Frozen Ever After

[Tearin_it_up]

I think it's pretty clear he meant Wonders of Life. And he's right!

I say put a Wall-E attraction in there! Nothing could fit Epcot more

[goofy for pluto]

"The company is counting on “Frozen Ever After” to boost the popularity of Epcot, where attendance was essentially flat between 2009 and 2013.

EPCOT used to be my favorite park at WDW. ..
I'm sure I asked a few years ago and I will ask again....Do you think that secretly TDO want's WDW to fail? Is this some crazy payback to a company that they in truth actually hate? I think I read somewhere that Universal hired the imagineers that Disney let go and now they are reaping the rewards of letting them actually do what they love to do. I also read that Joe Rhode is spending a lot of time on his own projects. I wonder if he is moving on as well.

[Terra]

I say put a Wall-E attraction in there! Nothing could fit Epcot more

My sons and I LOVE Wall-E. That would be fabulous!!

Can't wait until the new attraction opens in Norway. Showed my boys and shared with them early today what they were doing and they were so excited

[Melanie]

Oh geez, please no WallE!

[AndrewJackson]

According to another website, travel agents are receiving information that a tentative opening for Frozen (the new attraction at Norwayish ) will be May 1, 2016.

[Tekneek]

For those looking forward to it, I hope they enjoy it. I don't want anybody to have a bad time.

Even if the fans really love it, I don't think it will possibly realize the hopes and dreams Disney appear to have (in the article) for it.

[Terra]

Oh geez, please no WallE!

Shush!! We love WallE. My son is even having a WallE party on June 30th for his seventh birthday.

According to another website, travel agents are receiving information that a tentative opening for Frozen (the new attraction at Norwayish ) will be May 1, 2016.

Thanks for the info! This is perfect if it stays on schedule. It will be right before my son's season passes black out for the summer.
I always get the AP because I do EPCOT through the summer and for the parking.

[Angryduck]

I'm excited, and it will certainly boost Epcot's numbers. But this has to only be step one. Hopefully this is the start of a much needed Epcot reboot.

Well said Donald!


Duck

[Angryduck]

"The company is counting on “Frozen Ever After” to boost the popularity of Epcot, where attendance was essentially flat between 2009 and 2013.

EPCOT used to be my favorite park at WDW. ..
I'm sure I asked a few years ago and I will ask again....Do you think that secretly TDO want's WDW to fail? Is this some crazy payback to a company that they in truth actually hate? I think I read somewhere that Universal hired the imagineers that Disney let go and now they are reaping the rewards of letting them actually do what they love to do. I also read that Joe Rhode is spending a lot of time on his own projects. I wonder if he is moving on as well.

This is an interesting, and disheartening thought. Another good question would be the implications of what happens if it does start to severely fail? I have to think positive about this and think that this MIGHT lead to them bringing in new, revitalized blood that can compete with the work being done at Universal. Perhaps it is what needs to happen...that old adage that" nothing amazing happens in our comfort zone" type of thing? Thoughts?

Duck.

[azcavalier]

I think that they're always looking for little ways that they can change things, so that they can say that they're upgrading without spending a lot of money. Let's face it...the Frozen Ever After ride (which, i'm sure i'll enjoy) is an overlay of an existing ride. It's a money grab on the popularity of Frozen, with the ride put in the place that makes the most sense and is most convenient. It "kind of" fits in with the Norway culture, and Maelstrom was an old ride. I can see why they're doing what they're doing. But it's a bit disappointing. I want a *new* ride. Like the 7DMT. Built from scratch. Smooth. New technology.

That said, Avatarland is brand new. New Fantasyland is all brand new. I'm still waiting to see what happens at DHS. They have a lot of space to work in, and great properties to work with (Pixar/Star Wars/ Indiana Jones). I'm going to reserve judgement to see what they come up with there.

So, they are putting money into places where it looks like it is needed. I hope that they do start putting money into Epcot. Epcot is still my favorite park. It's just so....different. To me, Universal is Kings Dominion on steroids, but it is still a thrill ride park. There is no message at Universal. It's all eye candy. That doesn't mean it's not fun, nor cool. But it's still not the same as the Disney parks. Maybe the message has been muddled and changed over the years, but I still see it.

I would love to see a new addition to the World Showcase. A Brazilian pavilion would be spectacular. Or Australia. Or Chile. Or, pretty much anything ftom the Southern Hemisphere. I would love for them to gut and redo the Imagination pavilion (though it would kill my daughters, who adore Figment). But I wonder if it will take Epcot dropping on the list of popular theme parks for that to happen. If Universal popped up and surpassed Epcot, I wonder if they would spring into action.

[Cinderelley]

If I have to hear "let it go" one more time . . .

[DizneyFreak2002]

If I have to hear "let it go" one more time . . .

You'll be letting it go???

LOL

[Cinderelley]

You'll be letting it go???

LOL

ROFL. You guys have me laughing so hard this morning that I am crying.

[TheVBs]

I'm surprised by reports that Epcot is not doing well, or has flat attendance (if I'm getting that right). We typically go during slower times and there are always plenty of people there. Or so it seems to us!

This is all bitter sweet for us. We loved Maelstrom, and we're sad it's gone. So glad we were able to ride it on the last visit. But, we're excited about something new too. I'm hoping it will be a fun ride that we all love. I really like that they're reusing the boats.

[Tekneek]

I'm surprised by reports that Epcot is not doing well, or has flat attendance (if I'm getting that right). We typically go during slower times and there are always plenty of people there. Or so it seems to us!

I am actually glad that attendance is not booming, since there is nothing about that park that would justify that outcome. What is discouraging to me is when attendance is going through the roof despite poor management, because I know meaningful change is so unlikely to come in that scenario.

[Terra]

I'm surprised by reports that Epcot is not doing well, or has flat attendance (if I'm getting that right). We typically go during slower times and there are always plenty of people there. Or so it seems to us!

This is all bitter sweet for us. We loved Maelstrom, and we're sad it's gone. So glad we were able to ride it on the last visit. But, we're excited about something new too. I'm hoping it will be a fun ride that we all love. I really like that they're reusing the boats.

I agree. I loved Maelstrom too, but am looking forward to something new.
Love too that they are reusing the boats! I always loved those!

Yeah, I go to EPCOT at least once a month [in all seasons, peak, mid, slow] and anymore it is still pretty crowded in slow times.

I am actually glad that attendance is not booming, since there is nothing about that park that would justify that outcome. What is discouraging to me is when attendance is going through the roof despite poor management, because I know meaningful change is so unlikely to come in that scenario.

Interesting take. Personally it's not discouraging to me. It comes down to the simple fact that Not 100% will like everything, every change, etc. If attendance is booming then they are doing something right for many people, myself included.

[Tekneek]

Interesting take. Personally it's not discouraging to me. It comes down to the simple fact that Not 100% will like everything, every change, etc. If attendance is booming then they are doing something right for many people, myself included.

It has nothing to do with change and whether somebody likes it. Unless the change people like is having less to do, then maybe that fits. It is fact that there is less to do at Epcot than there was 15 years ago.

For all WDW parks that are not MK, I suspect most of their visitors are people that are simply not attending MK that day. Despite the price difference, I suspect that MK gets the most 1-day ticket visits while the rest primarily get people on multi-day passes who want somewhere else to go. To that end, simply having their doors open gets them a certain level of turnstile movement on any given day. I wouldn't call that "doing something right" as in they are really ticking all the boxes.

[Terra]

It has nothing to do with change and whether somebody likes it. Unless the change people like is having less to do, then maybe that fits. It is fact that there is less to do at Epcot than there was 15 years ago.

For all WDW parks that are not MK, I suspect most of their visitors are people that are simply not attending MK that day. Despite the price difference, I suspect that MK gets the most 1-day ticket visits while the rest primarily get people on multi-day passes who want somewhere else to go. To that end, simply having their doors open gets them a certain level of turnstile movement on any given day. I wouldn't call that "doing something right" as in they are really ticking all the boxes.

You suspect that but it's not always the case [at least when I hear people talking when I'm at the different parks].
That said, I think some more things would be great but in 15 years [personally], my visits have not been negatively impacted and I still love going more than ever.

[texas211]

Hmm, it'll bound to be a 4 hr wait, for a ride as short as the Maelstrom.... I always felt like I was just getting into it by the time we were hitting the oil rig.

As for as Epcot. I think a reboot might be necessary. Now I love the idea of EPCOT. But modern youth, too stupid and impatient for the art of learning and enjoying the atmosphere. If it isn't short, quick, and to the point. Eh eh. Most kids haven't even heard of half of the movies in Journey, or other snippets throughout.

I miss Maelstrom. The whole thing seems to be going "over the falls."

[John]

Honestly, I hope this ride is the best it can be - while I crank about stuff here and on the podcast, that doesn't mean I want things to fail.

However, said it before and will repeat till I'm blue in the face - something needs to be done from top to bottom in taking a long hard look at this park and figuring out it's "future" - to pun a bit.

Right now, it just feels like a bunch of band aids put in place without a long term plan - and that ultimately leads to failure.

Epcot is my favorite park for many sentimental reasons - but it needs help. And fast.