Judi Dench

[mttafire]

According to my buddy on Orlando fire: Judy Dench WILL be the new narrator for SSE.
Obviously this isnt official but...He aint been wrong yet!
Shawn

[iDisney]

Interesting choice, if this turns out to be true. I will still have to adjust from hearing "Like a grand and miraculous spaceship..."

[SpecJoe Magic]

I didn't expect it to be her. It may take me a little while to adjust to the new narrator, but it's definitely worth it because Spaceship Earth was due for a substantial update.

[RedheadWriter]

I like her! I love Jeremy Irons, too, and always enjoyed listening to his smooth accent on the ride. They have always chosen people with "ear candy" (LOL) voices to narrate.
Rachel

[LibertyTreeGal]

She is spectacular, one of the best actresses around Great choice, I hope it turns out to be true!

[PiratesCove]

I enjoy Judy Dench...but...I would have preferred Jeremy Irons being kept as the voice of SSE.

[Melanie]

I'm not sure how I feel about a woman doing the narration. I guess I'll have to actually hear it to decide.

[brad192]

Ehh.....I still miss Walter C.

[PirateLover]

Has she ever narrated anything before? Just so I could see how her voice sounds... She is indeed a great actress but she's got some tough shoes to follow. Personally, if they had to switch I was hoping they went with Morgan Freedman (not possible now I'm guessing because he's signed up to promote Universal) or Patrick Stewart. Time will tell. It may take us time to get used to, but I think Disney knows how big of a deal this is and wouldn't just choose someone will nilly.

[magicofdisney]

Interesting choice, if this turns out to be true. I will still have to adjust from hearing "Like a grand and miraculous spaceship..."

Oh...me too. As much as I love SSE, that narration is my favorite. I'll have a hard time adjusting.

[chrisb26]

This will be intresting I do like the way she talks but I don't know if it will just be too different or not. I really liked Jeremy Irons and will miss his narration.

For those of you that don't know her by name she played M on the James Bond films.

[jrkcr]

I love Dame Judi Dench in As Time Goes By!! And she was just perfect in Mrs Brown. She is so talented!! I think having a totally different sounding voice on the "new" ride is a good way to go. Yes, I agree Morgan Freeman would have been nice too...but thats because he has the voice of "God!" hahaha

[EPCOT84]

I'm with Brad162. Walter Cronkite version was classic for the few short years. When it changed to Jeremy Irons (didn't realize it was him), I was a little shook up, but then all rides change. I can easily imagine a Judi Dench voice over. Good choice.

Slightly off topic but speaking of voice-over changes, I was surprised when I rode Livin' with the Land with its new voice this summer. Before, the old Listen to the Land with the song was corny but more uplifting. The new voice-over is very soothing and without the song, it changes the tone of the ride. I actually think it makes it more like the original serious EPCOT Center than when it had "Listen to the Land". LIvin' with the Land is a retro '80's version that never was.

[EmporerStitch]

i like Jeremy Irons but he's kinda stuffy and boring. Patrick Stewart would be good as would Morgan Freeman but my vote would be William Shatner.

[lasttuesday]

I...was...just going....to....say that....I....was hoping for....William Shatner.

[RedheadWriter]

All I would think of with William Shatner is the Priceline Negotiator! hahahaha

[EmporerStitch]

well if the message was communication then he'd be great he communicates with his hands and voice in a unique way granted we wouldnt see him as he narrates. id just be waiting for him to say "Mr. Spock ahead warp 9"

[Cinderelley]

I...was...just going....to....say that....I....was hoping for....William Shatner.

[dudeman1975]

According to the Orlando Sentinnell Judi Dench will be the narrator.

[Ed]

From today's Orlando Sentinel:

Epcot's Spaceship Earth to reopen mid-December
Christopher Boyd
Jason Garcia and Scott Powers, Sentinel Staff Writers

December 3, 2007

Epcot's Spaceship Earth ride is expected to reopen in mid-December for sneak previews with a new story overlay, new technology and a whole new soundtrack -- created by 10-time Emmy Award-winning composer Bruce Broughton, a 63-piece orchestra and a 24-voice choir.

Walt Disney Imagineering announced late last week that Broughton's music has been fitted to each scene in the attraction's storyline, which follows the history of human innovation from one generation to the next, from prehistoric times to the 21st century.

The ride was closed earlier this year as the entire system also has been updated with new show scenes, lighting, costumes, set decorations, interactive features for riders and a new narrator, Academy Award-winning actress Judi Dench.

For the musical score, each scene was infused with styles and instruments appropriate to the time period.

"To have that score transition smoothly as vehicles travel from one time period to the next is extremely difficult," said Walt Disney Imagineering show producer Bob Zalk. "The first time we rode through the attraction accompanied by that music, we were amazed."

The 180-foot-tall Spaceship Earth geodesic sphere opened as Epcot's centerpiece in 1982 with a ride storyline that originally focused more on the history of human communications. It has had occasional updates, but this year's overhaul by Walt Disney World and the attraction's sponsor Siemens AG was the first major change.