There’s no cause to imagine that the EPCOT overhaul has a part 2 on the horizon. Walt Disney World has not hinted at it, and as a substitute urged that the transformation venture is completed with the debut of CommuniCore Corridor and Plaza. Even when that they had, second phases of tasks usually fall by way of.
Nonetheless, there’s lots that was “quickly” shelved or introduced and placed on maintain again in 2020, ensuing within the first part not being as massive or daring as initially deliberate. In consequence, EPCOT nonetheless wants updates and additions to really dwell as much as its legacy and be Walt Disney World’s sterling second gate.
With round $17 billion earmarked for Walt Disney World through the subsequent decade of growth and tensions between Florida and the corporate cooling, it stands to cause that each one 4 parks will see investments of various levels. EPCOT is undoubtedly decrease precedence, however there’s nonetheless numerous untapped potential for the park. Right here’s what EPCOT wants essentially the most–a mix of postponed tasks, rumors which have by no means come to fruition, and our authentic ‘want checklist’ of reimaginings and additions…
Check Monitor 3.0 – Let’s begin out on the proper foot, with the change that’s been truly introduced (nicely, a number of of those have) and continues to be slated to occur (the actual distinction). Revealed finally yr’s Vacation spot D23, the subsequent overhaul of Check Monitor will not be essentially the most pressing factor on this checklist. However it’s being funded largely by Chevy Bucks, and I doubt they’ve any curiosity in a Journey into Creativeness overhaul. Alas.
I cherished Check Monitor 2.0 when it debuted, and thought it was a major replace and enchancment to the unique Check Monitor. However time has executed it no favors. Not solely has it aged poorly and now attracts unfavorable comparisons to TRON Lightcycle Run, however there’s completely nothing memorable in regards to the attraction. Even I’ve to confess that the unique Check Monitor had way more nostalgic attraction!
Regardless that I don’t assume it’s a high precedence within the grand scheme of issues, Check Monitor 3.0 has numerous upside and little or no draw back. That alone ought to make it a major candidate for a reimagining. Just about every little thing that anybody loves about Check Monitor (the thrills) will probably be staying, so there’s little or no threat of this experience overhaul “messing up” what folks like in regards to the present experience.
Not solely that, however Check Monitor will get an replace impressed by World of Movement! That’s thrilling information that’s, as soon as once more, aimed squarely at longtime Walt Disney World followers. Whereas it stays to be seen precisely what which means, it’s trigger for optimism. Check Monitor 3.0 is a low-floor, high-ceiling form of venture…and one primarily paid for by another person, so it’s not even coming on the expense of one other Walt Disney World venture! Win-win!
Spaceship Earth Reimagining – Introduced in 2019 and scheduled to shut in Could 2020, Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story was to remodel the experience “by way of the facility of sunshine” and be the “most bold” replace to Spaceship Earth since EPCOT Heart’s grand opening on October 1, 1982.
This reimagined Spaceship Earth was to have a brand new narration, a completely new musical rating, and new present scenes. Most notably, company will comply with a magical “Story Gentle” that brings your complete expertise to life in dynamic methods, giving every scene power and sweetness that ties your complete journey collectively.
Clearly, this didn’t occur. Walt Disney World assertion when the park reopened: “As with most companies throughout this era, we’re additional evaluating long-term venture plans. The choice was made to postpone improvement of the Mary Poppins-inspired attraction and Spaceship Earth right now.”
Even again in 2020, Spaceship Earth was in want of a prolonged refurbishment strictly from a upkeep perspective. There are overdue mechanical points with Spaceship Earth that can should be addressed in some unspecified time in the future within the not-too-distant future regardless of the reimagining.
The experience wants monitor work, amongst different issues, and a prolonged refurbishment will probably be vital inside the subsequent few years. It will make sense to refresh present scenes at that time, too. It’s now been ~5 years because the “Story Gentle” proposal, in order that’s in all probability lifeless, however I’m actually not averse to the concept as long as it doesn’t contain characters or IP.
Walt Disney World nearly definitely receives visitor survey suggestions that Spaceship Earth is “boring.” Having a shiny object in every scene could be a strategy to make the experience extra dynamic and interesting with out basically altering the present scenes. I’ll take that as a win. Regardless, the attraction may nonetheless use a serious replace. Spaceship Earth is the centerpiece of EPCOT and deserves to be handled as such.
Play Pavilion – This EPCOT addition was beforehand introduced as coming “in time for Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary” in 2021. Final yr, Walt Disney World lastly offered an replace that it was “re-evaluating the unique idea that was deliberate” for the Play Pavilion at EPCOT. This was unsurprising. The Play Pavilion has been paused because the parks closed, and Disney has not shared a substantive replace since then.
Play Pavilion was deliberate for the previous Wonders of Life pavilion, which was subsequently a competition middle. Walt Disney World already did numerous work fixing the roof and different infrastructure points with the pavilion and it is a prime piece of actual property now that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is drawing folks to this nook of the park. So it in all probability received’t sit empty ceaselessly.
However no matter finally ends up right here is also unlikely to be the Play Pavilion. By the point something does occur, it’ll be over 5 years because the authentic idea was introduced, and even longer because it was pitched. That’s an eternity within the interactive sights area, so it’s in all probability time to revisit the idea.
For our half, we’d love for this to be an interactive kid-friendly providing. My dream is for a revival of the ‘Well being Pavilion’ idea that includes Baymax and an assortment of different characters (a Large Hero 6 simulator experience might be superior), such an idea might be fraught with controversy. Another choice could be to leverage Disney’s new partnership with Epic Video games and deliberate partnership for Fortnite Universe for Disney IP. One more could be some type of Marvel pavilion; there have been rumors of a Wakanda Tech Expo even earlier than Play Pavilion, and that might be good.
Mary Poppins Trip – Disney introduced the first-ever Mary Poppins attraction for EPCOT’s United Kingdom pavilion that might permit company to “step in time down Cherry Tree Lane previous Admiral Increase’s home, then enter Quantity 17, house of the Banks household, the place their journey will start.” What, exactly, this ‘journey’ could be was by no means revealed by Disney, and we had heard rumors that there have been competing pitches and the idea was troubled even pre-closure.
Because it seems, a type of was for an indoor teacups model flat experience. It will’ve featured a number of pre-show rooms main as much as the experience itself, much like Enchanted Tales with Belle with results and divulges. As for the experience, assume Mad Tea Occasion however with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway model “2.5D” scenic visuals blended with projection mapping results.
Even earlier than the Mary Poppins attraction was shelved, we cautioned followers to not get too excited as this wasn’t going to be a serious attraction. Whereas I nonetheless don’t love the idea and assume Disney was setting followers up for disappointment by hyping the Cherry Tree Lane growth, this aspect of World Showcase may actually use a experience. Not solely that, however Mary Poppins is a implausible match (so far as IP goes) for the UK pavilion. (I personally would like an Alice in Wonderland darkish experience, however area constraints might make {that a} non-starter.)
The Land Pavilion Updates – The Land is a pavilion that flies underneath the radar in relation to rumors or refurbishment requests. That’s seemingly as a result of Soarin’ gave the pavilion a shot within the arm when it was added, and the remainder of the Land has been in a position to glide on auto-pilot since. However that was almost 20 years in the past, and even Soarin’ Across the World will probably be a decade previous by the point any updates right here would roll out.
Followers are already clamoring for an up to date finale to Soarin’ that displays the up to date EPCOT. I’m skeptical that’ll occur with out a completely new movie, which is what I’d prefer to see. What I’d actually love is randomized flight sequences a la Star Excursions – The Adventures Proceed. Or possibly a rotation of Soarin’ Over California, Across the World, and a brand new model?
Along with that, just about the entire pavilion wants an replace. Superior Planet is ok, however generic. As a lot as I find it irresistible, Residing with the Land may additionally use a light-weight refresh, significantly to its darkish experience scenes. (The Merry & Shiny vacation overlay has been such an important addition.)
Likewise, the principle atrium might be redone to make it really feel much less like a mall meals court docket and a extra impressed place (carry again the fountain!). All of these items may happen in a moderate-scale refresh to the pavilion. Mainly, I need the Land pavilion to be common sufficient to justify serving dinner at Sunshine Seasons once more!
Wondrous China – You might have forgotten, however Disney introduced a brand new Circle-Imaginative and prescient 360 film for the China Pavilion titled ‘Wondrous China.’ Nothing was revealed about it, apart from that it will be offered in a brand new seamless digital 360 diploma format, and have new scenes, music and areas.
There have been additionally a number of rumors about it. If I recall accurately (it’s been some time–I usually overlook this was introduced!), the brand new format was developed in partnership with Panasonic; it might or might not have run into points with the “seamless” projection. It was additionally anticipated to be created for each EPCOT and Shanghai Disneyland, a la Soarin’ Across the World.
That is hardly essentially the most urgent concern at EPCOT and even high 10, however World Showcase may use some updates and a brand new China movie could be good if the footage was already shot and Shanghai is footing the invoice.
New World Showcase Pavilion – Walt Disney World has an extended and wealthy historical past of unbuilt World Showcase pavilions that got here so shut to occurring. Most notable are Equatorial Africa, Spain, and Israel, all of which have been truly introduced by Disney. In case you’re not conversant in these ideas, there’s a lot about them in Walt Disney’s Epcot Heart: Creating the New World of Tomorrow. On the time this ebook was written, it was nonetheless believed that these pavilions have been coming to EPCOT Heart, so the ebook spends time discussing them.
Quick-forward to the 2010s (and maybe even earlier), and the large rumor was Brazil. The rumors actually gained momentum from 2017 to 2019, to the purpose that an announcement through the latter yr’s D23 Expo was believed to be a executed deal. A lot so {that a} scheduled tweet from Disney companions “leaked” the information that by no means was. Whereas we’ll by no means know what occurred for positive, much more rumors afterwards urged it was a timing concern and Disney not eager to announce through the 2019 Amazon rainforest fires. Then, in fact, 2020 occurred.
Quick ahead once more to this yr, when Disney introduced D23 Brazil: The Final Fan Occasion to be held in Sao Paulo this November. So in fact that’s going to rekindle the rumor and/or hypothesis mill. For our half, we’ve heard completely nothing credible. A few Brazil or any new pavilion in World Showcase. It doesn’t look like there’s any urge for food for additional growth in World Showcase. Even when there ought to be.
As we’ve mentioned earlier than, a Brazil pavilion makes excellent sense and might be fairly profitable for Walt Disney World. Brazilian guests are a major demographic for Disney, with the nation being the #3 overseas market by way of guests to Orlando–each #1 and #2 are already represented in World Showcase, as is #4.
A Brazil pavilion would have common eating choices, as Brazilian company would search out acquainted delicacies–simply as American company do. Walt Disney World already sells Brazil merchandise even with out having the pavilion, however having devoted retail area for Brazil-themed objects would even be useful.
With that mentioned, the Tropical Americas idea in Animal Kingdom does forged additional doubt on Brazil on World Showcase. Clearly they’re not the identical factor…however there may be arguably overlap in each theme and drawing energy, maybe to a adequate diploma that Disney wouldn’t wish to do each. Having the fictionalized model of the Tropical Americas is perhaps extra politically palatable, too. During which case, we’d like to see the Spain pavilion plans dusted off. Whereas they’re at it, mud off the plans for the Gigantic film, too!
Attraction in Japan – If a model new nation being added to a World Showcase growth pad is an excessive amount of to ask or even when that new pavilion would come and not using a experience, it’d be good to get an attraction inbuilt Japan or Germany, the place unused present buildings exist already. (Effectively, technically they’re used for storage and different random functions now–however all of that might be relocated.)
In relation to Japan, we’d actually like to see the Shinkansen simulator or Mount Fuji coaster come to the pavilion. And even only a “easy” travelogue within the White Egret Fortress present constructing that was constructed for Meet the World. (You may get a have a look at the blueprints right here—the second picture is the theater.)
We’ve visited numerous prepare/transportation museums in Japan, together with a pair which have Shinkansen simulators (that’s me above, aboard one. It’s identical to being inside a prepare, besides each window is a video display screen. The simulation is extremely convincing, and impressed each of us–my preliminary response after driving the primary time was that it belongs in EPCOT.
That’s a low-hanging fruit concept that appears comparatively affordable. I’d desire a much bigger swing, so to talk, but it surely’s tough to think about a experience getting constructed with out main sponsorship cash or an IP tie-in, and there’s nothing as natural of a match for Japan as Ratatouille for France. Large Hero 6 may use a higher presence at Walt Disney World, however that’s way more applicable for Tomorrowland or a brand new pavilion within the former Future World.
Restaurant Agrabah – Walt Disney World has taken over operations of the Morocco pavilion from Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant LLC. That third occasion working participant that beforehand ran the entire eating places and retail within the pavilion was not financially viable, with the closure and low crowds post-reopening being the final straw. Therefore the entire adjustments to the pavilion in the previous few years.
Sadly, Restaurant Marrakesh stays closed and reopens solely throughout varied festivals as a free lounge for Florida Blue members and company. It’s an important providing, and one we use usually. Nonetheless, it’s not the best and greatest use of the area. A restaurant is. The issue is the tucked away location and delicacies that was beforehand too adventurous for common company. I don’t see how Walt Disney World can enhance the placement’s reputation with out turning it into a personality meal.
At the same time as a (recovering) EPCOT purist and one who cherished the previous Restaurant Marrakesh, this doesn’t hassle me within the least. Simply think about a hijinks-centric “avenue rat” character meal throughout which Aladdin and Abu run across the restaurant playfully pickpocket from company or take from their plates. Households would in all probability pay massive bucks for that have, and administration is probably going salivating on the concept of charging company extra to steal from them.
In-Park Lodge – That is one other long-running Walt Disney World rumors relationship again to round 2016 and 2017 when it was a sizzling subject that nearly occurred. This predated the unique announcement of the EPCOT overhaul, and clearly, lots has modified since then.
On the time, there have been “competing” rumors for an in-park EPCOT resort, or quite, for its location. There have been three potential websites for the EPCOT resort: outdoors the entrance entrance adjoining to the monorail station, backstage between the Residing Seas and Land pavilions, or on the previous Innoventions plot. Within the 7+ years since, clearly lots has occurred and altered.
From my perspective, that is a type of “…and the monkey’s paw curled” want checklist entries. In my head, there’s a model of an in-park resort on the entrance entrance to EPCOT or over by the Seas and Land pavilions that enhances the park with out detracting from it within the least. It brings lovely and awe-inspiring structure befitting of the park–an announcement piece akin to the Lodge MiraCosta or Disneyland Lodge in Paris, however befitting of EPCOT.
In actuality, I’ve seen what Disney has chosen for exterior designs from Riviera to Gran Destino to the Poly Tower to unbuilt (for now) Reflections. Suffice to say, I’m in all probability “good” on the EPCOT resort not coming to fruition till the present types are out of vogue and precise themed design makes a comeback. This looks like an inevitability in some unspecified time in the future, although, and possibly the early 2030s will carry an architectural renaissance to Disney resorts.
Journey Into Creativeness Reimagining – Being a lifelong Detroit Lions fan has constructed up my tolerance to perpetual disappointment and dashed hopes. It has served me nicely in additionally being a diehard Figment fan, as there have been rumors of a Journey into Creativeness redo since I entered the fandom as an grownup, almost twenty years in the past.
This time is completely different. Or, it ought to be. It simply is sensible to reimagine Journey into Creativeness. It will generate goodwill amongst WDW diehards and forge new followers within the course of. There’s arguably no increased affect experience reimagining that Disney may do, provided that the present experience is commonly a walk-on and a giant instance of underutilized capability. A redone JII could be one thing that might outline the EPCOT transformation, tying it collectively right into a extra cohesive venture. Figment would develop into the face and mascot of the new-look EPCOT, elevating the in any other case underwhelming central backbone within the course of.
Oh, and it’d be a license to print cash–simply consider the merchandising potential! Figment is common not for the prevailing attraction in its present sorry state, however because of the unique Journey into Creativeness. If something, the truth that the experience and its star character nonetheless have a robust maintain on adults of a sure age a long time after they disappeared speaks volumes in regards to the indelible impression they left on the youth of the Eighties and Nineties.
The unique Journey into Creativeness was mesmerizing. Not like the present attraction, it was truly imaginative, as cliche as that may sound. As a younger little one, I used to be spellbound by the unique, its characters, and the evocative scenes they inhabited. It was a timeless attraction that captivated company, sparked their imaginations, and cast lifelong Walt Disney World followers. Recapturing that misplaced magic and spirit of creativeness would have the identical affect at present, proving that rides don’t want film IP to be large successes. That the theme parks, themselves, are a type of mental property. Suffice to say, this venture ought to be the #1 precedence for the subsequent decade at EPCOT, as it will transfer the needle for the park excess of anything on this checklist.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What would you prefer to see added or up to date at EPCOT throughout a possible ‘Section 2’ of the park overhaul? Or do you assume EPCOT is absolutely “mounted” and that Walt Disney World ought to dedicate your complete $17 billion to Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios? Something you assume our checklist “snubbed” that ought to be slated for substitute or at the least an replace? Do you agree or disagree with our selections? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
