horizons1 wrote:I think the hardest part for me is seeing all the changes lined up like this in a list.
You said it. It's the reason I don't really have any interest in going back to Epcot, except maybe to walk around and soak up the atmosphere that hasn't yet been killed off. Going
in to see the attractions would just raise my blood pressure unnecessarily.
I still haven't voted, but based solely on the original question, as Beamer points out, I'm tempted to vote for either Imagination or the Living Seas, because those would both be presentable attractions in their old form (assuming due maintenance).
I feel like being pretty geeky (as if that's something new!), so I'm going to do a little math to analyze the largest gap between previous and existing incarnations...
Ranking the attraction on a sliding scale (10 for a home run attraction, 5 for abject neutrality, and 0 for an insulting turd), here's what I've come up with...
(The first line is the score for the original attraction, the second for the update.)
Imagination:
10 for a combination of perfect theming and solid entertainment/visuals, cool usage of tech in the play area (especially the kickass percussive floor room), and the genesis of a great character
0 for lame visuals, lack of fun, and a message that directly contrasts with the point of the entire pavilion (and Disney itself)
Difference: 10 out of 10. I think we might have our winner already.
Energy:
7 for the awesome dinosaur scene, and an earnest but boring and otherwise lacking examination of the issue
1 for neutering the best part, the replacement of lame films with aggressively annoying films, a continued lack of addressing the actual issue, and (the killer) the insulting celebration of stupidity and ignorance that flies in the face of Future World
Difference: 6. Bad, but not the worst.
Seas:
9 for brilliant theming, hard science, a great intro film, and the triumph of the aquarium itself. Doesn't get a 10 because the ride was pointless.
2 for stupidifying the experience and needless character creep. At least the ride is pleasant (although misplaced), Crush has cool tech (but is intellectually vacant), and they didn't nuke the aquarium.
Difference: 7. I guess this is sort of working, because I'm slightly angrier about the Seas.
Motion:
8 for a solid AA attraction that succeeds at all levels, plus an interesting and worthwhile collection of oddities at the end. Didn't soar, but didn't fail in any serious respect, except for the shameless promotion of the internal combustion engine in an otherwise entertaining show.
2 for a boring, brainless, and completely wrongheaded attraction. But it goes fast, so yay.
Difference: 6 again. This seems to be kinda-sorta working.
Mexico:
7 for loopy good fun, although not the most culturally respectful thing imaginable.
2 for pointless character creep, boring recycling of the plot point, excessive use of "screens", and (seemingly impossibly) an even more culturally insensitive tone. Some points left for saving the volcano scene.
Difference: 5. OK, I'll buy that.
Hmm...running out of steam (and spare time) to finish the list, but I'm posting what I've got so far for the sake of discussion. Also the amount of disgust I have for the various replacements is a bit fluid, so I am open to lobbying from anyone, including myself tomorrow when I re-read this.
Figment is far and away the leader and the best I can hope for is a tie, but I see at least one down the list that might give the same 10-0 split.
