Dragonman
Well-Known Member
Yes, I hope part two includes all the knowledge we’ve gathered in this thread over the years.
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Spaceship in Spaceship Earth
- Thread starter mayoki
- Start date
Yes, I hope part two includes all the knowledge we’ve gathered in this thread over the years.
DoleWhipDrea
Well-Known Member
I imagine that’s why the second part is taking a while! (Though I’m probably just overly eager.) I appreciate that he’s trying to put all of this information together.
I enjoy Park Ride History’s channel. I’m fond of the “Keep EPCOT Weird” slogan.
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
My first ride on 'Spaceship Earth' was in April of 1983.
I clearly recall the old, original 'control center' and the satellites / space station elements after 180 Top.
I also remember being really scared when we reached the top and the vehicles started turning backwards.
Being that there was absolutely no forewarning of what was about to happen, I remember being terrified the ride experience at that point was about to turn into some kind of crazy 'backwards coaster'.
The sensation of being turned around and tilted back on a track in the dark scared 12 year old me absolutely stiff.
As Martin's video recreation shows, the original version of the Attraction didn't have the forewarning audio...and there were no 'spoilers' in those days.
But I do remember seeing the hanging space scene above me during the decent and how it calmed me down a little bit.
Space and astronauts were just about the coolest things in 1983.
Man, I was so scared during that first ride....and to this day when I ride and reach the top and those vehicles turn backwards, i instantly remember how much it freaked me out as a kid.
Will be doing it again soon.
Thankful the Attraction is still open and not under the intended refresh / retheme.
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I clearly recall the old, original 'control center' and the satellites / space station elements after 180 Top.
I also remember being really scared when we reached the top and the vehicles started turning backwards.
Being that there was absolutely no forewarning of what was about to happen, I remember being terrified the ride experience at that point was about to turn into some kind of crazy 'backwards coaster'.
The sensation of being turned around and tilted back on a track in the dark scared 12 year old me absolutely stiff.
As Martin's video recreation shows, the original version of the Attraction didn't have the forewarning audio...and there were no 'spoilers' in those days.
But I do remember seeing the hanging space scene above me during the decent and how it calmed me down a little bit.
Space and astronauts were just about the coolest things in 1983.
Man, I was so scared during that first ride....and to this day when I ride and reach the top and those vehicles turn backwards, i instantly remember how much it freaked me out as a kid.
Will be doing it again soon.
Thankful the Attraction is still open and not under the intended refresh / retheme.
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aladdin2007
Well-Known Member
but its overdue and needs it terribly, at least the refresh part.
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
True indeed, but I have concerns regarding Disney's proposed plans for said thematic refresh.
That concept art didn't thrill me...with its hints of subtle IP intrusion.
Agree however that work needs to be done..some long overdue and serious work.
And I'm not even talking about the decent....but of course that certainly needs a hammer put to it.
Actually, a sledgehammer to the tv screens in the ride vehicle would be a improvement.
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solidyne
Well-Known Member
Great memories/comments! My first trip to Epcot Center also was April '83. And I was 12, too!
Horizons1
Well-Known Member
...you were only 10? I’m gonna be sick.
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
Fantastic.
It was a great time to go, and at the perfect age back then.
The Original 'Journey Into Imagination' ride through Attraction had just opened the month before, and my other vivid memory was experiencing that in all its freshly finished glory.
Absolutely loved that Attraction.
Just the smell of the fresh paint when you entered the Pavilion and stood in the rides' queue will forever be burned into my brain.
Everything was new and working as intended....just spectacular.
Really wish that was still there.
I will never forgive Disney and those responsible for sabotaging and then destroying that wonderful Attraction.
Ever.
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disneyC97
Well-Known Member
My first trips to EPCOT Center were November '83, December '84 and June '86...I was 9 on the first trip. I remember my parents being in awe (us kids were too). My sister was 6 and her and I took photos with Dreamfinder and Figment in front of Journey...
Bringing it back on topic...I too distinctly remember the satellite and astronauts at the Spaceship Earth peak. My memory of the descent is fuzzy as it was years before I realized "Tomorrow's Child" would not have been around during the first two trips.
Bringing it back on topic...I too distinctly remember the satellite and astronauts at the Spaceship Earth peak. My memory of the descent is fuzzy as it was years before I realized "Tomorrow's Child" would not have been around during the first two trips.
Dragonman
Well-Known Member
In terms of soundscape SSE 82 was very unique, only having ambient noises throughout the entirety of the ride with no actual prominent score, along with Perrin’s narration. I feel this really helped bring out the scenes more, and might have even been the original intention.
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
Oh it was definitely intentional.
Added a additional power to the various scenes, and completely sucked the viewer into those scenes.
It was incredible back then.
There was absolutely nothing like this kind of presentation, and how it was presented - a unique ride system that carried you up and around inside of a gigantic geosphere.
The engineering aspects alone boggled your mind.
The Show elements wowed you.
It was utterly mind blowing.
Nothing compared.
There is a reason why many of us who visited EPCOT Center in the 1980s remember what an impact it made to our lives.
The entire Park, everything that surrounded you, inspired forward thinking.
When you left that Park in the evening to head home, you took more then souvenirs home with you.
You had within you the motivation to make a difference in your corner of the world.
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Added a additional power to the various scenes, and completely sucked the viewer into those scenes.
It was incredible back then.
There was absolutely nothing like this kind of presentation, and how it was presented - a unique ride system that carried you up and around inside of a gigantic geosphere.
The engineering aspects alone boggled your mind.
The Show elements wowed you.
It was utterly mind blowing.
Nothing compared.
There is a reason why many of us who visited EPCOT Center in the 1980s remember what an impact it made to our lives.
The entire Park, everything that surrounded you, inspired forward thinking.
When you left that Park in the evening to head home, you took more then souvenirs home with you.
You had within you the motivation to make a difference in your corner of the world.
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I know I first visit Epcot as a child, not long after JII opened.
What I can remember, is space ship earth was TERRIFYING for my then young self. The load area at that time was foggy and dark, full of the sparking neon effect (side note, that's active again thank god..) and going up the ascent in the dark was just freak out crazy.
Of course, my cousin used the darkness to ahem, add some fog effects of his own.
That might have perhaps added to the crazy part of this.
As for JII, as I've said many times before. I HATE now going there with my own kids. Having them tell me how Fig-A-Mint farts in your face.. it's painful, god the memory's I have. The rose scent, the science section, that animation of Figment in the vacuum of space thing (which always scared me, cause I hoped he wasn't stuck out in space..) then the image works and all it's inter-activeness.
I always ask myself, how could any imaginener work on that re-do and not loose it.
I mean honestly, I'd be crying the whole time if I was one of the crew up there with a chainsaw ripping up that ride to gut it.
I'd prob would quit, wouldn't even want the job.. be a "former" imaginener at that point.
Well anyways.. just saying. 1980's Epcot was the Best Epcot.. and yes left a impact for sure.
What I can remember, is space ship earth was TERRIFYING for my then young self. The load area at that time was foggy and dark, full of the sparking neon effect (side note, that's active again thank god..) and going up the ascent in the dark was just freak out crazy.
Of course, my cousin used the darkness to ahem, add some fog effects of his own.
That might have perhaps added to the crazy part of this.
As for JII, as I've said many times before. I HATE now going there with my own kids. Having them tell me how Fig-A-Mint farts in your face.. it's painful, god the memory's I have. The rose scent, the science section, that animation of Figment in the vacuum of space thing (which always scared me, cause I hoped he wasn't stuck out in space..) then the image works and all it's inter-activeness.
I always ask myself, how could any imaginener work on that re-do and not loose it.
I mean honestly, I'd be crying the whole time if I was one of the crew up there with a chainsaw ripping up that ride to gut it.
I'd prob would quit, wouldn't even want the job.. be a "former" imaginener at that point.
Well anyways.. just saying. 1980's Epcot was the Best Epcot.. and yes left a impact for sure.
Dragonman
Well-Known Member
@marni1971 I’m curious as to what exactly this effect was below. All I really know is it’s a reconstruction of what could originally be seen before the big mainframe computer behind a pane of glass in the 82 version.
I can sort of see what I believe is it in your newest video before the pan over to the other network coms lady:
From what I understand, both the above effect and the mainframe computer were what occupied the general nooks that were modified as the bedroom/paperless office in 86.
I wish we had better visualization of the whole 82 coms area to have a better understanding of what has been forgotten.
I can sort of see what I believe is it in your newest video before the pan over to the other network coms lady:
From what I understand, both the above effect and the mainframe computer were what occupied the general nooks that were modified as the bedroom/paperless office in 86.
I wish we had better visualization of the whole 82 coms area to have a better understanding of what has been forgotten.
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
I recall lots of pulsating and moving lights....giving the impression that you were surrounded by a 'living computer'.
Always thought it could be cleverly interpreted as a mechanical representation of the human mind - processesing all of the imput it gathers by communicating with the outside world / it's environment.
You will notice in the 82' Recreation video during the descent the various lights and small 'screens' showing various visual stimulants and devices for forms of communication.
The tiny pulsating lights all around you 'connect' all of these things into a vast network.
Sound familiar...?
Sound like, say, a 'inter-connective network'..?
One could say, 'Spaceship Earth' 1982 predicted the 'Internet' to come...!
Well, from a certain perspective.
EPCOT Center 'predicted' correctly many forms of interactive technology that many take for granted today.
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Always thought it could be cleverly interpreted as a mechanical representation of the human mind - processesing all of the imput it gathers by communicating with the outside world / it's environment.
You will notice in the 82' Recreation video during the descent the various lights and small 'screens' showing various visual stimulants and devices for forms of communication.
The tiny pulsating lights all around you 'connect' all of these things into a vast network.
Sound familiar...?
Sound like, say, a 'inter-connective network'..?
One could say, 'Spaceship Earth' 1982 predicted the 'Internet' to come...!
Well, from a certain perspective.
EPCOT Center 'predicted' correctly many forms of interactive technology that many take for granted today.
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JoeCamel
Well-Known Member
Sorry, internet was around long before '82
muddyrivers
Well-Known Member
The Internet as most consumers know it though wasn't around long before '82. In fact the standard that is commonly used for the internet now, TCP/IP wasn't adopted by ARPANET (the modern Internet predecessor) until 1983.
So no, Disney didn't "predict" the Internet but the concept of the Internet was still relatively unknown and would probably have been one of the earliest displays of the concept of computers being interconnected to form a network of sorts.
Just adding some clarification for both sides
JoeCamel
Well-Known Member
Had to wait for Tim Berners-Lee to invent TCP/IP but internet communication was taking place long before that protocol was developed. Just more cumbersome.The Internet as most consumers know it though wasn't around long before '82. In fact the standard that is commonly used for the internet now, TCP/IP wasn't adopted by ARPANET (the modern Internet predecessor) until 1983.
So no, Disney didn't "predict" the Internet but the concept of the Internet was still relatively unknown and would probably have been one of the earliest displays of the concept of computers being interconnected to form a network of sorts.
Just adding some clarification for both sides
muddyrivers
Well-Known Member
Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn invented TCP/IP I believe (I'm a cyber guy so gotta give credit where it's due
) But going off topic here, how about that spaceship?! 
JoeCamel
Well-Known Member
Right, he did HTTP, oopsVint Cerf and Bob Kahn invented TCP/IP I believe (I'm a cyber guy so gotta give credit where it's due
