Tuesday, October 2, 2012
COMMUNITY OF TOMORROW: EPCOT turned 30 yesterday -- televised grand opening with Danny Kaye, Drew Barrymore and others here -- and I can't help but wonder: does the non-World Showcase half of the site work? Isn't there a better use for all the faux-World's Fair facilities? [I'm not saying I have the answer.]
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I think it kind of does. The couple of big thrill-type rides they've put in (Soarin' and Test Track) fit well with the themes of their pavilion, and the Nemo stuff is appropriate for a Seas pavilion. I'm assuming that Imagination is the next big rehab there, since I don't think Disney wants to touch the political issues associated with redoing Universe of Energy's dated film (though the dinosaurs still are impressive).
ReplyDeleteWorld Showcase could really use a couple more attractions, particularly on the Canada/UK side--maybe a Mary Poppins-inspired ride in the UK?
Sadly, I was last there 28 years ago. Danged thing wasn't even done yet (still sad The Living Seas didn't open until 1986). That being said, I'm not sure Walt's original vision of EPCOT was ever really met and I don't know if the Future World stuff was ever really updated to be as post-modern as it needs to be. (This partially influenced by the effect EPCOT had on my 11 year-old future- and space-obsessed self.)
ReplyDeleteThere are rumors that Disney is looking at pulling out the "Innoventions" pavilion lifted from Epcot at Disneyland and replacing it with an Iron Man-inspired "Stark Expo" attraction. Unfortunately, they can't do it in Orlando, where Universal has the rights to Marvel stuff in theme parks (apparently, it's exclusive West of the Mississippi).
ReplyDeleteIt's funny. Danny never once mentions the magnificent dream of "drinking around the world".
ReplyDeleteI loved the visions of the future stuff at EPCOT when I was there last. OK, that was a few years ago. I was ten. But still, I loved it!
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of the huge aquarium, only because the last time I was there I got to dive it (my husband spend the whole time looking for shark teeth - he found one - and I spent the whole time performing for the people at the restaurant looking through the windows). Soarin' is awesome - we went on it multiple times. The rest, well, none of it sticks out in my mind, and I've been twice in the last five years.
ReplyDeleteSoarin' really is amazing. Unfortunately, Celebration never really became the town that was envisioned either. Not one flying car to be had anywhere.
ReplyDeleteNever been on the Test Track ride, but I've spent hours in the car showroom at the end of it -- for my son, being able to get into and out of real cars for hours is the best way to spend a day ever. If you could buy a ticket for just that showroom, we would spend our entire week in Orlando there.
ReplyDeleteSoarin' is nice but not worth the hours in line. I do enjoy whatever ride it is inside the big ball, which generally has not much of a line and is a nice dark quiet place to sit after a long day of standing around watching a kid get in and out of cars.