Spaceship Earth Rehab (Update)

[YoHo]

Gee, if this concept is so popular that they're rebuilding Epcot's signature attraction for it, then maybe, just maybe, they should have rebuilt Horizons which would have been cheaper and gosh, I don't think anybody has frackin died on it the way they have on Missionuke.

 

[ChrisFL]

Gee, if this concept is so popular that they're rebuilding Epcot's signature attraction for it, then maybe, just maybe, they should have rebuilt Horizons which would have been cheaper and gosh, I don't think anybody has frackin died on it the way they have on Missionuke.

Cheaper? Maybe, unless that rumor about there being a massive sinkhole that appeared under the structure is true.

 

[YoHo]

Uh huh, and where was the budget to fix that sinkhole in Mission:hork? cause most of that money was spent on the super fancy spin-n-hurl.

 

[raidermatt]

Is that like the rumor about the massive sinkhole that appeared under DL's lagoon, which was why they had to close the subs and could never reopen them or even empty the laggon?

 

[MJMcBride]

I guess we should be glad Roto Rooter didn't pony up the dough for a sponsorship.

Maybe. But think of the possiblities with a re-themed Mission Space

 

[EUROPACL]

Cheaper? Maybe, unless that rumor about there being a massive sinkhole that appeared under the structure is true.

The sinkhole occured after Horizons was torn down...its called Misson Space.

 

[vancesmom]

I understand that some of the changes in Epcot over the years haven't been all good. However, I have a hard time when people keep spouting about the "original theme". When in fact, Walt's theme was quite different than what it ended up. I think Walt would have been proud though - Happy with the changes to his original idea of a Prototype City of Tomorrow. And since the world changes all the time - I don't know if it's all bad for Disney/Epcot to change a little along with it. As long as it trys to keep integrity.

 

[YoHo]

Walt's theme was quite different than what it ended up.

In a word, no.
That's corporate propaganda. E.P.C.O.T. Center certainly wasn't as grand as what Walt wanted, but conceptually WDW was on tract with Epcot. If you do a search through these forums, you'll find a couple excellent posts explaining exactly what Walt's plans were and how the as built Epcot represented them.

 

[kstinw19]

That is reminsicent of Horizons, sounds quite interesting!

That is exactly what came to my mind when reading it...Horizons

 

[vancesmom]

Walt’s words: "EPCOT...will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centers of American industry. It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed, but will always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and systems. And EPCOT will always be a showcase to the world for the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise."
His original EPCOT was for a model community, home to twenty thousand residents, which would be a test bed for city planning and organization. The community was to have been built in the shape of a circle, with businesses and commercial areas at its center, community buildings and schools and recreational complexes around it, and residential neighborhoods along the perimeter. Automobile traffic would be kept underground, leaving pedestrians safe above-ground. Disney said, "It will be a planned, controlled community, a showcase for American industry and research, schools, cultural and educational opportunities. In EPCOT, there will be no slum areas because we won't let them develop. There will be no landowners and therefore no voting control. People will rent houses instead of buying them, and at modest rentals. There will be no retirees; everyone must be employed."

 

[ChrisFL]

In a word, no.
That's corporate propaganda. E.P.C.O.T. Center certainly wasn't as grand as what Walt wanted, but conceptually WDW was on tract with Epcot. If you do a search through these forums, you'll find a couple excellent posts explaining exactly what Walt's plans were and how the as built Epcot represented them.

I disagree. I've been researching Walt's EPCOT for a few years now, there isn't much material out there on it as much of the design was not finalized and there is still a lot of questions that remain unanswered....but to call the theme park Epcot anything similar to the city plan of EPCOT is really a stretch.

In my mind the only thing that the two have in common are the World Showcase, because the shops that were to be in the city project would resemble different countries, and the idea of having futuristic things.

 

[disrailfan]

Has anyone found out when in June this is happening? My trip is June 8th through 16th and I would really hat to not be able to go on this attraction one last time before they potentially ruin it. lol

 

[DancingBear]

I disagree. I've been researching Walt's EPCOT for a few years now, there isn't much material out there on it as much of the design was not finalized and there is still a lot of questions that remain unanswered....but to call the theme park Epcot anything similar to the city plan of EPCOT is really a stretch.

I don't think Yoho said it was similar to the city plan, but rather "conceptually," by which I think he meant "thematically." Original Future World was all about how much humans had accomplished and how much more we could achieve.

 

[donald...really]

After the Disney company realized they couldn't (or didn't want to try to) build Walt's dream for EPCOT, they realized that WDW as a whole was realizing some of the Walt's original plans for EPCOT (take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging, always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and systems, EPCOT (read WDW) will always be a showcase to the world for the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise, etc). The Disney company dubbed ALL of WDW as EPCOT and then created EPCOT Center the theme park in the middle of it. Personally, I think that is a little bit (or a lot) of company spin, but I think that is what Yoho is talking about.

Danny Kaye explains it at 3.28 in the following video from the Disney special when EPCOT Center openned.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EZBqbeRGuzw

 

[jimmytammy]

Our DD loves this ride! I just hope they pad the seats and headrest.

 

[YoHo]

I don't think Yoho said it was similar to the city plan, but rather "conceptually," by which I think he meant "thematically." Original Future World was all about how much humans had accomplished and how much more we could achieve.

This is essentially it.

E.P.C.O.T. was never supposed to be a fully functioning city. It was always supposed to be a resort community. The goal being to both encourage engineering and scientific development AND showcase such development.

While there certainly is no spire centered community, there was significant engineering and scientific development. WDW's supporting services being the most obvious.

The fundimental difference is that Disney Corp never managed to create the technology campus idea that was at the heart of the city. So outside companies didn't directly participate in the development aspects of E.P.C.O.T. They simply use it as a showcase for what they were doing in their existing facilities.

So, yes, Epcot embodies or rather Embodied exactly what Walt wanted. WDW has a huge permanent and seasonal population. It's a resort, it showcases incredible new Technologies.

What Epcot doesn't do is illustrate the level of cooperation Walt envisioned. Which is really a shame when one looks to Silicon Valley, RTP etc etc etc.

 

[YoHo]

After the Disney company realized they couldn't (or didn't want to try to) build Walt's dream for EPCOT, they realized that WDW as a whole was realizing some of the Walt's original plans for EPCOT (take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging, always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and systems, EPCOT (read WDW) will always be a showcase to the world for the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise, etc). The Disney company dubbed ALL of WDW as EPCOT and then created EPCOT Center the theme park in the middle of it. Personally, I think that is a little bit (or a lot) of company spin, but I think that is what Yoho is talking about.

Danny Kaye explains it at 3.28 in the following video from the Disney special when EPCOT Center openned.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EZBqbeRGuzw

Yes, this is reenforced in the book: Since the world began.

There is certainly some spin there. You don't go around admitting that you didn't have the Cajones to build Walt's vision, because his idiot nephew had been nipping at your heels.

But fundimentally, this is true. EPCOT Center and WDW were I'd say 80-90% what Walt wanted.

 

[sasmmb]

Just rode SSE today and talked with one of the CMs she said that one of the post ride attractions is going to open in the next few days with the remaining ones opening in a month or so. Then she mentioned about the SSE rehab and said the only changes being made are starting with the TVs and forward. Basically so "the future" doesn't look like 1994 (her words).

 

[DC7800]

...the only changes being made are starting with the TVs and forward...

Well, if there is any truth to this (no offense, but not all CM rumors are exactly accurate...), that would encompass the entire ride. Those TV's, which remind us that our ride vehicles will be turning around, are immediately after boarding.

Or do you/she mean the set near the apex where the two kids are conversing?

 

[vancesmom]

I do see what you all are saying regarding Walt's vision. I agree with the basic concept. There are however some very big differences.

Basically (to stay on topic), I feel it's a shame that rides that many of us already love have to change. However, I do see that changing with the times should be done to keep up. If they didn't make some changes then there were giggles from young/new Disney fans and I don't think that's the right effect.

Let's just cross our fingers that it will be all good!