[Question] After the Test Track redo

[LordVader]

We all know that Disney and Chevy have been putting alot into the new Test Track refurb. I was wondering that if the new Test Track is a success, will Disney start giving attractions in EPCOT the attention it deserves. For example; Ellen needs to be evicted from Energy, Dreamfinder must return to Imagination, and something must be done with the Wonders of Life building.


I thought this because of the organizational shuffle that recently occured withen WED oops, sorry WDI. Glendale sent Kathy (insert last name here) to Orlando to keep an eye on TDO.

I would like to hear your opinions, will EPCOT see change for the better? Or will it stay a Duffy merch central and offer nothing but World Showcase and its booze?

[PerrySimon]

Re: After the Test Track redo

Lets hope they restore the Imagination Pavilion, update the Universe of Energy show, rid Nemo from The Seas, and do something to the Wonders of Life pavilion but don't get your hopes up on any of these until they actually start the project. By the way, Duffy is the stupidest idea for the World Showcase.

[ohmyjustin]

Re: After the Test Track redo

Ellen is the only reason I watched the Universe of Energy show.

[SparkChaser]

Re: After the Test Track redo

By the way, Duffy is the stupidest idea for the World Showcase.

I beg to differ, look up "The Magical World of Barbie" and get back to me

See ya walkin' right down the middle o'l Main Street USA

[DancinBelle]

Re: After the Test Track redo

It would be great to see more love for Future World, but the only reason we're getting the Test Track refurb is because someone else is paying for it. If the other pavilions had sponsors who actually cared, we might see good stuff happen, but it's a long shot. HP has been talking about pulling their sponsorship from Mission: Space for quite a while.

[Bronco21]

Re: After the Test Track redo

I'm honestly suprised that EPCOT has any sponsors anymore... I'll be suprised if Test Track doesn't have a very blatant advertisement for Chevy at the end since otherwise it makes no sense for most companies to sponsor stuff these days.

If anything happens to EPCOT it will probably involve a Disney character based on their recent additions to the parks in the US.

[mickdaddy]

Re: After the Test Track redo

In this age a sponsorship just becomes a comercial for the sponser I wish Disney would get rid of all of them and just make quality attractions without the product placement. I am sure they make enough money to put some back in to the park (i know they don't)

[PSUMark]

Re: After the Test Track redo

It would be great to see more love for Future World, but the only reason we're getting the Test Track refurb is because someone else is paying for it. If the other pavilions had sponsors who actually cared, we might see good stuff happen, but it's a long shot. HP has been talking about pulling their sponsorship from Mission: Space for quite a while.

This. Don't get your hopes up, kids. TDO still doesn't like/understand/care about/know what to do with Future World at all. Chances of TDO investing any serious cash into Future World absent sponsorship are somewhere between slim to none.

[Santana]

Re: After the Test Track redo

Lets hope they restore the Imagination Pavilion, update the Universe of Energy show, rid Nemo from The Seas, and do something to the Wonders of Life pavilion but don't get your hopes up on any of these until they actually start the project. By the way, Duffy is the stupidest idea for the World Showcase.

I get that a lot of people on MiceChat hate the Nemo overlay in The Seas pavilion but expecting it to ever be removed isn't just getting your hopes up, it's incredibly delusional.

I think an update for Universe of Energy isn't far off. They just put in a new ride vehicle a few months ago, so replacing the rest of the ride vehicles and putting in a new film seems like a relatively cheap and easy solution for repairing a horribly dated attraction.

And call me crazy, but I think we'd see the Imagination pavilion gutted and turned into an E-ticket before Dreamfinder would ever make a return. Wonders of Life would probably be completely demolished and replaced with an E-ticket as well.

[PerrySimon]

Re: After the Test Track redo

That is true.

[WDW1971]

Re: After the Test Track redo

I am thinking that Imagination Pavilion will suffer the same fate as Horizons and World of Motion and get gutted and turned into a major E Ticket ride.

Epcot has been having a lot of changes being done to it in the past couple of years. There has not really been a period of no changes for the park recently. It would be amazing if they added a new World Showcase pavilion but if they do I am guessing they would need to build some thrill ride so they can get big publicity and lure guests in. Guests won't come for a new ride like Pirates or American Adventure anymore unfortunately. They only come for massive thrill rides or character tie ins.

[Disneytwins]

Re: After the Test Track redo

I'm also betting on the demo of Imagination. I'm not really going to cry about it. It's outstayed it's usefulness.

[Dapper Dan]

Re: After the Test Track redo

I am thinking that Imagination Pavilion will suffer the same fate as Horizons and World of Motion and get gutted and turned into a major E Ticket ride.

Horizons and Imagination were major E Ticket rides.

It would be amazing if they added a new World Showcase pavilion but if they do I am guessing they would need to build some thrill ride so they can get big publicity and lure guests in.

Why are thrill rides the only things that can get big publicity? If that's the only thing their marketing department knows how to promote, they need to get a new marketing department.

Guests won't come for a new ride like Pirates or American Adventure anymore unfortunately. They only come for massive thrill rides or character tie ins.

Where is there any evidence of this? Are there any examples of a new E Ticket dark ride not drawing crowds? Those types of rides just aren't built anymore, but it's not because they aren't popular. Not everyone wants big thrills all the time, and those that do have Six Flags or any number of other roller coaster parks.

[LordVader]

Re: After the Test Track redo

Why does every attraction need some stupid character tie-in. I mean if the attraction is based on some movie, it's fine. However, when the attraction had absolutly no characters and then they add a character, ala Tiki Room UNM(thank god for that fire), and Pirates(this one not as big an issue to me, but to each his own) just to boost attendance for about 2 weeks or less. Why bother??

[PSUMark]

Re: After the Test Track redo

Guests won't come for a new ride like Pirates or American Adventure anymore unfortunately. They only come for massive thrill rides or character tie ins.

I don't believe this is true, and the fact that Disney tried to boost attendance at DAK with something as paltry as TriceraTop Spin would seem to suggest that they don't either. Guests come for all different reasons, but I would argue that quality is chief among them.

[WDW1971]

Re: After the Test Track redo

Why are thrill rides the only things that can get big publicity? If that's the only thing their marketing department knows how to promote, they need to get a new marketing department.


Where is there any evidence of this? Are there any examples of a new E Ticket dark ride not drawing crowds? Those types of rides just aren't built anymore, but it's not because they aren't popular. Not everyone wants big thrills all the time, and those that do have Six Flags or any number of other roller coaster parks.

First off, do not be rude.

Secondly, can you tell me any rides that have recently debuted without a character tie in or thrill ride on both coasts? Besides the Red Car Trolley, I cannot think of anything new that was not a character tie in or thrill ride.

Star Tours, Expedition Everest, Mission: SPACE, Test Track, Toy Story Mania, Little Mermaid - all of these are character rides and thrill rides.

Maybe it is not the public, and not only TDO as you stated, but it is the WDC in general who does not have faith in building rides like POTC anymore.

[clockworkmonkey]

Re: After the Test Track redo

Did the addition to Soarin' in Epcot help attendance? It's certainly a popular ride that I wouldn't call a thrill ride, and despite a brief appearance by a certain fairy, it's not character-based.

[disneyfann121]

Re: After the Test Track redo

I've got another question: why does a monolithic, multi-billion dollar corporation like Disney even need corporate sponsors for their rides? Last time I checked, they were still raking in tons of $$$ from park tickets, food/souvenir sales, on-site hotels, etc.

[LordVader]

Re: After the Test Track redo

I've got another question: why does a monolithic, multi-billion dollar corporation like Disney even need corporate sponsors for their rides? Last time I checked, they were still raking in tons of $$$ from park tickets, food/souvenir sales, on-site hotels, etc.

So they don't have to budget the upkeep for the attraction. When GE dropped thier Horizons sponsership in 93', it was closed. When World of Motion closed to become Test Track and Energy to become Ellen, they re-opened it for capacity issues, with little to no upkeep.

Because of lack of sponsership, Eric Idle still roams Imagination, Energy is uninteresting, and Nemo is lifesupport for the Living Seas.

[disneyfann121]

Re: After the Test Track redo

So they don't have to budget the upkeep for the attraction. When GE dropped thier Horizons sponsership in 93', it was closed. When World of Motion closed to become Test Track and Energy to become Ellen, they re-opened it for capacity issues, with little to no upkeep.

Because of lack of sponsership, Eric Idle still roams Imagination, Energy is uninteresting, and Nemo is lifesupport for the Living Seas.

Sure, I can see why they would want a sponsor. My question was why do they NEED one. And obviously, the answer is that they don't. And when a sponsor doesn't step up, then sometimes Disney just decides to let their guests down. Is that acceptable?