I'm a lurker here, but being an avid EPCOT fan, I really must ask what is so wrong with it? It is frustrating reading the uninformed and unintelligent comments on Youtube like "OMG disney went and ruined another ride what will they stop at i cant believe they would do this it is a destruction".
Being a Communication Studies major, I find the new script to be much more accurate than the old one. The new script connects each scene together more like a story. Judi makes each scene relevant to us ("Remember how easy it was to learn your ABCs? Thank the Phoenicians; they invented them" points to the fact that we are using the same alphabet they created instead of just some alphabet), the animatronics are upgraded and much better, etc.
Also having studied speech communications, Judi presents a warmer story of our history. She sounds like an actual tour guide or professor who is enthusiastic about her subject, instead of the soothing and flowing but downright pompous sound Jeremy Irons had.
Everything prior to hitting 180top is by far better than it had EVER been in the past. The descent needs work, but I do like how the touchscreens pay homage to Horizons in more ways than just one. Still, I think the focus should be on scenes around us instead of the touch screens. But let's remember that the touch screens allow us to interact with the ride -- to COMMUNICATE with it. For a ride about communications, this is important. Communication isn't a one way street that preaches to us like prior incarnations did, but rather a conversation about the way our world is. The touchscreens do a good job of implying this, and if they interact with the scenes around us (if we will indeed see new descent scenes), it will be truly amazing.
I think that some people just like to complain. I have not yet read one compelling and FACTUAL reason as to what was better about the Iron version.
