What is EPCOT now?  Just going by the acronym, it's unclear... it is no longer really EXPIRIMENTAL (when was the last time you were wow-ed by new tech displayed?) there aren't really any PROTOTYPES to see, the COMMUNITY (while always vague) is not realized, and TOMORROW(?)- aside from some vaguely near-future lipservice before the E-Ticket extravaganza of M:S is similarly lost.  I have a day of fun at EPCOT, I just no longer understand its purpose.  These old concept paintings make the current lack of direction all the more apparent.  The sad reality of a park based on futurism long after the concept has become A-irrelevant and B-somewhat sinister...

World Showcase could benefit from some more attractions; some countries, like Italy, don't have much to do, so I'd welcome any new attraction/pavillion.  A magic carpet ride sounds fun, and they wouldn't have to make a new pavillion (Aladdin is part of the Moroccan pavillion).  As far as Future World, traveling through the body sounds fun; since "Body Wars" is gone, I wonder if they'll put in another ride dealing with the body.

How bout adding a New Country for heavens sake!   And maybe add a ride to some of the other countries that have only movies.  Any kind of ride will do.

The concept art for the countries is amazing!

And Jim I didnt see Nemo in your Living seas Concept art, I think u must have been mistaken! (sarcasm)

I was mesmorized by EPCOT in the mid 80's. I was, however, never really attracted to World Showcase. And that was because there was no WOW factor. If the rides shown above had been built, I would most likely have a different interest in that area of the park.
Though today, Epcot has lost its WOW factor as bhb007 stated above. Even M:S after 3 or 4 times looses its repeatability (is that even a word!?)
Thanks for sharing the concept art Jim!

Hi everybody,
I REALLY REALLY REALLY wish they would do something about EPCOT.
I, for one, would love to see a new WORLD SHOWCASE pavilion. Does anyone remember the sign that used to be up in the park announcing Isreal? I have a photo of it somewhere. I think it is where Morroco is now. How about the unofficial announcements or rumors for Thailand? Russia? Switzerland? How about the rumor years ago of a Japan version of CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS? Or the special appearance of Godzilla that was supposed to be the climax of the BULLET train ride?
Are there any plans at all on the boards for a new pavilion?

... really is in need of some help. Simply adding new attractions isn't enough. They really need to first figure out what the heck they're trying to do there. As of now, they're willy-nilly adding attractions that have little to do with the overarching theme of Epcot (or what I think it is anyway).

To me, it's become an entire park that's nothing but an incoherent patchwork of stuff that was crammed in to boost attendance. I think they need to take a step back, decide what they want the park to be, and build it out from there.

"How about the unofficial announcements or rumors for Thailand? Russia? Switzerland?"
---
VERY unofficial. In Switzerland's case, "Wishfully created urban-legend fan crock, with more lives than the Door Ride and the Villains' Park combined".

As for *real* rumors, nothing ever happened of that Spain announcement a while ago, and we suspect someone in their Tourism/Commerce department was just showing off.

---
"How about the rumor years ago of a Japan version of CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS? Or the special appearance of Godzilla that was supposed to be the climax of the BULLET train ride?"
---
How about the legendarily tightfisted Toho Studios, that's made it darn near impossible to get their pop-culture icon on DVD, let alone sponsor attractions at somebody else's studio?

A little over the top there, DerekJ.  Switzerland was a "wishfully created urban-legend fan crock"?  At the start of Eisner's "Disney Decade" I saw the concept art for the Switzerland pavilion, clearly labelled as such, at a display of future attractions at the Disney Welcome Center in Ocala.  Heck, I think it may have even had an opening date attached to it.  While I have no idea how serious they ever were about it, it's not something a fanboy thought up while he was high.

Anyway, I'd like to see the current World Showcase pavilions all get attractions or at least exhibits before more countries are added.  With neither Germany nor Italy having anything to do besides shop and eat, for example, it feels lonely in that corner of the lagoon.

Also, peglegpaul, the Japanese version of the CoP and the "Meet the World" attraction that Jim Hill mentions in his article are the same thing.  Both CoP and Meet the World revolving theatre concepts.

The bullet train idea through Japan seems like a much better idea than the  Circle-Visions in China and Canada.  Seating could be provided and, with appropriate gentle movement and sound, it could be a nice attraction.  Far better than what Japan offers now.

Epcot has been getting better especially with Soarin' and Turtle Talk (M:S?  Won't be a long-time favorite, IMO).  But, if it is to become great again, WoL needs to be overhauled and reopened and World Showcase needs another country or at least a couple of non-film-based attractions added (ie., dark rides!)

I would love to see the Venezuela pavillion! A south-american rainforest attraction would be really cool...

I'm very curious about the original "Life and Health" pavilion.  I remember years ago seeing pre-production artwork of the "Incredible Journey Within" ride, as well as artwork about performing animated 'neurons'(?), at least that's what I remember seeing.  Also, it looked like there was to be a funhouse type maze in the foreground of the pavilion model.  Could you enighten us with more about the original "Life and Health" pavilion???

so, ARE there any plans for the inclusion of a new WORLD SHOWCASE PAVILION?
Has there ever been an article with the full AFRICA pavilion story?
As long as we are on the subject, is there a website to go to that focuses on plans for new rides/attractions?
Disney-obsessive guy here!
Oh, and I love WILLY THE WHALE!

epcot makes me legs sad.

So much walking for not so much excitement. M:S is boring after riding it a few times. Test Track has been boring from the beginning. Oooo it goes 65? I went 85 in a GM car to GET to Walt Disney World. And i had the top down. (there was no embankment... but eh)

I rode Ellen's Energy Adventure for the first time since I was a baby the other day. WOW. Ellen is funny. But 37 minutes going in a circle? It was boring.

Thank god they closed wonders of life. Another waste of space... body wars made me sick.

If it wasnt for Soarin and delcious alcohol at World Showcase. I wouldnt bother with Epcot. Illuminations is lame. And its just a tiring park.

Doesnt have the same magic feel as the other parks. Even Animal Kingdoms scenerey astounds me.

They need more, new, exciting stuff. Hopefully the 25th Anniversary will bring a whole new world of fun.

I agree that Epcot has lost it's way.  World Showcase is the only area that really is a cohesive whole and there is so little to do.  Even a cookie cutter ride here and there would be an improvement.  At least there would be something to occupy our time and keep the wee ones entertained.  I would rather see the existing countries enriched before adding new pavilions.  

Innoventions is just sad.  A variant of Disneyquest would immediately give it a shot in the arm.  The exit to Spaceship Earth needs something.  ANYTHING!  One of the things we always liked to do there was to get the whole family in the large phone booth and call family back home while we played with the sound effects.  

I hope the WoL pavilion has big plans laid out for it.  It is prime real estate that should not be wasted.

bhb007: You forgot the OF. I don't see a lot of OF in EPCOT anymore either. Well, I may have just missed it. Whenever I went there with my family, the only World Showcase piece we ever got to was Mexico for dinner. The OF might have been in Germany for all I know.

I think an area with decent restaurants with food from around the world would be cool. In addition to some they already have (Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, French), they could have some good Cuban, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Indian, Thai, Irish, Jamaican, Spanish...

Of course, you could always come to New Haven, CT for all of that!

I don't think we're ever really going to see some of these ride-less World Showcase countries actually get their rides...

They really do need to fix up the World Showcase attractions/pavilions that they already have, before deciding to add new stuff, methinks.

For example-the Mexico pavilion=really awesome. It has great ambiance. However, the Mexico attraction=lame. At least the Norway ride, although it is just a boat ride as well has cool dialogue and trolls and such. The Mexico ride is just like a crappier version of Small World. They need to pump some new life into that thing, or come up with something more interesting.

However, more pavilions do need attractions, and hopefully ones that aren't just boat rides.

And also, there just need to be more countries in the World Showcase. Some it just seems ridiculous that they weren't made and exploited.

Scrap the Circlevision shows. Replace them with more exciting IMAX based shows.

I don't enjoy standing to watch a 20 minute video of Canada from the 80s. What's fun about that?

From Governmentboi: "I don't enjoy standing to watch a 20 minute video of Canada from the 80s. What's fun about that?"

That's how my wife felt. She actually grabbed my hand and pulled me out before it was over. It made me sad, because I love that movie. Call me crazy.

She actually preferred the World Showcase to Future World because of the shopping. Any other place in WDW is hawking Disney logo merchandise, but there was enough in the stores in World Showcase to make her feel like shopping was an attraction. I'm more of the "put some rides in there" persuasion.

But I feel Future World is much more in need of attention. I think the dark rides need an update, but specifically this: less history, more future. That's what killed World of Motion and might have killed Spaceship Earth except for the building being so cool. Let's see a little more vision. I like that Mission: Space tries to make you feel like your experiencing the future, but I'd rather be a citizen of the Space Age than an astronaut.

Jackthepumpkinking: Good call on putting some DisneyQuest in Innoventions. Some Carousel of Progress might be appropriate there, too.

Weren't the original additions to W.S. supposed to be Equatorial Africa, Spain, and Israel.  I have a EPCOT Center preview book which has a whole thing on Equatorial Africa that's quite interesting.   I remember as a kid, the reason given by CM's for each of these pavilions not being built between China and Germany was because each of the countries were politically unstable.  Think about...it's still true today.  Many African nations are in a constant state of flux w/coup's and political unrest, Spain has seperatist organizations who constantly rage terror campaigns, and Israel...well that goes w/o saying.   I remember seeing the concept art on signs w/two posts, w/unique fonts for each of those countries.  I think Spain may have even had some sort of boat ride featured in the art (????).  As for Venezuela, I think they suffered the same fate because of poltical reasons as well.  If you think about the countries that are there today...they're fairly stable..granted China is Communist (but its not going anywhere and the whole thing in the Square happened AFTER EPCOT Center opened), and while Italy has a revolving door for a government its not going anywhere.    Anyway, my two cents.  

I'd like to see a nation from the Southern Hemisphere in WS... Australia, Brazil, South Africa would all be good options.  Brazil could have a rainforest-theme attraction much like what was set for Venezuela.  Australia would be nice... build on the winery attraction that was part of Food & Wine a few years back.

But otehr folks are right as well... Either Germany, Italy, Japan or the UK could use another type of ride-based attraction.  It's a tough call, particularly in WS, where the visitors are older and not as much the thrill-seekers as you get in Future World.  More effects-driven attractions (like Soarin', ironically) fit better in WS.

Jim, some of those attractions and pavillions were quite interesting to read about.  However, I think you skipped quite a few World Showcase countries and attractions.  I know Disney had plans to build an Equatorial Africa, Australia, Spain, Israel, and Switzerland.  Switerzerland was said to have a Matterhorn like ride and Japan was supposed to have Mt. Fuji with a roller coaster inside.  Another idea was to have a raft ride in the Canada Pavillion, themed after Brother Bear.

Equatorial Africa may have been slated for Epcot at one time; but now that Animal Kingdom has "showcased" this area of the World (and quite well I might add) there really is no reason to include it in Epcot.

I think a Brazilian showcase would be both a welcome addition to guests as well as straightforward and managable for Disney. WDI has plenty of source material they could fall back on (material collected during the "Good Neighbor Policy" films). This would also give Disney a chance to remarket (read: over saturate the market) with forgotten charecters like Jose Cairoca.

All I really wish is that Canada wasnt such a lame pavilion. REALLY lame. Like could they maybe incorporate the 2 moose (bob and doug mackenzie types) guys from the Brother Bear animated feature?
Or some beavers?
Maybe a ride on a dog sled?

*SARCASM*

But yes, I would LOVE for the Canadian Pavilion to be more enticing, more exciting. How sad is it that I always whine when my family stops in the Canadian pavilion.. and IM canadian!!?!!

EPCOT should be about internationality, about the different countries and worlds we have on our one planet.. and it should always incorporate NEW INNOVATIVE IDEAS.. something more along the actual meaning of E.P.C.O.T.

blah blah.. sometimes I dont think I make sense... or I dont sound intelligent.

I really am. Im just a total Disney FRRRRRREAK who wants to have input too. Not that it helps much posting here.. but.. who knows...

I mean.. it all started with a mouse right?

xoxox Adele