HOLY COW!!! Major Changes Coming To Epcot

[Brisully]

(Reprinted from WESH NewsChannel2000.com)

<b>Report: Spaceship Earth To Get Facelift</b>

The centerpiece at Walt Disney World's Epcot is expected to get a major facelift.

There's been a lot of talk about what major attraction in Epcot would be next on the list to be overhauled, and it appears the icon of the giant park is in for some serious retooling, WESH NewsChannel 2 reported.

Since construction began in 1979, Spaceship Earth has always been the centerpiece of Walt Disney's Experimental Prototype City Of Tomorrow.

"Epcot celebrates human achievement and innovation born from imagination," former Disney Chairman Card Walker said.

It's the kind of imagination Walker was talking about exemplified by Spaceship Earth. Visitors entering the giant silver sphere are taken on a slow-moving platform ride through centuries of human development, from cave dwelling primitive culture to modern civilization.

But the technology is old, and inside sources said Disney is preparing to gut and replace the ride in Spaceship Earth in time for the 25th anniversary of Epcot in 2007.

Documents obtained by WESH NewsChannel 2 illustrate a timeline for the overall refurbishment of Epcot named Project Gemini. It shows Disney will close Spaceship Earth in February 2005, replacing it with a new ride called Time Racers.

Because Disney already has a high-speed race track at Epcot, Test Track, sources said the company will most likely build a moving theater-type ride in Spaceship Earth to handle up to 2,400 park patrons per hour.

A Disney spokesman declined comment on the information uncovered, saying it's Disney policy not to talk about projects that have yet to be formally announced.

A former Disney imagineer said he believes Disney is going to use the same ride technology that it uses at its new Disney park, Tokyo Disney Sea, in reconstructing Spaceship Earth.

 

[Planogirl]

Time Racers? Oh joy.

 

[helenabear]

Oh no

 

[DocRafiki]

I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE Spaceship Earth! It never gets old! Are they not going to call it that anymore? This is blaspheme!

I guess I need to find a good video of the ride so it will live on.

 

[Tina]

Another one bites the dust! Just like Horizons. I love new rides, but I like the old ones, too. EPCOT really just needs more attractions - they should stop shutting stuff down and just add more.

 

[nativetxn]

Oh dear, I love SSE, I could ride it over and over again, every trip.

Looks I will have to do an SSE marathon during DISCON

 

[olena]

That is sad. It doesn't feel old to me.

 

[RoqueC]

Wait, are they completely doing away with Spaceship Earth, or just refurbing it?

 

[Disney845]

Oh no! What are those research and developement idiots over there thinking? They already got rid of so much great stuff. Test track is...ok, but it isn't World of Motion. Mission: Space looks nice...but it isn't Horizons. HISTA sucks! Brink back Captain EO. And JIYI...all I can do is shake my head at that mess. RIP dear Figgy and Dreamfinder (in case any of you are going to point out that Figment is back - NO! that is just a sad attempt at fixing a problem they made but creating another one!) I agree that EPCOT could just build more stuff, but leave the good stuff alone. Sigh!!!!! Epcot is my fav of WDW parks and it will always have a special place in my heart but getting rid of SSE? That is worse than those ugly looking stone walls they constructed in front of it and then tricked people into spending more money to put a bad quality pea sized picture of themselves on. Maybe this is just a rumor and won't happen. I have never noticed SSE wanting for riders. I always see people riding it, sometimes with a lengthy line. I always ride it. It is a comfortable and nice ride, although they could ditch the warnings about your ride vehicle turning around, and bring back Tomorrows Child, those are refurbishments I would condone!

 

[caitycaity]

oh no! SE is one of my favorite rides.

 

[goofygirl]

Jeez, didnt they ever hear "if aint broke, dont fix it!" ?????

SSE is my favorite. I went on it 3 times last time I was there. I hope they leave it alone!

 

[PandyPaws]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

 

[sandramaac]

I just love Space Ship Earth----it is such a serene and gentle ride----it is thought provoking and reminds of the the possibilites---especially those that Walt had-------that anything is possible-----I will be very sad to see it go----it is my must do ride EVERY time I go to Epcot

Many times I have also asked to get a CD in the park with the music from the ride


I imagine that COP will be going very very soon


Where do the marketing folks at Disney get there info----I have never heard anyone ever say get rid of this ride---a referb yes----a redo---no way very very sad

 

[Sandy51]

What are they thinking?? SSE is my favorite! I try to ride it first thing when I get to EPCOT, and the last thing I do when I leave the park. It won't be EPCOT without SSE.


Sandy

 

[Rajah]

I sure hope not.

Can anyone find any other sources to confirm this? Or was it "announced" in only one location?

We could all email/write Disney saying how much we love Spaceship Earth (it's my favorite in Epcot, too), and every time you go maybe stop by guest relations and fill out a comment card on how much you love Spaceship Earth?

They don't exactly have a high track record for improving rides they replace.

 

[Debi]

What are Disney Imagineers thinking?!?!?

 

[browneyes]

My ds loves Spaceship Earth.

 

[Brisully]

Rajah - here's the link where I found the story...

Yahoo News

 

[perfectmatch300]

Oh, no! What a bad idea that is!!!!
Can we start a petition drive or something?? Maybe we should all just chain ourselves to the ride & refuse to be moved! What a mistake this would be!

 

[BethR]

I hope that this does NOT come to be....