A thought about Horizons

[Dragonrider1227]

If Horizons was to be the attraction that encompassed all of Future World, shouldn't THAT have been the ride in Spaceship earth rather than a ride about communication? Seriously. It's the symbol of Epcot and Future World. Therefore, the symbol of Epcot should've had the ride that encompassed all of what Future World (And thus half of Epcot) was all about. Just a thought

 

[Hakunamatata]

If Horizons was to be the attraction that encompassed all of Future World, shouldn't THAT have been the ride in Spaceship earth rather than a ride about communication? Seriously. It's the symbol of Epcot and Future World. Therefore, the symbol of Epcot should've had the ride that encompassed all of what Future World (And thus half of Epcot) was all about. Just a thought

I think at the core of all societal advancement has been the ability of humans to communicate at such a higher level than other animals/life forms. So I think that the focal attraction in the park is appropriately themed to communication.

 

[Dragonrider1227]

a good thought

 

[Goofyernmost]

I think at the core of all societal advancement has been the ability of humans to communicate at such a higher level than other animals/life forms. So I think that the focal attraction in the park is appropriately themed to communication.

I don't have a solid answer for that except to say that EPCOT was a compilation of attractions that all, in one way of the other, were slanted to indicate how we got from the past to the future. They all played a significant roll in the general mood of FutureWorld. The park Icon, was more of a futuristic external design then a futuristic story line. The Geodesic Sphere was a first in the world if I remember correctly. Nothing previous had ever been built as a complete sphere with no visible internal structural supports other then the shape of the building. But as someone said, Communication, Energy, Land, WoM, Communicore, Imagination and Horizons all complimented each other to create one giant FutureWorld theme. The future means very little without a working knowledge of the past.

 

[ChrisFL]

While I agree, I think it had to do with a few other factors. Horizons was late opening by a year. Sponsorship may have also contributed to the disparity, as Bell Systems/AT&T wanted SSE to be primarily about communication.

I do know that there were plans for the GE sponsored pavilion to be similar to an "Edison Labs" concept for Disneyland, but the relatively new CEO of GE said he wanted something more futuristic, so we got Horizons eventually.

I'm not even sure if the plan was officially to encompass themes from all of the other pavilions (remember The Living Seas wasn't even ready until 1986) or if it just worked out that way.

 

[tare]

A good idea to contemplate. Too late now though

 

[Big C 73]

I don't have a solid answer for that except to say that EPCOT was a compilation of attractions that all, in one way of the other, were slanted to indicate how we got from the past to the future. They all played a significant roll in the general mood of FutureWorld. The park Icon, was more of a futuristic external design then a futuristic story line. The Geodesic Sphere was a first in the world if I remember correctly. Nothing previous had ever been built as a complete sphere with no visible internal structural supports other then the shape of the building. But as someone said, Communication, Energy, Land, WoM, Communicore, Imagination and Horizons all complimented each other to create one giant FutureWorld theme. The future means very little without a working knowledge of the past.

We must learn to build and improve on our past. Our elders set a road before us by creating inventions that we must build on or exceed in perfection of the time. Without history, we could make no today nor tomorrow. We learn from our past.

 

[marni1971]

Perhaps. But Bell sponsored SSE and GE missed the boat.

 

[MadMax11]

I've had the very same thought a million times. Ultimately, it was about sponsors. The biggest was what is now known as AT&T, and they wanted the focal point signature attraction...and it needed to be about communication.

I've said it before here and elsewhere...to me Horizons was the very embodiment of what FutureWorld at EPCOT was all about originally. The changes, holistically, that would come with progress...that would affect you on a daily basis. Obviously the ride would have needed to be updated frequently to stay ahead of technology...but Horizons and the spirit behind that concept is what made EPCOT my favorite park.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

It seems to me that communication has been the basis of human progress and improved technology so it seems a fitting attraction to be in Spaceship Earth to me.

 

[Zman-ks]

Perhaps. But Bell sponsored SSE and GE missed the boat.

Agreed....I really think GE would of been a better sponser too.