This is how I would have done the descent.
I would have made 180top an actual moon base with an elaborate space station set. As we come out of the communciations tunnel.....all the hardware, space, etc used for behind the scenes in 180 top would be made to look like a space station. Sets would also be used with forced-perspective. I'd even bring the window-with-the-girl-prop and have in 180top in the dome section. I would have a satelite, and the two astronauts. I would have a new projection of earth as well as a new starfield.
As we turn backwards and head down the descent, just where the former floating news screen would be where our touch screen turns on. Where the former 1982-1994 space station was, and former classroom was, would not be the infinite star corridor we have now, but it would be completely gutted, with the space station ceiling removed, so we can look up into the planeterium. It would be moonrock, like we are winding our way into a crater.
Our series of questions would be answered as we pass through this area, and then into the corridor that had the lightning flashes and gas clouds. As we reach the end of it, rather than have the screens on and as a quiz, I would have them turn right off and have the narrator tell them they are creating our future and will be getting back to us.
The space where the people were using videophones, actually both sides, will be covered with intricate fiber optic lights, swooshing and swirling around us in a starfield. We would then approach a modified city of the future model. The narrator than mentions the model city and how it is one of many possibilites we could live in in the world of tomorrow.
Our screens turn on and we see our future we have created. This would be where the old pegboard walls and projection screens were from the 1982-1986 version of the ride. I would use the brand new infinite star feature in this section all around us as a backdrop.
Once our screen ends...we have about 30 second left of the descent. Rather than have the screens turn on and show the infinite star field, the screens remain off, and we are once again not only surrounded by swooshing fiber optics and starfields, but of projections of people and places throughout the ages with ever shifting audio in the background.
Just as we are aboat to exit the descent tunnel, we enter a mostly dark starfield with the model of spaceship earth floating in it, admist twinkling stars.
Our vehicles turn around and we see the windows for project tomorrow.
Now why couldn't they have done it this way?
They use the new touch screen feature, but still maintain a substantial ending to the ride.
