When historians look back at EPCOT’s glory days, they may not circle 2015 as a high point. The park still draws crowds with its restaurants, live music, and special events. I still love going to EPCOT, and Future World has a great atmosphere at night. Unfortunately, i could use some help. When will Disney focus its attention on this forgotten land? Soarin’ may be getting a new theater and film, but that’s about it.
It’s understandable to have limited expectations for growth at EPCOT. Disney is spending a fortune to upgrade the Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Guests still enjoy going to EPCOT, so it seems less important. I can understand their conservative approach from a business perspective. Even so, I believe they are leaving money on the table. Attendance will grow after Frozen Ever After opens, but the increase will be temporary. Disney needs a plan on what to do after the Frozen bump.
Recognizing the financial limitations, I have described five ways that Disney could improve Future World. All should be doable without spending hundreds of millions or disrupting the guest experience. This won’t be a New Fantasyland situation. Instead, these smaller changes would help to build EPCOT into a two-day park. You could spend a whole day just at Future World in its early days.
These aren’t the kind of changes that Bob Iger would announce at a D23 Expo. Instead, they’re little upgrades that should enhance guest satisfaction. With prices going up every year, Disney needs to keep giving more or risk losing visitors. An overarching strategy to revitalize Future World could make a big difference.
Reopen the Upstairs Image Works
There are a lot of issues with the Imagination pavilion. I could write an entire post on the ways Disney needs to upgrade that space. With a smaller budget in mind, my first choice would be to see the Image Works reopened upstairs. We spent hours there as kids enjoying the interactive exhibits within the large space. Much of the infrastructure remains in place, including the Rainbow Corridor. This area showcases just how impressive the entire structure is and provides an amazing view of EPCOT.
The current Imagination pavilion includes a smaller interactive section after the ride, but it pales in comparison to the original. I don’t expect Disney to bring back the same things that once entertained guests in the Image Works. Given the available technologies, there is so much they could do with this space.
The fact that it remains vacant is a telling reminder of the challenge at EPCOT. There is so much potential within the existing framework! There’s little need to tear down buildings or force unrelated characters into the park. Revitalizing the Image Works would be a first step towards making EPCOT shine once again.
Fix the Spaceship Earth Descent
It’s hard to complain about Spaceship Earth, which has retained the tone of its original version. Judi Dench is the ride’s fourth narrator, and her script feels a bit simpler than the previous ones. Even so, the animatronics look great during the ascent. I have no complaints about 2/3 of the ride and still love it. The problem comes with the descent. The “create your own future” idea is fun in general, but you are essentially staring at a screen. Compared to the large physical sets that formerly occupied this space, it feels cheap despite the laughs that come from having our faces in the animated videos.
Is there a middle ground? Spaceship Earth has a sponsor in Siemens, so it should have a budget for small upgrades. I expect that Siemens wanted more of a technology focus, and the screens follow that model. The 2007 refurb did a lot of good things for the ride and ensured its longevity. I just wish the final act connected better to the grand ascent. The space is there for new sets to be placed, and we can still use the screens. A little more ingenuity could make Spaceship Earth a near-perfect attraction once again.
Add a Sense of Wonder to Innoventions
The original Communicore has a reputation as being dull, but I was fascinated as a kid and never felt like we had enough time there. Innoventions has solid attractions like The Sum of All Thrills, but much of it feels like wasted potential. My local Science Center matches it and often surpasses Disney’s offerings. What is missing from Innoventions is that sense of wonder. Corporate sponsors drive the content, but why not connect with more forward-thinking organizations?
Innoventions occupies valuable real estate in large buildings right in the middle of Future World. Nearly everyone walks past them multiple times during the course of a single day. Disney has issues with crowd flow in Future World. Too many guests are rushing for Test Track and Soarin’ and skipping the other rides.
I am not expecting them to build something on par with those attractions. It’s a similar issue as we’re seeing at Imagination. The current set-up feels thrown together and lacks a coherent theme. If Disney wants to keep using Innoventions in its current format, they should do better.
Replace Circle of Life with Almost Anything
The Land has become one of my favorite pavilions. It has one of the best counter-service restaurants on Walt Disney World property in Sunshine Seasons. Soarin’ remains a must-see attraction, and Living with the Land recalls EPCOT Center’s glory days. There is one part where it could use some help, however. Circle of Life opened in 1995 and used characters from The Lion King to give a message on saving our environment. It was a lighter take on the subject than the Symbiosis film that formerly occupied the theater. I agree with the message but don’t think it adds much to EPCOT.
Circle of Life faces a similar issue as the Universe of Energy, which opened around the same time. Both have a positive message but need updates. The limited budget means that Circle of Life would be an easier fix than a full attraction. Even though it doesn’t fit with the overall theme, I’d be okay with Disney using this theater to preview upcoming EPCOT attractions. Right now, it’s drawing few guests and doesn’t have the nostalgia factor of Captain EO. It wouldn’t take much to improve on the current film.
Re-Open Wonders of Life
It is still remarkable to see a large Future World pavilion that’s only used for special events. Wonders of Life opened in 1989 and was part of EPCOT’s second wave of attractions. Despite having two popular attractions, the space couldn’t recover from losing its sponsor. Instead of finding a new sponsor or re-imagining the pavilion, Disney took the easy road and eventually closed it. Most of the exhibits are now gone, so re-opening Wonders of Life would be more challenging. The costs might be significant, though not on the same level as starting from scratch.
I wouldn’t mind if Disney re-themed Wonders of Life if the new choice was interesting. There are enough smart minds at Imagineering to create something great, even without a huge budget. The question is whether management has become too dependent on this space for special events. Festivals make serious profits for Disney. Even so, I expect they could find another space. The location close to Test Track and Mission: Space is too valuable. Even a mid-level attraction would draw guests away from the headliners and better distribute crowds throughout the park.
Where Does Future World Go From Here?
I’ve tried to keep my proposals modest because I expect so little with EPCOT. While I’d love to see a newly focused Future World with rides in the vein of Horizons, the chances are extremely low. The best we can hope for is that Disney makes incremental changes at EPCOT while they invest larger sums in other parks. I’d like to believe they recognize what’s missing in Future World, but I can’t be sure. I’m still optimistic that we’ll see improvements; I can only hope for a better future.
Related Articles: Future World
Ranking EPCOT Center’s Future World Pavilions
Five Small Moves: Future World East at EPCOT
Five Reasons the Future World Concept Still Works
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Peter A. Fidrych says
As usual ,an excellent and well written article on the future of Epcot. It does seem that The Walt Disney Company has gotten a bit lazy with Disney World in general. I really don’t think that Robert Iger has the vision to be CEO of Disney like Michael Eisner did. I don’t mind paying for the Disney experience but I do expect that Disney perfection that I was raised on.Maybe with Universal becoming such a contendor we have all gotten spoiled but I really would like to believe that Disney can still be the best if it is willing to dream alittle and invest lots of money.
Dan Heaton says
Thanks! I think that Iger is very good at selling the Disney brand and buying properties. The company is doing very well on the whole. However, I don’t get the impression that management focuses on the smaller aspects of the parks that used to be the driver. Now, it’s more about big splashes and finding ways to maximize profits.. Future World is a perfect example. I still enjoy going to the parks, but I have been disappointed with where EPCOT has been going.