This past Thursday’s (January 16th) T3PO Live broadcast delved into several topics. First, we discussed the questionable design of the new costumes for the “Voices Of Liberty” acapella singers at the American Adventure, which sparked quite a conversation. The discussion then expanded to EPCOT and World Showcase, particularly speculating about the possibility of additional countries joining the lagoon circle. Joshua provided a map suggesting that there’s potential for almost double the current number of nations represented. This led to a thought-provoking exchange, and I have some thoughts on the matter I’d like to share.
Initially, it’s essential to understand that EPCOT, the theme park, differs significantly from Walt Disney’s original vision of it as an actual city. His idea was grand and idealistic, but impractical given that cities are inhabited by citizens who vote, not employees following orders like those in the Reedy Creek administration. Instead, EPCOT originated from a model based on the New York World’s Fair, where Disney made a big impact with attractions such as It’s a Small World, Mr. Lincoln, and the Ford ride through prehistoric times.
At every pavilion showcased in World’s Fairs, whether they were focused on industry or represented nations, the costs were ALWAYS COVERED by their respective sponsors. Similarly, Disney found a similar approach applicable to their current parks, such as Disneyland’s Pendleton Mills store and Carnation’s ice cream stand, among others. They also extended this method to major corporations like GM, Kodak, Exxon, etc., AND tourism boards of various countries.
In this scenario, Disney might shift the extensive responsibilities associated with constructing and managing an entire theme park filled with these attractions onto the shoulders of sponsors, rather than their shareholders. At the same time, they would still reap benefits from the ancillary income streams generated by hotels, food and beverage outlets, and merchandise sales related to these attractions.
It’s interesting to note that some people might question why specific brands of beer, wine, candy, or clothing are sold at the national pavilions in EPCOT World Showcase. This confusion arises from not fully understanding the commercial partnerships established decades ago. In essence, a brand needed to have sufficient distribution within the U.S. market for it to be profitable to expose their products to American consumers. This way, they could find those same products on store shelves back in their hometowns like Podunk or Poughkeepsie. Additionally, the brand had to offer promise of attracting enough foreign tourism from Americans, allowing them a taste of authentic experiences that they would encounter if they decided to visit the original locations.
Everything we had then was built upon an economic system and perspective that, whether good or bad, has become completely outdated today.
Primarily, you can access stunning landscapes from various countries around the globe anytime, all day every day, even year-round, on the internet in 4K quality. Although it’s not as authentic as traveling internationally, it offers a more convenient and cost-effective alternative.
In simpler terms, it’s more significant to note that compared to the cost of a luxury vacation in Bali for a week, which includes flights, meals, and extras, a trip to EPCOT costs significantly less. However, due to rising inflation, such affordable prices for an EPCOT vacation are now reaching elite financial levels, making them less accessible for many people.
In the 80’s and 90’s, EPCOT was a popular destination for many families. However, visiting EPCOT today is often unattainable for them, let alone planning a vacation to France, China, Canada, Mexico, or other countries.
The idea behind EPCOT was rooted in the optimism of organizations like the United Nations and its predecessor, the League of Nations. The hope was that through diplomatic discussions and the collaboration of intelligent minds, international disputes could be resolved before they escalated. Even the vision of exchange students from different countries living and working harmoniously within World Showcase was seen as an admirable objective, one that would foster global peace and cultural understanding.
It’s clear that our hopes for global organizations like the various United Nations agencies have faced challenges. Idealism alone, unfortunately, doesn’t appear to be able to alter human behavior when it veers off course. When we reflect on past statements, such as the one by the former governor of Florida about harmony being inevitable, it seems that such optimism may not always hold true in today’s world.
The success or failure of World Showcase as a captivating theme park attraction hinges on its ability to attract guests for reasons beyond just bar-hopping. I hold a deep affection for the optimistic messages conveyed by the initial EPCOT, encompassing global harmony and technological advancement. In order for it to thrive into the future, it must not be reduced to a mere drink-around-the-world experience.
However, for any countries emerging near the World Showcase pond to justify the shipping costs, they’ll require compelling, feasible, and profitable rationales.
In 2025, it’s possible that certain concepts may no longer be relevant as our world undergoes rapid de-globalization. However, if we aspire to create something new, we need visionaries who envision authentic, sustainable, and practical narratives – not merely updated versions of past successes or rehashed costumes in unusual hues. Essentially, we might not produce superior themed entertainment until we work towards building a world that’s equally real, sustainable, and captivating.
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2025-01-19 20:55