Horizons? Can someone explain please

[imagineer99]

I believe Horizons was one of the finest attractions of all of WDW. To this day, it is still my favorite attraction. However, I don't see how people can believe that it was not outdated. The ride would mention technologies that are in common use today. Towards the end...it just didn't see all that futuristic anymore. Horizons, I believe should have gone a very extensive rehab to modernize it. That way a ride that convey's Epcot's message of progress and the future could still exist today...

Oh, and JBSLJames, don't get me started on the whole thrill ride park concept...Take that one to six flags...Disney is about the imagination of new concepts not the regurgitation of generic rides that can be found anywhere. Thrill rides have their place, and I agree that they are a lot of fun. However, a whole park full of them has no meaning. It has no impact. Instead, it is a juxtaposition of metal monsters. Where's the imagination? Where is the creativity? Most importantly, where is the magic ? When you visit soon you'll understand what I'm talking about...

 

[Walter]

I'm glad to see that there are others like me out there.

Horizons has a special place in my heart. I call it my favorite attraction even though the last time that I rode it, I was five, and, at the time, my favorite attraction was Mr. Toad; but, I know that if Horizons were still here today, it would be my favorite. I remember enjoying Horizons more than anything else in Epcot, though, I can definately say that! Even above Spaceship Earth! Looking back on it, now, it was so detailed, so beautiful, so great, I don't see how anybody can dislike it. Yes, I can see how you would think that Horizons's vision of the future was outdated if it was opened in '83, but it wasn't outdated. The visions of the grand, out-there future would have still held up. I distinctly remember the future from the '50s room, the family room, and the ending, the rest is kind of blurry, but I loved it!

BTW, did anyone buy the DVD from The Extinct Attractions Cub? If so, how is it?

 

[DDPGambit]

Re: Horizons

Originally posted by bluesnut
Well this was one of the original rides in the park that opened not long after the park opened in 1981.

Slight correction here, Epcot opened in 1982, and Horizons followed in 1983.

 

[dxwwf3]

The first thing I want to say is I am a 19 year old male who loves thrill rides.

Horizons was simply the best attraction in the history of Epcot. I know other people may have liked others better but Horizons was just done on such a grand scale it is unbelieveable. I can't say enough about this attraction. I am just sad I was too young to FULLY appreciate it. I'd trade Mission Space for Horizons in a heartbeat. And while I would never bash Mission Space (because I do enjoy it alot) I just don't think it compares to the grand scale of Horizons. The sets where huge, the omnimax screens were great and this is the type of attraction is simply not being made anymore.

 

[matt88mph]

An unofficial guide to WDW in 1994 listed Horizons as "not to be missed." Well they were wrong. It will be missed a lot.

 

[imagineer99]

Originally posted by matt88mph
An unofficial guide to WDW in 1994 listed Horizons as "not to be missed." Well they were wrong. It will be missed a lot.

How Poetic...*breaks down and cries*

My favorite part of Horizons when I was younger was being able to pick my own ending... In planning for the yearly trip, my family and I would have enormous debate on which one we should choose. I remember them all, but I definitely liked the sea ending the best. Which ending did everbody else usually choose?

 

[Firewolfe51]

It wasn't until just a couple of days ago I bought a DVD on ebay from "extinct attractions". That I learned Horizons was the 2nd part of the Carousel of Progress. It was truly a great ride, I still find it hard to believe Disney would tear down a classic like Horizons and leave things like Body Wars. Not that I don't like Body Wars, just I haven't ever talk to anyone who don't miss Horizons! It was always my first ride of the day and always the last! I still miss it. The only part that may ease a little pain is the fact Mission Space is open and on its best day could not make me sick!!I can ride MS until it comes loose at the base!........

MAY of 04 here we come again

 

[stingrock23]

I don't remember much about the ride, but I know I enjoyed it alot and I thought it was the best attraction at Epcot. I was sorry to see it gone, but look forward to what Epcot's future brings, even though Disney will probably never build anything again with the scope and detail that Horizons had.

 

[WDWhumanmap]

RIP Horizons you will be missed

Horizons rocked i wish it never left i can say it ment a whole lot more to me than any one else because i rode it more. also i saw it being knocked down and cryed on the floor for it. the ride ment alot to me it inspired me through out life with the phrase if we can dream it then we can do it. i will miss it and it will always be alive in my heart i just feel people who don't know what it means to have horzions and the song as an inspiration for them and has only heard of it i only wish for that they could somehow bring it back maybe that can be the grand gemini project.

 

[maxime29]

Originally posted by imagineer99
My favorite part of Horizons when I was younger was being able to pick my own ending... In planning for the yearly trip, my family and I would have enormous debate on which one we should choose. I remember them all, but I definitely liked the sea ending the best. Which ending did everbody else usually choose?

I always wanted the desert ending. For some reason, I was kinda scared of the water one, and the space one I didn't like (this was when I was 10 last I rode the ride). Now that I look back on it, I laugh at some of the stuff I was scared of. :lol:

BTW, Does anyone have any photos of the GE lounge in Horizons?

 

[WDWhumanmap]

i wish the song was still used somewhere else or at least the idea of if you can dream it then you can do it

 

[lentesta]

Hey matt88mph,

Don't misinterpret that Unofficial Guide. It meant that when you were at Epcot, Horizon's was a must-see attraction. We love(d) Horizons. Really. I've got hours and hours of audio and video of it around here somewhere.

Sincerely,

Len

 

[maxime29]

Originally posted by WDWhumanmap
i wish the song was still used somewhere else or at least the idea of if you can dream it then you can do it

I could have sworn some spot in EPCOT uses a variation of the song. Ah well. That was one other thing I forgot to mention. The music. The Omnimax theater music, the transition from sea to space, the entrance and exit, all of them just seemed to fit the ride perfectly.

 

[bluesnut]

Desert

Definitely the desert ending. It made you feel like you were really moving much more than the other two. Especially when you went over that one hill and the seat vibrated.

Originally posted by WDWhumanmap
Horizons rocked i wish it never left i can say it ment a whole lot more to me than any one else because i rode it more. also i saw it being knocked down and cryed on the floor for it. the ride ment alot to me it inspired me through out life with the phrase if we can dream it then we can do it. i will miss it and it will always be alive in my heart i just feel people who don't know what it means to have horzions and the song as an inspiration for them and has only heard of it i only wish for that they could somehow bring it back maybe that can be the grand gemini project.

I know what you mean. I cried too when it closed. My mom and I would go in an evening when it was empty and ride it and just keep asking the attendant to let us go again and again. It truly meant something to me. It was like someone had read my mind of what I thought the future would be. When I was really young (I'm 26 now so I'm talking like 10 yrs old) I used to believe someday I would live in someplace like Horizons. I think I even thought I could live on the ride somewhere. I know that sounds kind of stupid but no one can account for what a 6-12 yr old kid thinks.

 

[bluesnut]

Xanadu

Does anyone remember the Xanadu house on Hwy 192. The big white bubble house that you could pay to go through. I used to love that too. I know it must of cost a fortune for my family to go in and I was the only one who liked it, but they let me go anyway. I wonder if that company still makes houses. I know that the place is a dump, they may have actually tore it down now. If it didn't fall down on its own.

 

[imagineer99]

Originally posted by WDWhumanmap
i wish the song was still used somewhere else or at least the idea of if you can dream it then you can do it

Sir Nim, a member on these boards, has recreated the Horizons song instrumental. It is really cool and is available for download. Check his signature for the address.

 

[Atta83]

The Xanadu house is still there, the ruins I mean. But yeah you can pass byt hte old ruins adn wonder what the heck was there...
Princess Atta

 

[Kramjam33]

Thanks again everyone, i appreciate it a lot.

-Mark-

 

[dxwwf3]

Originally posted by lentesta
Hey matt88mph,

Don't misinterpret that Unofficial Guide. It meant that when you were at Epcot, Horizon's was a must-see attraction. We love(d) Horizons. Really. I've got hours and hours of audio and video of it around here somewhere.

Sincerely,

Len

I don't think he misinterperted the "not to be missed" quote. He was just putting a funny play on words. As in back when it was actually open it was not to be missed. But now it is gone and it is missed. He was just making that quote humorous now because they "got rid of a not to be missed attraction". Or at least I hope he was trying to be funny :lookaroun

 

[matt88mph]

Originally posted by lentesta
Hey matt88mph,

Don't misinterpret that Unofficial Guide. It meant that when you were at Epcot, Horizon's was a must-see attraction. We love(d) Horizons. Really. I've got hours and hours of audio and video of it around here somewhere.

Sincerely,

Len

Oh, don't worry Len, I loved Horizons. And it was most definately a must-see attraction. But when it was gone, it was definatly missed.