Comments on: Revisiting Epcot Center on its 30th Birthday http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/10/revisiting-epcot-center-on-its-30th-birthday/ A history of the future that never was Fri, 17 May 2013 21:40:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: jnutley http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/10/revisiting-epcot-center-on-its-30th-birthday/#comment-888 jnutley Fri, 12 Oct 2012 02:24:51 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=4622#comment-888 I see two things preventing Epcot from holding on to the future; Vision and Cost. The caretaker CEOs of the Disney parks have been selected for some time to be conservative guardians of the park's bottom lines. They are risk adverse and therefore opportunities to show what the future could be rapidly recede from their grasp. But suppose they were willing to take chances, how much would it cost to show what will be new in 5, 10 and 20 years time? How many will be willing to put their ideas on display and how many will rush to hide them behind non-disclosure agreements, far from any public viewing? What would you have to spend to research and successfully refurbish the World of the Future every 10 years? I suspect the cost would be much more than even a Mr. Eisner could justify to the VP of Accounting. I see two things preventing Epcot from holding on to the future; Vision and Cost. The caretaker CEOs of the Disney parks have been selected for some time to be conservative guardians of the park’s bottom lines. They are risk adverse and therefore opportunities to show what the future could be rapidly recede from their grasp. But suppose they were willing to take chances, how much would it cost to show what will be new in 5, 10 and 20 years time? How many will be willing to put their ideas on display and how many will rush to hide them behind non-disclosure agreements, far from any public viewing? What would you have to spend to research and successfully refurbish the World of the Future every 10 years? I suspect the cost would be much more than even a Mr. Eisner could justify to the VP of Accounting.

]]> By: chris murphy http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/10/revisiting-epcot-center-on-its-30th-birthday/#comment-873 chris murphy Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:57:07 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=4622#comment-873 ....Epcot was a vision of the future from the past........And that's pretty sad. I am a Brit with partner, two kids. Went a few times, but it's rammed solidly in the past. Lack of investment I reckon. Shocked at "is the third most visited theme park in the United States". Can't be right, but if true perhaps it's why you are no longer a leader in pretty much anything ….Epcot was a vision of the future from the past……..And that’s pretty sad. I am a Brit with partner, two kids. Went a few times, but it’s rammed solidly in the past. Lack of investment I reckon. Shocked at “is the third most visited theme park in the United States”. Can’t be right, but if true perhaps it’s why you are no longer a leader in pretty much anything

]]> By: Max Power http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2012/10/revisiting-epcot-center-on-its-30th-birthday/#comment-854 Max Power Thu, 04 Oct 2012 02:19:15 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=4622#comment-854 Nate and Matt at WEDWay Radio put the evolution of EPCOT Center pretty well: "In our assessment Epcot has transformed from a park that is centered around science and technology to a park that is used to celebrate anniversaries and events." http://wedwayradio.squarespace.com/sn/2012/9/27/epcots-next-chapter-30-years-of-discovery-show-notes-for-epi.html A couple of pieces of trivia: EPCOT (the city) was closely related to Progress City. Walt's model of it was seen on the second floor of Carousel of Progress at Disneyland (a small piece of it remains along the PeopleMover track at the Magic Kingdom). Disney's plans with the Imagineers included both the futuristic industrial park and the foreign shopping district. Marty Sklar and John Hench reportedly built models of each and pushed them together for an executive briefing, and EPCOT Center's design was born. http://progresscityusa.com/2010/04/20/epcot-origins-1977-master-plan-5/ Nate and Matt at WEDWay Radio put the evolution of EPCOT Center pretty well: “In our assessment Epcot has transformed from a park that is centered around science and technology to a park that is used to celebrate anniversaries and events.”
http://wedwayradio.squarespace.com/sn/2012/9/27/epcots-next-chapter-30-years-of-discovery-show-notes-for-epi.html

A couple of pieces of trivia: EPCOT (the city) was closely related to Progress City. Walt’s model of it was seen on the second floor of Carousel of Progress at Disneyland (a small piece of it remains along the PeopleMover track at the Magic Kingdom). Disney’s plans with the Imagineers included both the futuristic industrial park and the foreign shopping district. Marty Sklar and John Hench reportedly built models of each and pushed them together for an executive briefing, and EPCOT Center’s design was born.
http://progresscityusa.com/2010/04/20/epcot-origins-1977-master-plan-5/

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