Birt Family Focus

Spaceship Earth -- 5/21/02
Photos by Paul

Howdy folks-

Today we begin our trip through Future World/ EPCOT with a ride on Spaceship Earth. While we are making it our first stop, I don't recommend you do this when visiting yourself unless you go later in the day. First thing in the morning, the lines for this are very long.

Spaceship Earth is EPCOT's icon, like the Castle at MK and the Tree of Life at AK. I would mention MGM's icon, but it was lost when they built the BAH. If you don't know what the BAH is and what the icon used to be, email me and I'll tell you.

SE is 180 feet high, has 11,324 panels of laminated aluminum, and built to resemble a geosphere. It is not, in fact, spherical, as the bottom is flat, but that fact is lost on most people. It is often referred to as "the big golf ball". I myself am guilty of that. I wonder, when Ray Bradbury, the Smithsonian, and the Imagineers got together to design this, were they hoping to finish early and go play golf? Recently, to celebrate the millennium, a big sorcerer Mickey hand and wand were added to the sphere. They are kind of neat. Then they added a sign on top that says EPCOT- this for the hundred year celebration, I believe. This was a tacky addition, IMO- I think it looks like those coco- cola signs on the highway in the 50's and 60's- the ones that were made of sequins- because it is made of sequins and the font for the name EPCOT is the same as the one for Coke! In any case- you can't miss it.

Yes Virginia, there is a ride in there! I can't tell you how many times I have stood in line for this and heard kids say they wished they could go into the "ball" and parents say it was just for show! The ride actually winds up a track inside the dome and then makes it's way back down again. You are as inside it as it is possible to get.

The theme is communication through out history and it is sponsored by AT&T. Originally, it was narrated by Walter Chronkite's venerable voice, a few years ago it was redone and now the one you hear Jeremy Irons. I liked Walter better, but Jeremy does a good job.

This ride is slow and gentle- 16 minutes long. It makes a nice power nap, too! It is dark, so littles might get scared. If you take them- HOLD ON TO THEM! Do NOT allow your child to change seats during the ride, either. The ride is deceptively gentle. The track under the cars is VERY dangerous so follow the rules and DON'T LET your CHILD out of the seat. A little boy lost his leg a few years back because his parent allowed him to climb over the seat and he fell into the track and gears. Of course, there are those who blamed Disney for this major lack of parenting! Can you believe it? In any case- ride with your littles in the same seat to keep them safe and you will all enjoy the trip. Baby exchange can be used if you think you need it.

Some scene highlights include the invention of Papyrus, the invention of the alphabet, and the advent of the printing press. There are plenty of hidden Mickey's about, too.

As you leave the ride, you will end up in the AT&T Global Neighborhood- a hand's on display of future AT&T products. You can actually phone home on some of these neat phones. Most of them are various games and such to show you how much of your world is touched by communications- it is a very fun and interesting display. You can easily spend an hour playing in here.

I love this ride and never go to EPCOT without taking a trip on Spaceship Earth. I hope you will do the same.