Rumor Siemens is going to end their sponsorship with the parks - Spaceship Earth and IllumiNations

[mikejs78]

I don’t disagree with what you are saying. My only point was that a 10 year sponsorship doesn’t serve the same purpose as a YouTube add. Sponsorships are not used to directly sell products (at least not very successfully). They are used as part of a branding effort for the company. They are more of a long term play. Siemens wasn’t trying to get people to exit Spaceship Earth and go buy one of their products. They wanted people to see Siemens as a company that is innovative and forward thinking. They also wanted to build name recognition. That’s why a lot of companies sponsor things like sporting events or individual teams or theme park rides.

To your point, a company like Google or Apple doesn’t really need the name recognition. They do pretty well on their own with brand image. The only way I see one of those companies getting on board would be with a larger partnership. Similar to how TCM renewed their Great Movie Ride sponsorship and also added a Disney movie vault slot to their programming. The one thing Disney has that people want is content. Maybe an exclusive streaming option for ESPN or an exclusive app for iPhone or Android could interest them. The theme park sponsorip would be more of a throw in then the main event in that case.

They could maybe swing a company like Verizon or AT&T or even a cell phone maker (not named Apple) who wants to gain a better brand image and wants to get in bed in some way with TWDC.

I still see where a company like Google could hypothetically benefit from something like this. If you ask the average person what kind of company Google is, most will say 'search engine'. But Google's core mission goes way beyond that - organizing the world's information, and a lot of that goes into communication (Android) and new technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Being a sponsor of SSE, for example, and associated exhibits at Project Tomorrow and/or Communicore could be a way for Google to convey to people that they are about a lot more than just search, and that they have a vision of the future. That's a hard thing to convey in a 15-second YouTube ad or targeted AdWords. Hands on exhibits and experiential brand marketing could potentially benefit their awareness beyond being just a search engine and GMail.

 

[marni1971]

The main signs out front now have blanking plates underneath the attraction name.

 

[rocketraccoon]

Slowly getting there.

The only signs left are on the time machine screens and the Project Tomorrow games I believe.

 

[GhostHost1000]

What would they change??,

I'm not sure this forum allows that many characters per post

for starters I would take a real ending without screens and black walls

 

[MrPromey]

I don’t disagree with what you are saying. My only point was that a 10 year sponsorship doesn’t serve the same purpose as a YouTube add. Sponsorships are not used to directly sell products (at least not very successfully). They are used as part of a branding effort for the company. They are more of a long term play. Siemens wasn’t trying to get people to exit Spaceship Earth and go buy one of their products. They wanted people to see Siemens as a company that is innovative and forward thinking. They also wanted to build name recognition. That’s why a lot of companies sponsor things like sporting events or individual teams or theme park rides.

To your point, a company like Google or Apple doesn’t really need the name recognition. They do pretty well on their own with brand image. The only way I see one of those companies getting on board would be with a larger partnership. Similar to how TCM renewed their Great Movie Ride sponsorship and also added a Disney movie vault slot to their programming. The one thing Disney has that people want is content. Maybe an exclusive streaming option for ESPN or an exclusive app for iPhone or Android could interest them. The theme park sponsorip would be more of a throw in then the main event in that case.

They could maybe swing a company like Verizon or AT&T or even a cell phone maker (not named Apple) who wants to gain a better brand image and wants to get in bed in some way with TWDC.

Excellent points!

 

[MrPromey]

I'm not sure this forum allows that many characters per post

for starters I would take a real ending without screens and black walls

There's no character limit. Trust me, I've tried.

 

[alisonce04]

Are there going to be any major changes to the ride??

 

[Goofyernmost]

At this point, there are no changes that anyone has heard of. Without a sponsor I don't see them making very many changes at all. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And SSE ain't broke.

 

[aladdin2007]

At this point, there are no changes that anyone has heard of. Without a sponsor I don't see them making very many changes at all. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And SSE ain't broke.

The second half is broke and lousy show.

 

[Goofyernmost]

The second half is broke and lousy show.

It never was any good. The only difference is that it is a different boring, non-relevant thing to look at during the descent. It is the single least important part of the whole attraction. The actual show ends as we pass by the earth in the distance. The rest is now and always has been the process to get us back to ground level.

 

[mikejs78]

It never was any good. The only difference is that it is a different boring, non-relevant thing to look at during the descent. It is the single least important part of the whole attraction. The actual show ends as we pass by the earth in the distance. The rest is now and always has been the process to get us back to ground level.

Completely disagree. Both the Irons and Cronkite versions had inspiring descents. This one is just...lacking.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Completely disagree. Both the Irons and Cronkite versions had inspiring descents. This one is just...lacking.

I'm glad you liked it. I didn't completely dislike it back then, in fact with the Cronkite version Tomorrow Child was very inspiring, I also enjoyed the city scape as well. It's just that a lot of the lamented missing scenes are greatly exaggerated in their greatness. After the greatness of the journey to the top of the attraction all the remaining scenes were more for filler then anything spectacular. All they did was replace them with a screen that made us part of the attraction. Although, not like winning a Nobel prize at least it was fun and gave us our 15 minutes of fame.

 

[marni1971]

Of course, a lot of people will respectfully disagree. Like everytime this topic is brought up.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Of course, a lot of people will respectfully disagree. Like everytime this topic is brought up.

Well, Martin, everyone worships different things. Not everyone can be right, but, we all believe we are, so who makes the final decision? Individuals do! From the first time I saw it, (Cronkite) I felt the descent was anything but interesting. Please tell me other then screen supported little splashes of mini-drama, what was so spectacular about it. Yes, it was different then it is now, but, so what. It's whole purpose was to get us to the bottom and out.

If there were AA's I don't remember any. If it said anything that wasn't already said, or implied, I must have passed out from the speed of re-entry at that point. It was OK, just like it is today, nothing spectacular. To me the interaction between separate "two" seats, incorporating our own image was far more impressive then anything that proceeded it or have we become so jaded about modern technology that the fact the we are being included in this real time participation in communication (pretty sure that is what SSE is all about) is missed because they didn't give us a dizzying array of box pictures to look at. Sorry, but, I cannot agree that it was, and the only voices that will be heard are not going to be just one side. And yes, a lot of people disagree and, lets not forget that a lot of people also agree. The only reason that this topic comes up multiple times is because there is a difference of opinion otherwise there would be no disagreement, we would all just agree and move on.

 

[marni1971]

Sorry, but, I cannot agree that it was, and the only voices that will be heard are not going to be just one side..

Hence my reply to balance it out. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Magic Feather]

For all of my “plot arc” people out there, SSE suffers from the lack of an ability to have an appropriate denouement (look it up). The observatory at the top is the obvious climax, and that is how the ride was designed, but, from that climax, it takes a while to get to a point where you can end. The point after the climax, but before the end, is often called the resolution or denouement, which some of the best attractions have an aptly Timed one. In ToT, the drops are the climax, and the TZ outro and rollback into unload is the denouement; In Pirates, the burning city is the Climax and th prison/treasure was the denouement. SSE can not have a short but sweet denouement, so, barring a major restructuring of the attraction, the descent will always feel like the “part where they get us to unload” simply because of its length which makes it hard to pass as a mere denouement.

 

[HMF]

For all of my “plot arc” people out there, SSE suffers from the lack of an ability to have an appropriate denouement (look it up). The observatory at the top is the obvious climax, and that is how the ride was designed, but, from that climax, it takes a while to get to a point where you can end. The point after the climax, but before the end, is often called the resolution or denouement, which some of the best attractions have an aptly Timed one. In ToT, the drops are the climax, and the TZ outro and rollback into unload is the denouement; In Pirates, the burning city is the Climax and th prison/treasure was the denouement. SSE can not have a short but sweet denouement, so, barring a major restructuring of the attraction, the descent will always feel like the “part where they get us to unload” simply because of its length which makes it hard to pass as a mere denouement.

I agree that 180 top is the climax but to me when i saw that tiny SSE model at the end of the Irons Descent was when the message of the attraction really hit home for me. I cannot stress enough how important the Irons version was to me, personally. I am just glad that they have not ruined the ride beyond repair and that maybe someday it can be re-imagined again to give future generations that feeling again.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I didn't dislike the descent sequence of the Cronkite version, but I felt the Irons version's descent WAS a proper and awesome ending sequence and definite improvement over the prior descents (and infinitely better than the current one). The city of light with its fiber optic effects along with the incredible soundtrack was moving and I think was a proper way to end it. It took an already fantastic attraction and ended it with an uplifting and emotional bang. It left a lasting impression on me as a child and felt like an integral part of the experience that should have always been there. Even going back and watching the scene with music still gives me chills.

The current descent is just depressing and crappy. Especially knowing what was there prior, but it isn't even good on its own merits.

 

[aladdin2007]

I didn't dislike the descent sequence of the Cronkite version, but I felt the Irons version's descent WAS a proper and awesome ending sequence and definite improvement over the prior descents (and infinitely better than the current one). The city of light with its fiber optic effects along with the incredible soundtrack was moving and I think was a proper way to end it. It took an already fantastic attraction and ended it with an uplifting and emotional bang. It left a lasting impression on me as a child and felt like an integral part of the experience that should have always been there. Even going back and watching the scene with music still gives me chills.

The current descent is just depressing and crappy. Especially knowing what was there prior, but it isn't even good on its own merits.

this! for ten years I've been saying both Disney and Siemens should be embarrassed by it, now its all on Disney.

 

[mikejs78]

I didn't dislike the descent sequence of the Cronkite version, but I felt the Irons version's descent WAS a proper and awesome ending sequence and definite improvement over the prior descents (and infinitely better than the current one). The city of light with its fiber optic effects along with the incredible soundtrack was moving and I think was a proper way to end it. It took an already fantastic attraction and ended it with an uplifting and emotional bang. It left a lasting impression on me as a child and felt like an integral part of the experience that should have always been there. Even going back and watching the scene with music still gives me chills.

The current descent is just depressing and crappy. Especially knowing what was there prior, but it isn't even good on its own merits.

+1 from yet another person who found the Irons descent very inspiring. For a long time I had felt that Cronkite's descent was the best with Irons a close second, but now having gone back and watched all four versions on YouTube (thanks, @marni1971 ), I realize that this belief was more nostalgia than reality - the Irons version in my opinion wasn't he perfect ending/denouement for SSE.