Spaceship in Spaceship Earth

[marni1971]

I wonder if any CMs are following this thread and are now actively looking for torches and flash cameras at the ready as people board...?

All I can say is sorry! Do us a favour; go up to 180top after closing and put us out of our misery (graphical proof compulsary)

 

[Vernonpush]

I wonder if any CMs are following this thread and are now actively looking for torches and flash cameras at the ready as people board...?

All I can say is sorry! Do us a favour; go up to 180top after closing and put us out of our misery (graphical proof compulsary)

Has this become a bigger mystery than Jimmy Hoffa?
:lol: :lol:
:lookaroun
:lol:

 

[joel_maxwell]

Has this become a bigger mystery than Jimmy Hoffa?
:lol: :lol:
:lookaroun
:lol:

:lol:

good one vernon

 

[DubyooDeeDubyoo]

Today I rode four times and after conditioning and looking hard, I can confirm that the giant satellite is still there. The other stuff (ie the ship with the astronaut on it) I still can't see.

The design of the panel fins are pretty obvious and once you see one, the others near it start to appear. Martin's video helped because you could see the red-bar light mirrored in one of it's panels. As I tried to make out the shape of the panels, a star's light reflected in one of it's mirrors and more and more it became evident.

It's directly in front of you after you have finished all your rotation and have begun the descent. I can not tell where the main object is with the dish and whatnot, I can only see the panel fins. I do believe it may actually be placed behind a curtain of some sort, it seemed almost "behind" the membrane around the walls when you look at it.

Was it a mistake to tell the cast about the internet discussions over the hidden features (didn't say where?) By my eyes it seems the rocket cylinder no longer shines as brightly as it did the night before, but I don't think load/unload CMs have the privelege to change the projection intensities anyway.

I haven't taken any flash pictures in 180top but that's because I feel like a bad Disney citizen if I try. I do have a high-ISO, high-flash setting for taking a picture of the satellite-shape though. If the crowd really wants, I'll go do that before I leave. I should point out that there are no explicit photography restrictions in Spaceship Earth. The recorded spiel does not include any photography instructions and I've seen plenty of flashes (including one in 180top) during my rides. You just have to live with the guilt that you may have ruined the ride for others:lol: I had a car followed by six or seven empty cars and still couldn't bring myself to do it because I had a pair of guests in front of me (and then behind me in the top) on the line. I'd just feel bad. hehe. I may do it just before I leave the resort for good but we'll see.

So if anyone wants to let loose a big bright flash, and gets chewed out for it, you can say there were no warnings. One could, I suppose, ask them for isolation so you don't ruin others rides, but you could just as well be told no flash photography which takes away the whole "but they never said I can't" excuse if you get confronted.

edited to add: By the way, the boomerang-shaped thing is definitely the red bar as far as I know. As you descend, a netting appears between you and the ceiling. After a bit, the black object appears in air between you and the net. From your right it's supported by a thin wire, but the thick piece directly in front of you curves over to the left and carries on into darkness

 

[Epcotrob]

If no one has taken any recent flash pics by Feb 12th. We WILL have some on the 13th. Jeff Lange and I will ride and will light the place up like christmas. We will wait for a pause in people as not to ruin the experience for others. Hell I am going to bring my mini mag next time I go. I was there tonight but did not ride. Jeff has one of the brightest flashes I have seen. I know he will have it on him as we are going to Pirate and Princess that night. So We will see whats up there and will report that night after P&P.

 

[DubyooDeeDubyoo]

By all means, take command of Operation Dome Flash because I don't think my little Sony point-n-shoot can compete with your equipment. I wound up spending the entire day at Epcot visiting SSE at various times throughout the day because of this thread, and would love to avoid spending my last few hours at WDW squinting through the dark soup of the dome.

Again, from what I can tell, the satellite begins directly in front and just slightly up after you finish rotation and although it may continue onto the right, I have no idea just how far right it continues. I'm absolutely certain the mirror panels were not painted and still reflect the occasional light source. But the hull of the ship itself, and the dish, is unknown to me.

 

[joel_maxwell]

By all means, take command of Operation Dome Flash because I don't think my little Sony point-n-shoot can compete with your equipment. I wound up spending the entire day at Epcot visiting SSE at various times throughout the day because of this thread, and would love to avoid spending my last few hours at WDW squinting through the dark soup of the dome.

Again, from what I can tell, the satellite begins directly in front and just slightly up after you finish rotation and although it may continue onto the right, I have no idea just how far right it continues. I'm absolutely certain the mirror panels were not painted and still reflect the occasional light source. But the hull of the ship itself, and the dish, is unknown to me.

thanks for your efforts and go enjoy the rest of your vacation. you have served the thread well.

Epcotrob: i really hope that you will follow through with your mission. lol lets end the debate once and for all.

 

[coastermaster83]

Ill have to lok for this when im there in 2 weeks, Yahoo begin the count down.

 

[marni1971]

Epcotrob; I couldn`t possibly condone flash photography in 180top *cough*, but if the ride is empty in front and behind, and in the interests of historical research of paramount importance.....

I`ll email you and Jeff shortly (havn`t forgotten; been a bit busy :wave: )

Dubyoo; even with this secondary mission in the works, I hope you had some luck if you get time and again get lucky with the attraction. God, we sound like spies.... :lol:

 

[joel_maxwell]

Epcotrob; I couldn`t possibly condone flash photography in 180top *cough*, but if the ride is empty in front and behind, and in the interests of historical research of paramount importance.....

I`ll email you and Jeff shortly (havn`t forgotten; been a bit busy :wave: )

Dubyoo; even with this secondary mission in the works, I hope you had some luck if you get time and again get lucky with the attraction. God, we sound like spies.... :lol:

martin, remember that we have to resort to spy tactics due to the fact someone that works in the attraction hasnt come forward and released the information to solve this mystery. one way or another we will get our info. wether it be the easy way or the hard way.... anyone need camo and some black face paint. ill supply.

 

[mayoki]

To any CM(or anyone else), it is insanely diffucult or impossible to get up there? is it sealed off completely? Are there "shop lights" that come on like on space mountain? Just curious...

 

[marni1971]

To any CM(or anyone else), it is insanely diffucult or impossible to get up there? is it sealed off completely? Are there "shop lights" that come on like on space mountain? Just curious...

Yep - there are work lights/evac lights that are more like floodlights; every attraction building has them. Have a look in some of the photos posted in the thread; particularly the ones looking upwards in the descent.

Bet you never thought 8 months later we`d still be discussing it!

 

[joel_maxwell]

Yep - there are work lights/evac lights that are more like floodlights; every attraction building has them. Have a look in some of the photos posted in the thread; particularly the ones looking upwards in the descent.

Bet you never thought 8 months later we`d still be discussing it!

i did

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

must......have......flash photos......somebody....anybody.....AHHHHHHHHH :dazzle:

 

[mayoki]

Yep - there are work lights/evac lights that are more like floodlights; every attraction building has them. Have a look in some of the photos posted in the thread; particularly the ones looking upwards in the descent.

Bet you never thought 8 months later we`d still be discussing it!

Yes, it is quite a surprise this has had such interest and debate. I just noticed there are over 18,000 views...wow.

 

[jedimaster1227]

I believe I can see a satellite, somewhere up to the right when you turn to face the Earth on the wall. It's kind of above the communication tunnel you come out of. There is a disturbance in the star field there, and a bit of a 3D-ish effect there that makes me think there's something there, but I could just be seeing things. Looking right immediately after turning backwards, I don't see much.

However, looking directly behind you in the classroom scene reveals a VERY visible cylinder-shaped object that kind of looks like a rocket engine or something. Also, when looking straight up during the TV newscasts I can see a V-shaped dark object against the stars, attatched to the top of the tunnel you go backwards into. I'm guessing that was part of the space station.

I can confirm that at least the larger station is still in place. This 3D effect that you have seen is caused by the space station's rig, if not the entire structure. They have painted it over so that it would blend in with the planetarium effect. As I have been told, the station's rig was built into the room's walls, so removing it would have been too much for the structure or the budget.

As for the V-shaped dark object, that is the chassis/shelf for the first (formerly first of two) of the projector screens that used to be. One screen still exists while the other was removed. Both showed news clips from around the world but their audio and placement interfered with each other, prompting the removal of the first screen. The shelf is still there but it should be removed by the time Spaceship Earth re-opens from its Siemen's rehab (dates haven't been announced yet).

And the girl that was in the window- her animatronic wasn't transplanted to the new finale scene that you see now. The Asian child that you see in the current version of the finale is a completely solid figure, as is the American male on the opposite side of the set.

 

[marni1971]

^ regarding the AA, I believe Dubyoo was refering to the head, not the whole body (as we know the original didn`t have one)

I still think she was a close relation head-cast wise with the SeaCastle kid waving at the Sea Lion in Horizons

Jedi; that`s interesting about the 2nd newscaster screen from `94. When you say the larger station, do you mean the `cone` the AAs window was in (behind you on the core wall?) - it`s in the recent pics a few pages back.

 

[jedimaster1227]

It is the larger space station (the somewhat asterik shaped station) that is still there. It has been painted over but since the room was brightened a little bit (enough to see the core of SSE much easier) after the last rehab, the outline of the station is clearly visible.

 

[marni1971]

Ahh.. the 2nd satellite. This a was free standing (or rather suspended) model. It`s shown best on one of the earlier pics in this thread; it`s also in my photo album :wave:

 

[joel_maxwell]

Martin, i guess some of our vacationers did get anymore interesting photos? we still waiting on the february 12th trip by...... cant remember.