EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

[Mr. Eggz]

Walt Disney World just turned 35 and the Walt Disney Company didn't do anything. If you want the Company to acknowledge Epcot's 25th, now is the time to let them know. Write them and tell them. It's too late for a full-blown celebration a la WDW's 25th or Disneyland's 50th, but there is still time to create something of value.

Local SoCal Disneyland fans have had a real impact--improving the quality of the Disneyland experience. Company executives consider Disneyland fans a force to be reckoned with. But WDW is thought of as a place for tourists who don't care about freshly painted buildings, clean streets or important historical touchstones like Epcot's 25th. Let them know they are missing the boat. Let them know they can have it all--millions of international tourists and a strong domestic fan base (more $$$) if they just paid a little more attention to the quality standards that Disney itself established.

Write and let them know Epcot matters to you and you want a 25th celebration (assuming of course you do want one). In other words, let them know you will come and spend money if there is a QUALITY 25th celebration.

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040
[email protected]


Robert Iger
President & Chief Executive Officer
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4873


Jay Rasulo
Chairman
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4873


Jim Hunt
Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4873


Al Weiss
President, Worldwide Opperations
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts

PO Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830


Meg Crofton
President
Walt Disney World Resort
PO Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

[WDW1974]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

I wouldn't waste your time with letters ... emails and phone calls are MUCH better. It angers the execs so because it is company policy that they respond.

Guest relations is a joke as it is there to keep you from getting anywhere.

I'd try [email protected] to start ... she is the new prez and all ;-)

[Ghostbuster626]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

Will you guys seriously email and call? because I am going to send an email

[beamer06]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

heck yes, i'm emailing. EPCOT, happy 25th!

[MickeyMania]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

Local SoCal Disneyland fans have had a real impact--improving the quality of the Disneyland experience. Company executives consider Disneyland fans a force to be reckoned with. But WDW is thought of as a place for tourists who don't care about freshly painted buildings, clean streets or important historical touchstones like Epcot's 25th.

Uhm, actually, Disneyland hit the skids once it resigned itself from being a national tourist destination, gave it's flagship title to the MK, and became a little regional park that depends on APs and local discounts to get by. SoCal hardcores like our MiceChatter APs are not much more than a pest to management, because as much as people here complain about DL none of them will ever stop going back or not renew their APs. Curiously, even though the park was getting worse each and every year until 2004, the number of APs continued to go up each and every year, so no matter how bad the park gets the SoCal hard-cores will keep coming back, and the managers know it.

In fact, the much-hated Pressler changes occured at the same time that the AP program exploded. When Disneyland didn't promote yearly admissions and most of it's visitors were from Anytown USA and countries around the world, it was a lot better off than it has been in decades.

To me, WDW is partly refreshing just because it DOESN'T have a big local fanbase that loves the place to death and goes there al lthe time. Ever try riding the Haunted Mansion with a dozen guys who want to prove that they know more about Disney than you? It's annoying hearing the narration spiel being read off by 10 voices at once.

[WDW1974]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

While APers/regulars can be a pain in the a$$ ... they are also passionate about the parks and feel a sense of ownership. While that can be bad ... like when they know the ins and outs so they can take advantage of the system, it also keeps Disney (and in Tokyo, the OLC) on its toes.

At WDW, they take advantage of the fact they don't have as strong and large and vocal fanbase to WalMart the product at every opportunity.

All in all, I'd much rather have to shhhh a bunch of idiots reciting the Ghost Host's naration in the Mansion (which I have done in both DL and MK), than have a park in which the attractions and infrastructure are falling apart due to neglect.

[Mr. Eggz]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

Uhm, actually...

Only on the internet would someone assume a call to action was a solicitation for his/her opinion. I realize that many threads do in fact solicit opinions from the community, but many do not--including this one. Imagine for a moment the exchange between myself and MickeyMania was verbal. I speak to a group of people about contacting WDW about Epcot’s 25th and Mania says, “Uhm, actually, Disneyland hit the skids once it resigned itself from being a national tourist destination, gave it's flagship title to the MK, and became a little regional park that depends on APs and local discounts to get by.”

The word “rude” does not cover it alone. I would also have to add the phrase “socially awkward.” What kind of person says this?

I didn’t expect this thread to turn into an argument; I expected it to be a very positive thing, but since some people don’t know how to use the internet any other way, and I was quoted directly, I feel compelled to respond. So, here goes...

Mania, just so you know, I’ve been around Disney my whole life. I worked for the company (both coasts) for 10 years, and my parents worked for the company before I did. I could drop names, but that’s tacky. You are the first person I’ve ever heard state that Disneyland “hit the skids” in 1971. I’m betting you weren’t born in 1971, and I don’t really think you have a leg to stand on with that argument, but in the perfectly democratic world of the internet your opinion is just as valid as any one else's (heck, some people hold the opinion that the human race came from aliens who will some day return during the appocolypse to rescue us...valid, all valid). Good luck in finding a credible source that agrees with you on the Disneyland crapfest the occurred in October of ‘71. Personally, I think it would be easier to find some to agree to the alien thing.

Dr. Mania stated: “Curiously, even though the park was getting worse each and every year until 2004, the number of APs continued to go up each and every year, so no matter how bad the park gets the SoCal hard-cores will keep coming back, and the managers know it.”

Uhm, actually, this is not relative to my statement...

"Local SoCal Disneyland fans have had a real impact--improving the quality of the Disneyland experience. Company executives consider Disneyland fans a force to be reckoned with. But WDW is thought of as a place for tourists who don't care about freshly painted buildings, clean streets or important historical touchstones like Epcot's 25th."

...which I assume, you were attempting to rebuff.

Because you see, I was not addressing AP attendance. I was actually addressing press/public relations. Please note, the world is not two-dimensional, nor is business. I was talking about Public Relations and Press and Publicity departments. They do not care what the managers care about, they do care about (oddly enough) public relations and press and publicity. Yes, Disney does care about that. If you don’t think the efforts of folks like Al Lutz and the guys behind SaveDisney directly affected the maintenance of Disneyland, and if you don’t think that the LA Times and Orlando Sentinel watch Disney web sites for story tips, I will not try to convince you otherwise.

But I will advise you not to buy a Rolex from the guy in a trench coat on 5th Avenue.

it’s fake...no really it is!

I’m just trying to help.

If anyone other than the MickeyManiac finds this post rude, please accept my appolgies and feel free to block me in the future. But I don't post that often, so you don't have much to worry about.

[eeyore'snumber1fan]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

To me, WDW is partly refreshing just because it DOESN'T have a big local fanbase that loves the place to death and goes there al lthe time. Ever try riding the Haunted Mansion with a dozen guys who want to prove that they know more about Disney than you? It's annoying hearing the narration spiel being read off by 10 voices at once.

umm WDW has a huge local fan base. there are just more parks to go to so we spread it out. I bet if you looked you would be surpirsed to find that orlando's ap rate is larger than anaheims.

[MickeyMania]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

All in all, I'd much rather have to shhhh a bunch of idiots reciting the Ghost Host's naration in the Mansion (which I have done in both DL and MK), than have a park in which the attractions and infrastructure are falling apart due to neglect.

I don't think one is necessary for the other, though. Like I said, the rise in local attendance actually began with the decline in quality at DL.

[barfownz]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

I sent a letter to Igar, and he responded...with an autograph photo too!

[Speedway]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

I sent a letter to Igar, and he responded...with an autograph photo too!

Alright then.
We tend to be quite a skeptical crowd here at MiceChat... when I say skeptical, I mean... not a bunch of fools.
Just saying.

[MickeyMania]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

Only on the internet would someone assume a call to action was a solicitation for his/her opinion.

What in the heck is this message board for but opinions, anyway?

I speak to a group of people about contacting WDW about Epcot’s 25th and Mania says

You were trying to use Disneyland to make a POINT and I said that point is completely bogus. When the local customer base exploded, the park's quality standards fell and have never fully recovered.

You are the first person I’ve ever heard state that Disneyland “hit the skids” in 1971.

Hello? Did you not see where I mentioned PRESSLER? No, things were all well and good in 71, around the early 80s DL began to fall apart in ways it never did under Pressler, but all was well for a number of years after DL opened. I think it was probably around the time that Epcot became the most expensive project the company had ever tried, that the parks budget, especially for DL, fell to pieces and that's why maintenance was so shabby during that time. But things picked up again from about 1986 to 1994.

That said, I put up with enough pressure in real life to not listen to insults from a stranger who didn't even understand what I was saying.

[Guy Hutchinson]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

I sent them an email asking that they dress Spaceship Earth up as a giant birthday cake.

[captsmith84]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

I sent them an email asking them to never hire Sweetie into Special Events Planning.

[Jerren]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

I sent them an email asking them to never hire Sweetie into Special Events Planning.

Amen!

[kcnole]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

It's too late for a full-blown celebration a la WDW's 25th or Disneyland's 50th, but there is still time to create something of value.

Disneyland's 50th? Yeah, but it doesn't deserve the worldwide treatment of Disneyland's 50th. Too late for something like MK's 25th? No, we've still got a year and there's lots of rumors that things actually will happen they're just not being announced or leaked yet because they're really pushing the year of a million dreams right now. Notice that this celebration will conveniently end just in time for Epcot's 25th to begin.

I'm optimistic that something is planned, not on a worldwide scale, but then again, I don't want it to be.

[Cmash95]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

the year of a million dreams lasts until dec 2007. I doubt there will be any big push for epcot's 25. there hasn't been any big celebration for other park anniversaries, just the anniversaries for the entire resort. and this year they conviniently forgot the 35th. but then it would be hard to celebrate the 50th of one park and then run right into the 35th of the other. could be a bit confusing especially with the ads that suggested WDW was celebrating it's 50th. whoever heads disney marketing really should be canned. those commercials could have placed the company in trouble for false advertising,

[kcnole]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

I'm still willing to send letters however, here is the one I have crafted to send.

My name is Kevin Carter and I am a huge fan of the Walt Disney World resort and most of all, of EPCOT Center itself. I visited Epcot shortly after it opened as a young child and my mind soared with the visions of the future. It truly was as magical as anything the Magic Kingdom offered and quickly became my favorite park. Even with the loss of such wonderful rides as Horizons and World of Motion, Epcot is still the number one theme park in America to me. It's mixture of optimism for our future and its message of global unity is something that has stuck with me for all of my life.

The 25th is coming up next year just as the Year of a Million Dreams is set to end. It is my most ardent desire that Epcot receive the celebration that she is so deserving of. There is no building more iconic to me than the form of Space Ship Earth, no area more beautiful to me than the countrys around the lagoon, and nothing more fascinating than the vision of a great tomorrow that Epcot Center strives to give its guests each and every day.

I am truly delighted with the tlc that Epcot has seen as of late with the addition of Test Track and Soarin', the reworking of Mission Space to make it enjoyable to all guests, and the upcoming Living Seas with Nemo ride which is due to open this month. I do sincerely hope that it does not end there however. Please let the fans of Epcot have a year to celebrate the wonderful 25 years that Epcot has given all of us. Even if we are not able to receive a new country to the World Showcase or a functioning Wonders of Life pavilion, a celebration worthy of the magnitude of Walt's ultimate dream of Epcot is all that I ask. That we take the time to remember and celebrate the dream of Walt's life, of his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. And even though Epcot as we know it is not exactly as Walt had invisioned, it still stands as a wonderful monument to Walt's revolutionary vision and I would hope that it would not be overlooked during its monumental anniversary, it's 25th birthday.

[Guy Hutchinson]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

I sent them an email asking them to never hire Sweetie into Special Events Planning.

Shoot! Maybe you would like my cake idea better if we stuck a giant Sorcerer's hat in front of it. What'dya think?

[kcnole]

Re: EPCOT Center turns 25 in one year!

no it needs to have a piece of exploded mickey on it somewhere. His hands already on SSE, his ears on the tower, his hat in MGM, so maybe an exploded nose on top like a big ole cherry.