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Location: Epcot » Future World » Horizons
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| Horizons |
| Construction | |
| August 5, 1981 | |
| Opening | |
| October 1, 1983[1] | |
| Closing Announced | |
| December 31, 1998 | |
| Closed | |
| January 9, 1999[2] | |
| Demolition | |
| July 2000 | |
| Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 | |
| Latitude — 28.37398 | |
| Longitude — -81.5466461 |
| Show Length | |
| 14 minutes and 45 seconds | |
| Track Length | |
| 1346 ft (410.3 m) | |
| Ride System | |
| OmniMover | |
| Top Speed | |
| 1.04 mph (1.7 kph) | |
| Number of Vehicles — 174 | |
| Riders Per Hour — 2784 |
| Construction Cost | |
| $60,000,000 | |
| Theme — Future | |
| Land Size — 37000 ft2 (3437.4 m2) |
Horizons was an Epcot pavilion and dark ride based on an Omnimover ride system. It would take guests to see how the past saw the future and the future. Some believe that the ride was a follow up to the Carousel of Progress. Horizons was the only Epcot pavilion to show all the 'Future World' elements in one pavilion.[3]
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[edit] Ride Sections
Guests would load onto the ride in an area known as the Futureport.[4]
Looking Back at Tomorrow was a section of the ride that showed how the past viewed the future from the time of Jules Verne to the 1950s.[5]
In the 21 Century section, guests would see a futuristic urban city known as Nova Cite.[6]
Next, guests would move past two large OMNIMAX screens showing modern technologies and ideas for how we can build the world of tomorrow.
Other sections include visions of futuristic life in deserts, undersea, and space.
Horizons allowed guests to select their ending to the ride as they go back to the FuturePort. These choices were 31 second videos that were shown to riders in individual cars. To create the videos, Imagineers created some of the largest scale models of the time. It took 30 model makers over a year to build and take the endings. The endings were:
- Brava Centauri - A space station showing space colonization.
- Mesa Verde - A desert farm showing arid agriculture.
- Sea Castle - An underwater research base and colonization.
[edit] Planning and Design
The ride/show was presented by WED Enterprises in 1979 to Reginald Jones(CEO of GE) WED's story idea was to have the pavilion focus on Thomas Edison's Lab and his work and the origin of GE. Jones rejected the history idea and asked it to be re-worked to focus on the future of American progress in science and industry. WED built the new story around the story family in the Carousel of Progress COP which GE had sponsored in Disneyland. But it din't give up on history - the first part of the three-part story was a fun look-back at the future. The second part was a huge circular Omnimax theater -- 90 second spectacular display of building space stations, exploring the science of DNA and other present day science. The third part of the story involved the COP family's children living in a Space Habitat, an Undersea City and on a huge Desert Farm all. A unique to Epcot show endings was the choice of three travelling screen films, providing four guests in each vehicle with a vote, on how they would return to the Load/Unload area -- by Spaceship, Submarine or Hovercraft. The Horizons building was designed by Architect George Rester who had the challenge of incorporating the 90 foot tall Omnimax screens. George's sharp angles gave it the look of a spaceship while giving the impression of taking off for an infinite horizon. It's diamond shape was very unique among existing Epcot buildings. Jack Welch (future CEO of GE) reduced the pavilion's size by rejecting a post show exhibit in which the guest would be introduced to GE's many products and businesses with hands-on displays.
[edit] Construction
Horizons was scheduled to open a year after the opening of [Epcot] during Phase II. Prior to construction, Horizons Project Designer George McGinnis was asked by Marty Sklar, WED's President, to cut the show/ride cost by $10 million. George reduced the number of bays in the floor plan, double siding some of the scenes. He reduced the Omnimax Theater from three screens to two, changing to one circuit of the theater insteadof two, resulting in a 90 second show rather than 180 seconds. George used the climb through the omnimax theater to change elevation to enter the third part of the show , thus eliminating more track. No show/story was lost and the cost cutting was approved by management The building size was reduced by 15% and track was shortened by 600 feet.
[edit] Attraction Theme Song
New Horizons written by George Wilkins.
- If we can dream it, then we can do it,
- yes we can, (yes we can.)
- If we can dream it, then we can do it,
- yes we can, (yes we can.)
- Have you ever looked beyond today, into the future?
- Picturing a world, we've yet to see.
- The wonder of finding new ways,
- that lead to the promise of brighter days.
- Have you ever dreamed the dreams of the children?
- Just imagine the magic, their minds can see. (if we can dream it).
- Horizons, all shining and new, (shining and new).
- Horizons, where dreams do come true (they do come true).
- And it will be, a future filled with care.
- For you and me, a world we all can share.
- For today holds the challenge to make this world a better place to be.
- New Horizons, for you and for me.
[edit] Closing
Horizons became Seasonal in 1994 when General Electric ended it's sponsorship. In 1995 it was opened temporarily while Universe of Energy was under rehabilitation. It would occasionally open again during periods of heavy attendance. It's last seasonally open time was while the [World of Motion] was being changed to Test Track in 1999. In 1999, the attraction was officially closed when it's demolition started to make way for Mission: SPACE.
After its change to being seasonal, there were plans to convert the pavilion theming to space. The building would be remodeled and allowing guests to control the pitch and yaw of their space vehicle while viewing outer space and its many space stations in the future. This idea became Mission: SPACE which replaced Horizons. Disney decided to totally tear down the building instead of re-theme or re-model as had been done previously on other attractions; this was a first.
No reason was given for the closing of Horizons in 1999 besides the lack of sponsorship since GE left. Some unofficial reasons that were later discovered were major structural problems with the building because of a sink-hole below the building. There are several known sink-holes around Epcot.
Mission: SPACE offers tribute to Horizons where the gravity wheel in the ride queue has the Horizons logo.
[edit] Sponsors
- General Electric
- Sponsorship started on October 1, 1983
- Sponsorship ended on September 30, 1993
[edit] Videos
Horizons Tribute
Nova Cite in Horizons
FuturePort in Horizons
Mesa Verde in Horizons
[edit] Related Items
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[edit] References
- ↑ Polsson, Ken. "1983-1989". Chronologoy of Walt Disney World. Retrieved on December 31, 2008.
- ↑ "Trivia - Set II - Hard". Lost Epcot. Retrieved on January 28, 2009.
- ↑ "Horizons". Wikipedia.
- ↑ "Trivia - Set II - Hard". Lost Epcot. Retrieved on January 28, 2009.
- ↑ "Horizons". Walt Dated World.
- ↑ "Trivia - Set II - Mind-blowing". Lost Epcot. Retrieved on January 28, 2009.
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