EPCOT Spaceship Earth Refurb - 2 Year Closure

[Haymarket2008]

Made a video today which included talking about the reconfiguring of the queue & load/unload ride track for Spaceship Earth during the reimagining. Other people on this forum know more specifics on this project than I do, but just wanted to share this rudimentary visualization of the possible new layout and how the queue could be moved inside by bumping out the ride track, something my sources have said is the plan for a while. Rumor only, of course!

In the concept art of the new building you can spot the exit ramp you currently have from the elevated ride track back down to ground level, except now it's pushed all the way out to the back of where the VIP lounge approximately is, lending more to this idea of reshaping the track around the perimeter of the new rear building.

@marni1971 is suggesting that the queue/post show building may not actually be going through as extensive a change. Still interesting stuff.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Can we leave him alone and just discuss like adults? Thanks.

 

[jt04]

@MouseBrayden why aren't you using your main account @Disnerd2003 ?

That is interesting coming from someone impersonating someone else.

Strangely TP2000 rarely posts when you do.

 

[jt04]

Looks like another MickeyViews vs Martin disparity. Makes this place fun.

 

[MouseBrayden]

@marni1971 is suggesting that the queue/post show building may not actually be going through as extensive a change. Still interesting stuff.

Yeah if they wanted to get the attraction back online sooner not changing the track would be a big help. I do find it sort of weird the outdoor queue is still visible in the Epcot overview art, although so is the original tram loop they already demolished so who knows

 

[MouseBrayden]

Looks like another MickeyViews vs Martin disparity. Makes this place fun.

Not refuting Martin, I didn't know this was a contended idea. He knows more than I do especially on the EPCOT developments. I do believe that load/unload track change was the plan at least back at D23 since that art they showed corroborates what I heard. Given the way the budget and time tables can be trimmed down you'd think redoing the entire bottom level of track would be the easiest thing to cut tbh.

 

[trainplane3]

@MouseBrayden why aren't you using your main account @Disnerd2003 ?

I thought we stopped this? It's really getting old.

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

It would be quite strange to leave the Project Tomorrow building completely untouched. At the bare minimum they’re gonna have to modify the building or install a new post show.

 

[MouseBrayden]

It would be quite strange to leave the Project Tomorrow building completely untouched. At the bare minimum they’re gonna have to modify the building or install a new post show.

The thing I'm confused on is I thought the whole point of demo'ing Project Tomorrow was to redo the track unload/load and queue, if they aren't doing that anymore why even bother building a new building on the same footprint?

I'm thinking @marni1971 might be right that the whole plan with the new building might be in jeopardy at the point because I know for a fact Harmonious is so over budget it has sucked up a ton of the overhaul contingency money. Would make sense that would lead to cuts elsewhere as a result.

 

[jt04]

The thing I'm confused on is I thought the whole point of demo'ing Project Tomorrow was to redo the track unload/load and queue, if they aren't doing that anymore why even bother building a new building on the same footprint? Maybe they aren't if the track reconfig stuff is off the table now.

I favor them keeping the footprint as is if they can also fix the clunking track. The post show area and corporate space seem like valuable assets if they reimagine them.

Starting to seem like they may be reconsidering some stuff which seems even more likely with a new CEO in charge.

 

[tparris]

I favor them keeping the footprint as is it they can also fix the clunking track. The post show area and corporate space seem like valuable assets if they reimagine them.

Starting to seem like they may be reconsidering some stuff which seems even more likely with a new CEO in charge.

Unfortunate if true. It desperately needs a complete retracking.

 

[jt04]

Unfortunate if true. It desperately needs a complete retracking.

I think Martin says it is fixable just won't be easy. We should hear soon.

 

[jt04]

First of all, I hope it is obvious that this is a parody account. Secondly, I would like to mention that I do not have any other accounts here.

Since it is a parody account I'm assuming that second sentence is part of the gag. Clever.

 

[matt9112]

The thing I'm confused on is I thought the whole point of demo'ing Project Tomorrow was to redo the track unload/load and queue, if they aren't doing that anymore why even bother building a new building on the same footprint?

I'm thinking @marni1971 might be right that the whole plan with the new building might be in jeopardy at the point because I know for a fact Harmonious is so over budget it has sucked up a ton of the overhaul contingency money. Would make sense that would lead to cuts elsewhere as a result.

I find it absurd how corps do this. If you blow your department out of the water you should be held accountable and reprimanded adjust budget for that project it should never (steal money) from somewhere else.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

The screens are not in the concept

Screens and mapping

 

[MouseBrayden]

I find it absurd how corps do this. If you blow your department out of the water you should be held accountable and reprimanded adjust budget for that project it should never (steal money) from somewhere else.

I think it's even worse than Harmonious going over budget and eating up the Epcot Overhaul contingency money, it's possible it may have already taken ALL of it and now it's eating into the budgets of OTHER projects. Would explain the new uncertainty in us getting the previously planned new building + expanded load track & indoor queue for Spaceship Earth, it's probably the most expensive non-essential expenditure in the park.

 

[marni1971]

I think it's even worse than Harmonious going over budget and eating up the Epcot Overhaul contingency money, it's possible it may have already taken ALL of it and now it's eating into the budgets of OTHER projects. Would explain the new uncertainty in us getting the previously planned new building + expanded load track & indoor queue for Spaceship Earth, it's probably the most expensive non-essential expenditure in the park.

Did you check the Guardians budget?

 

[jt04]

Boarding Groups and fast passes would go a long way in minimizing the outdoor queues around SSE and their effect on crowd flow. Along with the new east and west bypasses which I assume are permanent.

 

[tparris]

Boarding Groups and fast passes would go a long way in minimizing the outdoor queues around SSE and their effect on crowd flow. Along with the new east and west bypasses which I assume are permanent.

I believe I remember someone here saying the bypasses are temporary. It would be nice if they weren’t though

 

[HauntedPirate]

Boarding Groups and fast passes would go a long way in minimizing the outdoor queues around SSE and their effect on crowd flow. Along with the new east and west bypasses which I assume are permanent.

Please list what rides/attractions you think should get boarding groups, in all 4 WDW theme parks.