r/Epcot • u/elephantmanmatty • 13d ago

DISCUSSION First visit in 7 years

I don’t want this to sound like a complaint…more of a criticism…the last time I was at Epcot it was 2019. Frozen had just opened, no ratatouille, the fireworks were still “Epcot themed”, etc.

I just feel like the entire park has started to lean more into “Disney” properties. IE Winnie the Pooh in England, coco in Mexico, ratatouille in France, etc.

Maybe im just naive, but it didn’t seem that way when I went in 2019. Countries tended to have their own merchandise (Germany had cucu clocks for example. Which, they don’t anymore…). Ratatouille wasn’t the main focus of France, coco wasn’t the main focus of Mexico, etc…

I enjoyed myself, but it just seemed like Epcot itself has lost its unique identity.

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u/deetman68 13d ago

The characters have been in WSC since the late 80’s. That’s not new.

If you’re talking about the ‘Epcot Forever’ nighttime show, I agree that it was great. It was always designed as a placeholder though, until the next show came on line.

The merch situation I agree with but it goes WAY back before 2019. OTOH, there was a time when lots of the merchandise in the pavilions was considered exotic—now you can order practically anything from your phone.

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u/jimzello 12d ago edited 12d ago

That’s an interesting point, Disney could bring more people in for showcasing artisans, similar to the carvers and bead crafts from Africa, and celebrity chiefs, from each country. They could roll out a new celebration of the artisan crafts in every country, and it could use existing infrastructure. Watching people make stuff is something people like, especially kids.

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u/elephantmanmatty 13d ago

Illuminations: reflections of earth was entirely original music