Here's my final thoughts on both, and I'm done with the topic altogether.
The Wand: I am a Disney park traditionalist, and while I like seeing change/renovations to the parks to keep it fresh with the original vision still intact (i.e. Pirates of the Caribbean refurb), I see no purpose in the initial construction of the wand. I don't have any "original" hatred toward it, but share the sentiments it took the sole 'weenie' of EPCOT and just crapped all over it. SSE was majestic in itself and seemed even moreso in its perspective as you walked closer to it, but just seemed half the original size when the Wand was built. Made the original idea behind SSE's design almost meaningless. Everyone knows that's EPCOT; we didn't need a huge billboard advertising it. The wand just seemed out of place, and if it lasted only one year, I'd have no problem...but it just became more of an eyesore as time went by. I'm glad to see it go, but won't say it's the best thing that's EVER happened.
The Attraction: I've always had an appeal to Spaceship Earth. My first vacation to WDW was in 1987, when i was four years old. I only remember two things from that trip: The Haunted Mansion stretch room and the top of SSE and the dramatic music (which, 19 years later I learned was 'Tomorrow's Child'). Every trip we've ever made to EPCOT, I insisted my family ride it. It bored them, but fascinated me. I'll always have an attachment to this attraction and have very high expectations going into this rehab that it will remain close to the original (at least the first half, up to the top), and that the second half will remain, again, true to the original vision of the attraction. I, too, will miss the current narration and score and thought they were brilliant. Still, I have not yet been disappointed with SSE EVER (except the lengthy absence of a postshow), and pray I won't be disappointed in November when it reopens. I can't wait.
Thank you very much, SSE, for years of enjoyment thus far, and I can't wait to see what the future brings.
"Tomorrow's Child...for the future world is born today"
"We now have the ability -- and the responsibility -- to build new bridges of acceptance and cooperation between us. To create a better world for ourselves and our children, as we continue our amazing journey aboard Spaceship Earth..."
