPCOT Center is my favorite theme park while growing up because of Spaceship Earth. It is beautiful and even though the ride inside the sphere is old and run-downish, I still find myself amazed, learning of how life has changed in the centuries and that part when you are in the heart of the sphere and it is dark and you see stars (from what I recall), it gets to me. <BR/><BR/>I love walking around the countries and my family would always stop at each country, taking a picture. Like when we were at the United Kingdom, my sisters and I would always get a photograph at the tradional red telephone booth.<BR/><BR/>EPCOT Center has grown with me and the last time I went there, in 2005, I was disappointed with the entrance. The legacy walls should be moved. That area was wide open and was a great photograph location. <BR/><BR/>Hopefully everything that is a pet peeve of mine for EPCOT can be fixed. And hopefully the business folks in control of theme parks, will listen to the Disney fans, the people who care the most for the company, care for what Walt Disney had dreamed of and created. <BR/><BR/>Thanks again for creating this blog. You rock! ^_^Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169767509126022752007-01-25T15:25:00.000-08:002007-01-25T15:25:00.000-08:00My wife and I went to EPCOT 7 years ago and loved ...My wife and I went to EPCOT 7 years ago and loved it, easily our favorite park. Loved the discovery and exploration all around; like a cross between the best parts of a museum and an amusement park.<BR/><BR/>Went back 2 years ago, now with kids in tow, hoping they would have as great an experience. A bit over their heads, but it was great to see them smile and run all over. At the World Showcase they had masks on sticks and went country to country having the mask "stamped" and decorated. Great (and *gasp* affordable) family dinners at the Moroccan and Japanese cafes, fireworks at Illuminations, the beautiful gardening around Canada, lots of wonderful memories. And when they'd get tired we'd sit them in the stroller and enjoy just walking around the park.<BR/>I want to take them back in a few more years and see what they think at that point. Hopefully it will still be just as exciting for them--and for us.Dr Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14189865716966916545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169759031471711332007-01-25T13:03:00.000-08:002007-01-25T13:03:00.000-08:00On second thought, what I love most about Epcot is...On second thought, what I love most about Epcot is the feeling it gives me: Hope for the future.<BR/><BR/>I think that's my singular litmus test for whether any attraction "is Epcot" or not.<BR/><BR/>BTW, when I visited in December, the ubiquitous Christmas music stripped that from most of the outdoor spaces. The feeling went from "Hope for the future" to "HEY! IT'S CHRISTMAS!"<BR/><BR/>I want my Epcot music back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169736589519418332007-01-25T06:49:00.000-08:002007-01-25T06:49:00.000-08:00My attraction to EPCOT center (I can't call it oth...My attraction to EPCOT center (I can't call it otherwise either) is the World's Fair experience.<BR/><BR/>I have grown up in Orlando, and I went to EPCOT center when it opened, and was enamored at once. So much wonder that it was hard to handle.<BR/><BR/>Then in 1984 I was surprised by my mother for my birthday with a trip to the World's Fair in New Orleans. The pavillions of the different countries, technology demonstrations, the performances, it was genius. When we returned I have realized that we had our own World's Fair here in EPCOT center.<BR/><BR/>The difference was, that EPCOT center was far better than the World's Fair... It was there all the time, and they could add more to it. This made me want to go every day and see what new things were added.<BR/><BR/>I have finally purchased an Annual Pass (this is my second year of having one, and I don't know what I did without one) so I can go whenever I want. So when I go I usually wander around the World Showcase, stop into some of the Future World pavillions, or just stop in for lunch.Klark Kent 007https://www.blogger.com/profile/15132628521877592894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169710533061127932007-01-24T23:35:00.000-08:002007-01-24T23:35:00.000-08:00I think the things that people appreciate in the "...I think the things that people appreciate in the "new" Epcot are very interesting. I also hear people remark that they love it, but the things they like actually are highly reminiscent of EPCOT Center. Attractions like Soarin', I:ROE, M:S and TT, SSE, etc. all fit the old mold to a large extent. They are meant to be fun, inspiring, and showcase what we can do as a species. They use music (sometimes more, sometimes less) to create this sense of wonder. They challenge people of all ages to hope, dream, and ask questions. That was what EPCOT Center did best. I find it interesting that the attractions that are not doing so well, especially after rehab, are those that look to cheap forms of entertainment (IMAG, the new Seas, etc.). These are not bad attractions; they just miss the mark (especially the Seas where the use of Nemo as the catalyst for sea exploration could have been so easily done with just some dialogue change to the ride narration/end and Turtle Talk). However, I hope for a day when this uber marketing trend releases. As someone said above, Disney is pushing excitement. It is overwhelming. I remember being very excited as a child, but it was more in hopes of experiencing everything. It was more constrained so the excitement came from within. Now, it feel forcefed. It is certainly exciting, but it is not simultaneously relaxing. I feel worn out, not worn out but very satisfied.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169696423703368212007-01-24T19:40:00.000-08:002007-01-24T19:40:00.000-08:00These comments and feedback are great. Of course,...These comments and feedback are great. Of course, the danger, Dale, is that Disney would hear a comment like yours (that more people are telling you it's their favorite park) and reason, "Well, all of those changes must be working -- let's put in MORE cartoon characters and take out the old crappy stuff no one likes!" I hope that's not what they would glean from this, but worry it is.Epcot82https://www.blogger.com/profile/14763893513279437902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169694399640231892007-01-24T19:06:00.000-08:002007-01-24T19:06:00.000-08:00I love the architecture of Future World (World Sho...I love the architecture of Future World (World Showcase is not too shabby in this regard either). I love how it is so big and inviting and optimistic. It shows a benign future where human and technology live in harmony with one another. It also feels almost retro (I know this wasn't the intent, but it <I>was</I> built in the 80's) which, to me, almost connects it to the idealized World Showcase areas. It is because of Epcot that I am going to study architecture in college.<BR/>I love the shot of the Golden Gate Bridge in Soarin, the wild intensity of Body Wars and the great Cranium Command show. I love the Mission: Space courtyard and the Big Blue World segment of The Seas With Nemo and Friends. I love the Chinese soda at Club Cool. I love the volcano scene of El Rio, the hokey song in Oh Canada, the Chinese Acrobats, the American Adventure show, and the hidden little museum in Morocco. I like the holiday ending of Illuminations and the lasers projected on Spaceship Earth. Heck, I love the entire fiber optic portion at the end of Spaceship Earth. There is too much awesome stuff at Epcot to see in one day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169692461210019852007-01-24T18:34:00.000-08:002007-01-24T18:34:00.000-08:00I TOO LOVE IllumiNations -- the current incarnatio...I TOO LOVE IllumiNations -- the current incarnation is by far and away my favorite Disney attraction. We always linger for at least an hour after the show, and have never been herdered out of the park.<BR/><BR/>Also, just strolling around World Showcase after sunset, sampling drinks from around the world, making conversation with people from all around the world, where else can you do that? I find the Cast Members in World Showcase are the friendliest in all of WDW!!<BR/><BR/>I think the public has caught-up with Epcot, as more and more people tell me after their vacations that it was their favorite park.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169683352159589022007-01-24T16:02:00.000-08:002007-01-24T16:02:00.000-08:00Wow,All these responses are pretty good. You're on...Wow,<BR/><BR/>All these responses are pretty good. You're one sharp group in here.<BR/><BR/>Me? I love strolling World Showcase in a moderate rain. It's like nothing else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169677168888466372007-01-24T14:19:00.000-08:002007-01-24T14:19:00.000-08:00You're absolutely right, Anonymous. This wasn't a...You're absolutely right, Anonymous. This wasn't always the case, of course. I used to enjoy wandering the Disney Village Marketplace, before it became Downtown Disney, because it was relatively quiet and calm and allowed for exploration. Likewise, many of the resorts used to present an experience like this, one that allowed for relaxation and enjoyment. It seems these days that everything has become about SELLING you something and creating a feeling of hyperactivity and disquiet. So many of those places at Walt Disney World and Disneyland are gone now, and more's the pity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-1169676580630917722007-01-24T14:09:00.000-08:002007-01-24T14:09:00.000-08:00there's so much to love at epcot. it's hard to bel...there's so much to love at epcot. it's hard to believe as a child i didn't fully enjoy the epcot experience. i couldn't appreciate it more now. <BR/><BR/>i think the one thing that epcot has, that is only really rivaled at mgm, is space. lots and lots of space to wander and to enjoy simply just being a part of something bigger than yourself. whether people watching around the fountain of nations or wandering the world showcase for shopping, eating or simply just being. there's nowhere on disney property to simply wander and see what you find. the hidden paths of the world showcase and linked together shops only add to this feeling. it really is all about the discovery and never knowing where you might end up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com