Disney Parks Attraction Scorecard: 2010 - 2019

At the close of another decade, was Disney CEO Robert Iger and his board good for the development of the Disney theme parks during that time? Were the last ten years filled with memorable, iconic attractions, lots of clones, or were the parks let to stagnate because it was more important to purchase the rights to iconic intellectual properties? The answer may be surprising. Going park by park, let's take a look at what was added to the parks and rank some of the newest attractions.

Excluded from the list and the ratings are attractions that first debuted at another park (The Little Mermaid), a light redressing transformation of one park attraction into another (such as California Adventure's Orange Stinger into Silly Symphony Swings), scene additions to films (Wonders of China changing its name to Reflections of China), pay to play additions (Savi's Workshop), traditional Disney character meet and greets, parades, theater shows, and scavenger hunt games. It most certainly doesn't include the Company's focus on trendy merchandise and limited edition snacks nor does it include park maintenance and upkeep. Using the classic "A" through "E" Ticket designations, here are the decade's scores both for each park and the individual attractions that opened during that time.

A special thank you to the Touring Plans site for the chronological list of attractions when my memory failed me.

Character interactions? Sure, but put attractions first.

Disneyland: "B" Ticket
It's really not a surprise that Walt Disney's baby has mostly been left to exist on nostalgia and good will for the last decade. Until the debut of the Star Tours like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ("D") in May of this year, the last attraction of any significance was Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage in 2007. Prior to that? Indiana Jones Adventure in 1995! 

This past decade, the park has existed on meet and greets (everyone from the Frozen sisters to Marvel and Star Wars characters), parades (Mickey's Soundsational Parade), and nighttime shows. Sure, they did have money to spend if they wanted, and they did, but it was invested next door in Disney California Adventure. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is a strong addition, but it does not make up for a decade of neglect to the original Magic Kingdom. Hopefully, Rise of the Resistance will open a new decade of significant artistic and financially successful growth.

What were they thinking?

California Adventure:  "D" Ticket
In mid-October of 2007, Robert Iger announced a significant investment into the dismal, laughing stock of the industry theme park with this stunningly honest assessment, "Any time you do something mediocre with your brand, that's a withdrawal. California Adventure was a brand withdrawal." Changes came early in the decade. World of Color ("A") opened to great reviews in 2010. The Little Mermaid  ("D") and Buena Vista Street (if it were an attraction itself, I'd give it an "E") arrived in 2011, but the best was yet to come. The magnificent Cars Land and it's centerpiece Radiator Springs Racers ("A") came in 2012 and with it the crowds Disney wanted from the opening of the park. 

From that point forward, however, it's been a mixed bag of success and failure. Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: BREAKOUT! ("E") earned it's mixed reception. Fans of the newly focused park decried losing it's in-theme Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and expressed concern this would be the beginning of California Adventure becoming a catch-all park. They were right. Although there transformation of Condor Flats into Grizzly Peak was a good move and very well done, Pixar Pier is not just a step backward but a fall down the ladder.
 
Let's take a look at The Walt Disney World parks and see if they fared any better this past decade.

It's sweet but should have been so much more.

Magic Kingdom: "B" Ticket
Much like Disneyland, this park remained focused on drawing from loyal commitment from its glory days. Facing stiff competition from Universal Orlando and its striking creative and financial success with Harry Potter, Disney suits allowed the Imagineers some breathing room as they created a brand New Fantasyland, rebutting at the end of 2012. Enchanted Tales with Belle ("C") and the Little Mermaid Ride were pleasant additions, placeholders until the arrival of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ("D") in 2014. The expansion should have been much more than it is. When guests talk most about a themed restaurant, you know the mark was missed. 

The previous decade gave visitors a Stitch inspired replacement for Alien Encounter, an Aladdin spinner in Adventureland, and two new theater presentations, Mickey's Philharmagic and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. All very telling. Two decades in a row of minimal investment into Florida's beloved and flagship Disney park. You've got to go back to Splash Mountain in 1992 to see something of substance.

The original EPCOT Center was incredible.

I guess it is time to let it go.

Epcot: "B" Ticket
Frozen Ever After ("D") replaced Norway's Maelstrom in 2016. All else amounted to changes in live entertainment and more character greetings. Mission Space came in 2005 and Soarin' before that in 2003. That's a decade and a half of limited investment into what was once the most unique and compelling theme park Disney Imagineers ever designed! I could go on seemingly forever with how I feel about that (and I guess I did here after my September trip), but I won't in this article. It's Spaceship Earth, The American Adventure, Soarin' and Test Track that keep this park rated as high as it is.

Kylo Ren saves the day at the Studios?!?

Disney's Hollywood Studios: "D" Ticket
As troubling the lack of care I see in Epcot, things are just as bad at the Studios. But this has always been a park that has suffered from a lack of clear vision and ongoing care and investment. Before looking at the decade, let's look backward to the one before it. Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show screamed into the park in 2003 and a cloned Toy Story Mania came two years later. Earlier than that, you have to go back to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster in 1999 and the iconic Tower in 1994 for anything worth writing home about.

As for this last ten years, replacing one very minor attraction for another (The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow) was the order of the day until Toy Story Land came into being at the end of the decade. Slinky Dog Dash ("D") should have been a highly themed "E" Ticket but instead is a very fun, lightly themed thrill ride. Alien Swirling Saucers ("B") adds to the fun but is a carnival ride pure and simple. 

The simple Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy ("B") is pure filler, a peacemaker for kids too small to ride the neighboring thrill rides. The only reason the Studios rates higher than Epcot is due to last Summer's opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and its headliner attractions. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run came first but Rise of the Resistance ("E") is the one every guest really wanted. With the original and still greatest Twilight Zone Tower of Terror there and Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway coming soon, the attraction line up will remain much too light but still enjoyable- if you can get reservations for the headliners. 

An unbelievable journey.

Animal Kingdom: "C" Ticket
If you are spotting a trend with the Florida parks, it will continue when you look at the statistics for Animal Kingdom. Looking beyond 2006 and the opening of Expedition: Everest, it's easy to see this park as well as the other three were largely ignored in favor of foreign investments until - thankfully- Harry Potter rightfully earned a full day away from Central Florida vacationers. Competition is a good thing! For better or worse, Rivers of Light came in during the decade. 

But it was the Memorial Day weekend opening of Avatar / Pandora in 2017 that finally brought something new and incredible to this beautiful but undernourished park. Flight of Passage ("E") is my current favorite attraction on the property. It's exhilarating! The smaller Na'vi River Journey ("D") is lacking, but it is a beautiful if peaceful water excursion. In our family, the park is still not worth the price of a one day ticket or a full day. I may be the lone exception to this view. What will the next decade hold?

Did Disney's overseas parks do any better? Depends where you're looking... (A note about the Tokyo Disney Resort: It is owned by the Oriental Land Company and not Disney, but I included its here for a bit of fun. The Chinese parks are a partnership between Disney and the Chinese government. Disneyland Paris is now fully owned by the Company.)

No rescuing needed at this park!

Tokyo Disneyland: "A" Ticket
This one surprised me. Very much! Seems as if Oriental Land Company is now looking to the American parks for direction.  Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek opened in 2009, so it is ineligible. (And Pooh's Hunny Hunt opened to widespread acclaim in 2000.) Beyond the park's immaculate upkeep, there were changes to classic attractions. The Jungle Cruise found an evening focused upgrade, but not much else came into play during these years. Guess what did open? The simple Stitch Encounter ("C") theater show in 2015. Even though I have not seen this for myself- and this is true for all the Asian parks- it certainly cannot be something more than another version of Turtle Talk with Crush. Lots of fun, but nothing extraordinary. The park will certainly benefit from next year's opening of the sure to be exquisite Beauty and the Beast attraction. 

This park sets the standard for Imagineering in Asia.

Tokyo Disneysea: "B" Ticket
Although Toy Story Mania is extremely popular, it is a clone of the California Adventure original and therefore also not considered. 2017's Nemo and Friends SeaRider, a reworking of the opening day Stormrider, also is ineligible, and neither is the Japanese version of Soarin' which opened this year. These are solid additions to filling out an already strong attraction roster. Much like the Beauty and the Beast additions to its next door neighbors, this park will also benefit by the Fantasy Springs addition, bringing Frozen, Peter Pan, and Tangled to life.

In Japan, seems the focus was in strengthening the brand by keeping parades and shows fresh and by building new building additional hotels to create a more fully realized resort for the crowds sure to come in the following decade. How did the Chinese parks fare? Let's look at Paris first.

The castle gallery in Paris.

Disneyland Paris: "A" Ticket
1995. Let me say it again. 1995. The most beautiful of Magic Kingdoms has been without a major new attraction since that year when Space Mountain debuted. Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast replaced Le Visionarium in 2006. The park touted parades and shows, seasonal events, and a refreshed Star Tours. 

In a shrewd and potentially unethical but highly profitable decision, the Walt Disney Company allowed this park to struggle and age for decades- until they could buy out the rest of the shares for reduced prices in 2017 and own it all. Once that happened, seemingly every part of the park was refurbished or enhanced, including a brand new take on Phantom Manor. Maintenance and upkeep should be a standard part of the Disney park experience, nothing worthy of praise. Will they begin the new decade with a long deserved "E" Ticket to the first park? It's long overdue.

A Parisian original Headed to Epcot in 2020.

Walt Disney Studios Paris: "B" Ticket
Much like the Disneyland and California Adventure comparison, this second French park received the money for new attractions. The big budget Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy ("E") and the surrounding area opened in 2014. Cheaper filler attractions are found in Toy Story Playland from 2018. An exact line up of what was built in Hong Kong years earlier. What was prior? Moteurs... Action! Stunt Show Spectacular came 16 years earlier. Very big expansion plans have been recently announced, but otherwise, the park remains a poorer stepchild to the masterpiece next door.

From looking at the facts so far, it seems as if the parks were not a priority for The Walt Disney Company for the last decade unless they were threatened by competition or significantly decreasing attendance. Back to the Chinese parks...

So much more than another version of the Haunted Mansion.

Hong Kong Disneyland: "E" Ticket
Entering the new decade, the park celebrated its fifth anniversary, but the future of the park was at risk. Government officials and visitors seemed to instinctively know that Disney once again delivered an inferior product, another "brand withdrawal". It's a Small World opened in 2008, but it did not deliver an uptick in attendance. The park relied on special events to draw crowd that continued to decline. In the midst of a cultural clash and an ongoing heavy competition with the mainland, Hong Kong officials insisted Disney step up their game and invest heavily into the park to ensure its success. So they did. 

A proposed package of additions was approved, all funded by Disney. These were strategically designed to give the park its own identity in order to compete with the coming Shanghai Disneyland.  The easily built Toy Story Land opened at the end of 2011 with a roster of attractions that would later open in Paris: RC Racer ("B"), Slinky Dog Spin ("B"), and Toy Soldier Parachute Drop ("B"). A little more than half a year later, Grizzly Gulch would open with its premier attraction, Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars ("E"). Think Expedition: Everest meets Big Thunder Mountain Railway. A very solid line up was definitely coming into play, but the finest attraction of the bunch would come next: Mystic Manor ("E") in 2013. Fairytale Forest, simple gardens with a Disney touch, came in 2015.

Without the legal restrictions imposed in the States, Hong Kong Disneyland was actually the first Disney park to bring in Marvel attractions. The Iron Man Exerience ("E") joined the roster in 2017, with a reworking of the old Buzz Lightyear system, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! opening two years later. Although bid additions are coming in the new decade, the one we are finishing shows Hong Kong Disneyland is serious about earning its place among Disney theme parks.

Photo by Mark Willard on the Disney Parks Blog.

Shanghai Disneyland: "E" Ticket

The youngest in the Disney park family opened in 2016 to mostly very mixed reviews. Where it is good, it is spectacular! Where it's bad, it is very bad, revealing lots of filler to be found in the park, particularly in Fantasyland, the weakest of all the park's lands and the least inspired version of the land in any castle park. Standouts worth mentioning- meaning not duplicates of earlier developed attractions- include the award winning Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure ("E") and the original version of the much anticipated TRON Lightcycle Power Run ("E") that is coming to Florida's Magic Kingdom.  

There are more attractions to be found. Other park originals include Voyage to the Crystal Grotto ("C"), and Camp Discovery's Challenge Trails ("D"). A more recent addition in 2018 is yet another Toy Story mini-land, whose only unique attraction is a reworked spinner. Next decade's Zootopia land will inspire and bring in another "E" Ticket attraction. "Authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese" indeed.

Marvel is the next decade invasion.

What's the final scorecard?

Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland - "E"

California Adventure and Disney's Hollywood Studios - "D"

Animal Kingdom - "C"

Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Tokyo Disneysea and Walt Disney Studios Paris - "B"

Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris - "A"

What did we discover by looking back at the last decade and Disney's investment into its parks? The facts speak for themselves. 

In the last ten years, the Chinese parks were the ones with the most significant investment in major new attractions. The Tokyo Disney Resort is still stellar and will continue to be so for decades to come. Things will change in Paris, Orlando, and California with continued investment in new attractions in each park, making next decade's ranking something that should look very different.

Regardless of the rankings and ratings, one fact rings true: No secondary theme park can hold the emotional legacy of a Magic Kingdom. When families remember their trips together, these are the places that first come to mind. Walt Disney was a genius. 

(Images copyright The Waly Disney Company.)

Trip Report September 2019: Epcot - Controversy and Turning the Park Upside Down

Here comes a controversial but very lengthy post that is part trip report and perspective on the EPCOT overhaul. Is it also how to plan to see it all or a look at the numerous dining options available to guests- especially during the tremendously popular Food and Wine Festival? Is it photos of our family enjoying this park- even if it seemed to rank close to the bottom of the list? Is this a chance to share photos of the last day of operation for Club Cool and Starbucks? How do I approach it all? How about some of all the above! Sit back and settle in for one very, very, lengthy and, like I said, controversial post.

Why controversial? The Epcot overhaul is partially happening due to the mindset of Disney fans, and it goes beyond those who visit the parks. We can't totally blame the suits or the Imagineers for this choice of direction. It's due to us, too. But more on that as we work through a visit around the park.

A good beginning to a good trip!

As with every visit to the World since it opened, EPCOT Center was the park I most wanted to see. I was blessed with wanderlust from a young age, designed with God's purposes in mind, something I would only discover years later. I also loved creativity and learning in fresh ways. This park's Future World was made for me! The inclusion of World Showcase was something I loved from the start- exploring the world in one visit- and I can easily spend days just in that international section. 

For this trip with our daughter, son-in-law, and their young family, Epcot was the first park we visited. For families with small children, it's a wise choice. Clearly the most adult focused of the parks, visiting there can be viewed as a winner or a loser day depending upon how it is presented to children and teens and then experienced. My children always seemed to get a lot out of it, never once comparing it in a negative way to the Magic Kingdom or the parks that followed. We did have four kids who very much enjoyed both the entertaining and educational aspects of the park. Why do the suits now feel it has to be one or the other?

Attention Current and Future Imagineers: Great Imagineers can design attractions that educate as well we entertain. Challenge yourselves. (See Disneyland's iconic Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.)

All the Epcot attraction posters included in this article are pictures shot by Andy Castro at 2019 D23 Expo and were previously edited and posted by Disney and More in the article HERE.

Design your own car? Yes, please!

Finally, our first morning at Walt Disney World! Since we were staying at Pop Century, with our early booking, we'd snagged a Test Track Fast Pass at opening. This paid off big time! As their very first experience in the park, this high speed thrill ride colored their view very positively. The negative? For several days afterwards, all three kids began referring to this attraction as their favorite. 

Reminders of the past.

I really like this ride, but I am the first to admit that the original incarnation feels much more like classic EPCOT Center than the newer rendition. Didn't you just love the crash test dummies section before bursting through the wall to the exterior portion? So, so clever! Perhaps in the next ride update, they will go back to what it was and leave those Tron aesthetics for the Light Cycles attraction in the Magic Kingdom's growing Tomorrowland. Why repeat yourself?

World of Motion-
one of the original opening day attractions
and definitely one of the best.

A pretty nice snapshot to the ride

in a poster form.

Having seen the park evolve from the beginning, I just can't help but compare what was to what is and what will be. Just imagine if Test Track was the second major attraction here with World of Motion still telling us "It's Fun to Be Free"! What a great combination that would have been, providing something for just about everyone. Imagine a classic Disney Audio-Animatronic adventure paired next to high speed thrill ride with an exhibit area afterwards. With that infamous blessing of size, it should have happened. (I am a big fan of that Gary Owens narration as well!) After another ride on the test track though, it was off to Norway for  Frozen Ever After.

Using attractions that are both old and new

to represent the park confirms

the desire to play on the nostalgia aspect all the while

ignoring what first made this park great.

                                            

Elsa and Anna worked their charms on our granddaughter, but even the boys got a kick out of this Norwegian Maelstrom remake, due to the antics of Olaf and Sven. I'm pretty tired of "Let It Go"; I do wish they would be as well, but I really do get it. Honestly, the ride's growing on me, although it should have been so much more. Perhaps Disney's got something up their sleeves for a new version of it scheduled for both Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. Not to be left out in the cold, the original Disneyland deserves and should get a fully reimagined attraction that makes the other versions pale in comparison, a true mega "E Ticket", befitting this modern day blockbuster. 

Due to the almost walk on conditions because of the pending hurricane (which never even hit the eastern coast of Florida while we were there), we opted for a second ride before stopping for breakfast. (Our next Epcot visit, it was our Fast Pass choice.) This was a great decision as the last time we would ride it, on our very last day, the wait would be over half an hour long. It is unfortunate, however, that in such a short period of time, so few of the minimal number of special effects would already be out of working condition. Such is the modern day Disney maintenance.

How do you sneak Marvel into Florida?
Look inside the Stave church!

The Norway expansion area is really lovely, bringing a very authentic and original feeling to the country even if it holds a character meet and greet in one of its buildings. It was just fun to see something new in World Showcase after decades of there being minimal change to this portion of the park. 

Our breakfast stop did yield a taste of the pavilion's famous School bread. Yes, it lives up to the hype with the luscious filling- making it harder to share than I thought it would be! Some folks may want to drink around the world, but I'd prefer a stop at each and every bakery or gelato stand. Or both.

This trip was also our very first experience using the Disney Dining Plan. It was all so easy- and expensive! Sitting there drinking my coffee and enjoying my pastry as I looked around the pavilion and eyed the very small crowds, the thought crossed my mind, "Perhaps the character invasion of Epcot will be handled well." Then again, maybe not. Keep reading as I vacillate on that perspective.

Regardless of which version,

"Soarin'" is a winner!

Since World Showcase wasn't officially open with the rest of the park- something I hope changes over time once the reImagineering is complete- we backtracked to Soarin' as the wait time showed only twenty minutes. Yes, only twenty minutes- and it was accurate. 

A postcard of The Land from 1986.

For those of you that don't remember Future World in its early years, there's something nostalgic and majestic about heading toward the beautifully designed Land pavilion. The stylized, elegantly understated greenhouse holds it own next to its neighbors from an architectural standpoint, reflecting both its function and its storytelling aspects. 

Vintage representations of one

of my favorite Future World locations.

Although Kitchen Kabaret only exists in our memories- and in Disney merchandise when they need to make a buck- the rest of the theme is mostly in place and the layout mostly original. The magnificent ceiling mural, unfortunately, has been painted over, but the beautiful hot air balloons remain. Still a favorite piece of the park's golden years! The Good Turn ie. Land Grill Room barely rotates anymore, moving it from a top pick meal location to one of lower status on the list. 

Until the Spring of 2020, there's no film to watch, but the whole area shines heavy with retro goodness. Living with the Land completes it all and ties it together, still a must-do, showing Disney "edutainment" can be worthwhile when done well. There's an energy in this pavilion that is missing in the neighboring Imagination and Seas. You can bet this will be addressed one way or the other in the remodel.

Will classic Epcot mix with Marvel that's yet to come? That is to be seen. 

The Living Seas sans Nemo. Photo by Martin Smith.

Time for a detour. After Soarin' Around the World, we decided to go to The Seas with Nemo & Friends to have some Turtle Talk with Crush. Since the clownfish and company have taken over the pavilion, it's pretty clear this was the direction the company was headed with this once magnificent park. Much to my dismay.

The elegantly executed "hydrolators" designed by the Imagineers used to take guests deep below the surface to an undersea laboratory, making exploration of the various levels and the tanks compelling and believable. The lighting was less bright, the exhibits more focused on the science of the sea, and the end result, I believe, made kids of all ages consider studying Marine Biology. Now, its seems to be a slightly presented prelude to interacting with animated characters or retelling the famous movie. Such a shame.

What the pavilion was planned to look like

circa 1978.

What it might have been.

(See this article.)

This transition was the first of many times Disney's film characters were brought in for big changes to the park. It's not an unsuccessful choice, but it's not exactly awe inspiring either. That's the biggest  problem with the direction the park is taking. Ambition and having a future forward focus is gone. As the suits follow this course of action, its pretty clear that each Walt Disney World park will be just another version of the Magic Kingdom but with very different architecture and place settings. It's really unfortunate. But back to our trip report.

Lots of love for this original concept art!

Of course, Nemo is full of winning characters, and the ability to talk with a live cartoon is too hard to resist! In all honesty, Turtle Talk is wonderfully executed and one of my favorites! Our family wasn't sure what to expect and had to be convinced to go to a theater presentation. Once it began, they were hooked! Being they are so cute, two of our three kids were among the group chosen to have their questions asked and answered by the star of the show. From there, things went badly. Very, very badly.

A gem of an experience!

Our darling little girl decided to follow the rest of the crowd out of the theater. She's a petite little 5 year old, and when none of us could find her, we panicked. I had visions of someone grabbing her, abusing her, or even and placing her under their coat as they exited the park. 

Almost a gonner.

We began to look everywhere we could. Lower levels, upper levels, restrooms, just everywhere. No luck. As much as the Seas employees tried to help, it was clear when asked that Disney security had no plan in place for such an emergency. 

Disney's official promotional
photo for The Seas with Nemo & Friends.

As I should have done at the start of this, I started praying as I  frantically continued my search. Eventually, my son-in-law found her lost among the crowds almost out to Innoventions / Communicore! We were at once relieved, frustrated, and joyful. So many tears, and not just the kids! Her parents pondered leaving the park and calling it a day, but cooler heads prevailed, and we continued on our day, stopping at Electric Umbrella for a burger, a chance to regroup, and an opportunity to come up with an emergency plan should this happen again. I can't tell you if the food was any good, but I surely do remember thinking the place needed a top to bottom overhaul. It just seemed that dated.

I'm still undecided about this choice. 

Back to the Seas. This location will be one of the first pavilions to be touched by the Imagineers new plan and direction for the park. The very popular Moana will be the character used to tell the Journey of Water- and the interactive trail will lead to the Seas. A bit contrived perhaps, but it could work. It might even be beautiful, although the poster makes me wonder if Imagination's beloved jumping fountains are being replaced. The Disneyland Hotel in California once had a walking path that meandered through grottoes and behind waterfalls, making for a nice change of pace in the middle of lots of concrete. Why does the concept art make me think of the lobby of the Polynesian Village Resort in its younger days? Sometimes I think the suits and Imagineers are just playing with us old school fans.

The original artwork.

Very clever poster!

Just in case this mural also disappears...

Change must come, but here's where I begin to get nervous: Spaceship Earth. Can there be a more iconic attraction inside an ultimate park symbol? No. What will the Imagineers do with this when they retool it into a story about telling stories? At least they plan to let it remain as an Audio-Animatronic attraction. Those are disappearing at this park, and even in all the secondary parks. At first glance I thought it was more in vogue to use one main robotic character and let the rest of the attraction be set pieces and filmed backgrounds. (Flight of Passage, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, Na'vi River Journey, Toy Story Mania, Guardians of the Galaxy coaster), then I realized there might even be a slow return to the old school Imagineering ways and an increase in attractions using robotics on a wider scale. (The Rise of the Resistance, Ariel's Undersea Adventure, and  ummm... OK, maybe not.)

Remember, sparkling, colorful Imagineering art is nothing new.

Just a great family photo, wouldn't you say?

Putting the future in Future World!

All said, they'd better not screw up this epic, beloved attraction! It's one thing to lose Horizons, World of Motion, and even the classic Journey into Imagination, but to ruin the park's centerpiece attraction would be a grave, unforgivable, error on so many levels! They wouldn't do that, would they? Now that The Great Movie Ride has been destroyed, all bets are off as to what is now considered untouchable. For folks like you and me, that attraction was the defining focus of the Studios park, and just look what the suits did there. I guess, anything is now possible.

Perhaps my favorite original EPCOT Center attraction!

I spy a Dreamfinder, too!

Figment still wins fans.

Speaking of Imagination, the little kids loved the ride- even the bastardized 3.0 version! Long after the trip, one kid decided that it was his favorite. Why? He loved Figment! Can you imagine what he would have thought of the original and best version? Imagineer Tony Baxter and team knew that what they had created could have stood the test of time. If only Kodak's business decisions and Disney's internal politics hadn't ruined the ride's chances of  being enhanced over the years. 

He sells so much merchandise,

doesn't he deserve a much better attraction?

Attention Current and Future Imagineers: Great Imagineers create masterpieces, using the gift of imagination. Just about anyone can build on what's already excellent and just tweak it with new enhancements. (See Disneyland Paris' Phantom Manor.)

Always an unexpected hit for first time visiting kids.

Dining that could be great fun for a few years.

From concept...

... to reality.

Don't even get me started on the demolition of Horizons!

Since this was the little guys' first trip to a Disney theme park or any theme park actually, simulators were a new experience for them. The thrilling of blast off into space complete with all the in cabin effects worked the magic the Imagineers intended. Mission: Space was an attraction they asked to repeat- even after riding Smugglers Run: Millennium Falcon later in the trip. Go figure. Or if you're the Disney suits, I'd ask, "What can you learn from this?"

Peter Quill and company to the rescue.

Can Marvel save Future World from itself? This decision is one I understand and detest at the same time. Certainly, a new and needed roller coaster will draw in the crowds, bringing in thrill seekers to this section of the park. Fun, yes. But it smells like Space Mountain 2.0 to me. 

Dinos continue to eat crowds. 

Walking by the construction zone, I was saddened by the changes and fascinated by what was happening. Aren't dinosaurs still a draw? Don't these prehistoric creatures remain a crowd pleaser? Absolutely! Just ask Imagineer Joe Rohde and the designers of Animal Kingdom- or ask Universal Creative and those who built Jurassic Park. You know the answer, and so do I.  Money and synergy. 

Are these posters honoring the past
 or reminding us of what we've lost?

Plainly, this is a marketing move designed to bring Marvel into the parks and increase attendance numbers, merchandise sales, and for Disney executives mark their territory making EPCOT as the place to go for all things Marvel. It won't stop visitors going to Universal parks in Florida, but its may help make the choice more difficult. 

The noisy construction zone felt like an orchestrated mess, and the big blue box sure stands out from different areas in the park. In a design win, I like the transition to elegant, darker, earth colored ribs on the main building. The earlier rainbow felt a bit forced, even if it reminds me that it is a symbol of God's promise to Noah (and to us) to never again destroy the world via flooding. The color filled arch may have been appropriated by the gay community, but its original meaning never escapes my mind. (Same with sports figures taking to kneeling.)

A more creative approach to a new attraction should have included some of these giant creatures in robotic form. In nothing else as a tribute to the Imagineering geniuses that brought us Universe of Energy. No one can deny it was an engineering marvel (pun intended) with its astonishing roaming theater cars. Do you remember riding it the first time they moved into the next theater? That kind of effect and impact was something EPCOT Center's attractions had in spades. 

Attention Current and Future Imagineers: Remember that Disney's own history in theme park development and what made for great results. Don't do what anyone else is doing. Lead the pack with innovation. (See Epcot's Universe of Energy.)

Cranium Command was certainly
 the standout attraction
in all of Wonders of Life.

Neighborhoods? Meh.

Another closed pavilion but one with a future. I'm not sure I'm fully on board with it becoming the place to Play, but certainly kids who don't meet the height restrictions on the other three rides nearby need something to do while older siblings get their adrenaline rush. The parents also left behind will appreciate the options. After a visit or two, Disney fans without children will mostly likely pass the place by. That's a loss in the long term. And to quote Robert Iger, it's a "Brand Withdrawal." 

Morocco and Tower of Terror

from the Odyssey.

Now it's time to move on to World Showcase. How would this young family respond?

A tale of two Mexicos.

Going from Test Track to Frozen first thing in the morning, we had to walk by a mostly closed World Showcase. But as you can see in the difference between these two photos above, taken on our first day and then on our last, it is a mixed blessing. You can take some very nice and mostly empty park photos. The downside is you are getting a less than full experience. Some of us would like to quietly explore World Showcase before all the crowds arrive and leave the exploration of Future World to later in the day.

Imagineering's wonderful

and extinct El Rio del Tiempo.

If yours truly is concerned about what they'll do to the park's iconic  Spaceship Earth, in some aspects I'm even more worried about what will happen to World Showcase. They've already shown us what's to come. Just compare Mexico's opening day attraction, El Rio del Tiempo, to the current animation infused Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros. Of course, the kids loved following the search for Donald Duck, but my wife and I remember the beautiful cultural aspects to the initial water journey. One was elegant, mysterious, respectful, and enchanting. The other is in your face Disney character fun. Where is the park headed? Well, which incarnation of the boat ride is newer? There's our answer I suspect.

Three characters-

in more ways than one!

El Rio once set the stage for eating and shopping under a moonlit sky at the lagoonside village. Now, Gran Fiesta is mostly a walk on except for those who come in for an evening meal and are waiting for their table. As Walt Disney and not Bob Iger said, if you shoot only for the kids, you're dead in the water. Some lessons are tossed for profit, but as Disney showed in its early years, the two are not exclusive. Ambition and excellence produce ongoing profit long term... and continually long lines for classic attractions. 

You can safely bet Coco will eventually 

come to Mexico's showcase.

Attention Current and Future Imagineers: Great Imagineers who want to create enduring classics such as Pirates of the Caribbean must aim beyond the expected and ordinary. (See the Studios original Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.) 

A beautiful film we did not see this trip!

Ah, the Wonders of China! Due to a scheduling mishap, we weren't able to see the acrobats. Nor did the younger adults desire to watch the film. This pavilion reflects much of what I love about traveling to Asia- gracious people, delicious food, enchanting music, and eye-popping sights. But we passed it by. Was it the fact that China no longer feels as exotic? Regardless, next trip I'm going to make sure to drop in and see the newest film (coming 2020).

Home of one fun lunch!

In what is sure to shock some and please others, our only stops in Germany were to the Caramel shop and to watch the miniature trains. Will Brazil eventually take over that spot? Who knows. It seems as if the government and The Walt Disney Company cannot come to any agreements. 

What about that once proposed Rhine River Cruise?

There's a whole article about it here. 

With great concept art.

Certainly with a folklore as rich as that found in Germany, the suits can add an attraction to park of the park that badly needs one. And on that note, isn't it about time the Imagineers brought a brand new country to World Showcase? Future World is getting its makeover but what about the community of nations that makes us half of this park's land and much of its fan base? While I am not advocating for a park that is nothing more than Food and Wine Festival booths, films, and expensive places to shop, I am advocating for new places to experience a different culture- along with an attraction to match.

The main plaza for Italy.

I'm sure I've read somewhere

that the gondola ride was once a real planned attraction.

Italy fared no better.

We skipped it as well.

Rides were the order of the days here. Perhaps this is the negative result of the kids loving Test Track and following it with Frozen Ever After as a way to begin our day in the park. They expected more of the same, but there was not much to go on from there. Adding Ratatouille will certainly help round out the park- you can only see so many films or experience simulators that use them. At least if you are elementary aged. No one would expect a park full of rides and shows that only appeal to children, but there must be a mix of attractions families can enjoy together. Aren't you glad that was Walt's perspective as he took his daughters to the local carousel on Saturday afternoons? 

If they must shove an Intellectual Property into this pavilion, the Imagineers could include a new take on an often overlooked dark ride: Pinocchio. A few smaller dark rides would round out the roster.

Attention Current and Future Imagineers: Aiming just for kids is a bad business plan in the long term. Adults pay for these vacations, so you want attractions that appeal to them as well, ones they can experience with their kids and not just watch from the sidelines. (See California Adventure's stunning Radiator Springs Racers.) 

Neither did the American Adventure make the cut. 

A stunning photograph from our own Len Yokoyama.

We walked by the centerpiece attraction of World Showcase, the impressive jewel known as The American Adventure. Yes, eventually we tried to see this Audio-Animatronics show, but our timing was off. My wife and I may have been the only ones disappointed. This may have been part of what made me have an epiphany: Whether we like it or not, EPCOT Center ceased to exist years ago. The park's glory years are gone, and so is its ambition, its very soul. Pushing Disney character experiences is now the company's direction for a profitable future.

Park purists like me are blaming the suits but they've always been responsible to turn a profit, and they have a larger park with untapped potential that is losing attendance year after year in recent decades. How they're going about making it profitable is what bothers me, but satisfying the guest should not be in opposition to financial profit. In fact, it's a wiser business decision to put guests first.

However, we as consumers of Disney theme parks must also shoulder some blame for this transition.  It is also our fault that Epcot is evolving. We've changed. How can we expect the Imagineers to display that sense of ambition and higher vision when we ourselves have wandered from it? Read below the original vision which was established for the park as inscribed on the dedication plaque:

To all who come to this place of Joy, Hope and Friendship - Welcome.

EPCOT is inspired by Walt Disney's creative vision. 

Here, human achievements are celebrated through imagination, 

wonders of enterprise and concepts 

of a future that promises new and exciting benefits for all.

May EPCOT Center entertain, inform and inspire and above all, 

may it instill a new sense of belief and pride 

in man's ability to shape a world

that offers hope to people everywhere.

We did not skip Japan. Nor did it disappoint.

Back in 1982 when it first opened its doors, the groundbreaking EPCOT Center was designed to educate and inspire. It existed in a season of history where people wanted more. We wanted to make a difference. We wanted to shape a more hopeful world. A kinder world, a world where people mattered over money. The park joyously celebrated not only what would and could be designed by the most gifted of human minds in the areas of communication, energy, and transportation but also of those thoughtfully created by an even more powerful Creator: the worlds put into place by His very word- the Human Body, The Seas, The Land, Space. What an exciting world was given to us by God Himself. One we're called to care for and to keep uncovering its wonders.

Now, please keep reading and bear with me here as I complete my argument of why we are to share the responsibility for Epcot changing. Those of you who have not explored any faith or who have and have rejected the thought of a Higher Being. I'm truly keeping with my original train of thought that it is because of us that this Disney park must change. Here's the logic:

It's the job of the Disney suits to follow the buck and bring in the cash. That's what we pay them to do as investors. But the changes at Epcot all start with how we view life and Disney. Each time we enter their parks, buy their merchandise, or view the latest filmed or live entertainment, we communicate to them what we want and just how much of it we will buy. When the time comes we stop buying, the suits are forced to rethink their approach and their products. That's the bottom line truth. Just what do we want now? We want to be entertained. That's why I go to Disney Parks!

Dinner at Tepan Edo- finally.

We kept changing our day and time due to moving priorities

and Disney closing the park early due to weather.

When we finally got there, it was a big hit!

For the most part, we no longer want to be contributors to making our world better. We want to consume. That's our priority, and I am often as guilty about this as anyone. Looking away from our intended purpose, we rarely think of God let alone be concerned with what His priorities are. It's way easier to kick back and relax than it is to work hard to make a difference. It goes even deeper.

However,  a steady diet of fantasy (or Fantasyland) is good for no one. Imagine what eating only candy will do to your body. Our entertainment is a food source for our minds and spirits.

"On the Tombstone of America, the inscription will read: They Entertained Themselves To Death." - Leonard Ravenhill

This above quote, by the respected English pastor, applies not only to America but our well developed Western civilization, the one we are importing to countries around us. It applies to us as a nation but also us as individuals who must one day give an account for what we've done with our lives. It's this very mindset that has contributed to the reality that thee Disney suits must change Epcot from its intended educational / inspirational purpose. Argument complete.

Last shot of the night.

A Disney employee took this for me

as we shared stories about first experiencing this park.

One of our most memorable trip moments- definitely one of the sweetest- happened in the Japan pavilion, while we were inside the Mitsukoshi department store.  My grandson was feeling a bit down after a fairly long day out in the hot Florida sun. To add to it, the idea of the adults shopping when there was so much more to do caught him with a frown on his face.

Two lovely young adult ladies who worked there decided to engage him. After asking him several questions, my grandson brightened and began engaging them in conversation. He's a very bright kid and not afraid of adults. One of them gently asked him if he'd like to see how his name is written in Japanese. Of course, he responded positively! She took his "First Visit" button and carefully wrote his name in character form. Then she highlighted it, transforming it into a charming work of art. What a smile it brought to his face! His entire visit changed after that encounter. Not just that day but for the rest of the trip. Really! The power of how one person can impact another! Cast members truly do make a huge difference in the Disney experience.

Attention Current and Future Imagineers: Consider how cast interaction can enhance the experience. (See Magic Kingdom's sweet Enchanted Tales with Belle.)

The most exotic of all Epcot pavilions.

We need more national pavilions

that explore places we are not familiar with.

Taking the time to wander the streets of Morocco brought some opportunities to talk about different cultures. My daughter stuck her head into the Restaurant Marrakesh and read the menu. Its dishes were studded with olives which my son-in-law is very allergic to, so they had to pass. The exhibit was closed but we walked into the small home, admiring the architecture. We briefly considered the unexpected find of an Aladdin meet and greet, but the line was too long. Later that week, we sampled a few bites at the festival booth. Delightful!

                           

What once was planned...

Each trip to Walt Disney World results in my being charmed by the France pavilion. This one was no exception. For the first time ever, I did not see Impressions de France. Sacrilege, I know! How I missed that wonderful musical journey through the country. The visuals are dated, but the music is timeless.

What it became...

Even though I was surprised by that decision, I was not surprised to find that we actually took the bakery and gelato tour of one of Epcot's tastiest pavilions! In fact, I believe we stopped for gelato there twice. At any level, the food in this pavilion does not disappoint. Dining in the evening at Chefs de France is a wonderful way to relax, people watch, and enjoy the best of what this section of the park has to offer. This entire pavilion is a must try food destination, and it was so long before the Food and Wine Festival made its mark on the World. 

...and what will be!

Is this a sign the iconic film will remain

along with Beauty and the Beast sing along?

Sweet memories of three trips to France began to flood my mind. Far beyond just the beauty of Paris and Disneyland Paris, we find the French countryside stunning and the people much more friendly than those trendy tour books would have you believe. Why do we choose to believe stereotypes?

Probably a smart business decision!

As I was saying, only the real France can stand up against the food you find here. These food locations were an all family crowd pleaser, and the kids asked about the soon coming Ratatouille attraction as they enjoy that Pixar film. Upon hearing my colorful description, a collective "We have to come back!" came from all three of them. I will as well! The movie is one of my favorite Pixar creations.

         

There's more to the United Kingdom than great pubs!

Our second day in Epcot began by reversing the order of how we took in World Showcase from our first visit. With no Fast Pass in hand for Frozen, there was no need to go via Mexico this time. Unfortunately, both Canada and the United Kingdom were ones we slowly walked by but never dug into. 

An obvious choice for many character based attractions.

It's about time, wouldn't you say?

It's probably too late for the direction of Epcot, but there is one case in which I find one of Disney's most enduring classic films to be a perfect fit: Mary Poppins. Sure, put in an Alice in Wonderland themed maze and even another small dark ride, but save something very special and innovative for Mary, Bert, and a whole company of dancing penguins! Rumor has the upcoming attraction to be a carousel, but without apology I'll say that this practically perfect nanny deserves much, much more. And so do Julie Andrews and Dick VanDyke!

This is also where it is our fault for the direction of Epcot. Check out those theme park discussion boards (such as those on the excellent WDWMagic), and you'll discover some fans of this epic mid-60s Disney blockbuster are actually arguing for the inclusion of a carousel to represent this film. Not an E Ticket, not a dark ride. What?!? Collectively, we have fallen into a mindset of accepting anything Disney feeds us- and the parks are all the worse for it. But it is our human nature: Expect little, receive little, be happy with little.

We have moved away from expecting greater things from Disney, from ourselves, and away from giving God the credit for the beauty of this world and our place in it. We're no longer focused on our responsibility to positively impact our world. We have changed our vision of what's important, so The Walt Disney Company has also changed their direction. This way, they can continue to meet the Company's financial objectives. We no longer want to think- and Epcot is changing to almost guarantee that we no longer have to engage our brains.  

This too was a missed opportunity.

Fast forward toward the end, as I have now covered almost all of Epcot's pavilions one by one: After our dinner at Japan's Teppan Edo, I surveyed the dark and empty park under the moonlight. It was beautiful, stunning really! I couldn't soak it all in. In fact, I walked out past Japan, Morocco, France, etc. but I would also have loved to take the tour going the other direction. I miss when the entire park was opened until midnight, giving us a chance to quietly  explore each individual mini-nation after sunset. There's a sublime beauty that is missed when the crowds are thick and the noise levels are high.

Attention Current and Future Imagineers: Don't ignore aspects of culture that stand the test of time. Honor the past while looking toward the future. (See EPCOT Center's classic American Adventure theater presentation.) 

The end of an era.

Walking out of World Showcase and into the Future World section of the park, I spied Club Cool closed for the night and looked at the wonderful Fountain of Nations for the last time. The next day, they'd be walled off. 

A celebration of epic proportions!

One of the best parades Disney has ever out together.

Rest In Peace.

Generic. Part of the problem-
The park is losing its unique identity.

In many respects once you strip away the fancy artwork (concept art, new posters, and the generous use of classic pavilion icons) and look beyond verbiage drenched with ecstatic qualifiers, the revision of this once visionary park means it is becoming just another version of the Magic Kingdom. It's soon to be little more than a place of character themed attractions, meet and greets and disjointed experiences that meet lowered guest expectations.  

Between these posters, 

the past meets the future...somewhat.

Does this mean I have lost all hope for the brand new EPCOT? Absolutely not! There is still much to like that is coming our way!

I'm excited to see a brand new, re-Imagineered entrance to the park.  Let's be very honest, those much despised or loved Leave A Legacy stones were not all that attractive. Jutting up from the ground like those "French fry" rocks in Disneyland's Tomorrowland, they competed instead of complemented the eye-popping structure that is Spaceship Earth. In their place will be brand new gardens and a great number of trees, even if they are of the topiary variety. 

Reminds me of the original look and placement 

of The American Adventure.

See below.

Futurist Ray Bradbury poses 

with the EPCOT Center model.

The original USA pavilion is placed 

where the new structure shown above will be.

The poster above, titled "World Celebration", brings guests another element of the new park that I am truly looking forward to seeing. The structure itself harkens back to the Imagineers' initial plan for an American Adventure that straddled the Future World side of World Showcase Lagoon as well as feeling like a companion piece to the original architecture for the Magic Kingdom's land of the future. Although you can be sure they will come at a price (meals and drinks), the wide open view from the upper levels should be mesmerizing. I know I will get up there one way or another!

Great concept art sells.

The "More Shade" mantra of Disney's Bob Chapek was a cheap slight made to justify knocking things down but that comment that contained a large bit of falsehood. There's always been shade in Future World with plenty of trees and gardens. Maybe he doesn't remember the park's origins, but many of us do. Funny though, if the primary attractions in Future World were more in the ten minute range like they used to be, (Horizons, Journey into Imagination, World of Motion), guests would be indoors away from the Florida heat versus spending so much time outside looking for a place to cool off after riding several two to four minute attractions. 

Refreshed gardens and new water features are a welcomed sight that may only be coming into play because they will be the main views for those at the new food and wine booths that are planned. The cynic in me wonders how long the water features will remain in operation, however. The track record is not all that great in Walt Disney World.

Overall park view.

Beyond what I've mentioned earlier, there's not too much more I'm liking for Future World or whatever we will call all those new neighborhoods. (That's an unnecessary concept should have died long before Paradise Pier's use of the term.) Then again, I'm positive there are details coming that have not been shared by The Walt Disney Company or its handful of insiders that leak news out.

When it comes to World Showcase, I am enjoying the expansion of the Norway pavilion, and I'm thinking that any similar growth of France and the U.K. will be just as welcomed and successful. After all, who doesn't like the possibility of wandering down multiple streets and avenues with new places to explore? At least one new country is being bantered about as coming in the next decade. Will they materialize if we remain quietly still and wait? Who knows, but this portion of the park needs something big as well. 

With estimates of this revision costing in the neighborhood of $2 Million, the Disney suits want guests "Celebrating the Magic of Possibility", as the promo film suggests. Will we celebrate, ignoring the past, or pine for what once was? 

I'm hoping for a some of both! Human nature can regain wonder and a love for others- and this favorite Disney park can change once again as it does. The choice is ours. We get to vote with our money. Let's make sure we give praise and support when its due and equally shy away from cheapened experiences when we know they can give us something much better. 

Attention Current and Future Imagineers: Consider how you can inspire us to learn - be it history or myth- and enjoy doing it. Aim higher, and both guests and accountants will be pleased with the results. (See Animal Kingdom's fantastic Expedition: Everest.)

I want my next visit to EPCOT to dazzle me! Don't you?

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Trip photos copyright Mark Taft.)