News Spaceship Earth Refurb - 2 Year Closure

[M:SpilotISTC12]

Journey of Water, The Event Pavilion and the PLAY! Pavilion are all represented in the Epcot Experience.

Why did I read this in @realBobChapek 's voice? I just got chills similar to the ones I get during horror movies.

 

[CastAStone]

So does this mean I can finally put some IP in that stupid golf ball?

Can you put it on the golf ball?

 

[The Pho]

So does this mean I can finally put some IP in that stupid golf ball?

Here’s a good one for it.

 

[marni1971]

Journey of Water, The Event Pavilion and the PLAY! Pavilion are all represented in the Epcot Experience. Spaceship Earth and Mary Poppins are not.

Correct.

 

[brb1006]

I just hope the day finally comes when the screens on the ride vehicle are finally gone. Not fond of the interactive element during the final minutes of the attraction.

 

[Dragonman]

I just hope the day finally comes when the screens on the ride vehicle are finally gone. Not fond of the interactive element during the final minutes of the attraction.

Yeah exactly, especially when every previous incarnation had various things to look at physically from 180 top and down.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

I just hope the day finally comes when the screens on the ride vehicle are finally gone. Not fond of the interactive element during the final minutes of the attraction.

Definitely agree the whole interactive screen descent was lousy.

But I'd say there's one good reason for keeping the screens - ability to select your language.* And while we're at it, I also didn't mind the "show us where you're from" part and how that was sent to the big map in the post show. In fact, keeping those elements would fit nicely into the whole "shared story" reboot Disney was teasing. So basically keep the screens for that but nothing else.

*How about an added Easter egg selection for the fans? Something where you tap and hold two languages or something and a hidden menu lets you choose a previous SSE narration (Perrin, Cronkite, Irons, or Dench). Sorta like the hidden songs on Rip, Ride, Rocket at Universal. Make it happen!

 

[Dragonman]

Definitely agree the who interactive screen descent was lousy.

But I'd say there's one good reason for keeping the screens - ability to select your language.* And while we're at it, I also didn't mind the "show us where you're from" part and how that was sent to the big map in the post show. In fact, keeping those elements would fit nicely into the whole "shared story" reboot Disney was teasing. So basically keep the screens for that but nothing else.

*How about an added Easter egg selection for the fans? Something where you tap and hold two languages or something and a hidden menu lets you choose a previous SSE narration (Perrin, Cronkite, Irons, or Dench). Sorta like the hidden songs on Rip, Ride, Rocket at Universal. Make it happen!

I love that idea honestly. The Perrin and Cronkite narrations don’t exist in HD so if they pulled them out of the Archives and remastered them that would be amazing.

 

[danlb_2000]

Permit filed today for the address of Spaceship Earth. Same contractor, Whiting Turner Contracting Company, that filed the initial permit back when it looked like this project was actually going to happen. It has the default 1 year expiration.

2060 AVENUE OF THE STARS(SPACESHIP EARTH) - Installation of source power and control equipment

 

[bpiper]

Permit filed today for the address of Spaceship Earth. Same contractor, Whiting Turner Contracting Company, that filed the initial permit back when it looked like this project was actually going to happen. It has the default 1 year expiration.

2060 AVENUE OF THE STARS(SPACESHIP EARTH) - Installation of source power and control equipment

Could it be for the fountain?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Permit filed today for the address of Spaceship Earth. Same contractor, Whiting Turner Contracting Company, that filed the initial permit back when it looked like this project was actually going to happen. It has the default 1 year expiration.

2060 AVENUE OF THE STARS(SPACESHIP EARTH) - Installation of source power and control equipment

Wouldn't it be odd for it to be for one year when Martin said the refresh/refurb would take 2-3 years?

 

[TTA94]

Wouldn't it be odd for it to be for one year when Martin said the refresh/refurb would take 2-3 years?

Cant imagine that being good news. Good news that it wouldn’t be closed for so long, bad news that we proposed wouldn’t get whatever the original plans were.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Leaving SSE as is does not bother me as much as ALL THE OTHER WORK IN EPCOT that needs to be completed. I can't wait for all the construction walls to come down, even if, some of the initially planned enhancements are not implemented.

 

[TTA94]

What Is the current expected timeframe for the spine? Or the majority of it?

 

[marni1971]

Wouldn't it be odd for it to be for one year when Martin said the refresh/refurb would take 2-3 years?

I’d be surprised to see anything as thorough in the near term.

 

[JEANYLASER]

Spaceship Earth refurb will be finished in the year 2022?

 

[JohnD]

Spaceship Earth refurb will be finished in the year 2022?

Who knows. If it were me, I'd just let it continue running under the current theme until after the spine is complete and GOTG and Rat are finished. Start the refurb then. Crowds get redistributed to new attractions with the new spine open.

 

[danlb_2000]

Could it be for the fountain?

That actually makes a lot of sense.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Spaceship Earth refurb will be finished in the year 2022?

It may not even start for a few years is what Martin was hinting at. After that, two to three more years... if they don't decide to abandon the refresh and just do a maintenance refurb.

Almost everything is in the air... on pause... indefinitely. Even the projects already started, let alone the ones that haven't.

 

[ABQ]

There is this strange scaffold thing being built up between the new acrylic monoliths and the lower front of the sphere (northside). No idea what it could be for, but not implying it's related to the permit, but just throwing it out there.