Epcot Entertainment Being Refreshed, Long Time Acts Being Replaced

Oh. I agree. Epcot needs major work. There is hardly anything there anymore. I don't mind them changing out the entertainment but why not FIX the things that are in dire need first?

Wow, everywhere you turn they are shaking things up. I am not planning a trip until Fall 2015 but it seems I will not recognize the place.

1. All new Polynesian Village Resort
2. Completely overhauled Disney Springs
3. New Avatarland at AK
4. New Star Wars land at DHS
5. New Four Seasons Hotel

Now all new acts in Epcot replacing the ones I am so used to. I don't know whether to be happy or sad, it may be great to have new stuff, but I will certainly miss the old. I really enjoyed Off Kilter, this makes me sad.

I agree with John about the need for change in Epcot. Off Kilter seemed so popular that I'm not sure that's a good one to replace, but if the general attitude is all out with the old and in with the new... it can't be all bad. Well, it could be. I'm not sure changing entertainment acts is what is needed as far as refurbishment. A lot of the things John mentioned, definitely. Sometimes the changes work out. I'm almost always optimistic at first. But I do know that a lot of people are going to miss acts like Off Kilter, and that's sad news for the fans.

A travesty! World Showcase Players are THE reason I think Epcot is so great. They personify what the World Showcase is all about - bringing live entertainment from different countries right in front of you. It was this troupe and this troupe alone that got me to fall in love with Epcot.

As for Epcot needing a refresher, how about TDO start where it's needed. You know, like the incredibly lame Captain Eo, or the eternally boring Universe of Energy. How about turning Innoventions into an Avengers area like they have in Anaheim. But taking away good entertainment that has cult following... totally stupid. :thedolls:

I'll be back soon to post the "Keep World Showcase Players at Epcot" facebook fan page. It should be done by the evening.

I'm hoping we can leave this up for a little bit. This is my attempt at a grass roots movement to keep the World Showcase Players at Epcot. Feel free to "like" and share with your Disney loving friends.

Gator;2431048 wrote: I'm hoping we can leave this up for a little bit. This is my attempt at a grass roots movement to keep the World Showcase Players at Epcot. Feel free to "like" and share with your Disney loving friends.

It's not going to help but I'll leave it here for now...

BrerGnat;2430957 wrote: I agree with John on this one. Disney has a bad habit of keeping some things (particularly entertainment offerings and fireworks shows) WAY too long. It would be nice to have new stuff to look forward to more often. I know these musical acts have a strong, almost cult, following, but personally, I am tired of seeing/hearing the same old same old at Epcot. Maybe they will refresh Illuminations next, as it is past due for an update as well.

I see this as them actually doing something to address the staleness at Epcot. Any forward progress is good.

And, for the record, I think a lumberjack show in Canada might actually draw my family into the pavilion. That is something we've never seen and holds infinitely more appeal than Off Killter, to me anyway, and to my kids.

This.

I especially agree with what Natalie says about the new show for Canada. The new show doesn't sound interesting to me, but I am not a big fan of Off Kilter, either. I'm pretty sure most kids weren't that interested in watching/listening to a Celtic rock band. I think the new show may hold more appeal for kids, especially boys. Don't we say all the time on here there aren't enough things geared towards boys :confused: ? I love the World Showcase Players, but if I look at it objectively, it isn't humorous to most of today's kids and young adults.

I will check out all the new acts. I arrive a week after the old acts leave, so I am hoping some of the new acts will be in place when I get there. Next thing that needs to change is Illuminations. While I love the music for that show, it has run its course.

Gator;2431017 wrote: A travesty! World Showcase Players are THE reason I think Epcot is so great. They personify what the World Showcase is all about - bringing live entertainment from different countries right in front of you. It was this troupe and this troupe alone that got me to fall in love with Epcot.

As for Epcot needing a refresher, how about TDO start where it's needed. You know, like the incredibly lame Captain Eo, or the eternally boring Universe of Energy. How about turning Innoventions into an Avengers area like they have in Anaheim. But taking away good entertainment that has cult following... totally stupid. :thedolls:

I'll be back soon to post the "Keep World Showcase Players at Epcot" facebook fan page. It should be done by the evening.

Gator, face it, Epcot is dead... They are turning it into MK 2.0... Toons toons everywhere... Dumbing down to appeal to toddlers, not adults... Frozen in Maelstrom will be the final nail in the coffin...

Oh and BTW, WDW can not use Avengers in any WDW theme park... Remember that pesky deal with Universal?

As for these entertainment cuts and changes... Budget cuts, plain and simple... They aren't doing it to refresh the offerings, so please let's not go there... Entertainment budgets have been slashed due to... Ready? My Magic Plus cost over runs... yes, those things Motley Fool have deemed to be working, are in fact affecting the parks, not in a good way but in a negative way... People, let this sink in... Stop listening to outside sources who are no better than National Enquirer... MyMagic/NextGen is a financial failure at this point... And these are the results... Start getting mad at the causes and the reasons and the monkeys running TDO and TWDC...

Oh but wait, they are replacing the cuts entertainment, so you are wrong DF... Nope, sorry, not wrong... The replacements are cheaper than Off Kilter, Mo'Rockin, etc... Now, does that mean the new offerings will be horrible? No, not at all... The new offerings may be fun and entertaining... On the surface they look dumb, stupid and the continuing of the dumbing down of WDW... But, until we know more, or actually see the new offerings, we can't tell... I don't expect anything good at all... But, they can't be any worse than Stitch's Supersonic Dance Party or what ever that travesty was...

Wait until they announce the last show for Illuminations... You think the internet blew up today...

Speechless. :confused: :(

BTW, anyone who is upset, write to WDW, TWDC, managers, everyone... Call, flood their emails... Need info? Here it is!!

Tom Staggs
Chariman of WDPR
818-560-6977
tom.staggs@disney.com

Meg Crofton
President WDPR Ops US and France
818-560-7401
meg.crofton@disney.com

George Kalogridis
President of WDW
407-828-2600
george.kalogridis@disney.com

Jim MacPhee
SVP of NGE and WDW Parks
407-560-2960
james.d.macphee@disney.com

Sam Lau
VP of Epcot
407-560-7025
samuel.w.lau@disney.com

Jack Feivou
GM of Epcot Entertainment Operations
407-560-6017
jack.feivou@disney.com

Speaking as a Canadian, lumberjack shows are not nearly as fun as Off Kilter was.

Not impressed although I will reserve judgement on the changes until I actually see them. Maybe the new stuff will be better than it sounds - but from past experience with other "updates" I am not hopeful. You know, like removing a ride to make yet another character meet n greet . . . :(

For me, the biggest criticism of Epcot is that they haven't been changing acts with enough regularity. To keep the park fresh you have to have new acts. Yes the Off Kilter is good but it's been about 20 years or so. I hope that this signals a new era where we get to see new acts every couple of years.

I will definitely miss Fife and Drum Corps, and the world showcase players.
I won't really miss Off Kilter. To me they always seemed out of place at Epcot. A bunch of men playing Canadian classic rock. I can pretty much get that at any bar in my hometown.
If it was off the path a little bit, ok, but do have a loud rock show right there in the middle was just strange.
I totally respect those that liked it, but to me just not something that interested me.
I have seen a few lumberjack shows, and while it's not something i'd go over and over to see, it was pretty entertaining. at least give it a chance.

OK, so much for my positive attitude about the rumors not being true.
It is sad to me that so many of these replacements seem like they will be in the "once and done" category. Can't imagine pre-trip excitement over getting to go see lumberjacks with axes and logs.
I think the 3 reasons for these changes are;
1) Money
2) Dollars
3) Cents

DizneyFreak2002;2431066 wrote: BTW, anyone who is upset, write to WDW, TWDC, managers, everyone... Call, flood their emails... Need info? Here it is!!

Thanks! I just sent an email off to Sam and Jack to save the World Showcase Players. I hope others will join me and do the same.