Epcot pivots new design to include festival space

I click on those links for the comments:

Disney management are getting nothing right these days. Do you really think people come from around the world to go to EPCOT and see art, live music, and a demonstration kitchen?

Who's going to tell him?

People are going to crap on this because it's scaled back from the original plan, but this is still a huge improvement over the construction and underutilized space in recent years. The replacement for Electric Umbrella soft opened when I was there a little over a week ago and it is a fantastic upgrade - a bright open space with a lot of seating, the menu looks better as well.

I’m excited for the new stage, because it will mean that the only good viewing point for Harmonious won’t be ruined by a stage Nov-Feb.

Yeah, Connections Eatery/Cafe and Creations Shop are so vastly greater experiences than what they replace. They're big, open, light spaces. Epcot hasn't been "good" for attractions in decades, and yet it has thrived under the festival model. Certainly it's great as a local, but even with kids I would have to make it a day on a week-long trip. Frozen and Remy's were solid updates, and updating the hub to literally anything new is an improvement. Performance and exhibition space is exactly the right thing to put there. And then you add the Guardians coaster... this will be more my favorite park than it already was.

Also surprised they let that comment stay in.

I have never been to Epcot, but it seems like a big part of the park should be about the world and cultures. Having space that can accomodate events/festivals that show the world seems like a natural fit.

Or maybe my perception of Epcot is all wrong.

That's absolutely the vibe, and it used to be even more so when the countries were staffed by people from that country. The pandemic broke that. There are some here and there, but it varies by country. China and Italy have some, but I haven't obviously noticed in the others recently.

We ate at the new crepe restaurant last week and our waitress was definitely from France.

Jeff, that’s the thing I miss the most about World Showcase, and it seems the international workers were given the green light to start returning in August.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/03/26/disney-world-to-...e-program/

I've always thought it was odd that they use exchange workers as theming.

I’ll never forget the time we were in the Morocco gift shop and the two fellows that were on duty got into it over something and the stuff started flying. Needless to say everyone got the heck out of there.

It’s not merely “theming”, though. There are artisans, performers, chefs, and the like that practice their craft and bring authenticity to the countries.

And then there are the people that serve you a pretzel in Germany, a croissant in France, and ring you up for a Sanrio toy in Japan.

Narrator: It was at that moment that the gang realized...

Nah. I'm just dicking around.

But seriously, if I hire a worker from Germany, I'm probably putting them somewhere in my German pavillion before one like Japan or Mexico, all things being equal.

The real question is what Mao would do. Luckily, we can stroll right over to China from Germany here at EPCOT and ask him.

Only one thing he could do: Cope.

Note that I didn’t say I had an issue. Only that I thought it was odd. I think about what it would be like if I went to Europe to work and I had to be a cowboy at an amusement park.

"Hey, how would you like to leave your country to work in a fake version of your country featuring a duck dressed up in your ancestor's traditional garb?"

eightdotthree said:

...think about what it would be like if I went to Europe to work and I had to be a cowboy at an amusement park.

I almost used the exact argument!

...and being the cowboy in a foreign "Americaland" would be f'n awesome.

That’s the thing, though - those jobs exist in the real world in those countries, too, so why not have them entirely staffed that way?

It brings immersion, and frankly, it’s part of what makes World Showcase what it is. I love walking into a shop in Italy or France and being greeted by someone from the respective country. It makes pretending like you’re really there just a bit easier.

Putting Joe from Sarasota behind the counter at the French perfume store just seems out of place when they’re trying to immerse you in a slice of France.

I don't think a non-Brit is allowed to sell Digestives.

Raven-Phile said:

That’s the thing, though - those jobs exist in the real world in those countries, too, so why not have them entirely staffed that way?

An authentic german experience would be the men wearing Tevas with socks. 😂