It's the end of the world!!!

[Monorail Lime]

Have you seen pictures of Spaceship Earth being built?

Most of the structure that supports the silver plates was built after the core and the ride system because it completely surrounds it. I don't see how it would be possible to replace the ride system unless they completely dissassemble Spaceship Earth in the process.

I think the current ride is getting kind of stale (*prepares to be stoned by grizzlyhall*) and something entirely new might be nice if it uses the existing ride track. But a completely new show engine would cost too dang much.

 

[niteobsrvr]

Boy, everyone just needs to calm down and stop jumpin to conclusions.

I like Spaceship Earth a lot but the end of the story occurred sometime about 5 to 10 years ago when communication across the planet became exactly what is portrayed in the latter part of the ride. It's definitely time for a change.

One of the first changes I am all but certain of is that ATT will no longer be the sponsor very soon. (They can't make a good case for fiscal responsibility to your shareholders by sending money to Disney while your company is trying to keep its head above water.) Will Microsoft be the sponsor? Thats hard to say but they probably have a better handle on the future of communication on this planet than the telecommunications companies do.


TIME RACERS - hmmm - The name doesn't really imply that it is going to be a thrill ride. On the contrary, it sounds more like a story about a planet, its inhabitants, and the ability for everything to coexist in a fragile enclosed system. With a name like Spaceship Earth, that would be a very fitting story to play out inside its walls than the story of communication. Its also a lot more pertinent to the world today. Further, assuming that the other pavilions continue to carry the same themes after their rehabs, Spaceship Earth could serve as a kind of Prologue to the rest of futureworld.

New technology - Again why do we assume this to mean thrill ride. Their have been tremendous advances in audio, video, and special effects technology in the last 10 years, especially in the last 5 or so. To tell a story with the latest in technology like surround sound and the like in a unique environment like Spaceship Earth would be truly amazing. The Star Projector at the top of the ride is awesome but imagine what can be done now.

My Point is this folks, Spaceship Earth is to Future World what The American Pavilion is to World Showcase, the host pavilion. Without Earth, well, nothing exists. A proper tribute to the planet on which we dwell with all the bells and whistles could very well have everyone in tears exiting the ride.

I say "Lets go Imagineers. To heck with a budget. Make it amazing. No, wait, Make it MAGICAL"

 

[mickeyfanatics]

My comment is very simple and I am sure shared by many on this board.......Build a new ride for EPCOT - Great.......Destroy a Classic attraction to build a new one in its place- BAD. I can see that EPCOT needs some new attractions, but they need to stop demolishing or destroying some of the timeless attractions to do it. They have plenty of land for new attractions.

 

[isnet396]

No one said it was going to get destroyed. Its the #1 ride in visits in the WORLD. I bet $50 that its going to be a rehab. Think about it guys, you've all heard the squeeking and stuff, and the poor audio, and the uncomfortable plastic headreasts, and the almost out of date ending. Don't you think that enthusiasts were saying something like we did now when SE got a makeover in '84, '86, and '94?

Ian

 

[kennyj29]

Sometimes I don't understand your reaction. You want to dig up Walt Disney? Go ahead!!! He would love the idea of new and inventive things being done to Epcot. Epcot is supposed to be updated and changed!!! That was HIS concept. I can understand somewhat why people would get upset about MK but this is a park dedicated to CHANGE!!! When it doesn't change, it gets old. It is the most boring park in the World. I'm tired of some of the concepts already. Including SE!! I invite them to bring something new and inventive there. They are not saying they are getting rid of the Ball, they are getting rid of the concept inside. If you are such big Disney fans, you would understand it. Of course we all have favorites, mine being WoM, but I can see why it has to be changed. I wish they would change Universe of Energy because that is getting old. Come on people, it's time to make the Park a big draw again!!! It is the emptiest park in the place and maybe, just maybe, they can bring it back to life!!!!!!!!!

 

[WDWspider]

Originally posted by Monorail Lime
Have you seen pictures of Spaceship Earth being built?

Most of the structure that supports the silver plates was built after the core and the ride system because it completely surrounds it. I don't see how it would be possible to replace the ride system unless they completely dissassemble Spaceship Earth in the process.

I think the current ride is getting kind of stale (*prepares to be stoned by grizzlyhall*) and something entirely new might be nice if it uses the existing ride track. But a completely new show engine would cost too dang much.

Exactly what I was thinking too.

Erika...

I think what Grizz means is going to these cheap quick thrills... Bug's Land and Dino-rama to just get crowds coming in and not spending the money on quality long term attractions like Pirates of the Carribbean.

As much as I think EPCOT needs some updates , new rides and fixes, it is not the emptiest place there is, lots of people visit EPCOT, it is just huge. They just aren't getting the numbers they use to, that's all.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Originally posted by DisneyInsider
It is too much of a landmark for that to happen.

Surely its the sphere that is the landmark - with the ride inside named after the building in which its housed.
I love Spaceship Earth (sphere, ride, etc) but a change within can't hurt, can it ??

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Originally posted by prberk
Griz, you know that I value the past as much as anyone, but I also know that Walt built the concept of EPCOT on new and evolving ideas.

I think that the Futureworld section of EPCOT especially needs to stay fresh. I do not agree with all changes made lately (especially de-emphasizing learning or history for simple thrills, when learning can be fun), but am not opposed to updating Futureworld attractions. Walt himself said that EPCOT would be a continuously changing, "experimental" city of tomorrow. The key is innovation and commitment to quality.

He also planned the Magic Kingdom to be a balance between reverence for the past and excitement for the future.

Change should not be just for change' sake, but nor should keeping things the same be done just because it was done first that way.

As for SE, I like the ride. But I do not think that it is sacrosanct. It is more important to review and maintain EPCOT's attractions in a mix that lives up to the challenging spirit of the parK: not a museum but an "Experimental Community of Tomorrow." Keep the experiment unless a renovation or replacement would better serve the park's mission.

Right now, we just don't know.

I couldn't have said it better myself

 

[dreamer]

I think it would be great to replace Spaceship Earth. It's not a Disney Classic (the ball is but not the ride) so I don't think the right wing fanatical Disney worshippers have much to complain about --

I think this would be a good opportunity for Disney to actually create a new classic.

 

[WDWspider]

Originally posted by dreamer
I think it would be great to replace Spaceship Earth. It's not a Disney Classic (the ball is but not the ride) so I don't think the right wing fanatical Disney worshippers have much to complain about --

I think this would be a good opportunity for Disney to actually create a new classic.

Gee.. I always consider the ride a staple, well beyond a classic, but I suppose It's Tough to be a Bug must be replaced someday as well.

 

[Jeff D]

If they do in fact do a major makover I think it would invlove alot more advanced animatronics and better effects within the current building. And I do think it would invloved replacing the current ride system but using the same path. As was pointed out already for them to do such a major chang would mean dismantalling the currnt build and rebuilding form scratch. Soryy, but that's more then a two year project.

The building is an icon in itself but the ride inside, to me at least, is not. A long time ago I thought it was a cool ride but now uit seems to be a very dated attraction. For what this ride and EPCOT itself represents I have no problem with a new ride.

 

[leeocean]

Spaceship Earth is my friend's daughter's favorite attraction (and she's only 3!) . She was mesmerized and it would be a shame to see it go. I love the view of Earth at the end. It's a very nostalgic moment.

 

[bearboysnc]

Lets find the anti-Omnimover Imagineeer, and send Tony Soprano after him.

 

[Matt56]

Get over it.......things change for the better!

They will probably just improve the current ride system. They obviously can't dismantle the entire SE and rebuild it in two years.

Isn't the current ride basically the history of communication? Time racers make me think of history and technology racing towards the FUTURE.

Just remember - if Disney CLOSED there would still be a tomorrow.

 

[MKCustodial]

If there's one thing I learned at WDWMagic is that we can't really trust most of the WDW sites out there... Whenever they're right, someone else (usually us) either provided it first or did it at the same time. So let's wait and see.

As for the problem itself, refurb is great. Tearing down is terrible. We all love SE, but we all understand it needs improvement, times have caught up with it. It's the same problem with CoP and the GMR. My only concern with the usual rehabs and refurbs is that Disney seems to have forgotten what contributed hugely to their success: the magic created by AAs and Omnimovers. When was the last time they installed an AA? I don't mean Flick in It's Tough to be a Bug, or the dinos in Dinosaur. I mean human, real-size AAs. I guess Ellen was the last one? I don't know... Spider-Man over at IoA is great and all, but there's so much fun you can get from screens and CGI. One of the things that make me go back to WDW again and again are the "robots" and the "car rides", like people down here usually say.

 

[bearboysnc]

Originally posted by Matt56
Get over it.......things change for the better!

Yeah, Imagination 2.0 was SO much better.

 

[AndyMagic]

Ok everyone simmer down. First of all, I think everyone has to understand that the ride isn't the most popular because of how fun it is but rather because of its location. It is the first thing people see and the first thing people ride. You could have a merry-go-round in that building and it would be the most "popular" ride in Walt Disney World. Another thing that people should know, disney fans might have a ball on it but the general public thinks it is boring, outdated, and not impressive at all. I know you guys hate to admit it but the sphere is what everyone loves, NOT the ride. I worked in Spaceship Earth when I was down there for the college program and very rarely would people come off the ride looking happy. The ride is squeeky and bumpy, the animitronics are old, the soundtrack is HORRIBLE, the seats are as hard as stone, and the theme is a snore fest. And believe it or not, after all that, I truly love the ride. Not because it is impressive but because of nostalga and memories from when it used to be impressive. Grizzly you have it wrong. Walt wouldn't have a heart attack at the thought of a new technologically advanced ride! He would have a heart attack once he saw how boring and dated a park devoted to the future had become!

 

[Poncho1973]

It's the end... oh my

There are certainly a lot of posts here. Sometimes I wonder why people are judged by the NUMBER of posts rather than the content therein. Maybe some people should reflect on the message that the current show in SE presents... EFFECTIVE communication and improving how you do so.

The comment has been made that Walt was known for breaking molds, for harnessing new ideas and for breaking ground... yet too many people seem to forget that. "The way it USED to be" isn't **always** that great. Personally, I do mourn Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, but in general I love (good or bad) that there are always efforts being made to keep my attention within the parks by balancing the past with the future.

SE itself is an amazing story of something that is quite important. The manner in which that story is presented isn't infalliable. Personally, I love the message, but hate having to sit in the horribly uncorfortable omni-mover. There are parts of the attraction that I LOVE (the burning of Rome, the early to mid-1900's theatres/tv/etc., the shot of Earth @ the top turnaround) and things I HATE (the cartoon chariot riding away in "advancing" Rome, the "futuristic" classroom), but those are all matters of opinion.

Nothing has been said YET on the message of the importance of communication going away. Nothing has been officially announced at all. Until said announcement is made (if there ever becomes something to announce) why don't you focus on what positive things COULD come out of a total rework of this magnatude? Think of the opportunites (with 2002+ technology) that could be harnessed to teach people young & old about the importance of communication and the history of people on this planet.

Just my $0.02

 

[MicBat]

If the ride were being totally redone, why would they just have added those video screens at the beginning of the ride and in the que (I think the 3D version of the "time machine vehicle" on the sign it the que is awesome!). All the ride needs is a little bit of an update and a solution to the problem w/the ride always stopping.

 

[isnet396]

The proposed attraction is supposed to open in five years. There's a little time inbetween now and then...