Spaceship Earth to become Rollercoaster?

[smallworld0]

SAY IT ISN'T SO!!! Here's the article:

http://www.projo.com/yourlife/content/projo_20031001_rita01.11960.html

I personally hope this is wrong, but if it's correct who can we voice our concerns to? Nothing against roller coasters, per se, but we have enough of them with one more at AK coming, but Walt designed his parks for 'everyone', not just the fast roller coaster fans. A change this big could signal a dire shift in what the WDW parks represent.

Nancy

[cshore]

Oh I hope beyond all hope that this will never happen. Spaceship earth signifies to me all that EPCOT is truely about. If thrills are what WDW needs to compete for the $$$, I personally would like to see them build a new extreme thrill ride park, and leave the beauty and imagination to those who still want to experience this side of Disney.

[HappyCamper]

I couldn't get to the page, Nancy, but the latest I had heard was that SE couldn't be gutted to do an indoor coaster. What does this article state and what's the date on it?

Debby

[LuvmeDisney]

I could not access the page either, so I would love to hear the highlights or cut and paste.

Thanks!
Linda

[Rosebud]

I can't access the page either, however, I did check on Screamscape (posted note below) and the latest they have is that it would cost too much. I'm hoping that turns out to be true and they keep it just the way it is.

If they want thrill rides they should build a park for theme rides, and leave the other parks the way it is. I'm sure if they did that they would take away some of IOA's customers and get more of their own, but not lose some of their old loyal customers.

The latest I found from Screamscape:
2007? - Project Gemini - Rumor - (9/17/03) Screamscape has confirmed with other sources that the Spaceship Earth geosphere structure just simply can not be gutted and replaced with another ride due to the fact that that the current ride system is critical to the geosphere’s structural integrity. While, from a technical standpoint, it is still possible to go on with the project, the costs involved have likely risen to the point where it is no longer worth the effort and building the same ride in a new building from scratch would likely be a cheaper answer.

[smallworld0]

I couldn't get to the page, Nancy, but the latest I had heard was that SE couldn't be gutted to do an indoor coaster. What does this article state and what's the date on it?

Debby


Dated Wednesday, October 1, 2003:
"They're turning Spaceship Earth into a roller coaster.

That's the latest from our friend, Keleigh, who recently returned from her favorite trek to Orlando. And although it's just a rumor, I'm willing to bet she's right. Somehow Keleigh always manages to get the inside scoop on Disney World. After all, she knew about Mr. Toad's sorry fate long before his Wild Ride became a honey pot for Winnie-the-Pooh.

Checking in with Geoff Pointon, a publicist for Walt Disney parks and resorts, I learned there are indeed a lot of exciting things going on at Epcot Center. Like Mission: Space. Ever wonder what it's like to be an astronaut? Now you can find out! Can you say, Dramamine? And, oh yes, Mr. Pointon also mentioned the upcoming Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

That's all very interesting. But what about Spaceship Earth? I heard they're turning it into a roller coaster.

"It's slated to go under rehab," Mr. Pointon confirmed. "But we do not have any new factual information at this time to report."

In other words, the Disney "Imagineers" are leaving it up to, well, our imagination."

This is the gist of the article. I have heard that because of the shape and we've all heard how it has to have just-the-proper- balance to stay up, it would be next ot impossible to make it a fast-moving coaster. I can only hope that's true! We need to keep a good mix of fast and slow moving rides in the parks.

Nancy

[HappyCamper]

Thanks, Nancy. I agree with you; I like SE just as it is and so do my DGC. And, I also agree with Rosebud. I think she has an excellent idea about building a park with lots of thrill rides and leave some of the tamer ones for folks like us.

Keeping my fingers crossed for SE to remain as is.

Debby

[Steph]

IMO, I think SE will undergo something of a change because of GE pulling from it. I've heard that they went to Universal, but I don't know if that source is good. But a gutting of SE is unlikely because that ride componets are a main part of its structual stability. It's true that it would be a whole lot cheaper to build a whole new ride than to rebuild SE.