Horizon's demise

montyz81

montyz81

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Ok ok, I know I am going to get yelled at for not searching this out, but there is a reason for it. Here is my question. Has anything ever come out from past WDW Cast members for the real reason for why Horizons was demolished. I know the sink hole is the generally accepted response but I just cant believe that was the real reason. I am of the mind that everything can be fixed. So I am curious if there are other variations to the story that have surfaced in recent years by ex-cast members that are closer to the real reason. Clearly the building was very advanced and one that any theme park would want to have. I just cant understand why they would want to demolish it. It looked to be in sound condition! Also, it seems very strange to me that the second newest ride building in Future World would be the first to be demolished. Can anyone shed more light on this topic for me. I know this is very sensitive for allot of people, but I just really would like to know more about the one ride I never got to experience in Epcot Center.

I went to Epcot in March of 1983 just 7 months before it opened and didn't go back to Disney again until January of 2000 just 12 months after its final ride. Both times, I got to see the building in an unoccupied state with walls around it. Talk about bad timing!
 
One Lil Spark

One Lil Spark

EPCOT Center Defender
It all comes down to money. WoM met it's demise only to be replaced by an E-ticket that's still drawing large crowds today. Epcot saw Horizons as prime real estate and built another killer E-ticket that will follow the same popularity path as Test Track. Money/sponsorship is always the biggest factor.

Horizons, you are sorely missed.
 
Fade_to_Blah

Fade_to_Blah

Member
Sinkhole is sometimes thrown out there but it seems there isnt much truth to that. I think management and Eisner wanted M:S. And thats all there was to it.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
I`ll quote myself from a few months back:

I`ll say this again: There was no sinkhole or structural failure with the building. I have it off the record from, well, the inside. Don`t ask

Eisner objected to the rehab cost of Horizons when he asked for it. Compaq would foot the bill for a new space pavilion, and also the removal of an attraction Disney said it couldn`t afford to renew. Perfect business sense in Eisners corporate eyes.
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Frank Stallone

Frank Stallone

New Member
Eisner and friends wanted Mission: Space. Which made sense since it was one of the most advanced attraction designs every created. Something had to go. Horizons counts were down, so it made sense to replace a "do it if you have extra time" attraction with an E-Ticket attraction to sit aside Test Track.

However, the attraction design for Mission:Space wouldn't work effectively in the current structure. Therefore, Planetary Plaza was built in its palce. No sink hole, just a design that made more sense than the previous Horizons design.
 
D

DisneyDreams09

Member
I would also like to know what the Horizons attraction was like. I'm sure I saw/rode it in 1995 when I was at WDW, just can't remember what it was. Thanks:wave:
 
One Lil Spark

One Lil Spark

EPCOT Center Defender
DisneyDreams09 said:
I would also like to know what the Horizons attraction was like. I'm sure I saw/rode it in 1995 when I was at WDW, just can't remember what it was. Thanks:wave:
Click to expand...

Check out the link posted right above your post. :wave:

My avatar, signature, location and user title are all from Horizons as well.
 
The Empress Lilly

The Empress Lilly

Well-Known Member
The reason for Horizon's removal has been covered. To expand on the topic: does anybody believe that Horizons would still have been here otherwise? And if it would, would Horizons have stood the test of time?

It's one of those things that I question myself about. I loved Horizons. The perfect Disney attraction. Yet, part of me also accepts that if it were still here today, either it would have gotten an overhaul so extensive as to make it virtually unrecognisable, or it would've looked horribly outdated.

Which means that for whatever reason, the demise of the Horizons we knew and loved - sooner or later - was inevitable. Even, maybe, for the best...:lookaroun
 
montyz81

montyz81

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Empress Lilly said:
The reason for Horizon's removal has been covered. To expand on the topic: does anybody believe that Horizons would still have been here otherwise? And if it would, would Horizons have stood the test of time?

It's one of those things that I question myself about. I loved Horizons. The perfect Disney attraction. Yet, part of me also accepts that if it were still here today, either it would have gotten an overhaul so extensive as to make it virtually unrecognisable, or it would've looked horribly outdated.

Which means that for whatever reason, the demise of the Horizons we knew and loved - sooner or later - was inevitable. Even, maybe, for the best...:lookaroun
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Very good response. I think your probably right, but it would have only been overhauled to the extent that Imagination has been over the years with the ability to return it or some of it's components back to its former glory, albeit with a more modern touch. In Horizons current form there is no chance of that ever happening, nor is there ever a chance at justifying it's reconstruction in this or any other Disney park.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Empress Lilly said:
The reason for Horizon's removal has been covered. To expand on the topic: does anybody believe that Horizons would still have been here otherwise? And if it would, would Horizons have stood the test of time?
Click to expand...
Yes - probably. From what I know the rehab that Eisner balked at would have been similar to the SSE rehabs of 1994 and (even more so) last year. Same attraction but newer in every respect.
 
ChrisQ

ChrisQ

Member
Susan Savia said:
I miss Horizons.:cry:
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Sigh. Me too.

Thinking about the whole sinkhole rumor... Years ago (gosh, nearly 25 years ago by now), we had a Wal-Mart in town, and they moved to a larger location in a better traffic area with the excuse that the building was on a sinkhole. All those years later, the "Old Wal-Mart," as it's still called around here, is still standing. So, the sinkhole is both a convenient excuse and a good way to keep a rumor going. :lookaroun
 

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