Vote of the week: What country should be added to Epcot?

August 8, 2008 at 12:36 PM · Where is Australia? Its both a country and continent and not represented at Epcot.

August 8, 2008 at 1:35 PM · Yeah-Yeah-Yeah...Australia with The Attack Of The Hoppity Hoppin' Roo's Ride. It could be a Dingoo/"Wallabee Back Jack" of an experience for sure. Now letz all go an have a "Vegimite Sangdwich", "cuz we come from the Land Down Under, six foot four and full of thunder"...Whooowe-Yikes, looks like I just had one of those "flash-backs" that they promised us we would likely have from those crazy 60's.

...No-Worries, but it sure did seemed like an E-Ticket Ride experiece to me though.

August 8, 2008 at 1:38 PM · Good call about Australia!

That would definitely be an exotic place indeed... I mean, where else can you see Koalas, Kangaroos, and Bearded Dragons in the wild? Not to mention Ayers Rock being a phenomenal point of interest.

I'd like the idea of Sinbad from Tokyo DisneySea.

While on the subject of Australia, they could connect Australia with the South Pacific with Surfing maybe?

August 8, 2008 at 2:04 PM · I had to go with Greece. Though I would love a rollercoaster ride from the Egyptian pavillion, living in Memphis,Tn and seeing a pyramid everyday just makes it rather "yawning". I think they could do a lot with builidings concerning Greece. I do agree with some of the others concerning Australia. If that was constructed, they could actually move the Finding Nemo Muscial there or build a Crush coaster, since the characters were heading for Sydney.

August 8, 2008 at 2:14 PM · Greece has it all in my opinion,

You got the Characters
You got the food
You Got the History

Though its already very Western slanted. We need more of the middle east/Africa. Probably more middle Western like Jordan

August 8, 2008 at 4:20 PM · i would love egypt. I didn't put australia only because i couldn't think of an attraction that could go here. i would love any feedback on what you guys think could be a possible attraction.

August 8, 2008 at 6:48 PM · Brazil...might as well make some of the tour groups feel at home... and maybe they'd add a Carnivale attraction...!!!

August 8, 2008 at 9:35 PM · I agree about India being a good addition, however, Islands of Adventure already had the Sindbad stunt show so there might be a rights issue to have a Sindbad show at EPCOT. I think Brazil would be the best and freshest new country. Besides a Carnivale show, it can also have Amazonia displays which fits in with EPCOT's overall theme.

August 9, 2008 at 2:11 PM · Australia would be great but it deserves more than an Epcot pavilion. It should get it's own land at Animal Kingdom.

How about a pavilion from a South American nation like Brazil? It could have some sort of Amazon themed flume ride.

August 9, 2008 at 6:35 PM · India would be a great addition to EPCOT. It's very unique when compared to the other asian countries of Japan & China. The food and the culture would make an amazing addition. An aladdin ride might not be bad either.

August 9, 2008 at 11:42 PM · I think those are all great ideas, but I'd rather see something African, specifically a part of Africa less represented in American pop culture than Egypt. Egypt already has a strong place in American/European minds, what with mummies and Biblical stories and all that. There's even an Egypt section at BGA. What about, say, Ghana? I imagine Disney could create a wonderful attraction or show based on the Anansi tales, which have spread throughout the world.

August 10, 2008 at 11:22 AM · I didn't choose - I liked the country options, but not the attraction suggestions. An Egyptian coaster? You mean, like, The Mummy?

August 11, 2008 at 1:51 AM · I would have voted for Egypt and a Pyramid Roller Coaster, but right away, that reminded me way too much of Space Mountain, one of my all time least favorite rides anywhere. I agree that Australia should be added to Animal Kingdom. That would be perfect...

I voted for India, because I have long thought about how exciting and beautiful a Magic Carpet Ride could be. Think of the escape from the Cave of Wonders... Flying over the moonlit sands of the desert, and the Nile. Flying over the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids... all with that wonderful song from Aladdin playing, or not... Or, Adventures of Sinbad with the music of Sheherazade playing. And other possible adventures on a ride like that. Might be expensive to do it right, and big enough... like really, really huge. But I like the India, Aladdin or Sinbad, and Taj Mahal idea much more than the others.

August 11, 2008 at 9:19 AM · I think you're mixing up India and Egypt.

August 11, 2008 at 10:27 AM · actually morroco and india. the aladdin ride deserves to be in morrocco. i would like to see the musical or a flying carpet ride, like the one at busch gardens europe.

August 11, 2008 at 1:27 PM · I agree with Australia and Greece, as already mentioned.

I've been to a few Middle Eastern countries (which aren't really represented in World Showcase) but I can't really think of how it would be setup. (FYI - Morocco is technically in Africa, although they do represent the Arabic culture well.)

Brazil would be a good representation for South America.

August 11, 2008 at 2:27 PM · Freedonia! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedonia#Freedonia_in_Duck_Soup)

Their moto: "Land of the Spree, and the Home of the Knave!" Tell me that doesn't swing for anybody wearing a lumpy football name tag and lounging in front of a MAC. Translate it into Chinese, it's tattooed on design and development flesh around the globe.

Sure, sure, I hear you purists (full disclosure: "purist"): Freedonia is a non-existent country. But so what? Canada's represented there and how real has it ever been?

Downside: being a non-real place, it'll be a little more difficult to find someone to pony up the dough needed to get the thing built. But, in these days of modern times, it's getting pretty tough to find ANYONE with any dough to pony up for ANYTHING (note to my creditors: I'm not a deadbeat, exactly, I'm simply celebrating my role in the overall early-21st century zeitgeist).

Upside: no meddlesome "authorities" to muck up designing something fun!

Bonus: popcorn and lemonade wagons are a part of the national identity! (http://skyjude.users.btopenworld.com/Images/ducksoup04.jpg)

More Edgar Kennedy! MORE EDGAR KENNEDY!

August 11, 2008 at 3:21 PM · From what I understand, AUSTRALIA is already on the "mental drawing boards" for ANIMAL KINGDOM. With all the money being poured into DCA, though, it might be some time till that happens. And we all know how quickly WDI can change its mind. I haven't heard much about it lately.

Also, way back in 2000, the corporate relations guy (in charge of large corporate accounts with countries) told me that conversations were ongoing with both Egypt and Russia -- HOWEVER, at that time, both countries balked at the price tag of paying for a pavilion. I guess they have to pay for the pavilion themselves. But that was 8 years ago...I'm not sure that Russia will be the best political choice right now, with the whole invading Georgia thing going on.

My vote would definitely be....anything new.