Thoughts on EPCOT's Future

I have a lot of thoughts regarding EPCOT and the direction that Disney is taking the park. While I won't share all of them in this post, there are three aspects of the park's update that bother me most.

1) Disney's lack of regard for sightlines. 

The Guardians Warehouse, as seen from across World Showcase Lagoon, January 2019

The new Guardians show building and the Harmonious infrastructure will stain the park's atmosphere for years to come, and it's such a shame. When EPCOT Center opened in 1982, the pavillions that housed attractions were designed to be seen from all angles throughout the park. They were wonderous and beautiful, and as I'm sure most of you know were meant to evoke the feeling of the World's Fairs of old. It's a shame that Disney was more interested in saving money than in continuing the tradition of the original EPCOT Center Imagineers when planning for the park's future.

The HARMonious barges on World Showcase Lagoon, courtesy of Blog Mickey.

2) The division of Future World into 3 "neighborhoods." Part of EPCOT's beauty was it's simplicity. While it's true that the original EPCOT Center Imagineers divided Future World by topic (Hard Sciences in FW East, and Soft Sciences in FW West), this division was subtle. It was implied by 1) the topics found on each side of the land and 2) the aesthetics that made up each side of the land. FW East was rigid--planters and walkways were angular and designed in straight lines. The walkways and planters of FW West, on the other hand, were curved and bordered by water features.

Not only do EPCOT's new "neighborhoods" have silly names, they needlessly complicate the park.

The new EPCOT "neighborhoods" feel artificial. While the subtle differences between East and West will remain, nothing is being added or changed to actually differentiate the "new" lands. Imagineering is simply drawing a line on a map and declaring that the neighborhoods exist. In other words, there is no reason--or Story--for the change from FW to Worlds Celebration, Discovery, and Nature other than to do away with the "Future World" name (and the "future" theme it implies) and to claim that the park is "new." Given that fact, a much better solution would have been to rename Future World, "Discovery World." This would maintain the park's simplicity while simultaneously doing away with the expectation that guests will experience "the future" when visiting EPCOT.


3) The demolition of Innoventions West. I am perfectly willing to accept that Epcot was/is in dire need of an aesthetic makeover. I'm even willing to entertain the argument that the Communicore/Innoventions buildings looked dated and that the center of Epcot needed drastic change. What I don't understand is why Imagineering settled on destroying the symmetry of the park; demolishing Innoventions West while leaving Innoventions East largely unchanged and the same shape.

Innoventions: Before and After, shared by @bioreconstruct on Twitter

If Imagineering believed that the old Communicore buildings had no place in the new EPCOT, then they should have either 1) demolished both Innoventions West and Innoventions East, or 2) kept the Northern sections of the Communicore buildings (closest to Spaceship Earth) and demolished the two Southern portions (formerly Fountainview, Club Cool, and MouseGear--now Creations Shop). By doing away with what I'll call, "Innoventions South," EPCOT's symmetry would have remained, and the park would have been better for it.

re-Imagineering...

Today I'd like to introduce a brand new series in an attempt to revive and revitalize this blog. I'm calling it, "re-Imagineering," a place to share ideas for actual existent Disney properties around the world. 

For it's inaugural debut, I thought it'd be great to take a trip to Walt Disney World and discover all of the new and exciting plans currently in development. 

So, without further ado, may I introduce to you...

*Disney's Animal Kingdom*

Where Adventure is Wild!

Discovery Island

~Mother Nature 3-D show~

Replacing the Tree of Life's "It's Tough to be a Bug," Mother Nature hosts an all new 4-D show taking guests into the natural world like never before. 

~World of Color Animal Show~

I'm excited to see the upcoming "Rivers of Light," but my idea would basically incorporate massive water screens fountains, and floats all coming together in a celebration of the animal world. 

The show would start off with Fantasia 2000's Spring Sprite flowing through a forest. Music and lighting would set the scene as the show transitions to the Circle of Life...the entire set is pitch black when guests hear the first note of the iconic song, until brilliant shades of red and orange and yellow fill the river and water screens shoot up projecting images of animals heading towards Pride Rock. Floats featuring actors dressed as different animals (think Broadway's Lion King), emerge from behind the far sides of the screens, and then finally, as guests hear, "It's the Circle of Life," Pride Rock itself comes from between the 2 massive water screens. Rafiki is seen at the end of the rock, holding baby Simba, as the animals on the screens and floats bow before the newborn prince.

Other scenes include Fantasia 2000's Noah's Ark, in which a full sized Ark loaded with animals floats on the lagoon, a Montage of underwater scenes featuring Mr. Ray and his class from Finding Nemo, as well as various clips from Disney Nature films.

Camp Minnie-Mickey

Avatarland is given the ax, I don't like the idea. Instead, Camp Minnie-Mickey will continue to serve as the park's Fantasyland, recreating U.S. National parks of the 1950's and 60's. Here, guests can meet their favorite Disney characters while learning about the importance of conservation.

~Humphrey the Bear Log Flume~

Park ranger Donald Duck has been assigned the task of keeping Humphrey the Bear out of trouble, but unfortunately for Donald (and his temper), that’s much easier said than done.

~The True-Life Adventure Mine Train~

Hosted by the legendary AA owl Hoot Gibson of Western River Expedition fame, this scenic train ride through nature’s wonderland takes guests past various landscapes and habitats of North American critters, including Grizzly Bears, Wolves, Deer,  etc,

~It’s Tough to be a Bug~

Relocated from the Tree of Life to Camp Minnie-Mickey, the classic show is now housed within a giant rotting stump. Rumor has it the show may soon be accompanied by a new version of A Bug’s Land.

*EPCOT Center*
Where Tomorrow Begins Today

Future World
The area of the park most in need of assistance, Future World is going to drop the World's Fair theme in favor of becoming a "working model" for the future; the idea is that at EPCOT, the future is already here. A massive overhaul plan on greater scale than even DCA 2.0's is devised and includes a pavilion by pavilion update.

--Progress City Plaza--
Phase 1 of EPCOT Revitalization involves replacing Innoventions, with Progress City Plaza, and includes the demolition of the old Communicore buildings. Replacing them are several stand alone buildings housing various exhibits and restaurants themed to futuristic city life.
The area is filled with lush gardens and ponds, evoking harmony between technology and nature.

~Carousel of Progress~
Everyone's favorite family finds yet another new home here in Progress City Plaza. Located in Progress City's "Museum of Yesterday's Tomorrow," the family no longer finds itself talking of the wonders of yesteryear, but instead now discuss how wonderful life is in the past's future. Guests start off in a Jules Verne-inspired future, where men are shot to the moon via cannon, and time machines enable folks to visit any time period they desire. Moving forward through time, guests find themselves in the art-deco future of the 1930's. Father is getting his haircut by the old robot from Horizons as he discusses high speed zepplins that take folks from one end of the Atlantic to the other. Next, guests are transported to the far-out future of the Fabulous Fifties where aliens and man have made contact, and the family rides around in a Jetson's inspired vehicle that drives itself. The neon future of the 1980's greets guests in the last scene, where a metalic Christmas tree stands tall in the corner of the room and Sister phones in from outer space with her newborn via holograph screen.
The finale of the attraction includes a museum, including a 100% refurbished Progress City model, of Walt's original plans for EPCOT the city.
As you can probably tell, the idea is heavily influenced by Horizons, essentially just merging COP with the beloved Epcot attraction.

~Bot's Diner~
Guests will have the opportunity to dine in the world's first human-less restaurant. Here, all food is prepared and served by robots. 

Disney Photo of the Week

Yep! That's right! Starting today, and following every Thursday after, I'm going to begin doing what a billion other bloggers out there in Internet-land do, I'm going to post a Disney Photo of the Week (yes, I'm oh so original...that's probably why I have such a big readership, that and my frequent posting).

Anywho, without further ado, Sparks of Inspiration is proud to present to you (drum roll please...) our very first photo, Matt Pasant's, Your Highway In The Sky! Yaaaaaaaay!!!

This picture makes me happy...

Click for Matt Pasant's Flickr Photostream