Break The Walls Down
The walls surrounding Spaceship Earth at Epcot have finally come down and the attraction is officially open to the public, despite multiple signs noting the official opening still as February 2008.
It’s Done!
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Epcot’s iconic white sphere, Spaceship Earth, closed for nearly six months, will reopen to the public Friday with a new story line and digital enhancements. The show’s producer Bob Zalk says the new story is about innovations and how they inspire the next generation. The ride features new show scenes, lighting effects and costumes with a new musical score narrated by Judy Dench. The ride’s vehicles remain the same, but include new touch screens. There will also be an interactive component. Disney officials expect to make minor changes before the ride’s formal reopening in February.
New Refurbishments
The following refurbishment was just announced on DisneyWorld.com:
Liberty Square Riverboat Closed 2/24/08-3/1/08
For more upcoming refurbishments, check out our Attraction Closures page.
Replacing Pleasure
Screamscape.com is reporting the following rumor:
“Fans of the Pleasure Island nightlife will want to take note of this latest rumor. According to Screamscape sources we’ve heard that there could be some fairly significant changes to Pleasure Island starting in 2008. In fact, as early as January we could see Disney begin the process of shutting down the various nightclubs one by one. I don’t know if this is just for remodeling, a total revamp of the PI concept, or something else entirely. I’m also not sure if the term “club” applied to just the drinking/dancing clubs or if this rumor also applies to the Adventurer’s Club or the Comedy Warehouse.
I know that in the last year or two Disney completed a new remodeling of Pleasure Island to allow foot traffic to better flow through it from the West End to the Marketplace side. This along with the admission changes were supposed to be just the first step of many for a complete overall remodel of the Pleasure Island concept. Back when that was all still just a rumor I had heard at the time that Disney was in talks with Lucky Strike Lanes to convert the Beach Club into one of their high-end bowling clubs. I’ve got to wonder if that deal is still on the table or if it was just one of many that were in the works. Can anyone shed a little light on just what might be going on?”
I have also been hearing these same rumors, especially on a new bowling alley, about Pleasure Island. This is still a rumor at this moment, but we will keep you posted as more information on this becomes available.
Finally, Some Imagination
In what will probably be the first of many, a permit has been filed to refurbish and change the post show area of the Imagination pavillion at Epcot. This will most likely be the first step in revamping the pavillion, which as spent almost a decade in dismay. These plans have been sitting around for a while, but it appears that the conclusion of work on Spaceship Earth has finally opened the door for this project. This particular permit can be found HERE.
Discuss this developement HERE.
Spaceship Earth Videocast Available
Just wanted to let everyone know that a videocast of the new Spaceship Earth at Epcot is now available for your enjoyment. You can get directions on how to download the video for Itunes by going to our podcast page. To download it for your computer, go to http://podcast.wdwnewstoday.com. This will be the first of many videocasts released by WDW News Today. Enjoy!!!
SSE Soft Openings
A reader just left us an voicemail reporting that Spaceship Earth is open right now, they are allowing guests on the attraction this evening. If you have seen the new Spaceship Earth and would like to tell us your review or report on the changes, feel free to call our voicemail at 206-350-8232 or email us at wdwnewstoday@gmail.com.
SSE Preview in the Orlando Sentinel
Disney makes changes to Epcot’s Spaceship Earth attraction
Dewayne Bevil |Sentinel Staff Writer 6:38 PM EST, December 6, 2007
Epcot enthusiasts will have a ball again soon. Construction walls near Spaceship Earth, iconic sphere of the theme park, will fall sometime next week, after five months of refurbishment, Walt Disney World officials said. Inside are changes in content, new interactive components and enhancements of items that have marked the attraction since day one.
Its theme has shifted from communication through the ages to one of inspiration and innovation. The most recent script, read by Jeremy Irons, has been scrapped — the new narrator is Oscar winner Judi Dench, whose words guide riders through the generations.
“The story is those building blocks that got us to today,” said Bob Zalk, show producer. The plot winds through several scenes familiar to Spaceship Earth fans: the Egyptians, the burning of Rome (that smoky aroma remains), the Renaissance, the switchboard and more. All scenes up through the 1960s living room remain, but elements have been repositioned and upgraded. Each have new lights and costumes. Some Audio-Animatronics are increasingly lifelike.
“We’ve technologically updated the figures so they can move around more than before,” said Eric Jacobson, senior vice president of Walt Disney Imagineering. “That’s something we couldn’t do in the ’80s.” Especially striking are a Greek teacher and a Roman soldier.
Fresh content is most apparent as riders near the top of the sphere. New sets representing the invention of the computer mainframe and the garage where the personal computer was developed lead to the darkened, downward second half of the experience. As the cars coast down the rail, passengers answer seven questions about their future on a touch screen. (Do you prefer the journey or the destination? While away, do you worry more about your home or your pet?) Answers are melded into a customized piece of retro-yet-futuristic cartoon for each row.
Other changes blend old and new. The revised living room steers attention to the 1969 moon landing on TV — featuring reports from Walter Cronkite, a former narrator of Spaceship Earth.
“We think the traditionalists will be happy,” Jacobson said.
Finishing touches continue, but a few Epcot visitors may get a peek before the official opening. Elements to come later include language options selected by passenger (a Disney first) and more post-show goodies, including a game called Power City and a big globe pinpointing where each day’s visitors live.
Insider Video Here: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/video/?slug=orl-wn-disneyvideo1207067
SSE Soft Openings
Numerous sources are reporting that Spaceship Earth at Epcot will now be open for the Christmas rush at Walt Disney World. The attraction could open any day now as work on the basic attraction is about to wrap up, given that initial testing with Imagineers and Cast Members manages to go well. If problems arise during the testing, then Spaceship Earth’s scheduled opening will go back to February 2008. We will have more on this as it becomes available.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid Refurbishment
The Voyage of The Little Mermaid show at the Disney-MGM Studios will be closed for refurbishment from December 10 through December 14, 2007. During this time, some general maintenance will occur.