Epcot, the second wing of Florida’s sprawling Walt Disney World Resort will add more adventurous components like the speedy Test Track, the multi-sensory Soarin, the blastoff simulating mission: Space; the widely popular movie based Frozen Ever After.
Earlier it was known for slow-paced education about energy, technology, farming and world culture and there was no space for speedy thrills.
Walt Disney expects Epcot to upgrade its theme parks around the world and especially in Orlando, where competition from rival universal studios have proven fierce with the addition of Harry Potter attractions.
It has been observed after the opening of Wizarding World in 2010, Disney focused on Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and now its Epcot’s turn.
As per the plan laid out by Bob Chapek, Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman, Epcot will be shifted to a family friendlier more branded destination. Prices changes have not be applied yet, the teams are working to finish in time for the upcoming 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World in 2021.
The rides will be based on Remy the rat chef of the Pixar film Ratatouille, patterned after the popular version of Disneyland Paris, along with a facelift to the front part of the park named as the Future World, a new film in the China section, a spaced themed restaurant and other major attractions based on the blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy films.
Chapek mentioned that the park is centered around the original vision making it look more timeless, relevant and more family based. But the work on this scale will take some time.
Founder Walt Disney wanted to build an actual futuristic city and came up with the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow in 1966 and discussed the concepts based films that year. But post his death, the company came up with Magic Kingdom in 1971.
Dennis Speigel president of consulting firm International Theme Park Services mentioned that Epcot needed a change since along time, from the visitors point of view it was a passive park people went only to enjoy cultural attractions but with the facelift more in line with Disney today majority of the visitors will be attracted.
