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Upgrade at Epcot is about ready for liftoff |
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Orlando Sentinel
Original Article »
December 07, 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 has 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 television -- 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 passengers -- a Disney first -- and more post-show
goodies.
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