Rarely Seen Space Mountain Concept Art for the Magic Kingdom

Buried deep in my "Disney Imagineering Concept Art" files was this little gem of a design for the Magic Kingdom's Space Mountain by Imagineer George McGinnis. As much as I love the new smooth track found at Disneyland, I've always enjoyed Florida's lift hill and the upside down astronauts. The stage is beautifully set by their presence. The outer space adventure of a lifetime is one that other theme parks cannot fully duplicate. 

Well, that's not entirely true. Isn't Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind the new century version of Space Mountain? Yes, and it's proving once again that the best parts of the Epcot redo is when Imagineering took inspiration from the past.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Back to Disney California Adventure

Summertime means a visit to a Disney park, usually Disneyland. As a Californian now in Colorado, it takes more effort, but it is worth a day at the world's beloved original kingdom of Walt. Disney California Adventure may have its charms, but after my last visit there in 2028, I'm just not that motivated to go back since my last visit in 2018. Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout was fun, but I'm in no rush to see Avengers Campus in its current state or even San Fransokyo, although I love Big Hero 6. It's going to take Coco to get me back. I'm a sucker for boat rides! But it had better be good!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Do You Remember?

We remember every year! Today is the 21st of September, and in honor of my youngest daughter, I want to play this iconic song by Earth Wind & Fire. Of course, I would love to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind to this song. Maybe one day, but for now... Ba Dee Ah Dee Ah on!

 

A Look Backwards at a Different Epcot Design from Harper Goff

The EPCOT that never was- and the Epcot that could have been. All we've got is the Epcot we have, but it wasn't always like this. There was once a great vision for Disney's second park in Florida. Leave it to those original Imagineers to come up with the best ideas... and here is one of the ones that's still great even if it din't make the cut.

So much detail to be seen here in this concept art.  Imagineer Harper Goff created this beautiful rendering of an EPCOT we will never see. If you click on this huge piece of concept art and look at it closely, you'll find the Netherlands and other unbuilt and interesting design choices. 

The B&W version.

This is a water based Epcot, if you'd like. And I do! It's even more of an urban style showcase than what was eventually built, focusing on classic, romantic architecture as the centerpiece of each pavilion. There's lots of side streets and nooks and crannies to explore. Certainly, the park would have a bustling but very intimate feel with its contrasts of open plazas and smaller courtyards and walkways to explore. 

The downside of it all? It is very Eurocentric- I can only see China and perhaps Japan in the upper right hand side of the park, perhaps that is Morocco slightly south of those. What I don't see is a U.S.A. pavilion. Do you? Aside from the Mexican temple, I do not see anything for South America or Africa- nor can I find Canada. Maybe you can. Front and center in the middle of the large lake, the classic architecture you'd come to expect looks seamlessly blended into more modern structures. 

The once planned Costa Rica pavilion would have been a nice fit!

Venezuela too!

Back to the water features. The great designers of the past always incorporated water features to give guests the impression of cooling off on the intense Florida sun. Instead of just World Showcase Lagoon, you find a main lake plus a smaller one that hosts a Romanesque amphitheater for an evening show. There's canals as well. No, not for Venice gondolas like Tokyo Disneysea but for a different kind of attraction. If you look closely, it's an early version of what looks like a World Cruise attraction where there looks to be show scenes built under the bridges. (If it sounds like what was planned for California's Westcot, it does to me as well! Look at that article including Tony Baxter's ideas here.)

The man was clearly inspired and quite successful at what he did, but I do not see much room for expansion aside from what could be easily removed structures on the West and East sides of the park. Perhaps this is why the design that was finally built was chosen. (I really do have to finish that "If I Built Epcot" article. I have one great idea that no one seems to have used yet... But I'm pretty sure another Epcot/Westcot will never come to be.)

A simple monorail station seems to sit at the entrance of his park with a large square plaza beyond the entrance gates. Inspired by or vaguely reminiscent of what is now found at the end of the Future World path to the lagoon. 

Would Harper's EPCOT work? Most likely it would. I'm sure there's a fascinating story to be told as to why this version of the park was bypassed in favor of what was built. Could it be the suits had plans for massive expansions and many more countries to be represented? History- and Disney's own documents and concept art seem to give us an affirmative answer. I just wish today's Imagineers had the guts to look backward before building something new in this park.
 
(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Is Walt Disney World's "New" Epcot An Improvement?

A brand new Epcot. I couldn't wait to see what Disney Imagineering had accomplished over the last eight years. Eight years! It had to be something incredible, something breathtaking, something unique. Filled with attractions worth the wait, shops and eateries that went to the top of our must do list. What would we find this visit?

I have always loved EPCOT Center. Since my first visit in 1983, this was the park I thoroughly appreciated from the very first visit. Now, decades later, how would the current Walt Disney World leadership and Imagineer Zach Riddley's vision for my favorite Disney park compare?  There was plenty new for us to see: Remy's Ratatouille Adventure in World Showcase, the Journey of Water Inspired by Moana, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and the new Walt Disney statue in Future World (or World Nature, World Celebration or World whatever), and the nighttime show Luminous The Symphony of Us. Could anything ever top Illuminations?

Repeating what we learned from the day before in How to Beat Disney at Its Own Game,  we took an early morning Uber to the Beach Resort.  A nice stroll in the cool of the morning led us to the lakefront and past Stormalong Bay, the best Disney waterpark that is not a waterpark. At moments before 7:00am, we snagged a relatively early virtual queue confirmation and a ride with Star-Lord and Company. After a great breakfast straight from the market and nearby seating in the beautiful courtyard, we moved on to the International Gateway entrance to Epcot. Time to go in. It was an easy walk to the France pavilion. 

Ratatouille happens to be my favorite Pixar film. So of course, Remy's adventure was the first must see of the day. The new attraction was only open to DVC members during our last visit. I wasn't happy, but I wasn't too bothered either. The Food & Wine Festival was waiting.

Shades of Paris.

Aside from the more cartoonish take on Paris, there's plenty of design detail and nods to the movie to be found in the side street and very pretty courtyard that leads to the main attraction. I was not quite as offended as some have been with this design choice. I'm not sure I want this to be the norm going forward. This isn't Fantasyland- or is it? - so I just let my ears be filled with the beautiful soundtrack music and enjoyed the new sights and sounds. 

It was not too long before we entered into the main building to begin the final few minutes of queueing. What did I think? It's all quite understated and charming. By the time we hit the evening (indoor) moonlight, I was just in the right frame of mind. There's no denying Disney Imagineering knows how to do nighttime right when it comes to dark rides. From Peter Pan's Flight to Pirates of the Caribbean's lovely Blue Bayou and Mexico's El Rio del Tiempo and later with Navi River Journey, they are experts in bringing the outdoors inside. 

Straight up, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure is no E Ticket. It occupies the same space as many other projects from the more recent years of Imagineering for the Stateside parks: Frozen Ever After, Toy Story Mania, and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run among others. They all fall just shy of greatness. Remy's is fun, kid-friendly, and different enough to be a draw. It will leave a smile on your face, but you will not be talking about it for more of your day. Would I ride it again? Of course! The film's a favorite and I can't resist a dark ride about Paris. 

Since we'd had breakfast, we walked through the nations of World Showcase to reach Norway and Frozen Ever After. It was still fairly early, but with the new caste system in place, it took us almost an hour to encounter Elsa and the gang. An hour. Yes, it is a caste system- and Disney is making some bad, bad choices by perpetuating this. They've already priced out many average income Americans from enjoying an affordable Disney vacation. This is one more example of how Disney's talk of diversity, equity, inclusion is all just corporate BS aimed toward placating their employees. I solidly stand by that assessment.  

I may be like you- Frozen Ever After is growing on me. Maybe I'm just getting used to this new Imagineering where "good enough" is the mantra of the current organization. There's still a long way to go to reach the high quality of the Frozen attraction in Tokyo Disneysea's Fantasy Springs expansion, but this Maelstrom takeover does have its charms. Namely Olaf and Sven.  

Yum!

This isn't the Disney Food Blog (and I love what AJ and teams does), but I'm going to risk an argument with some of you long time readers: We found the food at the Flower & Garden Festival to be better than that found at Food and Wine. The flavors are lighter, brighter, and the dishes much more creative. The adult beverages blended summer fruit with just the right amount of alcohol. We made many, many stops at the various outdoor kitchens, sharing each dish and drink along the way. The Lobster tail was particularly good and a good bargain. The ribs and shrimp were just as good. My wife loved the offerings she found in Canada. 

Our first day at this park, we did not make a reservation at one of the many terrific places to eat in World Showcase. The new Future World is still not the place to go for a good meal. (Check out our Dine or Ditch reviews of more than a few places at both Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or even Universal Orlando Resort.) Surprisingly, we didn't miss it at all aside from some indoor air-conditioning and table service. 

Finally water and lots of it.

The new garden area surrounding Spaceship Earth and the Walt statue was nice, but that is all it is. There's a good portion of shade to be found but sadly, absolutely no water features. I suppose this was a plan to make the Moana gardens walk through experience more attractive. I'll repeat myself here as I said earlier first looking at the concept art- It's a very pretty place and the concept and execution are great, but it is in the wrong park. 

Community Hall, I mean Communicore Hall, was not open yet. From what I've seen, we did not miss much. It's pretty generic looking and the area as a whole reminds me of those bland corporate campuses I used to work at when we lived in Northern California back in the late 1980s. Certainly nothing special, and definitely nothing worthy of the great Epcot or Disney name. 

It was finally time to see what replaced Universe of Energy.

I hate being wrong. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the best coaster on the Disney property! I LOVE it! The big box is as ugly as Hell against the brilliantly designed original buildings, and I despise the fact that Marvel characters have invaded my park. But darn it- I just want to ride this again and again. And again. 

Naturally, my wanna be Imagineer side realizes once the Marvel thing dies out, it will be an easy transition to something else- even if it was too many hundreds of millions of dollars to build. My tourist side says this was a winning choice. I was shocked just how much I enjoyed it.  TRON over at the Magic Kingdom can't even come close. The ride is fast, smooth as silk, and swerving in the dark through the galaxies is so enjoyable, it makes me wish the ride were brought to California. If I could have purchased another ride, I would have. One day, I want to ride it on September 21. 

Since we were almost there, we walked over to Spaceship Earth for a ride. Then we explored the original entrance area. The journey inside the sphere is still satisfying even if it needs an elegant update. Elegant, not trendy please. (When will they learn trendy doesn't work?) It's a classic for a reason, and it reminds Epcot visitors of what once was and what many hoped the new Epcot would be. Give it some respect. 

The entrance area is just as it should be. Those OG Imagineers knew exactly what they were doing. Beautiful landscaping framing the icon just works. Too bad no one at Disney management seems to listen to them anymore. 

We could not get into Space 220 and didn't want an hour and a half wait for a seat at the bar. Fair enough. This meant that Luminous was the only feature of "New Epcot" that we hadn't seen. 

Test Track was down, and then the wait was so long, we decided to pass it up. (As of yesterday evening, it is closed for version 3.0) Heading back over to The Land side of things, all of a sudden, the park felt very old school. Living with the Land is still a family favorite we ride each trip. The educational aspect of the attraction blends with the entertainment value in a seamless way- and without a Disney or Pixar or Marvel character inserted. Yes, it can be done and done well when the suits want to. Sure Imagination remains a sad mess and Living Seas with Nemo hasn't aged well. Its new paint job was very nice and very needed. Soarin' was as enjoyable as always even if the wait was much too long for reasons stated above.

Japan is always a favorite place to spend an hour.

What was really left for us now was old Epcot- remnants of the days past- and we just loved it. Taking the time to walk and enjoy the surroundings was like breathing again. There was no rush for the next scheduled attraction time. Cruising on El Rio del Tiempo (I wish!) and exploring the shops of China. Additional stops at the outdoor kitchens and viewing the many special gardens. No scrambling to get across the park in fear of missing an afternoon lunch appointment. More time to stop and enjoy the live entertainment and explore each country around the World Showcase Lagoon. Such a relaxing day!

An inspiring attraction!

Our son was ready to indulge us with our desire for some old school theater attractions, so we began with an Epcot Center classic: The American Adventure. We had timed it poorly on our last two trips, thinking there was still one more showing. We would not make this mistake again. 

With a large cast of full functioning Audio-Animatronics, excellent filmed segments, and stirring narration and music, this remains a not to be missed attraction. Our history is filled with events and decisions both good and evil, yet the multi-media attraction focuses on the spirit of Americans. It may be in vogue to slam our country, but once you've traveled the world and gotten to know other countries citizens at more than a passing hello, you soon discover we have it better here than just about anyone. 

This was our first viewing of Canada Far and Wide. The theater was fairly empty, but the low key film was excellent. Sitting in the darker, cooled waiting area was a treat on a hot day. Just walking past the still working waterfall to reach it reminded me that these smaller even hidden attractions and cozy hidden spaces are all part of the park's charm. It's not all about big, expensive rides. 

Our last theater show was Impressions de France. The film is feeling bit dated, but it is also timeless. The music is gorgeous! To say we love  this attraction would not do it justice. We've been blessed to be in France on five different trips, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

At about an hour and 15 minutes before show time, I grabbed us a spot on the bridge between the U.K. and France. As the sun was setting, my absolute favorite section of the park took on the beautiful colors of dusk. Oranges, pinks, and purples filled the sky. The lights of each country started to come on. Pure magic! This spot ended up being a terrific place to watch Luminous. 

We were all very big fans of Illuminations Reflections of Earth. In fact, it is the only nighttime Disney show in any park that we had to see each visit. The barges of Harmonius were hideous, and the show was mediocre at best. Thankfully, the suits responded wisely to fan outcry and gave it a quick death. Millions were wasted, but it was a good decision. So, what would we think of its replacement?

I'm absolutely sure it is actress Michelle Yeoh as the show's narrator. Her distinctive voice lends an air of sophistication to this outstanding event. And Luminous: The Symphony of Us is a park event not to be missed. While its predecessor had to hit guests over the head with its message, this newer production is very subtle, well designed and as beautiful to listen to as it is to watch. The Circle of Life story is touching, heart wrenching, and joyous. Visually, the opening sequence from the "hill" in the center of the lagoon brings the wow factor, proving again that those huge barge screens from Harmonious were not needed. When it all ended, I wished it were longer. That's how good this is! I hope it stays in the park for a decade or longer. Well done, Disney.

We left the park after the show and went through the International Gateway. It seemed everyone else did as well because the Skyliner queue was full. We were told the estimated wait was 1.5 hours. Yes, it was that long. Happily, we walked back to the Beach Club enjoying the cool of the evening. Our Uber ride home was brief and any line was happily avoided. This is the way to beat Disney at their game.

This day may have been the best one on our Disney portion of the trip. But we had two other parks to explore. Next up would be Disney's Hollywood Studios. 

What can I say about "New Epcot"? Is it an unmitigated success? No. The huge core of the park's main entrance area beyond Spaceship Earth feels corporate and unimaginative, more akin to a large city's convention center than a Disney theme park. The new buildings are bland, cold, clean, and sterile. Lacking personality, this area is fresher, but ultimately it leaves a sad uninspired aftertaste as you wander through the area. The landscaping is the star but even this is primarily one note: green. The park's three new attractions are a mixed bag, ranging from wildly successful to pretty good to clearly misplaced. There's little cohesion of all these new elements. The theme of this park has been watered down so many times, I bet it is really difficult to advertise. 

When Zach Riddley's team of Imagineers went back to what made the park great, it was a success. The entrance plaza has returned to its former self. The light show on Spaceship Earth really is stunning. I'm sure that budget allotments could have been adjusted to bring some well needed changes to the park's centerpiece and the beloved but now horrible Imagination pavilion. (Do first time park visitors of the last 20 years know this as anything but horrible? No.) The once inspiring ride is embarrassing at best. Tony Baxter must be angry about what they did to his incredible original show. A refreshing of Test Track is a great move, but that's on GM's dollar. Further more, World Showcase very much needed that Brazil pavilion.  I love touring the countries, but it is time for someplace new to explore. Decades worth of time.

The 2024 D23 announcements may focus on additions to Animal Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom, but I hope they don't leave Epcot out of it all. There's so much potential!  Aesthetics are one aspect of what makes a great park. Content is the other. But for now, the strengths of this park lie in its much ignored roots. Maybe one day, someone with the love of Epcot - like Riddley but with the power of a  Robert Iger- will come along and give it the love and respect it deserves.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Walt Disney World: It's A LOT of Work to Have Fun! Universal? Not at All!

Want to ride the newest attractions at Walt Disney World? Get ready to work hard. Disney has made it a major pain- and we had it so much easier at the days we went to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. In fact, I was so frustrated by the experience, if I planned a similar trip for next month (or year), I'd eliminate one Disney park completely. Take a look at our successful Virtual Queue for Epcot's hot new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Notice the time. Notice the boarding group number. Notice the estimated wait. Was it worth just buying a Lightning Lane?  All this amounts to a cash grab, friends. Pure and simple greed. Stay tuned for the trip report.

 

For the First Time in Trip Planning, Universal Orlando Beats Disney World

This is the first time and probably not the last. For our next Florida vacation, we are staying the entire time at a hotel at Universal Orlando Resort- not Walt Disney World, not DVC, not just off property. Butterbeer beats Blue Milk. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Diagon Alley, and Velocicoaster are calling us- and we cannot dent its pull. Sure, I'm gonna have to ride Tron over at the Magic Kingdom and Ratatouille and Guardians at Epcot, but everything else is up for grabs. Flights are booked, tickets purchased, and hotel is chosen. Let the trip planning begin!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Epcot's New World Celebration Attraction Poster- Is It Real?

It may not be as beloved as the classic Disneyland or Magic Kingdom attraction posters, but here is the brand new World Celebration poster for Epcot. Love, hate it, or something in between, the transformation of Epcot under the direction of Imagineer Zach Riddley has at least stirred up the Disney theme park fan community. It's been a mixed bag: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the big winner here (regardless of whether or not it fits), the addition of Remy's Ratatouille Adventure in France makes clear Disney Corporate's intention of the direction of the park, and Journey of Water inspired by Moana seals the deal with its out of place and theme addition. 

A few refreshed places to eat, new shopping, and a core of the old Future World still a mess after years and years and years of clumsy decisions and slower than slow construction make Epcot a park we love to hate on- even if we follow its buildout faithfully. The Play pavilion and the Mary Poppins addition are now elements that never survived the transition, but you can still find their attraction posters here.

The official World Celebration poster which came earlier.

Is the poster real? There seems to be some serious doubt, although it is in the style of those that came before it. I don't really care- just like how I feel about most of the "New Epcot". 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

California Adventure One Day Itinerary 2023

Disney California Adventure is no longer the laughing stock of the theme park industry. After 20 years, it is slowly becoming a full day park that is easily on par with Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida. Just do a park by park comparison, and you'll find the red-headed stepchild of the US parks now can hold its own!

It's got a distinct feel unique among all Disney worlds, and just like the third Disney park in Florida, the strengths are as obvious as the weaknesses. The biggest detriment is that this theme park is footsteps away from the most attraction filled Disney park on the planet: Walt Disney's original, Disneyland.

If you choose this park for your Southern California day, a little planning will help you see as much as possible. So, save time and see it all by following the suggested plan of attack.

1.     Get there at the gate about half an hour before opening time. 
Explore the beautiful Buena Vista Street, but keep an eye on the time.

You don't want to miss the rope drop, so veer toward the left.

2.    Walk straight down past Carthay Circle Theater and past Avengers Campus to Cars Land entrance. Walk straight down street to the very end and a slight turn to Radiator Springs Racers. Ride this first. If you’re using Genie+, get a reservation first and then walk in the regular standby line. You’ll really want to ride this twice. Longest line in the park all day long. Riding once during the day and once at night is optimal.

Your best breakfast bet for your entire crew.

3. Have breakfast at Flo’s V-8 Cafe in Cars Land. (When you exit the ride, turn left at the first street and it’s on the right past the gas station.) Sit on the patio, and you'll have a hearty breakfast with great views of Radiator Springs Racers and the Cadillac Mountain range. (If you walk past it until the end of Cars Land, walk just outside it under the tunnel and turn around. It’s a super impressive view of Cars Land. Really amazing.) 

MOST IMPORTANT CARS LAND TIP: Come back at night right before sunset and watch then town's neon turn on. Explore the land once again. Trust me, this is as good as it gets!  This is atmospheric California Adventure at its best. If you must choose one over the other, this walking tour experience is an equally beautiful choice with the World of Color nighttime show. You can't go wrong with either one.

4. After breakfast, go out and turn left back on the side street. Stay on it past Luigi’s Rollicking Roadsters on the right and keep walking until you reach Avengers Campus. (Ride Luigi’s and Maters Junkyard Jamboree when you’ve done everything else. They are fun, but they are carnival type rides.) Every shop in Cars Land has exclusive and cool merchandise you can't get outside the park. Avengers Campus does as well. 

Top photo by me; Avengers Campus by Disney.

5. Try to get on WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure or book a reservation for it. If you can’t get on that, go to Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: Breakout (the old Twilight Zone Tower of Terror). If you've ridden Tower of Terror in the past, you'll be surprised how much this feels like an entirely new ride with a whole new vibe. Then, go back and do the ride you missed.

You’ve now done the three longest wait times and most popular rides in the park. Not that there won't be lines for the others, but you've conquered the most sought after attractions.

6. Look at the showtimes for the Spider Man robotic ("Stuntronic" in Disney speak.) 

7. Watch for Super Hero character meet and greets. Usually Spider- Man, Captain America, Black Panther etc. and a lot of Disney+ "stars" that come out for limited engagements to promote their new series.

There’s also old California Adventure favorites:  Soaring Over California, Grizzly River Rapids (Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom only wishes it were this good), and Redwood Creek Challenge Trail (Grizzly Peak area), the Incredicoaster, Toy Story Mania and the carnival rides (all in Pixar Pier), and the Little Mermaid ride is nearby; also check out the Monsters Inc ride, Mickey’s Philharmagic, and the Animation exhibits (Hollywood Land). 

Hungry? From opening day in 2001, one of California Adventure's trademarks has been its great abundance of excellent places to dine. Here's some fun options for you to try:

Have lunch at Pym’s Test Kitchen in Avengers Campus. (The food is shrunk or enlarged, depending on what is the normal look of an item.) If you want to splurge, you can, but even the most casual spots have generally terrific and tasty things to consume.

If you're at the park at the right time of year, the numerous booths at the California Food and Wine Festival are an option. There's not as many as at the Epcot festivals, but that is an advantage. It's a much easier decision.

The food booths on the Wharf are some of my favorite spots to eat as well as get some great entertainment by groups such as the Grammy Award winning Mariachi Divas. (By this Summer, it will be the Port of SanFransokyo including a character meet and greet with Baymax.)

Starbucks is inside Fiddler Fifer and Practical Café at the end of Buena Vista Street right by the entrance to Grizzly Peak.

There’s also a Ghiradelli’s ice cream soda fountain in the Wharf area.

There you have it. A time-saving and fun-filled day where you get the best of Anaheim's second Disney park. Is it an equal to Disney Hollywood Studios? Which park would you choose?

(Most photos copyright Mark Taft.)

Disney Attraction Posters: The New Epcot Collection

Love Epcot? Love EPCOT Center even more? Do you love Disney park attraction posters? Me, too! As you look through this incredible collection of posters for Walt Disney World's once most ambitious theme park, take a look and first read the original vision 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.

 

Let's take a poster tour through what was once Future World and then World Showcase.  The designers of these posters did, and they played on our love for classic EPCOT Center. Nostalgia sells. Disney may be more interested in that than actually improving the attractions from the past that still remain.

 

 

Communicore - and not the upcoming concert venue.  The little blue robot SMRT-1, the one with the playful childlike voice, is the perfect character to capture the innocent and hopeful look of the park. 

 

 

Count me is as a guy that is undecided on this latest addition to my once favorite park. Does Moana belong?  Sure- in another park. But in the context of them also adding Marvel to the park, I guess it will do. Will our journey of water be worth destroying the elegant symmetry of the buildings that were once there? No. Did the park need a refreshing and maybe even some more greenery? Yes. Will I like the new addition? It's possible. Moving beyond the hub / core of the park...

Universe of Energy or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind? Yes, Epcot needed a coaster to sell to the masses and especially the teens that go to Universal Orlando Resort. Was Marvel the right move or the easy one? So many questions, so little well thought out answers. The Imagineers of old are turning over in their graves.

 

Here I am PLAYing around with a new unopened pavilion and comparing it to Wonders of Life. The character infusion is the new focused of the park whether Imagineer Zach Riddley and crew will admit it or not. Will PLAY! be better than what came before? Hard to say by what is represented by the two attraction posters. Time will tell.

World of Motion and Test Track. Which would you prefer? As I like to say, because of that blessing of size, could we not have had both? If only. Smarter, cooler, longer thinking, heads should have prevailed.

 

 Here, the answer is more obvious. Would an updated Horizons blow Mission: Space out of the water? Yes, 100x over again and again. A space restaurant is clever, however. 

Now, crossing over to the other half of Future World...

A trio of well done posters representing The Land. I like the top one as it represents that old version of the park where each pavilion had multiple pieces to discover instead of one 4 minute long attraction. Ah, Kitchen Kabaret. Fun while it lasted, but too corny for a modern audience- and certainly one that wasn't all that favored by me even at opening. Soarin' the attraction is a winner in any form!

The one, the only, the original Journey into Imagination. Whenever the suits decide they need a quick inflow of cash, they pull out our beloved Figment and Dreamfinder. Nothing in Epcot pisses me off more than seeing how they destroyed this iconic attraction. Nothing.

Turtle Talk with Crush is a delight! Charming and family friendly and definitely something unique. It's a crowd pleaser and an undiscovered gem of this pavilion. The Living Seas was more ambitious- but then, so was the rest of the park back in the day.

The name World Celebration is ridiculous. That said, I was a fan of this project shown above. It seemed to have a sense of ambition and sleekness of the original park design for The American Adventure. It would have been a perfect nod to the past as well as a focus clearly on the future world.

Still one of the best parades Disney has ever produced. Timeless!

May this classic NOT Rest In Peace. May it return one day.

Nighttime entertainment has always been best at Epcot. Dare I say it- Harmonious or Illuminations?  Perhaps they couldn't come up with a good name for this last poster? Has imagination died within the Walt Disney Company? That may be a loaded question when it is applied to this once epic theme park.

 
Are you ready for the attraction posters for World Showcase?
 

 

  

For how well designed so many of these attraction posters are, these just don't do it for me. Coco will come to Mexico some day as this poster lets us know. The Gran Fiesta Tour will end, and the Three Caballeros will move on. All I can say is, where's the poster for the opening day attraction, El Rio del Tiempo? 

 

 

Norway, the Maelstrom, and a very Frozen Ever After. Characters in World Showcase blending with local culture. I've given up and given in. After all, who can resist the very lovable Olaf? But, and I mean this sincerely, isn't this cultural appropriation in the worse way possible? Absolutely.

 

 

After having seen the real Terra Cotta Warriors of China, I am even more interested in the cultural artifacts in this pavilion and its beautiful film. This poster is serviceable. I will never embrace the Dragon, however. Hong Kong needs to be free.

What about that once proposed Germany attraction, the Rhine River Cruise? Appropriate that it is missing in action, but that is a shame. There's a whole article about it here. And there's some incredible (not Incredibles) concept art.

Here at home, we get an overpriced series of eateries and a couple of well done landmark recreations. Tokyo Disneysea gets it all- a gondola ride and a real Soarin' attraction housed in a mega-beautiful building. Why is that? There really is no excuse. And I hope the Pinocchio remake flops.  Disneyland's dark ride attraction in its original form does not belong in this park. If they used artsy puppets and a fresh presentation style to tell the story, I might be interested.

The centerpiece and the only remaining Audio-Animatronic show in the park. Visitors to the park that have not experienced this patriotic but honest show about our country's rich history have missed one of Disney's best. This is a great poster, even if a little simplistic.

Pure and simple- I dislike this poster that represents Japan, one of my very favorite pavilions in this park. Could I do better? No, honestly, I couldn't. Maybe decades ago, but not now. My artist skills have waned. I'm now just a blogger.

 

Morocco. Exotic, stunning, and the most authentic of them all.  It's really worthy of an attraction, but my guess is that ship has sailed. Unless the suits decide to bring an Indiana Jones Adventure to this park instead of one for the Studios. I hope they don't.

 

We never miss visiting France when we travel to the park. The food, the atmosphere, and the beautiful Impressions de France. I'm looking forward to experiencing Remy's Ratatouille Adventure for myself. I've read mixed reviews and seen the on-ride videos, but the source film is my very favorite Pixar movie.

 

Saving the best - that is the biggest disappointment - for next to last. Announcing then not mentioning but seemingly dumping a Mary Poppins attraction? It's a slap in the face to us old school fans- and probably, privately, to Julie Andrews, Dick VanDyke, and even Emily Blunt as well. The U.K. showcase needs an attraction that gives homage to this incredible and beloved film.

 

Oh Canada! Your gardens are beautiful but your Le Cellier restaurant is now overpriced. And yes, your film is now something people laugh at- and not in a good way. Time to respect your own culture.

 

There you have it! All of Epcot's new attraction posters in one single article. Enjoy!

 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Thanks to the late Alan Littaye for his help on these.)