MJ Attraction at EPCOT

[mikerobrewer]

Just wanted to voice my opinion that Capt EO is awful. It may have been advanced technology back in the 80s but it is horribly dated now. Really bad.

HISTA was better IMO but had also gotten long-in-tooth after enjoying a 16 year run, which should have been plenty of time for Disney to come up with a replacement. Instead we got the return of Capt EO as a "tribute" to MJ.

Well Jackson has been dead for 3 years now and it is well beyond time to retire EO and put something worthwhile in the Journey Into Imagination Pavilion.

 

[MYD714]

I for one am glad that Captain EO is back. I realize the effects are bad, but I remember being so excited about the attraction as a kid.

I'm a huge MJ fan and was sad to see it go and be replaced by HISTA - but that was also getting old, so I was glad to see that go too.

A change to something new would be a great addition. But I would never say that Cptn EO doesn't belong at Epcot, its definitely right at home.

My thoughts exactly. I love MJ and I really enjoyed seeing it again. I always secretly hoped they'd bring it back. I'll be ready for something new when it changes, but it was great revisiting it for a while.

This was back in Michael's Thriller days...long before he was Bad (shamon).

My niece was 2yo when MJ died and she kept telling us that she "missed him." She loved the Thriller album (my brother played it all the time and would show her pictures & video of MJ). The first song is "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'." Upon hearing the beginning music, my niece screamed "Oh, he startin' somethin'!" I asked her if she knew who was singing and she replied, "Michael Jackson. Him's scary!" (as she made a werewolf gesture)

 

[Butterbunkins]

When DH and I went in 2010 I was so excited Captain EO was back! It was one of my favorites as a kid and I was sad when they got rid of it. And HISTA was just starting to get old.

DH had never seen the original run since his first trip was in 2008 so I was excited for him to see it. The whole time I kept stealing sideways glances as DH and he was just staring at me shaking his head. I'll admit it is pretty cheesy now, but it will always have a special place in my heart. I really wanted DH to buy the t-shirt like the one MJ wore since they were selling them, but he refused.

I'm okay if they get rid of EO as long as they don't bring HISTA back. Time for something new!

 

[smallfri1112]

It's just as outdated as many of the other attractions in Future World. Fits perfectly.

 

[TravelGrl]

I hate EO and skip it. We saw it once after they brought it back, but it's just too dated and not good. Even my husband who is a huge Coppola and Lucas fan and watches everything they made, cannot enjoy it.

Although HISTA was dated, we still were able to enjoy it and love the effects. With EO we just don't enjoy anything.

And don't get me started about those fuzzy spaceship mates...

 

[kidsgobears]

seriously? Yeah .... more like 'son, we need to make a quick buck so you'll have to tell everyone you had "sleepovers" with MJ'

Only on the DIS

Here's a link of an interview with Michael where he states he had "sleepovers" with many children. I've seen the interview on dateline (or something similar). I can't find a video of it though.

http://www.mjshouse.com/stories/living_with_mj_transcript.html

Now, this doesn't prove anything sexual occurred, but still gives me the creeps. I know there's no way I'd have let my boys have a "sleepover" at MJs after hearing this.

ETA: I haven't seen EO since its early days at Disneyland. I remember loving it. If we were at WDW, I'd probably want to see it and I'd tell my boys (14 & 12) that this was before he turned into a complete wacko.

 

[kaligal]

If we were at WDW, I'd probably want to see it and I'd tell my boys (14 & 12) that this was before he turned into a complete wacko.

He was always strange at best. Even back then, he had begun the process that mutilated his face. He was running around with that monkey and sleeping in that odd contraption.

He had a lot of problems. I don't know if pedophilia was one or not...but he was always very weird.

 

[KeroKero]

As outdated as the attraction is, it shows us how far that sort of technology has come. In my opinion that's important - and in a place like Epcot's Future World; as great as it is to see what's currently happening with technology its a good basis to see where its come from and how far its come in such a short span.

 

[goofyernmost]

I'm okay if they get rid of EO as long as they don't bring HISTA back. Time for something new!

Sorry, but Disney does not have a real good record of creating new attractions out of old ones. Wouldn't be surprised to see another empty building before too long.

 

[davedmaine]

It's awful. Seriously. Awful.

 

[TDC Nala]

Well, the guy was weird, but he wasn't convicted of anything. In fact he was acquitted. so I don't see a "message." in this.

Captain EO premiered at Disneyland in 1986. Seeing it now is real nostalgia...the 80s hair! The leg warmers! The mustaches!

One thing that is interesting about it is that the Supreme Leader in her original form was the inspiration for the Borg Queen in the film "Star Trek: First Contact"

 

[DebbieB]

Sorry, but Disney does not have a real good record of creating new attractions out of old ones. Wouldn't be surprised to see another empty building before too long.

I agree, I don't think there is anything on the drawing board to put something new there.

I was glad it came back because the original was gone by my first trip in 1994. I thought it was MJ at his best, before he mutilated himself totally.

 

[umichigan10]

I haven't seen it yet....just heard about it from a friend who just returned. How long has it been there?

I just don't think that if it were some 'tribute' thing to a child molester that it would belong....but I clearly misunderstood the premise of the attraction.

Steven Tyler has been in rehab 9 times for drug addictions yet aerosmith headlines a prominent e ticket at DHS. So what's your point?

 

[TLSnell1981]

A few facts...

Captain Eo is considered one of the first 4D films. The executive producer was George Lucas and the director was Francis Ford Coppola. It was choreographed by Jeffrey Hornaday and Michael Jackson. It was produced by the "Father of 4D",Rusty Lemorande It was (at that time) the most expensive film, ever produced..$1.7M per minute.

 

[Dznefreek]

Buzz Lightyear aka Tim Allen . . .cocaine trafficker oh yeah did time
Many of Disney's go to actors have ghosts in the closet

 

[ttintagel]

Yeah, the effects are old-fashioned (and only some of the original in-theater effects are present), and the dialogue in the first part is wooden... but then it turns into a music video set in outer space! With a catchy song! Aces in my books.

Plus, it's EPCOT's 30th anniversary. I don't mind a higher-than-usual level of retro.

 

[Phatoomch]

Here's a link of an interview with Michael where he states he had "sleepovers" with many children. I've seen the interview on dateline (or something similar). I can't find a video of it though.

http://www.mjshouse.com/stories/living_with_mj_transcript.html

Now, this doesn't prove anything sexual occurred, but still gives me the creeps. I know there's no way I'd have let my boys have a "sleepover" at MJs after hearing this.

ETA: I haven't seen EO since its early days at Disneyland. I remember loving it. If we were at WDW, I'd probably want to see it and I'd tell my boys (14 & 12) that this was before he turned into a complete wacko.

Yep, I've seen the interviews too.

I believe that he found children a breath of fresh-air and didn't judge him unlike the adults of the world.

Thats why many people work with children like my husband, he says they are far more interesting that a lot of adults and very refreshing .... sadly though he has to be careful aswell for fear of being seen as 'creepy. Me though, I have no problems cuz I'm female

As for Captain EO, I have no problems with them re-opening it as a tribute, I just have a problem with the attraction in general - its crap

 

[disneychic]

Way to make me feel 100 years old, kid!

 

[jacesmommy]

Steven Tyler has been in rehab 9 times for drug addictions yet aerosmith headlines a prominent e ticket at DHS. So what's your point?

He didn't have 'sleepovers' with little boys...

 

[Olivejuicy]

Once MJ died, it became unacceptable to refer to the allegations that people spoke freely of before and he went from freakshow to lauded and beloved again. When that video game came out, I made a joke on facebook that I didn't know that I would be comfortable having my child play a game called "The Michael Jackson Experience." People who I had heard say much worse things about him were all OVER me for speaking ill of the dead.

I have no opinion on EO as I have never seen it.