Re-Imagining of Spaceship Earth

[hoop de do]

Thanks so much Jason. Change can be sad but also exciting. I'm both but mostly excited. Can't wait.

[SandmanGStefani24]

I'm glad it's getting some attention but my good old luck is resurfacing. Now I'm gonna miss my favorite attraction next trip.

I'm still glad it's getting a revamp, I guess. I never thought last trip would be the last time I saw the former incarnations of SE and El Rio.

I guess that will just leave more time for ...

[c&d]

This is one of my must do rides when we are there. I'm glad they are updating it, I only hope they don't change the earlier parts too much.

[handmaidenofprincesses]

Outstanding. I'll get to see this in November!

That's gonna hurt summer crowds, though, having Spaceship Earth and Haunted Mansion closed at one time!

Haunted mansion is going to be closed this summer?!?!? Both my favorite rides closed at the same time????

...I'm gonna punch something....like a brick wall... or a car.. or my little brother......


GRRR!

[Spaceship Tigger]

And why does everyone hate the wand? I love it! I think it makes Epcot that much more "Disney".

Not everyone hates the wand. In fact, here's a recent poll:
http://www.intercot.com/discussion/s...hip+earth+wand

It will be interesting to see if they decide to remove it or leave it during this rehab. But I don't really think it's going anywhere right now.

[allie_to_you]

I hope it won't be closed during the middle part of November. I haven't gotten to ride this since 2000 and was really looking forward to it. We'll be there November 10 - 17

[scottgr]

Thats cool. I can't wait till 08 when I am back in Disney

[castlelady36]

Ok I don't mind the change if they don't mess with the sparkling city that is my favorite part!!!! I am that is stays open for my July trip as my other fav HM is out. But I do look forward to the new area immediately after exiting the ride as this has been empty for some time.

[joelkfla]

In today's Sentinel, a Disney spokeswoman says all changes will be on the inside, implying the wand will not change.

And, just my own opinion:
Another poster said they thought it would be too expensive to fix the track. I believe the roughness and noise is not from the track per se, but from the anti-rollback system, which is basically a ratchet that prevents the cars from rolling freely in the event of a power outage. They should be able to service or update it without tearing up the track.

I would love to see the Tomorrow's Child theme return. I know it's not likely, but they did it with Carousel of Progress, so it's not out of the realm of possibility.

[BelleBeauty]

I think that I am cautiously optimistic about this renovation. SE needs the renovation. It would be great to see them spruce up the existing beginning, not change it. I don't think I would know where I was if the narration changed! Or - gasp - if the smell of burning Rome changed!

However, the communication of today has drastically changed and the interactive portions in the ride vehicles sounds great. The think that adding to the descent portion of the ride will be great. The bad part will be that walking onto the ride with no wait in the afternoon will probably no longer be an option!

[cinderella crazy]

Well I'm glad that they're finally going to fix the ending! I can't wait to see what they're going to do to it. I wish it was going to be opened when we go but I'm sure the end result will be worth the wait!

[malz288]

haha i was also wondering if the smell of rome would change. thats my sisters and i favorite part. i also thought that the new ending sounded like horizons, which sounds very exciting.

SE needs a rehab. the technology is too old. were using the technolody today thats supposed to be technology of tomorrow.

[cetacean01]

That's gonna hurt summer crowds, though, having Spaceship Earth and Haunted Mansion closed at one time![/QUOTE]

I think Disney has officially lost its collective mind!

These simply do NOT make sense to do during the summer months.

[Carol]

These simply do NOT make sense to do during the summer months.

Well -- it's no more 'fair' to do all rehabs during the winter either. They have to spread them out.

There is a lot more to WDW than 2 attractions. I'm disappointed it will be 'down' when I visit - but I'm not letting it ruin my trip. I know it's needed and I'll see it next time.

[crazy4disneyworld]

I love to see that SSE is getting much-deserved refurbishment, but is it going to keep with the communications theme? The press release talks about "imagining our futures", but nothing really specific. I just hope that the ride still is about communications because then the ending would not make sense unless they made major changes to the first scene (Siemens is involved in communications, though). No matter what, the refurb should be great.

As for the post-show, I actually don't care that it will not be solely about communications. It's like a World's Fair: Siemens is showcasing their newest technologies. Maybe Innoventions is going to do the same thing now (I hear rumors that Innoventions will receive a major reworking and overhaul)?

P.S. I hope they bring back Tomorrow's Child!

[JPL]

Here is the thing since SSE is sponsoed by Siemens I'm sure part of the deal was the ride had to be update by a certain date as part of the agreement. I mean if you were paying millions of dollars to sponsor an attraction you cetainrly wouldn't want someone elses out dated products being showcased.

[Red Randal]

handmaidenofprincesses, I'm glad to see I'm not the only person who surfs Intercot in the library.

[Sean Riley Taylor's Mom]

I'm looking forward to the changes but, sad we have to miss one of our favorite rides.

Oh well, We'll get to see it next trip.

[mttafire]

Well -- it's no more 'fair' to do all rehabs during the winter either. They have to spread them out.

There is a lot more to WDW than 2 attractions. I'm disappointed it will be 'down' when I visit - but I'm not letting it ruin my trip. I know it's needed and I'll see it next time.

Agreed. Im not sure why people think Disney can only do rehabs during "off season" months. Those days are long over. The more rehabs Disney does..(and more is coming..S.M.) the more WILL be done all the time. This is GOOD for Disney and us. Attractions will get rehabed much faster.

[larrybob]

I've always liked Spaceship Earth, but this sounds like it could be a nice update to it.