A Brief History of Epcot's Club Cool | From Greatness to Boring

Ever wanted to know the history of Club Cool at Epcot? Today's video is pretty short, but I thought it would be fun to take a look at the highly themed Ice Station Cool, chronicling how it devolved into the rather boring Club Cool that exists in the park today.
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[@jackkilman8726]

This perfectly illustrates the problem with "modern" as a theme. People go to theme parks to escape the blandness of modern life, not be reminded of it.

[@RariettyC]

This, I feel like most WDW additions in the last couple years have felt ripped straight out of a store or restaurant at my local shopping mall. As someone in Canada, it feels like there's no reason for me to spend the time or money going anymore if I could save by going anywhere else and getting a similar experience, including many places that are within a 30 minute drive of me

[@cardman1031]

Exactly and I think the executives only care how cheaply they can make stuff in order to maximize profits. Their idiotic reason is people dont care about themes anymore which is total BS.

[@grumblevolcano9485]

@@RariettyC 100% accurate. I live in the south east so Disney has always been a destination for family trips and I’ve watched it slowly change into something both unrecognizable and boring. The last time I went was probably like 4 or so years ago whenever they started making major “renovations” and additions to EPCOT. The only park that was pretty much exactly the same was Animal Kingdom (minus the addition of the Pandora area which i thought was actually pretty cool). All the other parks had entire areas changed or replaced. The Muppet/Movie set area of MGM studios was gone. Epcots innoventions areas were all closed and awaiting demolition. Magic Kingdom was largely unchanged but had lost some minor elements (theme pieces and decor) for no real reason. About a year and a half ago my sister and cousin went to Disney for a graduation trip. Sister told me that all of future world and innoventions was gutted or under construction. Said she went into mouse gears, a store which once had an awesome theme that made you feel like you were in a cartoon factory, and found that it had been turned into just a normal store with modern interior design that you could find at a regular clothes store. Epcot is my favorite park because of its retro future theme and the way Disney has just bulldozed future world really leaves me a little bitter. There are other numerous changes that I feel ultimately detract from the WDW experience as I remember it but that list is far too long and this comment has turned into a rant so I’ll just end it with this. I’m done with WDW as it’s clear that they don’t care about even trying to preserve park history, this new modern loom they’re going for sucks and they’re pushing IPs way to hard throughout all the parks.The only time I’ll be going back to Orlando for a theme park destination is whenever Nintendo land opens.

[@FeatheredWingz]

@@RariettyC Yes! Fellow Canadian, here...my sis and I went with a high school trip back in 2015, and it was the only time we've been; my family was never in the financial situation to do destination vacations. But I had grown up hearing stories from classmates about some of the cool classic attractions & was so excited to finally experience them, thanks to high school group discount! But modern Disney had already started bland-ifying/shutting down a lot of iconic classics by the time we made it (maelstrom at epcot had just been shut down for the Frozen re-fit). And something that really struck me was how generically-themed and same-y all of the stock in gift shops not directly attached to an attraction exit, were. I found more unique & novelty items when i got back home, in the local Disney stores!! Now, it sounds like it's getting worse...(And the brick n mortar Disney shops are closed in Canada now, to boot D: ) With WDW especially, the bulk of visitors are still not locals who can just pop by. A lot of pay quite a lot for this experience, as you've pointed out. Why do they think travellers will continue to be willing to pay the premium Disney prices for generic, gentrified guest experiences at their parks???? People HAVE been continuing to pay until now, but that's changing. It's hard to bluff the drop in quality, with dedicated youtubers like this who break it down, before vacationers settle on the best vacation experience worth their money. I think the reputational and financial consequences of the Chapek-era decisions are really showing that legacy rep runs it's course when the ball is dropped often enough.

[@ms.dragon1918]

@@grumblevolcano9485 i blame that people don't do anything about it, yes people can complain on the internet but i wish people like them would just collectively tell the rest of the population to not go to Disney. show them what is going on show them the boring theming and compare to what Disney was before, tell the people to stop going to Disney and don't give them any money no matter what they do (like merch, movies, clothing, etc.) until they stop what they're doing and go back to how they were before. that is the one way they will pay attention instead of protesting or something.

[@raphaelyounes4308]

The main reason I follow this channel is to get this kind of extremely specific and also importantly critical kind of content. Keep going, you're doing your part to make Disney a better place.

[@alexandravalentina4854]

I miss the geeky, colorful, and quirky theming of Epcot. I feel the park is really not the same anymore, a lot of future world ( especially connections cafe and the new gift shop) have a very corporate feel about it. It has lost its character

[@Rhewin]

Which is ironic because it was arguably the most corporate park with all the sponsorships. When I was a kid it was my favorite of the parks. I went back last year and was very disappointed. Everything that made it unique was just gone.

[@mortenv15]

I loved the charm that Electric Umbrella and Mouse Gear had. I'm totally with you on the corporate feel of Connections Cafe and Creations Shop. I find both to be very bland and lacking in personality. Future World used to be my favourite part of Disney World before all the changes :(

[@luma4902]

The first version seems so fun. Talking about lack of theming there is a backlash in the community recently about the refurbshiment of the themed hotels that seems to untheme them to make more generic. Maybe you could talk about that someday? A video essay on the topic could be pretty good ive seen only New focus channels talk about it.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I've thought about it, but I don't want to become known for my "Disney negativity". Plus, I've been calling this out for quite a while with the Riviera Resort and the Grand Floridian Lobby and I would be repeating myself. I do fully expect to see Disney hotels continue to decline though, so I'm thinking of doing a video focusing on the failures of Imagineering perhaps later next year.

[@vennsync8480]

I miss Club Cool, even though the floors were always weirdly sticky. The new area is just… so plain.

[@TheBeefTrain]

At some point it appears Disney either decided the immersive theming it's known for was either too expensive, or everyone involved no longer has the creativity we've previously seen. For reference, see resorts like Port Orleans vs new glorified versions of Hyatts such as Riviera. I suspect they no longer want to spend the money and land on providing vast sprawling experiences like their previous offerings when they can cheaply stack people on top of each other at a reduced cost.

[@dayoldbread1696]

@@PoseidonEntertainment don’t worry honestly most of us here would love to see more videos where you rightfully criticize Disney. Of course not every video has to be negative like you said, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a few negative ones too. I’m a huge fan of Disney but lately disney has been lowering quality, charging more, even is insulting guests behind closed doors, and is building low quality un creative rides. Of course not every ride is going to be an e ticket but with rides like web slingers they didn’t even try. They even cancelled the high budget avengers quinjet ride for a cheap avengers version of runaway railway. Disney needs to be criticized because without enough backlash they will continue to treat their guests like idiots and walking wallets, and Disney will only stop once the attendance starts dropping and they start losing money. For some reason there’s a ton of Disney fans who will rabidly defend the company/parks if you dare to say anything remotely negative about the park. I don’t know if it’s because some make Disney their entire personality or because they are clinging to nostalgia/have an obsession. Again not all are like that but that is the loud majority at least on social media. I hope Disney will change because I used to love going, and when they actually try they make some very creative and amazing rides. But at the moment everything is going downhill there sadly. I love your videos by the way because not many have the bravery to go against the mouse

[@luma4902]

@@PoseidonEntertainment i understand. now you are saying this i remember you talking about Riviera and grand floridian before in some video.

[@ninabeena83]

Man, to be an inquisitive kid at Epcot in the late 80s/early 90s again. Those were the days 😎

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I grew up in the early and mid 2000s, but even then I remember spending an entire day in Innoventions. I feel it had the same issue of quickly dating itself like Communicore did, but it felt well maintained enough at that time to still stand on its own.

[@alanzob]

@@PoseidonEntertainment I agree. I do think that the concept just doesn't work today because people don't need to go anywhere to hear or see new ideas, and a LOT of it was just really well done exhibits on cutting edge technology they visitors wouldn't know was no longer cutting edge.

[@Ataraxia462]

Visiting in 99 with my high school marching band, ice station cool was just something unexpected. I had no idea what it was or what to expect and to have the opportunity to try free soft drinks from around the world in an air conditioned environment, it was extremely memorable.

[@hclnet]

I did the same thing as well. Probably one of my favorite memories from High school was being able to march in a parade at MK.

[@EverScrolls]

I should also point out that it's insanely weird how hard it is it find Club Cool today; we had to search and it really feels hidden.

[@djr4872]

It’s really not that hard to find. Will be easier once walls come down around Epcot

[@japansfloridaman2466]

I visited recently and couldn't find it. I thought it had all just been ripped out and forgotten. I just discovered it still existed in a walkthrough video! It looks exactly like a shop at Disney Springs that I just completely ignored it (and the small sign).

[@slimslendey3945]

I never saw the original club cool, since I was too young, but that second version is still something i miss to this day

[@charityrochford2175]

I remember doing shifts in the original Ice Station Cool. The most memorable parts were having to ‘shovel’ the snow in the front section while wearing the black and yellow costumes, and then having the freezing cold ice drop from the ceiling drop onto your back. Well, that and all the genuinely funny reactions to the sodas 🤭 Thank you for taking me down memory lane!

[@TheVloggerDude2018]

I loved club cool. Anything with theming is just awesome. It feels like theme parks are going for the “simplified” logos companies are doing these days and choosing profit and merchandising over theming. Having something like this is not only in my eyes an experience, it’s also a great way for companies to show their creativity, something I feel most parks lack today, except for something like galaxys edge or the WIZARDING world. Not saying it has to be overly themed though.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I definitely agree. I look at stuff like Pixar Pier or Avengers Campus and wonder how the company got to this point. Those would not be acceptable in the past and now has increasingly become the standard. Disney was once a trend setter, not a follower.

[@cardman1031]

You hit right on the head. Companies always cared about profits but nowadays it is beyond ridiculous. They need to squeeze out every last penny profit they can. At the end this will come back to bite them.

[@justgrace1354]

Hopefully Disney will lean so far into minimalist "theming" that they'll fall through to the other side of the spectrum and get back into the sometimes cheesy (but refreshing) overt theming

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

A lot of people have criticized the aesthetic of the Eisner era as being "too 90s" and while it does certainly reflect that time, I far prefer it to what we're getting now. Innoventions, Mouse Gear and Electric Umbrella were all terrible, but I've come to find them nostalgic. Otherwise, I felt that the old color scheme for the WDW road signs, the old design for the World of Disney and the Disney Store, and various other facets of that era aged far better than people claim it did. It went beyond just the 90s and became distinctly Disney.

[@justgrace1354]

@@PoseidonEntertainment I completely agree. I think what made Eisner great (and was noted in the Imagineering Story) was that he was a well of ideas, some great and some terrible. I don't think you can have the really great ideas without being brave enough to think of (and sometimes execute) the bad ones. And yes, distinctly Disney is a great way to put it. It may not be the best example, but the campy/cheesy aesthetic of Mickey's Toontown feels less 90s and more "Disney" despite definitely being influenced by the time and culture

[@RariettyC]

I think a lot of the homogenization is driven by Disney wanting to separate Epcot from its sponsorship model. The park being a "World's Fair" where corporations would promote themselves while simultaneously funding educational content that vaguely tied together with the products or services being sold. This philosophy tied well with Disney as a whole in the early-80s when the company was struggling. Now, Disney generally doesn’t need to sell anything except themselves and their own products, and most people come to the parks already sold on Disney. There is no accountability if they screw up, and they’re too big to fail. I feel this is also related to the way that every WDW park is gradually losing its specific theme in favor of all of them just being vaguely “Disney” themed. People generally underestimate how important sponsors were to Disney in the early years, from the moment Walt decided to build Disneyland. Without them, a lot of beloved attractions wouldn’t have existed, especially the ones that aren't attached to Disney movies. That’s definitely a double-edged sword (see: how Kodak’s involvement pushed Disney into closing the original Journey Into Imagination) but, in modern times, Disney being the sole beneficiary from their parks means that a lot of additions or revisions are going to feel like cheap Disney advertisements, and execs can justify that things like Club Cool that are sponsored by other companies don't have to be as good. I could even make a similar argument that Tokyo Disneyland not being owned by Disney has protected it from a lot of modern changes because it's in the Oriental Land Company’s best financial interest to avoid their parks coming off as cheap Disney ads that lack appeal to people who aren't Disney fans, but, unfortunately, I’ve never been and I don't know much about the corporate situation there, so it's coming from an uneducated point of view.

[@toadscoper4575]

I was honestly quite shocked when they actually reopened Club Cool in 2021, I thought for sure it was gonna be quietly canned. I wouldn’t be too surprised if Club Cool isn’t around within the next five years since Disney keeps abandoning more and more experiences each year…

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I'm sure that they are contractually obligated to keep it around. I'm not sure what that contract actually stipulates though. If it's not the case that this store is required to be open as long as Disney is selling Coca-Cola products, then I wouldn't be surprised to see it go away as soon as that contract expires.

[@BearOnTheRampart]

YES!! Holy heck I thought I was going crazy! I remember visiting Ice Station Cool as a kid in 2000. For years I thought it was one big fever dream, couldn’t find any evidence of a “Coca Cola ice room” in Florida and was disappointed in the small Coke store when visiting this December past. Thank you so much for this video!!

[@CoffinFullOfBees]

The thing that I think makes Beverly get a stronger reaction is the way that it's different than the ones next to it. Like you try vegebeta, watermelon fanta, mezzo mix, and then Beverly hits your taste buds and it is so different it catches you off guard. Americans are not used to that in a soda, we tend to think of them as sugary beverages with rare less-sweet niche exceptions. We're also far less likely to have apertifs, so the context of consumption is different, and if you're a kid you're imagining people drinking it like a coke on a hot day.

[@JamesCobalt]

Fun(?) Fact: Bitter detection is much stronger in young people and the 1/4 of the population who are extra sensitive to bitterness (known as "supertasters") - especially people with certain haplotypes in gene TAS2R38. The reactions to Beverly were not necessarily for show - you may just be in the 75% of the population with little-to-no sensitivity to bitter compounds.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I figured that was the case, though I have definitely seen an abnormal number of unconvincing reactions to the drink. I think most people are just being dramatic.

[@DavidKiviat]

As soon as this video popped up the first thing I rembered was that Italian soda. I walked through this as a kid. That soda was disgusting. Decades later I still wince thinking about it.

[@Rhewin]

People definitely made a bigger deal out of it than they needed to, especially when there were large groups of teens. Gotta show of for your friends! But yes, it's not that bad. Mostly just jarring if you don't know to expect it.

[@jonleibow3604]

I used to love their parks for experiences which you could only get there, like Club Cool. Now they're just theming everything to their movies and, I can already watch their movies at home.

[@bbkangs]

The OG club cool is sooo vaguely familiar. I must have experienced it as a toddler when I was 2 or 3 years old

[@zarlus8]

We were able to go to Epcot in 2021 and 2022. I honestly thought Club Cool was for some special type of pass holder and thought nothing more. It wasn't until after riding Guardians when another rider told me to try the Beverly if I got motion sick. My first impression was "mall food court." I felt foolish after walking in and realized it was for everybody. I didn't understand the drinks were free until I saw people with small cups. I'm happy to report that after being dumbfounded at my lack of comprehension of the attraction and that the drinks were free, the Beverly wasn't bad and really helped with my motion sickness.

[@brandonpiazza6210]

I’m sure some people did ham it up when trying Beverly, but if you had tried some of the really sweet fruity sodas and got caught off guard with the Beverly, it was really shocking. I know it happened to me when I first happened upon club cool! The description didn’t say bitter and I thought something was wrong with the soda!! I almost spit it out! Granted I’d never been exposed to bitter drinks before!

[@CapitalSharkAttack]

Maybe it wasn't explicitly "educational" but it sure as hell got me interested in researching about Antarctica, anthropology and so much more. Epcot used to inspire curiosity without feeling like an educational experience. Club Cool serves as a great example of what Disney really used to be compared to the hollow, money focused husk it has now become.

[@DrewNoted]

It’s been so long (for an Orlando resident) that I’ve started to question my memory of the old “Club Cool”. Nice to have this to refresh my old memories and to show others! Beverly Soda/10

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

10/10 for me. I've definitely ordered a large Beverly from the rooftop Coca-Cola bar at Disney Springs.

[@JasonRBeing]

2 minutes in and I learned more about EPCOT/Innoventions/Club Cool, than anything else online...I never knew Ice Station Cool was built to be officially part of Innoventions.

[@RigoLeons]

I remember all of this. Of course, the original was the best. It was more than just getting a quick little drink. It was about going into someplace that was cold in the hot sun and escaping from that heat for even 10 minutes and it was kind of cool to see snow in Florida almost all year round.

[@ethansteele6366]

I remember on a Disney trip when I was 7 me and my family were at club cool, I remember being dazzled by all the options! Could it be true? Could all these be free for me to try? I quickly grabbed a cup and began trying each and every flavor of soda, upon trying Beverly I felt a wave of disgust wash over me. I hated it, it was one of the worst things I had ever tasted, I made a face that communicated my distress and my mom, noticing my anguish, rushed over to me and said “oh! Baby try this! It’s good!” My trust in my mother has never faced such a trial as this. I took as big a gulp out of her straw as I could… and to my shock, she had given me Beverly! out of options, my body took the final option to protect me from the poison… I threw up right there on the floor. And we quickly left.

[@gatsbysdead]

As a very…easily frightened child, I had remembered seeing the neanderthal in ice station cool and being terrified. For the longest time, I thought I had imagined it, thinking there was NO WAY Disney would have a corpse on display, real or fake. It wasn’t until I found footage of it a few months back that i learned that yes, yes they did.

[@greyhairedsnake9427]

I was fortunate to visit Ice Station Cool before the re-theme. It wasn't educational, but the Beverly soda was!

[@DavidBehlman]

Oh, man I had no idea they wrecked this! I remember visiting the first version in 2002 and loved it. Thanks for tempering my expectations for my eventual return to WDW.

[@djr4872]

Gotta think about the amount of space this took up just for trying different sodas from around the world. They could of just canned club cool and Fans would of been really upset. I’ve been in it twice since reopening it’s fine they don’t gotta go over the top on the theme when I’m just trying to take a break and try some sodas with family or friends.

[@UmmYeahOk]

A year or two later, during the millennium celebration, there was another ice cave area inside the millennium village, so it may have been easier and more cost effective to maintain both locations, rather than upkeep just one. Also, the ice cave entrance into Club Cool suffered the same issue the Rainbow Tunnel at ImageWorks suffered, in that people simply wouldn’t leave. This was before misters and the shaded areas, so the ice cave was a great way to seek relief from the summer heat.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I know nothing about Millennium Village, but that certainly makes it sound a lot more intriguing. I thought it was just always event space.

[@UmmYeahOk]

@@PoseidonEntertainment the millennium celebration at EPCOT was spectacular. Not only did it bring upon the Illuminations Reflection of Earth, a nonIP parade around the World Showcase, and official pin trading, but it made a huge effort in “celebrating the future hand in hand.” The Millennium Village housed several different nations (and Scotland) that wouldn’t otherwise have a pavilion. There you could experience various cultures, traditions, foods, and souvenirs. Every time since then it’s been closed. I think they call it the World Showplace now, but it’s always locked up when I go. Or at the very least, it would be guarded, as it was being used for some VIP event. An area dedicated to a future where the entire world would live together in harmony, now completely shut off, isolated, from the rest of the world. Feels a bit ironic.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

@@UmmYeahOk I vaguely know of what the event was and I've seen a few pics of Tapestry of Nations. It might make for an interesting video eventually though. I've been in the World Showplace numerous times though. They kept it open pretty frequently throughout 2020 and 2021 for some of the festivals.

[@UmmYeahOk]

@@PoseidonEntertainment I would definitely love to see an episode on this topic, even if it’s just the millennium village. There is definitely plenty of material out there for research. During the celebration, guests who participated in various activities were issued official certificates thanking them for helping in the celebration. I got one for announcing the British Invasion, the British rock tribute band that performed at the UK pavilion, but I remember seeing a video of someone getting one participating in something within the millennium village itself.

[@Yukendoit]

I've never seen Vegtabeta out here but I'm sure it's here some where. The melon soda from south africa tastes pretty good too! We have cool melon soda here that is pretty close to it.

[@monorail4252]

Making dinning reservations through video chat in the 80s at EPCOT was awe inspiring.

[@EverScrolls]

Epcot Today: No Fun Allowed

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

You're going to buy cartoon merchandise and you're going to enjoy it

[@SophieJackson1993]

I’m glad I got to visit at its peak in the 90s. I miss it. It felt truly magical as a child back then.

[@turcj]

The original Club Cool was amazing! They have downgraded so many experiences at Epcot.

[@diggingattycho7908]

I think theming should always be over the top, for the purpose of escaping reality. Just as when you go through the gate of a theme park, your phone should stop working.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I remember when smart phones were new, thinking that they would change the world in a lot of positive ways. Yet, when I see people loudly watching disposable media and not paying any attention to the world around them, or recording a dark ride with their flash on, I realize how wrong I was.

[@diggingattycho7908]

@@PoseidonEntertainment I'll bet those people who recorded those videos never watch them. I have to admit I miss the days when family/friends would show slides or home movies. That was a unique experience not everybody had the equipment to do so. While at the time we may have found it boring. Today, people stick a phone in my face trying to show me something. All I can say, "I can't see that".

[@LuvzToLol21]

I remember going to Epcot around 2005, I was probably around 10 years old at the time. Back when it was the original Ice Station Cool. Honestly the fake ice tunnel with the frozen caveman was pretty creepy. The soda sample room was awesome though, although I have a strong memory of trying some bright red Italian one that was super bitter. I almost spit it out, lol. Decades later when I tried a Negroni cocktail for the first time I was hit with that same bitter taste from my childhood. After all these years, I finally know what that red soda was.

[@CobraDBlade]

I remember visiting Ice Station Cool back in the early 2000s. During the summer it was the best place to be because it had the most powerful A/C in Disney, which was very nice to have when stepping outside felt more like getting wrapped with a wet heated blanket than anything else.

[@isseihyoudou9288]

Banger as always

[@VixenLovelove]

One of my earliest memories was walking through the Coca Cola station. I remember how cold the tunnel was and the bright orange curtains. I don’t recall drinking and Coca Cola but I still remember the space and I think that really speaks to its memorability. Sadly I don’t think many people will remember what the new club cool looks like, especially children.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

The new one is just a contractual obligation. I have no idea what that contract is, but it's clear they put no effort into it.

[@otakubullfrog1665]

It feels like modern Disney is all about building just the gift shop and not the attraction leading up to it.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

"Shopping" is the attraction. How about buying the same product that has been reskinned over the last five years?

[@PaddleTales24]

The amount of attractions I experienced as a kid that just disappeared is insane - I vividly remember going to ice station cool in Epcot but was so confused when it wasn’t there when I went back as an adult.

[@Rhewin]

I remember actually waiting in line for Club Cool back in the year it opened. That snow hallway was such a nice break in the middle of July. Went there several times over the years, and while missing the ice tunnel, I still enjoyed the 2005 retheme. I will never forget my first naïve mouthful of Beverly. It really isn't that bad, just like the video said, but if you're expecting another sweet drink it's really shocking. Disappointing to see the newer version. I was there in 2022 and didn't even notice it. I figured it was just gone.

[@IAmJames]

My biggest issue with the new club cool is that you simply face the wall to get a drink. It’s like a cafeteria or Soviet bread line. Face the wall, taste your drink, leave. Old club cool you faced everyone else who was getting drinks. There were tables to stand at and talk around. It was like a party lounge.

[@bjvincent8786]

Great video and great research because I totally forgot about the original iteration of this place. Well done.

[@Platzergraph]

Weirdly, Ice Station Cool was one of my favorite parts of the park when I was a kid. It was something that both of my parents would participate in (since my mom wouldn't ride many of the bigger rides, or would only do so begrudgingly). It also helped me understand that different countries had different products and tastes, which is a huge thing to try to understand as a kid! And silly as it may be, the different sodas always stoked my family's interest to travel and try new things. Odd how such a minor attraction can make such an impact! And the hallway with the snow was cool too 😅

[@sirtristanwilliamforsterth1993]

You my friend are one of the few people that know true core of creativity, your videos always promote what a true epcot should be. It's a shame so much of this was lost but I'm glad you continue to spread insight of what once was.

[@jerseyforhawks]

Ah Club Cool, once really neat and a piece of the puzzle. Now a soda fountain.

[@xguitarist_]

Still mad to this day that mezzo mix and kinley were taken out and there’s no way to buy either of them in the US without imports

[@lilclerk]

Justice for Smart Watermelon

[@canwenot573]

Vegita Beta was also surprisingly good. When I first saw it I expected it to be nasty like V8 Fusion, but it was far better. Mezzo Mix was the best, though.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Inca Kola is easy to find, at least in Orlando.

[@UmmYeahOk]

“Do you want to be an imaginear when you grow up?” “No! I want to be a coologist!”

[@KzintiCV]

I visited Epcot for the first time (sadly) in 2021 and I didn’t even know this was a thing so that shows how much they care about promoting it.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I don't think they do. I'm unsure of what contract Disney has with Coca-Cola that requires a location, but I'm sure if they had the choice, this would no longer exist.

[@JakeCoasters]

Wow what a fun surprise! Love these types of videos

[@Wesida515]

I loved this version so much! I remember it well from when I was a kid!

[@RosinGoblin]

Omg I was just thinking about the ice cave entrance with the orange snow vehicle! Thats the earliest memory I have and had no clue what it was lol

[@76fordjunky]

Wife and I visited the original version back in 1998, was a fun experience

[@kaitfries5653]

I went to Epcot in February of 2022. I tried one soda, and went back for another. As I was going back for another, a cast member told me I am not allowed to try any other sodas now since I tried one. I was thinking,”but hey, isn’t that the whole draw of club cool? To try different sodas made by Coca-Cola from different countries?” Before anyone asks, I am not making that up :(

[@kaitfries5653]

I meant I went back to try a different soda

[@heretictom]

Great video!

[@catpella]

I loved Ice Station Cool so much, thanks!

[@Real_Bossclips]

Disney Springs has this exact problem. It went from a Disney Outlet mall to any other Outlet Mall. Walking through it nowadays, you can't even tell you're even in Disney anymore.

[@billymanziel5666]

I love how niche this channel is

[@thedadwars]

I used to drag unsuspecting friends and family in to Club Cool to try a shot of The Beverly, a really awful tasting beverage that was free to sample.

[@Trenacker]

This is sadly spot on. The problems with Disney today start with the letter B.

[@ZeroJinxNero]

When I was really young, I was scared of walking through the ice caves. There wasn't any music and it was eerie. I get why my parents didn't mind cause it was a break from the heat and free drinks, but the caves will stay in my memory.

[@hmcglone4325]

Yes!! I remember slipping and sliding through the ice cave!!

[@nicholasforgione5596]

Great video! I appreciate your channel so much, and hope that this type of content will reach Disney leadership one day. It is a shame that Disney has gotten so lazy when it comes to sponsorship integration, the lack of trying to integrate or hide it is becoming unbearable at this point. Club Cool as well as original Test Track were shining examples of how you can integrate sponsor dollars while also providing a premier customer experience.

[@ShadowDragon-cw7wb]

Gotta love the Beverly vine content!

[@Rexini_Kobalt]

I have the vaguest memories of visiting epcot in 2010... revisiting in 2016 and again in 2022, all i know for a fact is that all my favorite sights and rides from my 10 year old selves memories are gone, and will never return. I even remember back when the staff would let kids climb on the ship located in Norway, and take pictures with the cannons in the Pirates line. I remember the club cool landcrawler (although i never got to see the interior themeing), and this amazing soda I had from brazil that i never got to try again!

[@danielcurren2119]

I remember going through the ice tunnel as a kid and had fun with the cold because, well, as a Floridian cold was (and still is) a foreign concept

[@rmannayr2129]

GLAD THAT CLUB COOL IS BACK, BUT THE OG WAS BETTER!

[@radar12564]

I've been to Epcot probably 6 times - I've never been to either experience. But after seeing this video, I sorely wish I could've gone to Ice Station Cool, simply for its themeing!

[@CharlesRengel]

This reminds me of posts about the opening of "Carousel Coffee" at WDW, and how it looks bland and sterile rather than going with a complete "carousel" theme.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

That coincidentally happened as I started writing the script. It's good timing I suppose.

[@vieher]

I used to love the coke exhibit and made it a point to visit every time. We just got back from Epcot yesterday and it didn't even cross my mind to go in. 🤷🏻‍♀️ it's not an interesting space and you're right, everything is VERY generic looking in that area.

[@veronicareitherreese6671]

Love the "sucked the fun out" comment. Bland and boring is certainly becoming Disney's MO.

[@WDWCentral]

Wow, this video was such a great trip down memory lane! I remember visiting Club Cool as a child and trying all of the different sodas from around the world. It was always one of my favorite parts of visiting Epcot. In my opinion the first version didn't fit quite well with EPCOT maybe if they tried making it more about Antartica and Human cooperation, but it felt too 'Taky' I don't feel as if the new version is bad because EPCOT is a park focused on the Contemporary so the new theme fits in OK the only complaint is that it's too small for the demand. Thank you for sharing this video and bringing back some great memories!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I kind of have to disagree. I think that Ice Station Cool made a lot of sense with the aesthetic of Innoventions. However, as much as I liked it, I agree that Innoventions overall didn't really fit Epcot. I also don't agree at all that Epcot should be contemporary. Its World's Fair theme should always be looking forward. The park today is just a contemporary shopping mall, which I could easily find outside of Disney.

[@WDWCentral]

@@PoseidonEntertainment EPCOT was always about Today(contemporary) and tomorrow and the past, but Innoventions was a huge mistake that ruined EPCOT for many years the fact the removed the natural lights

[@Mockingdragon]

My god, I'd completely forgotten the original club cool. I remembered enjoying going inside because it was air-conditioned, and I remembered the vague shape of all the different machines, but the whole ice cave theming had slipped my mind. I'm glad at least there's still the soda-tasting experience today but wow.

[@jennajoybrown]

Thank you for covering the history of this. My family and I visited it to taste the Beverly soda in 2018, but recently went in November of this last year and I assumed they just didn’t have it anymore. What’s with the bland, tiny store heading font? My guess is that most people won’t know that it’s there. I would have loved to see its original iteration. That’s how I feel about EPCOT in general, though I still love it best of all the Disney World theme parks because of its originality in comparison to MK and Disneyland (my home park).

[@parkhopping]

Oh, the irony. How much we hated it when it opened ("why can’t they put this much effort in a ride?") and today folks wish this would return.

[@DoctorBella]

This is way cooler than what we have now!!!

[@topheradkins2275]

I loved the older versions, and filling empty water bottles with watermelon soda. It was so refreshing in Orlando in August.

[@MovieFan1912]

I had no idea that the little store with the various sodas from around the world used to have a theme like this.

[@gingerjohnson3555]

Happy New Year! ❤️😁

[@NinthShinigami]

Beverly is easily the best soda there 😂

[@axolootlvr]

Italy on top

[@NinthShinigami]

This is a joke btw lol my favorite easily Cherry Coke 😋

[@sonic23233]

I tasted it before it was horrible

[@NinthShinigami]

@@sonic23233 it is horrible I didn’t even swallow it I spat it right out lol

[@sonic23233]

@@NinthShinigami it was in Atlanta when I was visiting my uncle

[@cataquackwarlord5389]

I remember Ice Station Cool back in the day. Even though I never had a taste for soft drinks (accidentally sipped one as a kid and thought it was horrible), it was neat to try the various drinks from around the world. And I liked the whole way you went through the icy tunnel to get inside - that was really cool!

[@michaeltaylor1603]

I experienced the 2nd version, but after seeing the 1st then seeing go down hill is SUCH a let down. The unique thing about it was the fact that this was the only place outside the World of Coca Cola (Atlanta, GA) where you could sample the flavors. This is what made Epcot so SPECIAL!

[@larrymantic2635]

Oh god, they took out the Inca Kola? That was my favorite drink there! It’s a shame they made it INCREDIBLY corpo with its “return.” I didn’t mind the one before 2019. It was nice to learn about the old version of Club Cool (which wasn’t technically Club Cool, but it’s basically the same thing).

[@santiagohunson6173]

6:35 "Beverly? more like Neverly" - JustinScarred

[@stargirl7646]

I remember mixing all the flavors together and trying it 😂😂

[@thiagofboa]

Hey, can you do a video about UAE parks? They are a little underrated in my opinion (specially WB world Abu Dhabi that is a world class park). I would like to know your opinion on their rides and park experience overall, tnks.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I've thought about it, but ReviewTyme has already covered those pretty thoroughly. Maybe in the future, but I don't think I have much to add that they haven't already said.

[@scataplaft]

Remember when Disney actually built themed things?

[@iggyelle]

Whhhyyyyy do I have no memory of this? I was going to Epcot in the late nineties! I can say that I remember when the Coke from around the world was part of the uh, exit lobby of a ride. Possibly the Energy ride pre-Ellen refresh because it struck me as such an odd match to the theming.

[@markelcraig5042]

You heard that Universal are opening to new parks in Texas, one in Vegas and Firsco, and it’s announced that the latter will be focusing on families.

[@NovakiSalem]

My family went to Disney for the first time at the New Millennium celebration in 2000 and went about every other year or so throughout the 2000s. Last time any of my family went was when my mom chaperoned when I went on a Disney Magic Music Days (for high school band) in 2011. The final time in 2018 with my girlfriend that had never been. It's been depressing watching these parks loose all their magic and somehow continue to go downhill year after year. I wanted to show my gf all the cool stuff I experienced as a kid, but hardly any of it was there anymore and instead we got Magic Bands and a shitty app that barely worked and drained all my phone battery. It was such an unpleasant and depressing experience that I don't ever care to ever go back.

[@memethyst]

i will never forgive them for getting rid of the melon frosty fanta

[@atomicbrain9401]

Club Cool? More like Club NOT-Cool, give me back Ice Station Cool

[@starsbookreviews]

I remember the 2005 version! I'm to young to remember the original...

[@bretton_woods]

Just like with TV shows and movies - execs have realised they need not pay people to build large, elaborately designed sets. People will put up with the bare minimum...or hey just throw something on a [green] screen. I miss the days when actual physical things were designed and made...remember that? Everything now looks as temporary and uninspired as a pre-fabricated McDonalds.

[@TheL12213]

Looks just like a shopping mall now. I'm not surprised people wouldn't bother going to see that when they're at Disney World.

[@DasNordlicht91]

was anyone else expecting the "discovery" of Ice Station Cool to be a polar bear, to tie in to the polar bears from Coke's commercials?

[@ashblossomandjoyoussprung.9917]

Weird thing, but I was surprised to see an ad on this video. I thought a video had to be at least 10 minutes to be able to be monetized.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I believe any video can be monetized if it's longer than a minute (unless it's a short). However, KZbin previously did not allow videos under 10 minutes to have any mid-break ads. This changed a while ago, shortening the required video length to 8 minutes.

[@jtap484]

I think bring back the club cool would be fun!

[@japansfloridaman2466]

I actually forgot that Club Cool had that cool ice tunnel! I can understand the maintenance costs being way too expensive to maintain. I just wish they kept the entrance (minus the snow and with normal air conditioning) and the mural inside the store. The next iteration was fine and worked well enough for me. But the final minimalist version is pretty inexcusable. I'd rather head to Disney Springs to the Coca Cola store because it's almost the same thing! Shop, design, and all but with more options!