MouseStation 442 – Update It! Replace It! Change It Back! Epcot (part 2)
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Show run time 0:34:27
On today's show, Mike and Mark finish their talk about attractions at Epcot that need updating or replacing, or should be changed back to what they were before an update or replacement.
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Feature: Update It! Replace It! Change It Back! Epcot (part 2)
Mike and Mark finish their talk about attractions at Epcot that need updating or replacing, or should be changed back to what they were before an update or replacement.
Discussion picked up where we left off last time as Mike and Mark talked about Horizons (see former Imagineer George McGinnis' four-part story about the creation of the pavilion here: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4). While Mark thinks that Mission: Space is an interesting and fun attraction, this is still his #1 “Change It Back!” Mike was a bit more torn over choosing between the two.
The Wonders of Life pavilion shuttered all of its attractions to become merely the home to the Festival Center for the Flower & Garden and Food & Wine Festivals. Mark and Mike agree that this is a “replace it FAIL.” They would both like to have Wonders back.
Universe of Energy/Ellen's Energy Adventure left Mark and Mike torn. Mark likes some of the new theming, but misses the old pre-show and music. Still, regardless of what they do to it, it's still just “The 45-Minute Nap.”
El Rio del Tiempo/Gran Fiesta Tour starring The Three Caballeros (Mark slipped and called them The Three Amigos at first.) Mark thinks it's a mixed bag. Mike just thinks it's an update fail. There has been no real change to Maelstrom (read former Imagineer Paul Torrigino's four-part story about the creation of the pavilion here: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4). China's updating of its Circlevision movie probably slipped right past many guests without their realizing that it had been updated.
The American Adventure has not been changed, but the America Gardens Theater gained a roof and back during the run of “The Magical World of Barbie” show. The stage also grew quite a bit. The performance venue is much better, but it lost a bit in terms of ambiance. Japan's Bijutsu-Kan art gallery undergoes frequent refreshes of its exhibit, and so it's a mixed bag.
The France movie has only been augmented with a switch to digital projection with no changes to the film. Canada's updating of its Circlevision film was a big win, according to both Mark and Mike.
Let us know which attractions you think should be updated, replaced, or changed back!
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Mark will be spending his birthday this year walking to raise money for the March of Dimes. MousePlanet readers and MouseStation listeners have helped Mark to raise over $17,000 for the worthy charity over the last five years. This year, his goal is to raise another $4,000. You can walk with Mark, either in person or virtually, by joining Team MousePlanet and getting your friends and family to contribute! The Kid is also raising money this year. You can go to Mark's fundraising page to sponsor him, The Kid's fundraising page to sponsor him, or the Team MousePlanet page to join in and walk yourself! Help us to provide a better chance to prevent prematurity and to help those babies that are born prematurely!
Listener Feedback
Vance Cope thanked us via Twitter for leaving in our silliness at the end of the last show. He enjoys hearing us “go 101.”
Chuck wrote that he agrees 100% with our observations of changes at Epcot. Chuck worked on the installation of the ride control systems for World of Motion, Imagination and all the other rides that were running on opening day, and he was appalled to see what they have morphed into.
Bothepro24 commented on the show notes thread on the MousePad discussion forums. He would like to return to an earlier voice artist for the Spaceship Earth narration. Mark continues to forget the name of Larry Dobkin, the first narrator for the attraction.
mmorizio made it short, sweet, and to the point on the show notes thread on the MousePad discussion forums. “Lost Horizons. Want it back.” Check out Mike's curmudgeonly videos, which are published the first Tuesday of every month here on MousePlanet.
DisneyGator commented on the show notes thread on the MousePad discussion forums. They like the new version of Spaceship Earth, Mission: Space, and Imagination, and his kids love the Nemo overlay for the Seas pavilion. He does miss Imaginum as live entertainment in World Showcase.
spectromen commented on the show notes thread on the MousePad discussion forums. He liked Jeremy Irons much better than Dame Judi Dench as narrator for Spaceship Earth. He's also not impressed by the attraction's new music and new ending. He's a big fan of the new Animatronics in the attraction, though, and would love to see the same updates to the Ellen figures at Energy and all figures at the Great Movie Ride.
IllusionOfLife commented on the show notes thread on the MousePad discussion forums. They're not a big fan of the changes to Spaceship Earth, especially in narration and the ending. They're also not fond of Circle of Life the updated Imagination attraction, Captain EO, or Test Track.
StarTourist commented on the show notes thread on the MousePad discussion forums. They love Captain EO, even minus the laser effects, but would love the original Journey Into Imagination attraction to return. They also agree with Mark and Mike about the Epcot entrance “graveyard.”
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Wrapping up
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Thanks to our announcer, Andrew Rich!
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