It's not the customers who need to manage their expectations, it's Disney who needs to meet the expectations they themselves set.

The lack of a major water feature is unfathomable. Especially when fountain of nations was an incredible, integral part of the park

I hate that you waited this long to visit Epcot. You would have been blown away in the 80s and 90s. It really was the future.

The Epcot of the 80s and 90s was amazing. It had hands on learning pieces, was symmetrical, and the spaces had purpose. The asymmetry and vast space of nothing in underwhelming.

I love your thoughts regarding the possibility that this area could be considered “temporary” and was designed in a way that would be easy to update more dramatically in the future. Makes a lot of sense!

you killed me with the birth comments 😅😂

tldr: "This doesn't actually suck because everything you see can be replaced in 10 years."

Hey Bricky … never been to Disney World, but your honest opinion from a design point and history view is a good and refreshing point of view

I still want my fountain of Nations

Disappointment is an understatement, Brickey. I think a lot of the disappointment is coming from a place of, yet again, being promised something extraordinary and then under delivering - this coming from a company that was built on a reputation of constantly exceeding expectations.

It also sucks its not called "Future World" anymore. That was such a cool name.

I think regardless how amazing Disney made this area, taking 5 years to do it makes it a stinker.

I’m sure I’m biased because I live on the East Coast, but I think your WDW videos are unmatched. Your second argument tying the park to Walt’s urban dream is pure genius. Thank you once again!

You’re being kind and generous. It’s no surprise that the non-Imagineering lady in charge of Imagineering, quit days before this was pronounced “complete”. The ability to start over AGAIN is faint praise indeed. I wish we had gotten to find what John DeCuir and Hench were after in the sunken core of this future town shaped like a huge splash crown…with real urban planning surrounding. Fun fact, John Hench wanted the orb of Spaceship Earth to be the center point of the EPCOT project, but sponsors said “no, everyone has to walk past our attraction coming and and going out”. Love your take on ‘vulva-planter’. Obviously a new fountain is needed immediately…if only to further the uhm, circle of life, thematically.

Truly one of the most thoughtful and intelligent channels when it comes to looking at Disney Parks through a discerning lens! Great job!

I don't think what they've done is *bad.* The center is nice, and I think they did a good job with it. The exterior of Communicore Hall is very pretty (I've not seen the inside in person). My beef is that it took so long and cost so much, and they didn't really upgrade anything. Yeah it's nice but it's not significantly nicer than what was there. They could have done so much more with the time and money they had. I hope you're right that it's all just a place holder for something better.

A lot of money spent and no increase in park capacity. Hopefully the pledged $17 Billion will fix the attractions shortage. All Disney minor parks need twice as many attractions. I used to think of Epcot as equivalent to the Magic Kingdom, the castle parks. It is now a shadow of its former glory. Communicore Hall should be a queue line to the next E-Ticket. It’s a complete waste of resources. Disney parks have a lot of buildings that are placeholders for attractions that never arrived.

I love your WDW vlogs. I know you prob don't get the same amount of clicks as your DL videos, but I really hope you keep them coming

The large Fountain of Nations is the least the Disney Co could have salvaged. However, the area is fine if business garden parks in Irvine, Ca or office lobbies in Silicon Valley are your thing. Also, if almost every other facet of today's Disney Co weren't a "WTF!?," the revamped center of Epcot's (former) Future World would be passable.

Designers who are forced to adapt to new instructions and especially so for the imagineers at Disney. Appreciate your trained eye pointing out how it has come to be and how to understand and appreciate it. Does it honor Walt’s vision is a great question to ask ourselves as we enjoy new features to the parks. Thank you Brickey your deep insights it is always a joy! Appreciate you!

The new Epcot area is nice. I wish we got the original 2019 plans. I wish they would fix Figment & fix the Wonders of life pavilion. I’d like to see new countries and the return of Horizons. Great work.

Great perspective on this as not a long term solution. You see it through a designer’s eye - very insightful.

The old future world was a bit monotonous, but to replace it all with just a different kind of monotony and trees and sculptures rather than adding to what was already there and filling it in was a mistake. Thats really ultimately where i think they went wrong. Feels like a lateral move at best when the capital could have been used to build upon. I also think it would be cool to mimic world showcase a bit in future world by showcasing different imaginary futures. Little mini lands like a green city, or a cyberpunk future. And if theyre too expensive to build at scale, make cool diaramas/sculptures for people to walk past

Brickey, lately you have been speaking my language. I went to high school in Florida and lived there into my early adulthood when I relocated to SoCal. And while I prefer DLR above WDW, I still have fond memories of Epcot and all that it was and still is. I really appreciate your comment about the planter being designed to mimic the birth of all because not a single one of us would be here if we were not birthed and instead of being offended or worried about how it’s perceived by our children, it is a teaching moment and opportunity for education and reflection. Art is subjective and also intended to provoke emotions. Whether people like this design or not, it’s done its job in subjectivity and inciting an emotional response.

Brickey, i absolutely love the way you are seeing this. All these people who decide to complain but literally not see the beauty in its current new design need to see problems, instead of enjoying the fact that there are no construction walls or hindrances, for now. Good on you, dude.

90's Epcot was a 2-day park.

LOVE your WDW vlogs!! Well done, as always! ✨

Hi Brickey… I am only a citizen of DL, but when the attraction lines feel like they are a mile long, I totally appreciate that I am spending time in a gorgeous park… I really like and understand this beautiful new area of EPCOT..

The last time I eat at Epcot this area was behind walls, so I look forward to going back and seeing this area complete. I really enjoy your design perspective. You have a fresh take on the updates since you hadn't experienced it without the walls. Thanks Brickey!

Thanks Brickey. Another really great video. I actually went to Epcot a few times when it was brand new. I lived in Orlando at the time. The park is FAR better than in the beginning. We all enjoyed it, but it was nothing as it is now. Very cool take on the future.

I needed this video!! 😂😂 I was just there today and was not impressed. I knew you would have a good explanation and honest review of this area. So glad you were here this week to put my mind at ease. 😂😂

Great video! Glad I found your channel!! 😉👌💙

I realy enjoy your videos a different point of view thank you keep em coming

I don’t know Brickey. As they say: Nothing’s more permanent than a permanent solution! I appreciate your comments but even if it’s just in KZfaq video, check out the enormous and I thought wonderous Fountain of Nations. We didn’t just lose a field and an artist’s rendering of a festival center. I get that from a design point of view, I’m a design student myself . And haven’t been there yet but I believe it’s Beautiful and peaceful, and that’s terrific (although personally it makes me feel like I need my briefcase and resume to prepare for the interview I’m headed to in the business park setting!!). 😄 But I sympathize with the average guest who’s just spent over two hundred dollars a ticket. They don’t want to see a tasteful place holder. It looks like they were designing a senior center. Not to mention how hot 🥵 it’s gonna be even in the shade! It’s nice to watch a true fan discuss the park design, it’s so crucial! Although on this one I think you went a little easy handed. Which is fine! I see your point. I just want you to know where so many people saying they hate it comes from. Maybe not the whole remodel, but I would say for the money spent it was outright failure. The designers are excellent. I think it might have been management at the time!

Budget cut destroyed the vision

I think it looks SO beautiful! I could watch your B Roll all day. We can look at any space and someone can show us how it could be better, but for me the beauty of the greenery, the water and building designs are just amazing together. I prefer to appreciate what we got instead of what we didn’t. EPCOT is a gem .#1313

Getting rid of fountain of nations will go down in history as the biggest mistake epcot made. Including future world.

I've had the same thought about Future World and Communicore; it's all pretty much a blank canvas still with lots of potential. They just had to get the construction walls down.

Great stuff man. Well said. Your next series should be called "designing with constraints." 😅

As a person who has no stakes, and has yet to visit Epcot, I have found the garden space beautiful, and a place i wouldn't mind visiting. With the knowledge that this is the park dedicated to the Garden Festival, having a space dedicated to being able to present more of such an offering seems like a total win, when that festival comes, and from the picnic areas I've seen, this is a fabulous little park. I had no preconceived notions of this area... and while I do agree on a level it feels underwhelming, I don't think I would say I was disappointed. I wish more Disney Parks could save space like this for green spaces. When and if I eventually make it to the East Coast, I will enjoy this for what it is, and I hope more people will warm up to it.

Love this take on it!! I think it looks amazing. I went to Epcot in 2012 for the first time and I thought the whole future world area looked like an empty mall. Lots of concrete and walls. So to me this is an amazing upgrade.

Backwards usually works for Epcot. If Disney had placed Spaceship Earth by the lake, it would have felt as if they tried too hard to replicate the success of the castle parks. Where the sourness lies is not in what they did, but what they didn’t do. They refused to update Spaceship Earth from its only unpleasant version to give it its long overdo overhaul. That would have tied the “new”Epcot to old EPCOT Center. Then, there is poor Imagination. A re-imagined Imagination would tie the original attraction into whatever they could imagine for the future, with Dreamfinder and without Idle of course. These two pavilions are elephants in the room at WDW. I would have accepted Wallcot for another 10 years had Disney started with these two former great attractions. They put the cart before the horse. This example of going backwards has backfired. It was a big misfire.

Hey Brickey! Nicely done! I really like your take on the new World Celebration area in EPCOT, especially the possibilities you shared for future transformations. Though I haven't seen it yet, I think I feel the same way about the park-like setting being a temporary "stepping stone" approach, and it really is a nicely done "park". I think while they were building Moana's Journey of Water, they could have run some pipes over to the "vagina" to make an entertaining fountain. But, as you say, that might have been more permanent than they want to go for now. I especially like your use of the Walt Disney statue at Dreamer's Point in this video. Very effective use there. I appreciate all of your videos and work.

Wow, thanks Brickey, You made me look at this project with new eyes. And you're right. Walt wanted these types of spaces for his city. I just wish Disney would stop promising the moon!

I haven't been with the Communicore update - but I LOVE the new World Celebration area with the plaza, the Walt statue, and even the Moana walk-through. At night especially, that plaza is simply magical.

If this was the response to prepare for the arrival of Epic Universe they beyond missed the mark. This whole build out wreaks of Chapeck. As usual the concepts were there, but the execution was lacking. We can only hope this travesty gets some love. Thanks as always Brickey for keeping it real.

In a digital sea of face-value, reactionary reviews this was very refreshing to watch.

Thematic birthing canal! 😮 I can’t unsee it. 😅 Thanks, Brickey!

Brickey, If your looking for Walts idea's on urban planning you will find them in new cities around the world. Dubai is just one example. The new open park like spaces in and around Singapore have more wow factor both day and night. Than what we have here. I wonder why Disney did'nt send anyone to take a look? Communicore Hall, on the inside just looks like a campus cafeteria. Disney used to win Design awards once upon a time but not this time. All a bit sad really. More so when you think of all the years it took to build. Cheers, Chris Perry.

One day I’ll be there to visit Epcot-Manny Avocado

I have 2 copies of the poster they released showing the multi story festival building.

I question how well the maintenance will be on the Communicore building with those "windows"......the upkeep on Tron has been lax and those pristine white "canopys" get black mold that grows like wild fire....and in this Florida weather, those windows are going to get gross and moldy as well (unless they have been treated with something that will help prevent that). I know: I am not thinking like a designer...I'm thinking like the mom who has to clean up that stuff!

The construction went on for so long that I forgot what it looked like before the walls went up.

Great perspective as always. Would be so fascinating to know what Communicore Hall actually cost versus what the original building was projected to cost. When something is truly received poorly, Disney does revise their plans, think, superstar limo, the first revamp of journey into imagination, or even the Star Wars hotel. Someone should start a pool to see how long there is a major revision to the section of the park, a new fountain? A new festival center? Two years? Five years? 10 years?

I feel like regime change is a possible explanation for the lackluster result. New leadership hadn't bought in to what old leadership promised, so they dialed it back to meet the commitment, but nothing more.

The Epcot theme park was not Walt's idea. Walt wanted to build an actual city, based on the latest urban planning concepts, in which people lived and worked. However, after Walt died, Disney executives didn't want to be in the business of running a city, so they decided to instead build a theme park based on the idea of a permanent world's fair, with pavillions for showcasing technologies and countries. As for Communicore Hall, for better or for worse, Disney built that to be a multipurpose building that would serve as a venue for corporate events and to support various Epcot festivals.

They really just need to change the name of EPCOT, there is nothing EPCOT about it anymore.

Hey Walt (lol)! And, Hey Brickey - wondering about the music playing @ Epcot, and if you're risking a copyright strike? As a novice KZfaqr, I'm preparing to release some long-lost 90's footage of mine from the monorail, and curious if the announcements/voiceover will result in a copyright strike ... thoughts? Appreciate you as always - keep up the great work!

I think the first mistake was putting Tron Light cycles in the Magic Kingdom. They should have created a "Tron Experience" in the future world area of Epcot. Imagine not just the light cycles, but an areal dog fight attraction similar the the climax of the second movie. Maybe figure out a way to include the "disc wars"? And why not an "End of the Line" club inside? This could have become the flagship attraction for the park had Disney invested the time and energy into it. The other thing missing is shade. Dotting the park with hanging tarps where guests could sit for a minute, maybe drink from a fountain, and catch their breaths would be helpful. This park needs rides and attractions.

I wouldn't even mind if everything they built is permanent and instead they focused on finally putting in the Rhine river cruise boat ride in Germany since the ride building already exists and also maybe the building the Mary poppins ride as well.

between the hotels, DVC and Golden Acres WDW is a city people live in

Budget cuts and the shut down wrecked the 2019 concept art…I agree with you that the Festival Pavilion getting the axe was sad…That would have been such an awesome piece of architecture and even had a landscaped roof.

I completely agree. I think we got the “camp Mickey and Minnie” version of EPCOT. This is a place holder for 5-10 years until they have the time to develop a permanent solution and create the budget for it. The project that was actually green lit was more than a decade in the making. They had the worlds worst timing for construction that meant the had to vault and figure out FAST what to do with what they just destroyed…. This is a bandaid. We will get the real announcements for what’s to come in the next few years.

EPCOT's Future World is such an interesting space that fell victim to some of the same issues that plague Tomorrowland. The optimistic look towards what's possible in the future, which were originally dependent on the companies that sponsored the area to update, just isn't practical. I know they wanted to remove that look towards what's possible in the future, so the area doesn't feel outdated in a year, but Disney continues to struggle with the gap between their original concept art and the end result. I love EPCOT and what it stood for, but Future World did need an update. I just wish the update would have lived up to the standard of the original concept art that was released. As always, great video. Your focus on the design of the Disney parks is fascinating and is truly unique.

Good point.

As a west coaster, I've visited Disneyland 100's and 100's of times but have only made the trip to Florida once. Of the 4 parks there EPCOT was the most impressive even with the walls up. If you consider Walt's original vision of what EPCOT was to be then what currently exists is merely the welcome center for what has not been built. With the company now building a large tract of luxury homes in the Palm Springs area who's to say that they won't end up building a true EPCOT sometime in the future.

The vagina reference was hilarious. Hard to believe the imagineers never noticed the similarity. Reminds me of the cover for the little mermaid DVD. They didn’t catch that and that was even more obvious.

The design elements look decent and a lot of effort was put in. I visited a month or so before you did. I think people are already sad about certain rides being replaced by movie IPs betraying the edutainment theme of the park. Some take the new redesign as another slap in the face. I do miss many of the elements of the 90s and 00s. I'm still on the fence, but i'll have fun wherever I am.

What this is for me is the foyer at Riviera. For a four star hotel/DVC resort the foyer is underwhelming. When imagineering is allowed to create you get Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge; a wow factor. I don't get that as I walk into World Celebration. The original dream was "Wow" but then the budget for "Chapeked". Unfortunate.......

In my opinion, Epcot should always be evolving because of the concept of the park. Time is still moving and things are still evolving. So I think, the park should not ever be “finished”.

❤

I appreciate this video, and your many different approaches to thinking about the new center of EPCOT. However, I like to dream big (as I know you do, too), and I feel that this signals a failure of Disney to dream big. You might be right that this is a temporary measure until something better comes along, but it leaves me with no hope of that.

Are we not gonna talk about “thematic birthing canal” lol

Hey Brickey, I hope you are right, and that it’s not accountaneers skimping.

This was certainly a very interesting take on this whole area, especially the part about the vagina planter. Overall I do think the area is actually pretty good. All this area really needs to do to be good is the fountain of Nations and better themed communicor Hall other than that I don't think many people would have a problem.

The park/garden looks like one of the newer meta campus parks after they started having budget cuts in 2020. If one of their original roof top or classic campus parklets were replaced with that; you would have upset employees. The food offerings I have seen in that area, meta has better food too, even after they gutted the funding. I hope you are right on future expansion

6:30 false. everyone who has EPCOT as their favorite park, goes BECAUSE of the park-like vibe...and the festivals (because we don't have a worthy nighttime spectacular, any more.) Future World is still great, but it's not as great as we were promised. It's amazing at night. Even Communicore Hall is amazing, at night (go to the other side of World Showcase, and look across).

What gets me is that this minimalistic effort to fix Epcot’s problems is still more effort than they have put in to solve Tomorrowland’s problems. I still think you are giving them too much of a pass here.

18:30 things got a little weird there Brickey! 😜

Let's see what took the same amount of time building EPCOT originally. Oh...oh...well that's, uhm cute.

There's no Imagination to the Imagineering of EPCOT. 2:23 IT was all Cost ✂️ cutting at the base. 3:09

It looks like they built it out for Live Entertainment areas. Walt's EPCOT was meant to be ever changing as technology and lifestyles change. I still hope for a truly built out city like he wanted. Not in my lifetime I imagine.

They spent 5 years to move dirt and make a concrete hot plate. The 1980’s EPCOT offered so much in style, education, and future imaginations…… Disney movies loose money and soon their parks will follow. What the actual hell is going on with this company? Fix yourself and find the talent you need.

SHAME ON YOU, Disney! You upset Brickey! (and the rest of us)

Too bad you missed peak EPCOT. 1988 to 1993 was the best time since it still had 99% of opening day EPCOT and the phase 2 elements. However, 1999 & 2000 were enhanced by the millennium celebration and a great time to be there. The audacity of the original EPCOT attractions and park design was and still is unmatched in the US.

That background music seems really loud.

What an unrelieved eyesore. As if taking out the water feature in front of universe of energy wasn’t enough, now they have removed the much needed active water fountain in center court and replaced it with a static desert of concrete and spare greenery. Yikes! In Florida, yet! Talk about a wrong design move. Also, the statue of Walt is humiliating. A very bad remodel indeed.

Brickey… “Walt’s dreams for Epcot were a bit ambitious.” Yea that’s true but if you look at what the man accomplished in his lifetime I don’t think his vision for Epcot would’ve been impossible for him to create. The problem is I think he is the only one that could’ve created it.

Also, I would love to have Imagination Pavillion brought back to its former glory. So sad this pathetic, downtrodden pavilion still exists 😢

Just dont get how they decided to tear down half of communicore building, just to rebuild a smaller version? Do not like the idea that all of Disneys new stuff seems to be designed to be in your local mall or hotel/hospital,

I know next to nothing about Epcot. Last time I was there it was 1992 and I was 7. But I actually get a really great vibe from this. It's clean, sleek, open, modern and inviting. A lot classier than I remember it. That view of the ball is fantastic.

Brickey, you crack me up "fun fact, I came from a vagina" But all seriousness, I havent seen the space in person, but I appreciate the seating areas and shade and potential flex space. Anyome else tired of eating festival food on top of a garbage can?

There was only one time at Epcot where I said “this sucks” and it was right after journey into YOUR imagination.

Hey Brickey Journey of Water video where is it

No doubt it is not as good as originally promised, but I do think it's much better than what was there before. Maybe not the fountain. That was a mini show a lot of people enjoyed. The rest is just nostalgia. How it was right up to construction started was not good. What is there now isn't leaps better, but it is better.

😂Best fun fact, ever!

WOW. A. PARK WITH BENCH

They should do an audioanimatronic show where Walt Disney returns to see what they've done to his "city of the future." Make it where he Three Stooges slaps Bob Iger and Bob Paycheck.

Brickey, enjoy the channel but your being waaaay too nice and optimistic about the new EPCOT Hub. As a WDW AP and an 80's baby that grew up with the original EPCOT, this place is a disaster now. Cominicore Hall will be here for the long run, especially with how current Disney builds things. No way it's a place holder for a few years. Had Disney built this in say 12-18 months cool it is what it is. But the timeline it took to build this makes it a complete joke. I don't even see how this is going to change even during a festival. It is flat out boring, at night with the lights it looks a little better, but not much. After seeing how jaw dropping EPIC Universe is going to be just down the road, it's a shame Disney can't keep up. My expectations for D23 are extremely low.

I hate what Epcot has become because while I understand that they couldn’t create what Walt dreamed of, it at least used to have the essence of Walt’s dream. Epcot should be a park that educates & inspires. We were just in Disney last week. On the way there my 8 year old son only asked about 3 rides Slinky Dog, 7 Dwarves, Living with the Land. Disney has the ability to mix education with fun experiences and when it comes to Epcot I feel like they have a responsibility not only to us but to Walt’s legacy to provide that. They need a 5th gate so that Epcot can be Epcot again.