Refurb current rides or add new ones?

[Future Guy]

I think there needs to be a balance. If you don't have the money to maintain the stuff you have, then you shouldn't build more stuff. Sadly, the corporate desire to wring more and more and more money out of the parks has kind of overridden all other concerns. As a result, maintenance and upgrades are really haphazard. Haunted Mansion gets plenty of love, Pirates got an upgrade, and Pooh got an interactive queue, but EPCOT's Imagination pavilion is in the toilet, most of the effects on AK's Dinosaur have been turned off, and Peter Pan's Flight is looking more like a cheap carnival ride all the time.

[theBIGyowski]

I think there needs to be a balance. If you don't have the money to maintain the stuff you have, then you shouldn't build more stuff. Sadly, the corporate desire to wring more and more and more money out of the parks has kind of overridden all other concerns. As a result, maintenance and upgrades are really haphazard. Haunted Mansion gets plenty of love, Pirates got an upgrade, and Pooh got an interactive queue, but EPCOT's Imagination pavilion is in the toilet, most of the effects on AK's Dinosaur have been turned off, and Peter Pan's Flight is looking more like a cheap carnival ride all the time.

Don't forget the entire Innoventions area. DW and I use it as an air-conditioned bathroom area...and that is it. Like you and others on here...I remember when it was the coolest place in Future World and there was always plenty of new things to experience on every trip.

Sometimes I do wonder if there is a strategy out there for maintaining the new attractions to keep them up to par...and even plussed. Sure...Imagineering is involved when they come up with and create the new attractions...but what about when these same attractions are 1, 3, 4, 10 years old? I want to say that kind of thing was standard when you had sponsors pulling from their pockets to keep these attractions up and running...but when TDO is in charge...things really get run down.

I am scared that The Land pavilion will start to suffer (maybe it already is) because they have no title sponsor any longer. I'm not saying Kodak did a great job with the Imagination pavilion...but now without a sponsor...there is no real vision. I assume that until the economy rebounds we won't see any big name sponsors swooping in and funding the things needed to breathe life back into Future World.

[Wizzard419]

I think there needs to be a balance. If you don't have the money to maintain the stuff you have, then you shouldn't build more stuff. Sadly, the corporate desire to wring more and more and more money out of the parks has kind of overridden all other concerns...

That's kind of the core principal that the parks (and every for-profit venture) are built on, to make as high an ROI as possible.

[lonepalm]

I think there needs to be a balance. If you don't have the money to maintain the stuff you have, then you shouldn't build more stuff. Sadly, the corporate desire to wring more and more and more money out of the parks has kind of overridden all other concerns. As a result, maintenance and upgrades are really haphazard. Haunted Mansion gets plenty of love, Pirates got an upgrade, and Pooh got an interactive queue, but EPCOT's Imagination pavilion is in the toilet, most of the effects on AK's Dinosaur have been turned off, and Peter Pan's Flight is looking more like a cheap carnival ride all the time.

Don't forget the entire Innoventions area. DW and I use it as an air-conditioned bathroom area...and that is it. Like you and others on here...I remember when it was the coolest place in Future World and there was always plenty of new things to experience on every trip.

Sometimes I do wonder if there is a strategy out there for maintaining the new attractions to keep them up to par...and even plussed. Sure...Imagineering is involved when they come up with and create the new attractions...but what about when these same attractions are 1, 3, 4, 10 years old? I want to say that kind of thing was standard when you had sponsors pulling from their pockets to keep these attractions up and running...but when TDO is in charge...things really get run down.

I am scared that The Land pavilion will start to suffer (maybe it already is) because they have no title sponsor any longer. I'm not saying Kodak did a great job with the Imagination pavilion...but now without a sponsor...there is no real vision. I assume that until the economy rebounds we won't see any big name sponsors swooping in and funding the things needed to breathe life back into Future World.

Great post. I agree 100%.

[Wizzard419]

I am scared that The Land pavilion will start to suffer (maybe it already is) because they have no title sponsor any longer. I'm not saying Kodak did a great job with the Imagination pavilion...but now without a sponsor...there is no real vision. I assume that until the economy rebounds we won't see any big name sponsors swooping in and funding the things needed to breathe life back into Future World.

I think that the days of corporate sponsorship for theme park rides/areas are fading away. The popular/present marketing techniques of today are a lot different than in the 50's or even the 80's. The audience is considerably smaller than other methods since the only people that see it are people who paid money to get into the park to begin with.

[Future Guy]

I think there needs to be a balance. If you don't have the money to maintain the stuff you have, then you shouldn't build more stuff. Sadly, the corporate desire to wring more and more and more money out of the parks has kind of overridden all other concerns. As a result, maintenance and upgrades are really haphazard. Haunted Mansion gets plenty of love, Pirates got an upgrade, and Pooh got an interactive queue, but EPCOT's Imagination pavilion is in the toilet, most of the effects on AK's Dinosaur have been turned off, and Peter Pan's Flight is looking more like a cheap carnival ride all the time.

Don't forget the entire Innoventions area. DW and I use it as an air-conditioned bathroom area...and that is it. Like you and others on here...I remember when it was the coolest place in Future World and there was always plenty of new things to experience on every trip.

Sometimes I do wonder if there is a strategy out there for maintaining the new attractions to keep them up to par...and even plussed. Sure...Imagineering is involved when they come up with and create the new attractions...but what about when these same attractions are 1, 3, 4, 10 years old? I want to say that kind of thing was standard when you had sponsors pulling from their pockets to keep these attractions up and running...but when TDO is in charge...things really get run down.

I am scared that The Land pavilion will start to suffer (maybe it already is) because they have no title sponsor any longer. I'm not saying Kodak did a great job with the Imagination pavilion...but now without a sponsor...there is no real vision. I assume that until the economy rebounds we won't see any big name sponsors swooping in and funding the things needed to breathe life back into Future World.

Well, I didn't want to go down the whole list I think The Land is okay because it has two popular things: Soarin' and the Behind the Seeds tour. Just about everybody who goes to EPCOT in a given day ends up in The Land at some point thanks to Soarin', and that puts more pressure on TDO to keep it up. The Imagination pavilion doesn't have anything that anyone wants to do so it's always deserted, and since it has no sponsor Disney has no real impetus to maintain it.

[Wizzard419]

I'm not sure if the tour is that big a draw, it is a paid tour right? So hopefully they make enough to cover the cost of tour guides and the desk people.

[mindflipper]

I'm not sure if the tour is that big a draw, it is a paid tour right? So hopefully they make enough to cover the cost of tour guides and the desk people.

When I did a long time ago, it was not a paid tour (unless that's changed in the past few years), but the number of people who can go on the tour is limited.

[proudcanuck]

I think it would be better for them to update the dated rides that seem a bit too old. This way you can hold on to a bit of the tradition (and memories).

[Amy]

I'm not sure if the tour is that big a draw, it is a paid tour right? So hopefully they make enough to cover the cost of tour guides and the desk people.

When I did a long time ago, it was not a paid tour (unless that's changed in the past few years), but the number of people who can go on the tour is limited.

I think it has been a paid tour for many years now, but the cost is quite reasonable...this is from the Disney tour website...

The Behind the Seeds at Epcot tour offers a one-hour indoor walking tour of the greenhouses seen during the Living with the Land attraction at Epcot theme park.
Discover the secrets of how The Land Pavilion grows delicious produce indoors on this special backstage tour. See the future of agriculture, go alligator gazing, release lady bugs and learn the advanced—and often experimental—techniques used to grow hydroponic crops with little or no soil. Watch how new methods are being developed to cultivate plants around the world and help make the Earth a healthier place to live.
If you want a preview of the tour, ride the Living with the Land attraction. If you like what you see as your boat cruises through the greenhouse, you will love the Behind the Seeds at Epcot tour.
Epcot theme park admission is required and is not included in the price of the tour. The tour is indoors and only an hour long, but you will be on your feet for the entire time. Behind the Seeds at Epcot is appropriate for Guests of all ages.
Duration:
1 hour
Price:
$18.00 per adult (ages 10 and up) $14.00 per child (ages 3-9 yrs)
Phone:
Call (407) WDW-TOUR or (407) 939-8687
Wheelchair Accessible
Hearing Disabilities

[momeja]

I agree, Amy. That's a great tour and very reasonable. It's fun to have a real person talking to you about the Land pavilion, instead of just a recorded voice.

[Wizzard419]

I'm not sure if the tour is that big a draw, it is a paid tour right? So hopefully they make enough to cover the cost of tour guides and the desk people.

When I did a long time ago, it was not a paid tour (unless that's changed in the past few years), but the number of people who can go on the tour is limited.

I'm guessing they realized that having a person man the desk and tour guides cost money so now they put that ticket price in. Thanks amy.

[Satchel T]

I'm all about refurbing rides and adding new ones. My main concern is keeping with the Disney feel. I think they've done a great job of doing so with everything they've done in recent years so I have no doubt that when they refurb or add it'll be great.! Innovation is what makes Disney different from everyone else. I feel like most other places study Disney closely as they are adding.

[TTA Traveler]

At the Walt Disney World's current state? I think I'm going to go with adding new ones.

Don't get me wrong, I think there are rides which need updating.. but there's only but a few which make me think "this is really outdated" and it affects my enjoyment.

To go even further on topic I'd go so much to say they should focus on Animal Kingdom and EPCOT. This is me personally, but there's not a lot of things that make me stay for long periods in those parks.

[rphillips14]

IMO Maintain the older rides until they get to the point of embarrassment (Carousel of Progress) and 1 new "Thing or major refub) needs to happen in each park every year. It would generate interest among newbies and give us (the Faithful) something to look forward to.