WDW - Changes to Spaceship Earth

jcrb

New Member
Original Poster
Screamscape.com
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Park News - (3/16/02) It seems that Spaceship Earth was taken down on March 13th and opened on the 14th with three new video screens placed during the initial dark assent up into Spaceship Earth itself. Even worse, it doesn’t sound like these add to the experience, instead they are said to show a short verbal and visual introduction to what the attraction is about as well as a warning about how the vehicles will eventually turn around and face backwards once you reach the top of the ride. A reader (who sent in a photo that I enhanced) tells us that he thought it was a great use of “wasted space” and while I haven’t seen it yet myself I don’t agree with the concept. I had liked the dark assent as it acclimated you to the dark ride experience to come and it was a nice peaceful ride up into Spaceship Earth itself. The last thing I want is some kind of safety spiel in my face for the first 60 seconds of the ride as well as a spoiler for newcomers about how the ride vehicles will spin around at the top. It’s bad enough they ruin the atmosphere at the top with a verbal warning, but this is too much if this is the sole purpose of these new screens. I mean, you don’t spoil the tricks of Alien Encounter in the pre show videos or show a detailed video about all the surprise elements of Tower of Terror while waiting in the Library. So why all the fuss about this little ride that moves a scant 2-3 mph? I’ll have more on this in the future after I eventually see it myself.
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Rider

Well-Known Member
I would have to see them first. We are going to Orlando in a few weeks and alothough I wont be going to EPCOT other memebers of my group will.
 

jcrb

New Member
Original Poster
Yeah I guess you have to see it to really judge. If the articles true then I think it going to ruinen the beging of the ride.
 

bearboysnc

Well-Known Member
After the spin, the decent back down is pretty steep and looks very dangerous. I'll bet some idiot tried to get out of the car.

I don't think they'd install it on a whim.

The dark ascent added to the drama of the attraction.

Maybe they can add the screens to CoP to tell people to shut up, and not leave the theater before being instructed to do so.:brick:
 

Tron

New Member
Wow...I just went on it several times on the 11th. I'm glad I maximized my last chance to see it "unchanged."
 

cm1988

Active Member
Mist missed

When SSE first opened, you ascended into a dark mist. A voice boomed "Who are we?.... Where did we come from?... The answers are found in the corridors of time..."

Vintage Ray Bradbury script, and a dramatic transition from a futuristic boarding area to a prehistoric cave.

There was more mist as you approached the "planetarium dome" at the top. Later that was replaced with additional neon effects.

The downside was, the dampness seemed to cause some trouble with the audio on the vehicles... it crackled and cut out from time to time.
 

Pioneer Hall

Well-Known Member
Seems like they added something bad to the ride. But I agree that something must have happened for them to do this. Or the Insurance company said that it will lower the costs (like the air gates)
 

DisneyWorld30th

Active Member
I agree with everone above that you need to see this addition before making a judgement. By the picture and description, I think this was an unnessary addition to the ride. I liked the ride back in the 80s with the Tomorrow's Child music and others. Now they warn you both visually and audioly (not a word). They really should have spent their money on better things.

BTW-When I was on SpaceShip Earth on May 2001, their was a sign when exiting the AT&T Global Neighboorhood pointing to Millenium Central. As we all know Millenium Central was re-named Information Central back in Jan 2001. I am going back in May 2002, I want to see if that sign has been changed. If anyone will be there...check it out!
 

StarscreamLSU

New Member
Now they warn you both visually and audioly (not a word). They really should have spent their money on better things.


I agree it was probably becuase someone tried something - that or they are just covering their butts incase something happens.
 

orlpassholder

New Member
didnt a child get hurt on SSE last year (2001) I thought I remember hearing that. Something like he got out of the car to early or something and broke his arm? I havent seen the new screens yet. It looks like from where they placed the screens (tunnel right before your car spins) I have no problem there.
 

BradleyJ

New Member
Yes, it was either last year or in 2000. A family tried to pass, or he tried to climb, their child from one car to the next and he fell between the cars and got traped in the track. And his legs were pretty badly torn up.
 

BSikor

Active Member
Ok, those monitors stink. Could they be more gaudy. I do see why they did them, but could they at least have made them a little more attractive?

I worked on Spaceship a few times picking up shifts here or there during my tenure at Disney and I was told of the "problems" they have with guests "freaking-out" on the ride. I was instructed to tell all guests it is a "dark ride that takes place in the dark, and travels slowly at sharp angles up, down, and around the Spaceship Earth geosphere". When I asked why this was so important to stress, I was told of numerous people trying to exit the cars on the return. The cars have one side with walkways, and one side with drive gears. When you first board Spaceship, you enter on car left. When the cars rotate for the return, the guests freak out when the car rotate and heads backwards at the "sharp" angle. The guests try to exit to the left side of the car like they did when they got on, and find themselves caught in the ride gears. I have been told that this is not an odd occourance and it happens quite often.

Again, I only worked a few times at SE, and this is only what I have been told. I have heard of a man loosing his foot, and a couple people loosing hand. I couldn't imagine.
 

Pioneer Hall

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by the_ceo_at_wdw
There was a saftey speil at the top of SE before they changed it......

They still say that you are turning backward for your decent back to earth. It is very clear so any accidents are at the fault of the rider.
 

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
why don't they just put these TV monitors over the queue line? Everyone would still see them...and it wouldn't detract from the ride.
 

jcrb

New Member
Original Poster
I agree with DogsRule- putting in the queue would not take away from the experience of the beging of the ride.
 

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