Walt Disney World Epcot Discussion Thread

[robbalvey]

But who really cares with Tron, Guardians, Battle Escape, Mickey Railway, Millennium Falcon, New Broadway style MK show, Gondolas all on the way. This announcement was BONKERS. And Nintendo Land will be opening at the same time, and hopefully Skyplex. And Great Wolf Lodge. And probably 3 other things. Orlando is on fire.

This is actually my thought exactly. What's sort of interesting is that had Ratatouille opened like NOW (or maybe even before Flight of Passage to be honest) people would be like OMG THAT RIDE IS AWESOME! GO WDW!!! But after Pandora and all those other attractions it's still going to be GOOD but it will most certainly not be the cream of the crop anymore.

 

I'm not disappointed by it's arrival, not by any means. And it will most certainly complement and INSANE amount of stuff happening at Walt Disney World let alone all of Orlando. (And have we heard any more possible rumors on the RMC Gwazi lately???)

[DirkFunk]

Unless I'm confused here and missed something, Ratatouille is replacing nothing. This shouldn't even be a "no harm, no foul" thing. It's a fresh ride. Don't people want rides? Isn't that the point of going?

 

As for EPCOT:

 

Walt Wanted to build a city/industrial park/business incubator using other people's money, kicking out anyone who wasn't working, and controlling the minutiae of people's lives. Then he died almost 51 years ago. Fifty. One. Years. Ago. There is no EPCOT as he envisioned it and never will be. There are plenty of things like what he envisioned in part, but practically none in full because there is no actual commercial demand for it. What there was demand for was a theme park.

 

E. Cardon Walker thought it would be a good idea to take the business model of Tomorrowland, Walt's "Permanent World's Fair," and expand it into an entire park. Why? Because corporations and countries could be convinced to spend really large sums of money to help him build it and save bucks on Disney's end. Now 35 years or so later, the world is different and the ROI for that kind of advertising is gone. No one wants to display their new tech at Disney first instead of CES or whatever. Why should Disney be building rides that question the existence of Global Warming on behalf of Petroleum companies? How is it Walt's Dream to take money from General Motors so they can construct a cartoon world in which mass transit is uniquely awful and the automobile is the only thing synonymous with freedom? It's nonsense and the Disboyz (and galz and other non-binary genderz) twist themselves into pretzels so that they can tell you that new rides and a new focus are terrible and that crass commercialism this time is actually wonderful, but terrible when its Starbucks. These people are the goddamned worst. The worst. It's philosophical masturbation intended to communicate to you that they are smarter than you because they aren't having fun on rides at an amusement park.

[Morgan]

Ratatouille is definitely a good ride, and will be a great compliment to the World Showcase. I've not done Mystic Manor or Pooh so I can't really make the comparisons between them, but if you take the ride on its own merit, it is a fun and impressive ride. Yes it's not particularly ground-breaking, but there are some clever features that do make it that bit special. Another point that while it does rely on screens for portions of the ride, I think at least these fit in fairly well and include sections that would be extremely difficult to replicate within physical sets, also the large scale of the screens help keep the illusion that you have been shrunk down to the size of a rat.

 

Regardless, I'm more excited for Guardians as it is an original ride, so I'm sure it's going to be an impressive concept whatever it turns out to be, but unfortunately I think I'm going to miss it on our next planned trip in 2020 along with most of the other announced additions.

[Garet]

Don't get me wrong I'm excited for this, but as I said in my earlier post, a few friends of mine came away from it in Paris thinking it was good but weren't really overly bothered about going to line up for it again, I think they talked more about the actual restaurant than the ride.

 

I've never been to Epcot so not sure on space compared to Tokyo's expansion for Fantasyland, and I know all rumours pointed to it being Ratatouille, but I was kind of still holding out hope it would be a copy of TDL's Beauty and the Beast. Maybe I'm silly for hoping on a copy of a ride that hasn't even opened yet but most things that come out of TDL are always amazing. Is Ratatouille still a huge name in the U.S.? Beauty and the Beast has always been big here but I barely ever here Ratatouille mentioned.

[johnychen]

Just had a crazy thought for a great video idea. Perhaps Robb can do another video like when Maelstrom closed for the Great Movie Ride and Ellen's Energy. Instead of Anna and Elsa it would be Mickey and Minnie and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

[KBrylczyk]

Just had a crazy thought for a great video idea. Perhaps Robb can do another video like when Maelstrom closed for the Great Movie Ride and Ellen's Energy. Instead of Anna and Elsa it would be Mickey and Minnie and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

 

While it'd be hilarious, you can easily get away with that on Maelstrom because nobody rode it and it was easy to get a boat to yourself. Universe Of Energy fits like 50,000 people into one tram.

[SharkTums]

^&^^

 

Exactly. We actually talked about that, but we don't want to be one of those people/sites that ruins the ride for everyone else talking and playing during the filming. Now granted, I think we'd be making the ride much better for those people, it's still not right!

[johnychen]

I had a feeling that was the reason. It is pretty hard to get the ride to yourself on those two attractions. Plus on the great movie ride you may get weird looks from the cast members. I guess you you can always film a POV and do it mystery science theater style.

[robbalvey]

The other reality is this - Maelstrom was a quick 4:30 minute ride so doing something silly for 4 minutes while you're on an empty boat makes sense. Both Energy and GMR are MUCH longer rides filled with tons of people. Energy being a 27 minute attraction and there is no way in hell I'm going to cover that entire length of time! GMR you also have the cast member spieling through the show so it would be obnoxious to be talking over that.

 

Really, what it comes down to, if it would make sense and actually "be funny" to do something like what I did from Maelstrom, I would do it, but it doesn't, so sadly I won't.

 

And just because I personally find it funny...

[cfc]

^That video is RiffTrax/Mystery Science Theater 3000 for a theme-park ride.

[robbalvey]

[TheCoasterKid211]

So according to friends on Snapchat that got the last dispatch of the night on Ellen, the ride broke down on the dinosaur scene. Perfect way to end things.

[coasterbill]

I haven't ridden Universe of Energy since I was a kid but I remember absolutely loving it back then. Then again, I liked a lot of dumb sh*t when I was a kid.

[cfc]

So according to friends on Snapchat that got the last dispatch of the night on Ellen, the ride broke down on the dinosaur scene. Perfect way to end things.

 

This is the only ride from which I've ever been evacuated. Unfortunately, it was after the dinosaur part, so no cool photos for me. At least I was spared the last bit.

[Hilltopper39]

I wonder if any of those dino animatronics will find their way over to Animal Kingdom to be used somehow?

[TheCoasterKid211]

I wonder if any of those dino animatronics will find their way over to Animal Kingdom to be used somehow?

I was thinking about a Primeval diorama sort of deal on the MK railroad, similar to the one at Disneyland. But hey, new stuff for Dinoland is always welcome.

[thrillrider]

I wonder if any of those dino animatronics will find their way over to Animal Kingdom to be used somehow?

I was thinking about a Primeval diorama sort of deal on the MK railroad, similar to the one at Disneyland. But hey, new stuff for Dinoland is always welcome.

 

It's still a rumor at this point, but I hear that dinorama may be going by by. It's rumored to be replaced with an indiana Jones section. Dinosaur is also going to be turned into an indiana Jones ride like the one at Disneyland.

[TheCoasterKid211]

I wonder if any of those dino animatronics will find their way over to Animal Kingdom to be used somehow?

I was thinking about a Primeval diorama sort of deal on the MK railroad, similar to the one at Disneyland. But hey, new stuff for Dinoland is always welcome.

 

It's still a rumor at this point, but I hear that dinorama may be going by by. It's rumored to be replaced with an indiana Jones section. Dinosaur is also going to be turned into an indiana Jones ride like the one at Disneyland.

Oh Lord, I hope not. Chester and Hester's is way too horrible to tear down.

[JacquesB]

This was a great ride. Sad to see it go, but also excited about whatever will replace it.

[cfc]

I wonder if any of those dino animatronics will find their way over to Animal Kingdom to be used somehow?

 

Old animatronics rarely go completely to waste--but they could be re-purposed somehow.

[CoasterLover]

Old animatronics rarely go completely to waste--but they could be re-purposed somehow.

 

You mean like giving all of the dinos top hats and canes and putting them in a musical animatronics show all about extinction? (sigh... one can only hope)

[robbalvey]

So today was the first day of Epcot's Food & Wine Festival!

 

And for the first day of Food & Wine we are going to do a tour of Italy with some of their new offerings!

 

First off, the booth has been totally re-done and it looks GREAT!!!

 

The menu items have been given a refresh as well.

 

For those of you who love calamari, this is highly recommended!

 

The shrimp with penne & vodka sauce was also very good!

 

That would be the beef stew with polenta. WOW!

 

The Donkey Cart inside the Italy pavilion always has some delicious treats.

 

Orangecello anyone? Yes, please! This is VERY good!

 

The pizza window has returned at Via Napoli and this is a HUGE favorite of mine! That's the new Pizza Bianca slice and you can still get traditional cheese pizzaand other offerings as well!

 

Careful not to drink too much or you might end up like this guy...oh wait, that's just how Jeremiah normally is...

 

Here's a look at the menu for the pizza window.

 

The meatballs were wonderful! My new favorite from the Food & Wine offerings that Italy has!

 

No need for words, I just want your pizza!

 

Oh man...that right there! Soooo good!

 

COMMENT BELOW if you want this slice!

 

Italian food is best enjoyed with adult beverages!

 

A fancy slice of pizza and a beer sounds pretty good to be! What about you?

 

We are going to end our tour of Italy on a proper Italian dessert note... a Cannoli! YUM!!!

 

Thank you Italy! You have succeeded in filling me up with yummy treats! We will be back for more Epcot Food & Wine VERY soon!!!

 

Ok, now please POST YOUR COMMENTS!!!

After all, we took the time to write this report, the least you could do is say something nice about it!

[Nrthwnd]

^ Yaaay, it's open! Mmmm Italy. Lots of good stuff to eat and drink, there.

Thanks for the Opening Day shots, Robb! So much to take in, and it's just begun!

 

 

P.S. GIVE ME THAT SLICE! (yum)

[Philrad71]

OMG!

 

Limoncello Mule sounds interesting. I have some orangecello in my fridge but my fave is the meloncello (think creamy cantaloupe flavor) - but unfortunately I have never seen it for sale in the US.

 

Looking forward to the rest...I always love your Epcot Food & Wine TR's!

[cfc]

For those of you who love calamari, this is highly recommended!

 

And that would be me. Oh yeah . . .