Epcot history

[EPCOTExplorer]

I'm pretty sure the hand came down somewhere in the last couple of years, but someone who's been there more recently can tell you for sure.

I thought the original ride in Imagination was great, but they tinkered with it over the years and took a lot away from it. I also thought the original World of Motion ride was a lot of fun, but such is progress.

It's gone, thank goodness. That thing was so not EPCOT. How is a huge Mickey Hand Futurism and World Culture? It isn't.

[cgriff]

The future always changes.

[Ian]

My issue with FW is that, while I still love it, three things drag on my appreciation every time I go:

1. Mission Space just doesn't have great re-rideability for me. I liked it when I first rode it, but my enjoyment of it has diminished very quickly. I just feel too "shaky" when I'm done to really make me keep wanting to go back and the ride itself just isn't good enough to compensate. All in all I'd much rather have Horizons back.
2. That empty WoL pavilion is killing me. To have an entire corner of FW essentially shuttered ... that really grates on my nerves. They need to put something in there quickly, sponsor or no sponsor. They make billions every year ... I'm sure they can spend a paltry $100 mil of their own cash to build a darn ride.
3. The Imagination pavilion is "dead to me." I don't care for HISTA at all and the new JIYI is an abomination.

But on the flip side, we love Soarin' and I do think the new Nemo ride is a fun addition to what was previously kind of a dull Living Seas pavilion.

All in all I still love FW, but it could use some TLC.

[Brownie54]

Let's not forget Cranium Command. I sure miss that one.

[jcvalenti]

You know, it's funny ... I love Epcot. I went there the first two years when it was open as a 14 year old, and then didn't come back until 2004. Been there about 6 times since. I remember there used to be a lot "more" to Future World, but couldn't really remember what (besides the old Figment ride, which I loved).

They really do need to add some new attractions in the front though, to recapture the feel of Epcot. When I was there last time, I thought they needed to add an attraction to the Wonders of Life space, something like a cross between Fantastic Voyage and the "Men In Black" ride from Universal Studios where riders can ride in vehicls through a body and use guns to shoot invading organisms. Is that what Body Wars was like ? I really can't recall.

[joonyer]

I say they need to update and re-open Cranium Command. We only got to see it once before they shuttered the WoL pavilion, and we thought it was great!

[BamaJenn]

BamaJenn, you did a really good job of covering how the park was in its early days.

Thanks so much! The history of Epcot is sort of just ingrained in my brain so I tend to babble with the subject is brought up. LOL!

[brer frog]

Thank you all for your feedback. It's helped greatly.

[Stu29573]

Great topic!
I remember the original Figment and Dreamfinder ride fondly. I can remember riding it right before we left the part that night and singing "Imaaaagination!!!!" over and over....and I was in my 20's!
I remember the Body Wars ride was VERY rough and motion sickness inducing. It was a totally different ride from Star Tours, even though the technology was the same. Once was enough for me. On the other hand, Cranium Command was a must do every time.
Horizons and World of Motion were classic dark rides that I feel we need more of. Sure Test Track and Mission Space have good points, but they just can't compare in my book.
Thanks for the memories!

[grumpydude]

I know this sounds corny, but you think WDW could somehow put something at Epcot that has to do with "Little Einsteins".

[texasteacher]

I have been to Epcot countless times since it opened, and Innovations has just never been a place we have spent much time in. I can remember when they had a version of the build your own rollercoaster there, but that is about it. SSE, The Land, The World of Motion and Horizons have all changed or gone away all together. I have always enjoyed Epcot a great deal, but do agree that something needs to be done with Future World

I miss Horizons! It was fabulous!

[Daisy'sMom]

I miss Horizons! It was fabulous!

I also loved Horizons, we would go on that at least three times day. The orange blossoms smelled so good. I miss World of Motion and loved Spaceship Earth with Walter Cronkite narrating. I miss the original Imagination with Dreamfinder. Do you guys remember the first
3D Kodak movie? And Listen to the Land was a favorite. How about the little show with the veggies? It's where Soarin is now. I can't think of the name of it, but it was so cute.
We would always stop at this little area by Mousegear where they had a round table with televisions in it. We loved to see what the weather was like in other places. I guess it didn't take much to please us then.
The Odessey was a restaurant, wasn't it? I remember one night when DH and I were newlyweds, we were sitting where the Gardens Theatre is at across from American Adventure. We were eating popcorn, it was chilly out and we were waiting for the fireworks. Epcot was open til around 11 I think. Anyway, he went into the little shop next to the American Adventure and came back with a little onyx ring for me. I still wear it and it almost makes me cry now. It was so romantic for me. We have so many memories of Epcot and I hope we can add one more this Saturday. I just told him we are going there whether he wants to or not.