What Happend to Project Gemini???

kingslyZISSOU

kingslyZISSOU

New Member
Original Poster
MrBug

MrBug

New Member
It seems fitting that the first post in the wdwmagic link you gave mentions 5th gate...

18 September 2002: Project Gemini
The budget that was assigned to planning the 5th gate at WDW, has no been diverted to rescuing Epcot from an attendance slide. Rehabs and new attractions are on the cards. The project has the rather appropriate name of "Project Gemini".

SSE got its refurb, move on, m8... :animwink:
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Gemini was really a blue sky proposal to alter Epcot. Some things happened almost as proposed (Soarin' was proposed north of The Land) some things worked after a fashion (Seas rehab, but not TLM) and some things were so left field (SSE thrill ride) they were just a proposal. Some things are just gathering dust (Rain Forest Rolllercaoster, Junior Autopia, Plaza remodelling)

SSE/TimeRacers got about as far as the first blueprint being looked at.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Put it another way...

attachment.php


:D
 
disnyfan89

disnyfan89

Well-Known Member
I for one like to think that Project Gemini was just a deliberate leek to keep Jim Hill occupied while real decisions where being made. :lol:
 
E

Enigma

Account Suspended
marni1971 said:
Indeed there are one or two items that may influence future decisions, but SSE is home to Dench now and not lap bars :D
Click to expand...

Honesty I think I speak for alot of casuals when I say I would rather have gotten a thrill ride over the current version of Spaceship earth with corny dench dialogue, touch screen/flash animation gimmick, and nonexistant descent.
 
J

JLW11Hi

Well-Known Member
It seems to me that Epcot has been treated very nicely in the past decade regarding additions. At one time it was full of aging attractions or unused spaces, and now we've got Mission:Space, Soarin', a new Nemo themed Living Seas and a refurbed Spaceship Earth...and apparently a brand new Re-Imagined Imagination attraction on the way.

It seems there is no longer a need for a Project Gemini-like overhaul. I'd say Epcot has been having the best upkeep of all the parks.
 
Maerj

Maerj

Well-Known Member
kingslyZISSOU said:
I was at Epcot last Wednesday, and it struck me... Wasn't space ship earth going to be revamped into a thrill ride? and what about discovery land re-theming?

I'm guessing budget cuts? or they're just not wanting to get rid of a classic? more expensive than just building it somewhere else? age ride ability?

if you don't know what i'm talking about, look here: http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2003/02/18/218.aspx

and here: http://www.wdwmagic.com/project_gemini.htm
Click to expand...


It was replaced by blue triangles and an E-Surance cartoon!
 
hpyhnt 1000

hpyhnt 1000

Well-Known Member
joeyjoe92979 said:
Could you imagine how nice the Plaza remodel could have been...like bringing back the water features and such.
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No kidding! If there was thing that got me excited about Gemini, it was the new landscapng and asthetics that would have come with it. From the picture Martin showed, the entire main entrance path would have been shrouded in foliage. With those new plants mixed in with the water features and Fountain of Nations in Innovenions Plaza, the whole area would have looked stunning. Kinda wish they would do something like that; there just seems to be too much concrete from the entrance all the way to the palza.
 
OFTeric

OFTeric

Well-Known Member
kingslyZISSOU said:
I was at Epcot last Wednesday, and it struck me... Wasn't space ship earth going to be revamped into a thrill ride? and what about discovery land re-theming?

I'm guessing budget cuts? or they're just not wanting to get rid of a classic? more expensive than just building it somewhere else? age ride ability?

if you don't know what i'm talking about, look here: http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2003/02/18/218.aspx

and here: http://www.wdwmagic.com/project_gemini.htm
Click to expand...

You know what is really funny about that Jim Hill Media article is this little quote...

Indeed, with the U.S. economy currently in the toilet and the threat of war in the Middle East looming ever larger every day, the Walt Disney Company is reportedly considering all manner of cost savings measures right now. I've even heard talk that the Mouse is giving semi-serious thought to actually shutting down each of WDW's theme parks for one day each week. At least 'til the war with Iraq is over and/or tourist traffic patterns for the Orlando theme parks get back to normal.
Click to expand...

This article is from 02/2003
 
Wilt Dasney

Wilt Dasney

Well-Known Member
OFTeric said:
I've even heard talk that the Mouse is giving semi-serious thought to actually shutting down each of WDW's theme parks for one day each week. At least 'til the war with Iraq is over and/or tourist traffic patterns for the Orlando theme parks get back to normal.
Click to expand...

That's got to be the dumbest thing I've ever read. Why on earth would a conflict half a world away with an all-volunteer military have any bearing on vacation patterns, or Disney's operating plans? Sounds like Jim (or his source) was expecting Saddam to invade Washington the same time we marched into Baghdad.
 
kcnole

kcnole

Well-Known Member
I think Eric was pointing it out due to the article by Kevin Yee that states that's still a possibility depending on how the economy goes. Maybe even way back then they knew the economy was teetering on a recession and needed to do have contingency plans in place.
 
Wilt Dasney

Wilt Dasney

Well-Known Member
kcnole said:
I think Eric was pointing it out due to the article by Kevin Yee that states that's still a possibility depending on how the economy goes. Maybe even way back then they knew the economy was teetering on a recession and needed to do have contingency plans in place.
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Right, I remember reading that. At least tying it directly into the economy makes some sense, but I'd be interested in knowing who told him they thought the Iraq invasion would make it necessary to close parks, and why.

Maybe I'm just too far removed from 2003 now, so expectations of major economic fallout from a situation that's become everyday reality just seem silly in 2008. :shrug:
 
Fade_to_Blah

Fade_to_Blah

Member
It seems like alot of Disney proposals coming out of WDI get partially green lighted. So you got Soarin, you got the Seas refurb, you got SSE refurb instead of TimeRacers (thank god)....so atleast Project Gemini did somewhat happen.
 
jt04

jt04

Well-Known Member
Fade_to_Blah said:
It seems like alot of Disney proposals coming out of WDI get partially green lighted. So you got Soarin, you got the Seas refurb, you got SSE refurb instead of TimeRacers (thank god)....so atleast Project Gemini did somewhat happen.
Click to expand...

Now if they would only follow through and build an electric (futuristic) Jr Autopia at Epcot so they can close Indy Car Raceway at Mk and do something important with the land next to Space Mountain. I guess I am being too logical. :lookaroun
 

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