Mission: SPACE Date Announced?

[Ted and Holly]

WDW Magic has stated that Disney announced an August 15th official openning for Mission: SPACE. I can find no official press release anywhere online to back this up. Anyone know?

Ted

 

[travelgoddess]

I am a travel agent, I just received a fax from our
District Sales Manager also stating August 15 as a
launch date for Mission Space.

 

[zulaya]

My question, too, was where did the August 15th date come from?

 

[puffkin]

I also heard August 15th from a friend who checks another Internet forum.

 

[PatriciaH]

Hope it is true!!!

 

[sltrawick]

There was an article in my local newspaper today that the date was Aug. 15th.

 

[ragu]

YEAH!!! I'm heading to WDW in November!!!

 

[DrKnow77]

And here's the rub... "quoted from a press release".

At the same time, Disney officials announced an Aug. 15 preview opening for Epcot’s Mission: SPACE, a one-of-a-kind thrill that will rocket guests to the galaxies in an out-of-this-world space adventure. Mission: SPACE officially launches in October.

Official launch in October? I had my hopes up for September! I was excited about the Aug 15 date...

 

[turbodisney]

Is Aug 15 a soft opening?..or will it open sooner, off and on..etc

I am going at the end of June...my son will be so disappointed if its not open...plus I will be to...lol..

 

[SIDEWALK]

Turbodisney-So will I !!!!!!!!!! Our trip is end of June and I don't want to miss Mission Space!

 

[freediverdude]

Well it was all over the evening news here in florida with local reporters taking video of the inside of the ride and stuff, and they were all announcing an official launch date of August 15th. One of our local channels was even set up outside the Mission: Space building with portable air conditioning reporting about it. The Earth planet in the outside plaza area is already revolving.

 

[Michelle]

The info I have is that it opens to ALL on 8/15:

The excitement, the thrill and the rush of rocketing into outer space is coming soon to Walt Disney World® Resort. Beginning Aug. 15, 2003, Mission: SPACE, presented by HP -- the next awesome adventure at Epcot® -- will send clients on an out-of-this-world journey they never thought possible.

Guests who accept the mission will engage in a one-of-a-kind astronaut experience that launches them into a simulated space adventure – from pulse-racing liftoff to the sensations of traveling though outer space on a mission to Mars.

The new attraction is the most technologically advanced ever created by Disney. In association with former NASA advisors, astronauts and scientists, Walt Disney Imagineering developed Mission: SPACE as the first ride system ever created to take guests straight up in simulated flight.

Pre-Show
The setting for the attraction is several decades into the future at the International Space Training Center. As the "crew" selected for this ultimate space mission, guests head to the dispatch area and then move to the Ready Room where they receive a history of astronaut training and are given the role they will assume during the mission -- as the commander, pilot, navigator or engineer.

Countdown…Liftoff
Then it's on to the pre-flight corridor to load into the spacecraft, receive final briefings from CapCom and buckle in for liftoff. When the countdown reaches zero, the most unique and exhilarating ride experience ever begins. The earth begins to rumble, white clouds of exhaust start to stir as the ascent toward the sky starts and guests are rocketed into the galaxies. Guests hear from CapCom and are asked to perform vital tasks that will land their spacecraft safely on Mars. Each guest will assume the role of Commander, Pilot, Navigator or Engineer. But there is no mission without surprise as guests encounter unexpected twists, turns and other challenges that test every astronaut. Quick thinking and fast reactions are needed by each guest to successfully complete the mission.

Post Show
Training is not complete when the capsule lands. Guests can proceed to the Mission: SPACE Post Show, powered by HP. In this Advanced Training Lab, guests of all ages have an opportunity to explore interactive space experiences, which include:

Space Race -- Two teams compete against each other in a race to send their rocket from Mars back to Earth. Nearly 60 people can play the high-energy game at one time.

Space Base -- For junior astronauts, Space Base provides a fun, interactive crawl space for exploration.

Expedition: Mars -- A joystick and a jet pack button help guests explore the surface of Mars.

Postcards from Space -- Guests can e-mail a video of themselves with one of the space-themed backgrounds and create a great souvenir of their Mission: SPACE experience.

Can't wait!

 

[turbodisney]

I hope someone comes back next month and tells us that they got to ride it..... I am hoping for the mysterious soft opening...

Maybe a CM will log on and let us know as well...

 

[dwaldron]

I realize that it is pretty early to start making stategies, but...

I just checked our vacation dates, we are staying at the Beach Club Villas in August, with our LAST DAY being August 15th.

I am sure that the place will be packed if the ride actually does open that day. And where we are checking out of our hotel and departing that afternoon, our time will be limited.

Any suggestions on how to make sure that we get to expirence SPACE without having it consume the entire day. August 15th is a Friday - is that an early open day for EPCOT?

Thanks,
Don

 

[zulaya]

Friday is AK's EE day.

The release I read on wdwig was that the soft opening is August 15 and the "premiere" grand opening - which I read as the official woo-hoo-it's here-party is in October to coincide with the media event.

So basically it's up and running August 15, but they aren't celebrating it with pomp and circumstance until October

 

[LeftCoaster]

Originally posted by dwaldron
I realize that it is pretty early to start making stategies, but...

I just checked our vacation dates, we are staying at the Beach Club Villas in August, with our LAST DAY being August 15th.

I am sure that the place will be packed if the ride actually does open that day. And where we are checking out of our hotel and departing that afternoon, our time will be limited.

Any suggestions on how to make sure that we get to expirence SPACE without having it consume the entire day. August 15th is a Friday - is that an early open day for EPCOT?

Thanks,
Don

I think you need to plan to be at Epcot all day and hope for the best. Remember, this is "Technically" a soft opening. So, Disney can, and will, close the attraction at any point for any reason. There's also no guarantee that it will open right at 9 am with the rest of the park.
so, plan to spend the day at Epcot just to be safe. If you get on it right away then great. If you have to wait, at least you're prepared.

 

[Ms. WDW]

August 15th is our last day also!!! Hummmmm......I see a change of plans comming!

 

[Ratpack]

Shoot!! We are going to be there July 26 - Aug 2. Maybe, just maybe they will have some even softer openings during that time!

 

[zulaya]

Also, be prepared to wait a while even if it isn't packed. The release I saw said to expect to spend an hour at this attraction - pre-show, ride, post show - so maybe FastPass it and then get in line.

Not sure if you can skip the pre-show, but I imagine if you wanted you could skip the post show - although from the pix I have seen, NO WAY is my group gonna skip any of it!