EPCOT is one of my favorite places to go and strangely one of the ones I always walk away from wondering what could have been if maybe things had been done differently. Many of the buildings in Future World seem underutilized and the World Showcase while fascinating is more restaurants and shops than true attractions. It would be interesting to see what would have been had the original idea been implemented or if the park was still the educational destination it was when it opened. Now it has a feel of an older park where the designers aren’t sure if they should try to make more thrill rides, add more cartoon characters or just hope that what is stagnant continues to draw a crowd. (In 2011, the park hosted approximately 10.83Â million guests, making it the third most visited theme park in the United States, and sixth most visited theme park in the world.)
“EPCOT will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centers of American industry. It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed, but will always be introducing, and testing, and demonstrating new materials and new systems. And EPCOT will always be a showcase to the world of the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise.” – Walt Disney
I love the idea of an educational theme park and hope that the direction of EPCOT veers back there in the future. It is a good-sized park and the possibilities are limitless. I’d love to see new versions of World of Motion (Test Track doesn’t count), The Living Seas, Horizons and Wonders of Life. I want to believe that this is a real research facility and the future is being built where I stand. If the folks over at EPCOT would like my help I’m available for consulting or full-time work. You know where to find me.
