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.)

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.)

A Brand New Epcot?

Some excitement, some sadness. I don't want to immediately jump to conclusions, but I think it's time to say goodbye to what we once knew. Zooming in on the above image, the character topiaries are a giveaway to the new direction of the park.

Goodbye Wonders of Life. This new play area focused pavilion was hinted at for a long time, but with the introduction of Disney characters, the writing was on the wall. I'll chew on this more before I write the next post.

(Artwork copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Imagineer Rolly Crump's Midway of Life for Epcot

Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump is quite the character! And he's quite the innovative artist when it comes to bringing to life new ideas. Rolly's perhaps best known for his work at Disneyland and The Enchanted Tiki Room, the unrealized Museum of the Weird (for the Haunted Mansion), and It's a Small World's Tower of the Four Winds (for the World's Fair). 

The concept art you're seeing here was not designed for Disneyland, however. Instead, this Midway of Life was created for EPCOT Center's long gone Wonders of Life. (I guess I should say, the space itself is still used but as an event center for Epcot's ever increasing festivals.) It's quirky Victorian era charm was not to be as the art direction for the Future World pavilion took a more contemporary but eventually dated looking turn.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.) 

The Donald, Disney, and Discipleship

Let's be honest here- the new President of the United States is not known for being nice. Donald Trump is often crude, often rude, and certainly not the type of person who will hide this thoughts and feelings from others. However, one thing I do appreciate is that he speaks his mind. You always know where he stands - or at least you think you do. 

It is amazing to me that hundreds of people who dislike these truths about him voice their opinions in a way that mirrors the very things they criticized him of doing. Just take a look at all the social media yelling about his election. I don't see too much difference, just a large dose of hypocrisy. 

Classy way to speak your thoughts, Nicole!

Kudos to folks like Nicole Kidman who has spoken her thoughts and opinions in a respectful way. We, me and you, could learn much from that gracious manner. 

So could the church in America! We have the other problem. The Christian church in America is dying from the disease of Terminal Niceness! Let that statement sink in for a bit before you keep reading. I'm not speaking of kindness here (which is a Biblical value) but niceness- being unable to speak the truth in a gentle manner which builds real relationship versus one which honesty and humility is not truly valued.

How did the organized church that follows Jesus get to that place,  so far away from Historic Christianity? A faith that served the people and turned the world upside down with a message of hope and eternal joy?

Let me throw some thoughts your way. First, “The Soft Gospel”. It says, "Come to Jesus and your life will become better." It's the Pathway to Prosperity, etc. It's a teaching that has taken hold in the United States for a few decades now. We have come to believe it is our God-given right to health and wealth. This mindset keeps us focused on our own needs- and ineffective in God's Kingdom! We don’t think about God’s priorities but our own! It is still “all about us”! 

Let me ask, did Jesus end up wealthy and healthy on this earth? No, and neither did the Twelve Disciples, and neither did the early New Testament church. Many were killed for their faith! Even today, true believers are not welcomed in our world. (Look at the latest statistics on Christian persecution here. And the facts are certainly one Disney ignores in China by the way. Read it here.) The latest martyrs- believers in the Middle East who are executed- certainly didn't end up with a life on earth full of money and comfort.

Joel Osteen preaches prosperity, not the Truth as found in the Bible.

It's NOT all about us. It's all about Jesus.

This thought is no better than any other philosophy, reducing Jesus’ bloody sacrifice on the Cross- and His Resurrection- to nothing. It reduces Jesus to just another philosopher instead of the Creator God who will return to Judge all Creation. Following this thought pattern reduces the Christian to another self help group, and we can fall into the trap about talking about Jesus and thinking about Him, intellectualizing Him, without actually following Him into a life of self-sacrifice and death... in exchange for eternal life. Ultimately, the church and the Christian faith looks like what the world offers but from a different slant! I read the Bible where Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me.” (John 12:26). On the way to his crucifixion, he asks Peter “Will you really lay down your life for me?” (John 13:38) The same question holds true for us today!

The second reason the church has been infected by terminal niceness comes from another incomplete piece of theology. “It’s All By Grace” – Yes, that is true, and I am thankful for Amazing Grace- but it does not mean nothing is required of us! The Biblical book of James was written for a reason. Faith without works is dead!

Work is an expression of, and a response to, the grace given us, an outpouring of our gratefulness toward Him who gave all for us. Jesus himself set this example in motion! To be Christlike is to also engage in the work the Father gives us. For His purposes and for his glory. If we never work, we become spiritually fat, lazy, and dull! We remain self-focused and immature, useless in God's kingdom, and we forget we as Christians are ambassadors to a dying world.

Is it more important to be nice or to be kind?

So, that begs the question- What Does Terminal Niceness Look Like? What are the symptoms?

1- We get Bored- and We look elsewhere for fulfillment! Be it entertainment, business, family, sports, money, leisure, outright sin, etc. Why? "Soft Christianity" doesn’t fulfill because it has no depth and no challenge, so we look other places.

It used to be the U.S. military appealed to patriotism to recruit. In the last few decades, when that no longer worked, they changed tactics and now appeal to a “Are You Man Enough?” approach. They realized we are designed by God to be about something bigger than ourselves. Playing to this truth appeals to thousands of man and women who want to make a difference in our world. This is partially why we "come alive" when serving others. For  followers of Jesus, that means missions trips and service projects! When we do what we are designed for, we come alive!

2- We get Frustrated and Cynical!
As people in the church respond to lack of direction and clear purpose, frustration continues, and in response the church becomes focused on making people happy and being nice- reinforcing the cycle!

3- Other Symptoms

There are plenty! Here's a few.

• We rewrite the rules to justify our personal weaknesses.
• We are fearful to confront sin. Truth tellers become the problem. (Let me remind you that we are called to tell the truth in love, not letting our delivery be abrasive. The truth can be abrasive, but we should never be.)
• Iron no longer sharpens iron- We got stuck in our disfunction- and we like it at one level as it requires no responsibility on our part.
• We become insincere as everyone must start to look good and be content or risk not fitting in. 
• We segregate ourselves from the outside world, or we begin accepting everything the world says as ok for Christians. We become useless salt. Think of how many people proclaim to follow Jesus but live in a way that displeases Him.
• We begin to protect the status quo in the church. At the extreme, we defend it to the result where good is labeled evil, and evil is justified away.

The church's call to Holiness, living a life that pleases God, is not legalism or simple narrow-mindedness - it is asking the church to be the church, the believer to be a disciple, the challenge to live as we say we believe. If we carry the name of Jesus, we should live like him! But we should also understand we will be treated as He was.

If we read the book of 2 Timothy, where the Apostle Paul addresses Timothy- who was young in the faith but set aside to pastor a church, we get our "job description" as a person who follows Jesus Christ. It's interesting to note that in this letter to Timothy, Paul is the one in prison, but he is encouraging the young pastor to stay the course!

“1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (II Timothy 2:1-3)

Just some observations- We need to acknowledge God’s grace to live this life. We cannot rely on ourselves. Nor do we need to! The Holy Spirit empowering us. Secondly, we as Jesus followers all have work to do, and Paul was encouraging young pastor Timothy to endure hardship- knowing Timothy was already working hard.

Some authors, like the popular Christian author John Eldridge, believe the church has been feminized. This may be why men are dropping out of the church in record numbers, but I believe it is more than that.  

Lounging our way into being ineffective.

I believe we have been rendered ineffective by being pacified. We have become pacifists- but God calls us to something different. He calls us to be active in our world, making it better because we are in it, contributing to it.

Paul compares being a follower of Jesus, a real disciple, to being a soldier. But what are soldiers called to do? The job of a soldier is to: Defend, Protect, Free Prisoners, Advance Against and Break Down Enemy Strongholds.

General Knowledge from the Wonders of Life attraction,

Cranium Command at Epcot.

The book of I John tells us the whole world is under control of the Evil One, that is the devil. (I John 5:19-20). We know that he is like a roaring lion waiting to devour (I Peter 5:8). Yet, even without the Scriptures to remind us, we can see evil is winning battles in this world, although God has won the War. We are at war! Reality says “If you want to live in a nice world, go to Disneyland!” (Isn't that it's appeal, Disney park fans?)

Yet, look at Jesus’ words about this battle: "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force." (Matthew 11:12- New American Standard version of the Bible). What does this mean? The best explanation from the commentators is this: “The Kingdom of God Belongs to Those Who Contend for It!” Who will win? Not the nice guys! Hear me, I'm not advocating aggression or a victim mentality; I'm advocating perseverance and remembering our Biblical priorities.

Further in 2 Timothy 2: 3-4: “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs- he wants to please his commanding officer.” There's only two comments from Paul here. First, a reminder. Don’t get involved in civilian affairs In other words, remember your first priorities! Secondly, please your commanding officer – the bottom line! For the soldier, this priority remains job Number 1.

Unrelenting obedience is required. A full understanding of all the facts or circumstances is not necessary even if it is preferred. This is training in integrity, commitment, and perseverance. There's no excuses- you are in the military or you are not. Own what you signed up for! Soldiers train for battle, refined by their commander. Every person is under someone’s authority. Each has special skills which work together for the common good, and all of us in the battlefield of life must be able to rely on the other.

Maybe, but it's ultimately unproductive.

Sometimes, the Commanding Officer is blunt, direct and honest- preparing the platoon for things to come; not always liked, but he is respected, and he gets the job done. He's not your Mamma! We need Him to keep us from getting lazy and getting off on the wrong track. We need Him to remind us what Our Mission is!

Churches and people can forget their true mission! It's the Great Commandment, to love God and one another. And it's the Great Commission, to go out into the world, be it near of far, and share the good news that Jesus died for the sins of men to save them from an eternity in Hell. People who truly love risk by speaking the truth in love. They risk being seen as not nice. 

It's more than just understanding the truth. It's acting on it.

What challenges do soldiers face? Plenty- we must "Fight the Good Fight of Faith!" It should be a joy and a delight to work with God. At the least, it is exciting to be obedient, and see where that leads! The Lord will judge us for our deeds; He will forgive our sin, not our excuses! When we step out into obedience to Him, God gets the glory, and His name and His purposes become known.

We are human and we like to run from truth to justify ourselves. We let ourselves and others stay in sin and old unhealthy patterns- this is not good for the church and not good for us as individuals. We like having just enough Jesus to save us from Hell. However,  this kind of shallow satisfaction isn’t enough to give us deep freedom and healing. Only full submission to the One True God will do it.

Not only is the way to eternal life narrow, the path for a true follower of Christ is narrow. It’s a path that leads us to the cross as well! Choosing to die to our own desires and embrace His calling.

We stand at a crossroads every day. What will it be, our purposes or His? Obedience or sin? It's time we fight the disease of Terminal Niceness in our churches. Isn't it?
--------
This teaching is one of my personal favorites, slightly revised for the season. I first posted this years ago, and the message still holds true today.

Mourn An Epcot Legacy

This is an absolutely brilliant piece of art, at once depicting what once made Epcot great and what caused its downward spiral. RobidaFlats, the artist found on the WDWMagic Discussion Boards crafted this slice of excellence. Just a look at what is marked on the gravestones tells a story: Journey into Imagination, Horizons, World of Motion, Maelstrom, and Wonders of Life. Truly, with Frozen Ever After replacing Maelstrom and Guardians of the Galaxy rumored for Universe of Energy, what was will never be again.

(Art copyright RobidaFlats.)

Inside Out = Upside Down

Pixar Disney's Inside Out is one clever movie. The overall concept is rather unique, (although director Pete Docter must be familiar with Epcot's Cranium Command), the execution is very creative, and the film itself is filled with heartwarming moments. Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Mindy Kaling, and Bill Hader do a terrific job with what they are given. 

The problem with the film is, it just isn't much fun. The serious nature of the storyline brings memories of the depressing and eventually off the rails story of Up, but thankfully without the preachiness of Wall-e.  

What could have been a great movie ends up being serviceable. It's definitely not one worth waiting in line for to buy tickets. Save a viewing for a rental night.

(Art copyright Pixar / Disney.)

Epcot Past: Wonders of Life

It was during a quick peruse of my more than 1,000 posts on this blog that I realized I write quite often about the Epcot that was. It was then I decided to make it official: I would begin a series of posts that would periodically look at Epcot Past, when the park was truly at its peak of creativity and wonder.

Ah, speaking of wonder, let's begin with the Wonders of Life in Future World.  

In 1989 and continuing on (untouched no less) for almost 20 years, the Wonders of Life joined the park in an effort to educate guests about the wonders of the human body. The beautiful golden dome and the genetic spiral metalwork beckoned to guests, drawing them into a pavilion just slightly out of synch positionally from the others around it. yet, it was worth the journey. While Imagineering's concept art (above) is pretty nice, for once the rendering paled in comparison to the reality.

Stepping away from the crush of the crowds and into the airy, white ceiling but color filled building was delightful. It felt like a World's Fair destination with its festive and playful approach. The attractions themselves were each presented in a humorous way, even if tongue in cheek at times. 

The centerpiece draw was to be Body Wars, a trip through the human body using the latest flight simulator technology of the day also found in Star Tours at both Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios (then Disney-MGM Studios). It was also the most vomit inducing attraction since the Mad Tea Party, long before the crown was claimed by the overrated Mission:Space. Personally, one ride was enough for me. I'd have preferred the same theme presented a la Disneyland's classic Adventure Thru Inner Space. The other part of the attraction I was not fond of had nothing to do with the ride itself as much as the Studios inspired trend of adding contemporary actors to the story, in this case, Elizabeth Shue. As I mentioned in an earlier post this year, using Hollywood celebrities instantly time stamps an attraction.

Buzzy!

Since Body Wars wasn't my favorite, why did I enjoy the pavilion so much? Cranium Command, a journey into the head of an adolescent boy was great fun, but The Making of Me, a short film on procreation was an absolute side-splitting riot. With actor Martin Short playing the lead in a tightly crafted little film, the writing was so sharp, so witty, so dead on, I found myself laughing with little control. Something pretty rare in a Disney theme park. (That is aside from the Comedy Warehouse and its spoof of Disney park culture.) 

Other attractions included a series of hands on activities (Fitness Fairgrounds), lessons on staying healthy with a bit of character influence (Goofy About Health), and other odds end ends which made the Wonders of Life pavilion an easy two hour diversion. 

That was then, and this is now. Wonders eventually transitioned to a cheaper to run corporate event facility as a destination location for the park's seasonal festivals. It's a shame, really, as the mix of attractions and the differing presentation style was a complement to Universe of Energy and Horizons, its nearby neighbors.

To see a greatly detailed look at the transformation, go to Werner Weiss' excellent Yesterland article here.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Photographer unknown. The last photo might be mine!)

New Imagination Ahead as Kodak Departs?

The rumor mill was running amuck, but the bottom line revealed truth: Kodak has abandoned its sponsorship of the once wonderful now awful Imagination pavilion at Epcot. The full details are here at the Sentinel. Maybe this will eventually bring a new lease on life- and a revision back to glory- or it may bring the final end a la Wonders of Life.

Future World Becomes Discoveryland

Now that the D23 convention is over, and the announcement for the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland has been splashed all over the internet, I started thinking about other "leaked" plans and ideas for Walt Disney World.

If you are a big Epcot fan (or an even bigger EPCOT Center fan), you also wondered why absolutely nothing was announced for this park. These old and abandoned plans (above) for a revamped Future World probably got your heart racing a bit. Let's face it- Future World needs some help! We've got a shuttered Wonders of Life, an Imagination attraction that lacks the fun factor and charm of the original, and the mish mash that is Innoventions. What we discovered with this plan was not all that encouraging however.
Let's look closer- Spaceship Earth becomes Time Racers- a high speed attraction. It's joined by a roller coaster themed to the rain forest, and the elegant Living Seas gets a character infusion. (Guess we cannot win them all!)

As time goes on, it seems pretty clear that neither the Disney Company executives nor the Imagineers themselves can come up with a concept to bring Future World back to the leading edge of design and technology. Or it may just be an issue of money to fund it.

Although Soarin', Mission:Space and Test Track thrills guests, they represent a contemporary version of what is out there. Much like the character invasion of the Disneyland style Tomorrowlands, these attractions are fun, but they represent moving in the wrong direction.

Where is the vision for the future? What represents the hope of tomorrow or the concepts that will change the way we live? It is missing in action. At least until another visionary like Walt himself shows up with the ideas and clout to bring the Future back to life.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Dying a Slow and Painful Death

Epcot Center's Wonders of Life used to be a remarkable, entertaining, vibrant pavillion. Now just sitting there, neglected and used only for special events like the Food and Wine Festival, it is in a sad state. When it was on the drawing boards, Disney expected this space to draw in the crowds. It did for a few years. The attractions found here were diverse in presentation and a whole lot of fun as well as being educational. Above is one of the first concepts for the building. Oh, what some time can do! Maybe, just maybe, the suits have a great plan for the area...

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)