Redesigning Future World at Epcot

[MichaeLeah]

We have certainly hinted at subjects like this before but I don't recall very many discussions when we have talked in depth about a very specific part of a Disney park. I love ideas and that is much of why I love Epcot so much: it is just jam-packed with ideas. I have been thinking about the layout of Future World and what I like and what could be improved. I am not talking so much about what should be included in various pavilions but more about where the pavilions should be located in relation to the subject they cover. I hope you will be able to see what I mean...

Spaceship Earth is the biggest attraction in Epcot Central (I am getting these terms from my Imagineering guidebook.) I really like where this is placed because communication is fundamental to our ability to learn about anything. None of the other pavilion subjects could exist without communication--meaning we wouldn't be able to really learn about them or express our imagination, etc.

I am going to leave out Innoventions right now and talk about Future World East and West.

Future World West is mostly about the natural sciences. This area currently includes The Land (which is the centerpiece that can be viewed from the middle of Future World and draws you west), The Seas w/Nemo and Friends (as it is now called), and Imagination. I love the theming on this half of the World. Everything is curvy and natural looking. There are never angles or jagged edges (except Imagination, sort of).

I think having something on The Land, and The Seas is terrific for this side of the park because they cover much of the natural sciences. I think a major failure, however, is the lack of explanation about why The Seas are significant for Future World. At The Land we get preached at, almost too much, about the importance about taking care of the land and how we grow food and new technologies we are developing in agriculture. At The Seas, however, we are never explained why it is important to study oceanagraphy (sp?), marine biology, etc. I think having The Seas is great but if they can't explain why we need it in Future World I think it would make more sense in the Animal Kingdom. Maybe the problem will be solved with the invassion of Nemo, I will find out this weekend.

I think it is a mistake to have Imagination in Future World West; I think it should be in the East, but I will talk about that a little bit later.

I think it is terrible they closed Wonders of Life, but I think it was put in the wrong side of the park to begin with. Everything else on the East side has to do with technology but anatomy, etc. is natural science. I think it would be best if they had a nice pavilion on the human body in Future World West. I also think it should be at the center where The Land currently is because I think humanity should be at the center of the natural sciences. Maybe the pavilion could include different areas covering each of the body's systems...I don't know. But I think it would be cool if something on the human body was at the center with The Land and The Seas on either side.

On to Future World East there have been numerous changes in recent years. Everything is about technology over here and it is reflected by very angular flower beds, etc. The centerpiece is an impressive structure that houses the new Mission: Space. The structure includes an impressive model of Mars along with some other decorations. This centerpiece draws people into Future World East.

To the left is Universe of Energy and to the right is Test Track. I think everything is themed pretty well here because everything has to do with technology. I would suggest a few changes though. I mentioned Imagination should be on this side. I believe that because once you discover the natural sciences (expressed in the West) you use your imagination to create technology. I think Imagination should be the centerpiece of Future World East because imagination is crucial to the development of technology.

Now, throwing another pavilion in the East throws off the symetry of Future World (as Wonders of Life used to do) which would be a bummer. However, maybe Mission: Space and Test Track could be combined into a big pavilion that is all about travel, I think that would be neat.

Anyway, as you can tell, I really like Future World but I have some suggestions about how to improve it. Tell me what you think about my ideas and share some of your own. I love ideas and that is why I like examining Disney Imagineering.

I am really not too sure what to say about Innoventions and how it related to the theming. I love the House of Innoventions but I have to admit that although I have walked through Innoventions several times I usually can't easily figure out what the different displays are about. It all just seems like a bunch of noise to me.

[goofystitch]

MichaeLeah wrote:

Now, throwing another pavilion in the East throws off the symetry of Future World (as Wonders of Life used to do) which would be a bummer. However, maybe Mission: Space and Test Track could be combined into a big pavilion that is all about travel, I think that would be neat.

The two sides have never been symetrical because my favorite pavilion, which you forgot to add, is on the East side: The Universe of Energy. As far back as I can remember, there were always 4 pavilions to the East and 3 to the West. I personally don't mind that The Wonders of Life is closed since I get quesy really easy and Body Wars is the only ride I have ever thrown up on, but I can see where people are upset and I did enjoy Craneum Command. I just hope they leave The Universe of Energy there because once WOL is removed, it will be the only pavilion on the East side left from when the park opened.

I am really not too sure what to say about Innoventions and how it related to the theming. I love the House of Innoventions but I have to admit that although I have walked through Innoventions several times I usually can't easily figure out what the different displays are about. It all just seems like a bunch of noise to me.

Innoventions related to the theming in the sense that the Epcot park was going to be a type of permanent world's fair with themed pavilions (that's why the park is set up the way it is) representing significant inventions, achievements, and aspects of science, as well as a showcase for foreign countries (world showcase was originally designed as an all indoor attraction in one pavilion before it was re-designed to have seperate countries represented around a lagoon) and a place to demonstrate the latest achievements in technology. The last part of the parks original dream saw the light of day through Innoventions. When it first opened, everything you could see there was not readily available to the general public and was up and coming. The problem as that when certain technologies became outdated or everyone had the items on display (Sega Saturn), Innoventions wasn't updated fast enough and got very behind. They then revamped it to make it almost like a themed land where there were kids disney intereactive demos and a video on "new" medical equipment that was now the standard. In order for an idea like Innoventions to work, it needs to be updated constantly and I don't think the Imagineers were fully prepared for this task. It certainly has become very run down and uninteresting.

Anyway, as you can tell, I really like Future World but I have some suggestions about how to improve it. Tell me what you think about my ideas and share some of your own. I love ideas and that is why I like examining Disney Imagineering.

I really like Future World, too. Epcot is my favorite park. I really wish they would stop changing things, though. I cringe at the thought of the name change (Discoveryland). Test Track has proved to not be the type of attraction that is a must do every time (by now, I've seen everything in there and the thrill of going 65 mph has no effect on me since I drive faster than that on a daily basis). Mission:Space is very cool, but I'm now almost afraid to ride it because of the deaths and I haven't waited longer than 10 minutes for it since the first death. I HATE the new version of Journey into Imagination. The original with the Dreamfinder was PERFECT and removing Figment was the biggest mistake they have made with the park. Now putting him back into the ride they replaced it with has made it all the more worse because all I can think about when riding it is how great it used to be. I remember being in awe when Dreamfinder's big blimp was right in front of you and you saw the creation of the once loveable purple dragon. There was so much to see in the old ride and the new ride is so bland, boring, and relys on loud noises and gross smells to entertain. Not cool. So far, the only additions I have enjoyed was the addition of Ellen Degeneres to the once boring Universe of Energy(it's been my favorite ride there ever since) and Soarin' to The Land. I really miss World of Motion and Horizons, the rides that were there before Test Track and Mission: Space respectively. In all, the changes at Epcot scare me. I just hope they put something good in where WOL is because Future World seems to be loosing everyones interest. I am excited for the Nemo ride though. I think it will be an improvement to the original Living Seas ride and will deffinatly draw a lot of people to the once empty pavilion.

[goofystitch]

I thought people might find this interesting. It is an old article from Jim Hill Media.

First up, it's Barry from East Boston. Who writes in today to say:

Dear Jim:

What the (expletive) is going on at Epcot? All of the rides that I used to love as a kid - "World of Motions," "Horizons" and "Journey in Imagination" - are being ripped out and replaced by these pale copies of the original attractions and/or by stupid hi-tech thrill rides.

Why is the Walt Disney Company turning its back on its own heritage? What's the matter? Is there some sort of corporate conspiracy currently in place that calls for all of Disney's AA-based shows to be replaced with cheaper-to-produce movies & off-the-shelf rides?

I mean, how expensive can it be nowadays to produce an attraction that features a few Audio Animatronic figures?

Color me Dis-gruntled & Dis-appointed, Jim.

Barry B.

Barry -

Well, to hear my friends at Walt Disney Imagineering explain it, there IS considerable cost involved in creating an AA-based attraction for one of the Disney theme parks. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of dollars you have to spend annually to maintain these highly sophisticated robotic figures.

But -- honestly, Barry -- that's really not the reason that the Mouse has begun to shy away from these sorts of shows. To hear the guys in WDI tell it, the real reason that Disney has pulled the plug on elaborate attractions like Epcot's "World of Motion" and "Horizons" is that ... well ... tastes change. When WED was initially putting together rides, shows and attractions for Epcot's Future World section (back in the mid-to-late 1970s), the Imagineers felt that elaborate shows loaded with AA figures were really the way to go. That this was the sort of stuff that would really dazzle Disney World visitors.

The only problem was -- when EPCOT Center finally opened in the Fall of 1982 -- all of these earnest, well meaning, thoroughly researched and incredibly-expensive-to-produce shows failed to really wow the public. WDW guest surveys that were done during this period showed that -- while Disney World visitors appreciated all the obvious effort that had gone into the creation of Epcot -- they weren't all that enthusiastic about the place. When these folks got back home and friends and family would ask them about Disney's newest theme park, these people would invariably say something like "Oh, EPCOT Center was nice enough. But it's no Magic Kingdom. The rides and the shows there were kind of boring."

This is why -- when Michael Eisner came on board in October of 1984 as the new CEO of Walt Disney Productions -- one of his very top priorities was to revitalize / jazz up Epcot. To bring some real color and excitement to this well-intended but still rather dull theme park.

Which was why the Norway pavilion and its flume ride, the "Maelstrom," were quickly added to World Showcase. Not to mention the "Wonders of Life" pavilion with its hi-tech thrill ride ("Body Wars") and its two colorful, celebrity-filled film-based shows ("Cranium Command" and "The Making of Me"). Eisner did everything that he could think of to try and re-energize Epcot.

And -- given that it was typically the slower moving shows like "World of Motion" and "Hozizons" that were scoring the lowest on Epcot's guest satisfaction surveys -- this is why, when the leases were up on these particular shows, that Disney would push these pavilions' corporate sponsors to allow them to replace the previous attraction with something bright, something colorful. Ideally, a brand-new thrill ride.

It wasn't that Disney was deliberately trying to destroy Epcot's Future World section. Pulling out all of these highly themed rides, shows and attractions that Disneyana fans now look upon with such fondness. But rather, they were just trying to fix a park that was performing poorly with the public.

And the fixes continues, folks. Even today, almost 20 years after Michael Eisner came to power at Walt Disney Production, this CEO is still trying to make the place a success with a broader segment of the theme-park-going public. After all, what is "Mission: Space" -- with its centrifuge-based simulated-flight-to-Mars ride -- but a flat-out naked attempt to make the Future World section of this troubled theme park into something that will be much more appealing to teens?

And "Project Gemini?" That's really Epcot's "Hail Mary" play. The Imagineers' last-ditch effort to re-invent / re-energize / revitalize WDW's science and discovery park. Given how radically that once-ambitious plan has now been downsized, one wonders if "Project Gemini" will now even be worth the effort. Will a new version of "Soarin'" and a "Finding Nemo"-themed overlay for the "Living Seas" pavilion really be enough to make a significant number of tourists come back to Epcot?

Time will tell, Barry. But -- for now -- given that "Mission: Space" is already shaping up to be an incredibly expensive near-miss (And the Imagineers are reportedly really regretting all that pricey carpet that they laid down directly under each of the centrifuge units. Given all the "protein spills" that they're regularly having to deal with here, WDI employees in Florida are already supposedly taking bets on how long it will be before "M:S"'s carpeting gets torn out ... only to be replaced by a much-easier-to-maintain-and-clean tile floor), it's pretty safe to say that we've seen our last multi-million dollar make-over of a Future World pavilion for a while.

Even that once-ambitious "Spaceship Earth" redo -- featuring its hi-tech "Time Racers" thrill ride -- is reportedly being rethought. So -- at least for now, Barry -- you can assume that there are no "World of Motion" / "Mission: Space"-style radical redos in Epcot's future.

But -- beyond that -- Future World's future does look rather bleak.

Even though Mr. Hill says not to expect any new adjustments past Nemo, Screamscape reported this back in March:

20?? - DuPont Sponsored Attraction - Rumor - (3/16/06) Screamscape has heard a report about Disney Imagineering types taking tours of a few DuPont facilities lately. Going back to November 3rd, we posted a rumor claiming that DuPont was close to signing a deal to either take over the old Wonder of Life pavilion or to build a new attraction on the site. Sounds like things are moving forward.

Apparently WOL is now closed permantly and the pavilion is sometimes used for conferences and employee meetings. Jim Hill gives me hope that they will stop tinkering with the old rides we love. Howver, screamscape also had this to say about both pavilions.

2008/2009 - Wonders of Life / Universe of Energy Upgrade - Rumor - (3/20/06) There have been rumors for the last few years about Imagineering looking to create some new concepts for the Wonders of Life pavilion, but now we’ve heard about a blue sky plan that if approved could end up removing both the Life and Universe of Energy pavilions to create a massive new attraction. Of course… this is just a blue sky plan and I’m sure it will end up being value engineered down to just replacing one of the pavilions. If the Universe of Energy does close, we’ve heard that some of the dino figures may be transplanted over to Animal Kingdom. Add this into the rumors of DuPont possibly signing on as a major new attraction sponsor and something big could be in the works. Insiders say that we wont see any demolition until 2007.
(10/25/05) Screamscape has heard that the next big project for Epcot may be the demolition of the Wonders of Life pavilion to make way for a new attraction. Nothing is finalized yet however it seems, so they don’t know if the building can be reused for the new attraction or if they will need to just raze it and start over from scratch as they did with Mission: Space.
(10/25/05) As part of Epcot’s 25th Anniversary, we’ve been led to believe that yet another rehab to the Universe of Energy will take place. No one seems sure if this will just be another new “show” idea squeezed to fit into the existing attraction as they did when they added Ellen and Bill Nye or if they will attempt to upgrade the ride and effects from the existing ride story instead.

[slave2moonlight]

It always irks me when ANYONE refers to this park as dull, boring, whatever. I know folks are entitled to their opinion, but what it really comes down to is the fact that the park is educational (and not too concerned with thrill rides, or at least it didn't used to be). They set themselves up for a park that could never be as loved by the mass public as one full of Disney Princesses, PIXAR, and Pooh Bear. But, I'm amazed people thought it was the animatronics that the public found dull. Most people will flat out tell you that they don't care for the park because it's a lot of "learning" stuff. What's more, nothing about it was based on or related to any Disney films, which is what most people seem to want, expect, and need from a Disney park. I think the main reason EPCOT has always struggled was because most people don't want to learn while on vacation (which is sad) and people want to recognize the attractions as Disney movie/cartoon based or related. However, wants again, the folks making the decisions got the wrong impression (that the problem was a lack of public appreciation for animatronic show type rides). Basically, when building a theme park that is focused on educating people, there needs to be a general acceptance that the park will not be their biggest money maker. EPCOT was so nice because it seemed to prove that Disney was more about making something wonderful than just pleasing the fast food entertainment crowds. I still love that park, but their changes to FutureWorld are losing that feeling with their emphasis on trying to provide thrills. However, at least they're sticking with the education theme for now. And, clearly they are catching on to the idea that the public likes to relate rides to Disney films. I think their Finding Nemo theme will do wonders for "The Living Seas" and EPCOT in general. I think little adjustments like that would have been much better choices for some of the past pavilions rather than totally bulldozing them for less inspired attractions like Fast Track and Mission Space. And why they ever felt they needed to do anything to the Imagination pavilion is beyond me. I do like the Honey I Blew Up the Audience film though. They certainly couldn't have Captian Eo there nowadays (though I wish it would get a DVD release, along with the Making of Me, Cranium Command edited into a film, and maybe Harold and his Amazing Seed, in some sort of EPCOT themed DVD that could include the grand opening special with Danny Kaye too).

Anyway, I can see where the original post was going about moving attractions around to make West specifically natural sciences and East about technology. However, I don't find it altogether necessary. There aren't so many attractions in Futureworld that symmetry is that necessary, though they ARE rather far apart, so it'd be okay. Of course, they're not going to go through with completely relocating the attractions in question, so...

Anyway, as for what we're getting right now, a watered down, or slow-motion version of Project Gemini, I, too, am nervous about any change to this park that I love greatly. I'm so glad that little has been done to World Showcase. If they ever take out the American Adventure, I'll be heartbroken. Same with the two boat rides or the Japanese department store! I like that the Disney characters seem to be more present there than ever though. We met Belle in the France pavilion in 2004, and that was VERY cool! Truly, it's Futureworld that needs all the work, but I don't feel any of the changes they have made have been good there, except for the Ellen change to Universe of Energy. That ride WAS very boring before, though I still wasn't in love with it afterwards. It's the one ride I won't greatly miss, but it was a part of old-school EPCOT, so I'll miss it somewhat. Especially if it's replaced by more rides I don't care for.

It's a bit late for this, but here are some changes that I think would have boosted the park quite a bit without removing the old attractions: First, I actually think the Finding Nemo theming of Living Seas is a step in the right direction. I think that's going to turn out fantastic. I really think taking Kitchen Cabaret out of The Land was a big mistake. They should have just updated the show to deal with the Food Pyramid issue... Food Rocks was just okay. Soarin' is probably great, but I still think they should have a show of some kind there as well, preferably something like Kitchen Cabaret! I think all the attractions in FutureWorld should be within pavilions (except Spaceship Earth), and they should all have three things at least: One ride, one show or film OR dining area, and one area of hands on or demonstration "discovery." Oh, well, 4 things, because you need a themed shop too... Though I don't think it should be renamed "DiscoveryLand," even if that name might have been more appropriate for FutureWorld from the beginning. As for Journey Into Imagination, they should try their best to recreate the original Figment ride, or something like it with a modern flare... The old songs should return to FutureWorld, like "Listen to the Land," with all its lyrics. I mean the old recordings, too, not some redone version by the Disney Channel Circle of Stars. World of Motion should have been redone to have animatronics of Goofy (or the whole gang) acting out the history of transportation rather than adding the pointless Test Track. Or, they could have just done a Pixar "Cars" theme throughout the pavilion. Horizons, well, this ride was cool enough, in my opinion, but they could have put a time travel spin on it or something, especially since Time Keeper is gone now (or leaving) from Tomorrowland. Sadly, I really don't remember much about Horizons, but I know I loved it (and I remember the song and the choices you get to make at the end). Wonders of Life should have incorporated Sport Goofy quite a bit more, in my opinion. I think even just having him there might have done a lot to pick up the level of enjoyment for kids. Perhaps he was there sometimes, but I never saw him. That should have been HIS place. But, even the Incredibles might have been good for this pavilion. Universe of Energy, well, that probably was the one that should have been turned into a thrill ride, somehow, but a minor thrill ride. More thrilling in the sensory sense than anything. Not thrilling in the sense that someone who is pregnant or has a back condition, or is under a certain height, can't ride it. There should be nothing in EPCOT Center like that. Anyway, I'm just glad they decided they couldn't do anything to turn Spaceship Earth into a coaster or something because of its structure. That ride should always be as is, with just some modernization inside it. And, I guess that one already did the time machine theme, didn't it? If they made the seats more comfortable, I'd be totally fine with Spaceship Earth. It's still a fave of mine!

Anyway, after thinking about all that, I guess maybe Wonders of Life DOES need to be on the other side of FutureWorld. As for Imagination, while it could be moved to the East side, I guess it's fine where it is, when you consider that it falls in with both sides, really.

[MichaeLeah]

Thanks for your input Goofy and Slave. I think it would be great to have a thread to discuss the content of each of the pavilions some time but Slave saw more of where I was trying to go with this. I guess I should have called it sub-theming. Each side of Future World has its own sub-theme. And concerning Innoventions, I was just trying to rethink how it fits into the sub-theme. The name Communicore fit into the sub-theme of communication established on Spaceship Earth better than Innoventions.

Universe of Energy balances out The Sea but there is nothing to mirror the Wonders of Life building. I was at Epcot yesterday and would you believe the little piece of paper they hand out with showtimes still says Wonders of Life is open seasonally? Maybe they are planning on revamping it and openning it again. I don't think Wonders of Life is one of the original pavilions though. Its placement just doesn't make sense if it was one of the originals.

I think there is a big thing we have to watch out for in Future World. I got the impression from the article that is quoted by goofystitch that the person was upset about the changes in Future World because of nostalgic reasons. I think this is somewhat worrisome. If Future World becauses a place of nostalgia then it has failed to serve its purpose. At least some of it should be in continual flux. Now, I can see a person getting upset with the changes that are made but that is different then being upset with what is now missing. I hope that makes sense.

[slave2moonlight]

I think there is a way to update and still please those who love nostalgia (which most of the return visitors probably do). You want your kids, family, friends, to experience most of the same things you did and loved on your earlier visits, which is why it can be so disappointing when something has been changed to an extreme level, particularly if it feels more like a downgrade. Take something like Journey Into Imagination. Sure, they needed to update the movie, and they did, and they wanted to theme the pavilion to match, and that was okay. I like the "Imagination Institute" idea. But did they have to change the ride, ever? I don't think so. They could have just added some sort of pre-ride introduction to relate Dreamfinder to the institute. He really should have been the "founder" of the whole thing (wouldn't have to eliminate Eric Idle, who is great!). That ride has certainly never been as great as it was, and it sure didn't NEED any sort of upgrade to be relevant today. Then there's the animatronic shows at "The Land," and the songs throughout Futureworld. Okay, most are probably gone because the attractions are gone. However, that's not the case with the Land boat ride. I can't remember perfectly, but don't they just have an instrumental of "Listen to the Land" now, if even that? That was a great song and taking it out does nothing to modernize the park, while keeping it is great for those who love nostalgia. It added something to that ride, and taking it away merely... took something away from it. Well, I could keep going with examples, but this is still off topic, so...

[goofystitch]

MichaeLeah wrote:

Universe of Energy balances out The Sea but there is nothing to mirror the Wonders of Life building. I was at Epcot yesterday and would you believe the little piece of paper they hand out with showtimes still says Wonders of Life is open seasonally? Maybe they are planning on revamping it and openning it again. I don't think Wonders of Life is one of the original pavilions though. Its placement just doesn't make sense if it was one of the originals.

As far as I could remember, the Wonders of Life pavilion was always there, but I guess it wasnt'. Epcot opened in 1982 and my earliest memories of Dsiney World are from 1989. I guess the WOL pavilion was added around 1990. I think I rode Body Wars once as a kid, lost my sucker in the compartment under my seat, and got sick and puked on it. A really bad experience. I did like Cranium Command and The Making of Me, but they were never a highlight of Epcot and I won't miss them. I just wish they wouldn't take away Universe of Energy or even change it since I feel it is perfect as is and the new version isn't old enough to be updated.

Slave2moonlight wrote:

Then there's the animatronic shows at "The Land," and the songs throughout Futureworld. Okay, most are probably gone because the attractions are gone. However, that's not the case with the Land boat ride. I can't remember perfectly, but don't they just have an instrumental of "Listen to the Land" now, if even that? That was a great song and taking it out does nothing to modernize the park, while keeping it is great for those who love nostalgia. It added something to that ride, and taking it away merely... took something away from it. Well, I could keep going with examples, but this is still off topic, so...

"Listen to the Land" was replaced by another song much like the way "Tomorrow's Child" was removed from Spaceship Earth, although at least The Land got a new song and not just the removal of a song. However, listening to "Tomorrow's Child" today does show that it sounds outdated, but I still loved that song. At any rate, Disney usually plays songs from extinct attractions in the park. To me this adds salt in the wounds. When Figment was completely gone from the Imagination institiute, you could still here the tune of "One Little Spark" throughouot various parts of Future World. Thankfully the loveable dragon and the song returned to the ride, but nowhere near how great it used to be. Anyways, for the nostalgic people who miss these sorts of things, I found a website called http://www.extinctattractionsclub.com that makes DVDs as tributes to great rides of the past. They are very well made and even include interviews with the imagineers who made them! I have ordered six and am anxiously awaiting the day they arrive in the mail.

[slave2moonlight]

That sounds great! I think I have heard of that website before and I definitely want to order some of those DVDs when I can. A shame that nothing can replace actually experiencing them.

I don't know, to me, all those old EPCOT songs had a special, even eerie futurist feeling to them. I can see where they would seem dated, but can also see how they could be timeless. They were always almost creepy in a sense, songs like Tomorrow's Child and Horizons. But I loved them for that very reason. To me, they really had the feeling that FutureWorld should give, an almost creepily optimistic view of the future, ha. I wonder if they don't just seem dated because they don't play them anymore...

Anyways, that's interesting that "Listen to the Land" was replaced. For a while though, I don't think they were playing anything, or just an instrumental version perhaps. I loved the folksy sound of the old one. Not that I like folksy folk music, but, as with the other songs, it really captured the feeling of the whole pavilion for me. Or, perhaps those songs created the feelings I identify with each pavilion. Anyway, I think the positive, upbeat, but almost otherworldly take on the future that FutureWorld had in the 80s was much better than the seemingly more short-sighted view they are taking today. In fact, it doesn't even seem like they are looking towards the Future with FutureWorld now. It seems like they ARE aiming to rename the place Discoveryland. I realize they already have Tomorrowland, but that is turning more into space Fantasyland. EPCOT's Futureworld used to have the feeling that Tomorrowland SHOULD have had but never quite did during any of my visits. Oh, I like it, but EPCOT seemed like a much more realized Tomorrowland.

However, I'm glad that they play songs for old attractions in the park. To me, at the very least, it keeps their memories alive. Let's me know they aren't forcing us to forget them altogether. I also like that you can hear music from old movies in the park, and not just Disney ones. I remember hearing music from Hello Dolly around Main Street once, and I think I heard Happiest Millionaire music too (one of my top favorite Disney films).

[goofystitch]

slave2moonlight wrote:

However, I'm glad that they play songs for old attractions in the park. To me, at the very least, it keeps their memories alive. Let's me know they aren't forcing us to forget them altogether. I also like that you can hear music from old movies in the park, and not just Disney ones. I remember hearing music from Hello Dolly around Main Street once, and I think I heard Happiest Millionaire music too (one of my top favorite Disney films).

On main street they play songs from "Hello Dolly," "The Music Man," "Summer Magic," and one song from "The Happiest Millionaire" that opens the film titled "Fortuosity." In Tomorrowland, you can often hear "Now Is the Time," the song that at one point replaced "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" in the Carousel of Progress before they put the old song back in. In Frontierland, you can sometimes hear "The Great Outdoors," a song once used in a different version of The Country Bear Jamboree before they changed the line up, but at least Big Al still sings "Blood on the Sadle." I also like how in Frontierland they still play "The Ballad of Davy Crockett," seeing as that was the first big Disney film about the frontier and Fess Parker was present at opening day of Disneyland when all Frontierland was was the Mark Twain, a shooting gallery, and a place to ride miniature horses and a petting zoo. lol.

[slave2moonlight]

Yeah, the Davy Crockett song was a big hit for them when it came out, I believe. I don't think I've ever seen the version of Carousel of Progress where they played "Now is the Time," but it's possible. I love all those movies they use for Main Street songs! Especially "The Happiest Millionaire!" That's a favorite film of mine! I used to love Great Outdoors in the Jamboree too. Wasn't that from the Vacation themed show? Never seen the Christmas show, but I've seen the Vacation one and the regular one. I really loved the vacation one!