I'm truly no EPCOT expert but, I think Horizons wasnt build correctly. I think the foundation was not on stable ground and the building was shifting and they were afraid. I'm sure people in here have better knowledge on this subject than me. This is my recollection though. :shrug:
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What is still "original" at Epcot?
- Thread starter rdour@techminds
- Start date
I'm truly no EPCOT expert but, I think Horizons wasnt build correctly. I think the foundation was not on stable ground and the building was shifting and they were afraid. I'm sure people in here have better knowledge on this subject than me. This is my recollection though. :shrug:
SDav10495
Member
That is a theory, yes...one that's been around for a while. But stick around long enough and you might see a few vehement disagreements--not everyone buys the argument that the structure was unsound. (I tend not to put much stock in that "sinkhole" theory, if only for the fact that Disney would never have reopened the attraction for over 3 years, the way they did in 1995, had they actually been concerned for guests' safety. Even if the sinkhole was a new problem that had just been discovered in 1998, Disney would never allow press groups on the ride a year later, as they did in 1999.)
ETA: Another discussion for another thread at another time.
This would belong more in any number of old threads.
Sadly, age tells. The UoE changed in 1996 - theatre layouts are almost the same, ride vehicles are and 95% of the diorama is the same. Other things are for a longer reply - as is Horizons, Magicflop. SDav is right; the sinkhole was a rumour, but false. As was structural issues. Horizons was sponsorless and need a big rehab. Eisner turned down the proposals as too costly for Disney (!) and so they mothballed it, using it only when they needed - like when Test Track went 18 months behind schedule and the UoE went behind too in 1996 - Horizons was used to soak up the crowds. It closed Jan 9th 1999 - not bad considering Disney first closed it in 1994.
brkgnews
Well-Known Member
True, but let's be honest... MK is based in total fantasy (timeless by nature). EPCOT, on the other hand, is so based in science and the future. So, since the future has a nasty habit of occuring (see Tomorrowland), then it must change. Heck, you should have seen some of the changes that happened at the World's Fairs just between the two operating years they spanned. Imagine if they remained unchanged year after year?
World Showcase is less changed because it's not so science-based, but is rather based more on history and a "snapshot" of traditional views of a country. Update the films every now and then (let's be honest, mainly due to the fashion/hairstyles/etc on the folks in the film).
When is first closed in 94 to 99 how much time was is open?
Was it a month here and there or a day here and there?
But what surprises me if that a sponsor would come in and wipe the whole building rather than to rehab or redo the ride. Going from not having a sponsor for so long to having one that will be such a cash spender.
One Lil Spark
EPCOT Center Defender
As much as people may go againts this, I am VERY glad that Impressions de France is still refreshingly the same as it was on opening day. I'm sure the places in France they shot have changed immensely since the footage was shot, but the music is a timeless classic, and I'd be terrified that if they decided to change the show the music would be but a memory.
yankspy
Well-Known Member
Ditto. I love that music.
hpyhnt 1000
Well-Known Member
Yes, the music is lovely, definitely the best of any shows at Epcot. Perhaps for an update, Disney could redo the scenes with more modern views of France while keeping the original score? But as it stands, the current film still works.
For more unchanged, has Living with the Land changed much, apart from the name and recorded spiel?
Captain Hank
Well-Known Member
Get ready to learn waaaaay more than you ever wanted to know about Listen to/Living with the Land.For more unchanged, has Living with the Land changed much, apart from the name and recorded spiel?
Originally, the ride opened with an abstract look at the inner workings of a plant. That space is now occupied with the storm scene. The rain forest, desert and American prairie biomes remain largely unchanged (a missing effect or two, now). The barn theater movie changed during the '94 rehab.
As far as the Living Laboratory section goes, a few things have changed. Obviously, crops have changed over time. Some structural changes happened in the Aquacell, where most of the tanks were originally flush with the floor and are now more-or-less at eye-level. What is now the Temperate house used to be the Desert house, complete with a now non-existent dune and an oasis. Also, String house used to be the Production house and was filled with sand like Tropics and Temperate (it's now concrete). Most of the Creative house is relatively unchanged, except that there was once a large rotating NASA drum that never worked that well.
The ride originally closed with a look into the "future of agriculture" at the Biotechnology Lab. The lab was located in the exit tunnel, right before the boat reached the unload dock. During the '94 rehab, the window that looked into the lab was covered in preparation for the "faces" diorama. A new Biotechnology Lab was built onto the Creative house, complete with a new, large window. The original Biotechnology Lab is now used as the Integrated Pest Management Lab, which is visited by the Behind the Seeds Tour.
Oh yeah, the song "Listen to the Land" was removed during the '94 rehab.
Horizons1
Well-Known Member
SAY WHAT?!
Captain Hank
Well-Known Member
Yup. "(Let's) Listen to the Land" is no longer heard in the attraction. However, an instrumental version is still part of The Land's exterior BGM and another version is in the full Innoventions BGM (only really heard in parts of Mousegear).
mikeymouse
Well-Known Member
Why did they remove the tesla coil? safety?
joel_maxwell
Permanent Resident of EPCOT
love the music as well. i was just telling sam that i think im going to do a little editing to that and make it a 45 minutes loop and play in the nursery during sleeptime. issie really like the music saturday morning
if memory serves, i dont think it worked properly for long
Almost - the BioTech lab was before a smaller version of the abstract opening plastic plant montage, then it was unload (whilst the spiel invited you to Kitchen Kabaret and Symbiosis)
We assume so - or more probably reliability. When it was used it was very effective. There was a thread on this a while back; I posted a few photos of it: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showpost.php?p=2122517&postcount=22