Here's a message from our friend, Chris, over at magicmusic.net:
"Today is the 20th anniversary of Horizons' official opening day -- October 1, 1983. Much has happened since that day. Countless guests visited Horizons during the years to experience Disney's (and GE's) vision of the future, and many went away with a renewed sense of optimism. Sadly, we also saw the closing and demolition of this great pavilion, seemingly a victim of the times, unable to keep up with an ever faster-moving world.
I only visited Horizons a handful of times, during a visit in 1984, about 6 months after her opening, and then not again until 1998, not long before she closed. I'll always regret not making more of an effort to travel from Massachusetts to Florida to visit Disney World, but I'll always cherish the memories of "traveling" on Horizons.
Many thanks to the Imagineers and other Disney and GE employees who put their hearts and souls, and probably several years of their lives, into conceiving, designing and building Horizons. Also, to the cast members who staffed and maintained the pavilion and helped spread the spirit of "if we can dream it, we can do it" to the many guests who passed through her doors.
Thanks also to John Debney, George Wilkins, and Richard Bellis for the wonderful music that helped make Horizons so memorable.
Horizons will continue to live on in the spirits of those dreamers and doers who believe in the message started by Walt Disney and brought to life by the Imagineers who built Horizons. Today, listen to "New Horizons" and "Space", cut open a fresh orange and take a breath, close your eyes and remember the experience that was HORIZONS."
Disney could have made a good penny on CDs...oh well.
Happy 20th Birthday, Horizons: you continue through all time!
"Today is the 20th anniversary of Horizons' official opening day -- October 1, 1983. Much has happened since that day. Countless guests visited Horizons during the years to experience Disney's (and GE's) vision of the future, and many went away with a renewed sense of optimism. Sadly, we also saw the closing and demolition of this great pavilion, seemingly a victim of the times, unable to keep up with an ever faster-moving world.
I only visited Horizons a handful of times, during a visit in 1984, about 6 months after her opening, and then not again until 1998, not long before she closed. I'll always regret not making more of an effort to travel from Massachusetts to Florida to visit Disney World, but I'll always cherish the memories of "traveling" on Horizons.
Many thanks to the Imagineers and other Disney and GE employees who put their hearts and souls, and probably several years of their lives, into conceiving, designing and building Horizons. Also, to the cast members who staffed and maintained the pavilion and helped spread the spirit of "if we can dream it, we can do it" to the many guests who passed through her doors.
Thanks also to John Debney, George Wilkins, and Richard Bellis for the wonderful music that helped make Horizons so memorable.
Horizons will continue to live on in the spirits of those dreamers and doers who believe in the message started by Walt Disney and brought to life by the Imagineers who built Horizons. Today, listen to "New Horizons" and "Space", cut open a fresh orange and take a breath, close your eyes and remember the experience that was HORIZONS."
Disney could have made a good penny on CDs...oh well.
Happy 20th Birthday, Horizons: you continue through all time!
