Frozen Ever After

If I have to hear "let it go" one more time . . .

Cinderelley;2460240 wrote: If I have to hear "let it go" one more time . . .

You'll be letting it go??? :ack:

LOL

DizneyFreak2002;2460260 wrote: You'll be letting it go??? :ack:

LOL

ROFL. You guys have me laughing so hard this morning that I am crying.

I'm surprised by reports that Epcot is not doing well, or has flat attendance (if I'm getting that right). We typically go during slower times and there are always plenty of people there. Or so it seems to us!

This is all bitter sweet for us. We loved Maelstrom, and we're sad it's gone. So glad we were able to ride it on the last visit. But, we're excited about something new too. I'm hoping it will be a fun ride that we all love. I really like that they're reusing the boats.

TheVBs;2460353 wrote: I'm surprised by reports that Epcot is not doing well, or has flat attendance (if I'm getting that right). We typically go during slower times and there are always plenty of people there. Or so it seems to us!

I am actually glad that attendance is not booming, since there is nothing about that park that would justify that outcome. What is discouraging to me is when attendance is going through the roof despite poor management, because I know meaningful change is so unlikely to come in that scenario.

TheVBs;2460353 wrote: I'm surprised by reports that Epcot is not doing well, or has flat attendance (if I'm getting that right). We typically go during slower times and there are always plenty of people there. Or so it seems to us!

This is all bitter sweet for us. We loved Maelstrom, and we're sad it's gone. So glad we were able to ride it on the last visit. But, we're excited about something new too. I'm hoping it will be a fun ride that we all love. I really like that they're reusing the boats.

I agree. I loved Maelstrom too, but am looking forward to something new.
Love too that they are reusing the boats! I always loved those!

Yeah, I go to EPCOT at least once a month [in all seasons, peak, mid, slow] and anymore it is still pretty crowded in slow times.

Tekneek;2460367 wrote: I am actually glad that attendance is not booming, since there is nothing about that park that would justify that outcome. What is discouraging to me is when attendance is going through the roof despite poor management, because I know meaningful change is so unlikely to come in that scenario.

Interesting take. Personally it's not discouraging to me. It comes down to the simple fact that Not 100% will like everything, every change, etc. If attendance is booming then they are doing something right for many people, myself included.

Terra;2460423 wrote:
Interesting take. Personally it's not discouraging to me. It comes down to the simple fact that Not 100% will like everything, every change, etc. If attendance is booming then they are doing something right for many people, myself included.

It has nothing to do with change and whether somebody likes it. Unless the change people like is having less to do, then maybe that fits. It is fact that there is less to do at Epcot than there was 15 years ago.

For all WDW parks that are not MK, I suspect most of their visitors are people that are simply not attending MK that day. Despite the price difference, I suspect that MK gets the most 1-day ticket visits while the rest primarily get people on multi-day passes who want somewhere else to go. To that end, simply having their doors open gets them a certain level of turnstile movement on any given day. I wouldn't call that "doing something right" as in they are really ticking all the boxes.

Tekneek;2460439 wrote: It has nothing to do with change and whether somebody likes it. Unless the change people like is having less to do, then maybe that fits. It is fact that there is less to do at Epcot than there was 15 years ago.

For all WDW parks that are not MK, I suspect most of their visitors are people that are simply not attending MK that day. Despite the price difference, I suspect that MK gets the most 1-day ticket visits while the rest primarily get people on multi-day passes who want somewhere else to go. To that end, simply having their doors open gets them a certain level of turnstile movement on any given day. I wouldn't call that "doing something right" as in they are really ticking all the boxes.

You suspect that but it's not always the case [at least when I hear people talking when I'm at the different parks].
That said, I think some more things would be great but in 15 years [personally], my visits have not been negatively impacted and I still love going more than ever.

Hmm, it'll bound to be a 4 hr wait, for a ride as short as the Maelstrom.... I always felt like I was just getting into it by the time we were hitting the oil rig.

As for as Epcot. I think a reboot might be necessary. Now I love the idea of EPCOT. But modern youth, too stupid and impatient for the art of learning and enjoying the atmosphere. If it isn't short, quick, and to the point. Eh eh. Most kids haven't even heard of half of the movies in Journey, or other snippets throughout.

I miss Maelstrom. The whole thing seems to be going "over the falls."

Honestly, I hope this ride is the best it can be - while I crank about stuff here and on the podcast, that doesn't mean I want things to fail.

However, said it before and will repeat till I'm blue in the face - something needs to be done from top to bottom in taking a long hard look at this park and figuring out it's "future" - to pun a bit.

Right now, it just feels like a bunch of band aids put in place without a long term plan - and that ultimately leads to failure.

Epcot is my favorite park for many sentimental reasons - but it needs help. And fast.

texas211;2460457 wrote: Hmm, it'll bound to be a 4 hr wait, for a ride as short as the Maelstrom.... I always felt like I was just getting into it by the time we were hitting the oil rig.

As for as Epcot. I think a reboot might be necessary. Now I love the idea of EPCOT. But modern youth, too stupid and impatient for the art of learning and enjoying the atmosphere. If it isn't short, quick, and to the point. Eh eh. Most kids haven't even heard of half of the movies in Journey, or other snippets throughout.

I miss Maelstrom. The whole thing seems to be going "over the falls."

I don't think kids today are "too stupid" for Epcot. I remember going to Epcot as s child, guess what? I hated it. I was bored out of my mind and wanted to go back to MK. It wasn't until I was older that I fell in love with Epcot.

I think we all agree Epcot needs a reboot. I look at the attraction listing in my app and there's not much there. Future World needs a new Universe of Energy (or just tear the building down and go in a completely new direction. I would love an attraction based on air travel. Wonders of Life pavilion-again, just razz the building and come up with a brand new attraction idea. Someone mentioned Wall-E, that would fit in perfect at Epcot.

I would also like to see more rides brought to Workd Showcase. Bring the Remy ride from Paris to the France pavilion. Build a new country. There is a huge plot of land available for expansion where the Adrian outpost now sits. Australia would be great. You could put an E ticket there (maybe you're on a walk about experiencing the dangers of the Outback) and have a Big Game restaurant offering unique dishes. Heck, theme the inside of it to be dusk with Ayers Rock in the distance ala the Mexico pavilion.

I think it's time to move away from the "teaching and learning" aspect of Epcot and turn toward imagination and wonderment of the world around us.

Granted, I didn't see Epcot in its "hey day" that you guys talk about, but I like Epcot the way it is. The big draws to Disney World for me have been MNSSHP and the Food and Wine Festival. The Flower and Garden Festival was nice enough to draw us back for a second day on our visit there this year. I guess I like the events there more than the rides.

Oh and my kids like the events there too, even when they were younger. One of everyone's favorite memories is my younger son eating snails in france. Ewwww

I think you hit the nail on the head there when you said you like the events more than the rides. So does Epcot management. That needs to change. There needs to be a balance of focus - and some long term thinking. Not just short term profits via festivals or events.

DonaldDuck1117;2460466 wrote: I don't think kids today are "too stupid" for Epcot. I remember going to Epcot as s child, guess what? I hated it. I was bored out of my mind and wanted to go back to MK. It wasn't until I was older that I fell in love with Epcot.

I was trying to think of how to put my thought into words, and then I scrolled down and I think that yours is an excellent response.

Kids today have sooooooo much more information available to them so easily, literally in the palm of their hand, and so it is no fault of theirs that what is took to amaze a kid in in 1982 doesn't cut it 2015.

If it weren't for the events/festivals, Epcot's attendance would be worse... The only thing keeping Epcot at 10 Million are the festivals...