Space Station Epcot...my idea for a new attraction.

[Pete C]

I think it would be a really cool idea to build a simulated space station at Epcot. I am wondering why something like this was not attempted as part of Mission: Space. It would have been perfect for that ride where you are blasted off into space, but dock on a space station rather than crash land. Anyway, this idea would also work in the SSE sphere.

The ride would start with a leisurely trip out to the space station. This would not be a thrill attraction, but be informing the guests about life in space. Once in the space station, the main attraction would be a large observatory deck where people are surrounded by massive HD screens themed to windows looking out into space. The room would be spherical, and the deck would be in the center, allowing guests to see space all around them. This room would have to be on an enormous scale to give people a sense of awe...make them feel like they have been transported away from Epcot into outer space, complete with peaceful music of course. People would be able to look back at Earth and out into the stars. The deck would have to be spaced far enough away from the windows so people could not tell they were screens, but with HD resolutions, I think this would be very convincing. There would be corridors off of the giant observatory room to show were the crew sleeps and eats (serve food here). Also, there could be additional rooms where people could interact with 3D "telescopes" that look out into the simulated space environment to view other stars, galaxies, moons, asteroids, etc and learn about them. They would be computer generated CGI, but based on reality so Epcot could use this to educate people about space.

 

[Steve-B]

Sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[ulto22]

Very close to one of my old ideas but the screens would be holographic panels seen here. http://www.zebraimaging.com/

Looking at the videos on the site there is a 3-d Mickey mouse. See if you can find it.

I guess great minds think alike. Now if only I could find a great mind.

 

[stitchcastle]

This is what the Space Pavillion was going to be ^_^

 

[Pete C]

This is what the Space Pavillion was going to be ^_^

I see, I am new to this board so I never saw the original concept art.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

There isn't too much concept art around. But, M:S was originally going to be as if you were taking an actual flight to Mars and disembark at the Space Station. There is some question whether the story on re-entry would be that it was all a simulation and we passed with flying colors or if it would actually be literal.

 

[bassman]

i do love this idea but i have some ideas that could go with it,
lets start at the beginning of our trip
it should be a expansion to M:S. they should build another centrifuge or use 1 of the already existing ones. this could be the actual mission that you 'trained' for on M:S (see how it links) and the space station should be a sort of mars orbiting station,i like the idea of them selling food but how about if you could explore most of this space station. it could be like 1 big learning experience where you have touch screens in every part that can be accessed and they told you info about life in space related to that area. e.g. in the restauraunt part info screens about the way astronaughts eat in space.
it could be all interative too like spitches when pressed make noises and such.
the restaurant part could be like the mess hall or someting, you could have a bridge, a engineering room(they could put something along the lines of the space race thing in the M:S post show.
there could be 'events' that happen whilst you are onboard this space station, things like warning sirens because of asteroids or engine/instrumental problems, on the screens (which i love the idea of BTW) there could be things like distant star explosions, the X-2 shuttle docking with the station,(that could tie in with the warning sirens, they could warn you that a shuttle is docking) there could be things like a space walker working on part of the station and things like eclipses.there could be thing like nasa/istc radio gable in the background all the time.
to get out of the attraction you could have to go in a simulator thats like a pod that brings you back to the istc headquarters at epcot,not like the pods that you used to get here 9either centrifuge or not there could be 2 choices) but something along the lines of the hydrolators that were in living seas only they move/shake and you sat down and strapped in.
it could be like a whole other land only smaller like sea base alpha was/is with restrooms food courts and stores (possibly?).

 

[Pete C]

Yeah, the exploration of the space station is definitely what I had in mind. The restaurant was just one aspect...like you said a mess hall for the crew. I like the other ideas you have here. Having events happen throughout the day would keep the attraction fresh.

 

[ReallyBigKid]

Doesn't this sound a little boring. Just staring out at the stars sounds alot like sticking your face real close to the walk by windows on space mountain. Yeah its kinda fun to watch the satellites float and spin, but I don't see you being able to make an entire attraction around this.

Now I do think having spacesuit mockups that you can get in to see what its like would be cool, like the old hard diving suits at Living Seas. Maybe make a dinosaur type ride, but make it a lunar rover on another planet (but I hate copying rides, waste of space not to come up with something original).

 

[bassman]

Doesn't this sound a little boring. Just staring out at the stars sounds alot like sticking your face real close to the walk by windows on space mountain. Yeah its kinda fun to watch the satellites float and spin, but I don't see you being able to make an entire attraction around this.

Now I do think having spacesuit mockups that you can get in to see what its like would be cool, like the old hard diving suits at Living Seas. Maybe make a dinosaur type ride, but make it a lunar rover on another planet (but I hate copying rides, waste of space not to come up with something original).

thats just it, the screen/windows and ambiance sounds would purely be for atmosphere,just incase you looked over your shoulder and saw one of the windows. the real entertainment would be inside
the space suit idea sounds cool,they could make it a sort of game, the visor could be a cuved screen and you could have to do some tasks that involved you manuvering the suit.they could make it so that it did actually rotate and such to give you the feel of it actually moving.