Rumor Spaceship Earth Redo Shelved Indefinitely

[StantonZ]

I attended the Retro Magic convention at Beach Club last month. Retired Imagineering Legend Bob Gurr told us that he was brought in to look at issues with the track system before Epcot opened. He evaluated all the options available at the time and told WDI that buying wheels by the truckload would be more cost effective and reliable than the other options.

I attended that same convention/session and concur; it was also cool to meet Bob Gurr in person.
Can't wait for the next RetroWDW event (I think they said a couple of years)!

 

[dodgr98]

I attended that same convention/session and concur; it was also cool to meet Bob Gurr in person.
Can't wait for the next RetroWDW event (I think they said a couple of years)!

I wish I was as on the ball as Bob is at 92. It was two days of awesome. They said 18 months, that would put it in the middle of the Spring Break crowds in April 2025. Hopefully, they adjust the date to avoid the crowds and also keep it at Beach Club.

 

[WondersOfLife]

Just rode this a couple of days ago... Super duper clunky the whole ride. Definitely needs an update.

 

[Thelazer]

You know, I don't mind the super clunky stuff as you go uphill into the first scene. If they would remove the stupid screens and keep the area dark, makes it really feel like your in a time machine and you never know what could happen.

 

[Dragonman]

You know, I don't mind the super clunky stuff as you go uphill into the first scene. If they would remove the stupid screens and keep the area dark, makes it really feel like your in a time machine and you never know what could happen.

It used to be like that originally, super dark with fog machines.

 

[Thelazer]

It used to be like that originally, super dark with fog machines.

BRING IT BACK!

 

[Squishy]

 

[Earlie the Pearlie]

Maintenance is maintenance... but that track does not sound good.

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

Hopefully the Chariot can get some love next if we're bringing retired SSE effects back...

 

[Dragonman]

Originally there were fog machines on the floor in that room to simulate the water but they kept tripping ride sensors.

 

[PizzaPlanet]

That one effect was all that was left of the redo’s budget.

 

[tparris]

Hopefully the Chariot can get some love next if we're bringing retired SSE effects back...

Just curious, what effect are you talking about?

 

[HMF]

Just curious, what effect are you talking about?

There used to be an effect on Spaceship Earth of a chariot driving down a road and into the distance in the Roman Road scene. It was removed during the 2007 refurb because a senior Imagineer thought it looked cheesy.

 

[tparris]

There used to be an effect on SSE of a chariot driving down a road in the Roman Road scene. It was removed during the 2007 refurb because a senior Imagineer thought it looked cheesy.

Oh, gotcha. That sounds like something that could be pulled off well with today’s technology, assuming it was some sort of projection

 

[HMF]

Oh, gotcha. That sounds like something that could be pulled off well with today’s technology, assuming it was some sort of projection

It was indeed a projection and could hypothetically be brought back overnight if they wanted to.

 

[James Alucobond]

It was indeed a projection and could hypothetically brought back overnight if they wanted to.

Well, yes, but it would ideally be enhanced. The assessment of it being a bit cheesy by current standards wasn't exactly wrong.

 

[HMF]

Well, yes, but it would ideally be enhanced. The assessment of it being a bit cheesy by current standards wasn't exactly wrong.

Maybe, but simply turning it off without replacing it is not doing it any favors.

 

[Horizonsfan]

While they're tinkering around, how about turning back on the Fall of Rome "smoke" effects?

 

[Bocabear]

the torches off in the distance and heading up the mountain were also animated to look like they were in motion...and was not cheesy looking at all.......I have not seen that effect running since the chariot animation went away...

 

[tparris]

the torches off in the distance and heading up the mountain were also animated to look like they were in motion...and was not cheesy looking at all.......I have not seen that effect running since the chariot animation went away...

Are you talking about the moving lights going along the roads in the background? If so, that effect was actually brought back recently