(Official Titles withheld until release)
Think of it. We are blessed with technology that would be indescribable to our forefathers. We have the wherewithal, the know-it-all to feed everybody, clothe everybody, and give every human on Earth a chance. We know now what we could never have known before - that we now have the option for all humanity to make it successfully on this planet in this lifetime.
-Buckminster Fuller
For centuries people have dreamed of a perfect society. Humanity is imperfect but the way in which we work, live, and play can reach and ultimate level of perfection so close that the imperfections are quite minimal. From the fabled Atlantis to Utopia, this dream has been attempted only a few times. All models of utopia have a common element of democracy as the foundation of government so to spite the millennial old concept the dream could only be realized a couple hundred years ago with the creation of the United States of America. From New Haven to Washington D.C., America was built on planned communities yet for all of their schematic symmetry they are all just cities. After all, Paris, France is universally recognized as one of (if not The) most beautiful cities in the world yet was not planned. The concept of utopia is more than just architecture and urban planning, its mostly about the day-to-day of a living, breathing community. Architecture does play a part, but even ancient cities can be wonderful places to live if they function with the clear objective of existing to service those who live there.
In the 1950’s, Walt Disney began a decade transition from Master Storyteller to what some educated individuals believe was the most successful Urban Planner of the 20th Century. Towards the end of his life Walt developed a concept that if brought to fruition would take the seamless and idyllic experience of visiting a Disney park to an all encompassing lifestyle. After he died, Walt’s concept would change hands (and heads) several times before reaching its final and most effective form. EPCOT Center opened in 1982 prophetically as the beginning of the 21st Century. A bold statement, in which the predictions were so forward thinking that many of its technological advances wouldn’t come to fruition until almost a decade after the 21st Century Began. Yet, there are many more heights left to be scaled and unfortunately much of EPCOT Center’s original vision has changed. Over fifteen years ago, the seriously fun and excitingly severe concepts of Future World were passed over for more contemporary subject matter. The distant future gave way to the latest innovations of today.
Much has been written about the loss of classical Epcot themes and attractions, a justifiable sentiment for which is greatly shared and understood. The park itself was designed to change the concepts are supposed to evolve, but the one thing that should never change is the ideals and principles on which the park was founded. The absence of such things leads to the loss of identity, and therefore a loss of self.
The hold that EPCOT Center has on those impressionable children who were there during its Centered days is profound. More than anything the message of the park was clearly heard in every experience of the park. The avant-garde techno/orchestral music, the bold architecture, the streamlined design all of which reinforced the powerfully optimistic message that...
with what we know and what we're learning to do, we really can bring our dreams to life. It takes a lot of work, but the truth is: if we can dream it, we can do it!
This is the Epcot Legacy. It is a simply stated philosophy that has enormously complex and far reaching implications that far exceed the boundaries of the parks 300 acres. This is purpose of the Legacy series of writings created for E82. An exploration of the many aspects and effects of Epcot’s influence throughout its existence and it is also a forum for its future. It is my hope that the Legacy realm will provide a place for discussion of larger concepts for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.
David Larrabee, Age: 30, Occupation: Multiple. A man in search of something. A tired individual with little to no time.Tired of a 24-hour existence, reality television, 140-character soliloquies, plot-less movies, and thousands of television channels devoid of entertainment value. A substantial soul encircled by the superficial masses. A man wishing for not a simpler time, but a time that was lost, and soon to be found…
I feel very fortunate to live in such close proximity to the greatest and most popular tourism destination in the world. And yet with two jobs, a weekly column, and mountains of responsibility it comes as no shock that I do not visit it often. Stressed over deadlines, financial concerns, obligations and responsibilities I decided to journey down the road and gain some perspective, if not some fresh air.
Got in my car, turned-on the radio and began to listen to some Lady Gaga. In a few minutes after turning onto EPCOT Center Drive I began having reception problems when Vogue by Madonna began to play, an older song but still great. Then “Ice Ice Baby” and “Forever Your Girl”. “Funny, I didn’t have the Best of the 80’s & 90’s station on,” I thought. After proceeding through the toll plaza, deeply entrenched in thought I failed to notice the clues around me.
I parked my car and started towards the gate. The first thing I noticed was that the perpetual celebration banners were missing. Then something really caught my eye, or rather my ear. For the first time in ten years, I heard the orchestral version of “Fun to be free” echoing throughout Entrance Plaza. Was this something WDI just slipped into the current loop as an homage to the long dead attraction? Well, whatever it was, I was certainly glad to hear it again. Once I reached the gate, I noticed the lack of Security. “Well, Bid Laden is dead maybe it’s about time to stop those (largely for show) bag checks? A great cost savings measure.” Another interesting feature was the ticket booths, not that they had ever changed, but the ticketing information was decidedly Retro. They even had the original Park Hopper; Tigger representing the ticketing feature. A cool, if understated, feature of the soon to be 40th Anniversary I surmised.
Then things got really strange! Once I went through the turnstile, things began to look very different; the biggest of all changes was the original Tri-Prismatic Fountain in front of Spaceship Earth! It seemed as if the 40th was turning-out to be quite an event, at least for Epcot. And the original music was still playing! Then, I began to notice things that could not be explained by marketing, management, or even Imagineering. Everyone around me looked a little out of place. Every other guy was wearing a logo mesh ball cap, visor, teal & magenta oversized T-shirt, or all of the above. And most of the girls were rocking bigger hairstyles and bright make-up that made Boy George look tame. “What is going on today!? Did I miss some sort of Flashback Day announcement? Or did everyone with bad taste visit the park today?” I had seen that last one happen before, but everyone?
I finally decided to pick-up a times guide. (Mostly to see which of my favorite attractions would close early and when.) It was then that it hit me. I took a bright shiny silver guide map and on the cover… the logo was the 20th Anniversary “Surprise Celebration”. Wait a Minute! That was 2-0 not 4-0. Somehow, someway I had been transported back to the year 1991! OMG! How exciting was this?! Now it all made sense! The out-of-date fashions, the music, the fountain, everything was coming together.
Just to make sure (and since I was already underneath the thing) I decided to test this by riding Spaceship Earth. Sure enough, no touch screens, and sponsored by AT&T. Hearing Tomorrow’s Child and Walter Cronkite’s voice inside the geosphere again was inspiring and uplifting. Thoroughly excited, I knew there was just one place I had to go next… Horizons! Briskly, walking through the trap-free (excuse me tarp-free) Future World Plaza, and under the streamlined CommuniCore East Building,the park seemed so pure and harmonious. Even as one who studies it, I forgot how beautiful and uncluttered the World of the Future was.
Standing in front of the gem-like Spaceship of Horizons was enough to bring tears of joy. The longing to be inside its blessed angular walls was so great over the years, that many times in the queue and in the exit I found myself just standing there in amazement. Almost as if I was trying to download the experience directly into my brain. The rest of the afternoon was spent practically running from pavilion to pavilion trying to do as much as I possibly could before the park closed. The understated humor of World of Motion, the subversively serious Universe of Energy, Listening to the Land, getting-down with the Veggie Veggies and the Fruit Fruits, watching the serenely well-crafted The Seas film, and even taking the time to talk with Smart-1, a truly busy day filled with futuristically-fun things to do.
Finally, (around 8:00pm) after taking a particularly misty-eyed Journey with a Dreamfinder and his baby Dragon, I climbed the spiral staircase to visit the “Creative Playground of the Future” once again only this time in a more lively state. Stepping on Tones, Coloring books made of clouds, and playing Digital Illustrator, I came to my favorite part of the exhibit. But stopped dead in my tracks! There I saw him, a little boy conducting the orchestra like Stokowski. Without him even turning around, I knew those gestures and that build better than anyone else. Yes, it was a very young me!
But how was it possible that we would be there on the same day and just happen to run into each other? Well, it was very possible… that year. For that year, above all others was my most important. Among other events, it was the year of my first Annual pass and even though I lived several hours away one weekend out of every month was spent in one of three parks.
So there I stood, in front of my younger self. What was I to do? I couldn’t see my parents anywhere nor would I want too (as two extreme emotions would come into play). I didn’t want to frighten him, nor crush his dreams with a “reality check” from the future. And saying anything too specific could be disastrous for MY present! Ultimately, I struck-up a casual conversation with him.
“So you really like this game, Huh?” I said.
“Yes, it reminds me of my favorite film, FANTASIA” the boy said awkwardly adding “isn’t this an awesome song!? “
“Yes, it very much is” I replied smilingly. Then I knew the one thing that would get him off the game and pay attention. “Hey, Son I work for Disney and I’d like to tell you something.” He quickly, stepped off the mini-podium and looked right at me.
“Where’s your name tag?” he questioned.
“I’m off today” I responded (honestly). We walked into the early evening-lit atrium and sat on a bench. Then he started asking me several questions, all at once, while telling me his (rather silly in hind-sight) aspirations. Finally, I interrupted him and said “I just want you to know that right here, right now is the best it will be. Soak in as much and as often as possible. You’re going to need it in the years ahead” Although a little shocked at the implications, the boy understood.
“Well, it was nice meeting you! I better find my family, now” he called over his shoulder.
After that, I felt sad for him, and optimistic for the man I was still to become. My cell phone alarm inexplicably, and startling went-off. The moment I looked down to shut-off the phone the music in the atrium stopped. And the still silence of the space was only interrupted by the breeze-like air of the AC system. No one was there, no one in the whole building. I went outside to be greeted by the red and orange painted concrete forms of the Imagination Institute.
No more Rainbow Corridors. No more trips to Brava Centauri. No more Sea Bases Alpha. No more Electronic/Orchestral masterpieces played on hundreds of well-spaced carefully-concealed speakers. No more “Center”.
When I returned home, and while empting the contents of my pockets I pulled out that same vintage guide map.
David Larrabee, age: 30, Occupation: Multiple. A Portrait of a man in conflict. For while others get to sit under crooning flowers and travel through delightfully haunted estates, he and his generation has had the memories of their youth walled-over, gutted, sealed-off, or demolished. There is precious little in the way of solace right now, except that mistakes of the past seem to be subsiding so the next time you decide you’ve got a better idea than the old masters, give a little thought to the millions out there who treasure the things you get rid of. A lesson to be learned in… The Imagineering Zone.
COMMENTARY
I live very close to Epcot. I mean very close. From my front door to the front gates of the park, it takes me a little over 15 minutes. A cool statement to make, but the Epcot I’d most like to visit is much, much further away. Twenty Years away in fact!
The title of this article is taken directly from a first season episode of The Twilight Zone. In the Episode, a world weary business man takes a trip backwards in time to his childhood town of some twenty to thirty years ago. During the course of events, the man meets his younger self and his now dead parents. In a futile way, he chases his younger self to deliver a message basically stating that this is the best time of his life and he should enjoy every moment of it.
The Episode is filled with physiological undercurrents of nostalgia for both the writer, Rod Serling, and the prose of Ray Bradbury, (the author Rod is emulating). In the end, just about every episode of the series is an exploration of morality and the human condition. Nostalgia is a double edged condition that can convey ether pleasure or pain and in most cases a little bit of both. Walt Disney was one of the most positively nostalgic people ever to walk the face of the Earth. Instead of taking trips down “memory lane” and lamenting times-gone-by, Walt took his love for the past and decided to recreate. But not only did he re-create the past, he Perfected it! Main Street USA is every town of the turn of the century. And yet, it’s like no street that has ever existed.
In much the same way, the online EPCOT Centered community has a longing for the past. Whenever I visit Epcot, my mind goes through a half-second process of excitement for visiting things like the Image Works, riding any past version of Spaceship Earth, or experiencing Horizons and then I remember it’s 2000-something. I still like Epcot, but not nearly to the same extent as EPCOT Center. As much as, I and many others would love to visit the EPCOT of 1989 for a day, it would just be for a day. I don’t think that any of us would want to live without the technological advances of our time.
In Walking Distance, the Business Man eventually leaves the past and returns to the present refreshed and with a new perspective on the life that he now leads. What we have today is something of a historical rarity, (if not a temporal paradox), “Nostalgia for the Future”. The things we miss most are not the attractions but the messages behind them, the tone, and the optimism associated with them.
It is often said that “you can’t go home again”, but in this case that statement does not apply. Walt Disney was able to visit a perfected form of his hometown Marceline, and he did so in 1955. It is my hope that EPCOT Center will soon return to Epcot, only this time a perfected vision of tomorrow with design rooted in the past using the technologies of today. This is a thesis I’m working on for the future of the park itself.
The other historical rarity is that with the technologies available today we could relive Classical Epcot Attractions with a relatively small investment of funds. I, as well as many others, look forward to the day that long deceased attractions can be revisited in high-definition miniature-OmnImax experiences in one of the many cavernously large unused or underutilized spaces of Future World. The truly cool thing about those experiences is that the day this happens the number of attractions of Future World will expand to nearly double its size. A high-tech “Looking Back at Tomorrow” Attraction, might even become the most popular attraction in the park, after all it would not be just be one attraction but EVERY attraction that came before it. Then we will indeed bridge the gap of time so that Epcot and EPCOT Center will both be within Walking Distance.
It’s very good to see that the “Legacy” section has sparked some discussion!
Recently, Becky Cline (Head of the Walt Disney Archives) stated that the objective of the Archives has been expanded to not just preserving the Company’s history but to share it as well. She also stated that she and her staff are hard at work digitizing the entire collection. This has two purposes. 1. It increases the amount of preservation by having less human hands touch priceless artifacts. 2. (And this is the Big One!) It allows everyone to have access.
This is a monumental development in the history of Disney History. It’s the company’s equivalent of the “Freedom of Information Act”. As to what extent of the access and what platform of delivery, no one can say. However, I personally consider this announcement, to be one I’ve waited decades for.
For Years, my biggest (read that- only) complaint about the Archives, is that it has functioned like a vault for almost 40 years. (The Disney version of Warehouse 13) I would much rather it be analogous to a public library. Sure, this is Walt Disney Company/Family property, and its way too important and precious to let just anyone get their hands on it. However, the Walt Disney Company’s historical assets have become far too important to world culture to only be experienced by a select few.
Fortunately, this dichotomy of distribution and preservation will at last be solved through the miracle of modern technology. I look forward to the day when I may skim through Walt’s letters and story notes. I simply can’t wait to search through every Disney News publication for research or inspiration.
I’m saying all this because the problem discussed by “Walking Distance” will almost assuredly be solved within this decade. It’s important to note here that the Walt Disney Archives and Walt Disney Imagineering are about as separate and distinct as Coke and Pepsi. Both have enormous libraries but WDI’s assets not only contain things that were, but also things that never were (and the “never were” does have a habit of become inspiration for next year’s attraction). So unquestionably there are complications, but certainly “things that were” are perfectly “safe” to share.
Think about it. If we could “ride-through” flawless recreations of retired attractions on our computers, home theaters, or in-park custom formats, how completely satisfying would that be? In comparison, the great thing about film is that, after the theaters, the movie lives on through VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray and Holographic Cubes. Why can’t theme park Attractions have the same longevity? ! Oh how nice it would be to end the day by popping-in a Blu-ray for the Original Universe of Energy with Multi-Angled features, commentary and retrospectives! And just think of how much money such an enterprise would generate, (and not just initially for I can see parents taking their Children on a 1983 Journey into Imagination well into the future). Listening Tom Staggs?
When Tokyo Disneyland’s longtime nighttime parade Fantillusion! was going away, they didn’t just stop at a special edition pin. No, they released a DVD documenting the entire parade, so that those who would miss the well-loved entertainment would have not just something to remember, but something guests would never forget.
This should be the standard practice of all soon-to-be retiring attractions. With today’s technology and Imagineering’s resources, there should be no reason to definitively say “good-bye” to the treasured memories of experiences gone by. Sure, we can never ride the original again, but I think all of us would be quite satisfied with an "At Home" HD simulation. So let’s hope that WDI recognizes the profitability of such an enterprise in the not-too-distant future.
Written by Prof. Ludwig Von Drake:
How do you do!? A few months ago, your Host and I were discussing the conditions of the “World” and in the middle of the conversation we started comparing notes. Just for the record, I’ve been out of the physiology office for decades so restarting was a bit of a challenge, especially when a 300-Acre patient came-in to the office…
THERAPY NOTES:
First Impressions
A not-too-young woman walked into my office today and it was obvious that she needed a little help. I could tell from her appearance alone that something was a little “off.” She was very attractive, but the clothes she was wearing were less than age-appropriate. It was also obvious that her hair was suffering from some chemical damage and was a touch on the frizzy side. I could also tell from the confused look in her eyes that she was practically beside herself with worry.
Family Background
She sat down on the chair and proceeded to tell me her problems. When she was born her parents could not have been more excited to bring her into this world. They had tried to conceive her for decades and, finally circumstances were right to have this, their third child. Even before she was born, they knew she would be different, and had planned her birth accordingly. Her parents are very famous and as such her birth was national news and was a cover story on virtually every magazine and news paper. It was a media storm unlike any her family had ever seen!
Developmental Psychosis
Flash-Forward a few short years and her parents started to notice that she had a few developmental challenges and wasn’t progressing as fast as her older sisters. Her older sisters were extremely popular (almost from birth), and being the youngest of a family dynasty she was expected to perform well. Because of their experience in raising successful children, her parents had some high (and perhaps unrealistic) expectations. Unfortunately, the inevitable comparisons took place and her parents were ill equipped to deal with such a unique child. So, her parents did the only thing they knew to do- they began to raise her like she was one of her big sisters; dressing her the same way, treating her in the same manner, and even making her act like she was one of them. In her natural state, this young woman had unconventional good looks; very shy, but extremely intelligent. (Her IQ was more than double that of her sisters’!)
At the tender age of 13, she began behaving (and looking) a lot differently. She began wearing numerous multicolored accessories. And most importantly her whole out-look on life changed. Before entering adolescence, her perspective was much more optimistic and far reaching. Conversely, her present attitude was younger and all about the here-and-now. She became extremely superficial, and confusing. People would look at her and see a mature sophisticated young woman behaving like a puerile teenager.
Diagnosis
In the end, there was only one diagnosis that would explain her problem, Acute Identity Crisis. Yes, that’s what it was! Her condition is the result of multiple factors. The most profound of these, was brought upon by her parents. In their eyes, her major fault was that she was not her sisters. And as a result of this “failure” she decided that she would do everything possible to become her sisters. This includes adopting their sensibilities, their tastes in entertainment, even receiving cosmetic enhancements to appeal to the same people that were attracted to her older siblings.
Treatment
BE YOURSELF! That’s probably putting it far too simply, that’s the most succinct way to describe her treatment. The biggest challenge is to convince both herself and her parents of one simple fact… She Is Not Her Sisters! In many ways, her goals, her out-look on life, and her message to the world is far greater that anything any of her siblings have ever accomplished. For you see, while her older (and younger) sisters are out there being fanciful, and taking people places that don’t exist, she has the ability to transport people to exotic but real places. Most importantly, unlike her escapist relatives, she offers new solutions to the many problems facing society today. It is my ultimate hope that she will one day very soon recommit to her original goals and not only “Entertain” but once again “Inform, and Inspire”.
In Therapy Session II: The Cure, we’ll look at just some of the solutions need to restore balance to this still young but troubled woman.
IN SESSION ONE… We used an analogy to simplify the complex problems and history of Epcot‘s arrested development and subsequent identity crisis. From its troubled early years to its “Lower Case” transformation and the aftermath of the post-millennial age, Epcot has experience some of the most dramatic changes in its fundamental principles and philosophies than any other themed environment. (1)
Diversity is a word that is often used in the corporate world to define the personnel of the organization. Whether it is race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, generational, or even intellectual all of these classifications are based on innate or superficial conditions. But, there is another type of diversity that is often overlooked in the limited perspective of the ever sought after 18 to 24 age bracket. (2) Demographic Diversity is the reason why Disney exists in the first place. Its products are popular because they are so wide reaching. (3) This is largely because of Walt Disney’s personal philosophy on family entertainment…
“We try in everything we do here, you know . . . for the family. We don’t actually make films for children. But we make films that children can enjoy along with their parents."
There are two fundamental principles at work in this statement: First, Children’s entertainment is NOT Family Entertainment. Second, Adults are family too! It’s this second point that’s particularly important for Epcot. During those nine years when Walt Disney World was a two park Resort. The two properties perfectly complimented each other. For all of its architectural complexity, the Magic Kingdom will be forever skewed toward children, and EPCOT Center was definitely more mature. The problem Epcot is facing is that although it’s clearly the Experimental Theme Park for Adults it’s been going for the wrong age range for decades now. This leads to another quote from the man who wrote every word written about EPCOT from “The Film” to the Center…
Know your audience - Don't bore people, talk down to them or lose them by assuming that they know what you know. –Marty Sklar, Mickey’s Ten Commandments.
Every year the Flower & Garden and Food & Wine Festivals prove to be a major guest satisfier. However, these events only scratch the surface of possibilities for more adult entertainment in Epcot. The biggest problem that the park faces is the constant repression of its potential as an entirely mature theme park- One that appeals to the more sophisticated side of consumers who are automatically off-put by fairies, princesses, and mice.
With over a decade of experience listening to cast and guest perceptions of Epcot I find that they basically fall into three unique categories. First, is “The Veteran” typically between 30 to 40 years old and is a dedicated follower of the original ideas and concepts of EPCOT Center and continue to be faithful despite the dramatic change in the park’s personality. Second, is “The Legal” as the name implies it’s the guest that is new to the experience of intoxication and looks at the park as an island in an otherwise “dry World”. Third, is “The Confused” it’s also the largest of all groups.
I have often wondered if I knew nothing about the history of the park and experienced it today, in its present state, what would I think about it? Would it still be my favorite park? Would I still love it or even like? I think that I would find the whole experience very puzzling. Think about it, Clown Fish, Jeopardy, a high-tech trade show, a ride-thru of car testing grounds, a purple dragon explaining the five senses, and a massive outdoor international shopping mall. And all of this next to an massively unique geo-sphere, an extremely accurate simulation of spaceflight, the world’s sixth largest ocean and a dramatically moving presentation of the American adventure. The sublime next to the substandard, to say that the variety of offerings in this park is inconsistent is putting it mildly. Which brings us back to Marty’s Ten…
Avoid contradiction - Clear institutional identity helps give you the competitive edge. Public needs to know who you are and what differentiates you from other institutions they may have seen.
In Future World, the concepts, designs and story are rarely futuristic. Yet, the foundational architecture is fundamentally so. This contradiction always produces an uneasy, uncomfortable feeling that leaves guests with the exact opposite effect to the one that made Disney theme parks so successful in the first place. The “Architecture of Reassurance” as termed by author/editor Karal Ann Marling is the psychological device that makes theme parks work. Epcot is billed as the “The Discovery Park” but (in regards to Future World) there is very little discovery involved. (4) Excluding Project Tomorrow and a few Innoventions exhibits very little of the material presented in Future World isn’t common knowledge.
This might sound a little too straightforward, but proper marketing of any product is vital to its success. And at this time any marketing would be appreciated. Look at any Disney Parks advertisement over the last several years and you’ll begin to believe that the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland are the only parks Disney owns. (5) There are a few clips used for Animal Kingdom, and an occasional second or two of Hollywood Studios, but Epcot is largely ignored in most local and all national campaigns. Even today, with all its imperfections, Epcot’s numbers would improve if properly marketed as the world’s premiere grown-up theme park. While the Magic Kingdoms have families, children, and babies, Epcot’s advertisement could be focused on the other age groups of humanity. Teens, Young/Middle-Aged/Mature Adults ARE the New Frontier in themed entertainment. Not only do they raise creditability of the art form, but also provide a highly-lucrative audience to tap into the even greater creative potential beyond the typical oversaturated properties.
By the numbers, Epcot is #3 of the most attended theme parks in the nation which makes sense because of it chronological placement as the nation’s third oldest Theme Park. (6) What does not make sense is the dramatic gap between The Magic Kingdom (#1) and its closest sister. (7) Less than ten minutes away Walt Disney World attendance drops off enormously by more than 36%. (8)The reasons for this are wide and varied, but basically the lack of definable BRANDING resulting from the loss of a strong IDENTITY and the ensuing shift away from any MARKETING have all combined to create a unique set of problems. The truly wonderful part of all this is that these decades-old situations are entirely fixable. At this moment in time, solutions are already in existence to permanently solve the problem of displaying visions of the future in an ever changing world.
New Solutions you’ll soon find here … at E82!
Joshua L Harris