Uncle Lupe
Well-Known Member
Of course it does. Every ride or pavilion could always use more. I really enjoyed Mission Space. I played it up in the capsule flicking switches and pushing buttons.
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Mission Space needs more
- Thread starter THEMEPARKPIONEER
- Start date
whitethunder
Active Member
I like the ride, it could definitely use some refurbing.
About the only thing these days that changes is the gift shop, which is actually one of my favorites on site, but not enough to make it my first stop at Epcot. Now that Star Tours has multiple experiences where you never know what you're going to get, MS should be able to do the same thing. I like the idea of the Rings of Saturn on the way to Titan, and how about the red storm on Jupiter, or trying to land on a speeding comet or asteroid. Given programming flexibility, and the ease of making a new video, it should happen sooner rather than later.
I agree that the preshow gets old very fast. It's to the point that my family and I have stock comments about everything. Like that string of numbers that show up next to the ship right before you go in, tell the novices that they have to memorize them. Or that the flight engineer needs to be good with a bucket and hose in case of a protein spill.
If the Advanced Training Lab wasn't good, I wonder why the kiosks are nearly always busy. And my kids liked the McDonald's playground area, but I must admit that I never played the big group video game.
Overall, an upgrade would be appreciated. Bigger screens, certainly. Maybe a few extra screens above or on the side to simulate more windows. Of course, that would really be disorienting for the orange version. Maybe even have a companion ship on the screen that bails out for some reason, leaving only your ship to complete the mission. Or add even more drama by having it be an "Emergency" mission, like delivering vital supplies, or evacuation of colonists before a solar flare hits.
Now here's an even cooler idea, have the exit CM's shown in the preflight as the people you're going to save, saying stock things like, "the radiation is getting dangerous!" Just film each of them beforehand, and somehow have them plugged into each experience. Then, Voila!, there they are thanking you in the hallway on the way out. I guarantee those CMs will get their picture taken a hundred times every shift. And even decorate the exit hallway to look like the space colony interior that you saw in your preflight along with "windows" showing Saturn or Jupiter, changing depending on the version you just saw. And give stickers to the younger astronauts, saying things like, "I saved the Jupiter colony." None of this requires a ten million dollar investment, but I guarantee it'll make MS a multiple must see F-Ticket.
Right now, MS is in phase I, an afterthought after Soarin' and Test Track. Let's keep the ideas flowing so that Disney is inspired with Phase II to make it absolutely spectacular.
I agree that the preshow gets old very fast. It's to the point that my family and I have stock comments about everything. Like that string of numbers that show up next to the ship right before you go in, tell the novices that they have to memorize them. Or that the flight engineer needs to be good with a bucket and hose in case of a protein spill.
If the Advanced Training Lab wasn't good, I wonder why the kiosks are nearly always busy. And my kids liked the McDonald's playground area, but I must admit that I never played the big group video game.
Overall, an upgrade would be appreciated. Bigger screens, certainly. Maybe a few extra screens above or on the side to simulate more windows. Of course, that would really be disorienting for the orange version. Maybe even have a companion ship on the screen that bails out for some reason, leaving only your ship to complete the mission. Or add even more drama by having it be an "Emergency" mission, like delivering vital supplies, or evacuation of colonists before a solar flare hits.
Now here's an even cooler idea, have the exit CM's shown in the preflight as the people you're going to save, saying stock things like, "the radiation is getting dangerous!" Just film each of them beforehand, and somehow have them plugged into each experience. Then, Voila!, there they are thanking you in the hallway on the way out. I guarantee those CMs will get their picture taken a hundred times every shift. And even decorate the exit hallway to look like the space colony interior that you saw in your preflight along with "windows" showing Saturn or Jupiter, changing depending on the version you just saw. And give stickers to the younger astronauts, saying things like, "I saved the Jupiter colony." None of this requires a ten million dollar investment, but I guarantee it'll make MS a multiple must see F-Ticket.
Right now, MS is in phase I, an afterthought after Soarin' and Test Track. Let's keep the ideas flowing so that Disney is inspired with Phase II to make it absolutely spectacular.
FLYbyNITE
Active Member
Thank You Marni1971, your video was excellent and informative. I am not very fond of Mission Space because I always felt like something was missing (which I also find in almost all Epcot attractions). I understand that it is not a ride simulator and this is probably where my disappointment lies, couldn't they (DI'S) get better results from a simulator today?
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
I think Mission: Space is a fine ride, although perhaps slightly outdated, it could be very easily improved by just re-doing the ride video. The ride itself is much more of an example of good Imagineering than Soarin'. But, I agree, I don't like the trend of turning Epcot pavilions into single attractions. Mission: Space could have been a whole space pavilion instead of just one ride.
I think it's good to have at least 4 multiple attraction pavilions infuture world, they used to have that, now they only have 3 and I think space is a good thing for a multiple themed attraction. I always thought the Wonders of Life pavilion would be a good spot for Mission Space to migrate to, so much potential and it's the perfect building. That dome would make a beautyful planetarium. Then they can tear down the Mission Space building, check for sinkholes and build a new Horizons.
mp2bill
Well-Known Member
Ahahahahaha!
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
Mission: Space is the follow up to Flight to the Moon and Mission to Mars. It simply got misplaced, ended up in the wrong park.Bring back Mission to Mars
I say remove Stich and move with Mission: Space to Tomorrowland. Where it belongs. Then add a proper space pavilion to FW.
Moving entire attractions is HUGELY expensive. Centrifuges are monstrously heavy yet delicate machines, sitting on footings that are far stronger than average. You can't just pick them up and move them, and dreaming without an eye to the cost is just frustrating.
In my opinion, a planetarium looks like something nice on the park map, but how many people would actually want to see it? I've been to planetariums, and they're not very exciting. Some allow films of some sort to be projected on them, but it's still not a wow experience, just a glorified movie projector.
I do agree that making this more of a real pavilion would be great, but I doubt that we would need a food court, for example, merely a more kid friendly attraction in addition to the main ride, queing area, Advanced Training Lab, and gift shop. Something fun for younger kids would be great, but I truly wonder how much more space stuff is needed at WDW. EPCOT has MS, and Spaceship Earth has a big time space component to it. Studios has Star Tours. Magic Kingdom has Buzz Lightyear, the Blue Line, and Space Mountain. It's easy to conjure up ways to beef up MS, but what can you do to make a truly great kid's attraction. A toned down Spacey roller coaster? Another Buzz Lightyear type immersive video game? A slow ride ala Nemo or Spaceship Earth? None of that jumps out as being all that great to me. And developing something truly great requires big time money.
What MS is also missing is a big central area like the Land where everything meets in the middle. Perhaps it could be remodeled to knock out a few walls so that some of the queing stuff like the moon rover could be seen all over.
Oh well, ideas, for what they're worth. I don't have all the answers, but it still seems that a modest investment could enhance the main ride dramatically. They did it with Star Tours, and they can do it here too.
In my opinion, a planetarium looks like something nice on the park map, but how many people would actually want to see it? I've been to planetariums, and they're not very exciting. Some allow films of some sort to be projected on them, but it's still not a wow experience, just a glorified movie projector.
I do agree that making this more of a real pavilion would be great, but I doubt that we would need a food court, for example, merely a more kid friendly attraction in addition to the main ride, queing area, Advanced Training Lab, and gift shop. Something fun for younger kids would be great, but I truly wonder how much more space stuff is needed at WDW. EPCOT has MS, and Spaceship Earth has a big time space component to it. Studios has Star Tours. Magic Kingdom has Buzz Lightyear, the Blue Line, and Space Mountain. It's easy to conjure up ways to beef up MS, but what can you do to make a truly great kid's attraction. A toned down Spacey roller coaster? Another Buzz Lightyear type immersive video game? A slow ride ala Nemo or Spaceship Earth? None of that jumps out as being all that great to me. And developing something truly great requires big time money.
What MS is also missing is a big central area like the Land where everything meets in the middle. Perhaps it could be remodeled to knock out a few walls so that some of the queing stuff like the moon rover could be seen all over.
Oh well, ideas, for what they're worth. I don't have all the answers, but it still seems that a modest investment could enhance the main ride dramatically. They did it with Star Tours, and they can do it here too.
Crazy Harry
Active Member
I have read many of the comments on this subject, and I agree with some and disagree with others.
I like the ride itself. It is a unique experience unlike any I can get at any other park. It is more than just a simulator; more than just a screen. It is the closest thing to space travel I will ever expereince. IMO, it is relatively authentic and I like the interactive qualities, although limited. I would definetly trade it for most of the dark rides in WDW, but it is one of my favorite experiences relatively so.
Now, because FW is pavillion centric, I find M:S to be lacking. The exterior is great, the queue is great, and I am fine with the preshow. The hallway after exiting the ride really takes me out of the experience however. It is very narrow, plainly painted, and poorly drywalled from my recollection. ANd while I like the addition of other activites beyond the ride, it does feel as though something is missing.
I don't think a planetarium would be a good fit. That is something I can do outside of WDW. I can go to the local university and get a good show for 2 bucks. It is the same reason I'm not overly fond of Living Seas or Animal Kingdom. If I want to see fish, I'll so to an aquarium. If I want to see animals, I'll go to a zoo. If I want to suspend my disbeleif and travel through time, sail the sea with pirates, and visit more countries than I'll see in my life time etc, then I will go to WDW. Any additional experience should be unique.
As far as i know, there should be a fair amount of space left to add a sizable attraction to the "pavillion". I like the idea of a old school educational Epcot style dark ride about space study and exploration through the years. It doesn't have to be huge, but it would reintroduce some variety to the attraction options again.
I think a major reason that something like this would not happen is because Disney is all about bigger is better nowadays. I am all about progress and innovation, but there is something to be said also about relative simplicity. It appears that at Disney now that progress means that nothing done in the past is good enough. For example, look at the simplicity of most of the fantasy land dark rides, and also look at their popularity. Disney is turning away from expereinces like that now IMO. What I am really saying is, does an addition to M:S need to be bigger and better than anything done before it with maximum interactivity. No, it just needs to be good, and true to traditional Disney style.
I like the ride itself. It is a unique experience unlike any I can get at any other park. It is more than just a simulator; more than just a screen. It is the closest thing to space travel I will ever expereince. IMO, it is relatively authentic and I like the interactive qualities, although limited. I would definetly trade it for most of the dark rides in WDW, but it is one of my favorite experiences relatively so.
Now, because FW is pavillion centric, I find M:S to be lacking. The exterior is great, the queue is great, and I am fine with the preshow. The hallway after exiting the ride really takes me out of the experience however. It is very narrow, plainly painted, and poorly drywalled from my recollection. ANd while I like the addition of other activites beyond the ride, it does feel as though something is missing.
I don't think a planetarium would be a good fit. That is something I can do outside of WDW. I can go to the local university and get a good show for 2 bucks. It is the same reason I'm not overly fond of Living Seas or Animal Kingdom. If I want to see fish, I'll so to an aquarium. If I want to see animals, I'll go to a zoo. If I want to suspend my disbeleif and travel through time, sail the sea with pirates, and visit more countries than I'll see in my life time etc, then I will go to WDW. Any additional experience should be unique.
As far as i know, there should be a fair amount of space left to add a sizable attraction to the "pavillion". I like the idea of a old school educational Epcot style dark ride about space study and exploration through the years. It doesn't have to be huge, but it would reintroduce some variety to the attraction options again.
I think a major reason that something like this would not happen is because Disney is all about bigger is better nowadays. I am all about progress and innovation, but there is something to be said also about relative simplicity. It appears that at Disney now that progress means that nothing done in the past is good enough. For example, look at the simplicity of most of the fantasy land dark rides, and also look at their popularity. Disney is turning away from expereinces like that now IMO. What I am really saying is, does an addition to M:S need to be bigger and better than anything done before it with maximum interactivity. No, it just needs to be good, and true to traditional Disney style.
baymenxpac
Well-Known Member
great points.
i, personally, don't mind m:s. however, it upsets my wife's stomach and she doesn't care for it. as a result, the past two trips, we haven't even ventured towards the pavilion. that's a bummer to me. at least when we had horizons and world of motion, we had things that anyone could ride. don't get me wrong, i'm not saying bring back everything old (and i love horizons), but it would be great to have some kind of dark ride in the m:s pavilion that would put that section back in play for my family.
I don't see how dark rides are being eliminated, they are so peaceful and mesmorizing! They need dark rides and a full out Space theme would be pretty cool
They aren't being eliminated.
Crazy Harry
Active Member
I think what he really meant to say is that the quantity (both from loss and lack of new construction) and quality of dark rides has arguably diminished over the years. After all, when is the last time they built a solid dark ride @WDW?
flynnibus
Premium Member
Crazy Harry
Active Member
TLM is a good point. I guess my point is the dark ride is a dying art form at Disney. Comparing what has been built recently vs historically, and the number of rides we have lost.
I find Pooh to be a decent ride, but how long ago was that built? And if I compare Nemo to any other dark ride in WDW I find it lacking i.e. the lack of physical elements in the ride vs video projection elements.
The Little Mermaid.
Though Nemo and Friends had a hopeless budget and Pooh was done on the cheap.