Epcot (General Discussion)

[belloq87]

I'm not getting my hopes up.

Spaceship Earth definitely needs major work done on the ride system (if not an outright replacement of it), but I don't trust Disney to just do that without tinkering with the content of the ride. The "story light" concept they announced for the (cancelled) refresh didn't inspire confidence in me.

 

[Mad Dog]

Epcot just got Guardians, Rat, Moana walk through, a face redo of former Future World, and a significant redo of Test Track. That's some fairly major stuff in the last few years. Heck, if Universal did that much to the USF park during that time frame, I'd be jumping through hoops. So I'd think
the most we can hope for Epcot would be partial redo's of Spaceship Earth or Imagination, probably not both.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Epcot just got Guardians, Rat, Moana walk through, a face redo of former Future World, and a significant redo of Test Track. That's some fairly major stuff in the last few years. Heck, if Universal did that much to the USF park during that time frame, I'd be jumping through hoops. So I'd think
the most we can hope for Epcot would be partial redo's of Spaceship Earth or Imagination, probably not both.

They also cancelled a ton of projects, announced and unannounced, for a park that was significantly stagnant. SSE, Imagination, and WoL still are bad spots.

 

[Mad Dog]

They also cancelled a ton of projects, announced and unannounced, for a park that was significantly stagnant. SSE, Imagination, and WoL still are bad spots.

Yes, still some laggards. When we took the girls (10 & 11) last year, it was their least favorite park. All the attractions we like, like Lands, SSE,
Aquarium, they thought were boring. They were definitely not into the educational attractions. But we, as adults like Epcot's newer attractions, especially Rat, GOG, Frozen, and the other older stuff. Rat is underrated by the hardcore fans. Its a really fun ride. The main problem with Epcot is that on a real hot day, the concrete makes it unbearable.

 

[Tereglith]

I don't trust Disney to just do that without tinkering with the content of the ride.

There's part of SSE's content that does need tinkering with though - the screen stuff in the return to earth sequence is woefully outdated. I'd rather just be looking at pretty geometric lights like the previous version, but after riding Test Track 3.0 I'd also be interested to see what they could do with modern projection mapping and screens. Anything would be an improvement over a JibJab impression of what Popular Science was writing about in 2007.

If it weren't for Space 220 I'd say Mission: Space is also due for a replacement, but I guess it's safe for another couple decades. But even just a SSE refresh and an Imagination redo would go a long way to making Future World feel truly renewed, instead of just feeling like they slapped a billion-dollar coat of paint on the same old park.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

There's part of SSE's content that does need tinkering with though - the screen stuff in the return to earth sequence is woefully outdated. I'd rather just be looking at pretty geometric lights like the previous version, but after riding Test Track 3.0 I'd also be interested to see what they could do with modern projection mapping and screens. Anything would be an improvement over a JibJab impression of what Popular Science was writing about in 2007.

If it weren't for Space 220 I'd say Mission: Space is also due for a replacement, but I guess it's safe for another couple decades. But even just a SSE refresh and an Imagination redo would go a long way to making Future World feel truly renewed, instead of just feeling like they slapped a billion-dollar coat of paint on the same old park.

It goes beyond just updating the inside, SSE needs some serious work on the ride system beyond this fall's refurb.

 

[TheGentTrent]

Matt Berry as the next narrator please.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Matt Berry as the next narrator please.

He’s got the chops.

 

[Andromeda]

Question. This week we are going to Epcot and park hop to Hollywood studios. I haven’t been to Epcot since 1996 and I know a lot has updated. All I want to do is Rise of the Resistance because we’ve never been on that ride. Which park has the better night show and would it be better to park at Hollywood studios vs Epcot? Thank you in advance!

 

[n i c k]

Park where you plan to end the night. As for night shows, EPCOT would be the better choice. Be mindful of any potential Jollywood Nights dates that could cause early closures at Hollywood Studios.

 

[DOOMBOT]

Yeah, definitely don't park at EPCOT and watch Fantasmic unless you want to commute back to your car after a long park day, since the North Skyliner gate at EPCOT closes with the rest of the park. Definitely not speaking from experience there.

Fantasmic is an incredible night-time show and an E-Ticket attraction in its' own right. Highly recommend that over basically any other nighttime show besides Happily Ever After.

 

[Andromeda]

Yeah, definitely don't park at EPCOT and watch Fantasmic unless you want to commute back to your car after a long park day, since the North Skyliner gate at EPCOT closes with the rest of the park. Definitely not speaking from experience there.

Fantasmic is an incredible night-time show and an E-Ticket attraction in its' own right. Highly recommend that over basically any other nighttime show besides Happily Ever After.

So yesterday we decided to park at Hollywood Studios. Did 4 rides and took the skyliner to Epcot which was fun something we haven’t done before. I asked our server after the fireworks how long the boats and skyliner ran and it was a hour and half after closing. As we walk out I asked a cast member if we can get back to studios and they said yes. Then before we got on the boat we asked again. Yes the boat drops us off at Studios and it’s the last drop off. We are at Boardwalk dock and the captain announces the last stop is swan and dolphin. What??? He tells us those docks are closed. Take a bus from the hotel. We get to the hotel and the valet tries to help us out but no other Hollywood buses are running , only magic kingdom. We could wait but then have to switch buses. It’s already after 10:30. Our stranded group decided to walk back. Along the way back we saw a boat coming from Hollywood Studios so we were like did our captain didn’t want to take 5 people back to their cars? IDK. As we were walking into the parking lot a Remy the rat ran by. He looked well fed. Wishing me a farewell. Gotta laugh at stuff like this. However the getting back was super frustrating since what we were told was not the way . If I park hop again I’m driving LOL.