Spaceship Earth Closed?

[Leota]

I haven't seen any refurb schedules posted anywhere for it. I would be sad if it were closed during a visit of mine - BUT I would Love to see them do some updates. Esp. putting something in the now empty & dingy Global Neighborhood. I hate seeing it in it's current state & was so happy to hear of it's new sponsorship. I am really looking forward to what will happen with SE now that it has some bucks behind it to do some much needed updating.

Umm, that is as long as they don't Kill it the way they killed JIYI.

 

[go cowboys]

I am at WDW now and SE is open and running. Still without a wait, but open and running.

 

[civileng68]

On the Undiscovered Future World tour, I was told personally by a tour guide who has been there since Epcot opened that SE is indeed being looked at for a complete overhaul and NO, the structure is NOT dependent on the ride (contrary to rumors). There are designs in place that turn it into a thrill ride, with the loading/preride area in the building off behind (where there are offices/nothing now) and have it "shoot up into the sphere" (to quote him directly). I complained about that and was given a lecture about how "Epcot has to change to continue to be relevant to today's and tomorrow's guests."
.

Yeah, I think the guide was "behind the times". Believe it or not, and trust me, I know it's hard to believe, but, many of the people on these boards know far more than even the most knowledgeable CM's, even those that have worked there for years and years.

The same exact plans that your guide mentioned to you, as another poster said, were plans of Project Gemini back in 2002 to completely re-do Epcot (minus WS). There were plans to turn SE into a thrill ride possibly named "Time Racers". As someone said, the idea was rejected and there is no change of that sort on the schedule at this time.

There may be slight changes due to sponsorship but, dont count on a complete overhaul.

 

[VSL]

I would assume that it will be closing at somepoint in the future. Seimens, the new sponsor, does a LOT of things and communications is not thier primary product (although it is a product) I would assume the ride will be "rethemed" to fit thier sponosorship. (Kind of like Test Track fits with GM)

Ask anyone in the UK (I know it's not a UK based company and that WDW is in the US, but still) what Seimens is and they will say 'a mobile phone company'. Most people over here think that that's all they are so I imagine that they will at least stick with the communications theme..?

 

[graygables]

Ask anyone in the UK (I know it's not a UK based company and that WDW is in the US, but still) what Seimens is and they will say 'a mobile phone company'. Most people over here think that that's all they are so I imagine that they will at least stick with the communications theme..?

My dad is a telecom guru and did a LOT of work w/ Siemens when he was in the Army and working for American. Lots of technology, but I think telecom is where they have a heavy global presence.

 

[Mecha Figment]

I can prety much asure you that the only things that change will be possibly a new soundrack and narator. shocks to the track to keep the bumping down. and an updated down trip back to earth.

 

[cleo]

Last word we had when we updated the Brit's Guide was the Global Neighborhood would be redone when the new sponsor came on board but there are no plans for gutting and re-working the ride.

Old rumors die hard.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

I realize that Epcot isn't suppose to "stay the same as always". I know changes are needed and sponsors pay tons of money to put their names on attractions. Yes, I am thankful for that. But when it is a ride that is dear to your heart (like the original Journey into Imagination is to my heart) you simply do not care that changes "have to be made" and sponsors are paying money. All of that is irrelevant. All you care about is missing out on something you love. JMO.

 

[CarolA]

Seimens is not a big "telephone" company in the US. And having worked with them I would think they are going to want to showcase some of thier other technologies.

I have always heard that the ride could be completely redone without "changing" the sphere.....

Considering that it always seems to be empty now.... while folks claim to love it what Disney and the sponsors look for is bodies in the seats....

 

[erikthewise]

Seimens is not a big "telephone" company in the US. And having worked with them I would think they are going to want to showcase some of thier other technologies.

I have always heard that the ride could be completely redone without "changing" the sphere.....

Considering that it always seems to be empty now.... while folks claim to love it what Disney and the sponsors look for is bodies in the seats....

IMO the "bodies in the seats" point is overdone. SSE is a high capacity ride and can handle more people per hour than Test Track, Mission Space, or Soarin'. It would be crazy to expect long lines there on a regular basis.

About half the time I go to Haunted Mansion it's a walk-on or nearly so. Does mean they should consider shutting it down? Of course not. Give SSE the same respect.

I think what WDW management cares about is park attendance, not having all rides crowded all the time. How much extra do they make for each person who rides SSE? $0.00. But having rides like SSE available for people who either can't or don't care to go on TT or M:S will help keep park attendance up.

 

[zipDdoodah]

I just read this on laughing place after reading this thread earlier today:

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/article.php?id=1756

It's an article talking about Siemens not putting up funding to redo SE and also liking it the way it is. I found it rather interesting. It has some other info about Future World in it too. If you love the "original" SE, then you will be pleased!

 

[cgcruz]

I really hope they don't close Spaceship Earth at all! I love this ride. Nothing is better than after a long day of walking around epcot or park hopping than jumping into spaceship earth and just relax and enjoy the peaceful ride!

 

[Dreamflight]

I hope SE does stay the same or undergoes marginal changes at the end. To me its one of those rides that have a TIMELESS theme even if the current incarnation is not the most modern

The concept is human communication. That will NEVER be an outdated theme as long as humans are still around. (and heck, even after if other beings want to study us as history, but i digress). The trick is keeping a timeless theme current to the times.

This is one of the things that make Carousel of Progress a tricky case. Cause I feel that the final stage of Carousel of Progress isn't as current as it can be. Or at least hasn't changed in years even though I would say our outlook of the distant future may have. I LOVE Carousel of Progress and would rather see the final stage of it be updated, then see the whole ride be taken away.

And i feel the same way about Spaceship Earth. Although i really like it the way it is, half out of nostalgia, half out of cool factor, i would be ok with them updating some of it to show the current world of human communications. I DONT want a whole infomercial ride, but I'd understnad if they updated the ride narrative with some of the more recent technological feats of man. And current and future concerns.

I don't think the whole ride should be taken away at all, but i'd be ok with some modernizing of the future/end parts of the ride. I wouldn't touch the beginning part (the cavemen, Greece, Rome, Industrial Revolution) because that part is completely relevant to the OVERALL theme. But tweaking the end to make it more modern, i'm ok with that. Especially if it saves the ride from being too obselete. Same goes for Carousel of Progress.

I guess i feel that even though Walt Disney knew that Walt Disney World was a "living theme park" in that change was necessary, he was also a man that had very strong values that he wanted the park to reflect. Progress, the american family, communication, and maybe singing bears. (LOL). So i think there's a way for Disney to grow over time but still retain its core values. At least, I hope so