Epcot's Communicore- Explore, Discover, and Relax

If you've read this blog for any measure of time, you are well aware of my love for the original EPCOT Center. The park was a masterpiece of design as much as Epic Universe will be for this generation of theme park fans. At the center of Future World is the iconic Spaceship Earth. On the sides of this massive structure was Communicore, duo crescents that offered an enticing display of interactive hands on attractions that complemented the main pavilions. This little piece of concept reveals inviting, wide open spaces. It was a great place to relax and explore until you were ready to go on the park's original, great attractions such as Journey into Imagination, World of Motion, and Universe of Energy. A park of optimism, fun, and ambition. Boy, I miss those days!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

An Evening at Epcot, A Look at Our World

Spaceship Earth is a beautiful icon! World Showcase is just stunning- especially at night! Not only is it the focal point of what once was Future World at Epcot, it stands as a symbol of discovery and optimism. Not the discovery of Disney intellectual properties and characters but the discovery of the world around us. The great original Imagineers that designed this place believed in the ability of man to make the world better if he chose. The place has been inspiring folks since its opening.

Let me repeat myself. Here are the hard, cold facts: EPCOT Center ceased to exist years ago.

The character invasion of of Epcot's recent years is here to stay, be it Ratatouille in France, Guardians of the Galaxy in the old Universe of Energy building, Coco in Mexico, or even more Disney film characters in Future World to go alongside Nemo in the Living Seas. The two true unique characters designed specifically for the park, most interestingly, Dreamfinder and Figment, are being left to rot in the now embarrassing Journey into Imagination with Figment. (Sorry, Mr. Tony Baxter.)

Fans are blaming the suits at the Walt Disney Company for this change, and in many ways, they would be correct in doing so. Always responsible to shareholders of the company to turn a profit, they must act to ensure that should grow much larger year after year. Guest experiences are now added in ways that are designed to extract cash from the buying public, from the lowest end customer who can afford a single day at the theme park of their choice to those on the other end of the spectrum, rich guests needing the ill-advised cabanas in the Magic Kingdom (thankfully now long gone) or the $15k meal at Disneyland in the former Disney Gallery space. 

Satisfying investors is the new bottom line of the last 40 years or so. Altruism no longer exists, at least in the corporate world, unless its to gain favor in the minds of consumers. Granted, Walt Disney himself ran a company as well and had to account for his sound business practices to brother Roy, but he kept the satisfaction of the guest foremost in his mind. Certainly, a respected form of altruism.

Still, the business folk are not the only reason change is coming to Florida's second Disney theme park. In addition to the changes in corporate America, I assert that we primarily have ourselves to blame. 

Yes, it is our fault Epcot is changing. Why? As a people, we've changed. We've wandered from 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.

The EPCOT Center that opened in 1982 was built to educate, inform, and inspire and instill pride in man's ability to shape a hopeful world. What was the inspiration? The wonders of this incredible world. Wonders of exploring not only what could be designed by the most gifted of human minds (Transportation, Energy, Communication) but also of those designed by an even bigger creator, worlds created by one infinite in wisdom and power (The Living Seas, The Land, The Wonders of Life, Space). An exciting world awaiting exploration laid out by the Ultimate Imagineer. A world also given to us to nurture and steward.

Now, bear with me here. Especially those of you who have not explored any world of faith or who have and have rejected the thought of a Creator. (I'm not going into that argument. I'm sticking with my original point that it is because of us that the park must change, so please keep reading.) Here's the logic:

The Disney suits follow the dollar. That's their job. It's what we pay them to do. Yet the changes at Epcot all begin with us. Every time we enter the parks, buy merchandise, or view the latest slice of filmed or live entertainment, we are telling the suits at Disney what we want and how much of it we want. When we stopping buying, they rethink their approach and their products. It really is that simple. And what do we want now? We want to be entertained. 

By and large, we no longer want to be the investors in our world and contributors to making it better. We just want to consume. We have looked away from our intended purpose which began with God in stewarding His beautiful creation. Boy, lest you think I'm pointing fingers, I want you to know I struggle with this! It's way easier to kick back and relax than it is to work hard to make a difference. It goes even deeper.

Since you and I have moved away from giving God the credit for His creation and/or accepting the roles He gave us, we instead look to man for fulfillment and answers. We're no longer fascinated by the fact we can have 1- Infinite worlds to explore, 2- An opportunity for a relationship with the Infinite Creator God, and finally, 3- a responsibility to positively impact the world we live in. This covers the gamut from caring for creation to protecting the rights of the most vulnerable of people. We have shifted our focus, so business has shifted their focus in order to make a profit from us.

We humans (park guests and the Imagineers that create attractions) have moved from being inspired by God's creation and the gifts He has given mankind. Instead, we rely on broken and selfish people to fill us and make us happy. Eventually, this brings us to a place of discouragement and general hopelessness when our plans fail or when the people we look to let us down. 

It's even more of a downward spiral when it comes to purchasing products. The goal of the advertising agency is to get us to buy and keep buying. Isn't this the true goal of marketing? To make us unhappy without the product they are selling? Then to also make sure that we are never thankful for what we do have, keeping us prone to buy more. It's a vicious cycle.

When people or products fail to create long term fulfillment, we look for something else or for something within ourselves. We begin idolizing our own capabilities, strengths, and seemingly limitless potential, instead of giving the honor to God who created us and the world we live in. The trade off is emptiness because we often disappoint ourselves. Sometimes that is the worst of all to handle.

Due to our self-focus and our humanism, despair engulfs us as we look around and see man's plans fail. Even men with good solid other-centered goals. Why? Because men desire different things. Even good things can be in conflict with each other because priorities are different from person to person.

Rulers of nations view life differently, some good and some evil. Common people have differing values, so my plans may conflict with your plans. The result of all this tension? We get frustrated, angry, and burned out. Or on a global scale, war replaces peace as men strive to get what they want. Everyday there are new battles being fought in the streets among conflicting groups and ideologies. All this tires our souls and damages our spirits.

Sooner or later, we decide we've had enough. Our desire for comfort becomes the primary focus of our lives, bringing with it increasing desire to just be entertained and taken into worlds different than the one we have (talking Cars, magical princesses, Star Wars, etc). The Walt Disney Company has data compiled over generations telling the suits what we want so they can sell it to us. 

You and I can go into a movie theater after a grueling day, and we can walk out a few hours later feeling happy and fulfilled because we've forgotten our real life situation. Isn't this true? I know it is for me. For some of us, we go even further and decide we want to live there full time. It's why we love the theme parks. It's why a place like EPCOT Center has an incredible fan base from folks that experienced its greatness in the early years. We left the park not only happy but hopeful for that great big beautiful tomorrow. Who wouldn't want to experience that again and again?

The problem with this phony lifestyle of entertainment is It only temporarily satisfies us. So we lavish high praise on what man has created and desire to live in that place, keeping the real world safely, quietly, in the background.  When addicted to it, our entertainment becomes our prison because we trade in a very real and exciting world for one that is imaginary. We trade what's best for what is less than what we can have. 

A constant life of fantasy (or Fantasyland) is good for no one.

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

Let that sink in. This quote above, by the renowned English pastor, applies not only to America as a nation but us as individuals. 

Back to Epcot. All our love of and addiction to entertainment and imaginary worlds is why the park is changing.  We're no longer enthralled with science and nature and new discoveries. Nor are we fascinated by the God that created it all- which leaves us looking to ourselves and others. The cycle of emptiness continues as looking to others will never fulfill our human hearts. 

It's too late for the direction of Epcot, but not for us. When we honor Him and reflect on who He is and what He has done, our world becomes filled with wonder, joy, thankfulness, and hope. The more we look to God, the more we become who we were intended to be- beautiful and unique individuals all reflecting His glory. With this freedom and true self, we become inspired. We want to go deeper with Him, know more about Him and the world He created. 

(Photographs from ResortTV.)

Something to Make EPCOT Center Purists Drool

Are you an EPCOT purist? Do you need a bit of a break from Moana Journey of Water walk through videos? Or maybe even something different than the opening of California Adventure's new (sort of) San Fransokyo? Keep reading.

There's a lot of talk about Imagineer Zach Riddley's promotion on the WDWMagic discussion boards. Whether you think Zach has deserved it or not, it's happened. His time of redesigning Epcot has come to an end. But look through this blog, and take a look at what the classic EPCOT Imagineers built in real life, in real time. The photographs rock- and they show just how clean, crisp, and inviting a real future forward looking Future World could be, taken early into the parks opening years. 

Those Imagineers knew what they were doing! This almost looks like a Herb Ryman concept art come to life. It's from the terrific Futureport 82 site. Is it a photo or a simulation of what was built? They love Classic EPCOT Center over there, so check them out and seek out the answer!

My 40 Year Love Affair with EPCOT

On April 5th, 1982, I saw EPCOT Center for the very first time. From the monorail that ran from the Walt Disney World Transportation and Ticket Center, the night sky seemed to glisten with thousands of stars- or were those stars in my eyes? My wife and I were married two days prior, and a short stop at Walt Disney World was the beginning of our honeymoon in the Bahamas. 

My soon to be favorite Disney park was still under construction. As we entered into it and rounded the bend in front of the World Showcase Lagoon all lit up, I was struck by how massive the project was. And just how beautiful! It seemed to call me to explore and discover all this new Disney world would offer. I knew a little about it, but I had to have more information.

It'd be several months later when I finally got my hands on the greatest book about the once greatest park, Walt Disney's EPCOT Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow by Richard R. Beard, I was convinced a visit upon opening was a requirement as a die hard Disney theme park fan. How right I was! I devoured every page and poured over each piece of Imagineering concept art (usually by Herb Ryman) over and over again.

In April of 1983 for our one year anniversary, we traveled to the World specifically to experience EPCOT. Taking it slow, we savored every experience over the two plus days we spent just at this park.  

Future World sparkled with fresh ideas at Communicore, a variety of attractions kept us busy for hours on end before even entering World Showcase. The Imagineers gave it their very best making sure each pavilion was varied in tone as well as in style of attraction. Spaceship Earth was informative and set the stage for the adventures ahead. Universe of Energy was powerful in its presentation and the surprise movement of its theater cars. The journey back to the realm of dinosaurs was thrilling and unexpected. The story of World of Motion was told humorously but with no less impact. The show was Audio-Animatronic heavy, expertly done and included a not-so-subtle not to Imagineer Marc Davis' unbuilt Western River Expedition.

The other side consisted of the warm and engaging Land pavilion with the Listen to the Land boat journey and a new theater show Kitchen Kabaret, a spiritual cousin to the Country Bear Jamboree. Of course, Journey into Imagination wowed us with the never to be improved upon adventure with Dreamfinder and Figment. We easily spent an hour playing with all the games in the Image Works. 

As fun and informative as Future World once was, once we entered World Showcase, my heart was captured by what was designed for the other half of the park. I was always drawn to travel to distant locales, and this chance to experience the flavor of places I had yet to visit drew me like a moth to a flame. 

Mexico, China, Japan and France were early favorites, and each had its own charms. El Rio del Tiempo was an instant favorite, at once both mysterious and familiar. (It's been a ride I write about in one form or another on this blog for Cinco de Mayo.) Its theme song was a delightful piece of ear candy. Impressions de France wowed us with its beautiful score and equally gorgeous sights. It'd be several years more before I'd finally travel there, but the experience set the longing in motion.

Regal and inspiring, The American Adventure remains one of Disney's best attractions in any park. Very befitting to be center stage as the host nation for this permanent World's Fair. A walking Audio-Animatronic? You had to see it to believe it. It was the forerunner to all Disney has accomplished today with its more dynamic robot actors 40 years later. 

Long before the Food & Wine Festivals(s) took over the park, EPCOT was the place to go for a great meal! Chefs de France, San Angel Inn Restaurante, and The Good Turn restaurant provided terrific service, good food, and great atmosphere at a fair and decent price. Shopping was part of the experience as well, but it wasn't an overflow of Disney characters here. Goods unique to each nation made browsing stores a unique experience in each pavilion. Something Disney has forgotten, but perhaps it will return as the Disney suits grapple with one more great aspect learned by its competitor who created a slam dunk experience with Harry Potter down the road. 

Not once were we bored, wishing instead to be at the Magic Kingdom, or missed any of the Big 5 Disney characters.

Each day at the new park, we stayed until the it closed, well after dark, taking in the lights of each building, shop, restaurant, and garden. Another magnificent Disney creation.

Part of EPCOT's Golden Age.

It was during this visit, we discovered that we were about to be parents for the first time. Our kids would be introduced to this place to discover there was more to Disney than just animated movies and Disneyland. 

The year 1989 brought our next visit to Florida, and this time it was with three young children. We began our tour with a day at EPCOT Center, believing they'd be more open to the park as a first experience than if it came after a visit to the Magic Kingdom or the brand new Disney-MGM Studios. We need not have worried. All our kids loved to learn, and Disney made sure the second park on the property was as enjoyable as it was educational. 

Since our earlier visit, the park had opened both a pavilion in Morocco and Norway to World Showcase as well as the Living Seas and the amazing Horizons to Future World.  Disney had debuted a new nighttime show IllumiNations as well, and it instantly became our family's favorite evening experience.  

This park just kept getting better and better! Then it all stopped.

We came back in 1992 for another visit with my sister and her family. The Disney-MGM Studios had more attractions added and the resort continued to grow, but EPCOT stood still. And it remained that way for years. 

By our next visit in 1999, the suits had made only minor changes to the park while concurrently destroying some of what made it great. The death of Journey into Imagination into both versions much less magical was only the beginning. On the plus side, the new parade for the Millenium, Tapestry of Nations was added for a brief time. Disney could still pull off the magic, but the suits began to make one bad choice after another when it came to this once ambitious theme park.

I continued to love it, remaining upbeat about its future. I still loved World Showcase but found myself less and less excited about Future World as the company continued to ignore it, update it, and even give it proper care and maintenance. 

Resting on its laurels.

We began to travel elsewhere, and it would be a decade before I would return to the World in 2009. EPCOT Center was gone for good.  Optimism had been replaced with the ordinary and expected. Test Track and Mission: Space were great fun, but they should not have come at the expense of the iconic attractions they replaced. Soarin', however misplaced, was a great addition. World Showcase would see nothing new aside from a growing number of food booths. By and large, the park was ignored, and it showed. Our most memorable experiences that trip were outside the parks.

We returned with family in 2018 and 2019- this time with grandkids- and again in 2021 with our youngest son, now a grown adult. All three trips, I was excited to share my favorite park. Gran Fiesta Tour and Frozen Ever After made it clear where they were headed. Neither family was all that impressed with what they saw, and our youngest son found it to be last on his list of parks in Orlando. Telling.

"New" Epcot.

Does Imagineer Zach Riddley's Epcot give me hope? Not really. (Read this.) Sure, there's more characters, more Marvel, more and more  commercialism. There's also less inspiration, less innovation, and less charm. I can't blame him. It's our fault too. (I prove it here.) Yet, the Walt Disney Company is all about the buck now. Instead of providing the first class experience they were once known for, it's now about drawing more money out of each guest.

I'll still enjoy Epcot as a memorable family vacation from time to time. But now it will be with even greater memories for what once was. Sad to think the park's glory days are behind it. But I'll still go. Just not as often and with more lowered expectations. I guess that means my 40 year love affair with Epcot will continue but with a more matured pair of less rose colored glasses.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

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Want more Epcot? It's one of my favorite places to write about. Here are links to some of the articles, but there's tons more to discover:

Epcot's Unbuilt Costa Rica Showcase

Disney Park Countdown- #2 Epcot 

Thursday Night at Epcot's Germany Showcase

Disney World After A Decade Away: Epcot

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Epcot 

Abandoned Science and Technology Pavilion for Epcot

Imagineer Harper Goff's Rare Plans for Epcot

Epcot at 30 

EPCOT Center Dreams Fill Coffee Table Books 

Dine or Ditch: The Land's Garden Grille Room 

Japan's Never Built Omnimover Ride 

2021 Trip Report: Epcot 

2019 Trip Report: Turning Epcot Upside Down 

Can Epcot Be Saved?

The Heartbeat of Epcot

Under the leadership of Imagineer Zach Riddley, World Celebration is quickly becoming the focus of Epcot. A brand new Starbucks and the Connections Cafe will soon be buzzing with excitement as guests crowd that section of the park while waiting for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.  The less than impressive drink choices at Club Cool mean the lines may be shorter, but the Coca-Cola items in the shop are unique and well done! If you don't want cola inspired souvenirs, you can always go to the main location to shop in this part of the park, the Creations Shop. All said, the hub of what once was Future World will once again be a place where visitors stop instead of just managing construction wall after construction wall.

But Epcot wasn't always a mess.

Communicore was once the heartbeat of EPCOT Center, offering guests a wide variety of smaller attractions, exhibits, and places to shop and dine. Surrounding Spaceship Earth, these large circular buildings were very inviting with their glass walls and their contemporary design and color schemes. They truly were attractions unto themselves. Perhaps the most beloved exhibit was SMRT-1, a small blue robot with a childlike voice and welcoming presence. Challenging guests with a variety of trivia, it was easy for our young family to spend more than a few minutes playing games with this little guy.

On the more serious side, Exxon's Energy Exchange was informative, educational, and yes, fun, even if it was a bit of self promotion for the huge oil company. We loved the "edutainment" aspect of the park, but then, our kids were always fascinated by the world around them. Another interesting exhibit was the FutureChoice Theater. Not only was it a filmed presentation, it was also a chance for guests to give Disney feedback on important events of the day. Real issues and not marketing gimmicks.

There was just so much more to be found here, making Communicore a two hour part of our first Epcot day. Imagine that! The main pavilions around it held a large number of attractions that were imaginative, informative, well executed, and lasted longer than a three minute thrill ride. Even Future World alone could easily fill a day. But that was then.

Once completed, will this centerpiece of the park hum with activity or will it be just another pass through area? Time will tell. Anything new will have an initial fan base, but the long term impact of Epcot 3.0 will be felt 5-10 years from now. Will the suits of the Walt Disney Company continue to invest in my once favorite Florida park or will they let it rot due to neglect? I can only imagine.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

A New Finale for Spaceship Earth

Thanks to poster IMDREW on the always excellent WDWMagic Boards, we have a new piece of concept art for a proposed ending to Spaceship Earth, the centerpiece icon of Epcot. The attraction every guest just has to ride was on schedule for a brand new revisioning by the Imagineers. Of course as the story goes, COVID-19 hit, and the plans were put on ice. 

Will Imagineer Zach Riddley ever tell us that the ride will be back on schedule for a refresh? Who knows. One thing is certain: For better or worse, EPCOT Center is gone, and the new park filled with Intellectual Properties continues its transition. Once it was all about education and entertainment at Future World (with Journey Into Imagination, World of Motion, Horizons, and Universe of Energy) and the cultures of many nations at World Showcase. Now the park is just another home to Frozen, Donald Duck, Ratatouille and soon Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. 

It's much too late to reverse course, I'm afraid. But I'm sure the suits are happy with the coming uptick in turnstile numbers. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)
 

A Night at Epcot in 1999 for the Millennium Celebration

Can you go back that far? I can- I was there. Epcot was the focus of the Millennium Celebration, and what a wonderful season it was. Granted the "wand" overstayed its welcome, but the actual festivities and the music were some of the most inspired and creative decisions the Imagineers and suits at The Walt Disney Company devised and funded.

The centerpiece of an evening at Epcot was the amazing Tapestry of Nations parade. But concept art has been hard to come by. Here's a piece that shows the magnificent moving clocks that also functioned as drums. The style was somewhat Steampunk which I love. (Looking at you Disneyland Paris and your incredible Discoveryland!)

The musical pieces were recorded in London's famous Abbey Road Studios and included and "Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand", "Reflections of Earth",  and "We Go On".  This was the true forerunner of the park's current Harmonious, with its Earth Globe making its debut- but on a moving barge instead of permanent fixtures which ruin the World Showcase Lagoon. If you don't have this music, you have to get it!

We loved this Millennium Celebration so much, that our family's annual Christmas card photo was us standing in front of Spaceship Earth. All said, 1999 was a great year to visit what once was Walt Disney World's most innovative and inspiring theme park. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Right Look for Epcot's Spaceship Earth

 When they do something right, I want to be the first to acknowledge it. And by golly, Imagineer Zach Riddley and team have put out some great concept art! This piece for the evening reimagining of Spaceship Earth just lights me up. The elegance of the art highlights all I loved about EPCOT Center- and all I hope the new park will become. May all of Walt Disney World look this good!

I do not care for the huge barges of Harmonious nor for the inclusion of Marvel into the park via the huge blue box of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. But I'm willing to give things a chance and make a judgment on the re-envisioning on a one project at a time basis. So, here's to a win in my book for the Imagineering team. Well done!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Original Version of Epcot's Moana Inspired Journey of Water

Now that Epcot's Communicore West is mostly leveled, the next stage for the transformation of Epcot is set to begin. Moana's Journey of Water has its fans and detractors, but most newer and younger Disney Park fans are not aware that a concept very similar was proposed years ago. 

As part of the Imagineer's proposed Project Gemini, Future World would become Discoveryland, and the opening act to the park and the areas around the main pavilions would be enhanced with hundreds of new trees and shrubbery, giving it a rainforest appearance on the west side. You can see the concept art for yourself (above).

Among the surprises, The Little Mermaid would inhabit the Living Seas pavilion instead of Nemo, a roller coaster with outdoor track would inhabit the area, Spaceship Earth would become a rollercoaster called Time Racers, and an autopia ride would find a home next to Test Track. Oh yes, and Communicore West would have survived with some modest changes...

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Amazing New Epcot Entrance!?!

Today Zach Riddley, Walt Disney World Site Portfolio Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, unveiled the brand new amazing and original entrance area and fountain for EPCOT. Look at it- it's beautiful!

Problem is, it's not all that original. The top photo is from the 1982 opening season era of EPCOT Center. The photo directly above and the one below are from today's ongoing transformation into a park that will celebrate Disney's Intellectual Properties from all over the world.  

Yes, it's a beautiful work! Going back to the original designs for the park is sure to please. Those Imagineers knew what they were doing and created an iconic and visionary theme park. Today's Imagineers working on the current transformation have an assignment to do that fully meets the mandate of more of the things park fans love... in the Magic Kingdom. It's not their fault.

Let's hope the next phase of this transformation truly surprises and delights in a good way!

(Photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

I Love This Photo!

Look at this! I mean look at this! This beautiful blue photograph of Epcot's iconic Spaceship Earth is just one of the prettiest I've seen this season. It's easy to give Disneyland the crown over the Magic Kingdom, but when you compare resorts, it is places like this that make the Walt Disney World resort complex extra special and unique. This photograph is from the Disney Food Blog.

D23's Fantastic World's Gift Map

What an odd little gift subscribers get when they join D23! This gift map is a fun bit of a mash up, mixing Spaceship Earth from Epcot with Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and other locations. Is it enough to make me subscribe? Hmmm...

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Epic But Controversial EPCOT Post Tomorrow

For your Monday morning reading pleasure: I've finally finished my sure to be very controversial Epcot article which is one part trip report and one part looking at the history and future of this once amazing park. It's a very lengthy, in-depth article! At least worth two cups of coffee...

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Cynical Look at New Plans for Epcot

MORE UPDATES: Plans for the new Epcot continue to leak out. I'm naturally very curious as this is my favorite Florida park, but so far, I'm not impressed or surprised. There are aspects I like. (More on that after the announcements on Sunday morning.) Somethings - like a ton of concept art- are left for that time when all the details finally are made official.  

This weekend at D23, the Walt Disney Company will finally reveal its long range plans for Epcot, the second Disney park in Florida and the one that was once the most ambitious. Long ago. Consider me very cynical but also somewhat relieved that they have finally chosen a direction for this long neglected world. But as you will see, this has been coming for years.

With the Leave A Legacy stones moving to a more appropriate place, the new park entrance will be lush, green, and flower filled- including Disney character topiaries to gently remind guests this is not your father's EPCOT Center. Consider it foreshadowing of what guests to the new EPCOT will find inside. 

Anna, Elsa, and Olaf were only the beginning.

On the positive side, I'll admit, the new entrance should be beautiful. It is a warm welcome to a park that introduces guests to a new direction: Magic Kingdom 2.0 is coming faster than us purists would like... but anyone paying attention to the last few years could easily see this coming. 

A new entrance. A new beginning.

A much deeper look at the concept art revealed thus far shows the Imagineers were tasked with creating an Epcot that referenced the past while tossing aside its original mission. Oh yes, we certainly are "On the Brink of New Age - October 1, 2019" as the new EPCOT poster tells us.

The current leadership under Robert Iger has been grooming us to accept and even love these changes for years as one character after another slowly slipped into both parts of the park. 

Future World would no longer be a place of the latest discoveries in science, agriculture, transportation and communication. Now, intellectual properties from the Company's film library would invade those previously almost sacred spaces once dedicated to a fine blend of education and entertainment that one Disney can do. It also does not look like this part of the park will keep its original name. Too difficult to keep up with the future.

World Showcase will no longer celebrate national cultures. Instead, it will now celebrate Disney animation's beloved characters placed in settings that look like where they could have lived. Thankfully, Imagineers set the standard with giving guests recreations of locales around the globe. They have always been romanticized views of the nations, making them a perfect backdrop of the character invasion.

The way things look today, I'll be able to stop going to Disney movies altogether and just visit the World every few years. The attractions here and at the Magic Kingdom and the Studios will give me the full story lines of those films. Money saved. 

EPCOT Center is not gone, however. We'll get references to the first incarnation of it - including all the amazing extinct attractions- in the form of nifty posters and pavilion emblems which are easily turned into pins, coffee mugs, and shirts. It's so easier to sell merchandise that way! I will ask this question: Is it wise to remind guests of what the park used to be about and what was lost in this new direction?

Reminders of the past to sell merchandise
to those who remember the real Epcot Center.

I'm not surprised. Are you? How many times can they give us Figment and Dreamfinder and iconic emblems placed on just about anything that will sell?  

With these premises in mind, let's take a (cynical) look at what's to come:

• Spaceship Earth Revamp- This one scares me. What will they do to this iconic centerpiece of the park, one of the last original EPCOT Center attractions? At least its not the once proposed Time Racers roller coaster!

• Disney's Play Pavilion- The Kid Zone for those who have to have their characters in order to have fun. A chance for executives to push the latest film. Think of it as a constantly refreshed commercial come to life.

• Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy coaster- Can you hear the suits in the planning of this one? "Hey Space Mountain is iconic. Let's give them a ride just as exciting but without the exterior architectural elegance. We'll hide the coaster in a huge box behind the original and beautiful Universe of Energy building and hope they forget we've thrown this thing together quickly because its one of few Marvel properties we can use east of the Mississippi." 

One character leads us to another.

• The Journey of Water- Moana takes us on a tour of a children's water maze as you travel towards The Seas with Nemo and Friends. Is it just me or does this piece of concept art remind you of the old Polynesian Village Resort lobby? If built as displayed, it will be a beautiful and relaxing but forgettable experience. How long will the new water features stay turned on?

New Imagination poster.

Photo by Disney Tourist Blog.

• Revamped Journey Into Imagination- Insiders seem to think this could be announced. Kiss those glass pyramids goodbye but see them restore Figment to his playful personality in exchange? The art says the building is staying but Figment returns. Where is Dreamfinder? We will soon find out. 

• Awesome Planet- This film replaces the two previous ones found in The Land. Will it be any good or just a time-filler much like the Pixar Film Festival? Regardless, it can and will be marketed as new. Good enough.

• New wide open spaces-Half of Communicore is gone. The Festival Centers, food booths, gardens, and more shopping take over. Even more dining options are coming. Honestly, I'll say this is a good call. They have not known what to do with this space for the last two decades. The structures will be new and fresh, and the area will feel environmentally rich due to the landscapes. The views will be wide open, and the plus side is we will finally get rid of the most recent awful paint color. 

That round building in the center of both these pieces

was to be the original American Adventure. 

From RETROWDW.

• Bridging Future World and World Showcase- Upscale dining in a building that will be compared to the original plans for the American Showcase. (See above.) Marketing won't miss their chance to point that out. Guests get a prime view of World Showcase from an elevated grass and tree topped new dining patio... with options for the obvious dining packages during the post Illuminations character driven nighttime show. Interesting choice of location but the intent is not surprising.

A new kid's play area.

This "Communicore" aims directly for kids-

with an easy to change out flex space.

What about World Showcase? In order to convince long time fans that Epcot is still about its core mission, they'll finally announce that Brazil pavilion- but without an attraction because its cheaper. Brazil World Showcase style will be just another place or two to eat, shop, and experience local entertainment. As I've said many times before, I do not pay the entrance fees to just enter the park so that I can pay even more to eat there. Give me real attractions, not just more shops and dining options. Give us more than the long rumored Mary Poppins carousel. 

Oh Canada! Isn't it time for a real attraction and not just another remake of the original film? And what about China? The country is rich in lore and legend, and there's even Disney IP to boot. No need to remove one thing to add something else. There is more than enough acreage. 

Does it seem as if every corner of the park will be refurbished and enhanced? It certainly does, but with what paintbrush will they change things? It should be with the heart of the original Imagineers and not those who are ordered to shove Disney related brands into the parks at any cost. 

Please, surprise us and give us more. Give us a reason to believe you suits and Imagineers still understand what this park truly stood for!

Our world is tough, and Disney knows it. So instead of opening doors to advancement for the benefit of all, they are creating doors to character filled experiences which take our mind off our troubles. And a big profit awaits if they pull this off well. California Adventure 2.0 brought in new guests with money to burn. So will the newly re-Imagined EPCOT.

(The top image is a plan from Imagineerlandblogspot.com. Other images copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Flower and Garden Stuns at Epcot

Just one more reason why Epcot remains my favorite Florida park! The Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World brings out all the lush beauty of the nature God created. This photo by Bioreconstruct captures it all beautifully! Click on it to see it in the largest size possible.

A Critical Look at Disney's New Plans for Epcot

Plans for a revised Epcot are rapidly moving along. It seems as if someone finally has a real vision for the once grand park or that the suits at the Walt Disney Company are ready to admit they are not willing to invest in the work necessary to continue on with its original vision to inspire as well as entertain. Just in case you've forgotten what that was, here's the words:

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.

E. Cardon Walker

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Walt Disney Productions

October 24, 1982

Beginning with a brand new tree and flower filled, fully redesigned entrance, the Imagineers are finally removing the Legacy stones to a more appropriate place. This will make for more pleasant views as well as a much more welcoming environment. 

Old is new again.

When I saw the concept art for the new entrance as well as an additional piece of concept art for the transformation of Future World's Wonders of Life into a "play" pavilion, I wasn't entirely sure what to think.  But I'm clear on it now.

This design works both sides. 

Upon further reflection after really looking at the concept art and thinking about the current for us of the Walt Disney Company, I'm encouraged but not at all surprised by the design choices. 

There's a combination of character infusions in the form of topiary art and several nods to the original EPCOT Center. The acrylic fountain looks similar to the one that was there when the park premiered. The twelve flags along the entryway use the classic park logo. This approach was well thought out- and very, very strategic! 

The "money men" that run the Company are letting us know it's not our parents' park. By giving the entry Disney animated characters in topiary form, they are hinting at a new vision and direction, all the while pandering to original park lovers. By adding design elements we remember, they're increasing our emotional attachment to the place, and our willingness to open our wallets. 

Let's be honest, the suits have been using the same methods for years in order to sell merchandise. How many times do we see the beloved Figment and Dreamfinder and iconic emblems placed on pencils, mugs, sweatshirts and more just to move product? All the time.

Say goodbye to the Communicore hub as we know it.

And what exactly is that big brown box?

There is one major not so subtle change to Spaceship Earth: The entrance for the attraction. This is now moved to the backside giving guests entering from the front of the park a much nicer view than just seeing a lengthy queue front and center. Aesthetics and sightlines are seeming to matter in this reimagining of the opening scene.

Looking even closer, once inside the park, we see that Innoventions / Communicore no longer exists as we knew it. This is a very good thing! 

It's not a popular thing to say among EPCOT Center purists, but I am really looking to open vistas of other Future World structures from the park's main thoroughfare. This park is massive, but it's difficult to realize all that is in Future World. 

Now that the content of the old buildings reflects a constant failure to bring fresh ideas to light, a new approach to the space was needed. With the Western side building disappearing and a reinvention of the Eastern side, these changes will create a more welcoming environment. This makes it more appealing for guests to explore areas of the park they may not initially seem interested in. Better crowd dispersal and more exploration could be the end result. Of course, a stronger attraction line up would help too! They'd better get working on refreshing the curb appeal of these buildings, however! There's not a moment to waste.

Goodbye Festival Center / Wonders of Life! Hello Kid's play area.

Until this year's D23 or another announcement, the only other official hint of what's to come reflects changes to the Wonders of Life building. This is the continuation of Epcot's transition to Magic Kingdom 2.0, which began long before Frozen took over Norway's Maelstrom boat ride. International Culture is now replaced with Disney Culture i.e. Disney Intellectual Property in this park.

Given the Wonders of Life building is right next door to the new Guardians of the Galaxy coaster (which is sure to have a height requirement), I'm sure the suits thought "We'd better give smaller guests who can't ride something else to do, so let's put it there." 

You can almost 100% bet the decision to add a "play" pavilion in this form got approval in this manner- the same basic approach used to justify Marvel in the parks:

Statisticians - “Epcot needs an attendance boost.”

Public opinion poll - “ It needs to be more "Disney.”

Suits- “Well then, let's get more animated characters into the park. What properties are not big enough for their own major attraction?”

Researchers - “Wreck It Ralph, Up, Zootopia, Inside Out and a bunch of others.”

Suits to Imagineers- “Great! Get them into old Wonders spot. Throw in some character meet and greets. Make it all look good, but be sure to build it as cheaply as possible so we can constantly add the hottest movie characters and sell even more merchandise.”

Characters, characters, characters.

As far as I'm concerned, this new plan is not a wise or optimal approach. Yet, it will do exactly as they planned, bringing more kids into Future World. The plus side is this decision frees up other locations from turning into similar venues.

The official plans will keep developing, and there is certainly more to come. Ratatouille and Guardians are only the beginning of the new Epcot. 

The original vision of the park is disappearing for good. Partially this comes from the failure of Humanism which was the core inspiration for the park. Humanism results in hopelessness, loss of optimism. We see it in our society as people get more and more desperate and angry, needing entertainment to bring them any  brightness. Disney quickly comes to the rescue with reminders of a happier world- even if it is a character induced dream.

(Even fans get into the act re-Imagineering the park. The top image is a plan from the folks at Imagineerlandblogspot.com. Top Art copyright Imagineerland. Other images copyright The Walt Disney Company.)