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Post by tomandrobin on Jun 14, 2024 9:09:00 GMT -5
Disney has recently announced that their multi-year expansion and renovation of EPCOT is complete. The last section of that work was officially opened this past week, CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza. The completed work looks nice, but no where mentioned is all the things that were canceled or quietly disappeared from Disney's plans. What's missing is the Festival Hall, UK Pavilion Mary Poppins, redo of Spaceship Earth, and Play Pavilion (Wonders of Life redo). The past year, Disney has made several announcements for expansions and renovations, but no mention of further work at EPCOT. This past week, Disney and the oversight board reached an agreement that would allow Disney to spend up to $17 billion over the next 10-20 years at WDW. Personally, I take such agreements with a grain of salt.....subject to be changed at any moment by Disney.
I am looking forward to seeing what Disney has to say at the next D23 event. The last few have been full of flowery words and empty promises, but maybe this year Disney will start making firm "forward" plans. And when will Disney revisit those Epcot plans?
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Post by tomandrobin on Jun 14, 2024 9:31:44 GMT -5
I am most disappointed that the UK Pavilion was canceled. It would have made a great addition to the park, similar to the expansion in France.
The Festival Center would have been nice, but not really necessary.
Spaceship Earth needs some TLC and is long overdo, but the ride keeps chugging along.
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Post by captjacksfamily on Jun 14, 2024 10:10:54 GMT -5
I think it is fair to say that it ends this phase of expansion, the next would include whatever the 17B brings us.
Personally I think numbering one on the list should be a ride befitting the character status that Figment has achieve. It is a disgrace to have such a Sh1tty ride for such a great character. Bring back Dream Finder if Dream Finder is as is rumored tied up in ownership then bring him back and call him Dream Weaver and use the song by Gary Wright.
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Post by helenabear on Jun 14, 2024 10:49:24 GMT -5
The Play Pavilion saddens me the most. Just wasted space.
The festival center I am indifferent to. Honestly UK as well because the proposed ride was not really interesting to me. Tea cups type rides are always meh at best.
I know we're getting a redo on TT starting this month. While I'm okay with the redo coming, leaving the Wonders of Life Pavilion empty is almost a crime to me.
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Post by LauraLea on Jun 14, 2024 11:14:17 GMT -5
The Festival Center would have been nice, but not really necessary. It is esp. not necessary since Disney has yet to bring back all the wonderful festival events held during F&W and the long lost events for F&G. I was so looking forward to a Festival Center with the hope that these activities would return. Laura |
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Post by ItsMe on Jun 14, 2024 11:28:19 GMT -5
The Festival Center would have been nice, but not really necessary. It is esp. not necessary since Disney has yet to bring back all the wonderful festival events held during F&W and the long lost events for F&G. I was so looking forward to a Festival Center with the hope that these activities would return. Laura I’d love to see those events brought back. It’s what made the festivals, actual festivals. I too would love to see Figment given some more love. The OG ride was amazing. Everything since has been horrible. |
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Post by nrspepe on Jun 14, 2024 12:39:59 GMT -5
Agree with Food & Wine Events…that’s us at one of them in our photo. We miss them!
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Post by LauraLea on Jun 14, 2024 12:43:58 GMT -5
Agree with Food & Wine Events…that’s us at one of them in our photo. We miss them! Yes I recognize it. The Wine vs Beer event in Italy? Been there many times. It was so much fun. Laura |
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Post by brp on Jun 14, 2024 14:28:06 GMT -5
Agree with Food & Wine Events…that’s us at one of them in our photo. We miss them! I'd love to see Party for the Senses and the cooking demos return. Don't really care about more building. What they've done is perfectly fine. It is certainly possible to highlight all the things that didn't happen (and some do) rather than enjoy what is there. But one is entitled to always have their glass half empty.
Cheers.
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Post by nickys on Jun 14, 2024 14:42:23 GMT -5
I don’t think the original plans for the Festival Centre will ever return.
They tore down Innoventions (Communicore) West for it, and then cut the budget. So what we have now is it. In any case the original plan -nicknamed “the bar stool on legs” by some - was going to be a more of a private /VIP entertainment venue, for invited guests, Club 33 etc.
I’d like to see a couple of new rides in WS. Dust off the plans for Germany or Japan. Put a Pinocchio dark ride in Italy - they could clone the DLP one although it’s just like WTP but with better scenes. Or put in the dark ride that they considered for the UK initially. Alice, Brave, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, I’d take any of them at this point, but Brave would counter the current England centric theme.
At some point they need to tackle Spaceship Earth, redo the track. But that’s a huge project. Getting the ride vehicles out is the biggest problem.
Ultimately though I think Epcot goes to the back of the line now.
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Post by janebanks on Jun 14, 2024 14:56:23 GMT -5
It's a shame they decided to do away with the Play Pavilion, I was looking forward to seeing that space in use again.
Was also excited to see an addition to the UK pavilion.
I love that they are tackling a re-imagining of TT, but as others have noted Figment needs some love, as does Spaceship Earth.
Will be glad though not to have the maze of walls up though on our next trip.
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Post by brp on Jun 14, 2024 14:58:07 GMT -5
Will be glad though not to have the maze of walls up though on our next trip. When we were there last month they had created a path through the middle (Land to TT) as construction was reduced. This was much nicer than having to go all the way around. No walls, of course, are is even better 
Cheers.
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Post by tomandrobin on Jun 14, 2024 15:01:55 GMT -5
I think it is fair to say that it ends this phase of expansion, the next would include whatever the 17B brings us. Personally I think numbering one on the list should be a ride befitting the character status that Figment has achieve. It is a disgrace to have such a Sh1tty ride for such a great character. Bring back Dream Finder if Dream Finder is as is rumored tied up in ownership then bring him back and call him Dream Weaver and use the song by Gary Wright. You are right.....That Pavilion has been utterly overlooked.
I have not heard any rumblings about adding anything more to Epcot.
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Post by tomandrobin on Jun 14, 2024 15:11:00 GMT -5
The Play Pavilion saddens me the most. Just wasted space. The festival center I am indifferent to. Honestly UK as well because the proposed ride was not really interesting to me. Tea cups type rides are always meh at best. I know we're getting a redo on TT starting this month. While I'm okay with the redo coming, leaving the Wonders of Life Pavilion empty is almost a crime to me. These "redo's" just aren't cutting it for me. Test Track is always a crowd pleaser. Hopefully the new overlay will be better.
Taking down functioning rides and attractions is starting to wear on me. |
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Post by tomandrobin on Jun 14, 2024 15:11:48 GMT -5
Agree with Food & Wine Events…that’s us at one of them in our photo. We miss them! Yes I recognize it. The Wine vs Beer event in Italy? Been there many times. It was so much fun. Laura Beer vs Wine in Italy was one of our must do events! |
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