Horizons: an EPCOT Center Minecraft/Lego Tribute

[Mickeynerd17]

Well, now that I have more time to work on my overarching EPCOT_Center project, I thought I would start a thread for my favorite project/pavilion.

Horizons.

It's been in progress for almost a month now, but there are already some exciting changes taking place! Yes, I've been building this in-between my activity on the 1986 competition. I'm a busy man.

Here was the original tribute:

The reason it had to be replaced was due to serious flaws in the structure making it completely innaccurate to the real-life version, also the rear section of the roof was at the wrong angle.

The entire interior ride had not received a major updated in over two and a half years, and was 100% innaccurate.

So, after many cans of Sprite and binge-watching all of the Mesa Verde Times videos of Horizons, I decided it was time for a major change to match my improved building skills, and to give a true tribute to my favorite extinct ride.

Construction started October 27th as the building was shuttered.

At that point, all operations of the attraction were stopped, and the interior was prepped for demolition.

Later, construction walls surrounded the building, and the rear wall was removed to allow equipment inside. Interior demolition of show scenes and ride track began.

The story will continue soon. I will update this thread as more progress is made. Please feel free to comment/give your thoughts, thanks!

 

[Mickeynerd17]

Progress soon began on the exterior of the pavilion. A magnificent change started happening.

A brand-new designed exterior emerged, this time in a new block pattern to mimick the unique geometry of the pavilion, and using white on the roof as it looked in 1983, instead of the faded tan that was the real-life Horizons roof after poor matinence in 1999.

Meanwhile, extensive demolition had made it to the Mesa Verde and Sea Castle scenes.

Slowly, but surely, the interior was ripped apart block by block. Memories of pain and suffering from almost three years ago when this was first built were wiped from the face of the map. The daunting task ahead was incredible, especially with due veto projects and HoH prompts and incredible schoolwork to think about, but Mickeynerd was determined to give Horizons the love it deserved. (And also appease my 85 Insta followers, LOL).

More coming in a hot minute!

 

[Mickeynerd17]

More demolition happened on the inside. It was October 29th, and all sorts of chaos was happening inside the building. Demolition had now made it half-way through the building, with Nova Cite, Easy Living, Neon 50's, and Brava Centauri scenes saying hi to the bulldozer.

Meanwhile, The exterior was getting hacked up and replaced. Pretty ugly sight from inside the park and on the outside too.

 

[Mickeynerd17]

November 7th: After a ton of work, sweat, and tears, the exterior was finally finished. It truly was a "mouse"-terpiece!

Meanwhile, the interior had almost been completely gutted, except for the Planetarium finale that was still being considered for modification into the new attraction.

 

[Mickeynerd17]

We're closer to catching up to the present! Still some more posts before we start doing real-time updates!

After much deliberation, it was decided that the planetarium finale could not be cut up to create the omnimax screens for the new Horizons, mainly due to the planetarium being too small to feasibly be used. It was decided to demolish the oldest part of the old pavilion, thereby sealing the attraction in history forever.

In its place, a triangular structure would hold up the structural integrity of the roof while the load/unload would be built in the new basement. The ride track for the omnimax scenes would wrap around the structure on a "2nd" floor.

This photo shows the triangle structure being built while the planetarium is destroyed. The new queue and load are on the left.

Speaking of queues, the ride queue had pretty much been built, with the FuturePort sign, ramp, and travel posters built. The load area was coming along nicely as well.

Comment your thoughts on this glorious transformation!

 

[spacemt354]

We're closer to catching up to the present! Still some more posts before we start doing real-time updates!

After much deliberation, it was decided that the planetarium finale could not be cut up to create the omnimax screens for the new Horizons, mainly due to the planetarium being too small to feasibly be used. It was decided to demolish the oldest part of the old pavilion, thereby sealing the attraction in history forever.

In its place, a triangular structure would hold up the structural integrity of the roof while the load/unload would be built in the new basement. The ride track for the omnimax scenes would wrap around the structure on a "2nd" floor.

This photo shows the triangle structure being built while the planetarium is destroyed. The new queue and load are on the left.

View attachment 515228

Speaking of queues, the ride queue had pretty much been built, with the FuturePort sign, ramp, and travel posters built. The load area was coming along nicely as well.

View attachment 515231View attachment 515232View attachment 515230

Comment your thoughts on this glorious transformation!

Looks fantastic!

 

[Mickeynerd17]

Alrighty, more updates as we get closer to the current state of the project. Lots of good construction updates are happening as we race faster and faster to be finished in time for the Year-End Awards! (More info on that later.)

The entire ride track is completed, tested, and functional. It truly is a mess of ride track weaving under and over itself as it winds through the building.

Scene installation has begun, with Jules Verne and Robida's Paris scenes seeing major work.

Progress has even made it to the Easy Living scene, featuring everyone's favorite robot butler! (Still needs to be installed )

And to top off this delicious cake of updates are the completed exit hallway post 1986, and construction beginning on the General Electric VIP Lounge.

More updates coming soon!

 

[spacemt354]

This looks like it takes a while to make lol - awesome work!

 

[Mickeynerd17]

This looks like it takes a while to make lol - awesome work!

A single pavilion usually takes me 2-3 months from planning to final test-ride!

Definitely a long time, but that's the price of quality work all by myself!

 

[Mickeynerd17]

We're finally to the present! All updated from here on out will be in real-time!

More progress has been made on the Omnimax scenes. Since I am trying to recreate a motion picture with static blocks, I have to break up what would be two HUGE IMAX screens into nine separate scenes for the nine sequences of the film.

Here is a look at current construction:

The scenes are full height going just about all the way to the roof. It's making navigation of the interior increasingly difficult as there is so much cramped into one tiny footprint. It's just nuts!

Stay tuned for more!

 

[Mickeynerd17]

Ok! Time for another update. The Year-End Awards are coming up, so the project is increasing speed!

The basic build of the Omnimax screens is complete! The original film is split into nine different scenes because minecraft doesn't support adding video!

Here is "screen 2"

The triangular structure holding up the building with Screen one and two on the left and right respectively.

Each of the nine scenes (minus one because it didn't fit in one post).

More coming soon! Next up is Nova Cite!

 

[Mickeynerd17]

One last update for today!

Nova Cite construction has made significant progress today.

Even the iconic Mesa Verde has started being built!

Stay tuned for more Mesa Verde goodness!

 

[Mickeynerd17]

Bringing some Mesa Verde goodness today!

Here we have a more complete look at the desert farm with control tower and the famous hovercraft!

The cliffside apartment and Redhead scenes are coming along quite nicely, and they mark the approximate half-way point of the ride! Woohoo!

Of course, once all scenes are initially built, I have to go though again to add the little details and install animatronics, and then go through one more time to install animatronics clothing and double check for accuracy/quality, then we move to a test-ride, which if it is successful means the attraction is finished! Sounds easy, but still takes plenty of work.

Stay tuned as we "dive" into SeaCastle on the next update!

 

[Mickeynerd17]

Things are going quite swimmingly at Sea Castle if you know what I mean!

Ok, enough puns, I'll stop.

In all seriousness though, the Sea Castle scenes are coming along quite nicely! All the details are going to be shoved in as much as possible.

"Shouldn't she be studying instead of flirting with that beach boy?"

"He's not a beach boy!"

Lol! The dialogue in this pavilion was just pure gold at times, and to think that beach boy was a young Tom Fitzgerald makes it even better.

Wow, I'm in a really good mood today.

Anyway, work on the undersea restaurant scene is also making good progress! Even the "tube beams" in front of the vehicles simulating traveling through an underwater tube are installed! What detail!

And to top off this post, I would like to once again stress just how much of a big pile of spaghetti this ride is.

This picture shows literally five scenes almost on top of each other. That's only a small fraction of the ride, which constantly weaves under and over itself! I'm losing my marbles!

Ok, enough jabbering, time to "dive" back into it!

Oh gosh, I seriously need to stop the puns.

 

[Mickeynerd17]

Currently working on my favorite collection of scenes, the Brava Centauri scenes! Good progress is being made there, and I will have pictures soon.

In the meantime, I highly recommend taking a listen at this beautiful tribute, which includes all the soundtracks, used and unused, for Horizons. Some of the music is just incredible and truly added to an already amazing experience.

Please, take a listen. It is extremely satisfying to listen to.



P.S: My personal favorites are the Outer Space and Space Colony tracks.

 

[Mickeynerd17]

Update time!

Brava Centauri is making fast progress as we inch closer and closer to the end of the ride.

Here we've got the parked Spaceship.

the Space Colony

Health and Recreation

Space Shuttle Port

And finally the crystal lab.

At this point there are only four scenes left to build before we're finally to unload. After that the ride will be approximately 75 to 80% complete, requiring only the animatronics and smaller details like food and other props.

See you in the next update!

 

[Mickeynerd17]

Major scene construction has been completed! The pavilion is now 78% done with only theming details and the lounge left to be built! The pavilion should be done in the next 4 days at least, which includes all structures built and promotional filming finished. I'm filled to the brim with excitement as this magnificent project become closer and closer to being complete!

As for the interior, the entire pavilion is a complete mess of ride track, show scenes, queue space, lounge space, and other random stuff/materials left over from the original Horizons scattered in random spots.

 

[Mickeynerd17]

Final ride testing took place today and the construction walls are coming down!

The ride is basically finished at this point! All that is needed are a couple final bits of detail.

Sadly I can't share more interior pictures at the moment because of a surprise coming in a couple days, but in the meantime check out these other excellent shots!

Watch this thread for a future post in a couple days!

 

[Mickeynerd17]

To finally cap off this fun and exciting project, I present to you, the people who have wandered into my little corner of Horizons, a video presentation. I hope you all enjoy!

 

[spacemt354]

To finally cap off this fun and exciting project, I present to you, the people who have wandered into my little corner of Horizons, a video presentation. I hope you all enjoy!

Look fantastic!!