Yesterday, EPCOT’s 37th anniversary, marked the opening of the EPCOT Experience preview pavilion and the new stand-in fireworks show, EPCOT Forever. We already knew major changes were coming to the park over the next few years. While for the most part these changes are overwhelmingly good – everything described in the preview pavilion is exciting and positive – that fireworks show… well… they can’t all be winners.
EPCOT Experience
Located in the Odyssey Pavilion, this exhibit showcases the many, many changes coming to the park. Much like its D23 counterpart, the exhibit featured posters, a circle vision screen, and a projection mapped, representative model of EPCOT and its pavilions.
The central show featuring the projection mapped model and circle vision screen lasts a little over 12 minutes. It gives an overview of each change beginning with the complete renovation of Future World, new additions to the World Showcase, and ending with the new firework spectacular. The movie and model projections are beautiful, and it’s a really entertaining show. Watch the entire presentation in the movie below.
A few random observations about the show:
- The Ratatouille portion of the video includes actual scenes from the ride. (I rode it in Disneyland Paris last month.)
- I was surprised no details were revealed for the Mary Poppins attraction. We really still don’t know whether this will be a show, ride, movie, or something else altogether.
- If you’ve ridden Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout you noticed that the Rocket portion of the video had a very similar feel. Obviously, Mission Breakout and Cosmic Rewind are much different ride systems, but it makes me wonder if the rides will have any similarities beyond a shared IP.
- I learned this pavilion will continue to change as more details and new attractions are announced.
- The EPCOT model is the exact same one used at D23.
Elsewhere in the Odyssey, you’ll find display units showcasing upcoming attractions, like Ratatouille, Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind, Mary Poppins, and the as yet unnamed World Celebration Pavilion. There are four different Photo Pass backgrounds featuring the same four attractions, and the requisite bar (because, you know… EPCOT).
EPCOT Forever
Oh boy… Ok I’ll start with the beginning…
EPCOT Forever is kind of like a nostalgic review of the park’s past and present. It begins with a classic – “One Little Spark” from the Imagination ride. But instead of Figment or the Dreamfinder, a child sings it. Don’t get me wrong, a talented child sings it, but doesn’t that kind of ruin the nostalgic feel a little bit? It did for me.
There are other classic songs as well, such as “Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit” and a piece of the “Tapestry of Nations” music. Honestly, none of them really struck a chord with me, even though I know that’s what they were attempting to do. It’s not like I’m a super young person that doesn’t remember this stuff. I have childhood memories of choosing my future on Horizons and wondering how anyone thought a triangle could be a wheel on the World of Motion. But these songs just didn’t resonate.
Instead of the globe, EPCOT Forever features kites flown around the lagoon during certain numbers (including Soarin’ music). This is a pretty stunning visual- even if it’s less impressive than a giant globe opening to reveal a torch.
I also enjoyed the Walt Disney quotes about EPCOT that were woven into the soundtrack. I know these are being criticized as they reflect Walt Disney’s original vision (which is nothing like its current state), but I still enjoyed the reminder of the man who created it all. And even though EPCOT was conceptually supposed to be a city, wasn’t the core vision an evolving entity that reflected positive visions for the future? It may not be what Walt planned, but I say it still captures his heart.
But… then there’s the finale when they decided to celebrate the coming changes by playing “A Whole New World.” Yep… that’s right… “A Whole New World.” I understand that EPCOT needs to be Disney-fied, but this felt out of place. Either IP needs to be woven into the entire show, or the show needs to be free of IP – you can’t spend the entire show celebrating attractions and then drop Aladdin in there.
Overall, I was bored during much of the show, and I’m very glad this is just a placeholder. HarmoniUS may be a horrible name, but from the little we saw in the EPCOT Experience, it will be a much better show.
Here’s a full video of the fireworks show from the official Disney Parks Live channel. You have to fast forward through some commentary, but it’s a great, unobstructed view.
I’d love to hear some of your thoughts. Do agree or disagree with my views on EPCOT Forever? What did you think of the EPCOT Experience, and will Rocket serenade us with handpicked tunes like he does in California?
