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

[Disney Analyst]

I mean... you must admit Disney was really ahead of the times with the current ending.

Everyone staring at individual light up screens in the dark while riding an attraction at Disney World? If that’s not a statement about where society was headed I don’t know what is.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

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.

Actually the ending was some scenery but the rest was projection on to glass, in that case it's always been projections and screens, I just wish they left the city at the end that's all I ever cared about.

 

[t3techcom18]

Actually the ending was some scenery but the rest was projection on to glass, in that case it's always been projections and screens, I just wish they left the city at the end that's all I ever cared about.

Some scenery was built in direct view like the ascent, the rest were Pepper's Ghost effects in terms of placement. About a quarter of those Pepper's Ghosts sets are still there.

 

[marni1971]

Actually the ending was some scenery but the rest was projection on to glass, in that case it's always been projections and screens, I just wish they left the city at the end that's all I ever cared about.

The majority of the eye candy were dimensional sets on the same level as guests. The pepper ghosts were in the minority, not the majority.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

Slowly getting there.

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

Here's a pic of what you are talking about. Darn pesky digital advertising. I wonder if they will bother removing it, or if it is possible without major changes. Pic taken Sat 3/10

 

[trainplane3]

Here's a pic of what you are talking about. Darn pesky digital advertising. I wonder if they will bother removing it, or if it is possible without major changes. Pic taken Sat 3/10
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It always looked like a basic Flash animation to me, especially the very 2007/8 Newgrounds-y ending. Couldn't they just open the project, delete all the Siemens logos, and then rollout the new version to the ride? I wouldn't think it would be that hard but I'm not in the know.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

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

...but at least now, Disney doesn't have to make a sponsor happy with any changes they plan to make. So there's that.

 

[smile]

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.

the decent can and should mean something, as it bridges the gap from where we were to where we're going...
so, even if one considers the entire decent a denouement, which is debateable in itself, that doesn't mean it can or should be considered throwaway.

inspirational as designed, the cronkite and irons decents managed to elevate their respective experiences; so, consider those as exhibits a & b...
that the current iteration screams, 'here fiddle with this until we get you down' is only one reason of several it's poorer by comparison.

while preferring none of the iterations boils down to taste, it's simply not true to say the current decent wasn't marginalized when it didn't need to be

 

[WhatJaneSays]

It always looked like a basic Flash animation to me, especially the very 2007/8 Newgrounds-y ending. Couldn't they just open the project, delete all the Siemens logos, and then rollout the new version to the ride? I wouldn't think it would be that hard but I'm not in the know.

It depends on how the program was coded originally. Typically, if it's coded correctly and closed up you can't just go in and remove/replace assets on the "live" version of it. However I would imagine that a "working" copy of the program is still available and the assets can be changed and a new live running version created. Now that work might have been outsourced so it may take more time plus some new contract to actually have it changed.

 

[180º]

the decent can and should mean something, as it bridges the gap from where we were to where we're going...
so, even if one considers the entire decent a denouement, which is debateable in itself, that doesn't mean it can or should be considered throwaway.

I wish we had a decent descent. The present indecent descent looks like it was built on a cent. Frankly, I dissent to our indecent descent on a cent, the scent of which I resent. I’ve sent for a decent descent, but the cents for that decent descent have since been spent. Makes no sense.

 

[trainplane3]

It depends on how the program was coded originally. Typically, if it's coded correctly and closed up you can't just go in and remove/replace assets on the "live" version of it. However I would imagine that a "working" copy of the program is still available and the assets can be changed and a new live running version created. Now that work might have been outsourced so it may take more time plus some new contract to actually have it changed.

True. I'd hope they would still have the project files for it. If not, go and pay somebody on Newgrounds/Fiverr a couple hundred dollars and they'll remake it. The hardest part would be coding the "if this then that" (answering the questions) segment of it. To be honest, it was never a pretty video/flash animation thing so it could end up being an improvement.

 

[marni1971]

It depends on how the program was coded originally. Typically, if it's coded correctly and closed up you can't just go in and remove/replace assets on the "live" version of it. However I would imagine that a "working" copy of the program is still available and the assets can be changed and a new live running version created. Now that work might have been outsourced so it may take more time plus some new contract to actually have it changed.

I don’t know how much is kept onboard, but the flash animation is processed off board and sent via discrete WiFi to each screen. If it was all kept off board then it wouldn’t be too difficult. Audio I believe is now onboard for each car.

 

[larryz]

Exactly!

... Which is why that YouTube ad can and often is, a small part of a very sophisticated marketing effort.

You might be seeing that ad because the day prior, you were googling “signs your transmission is going” or maybe you were reading car reviews.

Have you ever noticed how sometimes you see the same YouTube ads over and over again? Like they only have one or two companies paying to run ads or something?

You know that’s not the case, right?

In our Chevy example, that little ad on YouTube could be followed by two weeks of Chevy ads popping up next to Chase credit card offers and ads for the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot on your local news websites.

Speaking of which, have you ever noticed how many online ads you see for Disney? Do you think that’s because they are just advertising everywhere to everyone?

Of course they’re not.

Compared to something like that, a 10 year contract (that’s what it is, right?) to sponsor a pavilion could look like an anchor around the neck of a lot of companies who can see their fortunes change in the span of that time.

Just ask Kodak.

Again, not saying all sponsorships under all circumstances are bad for the sponsor but for the point of high profile tech companies in particular that were being discussed when I stepped into this conversation, I can see why they wouldn’t be interested.

Would most of us like to see an Apple or Google in the parks? Absolutely. That’s one of the many reasons they don’t need to be, though.

I think someone involved in some way in a consumer facing tech-related industry with a bad public image would be a good candidate for sponsorship of Spaceship Earth, personally.

We know it won’t be Comcast but maybe another broadband provider like Time Warner?... Maybe AT&T will decide to come back?

Just don't look online for cheap underwears unless you want to see pictures of underwear on just about every page you browse. Don't ask me how I know this...

 

[larryz]

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

They should probably change that sign to read "Shaping the future... alone."

 

[t3techcom18]

I don’t know how much is kept onboard, but the flash animation is processed off board and sent via discrete WiFi to each screen. If it was all kept off board then it wouldn’t be too difficult. Audio I believe is now onboard for each car.

Each car has it's own onboard computer with Windows 7 installed (too funny when the BSOD shows up and a sound is still going, might make it sound like loud machine gun fire from the speakers) with onboard audio included, with onboard power routed via the connections every 6-7 spacers. All the other spacers are empty.

 

[marni1971]

Each car has it's own onboard computer with Windows 7 installed (too funny when the BSOD shows up and a sound is still going, might make it sound like loud machine gun fire from the speakers) with onboard audio included, with onboard power routed via the connections every 6-7 spacers. All the other spacers are empty.

Imagine if the spacer car projections had worked....

 

[rle4lunch]

I'm just ready for this ride not to be poop anymore.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

The majority of the eye candy were dimensional sets on the same level as guests. The pepper ghosts were in the minority, not the majority.

I hate going down Spaceship Earth and seeing that scenery or at least the remains sitting there in the dark.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I hate going down Spaceship Earth and seeing that scenery or at least the remains sitting there in the dark.

You must have some really good eyesight. Do you have night vision glasses?

 

[Tom P.]

I'm just ready for this ride not to be poop anymore.

You know, the more I read threads around here, the more I think I must just have way lower standards than the average Disney fan.

I love Spaceship Earth. One of my favorite rides at Walt Disney World. Sure, there are things they could do to improve it, but there are things they could do to improve anything. But to say that the ride is "poop"? I just don't get it. I don't see that at all.

Then again, a good 80% of the threads around here are people talking about how things at WDW have gone to crap. Yet every time we go, I still think it's great.

Oh well. To each his own I suppose.