Confirmed! Spaceship Earth completed according to Disney email

Skyway

Well-Known Member
But remember, the OLD show was about communication. The NEW one is about creating the future.

That story shift using many elements of the previous attraction might make it hard for the know-every-detail Disney enthusiast to grasp the new storyline. But for a newbie rider Im sure it is much more clear ( Whether the story change is good or bad is debatable, but without it, Siemens wouldn't have funnelled cash into the much-needed refurb.)

The old ride explored how we "reached out to one another. To communicate." The new one asks "Where are we going? And how did we get there?" I think most will agree that is a very "Epcot-esque" topic that fits with what traditionalists believe the park should focus on.

The first part of the ride answers the second question. Few would dispute that the SSE ascent through history is a success.

The second part of the ride tries to answer the first question: "where are we going?"

What should the Imagineers have done in that difficult-to-use descent tunnel to address that very reasonable topic of imagining the future?

They could have put 3D props and animatronics in the tunnel. But as Carousel of Progress, Horizons, The Living Seas, Tomorrowland, and other future-looking attractions have proven, the ride can get outdated very fast. With dimensional sets, it is very expensive to update, not to mention creatively-challenging to work with existing materials. Also, how do you adequately portray the future in such a confined space?

So I can see why Disney opted for a video-based ending that, in theory, could be easily updated while also being interactive.

One could argue that such video images should have been shown outside the vehicles. But many here criticize Disney for doing too much of that already in rides like Gran Fiesta and Nemo. On-ride interative screens are totally unique to SSE in the theme park world. And if choose-your-own-adventure videos could be successful in the low-tech Horizons ride, why not do a modern version here?

If you've agreed with me up to this point, then it becomes clear that the success of SSE boils down, not to the video screen itself, but to the content that appears on it.

And even though I really like the new SSE --especially the photo capture!-- and roll my eyes at some of the comments on these boards (especially by those who haven't ridden it yet), I feel the animated video could have been a little more realism-based rather than "Jetsons".

After all the scientific research that went into the original Epcot attractions, and with a major innovator like Siemens on board, I'm surprised the video does not present more probable futuristic scenarios.

Then again, maybe they didn't have enough interesting realistic subject matter for a theme park ride. If they had to chose between a hydrogen-powered Ford Explorer or an advanced medical MRI or a jetpack hovercraft, which would be more fun?

Also, people here have a definite nostalgic love of Horizons and the now-unrealistic future it portrayed. By giving the animated video a "retro" feel, they can get away with more fantasy, since the real-life future is likely more mundane (I doubt space station living or undersea bases are really in the plans anymore)

I'd probably prefer a more photo-realistc animation, especially with my photo-realistic face plastered on it. But I don't know what technical limitations there are in order to render the custom video in such a short time frame. Are the brightly-painted backgrounds easier for the computer to generate quickly?

But the nice thing about the computer screens is that they can always be changed. And after seeing Disney's recent strides with Monsters Inc Laugh Floor and their constant upgrades to Tower of Terror....Im sure they'll eventually made a fun addition even better.
 

EpcotServo

Well-Known Member
The old ride explored how we "reached out to one another. To communicate." The new one asks "Where are we going? And how did we get there?" I think most will agree that is a very "Epcot-esque" topic that fits with what traditionalists believe the park should focus on.

The first part of the ride answers the second question. Few would dispute that the SSE ascent through history is a success.

The second part of the ride tries to answer the first question: "where are we going?"

What should the Imagineers have done in that difficult-to-use descent tunnel to address that very reasonable topic of imagining the future?

They could have put 3D props and animatronics in the tunnel. But as Carousel of Progress, Horizons, The Living Seas, Tomorrowland, and other future-looking attractions have proven, the ride can get outdated very fast. With dimensional sets, it is very expensive to update, not to mention creatively-challenging to work with existing materials. Also, how do you adequately portray the future in such a confined space?

So I can see why Disney opted for a video-based ending that, in theory, could be easily updated while also being interactive.

One could argue that such video images should have been shown outside the vehicles. But many here criticize Disney for doing too much of that already in rides like Gran Fiesta and Nemo. On-ride interative screens are totally unique to SSE in the theme park world. And if choose-your-own-adventure videos could be successful in the low-tech Horizons ride, why not do a modern version here?

If you've agreed with me up to this point, then it becomes clear that the success of SSE boils down, not to the video screen itself, but to the content that appears on it.

:sohappy: to all of that.
 

ChrisFL

Premium Member
But remember, the OLD show was about communication. The NEW one is about creating the future.

That story shift using many elements of the previous attraction might make it hard for the know-every-detail Disney enthusiast to grasp the new storyline. But for a newbie rider Im sure it is much more clear ( Whether the story change is good or bad is debatable, but without it, Siemens wouldn't have funnelled cash into the much-needed refurb.)

The old ride explored how we "reached out to one another. To communicate." The new one asks "Where are we going? And how did we get there?" I think most will agree that is a very "Epcot-esque" topic that fits with what traditionalists believe the park should focus on.

The first part of the ride answers the second question. Few would dispute that the SSE ascent through history is a success.

The second part of the ride tries to answer the first question: "where are we going?"

What should the Imagineers have done in that difficult-to-use descent tunnel to address that very reasonable topic of imagining the future?

They could have put 3D props and animatronics in the tunnel. But as Carousel of Progress, Horizons, The Living Seas, Tomorrowland, and other future-looking attractions have proven, the ride can get outdated very fast. With dimensional sets, it is very expensive to update, not to mention creatively-challenging to work with existing materials. Also, how do you adequately portray the future in such a confined space?

So I can see why Disney opted for a video-based ending that, in theory, could be easily updated while also being interactive.

One could argue that such video images should have been shown outside the vehicles. But many here criticize Disney for doing too much of that already in rides like Gran Fiesta and Nemo. On-ride interative screens are totally unique to SSE in the theme park world. And if choose-your-own-adventure videos could be successful in the low-tech Horizons ride, why not do a modern version here?

If you've agreed with me up to this point, then it becomes clear that the success of SSE boils down, not to the video screen itself, but to the content that appears on it.

And even though I really like the new SSE --especially the photo capture!-- and roll my eyes at some of the comments on these boards (especially by those who haven't ridden it yet), I feel the animated video could have been a little more realism-based rather than "Jetsons".

After all the scientific research that went into the original Epcot attractions, and with a major innovator like Siemens on board, I'm surprised the video does not present more probable futuristic scenarios.

Then again, maybe they didn't have enough interesting realistic subject matter for a theme park ride. If they had to chose between a hydrogen-powered Ford Explorer or an advanced medical MRI or a jetpack hovercraft, which would be more fun?

Also, people here have a definite nostalgic love of Horizons and the now-unrealistic future it portrayed. By giving the animated video a "retro" feel, they can get away with more fantasy, since the real-life future is likely more mundane (I doubt space station living or undersea bases are really in the plans anymore)

I'd probably prefer a more photo-realistc animation, especially with my photo-realistic face plastered on it. But I don't know what technical limitations there are in order to render the custom video in such a short time frame. Are the brightly-painted backgrounds easier for the computer to generate quickly?

But the nice thing about the computer screens is that they can always be changed. And after seeing Disney's recent strides with Monsters Inc Laugh Floor and their constant upgrades to Tower of Terror....Im sure they'll eventually made a fun addition even better.

Very well written post and I agree with most of what you've said. I don't have a problem with the "interactive choose-your-future" idea, it would be wrong for me since I'm such a huge Horizons fan.

The problem is that it does nothing to promote anything real. I think a lot could have been done with this futuristic ending even with all of the same questions. I'm actually quite shocked that they didnt use this opportunity to show off the Siemens lineup of futuristic products.

I kept hearing, as Im sure most of us did, and felt intrgued by the idea of taking your photo and adding your own future. I dont think any of us expected the actual outcome to be so offbeat (and thats the nicest term I can use)

Also, per your comment,

(I doubt space station living or undersea bases are really in the plans anymore)

But why not? Disney, better than anybody should be there to help convince us to keep going toward that. I mean, it was Disney who helped in large part to convince the general public to push for space travel to begin with in America.
 

WDWFigment

Well-Known Member
^^Maybe Disney could start the push for a future where "all celebrities are spayed or neutered" at the slightest suggestion that they're an idiot. Now that's a future I long for.
 

joel_maxwell

Permanent Resident of EPCOT
Very well written post and I agree with most of what you've said. I don't have a problem with the "interactive choose-your-future" idea, it would be wrong for me since I'm such a huge Horizons fan.

The problem is that it does nothing to promote anything real. I think a lot could have been done with this futuristic ending even with all of the same questions. I'm actually quite shocked that they didnt use this opportunity to show off the Siemens lineup of futuristic products.

I kept hearing, as Im sure most of us did, and felt intrgued by the idea of taking your photo and adding your own future. I dont think any of us expected the actual outcome to be so offbeat (and thats the nicest term I can use)

Also, per your comment,



But why not? Disney, better than anybody should be there to help convince us to keep going toward that. I mean, it was Disney who helped in large part to convince the general public to push for space travel to begin with in America.
i agree with your comments and the bolded part especially. If this is the final product, Seimens did a bad job of plugging the product. i guess the name on the side of the building and in the post show is good enough.

im in the medical imaging business and our competitor is Seimens (among others). TRUST me
, they could easily "wow" people with new technologies that are on the horizon in the medical field.
 

joel_maxwell

Permanent Resident of EPCOT
^^Maybe Disney could start the push for a future where "all celebrities are spayed or neutered" at the slightest suggestion that they're an idiot. Now that's a future I long for.
especially miss spears. i think if she spawns anymore children it would be concidered child abuse. :D

i vote for this too.
 

imagineer boy

Well-Known Member
While you guys and moan, I'm going to go enjoy WDW like the rest of the sane people around here. ;)

Okay, what we've been meaning to say all this time is, Oh, Disney is SO perfect right now! There is simply nothing wrong with it. We don't know anything on what would make the parks better since we're so inferior to the great minds at Disney. We're just a bunch of fans on discussin forum, what do we know?
 

EPCOT Explorer

New Member
Ah, I can see it now: "Spaceship Earth with Nemo and friends!" Join Marlin, Dorey, and Nemo as they travel to show the history of fish communication! But oh no! Nemo is lost again! Its up to you, Marlin, and Dorey to travel across time to find him before he gets eaten by the mutant news paper boy, in this brand new attraction, utuilizing the most advanced screen technology to date, opening just in time for the ( fifteenth ) Year of a Million Dreams! :brick::brick::brick::brick::brick::hurl:

Like I said,it could be like this and much worse.

Some of you are amazing. You say things like "that simply isn't true" and expect people to take them as fact.

Do you really think it takes a lot of space for the birthday pepper's ghost effects? It takes next to none. That space is not huge, never was huge, and never will be huge because it can't be. The area where the SSE model was isn't big, wasn't big, and never will be. That model was quite small.

The descent has never been more than a glorified light show past the top 1/4 portion. It's no different now. I'm done trying to convince anyone who doesn't know the facts.

The bottom line is what has been said many times already. If you don't like it, too damn bad. Get over yourself. You think htis is a shabby rehab? That's laughable that you can overlook the entire attraction for a 150 foot stretch that hasn't changed all that much from it's original form and former rehabs. I can't believe that none of you complainers don't have anything better to do with your time.

While you guys and moan, I'm going to go enjoy WDW like the rest of the sane people around here. ;)

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)I would be happy to be in Disney every week regardless if SSE was Irons or Dench.

*thinks back to a week ago while riding SSE, every guest around me was enjoying the attraction*

*reads this thread and shakes head*

Yeah,it makes me sad too.
 

CJR

Well-Known Member
On-ride interative screens are totally unique to SSE in the theme park world. And if choose-your-own-adventure videos could be successful in the low-tech Horizons ride, why not do a modern version here?

First off, I completely agree with your point about SSE and the ending all being about the future. Still I want to point something out with the above statement.

While it is an on ride interactive screen, and the only one in Disney World, it is only an on ride interactive screen simply to make it the only (or first) one in WDW. If the screens were removable, it wouldn't make a difference if you watched it on the ride, Project Tomorrow, your hotel room, traveling down the road, in your house, at work (or school), etc. it will always be the same survey with the same potential videos. The fact they are on the ride makes no difference to the survey other than the "Guess what! I just took a survey on SSE!" That's it. :confused:

Horizons at least had huge screens the covered all viewing of the vehicle and gave you a feeling that you were traveling through the future sea, desert, or space. The screens on SSE Earth are equivalent to someone watching a video on You Tube with their laptop sitting there while riding on the ride.

I would be happy with almost anything (even more screens) than nothing along the sides. I mean, I'm not sure I'll want to take the survey every time I ride the ride. Sometimes I just want to sit and relax and being forced to push some buttons and concent trait on a video being showing in a very small screen isn't my way of relaxing. I like to lay back and look at whatever is around me without moving very much. And I mean, after a full day walking around Epcot, some of us really, really need to relax before we finally pick up that empty stroller that the mother just swong infront of us and throw it into one of the many ponds.

Some sort of alternative would be nice and then if people really want to take the survey the can and if they don't they won't be stuck with nothing to look at but balck curtains, a blue car infront of them, and some not so well lit stars above them. ...yeah, I know, I have issues, espcially after the stroller thing. :shrug:

and no, I've never thrown anybody's stroller, but there have been times I've wanted to. Not so much at Epcot as Magic Kingdom.
 

blm07

Active Member
I'm not reading or participating in the debate.

My opinion is that they ripped out something and put in nothing. How sad, video screens are nothing.

I'd rather have something, anything than nothing.
 

RiversideBunny

New Member
It always looks like Space Ship Earth is the largest thing at EPCOT but when we were eating at the Coral Reef restaurant recently, it was stated that SSE could fit inside the aquarium there, with room to spare.

:rolleyes:
 

DisneyCane

Well-Known Member
I figured I'd throw in a quick review after riding yesterday.

The Ascent: Scenary is great both the changes and upgrades to old scenes as well as the new scenes. Judy Dench is OK as narrator but the script needs work. I mean the Rome roads to fall of Rome transition is just like "oops, Rome fell."

The Decent: Pretty blah. There's nothing there. The screens are OK if they were combined with something to look at. They could have avoided the "outdated future" problem by just making the decent your return to the present. They could have put mini-scenes of random time periods in the past/present "floating" around the tunnel or something like that. That way there would be SOMETHING to look at besides the screen. The screens only version is terrible for repeat rides. I always enjoyed using SSE as a nice relaxing break during a visit to Epcot and would ride 2 or 3 times if I was there for a full day. Now I don't think I can do that because the decent will be so boring.
 

EPCOT.nut

Well-Known Member
YAY! Tomorrow I am taking my husband to EPCOT to ride the new SSE for the first time. This will be my second ride.

My husband is not one of those crazy types that gets onto a Disney Fan Site and posts every day :ROFLOL:but he married one. So we shall see how the better half likes the new SSE...


:drevil:
 

Figment571

Member
To that long post I do have to say I agree with it to some extent. But, the fact of the matter is most of us who do not care for the concept feel that it is a cop out by Imagineering. Why can they not find and help shape a more exciting future, such as sea bases, and space stations.
(Actually since NASA is going back to the Moon there has been renewed interest in the possibility of space colonization and the ramifications of a space station where entire cities could be built)

They do have many sponsors who could help give them an idea of where the future is heading, they could take that and grow on that and dream up even more. So all I am saying is that it would not be too hard to find out "Where we are going".
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom