After submitting my proposal form at the end of level 5, it appeared that my idea of observing the place of design in theme park environments was somewhat ambiguous, even when refined to one park: Disney's Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Florida.
So after working in EPCOT, Walt Disney World over the summer break, I have refined my idea down to a question based on my observations from working in the park:
'How and why has EPCOT park lost it's original purpose of showcasing future innovations?'
In 2014, after the recent announcement that a 'Frozen' themed ride will replace Maelstrom in EPCOT's World Showcase.
What was Walt Disney's original idea for EPCOT?
How was the idea developed to be realistically realised? IE changed from a real city to a theme park?
How did the original EPCOT live up to the original expectations of Walt by showcasing and exploring future innovations?
What indicates the loss/ decline of this original idea over the years? IE different original rides being replaced with entertainment rather than edutainment
When/ why was this original idea scrapped?
Why are rides like 'Living with the Land' 'boring' and 'Soarin'' so popular?
Why does Disney keep replacing and capitalising on entertainment over edutainment?
Why has the 'good' rides been left to become outdated? or obsolete?
Is this incline with a cultural phenomenon in the first world of people in particular children not wanting to learn and only be entertained?
Has modernisation, globalisation and the techno-aged caused EPCOT DisneyWorld to become 'boring'?
Is EPCOT's original concept become obsolete? IE internet hosts all ideas about innovation
Did EPCOT only prolong the inevitable force of the decline in interest in the concept of a World Fair/ Expo?
Are the attention spans of the modern day Walt Disney World guest quicker than those of the 1982 guest?
How and why has the guests changed since it's opening in 82?
Why is Frozen the number one animated film of all time?
Have the techo- generation become desensitised?
Is the loss of Maelstrom negatively a reflection on society clinging onto what's left of culture and legacy at the hands of globalisation and modernisation?
Why are guests unimpressed with the world showcase nowadays?
Has the original concept for EPCOT park surpassed itself? come full circle and technology it wished for has replaced it?
