The Rumor Tracking Thread

[jknezek]

Yes, but the same could be said for Peter Pan which is just a retelling but a beloved attraction.

Oh dear. I would disagree. The overhead track and the feeling of flying by setting the scenes below involves you in the story in a way that, especially at the time it opened, was a very clever and unique experience. The Haunted House rip off Clamshells, a relatively generic experience at a variety of amusement parks, especially for the time it was opened, don't inspire anything in me. But your mileage may vary...

It's the same reason I don't pillory SDMT the way some people do. The swinging barrels are neat and different. Is it the best ride? No. Do I wish they swung a bit more to increase the effect? Yes. Do I wish it was longer and involved more of the story than just the beautifully rendered mine and house? Yes. But it's different and has an imaginative element, something I expect from Disney that in my opinion does not exist, at all, in the disappointingly generic Little Mermaid ride.

 

[rteetz]

Oh dear. I would disagree. The overhead track and the feeling of flying by setting the scenes below involves you in the story in a way that, especially at the time it opened, was a very clever and unique experience. The Haunted House rip off Clamshells, a relatively generic experience at a variety of amusement parks, especially for the time it was opened, don't inspire anything in me. But your mileage may vary...

It's the same reason I don't pillory SDMT the way some people do. The swinging barrels are neat and different. Is it the best ride? No. Do I wish they swung a bit more to increase the effect? Yes. Do I wish it was longer and involved more of the story than just the beautifully rendered mine and house? Yes. But it's different and has an imaginative element, something I expect from Disney that in my opinion does not exist, at all, in the disappointingly generic Little Mermaid ride.

The clamshell and "going under the sea" is supposed to serve that same purpose of putting you in the story.

 

[jknezek]

Yep. And as I said, for me it just doesn't. There is nothing new or creative about that ride device and there is nothing creative about the retelling of the story. So for me, in the two aspects of the ride, the system and the story, there is nothing imaginative. I expect better from Disney in one of those two aspects of a ride. I think you get that with Peter Pan. Not so much Frozen, but then again Frozen is simply a rush attempt to weave a hot IP into an existing ride, not a purpose built ride. Unlike Pirates, Frozen wasn't done particularly well in my opinion. Splash is in a category all it's own. The gold standard for including an IP in a ride as far as I'm concerned.

Regardless, I am off topic, but it was a good discussion! Thanks.

 

[rteetz]

With the Epcot changes we could see EPCOT Center return as the name.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

With the Epcot changes we could see EPCOT Center return as the name.

I wouldn't mind that at all. In fact I just called it "EPCOT" anyway... never realizing it was officially no longer EPCOT CENTER. I'd love to see the name return. Great nostalgia.

 

[rteetz]

I wouldn't mind that at all. In fact I just called it "EPCOT" anyway... never realizing it was officially no longer EPCOT CENTER. I'd love to see the name return. Great nostalgia.

Great nostalgia while the park moves farther away from the original EPCOT center.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

Great nostalgia while the park moves farther away from the original EPCOT center.

This is what I'm afraid of. With all the IP rumors and plans, it seems impossible that the powers that be will install anything remotely true to the original intent of EPCOT.
The name might be all we get.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

Great nostalgia while the park moves farther away from the original EPCOT center.

Well, what are the changes, and what will remain? Two favorite classic EPCOT attractions are Spaceship Earth and Living With The Land - are they scheduled for termination? Not being flip... I'm asking. Is the World Showcase being done away with? I mean, I recall a thread or perhaps just some comments about Epcot being way past due for updating / changes. How do we know the changes will not be in keeping with the original concept? Updating only occurs because the visitors begin to bypass / reject attractions.

 

[rteetz]

Well, what are the changes, and what will remain? Two favorite classic EPCOT attractions are Spaceship Earth and Living With The Land - are they scheduled for termination? Not being flip... I'm asking. Is the World Showcase being done away with? I mean, I recall a thread or perhaps just some comments about Epcot being way past due for updating / changes. How do we know the changes will not be in keeping with the original concept? Updating only occurs because the visitors begin to bypass / reject attractions.

Living with the land and SSE will see changes but not go away. World Showcase will get more IP. Future world is likely changing names and becoming more IP driven. That's what I mean by going away from the original vision. Disney can still do great non-IP attractions. Test track and soarin are major attractions yet don't have IP driven. Update figment and make that a major player again. There doesn't have to be more Disney characters in Epcot like Disney seems to be resorting to.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

Living with the land and SSE will see changes but not go away. World Showcase will get more IP. Future world is likely changing names and becoming more IP driven. That's what I mean by going away from the original vision. Disney can still do great non-IP attractions. Test track and soarin are major attractions yet don't have IP driven. Update figment and make that a major player again. There doesn't have to be more Disney characters in Epcot like Disney seems to be resorting to.

Characters in a designated area would not bother me. I recall on my last trip really wanting to catch Donald (i think it was him) and realized there was a character meet and greet near the end of one of those walk through area's. I asked a CM about it, but I decided I was too tired to go the meet and greet anyway and made steps to move on with other plans. But I was still glad to know that I still that the opportunity to still meet some characters that I may have missed - while no longer at the MK. At the end of the day from the MK to AK... I'm all for a minute splash of Classic Disney... as long as it's not everywhere I turn. I wouldn't have even known about that character spot. I just bumped into it. I also doubt that character themes every where I turn is in their plan.

 

[rteetz]

Characters in a designated area would not bother me. I recall on my last trip really wanting to catch Donald (i think it was him) and realized there was a character meet and greet near the end of one of those walk through area's. I asked a CM about it, but I decided I was too tired to go the meet and greet anyway and made steps to move on with other plans. But I was still glad to know that I still that the opportunity to still meet some characters that I may have missed - while no longer at the MK. At the end of the day from the MK to AK... I'm all for a minute splash of Classic Disney... as long as it's not everywhere I turn. I wouldn't have even known about that character spot. I just bumped into it. I also doubt that character themes every where I turn is in their plan.

I don't have a problem with characters meeting. My problem is frozen in Norway, ratatouille in France, gaurdians in universe of energy, and whatever other IP driven attractions show up. This shouldn't be MK 2.0

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I don't have a problem with characters meeting. My problem is frozen in Norway, ratatouille in France, gaurdians in universe of energy, and whatever other IP driven attractions show up. This shouldn't be MK 2.0

Yeah... I don't love that either. That said, in the absence of anything else that is compelling that fits better with the character of Epcot, I'll take Frozen, Guardians, etc.

I am sad to see the character of EPCOT really disappearing, though.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

Disney quite literally pays people to dream stuff up. They need to quit picking low-hanging fruit (IPs) and start pushing the envelope again. EPCOT was intended to be a place of innovation, inspiration, imagination, and discovery. Not an advert for another Disney movie franchise. I expect something different when we go to EPCOT. Like Ryan said, it shouldn't be MK 2.0. Hopefully D23 will bring news of what they intend to do with FW. I'm crossing my fingers!

 

[rteetz]

Disney quite literally pays people to dream stuff up. They need to quit picking low-hanging fruit (IPs) and start pushing the envelope again. EPCOT was intended to be a place of innovation, inspiration, imagination, and discovery. Not an advert for another Disney movie franchise. I expect something different when we go to EPCOT. Like Ryan said, it shouldn't be MK 2.0. Hopefully D23 will bring news of what they intend to do with FW. I'm crossing my fingers!

I can guaranteed those people they pay (imagineers) have plenty of ideas that would be amazing but Disney doesn't want to pay for risk. They want to pay for cheaper IP driven items like a frozen in Norway. That way they get their major IP in the parks and save money. Even if they used IP there are better IPs than say Guardians in UoE. Why not something like Wall-E which is about saving the planet?

 

[LadyDiznee123]

I don't have a problem with characters meeting. My problem is frozen in Norway, ratatouille in France, gaurdians in universe of energy, and whatever other IP driven attractions show up. This shouldn't be MK 2.0

I was thinking about that as well. To me, at the end of the day, while in the world showcase, you are in France right now - but keep it moving a few steps and you're Morocco... without even necessarily taking in all there was to see / do on France. I have yet to watch any of the films, but still plan to someday. Disney is still a family oriented destination whether you are in MK and or EPCOT. Don't get me wrong, I'm hearing your (and others) concern, but if there is a Mulan in China, that pretty much doesn't bother me because it coincides with that culture. As long as it doesn't turn into a venue brimming over with baby strollers. And I doubt that's in the blueprint. I'm sure many families SKIP through the WS quickly... as to satisfy their bored children.

It may become more attractive for families with their 7, 9 and 12 and 14 year olds, who may otherwise be forced to leave the World showcase early due to cranky / bored children. Mind you, I don't have kids, and so I don't really care. When all is said and done, I see and do what appeals to me in The World Showcase and keep it moving. The WS is not going to turn into the MK (suddenly, nor over a period of time). I just don't believe it will ever go but so far into that direction.

Some people (not you rteetz) are commenting as if EPCOT has already met its cultural demise. All of this blues-singing before we really know what they have planned for Future World. Everything, isn't going to be turned in a GOG... if you will. I only just returned in 2015 - a year and a half ago, and it was the same EPCOT that i left in 2000. If there was a Ratatouille in France I probably would not have noticed it or if I did, I would either engage myself in it or keep it moving. The cultural feeling and flavor of the WS did not change for me because there may be a frozen ride in Norway.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Even if they used IP there are better IPs than say Guardians in UoE. Why not something like Wall-E which is about saving the planet?

Cute idea, but I doubt it would be the draw that Guardians would be.

 

[rteetz]

Cute idea, but I doubt it would be the draw that Guardians would be.

True but that's Disney's thinking. Also it's it's a good attraction does the movie really need to be the draw? Look at some of the older Disney movies that weren't huge hits that have attractions in the parks. My point is you don't need a major IP for a ride to be great like SSE, Test Track, Soarin, HM, space Mountain, BTMRR, etc.

 

[rteetz]

I was thinking about that as well. To me, at the end of the day, while in the world showcase, you are in France right now - but keep it moving a few steps and you're Morocco... without even necessarily taking in all there was to see / do on France. I have yet to watch any of the films, but still plan to someday. Disney is still a family oriented destination whether you are in MK and or EPCOT. Don't get me wrong, I'm hearing your (and others) concern, but if there is a Mulan in China, that pretty much doesn't bother me because it coincides with that culture. As long as it doesn't turn into a venue brimming over with baby strollers. And I doubt that's in the blueprint. I'm sure many families SKIP through the WS quickly... as to satisfy their bored children.

It may become more attractive for families with their 7, 9 and 12 and 14 year olds, who may otherwise be forced to leave the World showcase early due to cranky / bored children. Mind you, I don't have kids, and so I don't really care. When all is said and done, I see and do what appeals to me in The World Showcase and keep it moving. The WS is not going to turn into the MK (suddenly, nor over a period of time). I just don't believe it will ever go but so far into that direction.

Some people (not you rteetz) are commenting as if EPCOT has already met its cultural demise. All of this blues-singing before we really know what they have planned for Future World. Everything, isn't going to be turned in a GOG... if you will. I only just returned in 2015 - a year and a half ago, and it was the same EPCOT that i left in 2000. If there was a Ratatouille in France I probably would not have noticed it or if I did, I would either engage myself in it or keep it moving. The cultural feeling and flavor of the WS did not change for me because there may be a frozen ride in Norway.

I get your argument but personally if you want character based attractions that's why they have MK and even DHS. Epcot originally of course was a city in Walt's eyes. Then it turned into the future and the world. Obviously now the future is hard to create attractions on especially when outside companies won't come in and sponsor things like they wanted. However that also doesn't mean it needs to become a character land. World showcase also doesn't need to become fantasyland 2.0.

World showcase can still have attractions based on the lands. Maelstrom for example could've been updated and it would be great. There even was a plan for an update but Frozen won out.

Obviously it is what it is and we don't know what is going to happen in the future but I just don't want MK 2.0.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

I get your argument but personally if you want character based attractions that's why they have MK and even DHS. Epcot originally of course was a city in Walt's eyes. Then it turned into the future and the world. Obviously now the future is hard to create attractions on especially when outside companies won't come in and sponsor things like they wanted. However that also doesn't mean it needs to become a character land. World showcase also doesn't need to become fantasyland 2.0.

World showcase can still have attractions based on the lands. Maelstrom for example could've been updated and it would be great. There even was a plan for an update but Frozen won out.

Obviously it is what it is and we don't know what is going to happen in the future but I just don't want MK 2.0.

We are still on the same page. Like I said, I wouldn't want it to turn into a fantasyland 2.0, but nor do I think that's the plan.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

True but that's Disney's thinking. Also it's it's a good attraction does the movie really need to be the draw? Look at some of the older Disney movies that weren't huge hits that have attractions in the parks. My point is you don't need a major IP for a ride to be great like SSE, Test Track, Soarin, HM, space Mountain, BTMRR, etc.

Agreed!