Epcot Center question

My family and I just returned from a wonderful vacation to WDW. We attended all 4 parks. Now I don't know who has been to WDW lately, but out of the 4 parks, does Epcot Center seem like the park that is falling apart? The buildings are dull and crappy looking, and Spaceship Earth's trams are really loud! So loud at times that you can't hear the animitronics! All the other parks looked great but Epcot looked run down. Anyone know why?

Thanks,

timmyk31

I agree. All three other parks are very bright and look like they're kept up really well, but maybe the design of Epcot is meant to be kind of dull even though I thoroughly enjoyed the World Showcase area, and i would gladly pay admission for that alone. Luckily, both the Tapestry of Nations and the nighttime event are spectacular and very well done. Right now, the only great parts of Future World are Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Living with the Land, and Test Track. I think even Spaceship Earth needs a touch-up and I'm glad they seem to be doing something will The Living Seas, Imagination, and the upcoming for 2003, Mission:Space. All look promising for right now and I have high hopes everything will be ok after this renovation. The 2000 Millennium Celebrations really livened up the park, but this year, it felt more like work than fun to go for me. Of course, I'll return again this year. Can't miss those dueling mice at AK! :)

I went to Epcot in late January and had the oppurtunity to talk to someone in P&D and he said that Disney is going to revamp Spaceship Earth & that most of Epcot is going to get rennovated in one way or another. I just hope they don't over Mickeyfy it more then it already is. I mean leave the giant golf ball alone ;) I really think Disney is at its best when Mickey & Co are left out.

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Excalibur Crew for 2002!

Well, when I went to Epcot in early January, I did the "World Beer Tour" before hitting any attractions. I had a pretty enjoyable time there! ;) (World Beer Tour = drinking a beer in every country at Epcot that has beer)

Hopefully Mission to Mars will be a decent attraction.

Koppman,

We used to play a game like that but it was "Last Man Standing." We kept going around the World until only one guy was left with the ability to walk.

As for Epcot, I think it is pretty obvious that there has been no clear direction for the park for the last decade or so. The rehap of Journey was horrific. I understand they don't even use the ride system at The Seas.

It is apparent that they are trying to do something, like the Test Track changeover and the Mission: Space addition. However, I would like to see some changes in the World Showcase area. The Switzerland Pavilion would still be a welcome addition. Pictures in the Imagineering book looked promising.

Yikes you guys are scaring me!!! I'm going to Disney World in September and Epcot is one of the stops. I hope it isn't as bad as you make it sound!!!!

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There is NoLimit when it comes to Roller Coasters

In and of itself, it isn't a bad park, but sitting next to Disney/MGM, Animal Kingdom, and the Magic Kingdom it definately has a "duller" look to it. It is still my favorite for content..but I don't have any children. There are prettier parks.

I agree, my last trip to EPCOT was a disappointment. Wahoo skipper, what you say really is true - I don't think EPCOT has clarified its niche at all. I was there two summers ago (when the big thing was Test Track), and I wan't at all impressed with it. Horizons and Imagination were both closed at the time, and I skipped The Living Seas. But it's highly individualized - a friend of mine who I work with loves EPCOT - he's getting married at EPCOT and has chosen the Living Seas VIP room to hold his reception in.

I think that World Showcase is the best part of EPCOT. Mexico and Norway are both great attractions. I think it would help if there were a transportation system within EPCOT. It's a huge park and makes about two of the Magic Kingdom.

Overall, EPCOT is a mixed bag. If you haven't been there before, and you have to choose, you're not going to miss anything big if you skip it altogether.

We went to Disney about a year ago and EPCOT was our favorite of the four parks. Maybe because we didn't go with children, but neither one of us really enjoyed Magic Kingdom (at least not as much as when I was 12). We both thought Animal Kingdom was too well done as far as being like Africa. Outside of the safari and Dinosaur, we were bored and the park seemed dirty. Only spent about 4 hours there. Disney Studios was great. I suppose it all depends on age and what you're looking for.

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

*** This post was edited by Gemini on 3/12/2002. ***

I agree that Epcot seems to suffer a little lack of direction... it seems to be the place to put an attraction that doesn't quite fit into the theme of one of the other WDW parks. That doesn't mean that the park is "run-down", or lacks decent attractions...

Consider the size and depth of the attractions at Epcot... unlike those at, say, Magic Kingdom, which are for the most part stand-alone rides, the ones at Epcot are enormous structures with rides, restaurants, and other interactive gimmicks. To remodel one of those attractions is probably quite cost-prohibitive, and finding a sponsor is likely very difficult. Hence the reason why they are left alone with little investment for long periods of time.

I like Epcot because it is quite different from the other WDW parks. It has an experimental feel that makes it worth experiencing.

Well Inoticed when we went that the color on the buildijng had dulled and Universe Of Energy's mirrors(that cover the outside of the building) alot of them were broke or half missing! I love the park too, but at least Future World needs work. The World Showcase is still beautiful!

NoLimitChic said:
Yikes you guys are scaring me!!! I'm going to Disney World in September and Epcot is one of the stops. I hope it isn't as bad as you make it sound!!!!

Don't worry. There's nothing wrong with Epcot. It's a one -of -a-kind park and has plenty of great attractions. Some of the stuff is a bit dated, but it still has that Disney "class".

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Without the chaindog, you'd never get up the lifthill...

If you go to Epcot, you have to be in the right frame of mind

If you're a thrill-seeker, then you'll be gravely disappointed in Epcot.

However, if you enjoy exploring and learning new things and you appreciate the little details, then you'll really enjoy Epcot. If you're one of those people, then World Showcase alone will be worth the price of admission.

I have to completely disagree, Epcot is one of my favorite parks as well. It's REALLY fun and yet you learn so much, it could be an educational school field trip. That is the ultimate goal of Epcot I think.

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Milwaukee Wisconsin, we bring you beer, brats and cheese. But don't be fooled, "Milwaukee truly is a special secret getaway that I will be sure to tell my friends about!" Erin Brockevich, not to mention that we are an hour from SFGAm........

The question wasn't about thrills, it was about the look of the buildings! Isn't it funny how a topic can take so many different turns when all I wanted to know was why Epcot looked run down, NOT Thrills!

EPCOT is definately the more adult of all of the parks that needs to be explored without an agenda (ie a plan or a map). Future World should be tended to a bit more than it is. But with the addition of Mission Space, this will spruce up the place. The hole made by the rehab does take away from this area but when it's done, FW will again be complete. I hope the rehab of Imagaination is done soon because that pavillion needs a ride to fully use the space. My visit in January was pleasant but I did notice the woefully under utilized spaces in FW. WS was, as always, a pleasure. Don't let these shortcomings deter your visits to EPCOT. It will catch up. The one thing that needs to be removed are those tomblike things in the entrance plaza. They hinder Guest flow into and exiting the park.

timmyk said:
"The question wasn't about thrills, it was about the look of the buildings!"

That's one of the things I mentioned. I thought Animal Kingdom looked much worse than EPCOT.

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

Frederick said:
The one thing that needs to be removed are those tomblike things in the entrance plaza. They hinder Guest flow into and exiting the park.

Um, "those tomblike things" are the Leave a Legacy statues from the Millennium Celebration, and they're kinda gonna be there for a REAL long time. I think they said at least 20 years or so. And besides, as a paying customer of the Leave a Legacy statue, I know I certainly wouldn't want them to just take it down so they can pack more people into the park. It's still a thrill for me to find the plate with my mom and my inscription, as I'm sure it is for many other people. Besides, it entailed a HUGE investment on Disney's part -- why would they just take it down?

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The Luv Monkey has spoken...
Track Record: 29 and counting...
"At least look at me when you shoot a bullet through my head..."

I have been to all the parks except animal Kingdom but that was like 8 years ago. So I'm sure things have gotten a little worse for the wear at Epcot I just was saying that the way people were talking that it sounded like everything was going to cave in from neglect.

On the second thought, as for the thrills part, I believe that Epcot should be one of the first parks you go to. It will never compare to the glitterness of MK or the other parks. It is an educational park not meant to be flashy, just interesting. Epcot has it's own kind of different thrills. So if you visit it first then you wont have the same expectations for it as you would MK.

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There is NoLimit when it comes to Roller Coasters

*** This post was edited by NoLimitChic on 3/13/2002. ***