Spaceship Earth question

[Klayfish]

Another comment on another thread reminded me of something I wanted to ask about SE. After the last room in the chronology, the one that describes home computers being invented in a garage in California, you go into a space that is sort of "empty". Just music and green shapes floating by overhead. I presume that's supposed to be representative of a digital age. However, do you think it's possible that room is left like that as potential future building space to add another chapter in the story? The current story ends in the 1970s/1980s, so it's 35+ years ago.

SE is one of my favorite rides, I love it. I think it'd be cool to add one more chapter to the story. Though I'm not exactly sure how big that empty space is...the way it's set up is a bit disorienting to me, I can't tell exactly how big the space is in length.

 

[rteetz]

SSE used to be much longer and the descent back to the bottom had scenes. It was shortened so I don’t believe they will be adding much anytime soon.

 

[Haley R]

Another comment on another thread reminded me of something I wanted to ask about SE. After the last room in the chronology, the one that describes home computers being invented in a garage in California, you go into a space that is sort of "empty". Just music and green shapes floating by overhead. I presume that's supposed to be representative of a digital age. However, do you think it's possible that room is left like that as potential future building space to add another chapter in the story? The current story ends in the 1970s/1980s, so it's 35+ years ago.

SE is one of my favorite rides, I love it. I think it'd be cool to add one more chapter to the story. Though I'm not exactly sure how big that empty space is...the way it's set up is a bit disorienting to me, I can't tell exactly how big the space is in length.

I'm pretty sure Disney is always thinking ahead so it's possible your idea is correct. I honestly don't know. I don't really like the part of the ride at the end where you go backwards for a long time. I've only been on it twice and both times the ride was stopped (I'm assuming so someone could get on or off), but we were stuck sitting backwards for at least 5 minutes. So I guess I have a bad taste in my mouth about that part of the ride lol

 

[chartle]

but we were stuck sitting backwards for at least 5 minutes. So I guess I have a bad taste in my mouth about that part of the ride lol

I call that nap time.

 

[Haley R]

I call that nap time.

Lol I guess it could be considered nap time. I just got kind of freaked out sitting there in the dark for that long because you can't see what's on the sides of you except for black space. I guess astronaut isn't in my future careers.

 

[DisDreaming4116]

If it weren't for the on-screen funny business, the slow backward descent would be pretty uncomfortable.

 

[Haley R]

If it weren't for the on-screen funny business, the slow backward descent would be pretty uncomfortable.

And when you get stuck on the backwards descent, the on-screen funny business isn't so funny anymore haha

 

[BrianL]

I love the part where you go backwards and there are all the blue lights. That is my place of zen.

I do hate the computer screens though. They cast too much light and I don't like the program. They need to retool it.

 

[MommaBerd]

I love the part where you go backwards and there are all the blue lights. That is my place of zen.

I do hate the computer screens though. They cast too much light and I don't like the program. They need to retool it.

And that is my family’s favorite part! We’re all so disappointed when the faces don’t show up - or worse - it doesn’t work at all.

 

[cigar95]

SSE used to be much longer and the descent back to the bottom had scenes. It was shortened so I don’t believe they will be adding much anytime soon.

Can you recall which version this was? In the Walter Cronkite and Jeremy Irons versions, what I can remember about the descent was just dialog, sharing thoughts about what the future might bring. ("Tomorrow's child, tomorrow's child . . . . . ")

 

[Klayfish]

SSE used to be much longer and the descent back to the bottom had scenes. It was shortened so I don’t believe they will be adding much anytime soon.

Wow, interesting. When did that change? I'm sure I was on it when it was like that, but I honestly don't remember.

I love the part where you go backwards and there are all the blue lights. That is my place of zen.

Yes, yes, yes. I don't know why, but I go into such a peaceful, calm, quiet, relaxed mode during that part. I all but fall asleep, and not out of boredom, but out of just being relaxed.

 

[Moliphino]

Can you recall which version this was? In the Walter Cronkite and Jeremy Irons versions, what I can remember about the descent was just dialog, sharing thoughts about what the future might bring. ("Tomorrow's child, tomorrow's child . . . . . ")

Jeremy Irons. There was a class designing some sort of flying thing, scenes with people talking on video chats, etc.

Starts around 11 minutes in.

 

[rteetz]

Can you recall which version this was? In the Walter Cronkite and Jeremy Irons versions, what I can remember about the descent was just dialog, sharing thoughts about what the future might bring. ("Tomorrow's child, tomorrow's child . . . . . ")

I know there were more scenes that were removed. I’ll have to go find the Martin Smith videos. I wasn’t alive for the early versions

 

[marcyleecorgan]

I definitely remember SE much differently as a child than what we rode in January... but that's not surprising... I LOVED the kids communicating over the computer and the phone, I don't quite remember when that scene was, but it was towards the end....

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

It used to have scenes as you went backwards but with the refurbs they took it out and put in the screens in your ride vehicle so that you can create your own future.

 

[PanamaMike]

SSE used to be much longer and the descent back to the bottom had scenes. It was shortened so I don’t believe they will be adding much anytime soon.

The length of the ride has not changed.

 

[Haley R]

I love the part where you go backwards and there are all the blue lights. That is my place of zen.

I do hate the computer screens though. They cast too much light and I don't like the program. They need to retool it.

I don't mind that part except for when we get stopped for 5 minutes in the dark.

 

[fla4fun]

So far as I can recall, and I have been going to Epcot since 1982, that has always been a tunnel area to transition into the space scene. It’s had white lights, colored lights, the digital projection, but it’s always served the same purpose. I don’t think it’s big enough to house another scene without compromising that transition.

There used to be a great space station set up in the top, and it was kind of like you entered the space station as the cars turned around backwards. Pretty much every incarnation except the current one had scenes all the way to the end of the ride, so the ride did seem longer.

 

[rteetz]

The length of the ride has not changed.

I meant in number of actual scenes not time.

 

[JenniBarra]

I definitely remember SE much differently as a child than what we rode in January... but that's not surprising... I LOVED the kids communicating over the computer and the phone, I don't quite remember when that scene was, but it was towards the end....

The Jeremy Irons version of this has always been my favorite. (Technically, I did experience the Walter Cronkite version, but that was just one visit as a teenager so I don't remember it well.) I like his narration best, but I also preferred having the AA scenes to the interactive bit. The interactive bit feels cheap to me and something they could have just had available in the exit area of the attraction. I particularly miss that scene with the two kids communicating with each other as it especially resonated with me as someone who avidly pen-palled (and, later, "key-palled").