tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post8844830569827771321..comments2023-11-05T00:52:41.562-07:00Comments on EPCOT Central: EPCOT: What WorksEpcot82http://www.blogger.com/profile/14763893513279437902noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-57231296047830356232011-01-12T10:33:30.888-08:002011-01-12T10:33:30.888-08:00I have to disagree. Completely. I have an EXTREME ...I have to disagree. Completely. I have an EXTREME dislike of the new SSE ending. Yes, I've ridden it, and yes, I've ridden the previous incarnation. Both endings make me tear up. However, this time I'm tearing up because the ending completely destroyed for me what used to be one of the most amazing, profound, WOW moments in all of WDW.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong - - The technology's cool. Heck, I'd love to see it in the post show! But that's my problem: It belongs in the post show. It's just one more example of Disney's wrong use of technology. Disney needs to learn that technology should not BE the attraction. Technology should be used to tell a story. What would you think if the Ballroom scene in the Haunted Mansion was replaced by a dark room, where a ghost came out and said your name, after entering it on a touch screen. Hey, it's still ghosts... it goes along with the theme... But it doesn't fit with the STORY! It's just technology shoved in somewhere so they can say it's there.<br /><br />That said, the old ending, even if it was outdated, embodied the spirit of epcot. <br /><br />"Since the dawn of recorded time, communication has revolutionized our lives and changed our world. We now have the ability and the responsibility to build new bridges of acceptance and co-operation between us; to create a better world for ourselves and our children as we continue our amazing journey aboard Spaceship Earth." <br /><br />You cannot deny that those words don't sum up what epcot is all about, Discovering, embracing humaity, with the hope for a better world. I remember my first time riding SSE, I was 8, and I was absolutely captivated. Yes, it was serious, but it was not boring in any way. It was interesting, inspiring, and the combination of beautiful scenes, the story of US, pulling on every possible heart string, and the old, wise voice of Jeremy Irons, almost like God talking, made you think "I am truly TRULY witnessing something special."<br /><br />I am happy with the refurb (minus narration) of the beginning of the ride, no doubt it needed it, but the ride as a whole, especially the ending, are only a figment of what they used to be, and could be. I feel that Spaceship Earth really isn't worthy of being the centerpiece attraction of Epcot. But then again, it fits in as part of "The new Epcot". <br /><br />We only have The American Adventure and the Maelstrom left... Everything else has been downgraded. I'm not saying I don't enjoy epcot, it's still my favorite park, but it breaks my heart to see that it isn't all that it could be... or should be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-72577566724210497472009-11-04T09:04:22.595-08:002009-11-04T09:04:22.595-08:00Thank you for this post! I've been trying to ...Thank you for this post! I've been trying to say this online all the time, only to get bashed for my opinion that not only does this work, Spaceship Earth is now better than ever. Innovation/communication are part and parcel of each other anyhow. And the fact that you can COMMUNICATE on a ride about COMMUNICATION is rather profound. It's no longer implying that communication is a one-way street, a student in a boring lecture, but that it's something we all should be a part of. I liked Irons' narration, but Dench really excels in her more conversational tone, which once again emphasizes what this is all about.The Gusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01773640298015981412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-42182121324675661222009-10-30T17:15:45.816-07:002009-10-30T17:15:45.816-07:00I'm in the middle on this issue.
On the one h...I'm in the middle on this issue.<br /><br />On the one hand, I think that the "flash movie" with your face on it is sort of neat the first time around.<br /><br />However, I really don't think that the effect holds up very well during repeat viewings, even if you choose different options.<br /><br />Why not integrate the view screen so that it is a part of the ride throughout the ENTIRE ride & not just as a diversion for the fact that the ride "phones it in" for the last 1/3 of the trip?<br /><br />Also, bring back "Tomorrow's Child" which, quite frankly, evokes more of the EPCOT Center spirit in one song then Test Track does for an entire pavilion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-72033915208567064032009-10-29T15:04:57.950-07:002009-10-29T15:04:57.950-07:00I've been an SSEv4 supporter for a while. I t...I've been an SSEv4 supporter for a while. I think it's quite good (and great for EPCOT as a whole) and wrote about it back in March here:<br />http://fixepcot.com/wp/?p=53<br /><br />It seems that it was almost trendy to bash it for a while after it was introduced - and with this (and some other very recent blog posts elsewhere) I think people are finally starting to "get" it.<br /><br />SSEv4 is very good. It's an example of what EPCOT can be great at; it squarely targets today's audiences and has some flexibility built-in so it can be easily updated (and I disagree about the endings being just "silly" - there's some concrete science behind that stuff, as there was in Horizons.)<br /><br />anyhow, my $0.02.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15901254954146927255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-35065841986054830102009-10-29T12:19:28.859-07:002009-10-29T12:19:28.859-07:00I liked the old descent, it had some of the cooles...I liked the old descent, it had some of the coolest imagery. Now we get a gxddamn flash movie. If I wanted to surf the web or watch TV I would have stayed at home.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-80003808700748903952009-10-29T10:44:28.214-07:002009-10-29T10:44:28.214-07:00The "Tomorrow's Child" descent remai...The "Tomorrow's Child" descent remains the strongest ending, with the song matching some interesting effects to provide a memorable end. And I didn't mind the '94 revamp - at least they used audio-animatronics.<br /><br />That said, the new ending is a lot of fun. It goes down a bit once the surprise is lost, but it's still enjoyable. I also agree that adding some type of effects around us as we use the screen - or even some better music - would make a huge difference.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-61506742831062991812009-10-29T10:37:33.199-07:002009-10-29T10:37:33.199-07:00At least Disney made an effort with the Siemens re...At least Disney made an effort with the Siemens re-hab of Spaceship Earth.<br /><br />But, I'd still prefer the original "Tomorrow's Child" descent to anything that came after it.BigBobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-24215427368251014932009-10-29T08:50:19.065-07:002009-10-29T08:50:19.065-07:00agreed. nicely put. i like the descent. certainly...agreed. nicely put. i like the descent. certainly much preferred over previous incarnations. (that fiber-optics scene was essentially the same effect you could see in a Spencer's Gifts store... you know that light with the multi-colored fibers spraying out of it)<br /><br />also think it's neat - and related to the ride - that you can locate your pic on the giant screen, input your hometown and the giant world map shows us all connected.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-79492121311273589572009-10-29T07:06:53.079-07:002009-10-29T07:06:53.079-07:00I would agree, with one caveat.
The thing about D...I would agree, with one caveat.<br /><br />The thing about Disney rides is that they are so immersive, the experience of being in another place.<br /><br />Once the monitor comes on, you're just riding backwards in a car looking at a TV.<br /><br />I think there should be something a bit more in terms of lighting FX, subtle, but something that gets across the "traveling through time" idea across. An illusion something like, say, the "field of bulbs" that you get when you first leave the planetarium.<br /><br />Just something to continue to make you feel like you're "in a place", instead of in a car touching a video screen.<br /><br />So, I'd vote for a few special effects on the descent, but other than that the video screen works.Atomicmickeynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-53424488604438253412009-10-29T06:51:43.772-07:002009-10-29T06:51:43.772-07:00Great post!
On our last trip to WDW, the biggest...Great post! <br /><br />On our last trip to WDW, the biggest laughs my family had the whole trip was during our first experience of the new descent. We were crying from laughing so hard ... something I never would have thought possible on a ride about the history of communications. I think the new descent is a huge win for WDW - it's fun and engaging, but still on message. <br /><br />And we definitely spent at least an hour doing everything in the Siemens post-show.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-64255078364096938742009-10-29T04:42:23.831-07:002009-10-29T04:42:23.831-07:00Sarah- the Siemens post show is excellent. It'...Sarah- the Siemens post show is excellent. It's the best SSE has had since the Earth Station days in the '80s.<br /><br />I finally got to ride the "new" Spaceship Earth earlier this week, and I agree that the descent is a lot of fun. I've heard so many negative comments that I really didn't expect to like it, but I did.<br /><br />Great post, EPCOT82!David Landonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12909440700102911571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23143199.post-45259526665376098882009-10-28T20:18:27.797-07:002009-10-28T20:18:27.797-07:00You're right, the '94 descent was never en...You're right, the '94 descent was never engaging. But uninspiring? I first visited in '98 at age 9. The descent, including the use of video phones and interactive classrooms captured my imagination. It's still the part I remember most distinctly, because it showed a glamorized version of technologies that were just out of reach in '98. The post-show continued themes and technologies explored in the descent* and furthered the impression that I would have interactive TV and videophone when I grew up, that it was all possible.<br /><br />Am I the only one who was wowed by the fiber optics and (then impressive) technology as a kid?<br /><br />*Haven't been to EPCOT in seven years - does the new Siemens post-show accomplish this?Sarahnoreply@blogger.com