Save Spaceship Earth

[Sherm00]

Originally posted by Clemster
Going off on a slight tangent does anyone else feel during the 60's, 70's and 80's there was a great sense of looking forward to the future and imagining what posibilites it would hold, where people dreamt up elaborate visions of just how the future would unfold. Epcot when it opened fitted right into this vision with rides like Horizons that showed you what it would be like to have a house in space (I am remembering the correct ride aren't I?) and SSE showing you how communication has progressed and getting you excited with the thought of the possibilitiesthat the future will bring.

Ever since my first visit in 89 (when I was 9) Epcot has been my favourite park it got me excited I remember being on the plane home embarassing my parents singing "If you can dream it then you can do it, yes you can!"
Does anyone else feel that these days the sense of dreaming about the future has gone? No one seems to think up their colourfull visions of what is to come. Are we becoming a society of cynics that are too afraid to look and dream about what the future holds?
The generall concensus from kids (and adults?) who visit Epcot these days say it's boring, for me it's only boring if you don't embrace the message that is sent out.

I can see why Disney would want to put thrill rides into Epcot, because it's becoming the style of attraction the appeals to the mass market.
For me Epcot has never been about thrill rides it's about excitement, you can take excitement away from a ride but a thrill ride you have your ride and that's it to get the thrill again you need to go on the ride again. Taking it to it's extreme thrill rides are like the opium of theme park attractions.
I should imagine many will disagree to varying disagrees but thought I should add my 2cents!!

back in the 60's 70's and 80's yes there was looking into the future attitude. problem that happened is technology grew so fast between 1991 and 2000 that the dreams and look into the future back in the 60's 70's and 80's became a reality in the 90's, back before even 1995 half the population of the US did not even know what the internet was and now we can surf it on our cell phones. people are afraid to embrace the new technology because when they do it is outdated before they use it the first time. i think makeing future world discovery land is much more viable in the vision of epcot, not only can they keep the scientific and learning nature of the park but things will not become outdated as fast. take innoventions by the time they bring the technology in to that pavilion it's already out to the public. that dosn't make for a very good attraction.

 

[niteobsrvr]

Originally posted by Clemster
Going off on a slight tangent does anyone else feel during the 60's, 70's and 80's there was a great sense of looking forward to the future and imagining what posibilites it would hold, where people dreamt up elaborate visions of just how the future would unfold. Epcot when it opened fitted right into this vision with rides like Horizons that showed you what it would be like to have a house in space (I am remembering the correct ride aren't I?) and SSE showing you how communication has progressed and getting you excited with the thought of the possibilitiesthat the future will bring.

Ever since my first visit in 89 (when I was 9) Epcot has been my favourite park it got me excited I remember being on the plane home embarassing my parents singing "If you can dream it then you can do it, yes you can!"
Does anyone else feel that these days the sense of dreaming about the future has gone? No one seems to think up their colourfull visions of what is to come. Are we becoming a society of cynics that are too afraid to look and dream about what the future holds?
The generall concensus from kids (and adults?) who visit Epcot these days say it's boring, for me it's only boring if you don't embrace the message that is sent out.

I can see why Disney would want to put thrill rides into Epcot, because it's becoming the style of attraction the appeals to the mass market.
For me Epcot has never been about thrill rides it's about excitement, you can take excitement away from a ride but a thrill ride you have your ride and that's it to get the thrill again you need to go on the ride again. Taking it to it's extreme thrill rides are like the opium of theme park attractions.
I should imagine many will disagree to varying disagrees but thought I should add my 2cents!!

I think you may be on to something. When the possibilities of the future become reality, changes come at lightning pace, and money becomes the driving force upon wthich we base our lives, cynicism can easily replace optimism.

The very thought of change is one that can leave many Americans running for cover. From a technology standpoint, we have seen a lot of things happen since the mid 1980's. And ironically enough, most of these changes have come in the form of communication, the theme of SSE. There has been a lot of information for us to process, gadgets to learn, and basic alterations in how we conduct our daily lives.

I think people have stopped looking to the future and the opportunities it will bring. Their thoughts have been replaced by fear that they will be unable to catch up, to learn new ways of doing things, and to earn a living in the new global economy. The daily race in American life is no longer one to get ahead but one to keep "your head above water". The changes that have been happening have left people feeling more frustrated than anything.

It is fortunate for us today that people like Walt didn't feel stressed about the future but instead embraced it. They looked at the opportunity to do things differently, to create a better life. If only we could get back to the idea that what lies ahead isn't about what our 401k is worth but about creating a "big bright beautiful tomorrow".

 

[General Grizz]

Originally posted by Buzzy989
The story which unfolds in Spaceship Earth is by no means didactic. It illustrates and shows more than it tells. It conveys a comprehensive view of mankind's progress without mentioning a single date or a single prominent person. It communicates to guests of all ages, and it informs and inspires. . . it doesn't teach.

That's right...I can't hear one name or date mentioned in Spaceship Earth! I guess this all promotes the concept of 'Discovery.'

Excellent post, Buzzy989. I would also like to stress one more idea of the past.

This has to do with dreaming and doing. Everything manmade that we have today comes from someone's imagination. Since the "dawn of recorded time," man has always sought to improve life. Without journeys into prehistoric times, the Renaissance, etc. we would lose the entire notion of "Dreaming and Doing."

Because without a past of desire, there will be no future. It would defeat the concept of the future entirely if we have no essence of humanity to base it on.

"What's so special about the future?" - Drew Barrymore
"Well, you see, the future contains all the hopes and the dreams of the past and the present; it's really quite wonderful." - Danny Kaye

 

[Disneyanna0521]

yall have really gotten into this

 

[dox]

This has been a great discussion. Ultimately I'm really not disagreeing with y'all and I hope I'm not sounding too negative. It just seems that since the 90s, the year 2000 excluded, Epcot has been on a downhill slide.

"What's so special about the future?" - Drew Barrymore
"Well, you see, the future contains all the hopes and the dreams of the past and the present; it's really quite wonderful." - Danny Kaye "
---OMG does that bring back memories!!! I have that on video somewhere and used to watch it constantly until the video tape broke. Was so worn down it snapped one day. I still have it, hoping to have it repaired. Remember the old World Showcase characters with the giant heads they show at the beginning? I only saw them that first year at the park and then they promptly disappeared.

 

[General Grizz]

It's too bad Vault Disney doesn't exist anymore. Perhaps, if you can give me your AIM username, I can give you some connections to see this special once again.

 

[horizonsboy]

I wonder what Disney was thinking when they took out Vault Disney with the new "Disney Channel" overlay. I mean the new look is cool and all but there is a time to bring back memories: "Makin' memories, makin' memories, takin' pictures is makin' memories, catchin' little pieces of time, making 'em yours, making 'em mine. Great vacations and celebrations we, love to hold near and dear, but when your makin' memories, happy days can reappear, Look at the birdie!"
Song copyright ©1981 Wonderland Music Co., Inc. (BMI)

 

[General Grizz]

A year later, and since then, the plan has been PAUSED, NIXED. . . and revived!

I will try to get more specifics in the coming month. . . but I still doubt Disney would be willing to invest into something greater than the current SE as far as sets/AAs/detail goes based on all recent Epcot track records.

So as far as I'm concerned, can't trust the current management. If they can make SE greater, by all means, I'm for it. This doesn't mean movie screens -- I can't stand the cutbacks. . .

 

[Lynx04]

I think SSE is a great attraction. I am a stunch supporter of doing a major upgrade to the attraction: new omnimover system, updated AA, completely redesign scenes. I think Disney can do a great deed and invest in a new omnimover system that can be a proto type to either creating new omnimover attractions or updating the old attractions. However, I doubt that it will ever happen, well at least the omnimover upgrade. (derelich ride system)