EPCOT Spaceship Earth refurbishment coming soon?

[Dad 2 M & M]

One effect I've greatly missed and seems so easy to bring back is that projection of the chariot going away from us down the Roman street...it's always the "little things" for me

We miss that as well….you can still hear the horse but no visual

 

[Disstevefan1]

Incredible that they still think the absolutely abysmal flash cartoon from 2007 is an acceptable use of the final 1/3rd of the ride's time.

I wish they brought back the old return trip!

It’s all there behind black scrim. Just take down the scrim, blow out the dust and get it going again

 

[dmc493]

One of the first on this morning, opened right before 10. That boat was a ROCKIN. Other AAs seemed to be moving better but otherwise no big changes

 

[dmc493]

They did remove the turnstile bars between the exit and project tomorrow

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

One effect I've greatly missed and seems so easy to bring back is that projection of the chariot going away from us down the Roman street...it's always the "little things" for me

There have been discussions about bringing the Chariot back within the last few years. At one point it seemed so close to happening, and then WDI came into the building and ripped the old projector out.

It could technically still return, that projector bay is empty, but it’s not as easy as flipping a switch like it used to be.

 

[HMF]

Incredible that they still think the absolutely abysmal flash cartoon from 2007 is an acceptable use of the final 1/3rd of the ride's time.

What were they supposed to do? This is clearly not the refurb to fix that. That will require time and thought and things that basically can't happen in this short a time window. The fact that the designers in 07 thought that this would be an acceptable final third of the attraction is pretty much unforgivable though.

 

[HMF]

There have been discussions about bringing the Chariot back within the last few years. At one point it seemed so close to happening, and then WDI came into the building and ripped the old projector out.

It could technically still return, that projector bay is empty, but it’s not as easy as flipping a switch like it used to be.

Projection technology has advanced a long way since 1982 so it shouldn't be difficult to bring it back or maybe even improve it.

 

[HMF]

In all fairness, all he did was say he enjoyed the article. He didn’t confirm or deny anything you said.

I honestly didn't expect him to do that. Imagineers even retired ones can't really say anything that the mouse doesn't want them to say. If Tony Baxter were given a third party book contract and a few good lawyers and not concerned about his image within the company. I am sure we would get some really juicy opinionated stuff. Also, the timing of Joe Rohde's exit seemed to happen almost exactly when WDI seemed like it was in the process of dying under Bouza and Chapek.

 

[HMF]

It’s all there behind black scrim. Just take down the scrim, blow out the dust and get it going again

Actually it's not. The mannequins from the Peppers Ghost Videophone scene are still there but everything from the model city on was removed in 2007.

 

[tparris]

They did remove the turnstile bars between the exit and project tomorrow

There haven’t been turnstiles there for as long as I can remember

 

[aladdin2007]

Were probably stuck with it as is till closer to the 50th. But who knows what Disney is thinking anymore if that's even their goal, clearly they are fine with it limping along till then. That's what another 6 years or so of poor show (trip down anyway) should it close a year or so before the 50th? 25ish years by then of this current version and never completed from the getgo.

 

[dmc493]

There haven’t been turnstiles there for as long as I can remember

The metal things you walk thru, not an actual turnstile itself. Idk what you want to call them. I didn’t imagine that they used to be there right?

 

[Clamman73]

Trying to compare this year's videos to new, (besides as mentioned the boat rocking) I'd say the Phoenician guy and one of the morse code guys has more motion.

 

[Tom Morrow]

What were they supposed to do? This is clearly not the refurb to fix that. That will require time and thought and things that basically can't happen in this short a time window. The fact that the designers in 07 thought that this would be an acceptable final third of the attraction is pretty much unforgivable though.

I know this refurbishment wasn't about changing the "show", but given the time it was down, they could have maybe at least updated what you see and do on the screens. I'd rather actual scenes be reinstated, but a swap out of the media that plays on them would be very easy.

 

[Comped]

I honestly didn't expect him to do that. Imagineers even retired ones can't really say anything that the mouse doesn't want them to say. If Tony Baxter were given a third party book contract and a few good lawyers and not concerned about his image within the company. I am sure we would get some really juicy opinionated stuff. Also, the timing of Joe Rohde's exit seemed to happen almost exactly when WDI seemed like it was in the process of dying under Bouza and Chapek.

I've always said the best way to get real opinions (and the best stories) out of a higher level person in this industry (no matter an exec, Creative/WDI, or anything else) is to talk to them in person. Easier to tell you things if there's no record.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Actually it's not. The mannequins from the Peppers Ghost Videophone scene are still there but everything from the model city on was removed in 2007.

Oh, that's too bad! I assumed they would do the least work possible which would to leave everything there.

I am guessing they would have never reverted it anyway.

I presume we will be stuck with this return trip if/when there is a major update to SSE.

 

[bmr1591]

I honestly didn't expect him to do that. Imagineers even retired ones can't really say anything that the mouse doesn't want them to say. If Tony Baxter were given a third party book contract and a few good lawyers and not concerned about his image within the company. I am sure we would get some really juicy opinionated stuff. Also, the timing of Joe Rohde's exit seemed to happen almost exactly when WDI seemed like it was in the process of dying under Bouza and Chapek.

No, it’s really cool that he did that. I’d be excited too. I’m just saying he didn’t confirm any details or anything.

 

[tparris]

The metal things you walk thru, not an actual turnstile itself. Idk what you want to call them. I didn’t imagine that they used to be there right?

Oh, those are gone?

 

[AndyS2992]

I do love Spaceship Earth but a major renovation and update is sorely needed. So dusty and dated. New scenes, new animatronics, new narration, new effects, new ending. The show scenes end in the 1970s with the creation of the personal computer, apparently nothing has happened since then lol Plus the ride is rather rough so work on the track or vehicles is needed. I suppose I'm not even against them gutting it entirely and starting over.

For the flagship ride and icon of a park half themed to the future, it's very lacking in that department.

 

[dmc493]

Oh, those are gone?

Yep