Major Changes Coming to Space Ship Earth

[TennVolTony]

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Major changes are coming to Epcot's signature attraction, according to Local 6 News.

Local 6 News has obtained an internal Disney World memorandum that reveals a plan to update all existing scenes of Spaceship Earth, the time-traveling ride located inside Epcot's landmark geosphere.

Three new scenes, a new narrative and a new musical score will also be added to the attraction, Local 6 News reported.


Also, touch screens will allow riders to see themselves in their own vision of the future, according to the report.

Spaceship Earth's new aftershow will open in late April.

The ride will close in early summer and reopen in November, shortly after Epcot's 25th birthday, according to Local 6 News.

 

[NewJersey]

I love that ride as a nice break from the hot weather.

 

[grinningghost]

It better be REALLY good, because it's great just like it is.

 

[Laura]

The only thing I care about is if they're taking down the stupid Mickey hand or not!

 

[bicker]

Sounds like they're going to integrate some of the best ideas from Horizons into Spaceship Earth, and that makes a lot of sense to me.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Cool!! We tend to skip SE these days, so IMO, it's about time they refreshed the attraction.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Sounds like they're going to integrate some of the best ideas from Horizons into Spaceship Earth, and that makes a lot of sense to me.

WAIT! I just realized something!!! My company is being bought out by the sponsor of Spaceship Earth!!!!! Neat.

Wonder if they're going to put in a SE corporate lounge for employees?

 

[WDWLIGHTNINGZ]

Noooooooooooooo, It'll be closed when we go to WDW in october I only got to go on it once...

EDIT: Found this on another site saying it'll be not be finished fully until '08.

In a press release issued today, Disney announced that remarkable changes will be taking place over the next several months to the Epcot icon. A re-imagined Spaceship Earth presented by Siemens will combine the magic of the attraction's time-travel adventure into the past with a new finale which provides guests the opportunity to imagine their futures. New show scenes will be added to the attraction's story along with new lighting effects, costumes, set decoration, narration and musical score. With phased renovations occurring through the year, Spaceship Earth's makeover is scheduled to be fully completed in early 2008.

and then this from DIS/WDWInfo

WDW News - LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (April 11, 2007) -- Inside the Epcot icon, remarkable changes will be taking place over the next several months. A re-imagined Spaceship Earth presented by Siemens will combine the magic of the iconic attraction's time-travel adventure into the past with a new finale which provides guests the opportunity to imagine their futures.

On a trip through time inside the Spaceship Earth attraction, guests discover how each generation of mankind has invented the future for the next generation, and how the spirit of innovation has moved people from the caves to the cosmos.

Enhancements to the time-travel attraction will encompass changes to each of the ride scenes. New show scenes will be added to the attraction's story along with new lighting effects, costumes, set decoration, narration and musical score.

This adventure through time leads ultimately to the very top of Spaceship Earth's geodesic dome, where guests arrive at the present. The time travel adventure will be enhanced through new, interactive touch screens installed aboard each "time machine" that will enable guests to create their own visions of the future and see themselves in that future.

As guests disembark the time travel experience, they are invited to visit "Project Tomorrow: Inventing the World of Tomorrow," where interactive exhibits bring to life the ideas and technologies Siemens is developing to help make the world a better place for the future.

The space is filled with fun, interactive games and displays that showcase innovative technologies. Here guests step into the world of tomorrow and glimpse the future of medicine, transportation and responsible energy management across the globe.

Opening to Epcot guests later this month, the first completed phases of Project Tomorrow will include:

An illuminated globe measuring 20 feet in diameter that will offer an ever-changing collage of inspirational images that invite guests to imagine the wonders of tomorrow.
Body Builder, a 3-D game that enables users to assemble a digital human body, simulating the Siemens technology developed to perform remote surgeries.
Super Driver, a driving simulation video game that showcases motor vehicle accident and avoidance systems developed by Siemens.

With phased renovations occurring through the year, Spaceship Earth's makeover is scheduled to be fully completed in early 2008

 

[JennyMominRI]

That means the HM and SE will both be closed when I go .Bummer
I'm also sad because I will never ride the old SE again...I adore it...That said,I understand the need for a rehab..

 

[bicker]

Wonder if they're going to put in a SE corporate lounge for employees?

I think we (DIS members) already knew that they weren't going to do so.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

We'll we have been skipping SE for several years and will be sure to go in June as a farewell.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I think we (DIS members) already (before I learned my company was being bought by them) knew that they weren't going to do so.

Well that certainly blows...

 

[azgal81]

Cool. Looking forward to the changes when we go in December!

 

[bicker]

Well that certainly blows...

Nah not really -- we still get to ride the attraction!

 

[ChristmasElf]

Noooooooooooooo, It'll be closed when we go to WDW in october I only got to go on it once...

EDIT: Found this on another site saying it'll be not be finished fully until '08.

If you will be here in October you will still be able to go on Spaceship Earth. It will close in NOVEMBER and reopen in early 2008.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

The only thing I care about is if they're taking down the stupid Mickey hand or not!

thats what DH says

 

[cardaway]

I know people love the ride as is, but IMO this is great news. The thing needs a lot of work and I imagine they will leave in most of the stuff people like (animatronics of the early years for example).

The old recording is in very bad shape. The cars need a major overhaul (they are very noisy). And the ending is pretty lame IMO.

I'm gald they are looking at upgrading the ride vs. puting something totally new in it's place.

 

[Chicago526]

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!







I love SSE but felt it's needed an update for a while!

Now if they'll only update UoE and some of the older 3D movies!

 

[barbeml]

It's about time! Great news.

 

[Kewz1]

Sounds like they're going to integrate some of the best ideas from Horizons into Spaceship Earth, and that makes a lot of sense to me.

That's what I was thinking. Now if only they could incorporate the smell of oranges...

Kristen