Spaceship Earth Theatrics

Esmeralda · Post by **Esmeralda** » Jan Fri 27, 2006 1:50 pm

When I went to EPCOT a few weeks ago, Spaceship Earth stopped right next to the spot where the narrator says "the theatre was born". We got to see them perform the same little piece at least a dozen times before a hostess came to help us walk off the ride (giving us a marvelous behind the scenes tour

). Anyhow, I was just wondering if anyone knows what play it is that they're performing because I'd love to know!

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Jan Fri 27, 2006 2:01 pm

Your so lucky Esmeralda. I have never been on a ride that broke down. I've been on them when there is a handicap person getting on the thing but never broken down.

Mickeymac · Post by **Mickeymac** » Jan Fri 27, 2006 4:54 pm

I don't know what the play is, but there's a great list of tidbits about that ride here: http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/WDW/Epcot/ ... Earth.html

We got stuck at the burning scene once. I know a lot of folks love that smell, but after that ride, I don't need to smell it again!!

Mickeymac · Post by **Mickeymac** » Jan Fri 27, 2006 4:56 pm

Aaaha, found something:

[quote]The words spoken by the Greek actors are from a play by Aeschylus[quote]

disneydreamer12 · Post by **disneydreamer12** » Jan Fri 27, 2006 9:01 pm

I believe the play being performed is Oedipus Rex.

SpringheeledJack · Post by **SpringheeledJack** » Jan Fri 27, 2006 10:24 pm

I've had two rides break down similarly, and though we didn't get to see a behind the scenes sort of thing, the lights were all on so you could see what was going on.

One, and this happened a couple of weeks ago, was the Pooh ride. We were stuck in the rain area then all the lights came on. Not so impressive when the illusion of floating through water is shattered by wires, bits of plastic, and other such stuff.

The other was when the hurricane came and they were shutting down early, most of the rides got shut down but the transit center in futureland was still open. We rode around and got to see Space Mountain while the lights were turned on. Talk about what looks like a heap of scrap metal! It looks like someone just took a roller coaster, wadded it up, then tossed it in a building.

Very cool!

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Jan Sat 28, 2006 6:38 pm

Which Hurricane was it? I was there during WILMA!!!!!!, everytime I see or hear the name I do the Flinstones voice. It came in on the same night as one of the Halloween nights and my brother and I were there until midnight in the heavy heavy rain. Everyone else left the park and it was only us and maybe 1-2 thousand other people who stayed. When that happened we had the run of the place.

Esmeralda · Post by **Esmeralda** » Jan Sun 29, 2006 10:48 am

I thought it might be something famous like Oedipus Rex. According to
http://www.intercot.com/edc/SpaceshipEarth/spfacts.html
"The actor in the Greek theater scene is delivering lines from Sophocles' Oedipus Rex."
Thanks so much for helping me find it!

What I never realized is that big screen with all the cave people and mammoths and such on it actually hides a whole area with what looks like controls of sorts. As you go up that first slope, the glowing pipes are actually just painted and have blacklight shining on them. Who knew?

Esmeralda · Post by **Esmeralda** » Feb Sat 04, 2006 8:24 pm

I've heard rumors that if you go to Guest Services after being escorted off a ride (when it breaks down) and complain, you might get free stuff. Is this true? Anyone had any real experiences?

TrojanGrad · Post by **TrojanGrad** » Feb Sun 12, 2006 4:11 am

I heard it was Oedipus Rex as well.

Another funny thing about "the theater was born." While the narration for Spaceship Earth has changed a couple of times, that line has always remained in the script.

commandorabbit · Post by **commandorabbit** » Feb Sun 12, 2006 5:42 pm

I got stuck on "it's a small world" for about an hour before being taken off. I wanted to die. That song is annoying enough when you hear it just once. One hour is ridiculous!!

stev02 · Post by **stev02** » Feb Sun 12, 2006 10:27 pm

Wow, there is some amazing information on this site. ROCK ON!

simplecomp · Post by **simplecomp** » Feb Thu 23, 2006 11:24 am

We were also in space mountian when the light came on, we actually did the rest of the ride in lights, it kind of freaked me out a little, your perception is off and it looks like the tracks are closer than they really are, I kept ducking, would love to do it again.

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Feb Sun 26, 2006 4:20 pm

I got stuck on Buzz's Astro Blaster (DLR) this past Thursday, and the annoying part was I was TWO cars away from my gun turning on AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH. I could have gotten such a high score. The only cool thing was I got to watch the emergency procedure from right next to the control monitors. Trust me if you decide to get out of the cars on any ride they can track your every step. I was watching from the monitor every step the CM's made on the way to the cars that was broken. I could even tell when they were on there knees. Standing was two dots kneeling was four and laying down was an outline of the person.

MouseMan · Post by **MouseMan** » Feb Mon 27, 2006 9:43 am

This has turned out the be the "ride stopped" thread so I'll add my most recent expreriences at WDW too. Just this month my son and I got stuck for about 20 minutes on Space Mountain they brought up the lights, but we didnt get to see the inside because we were next car to go before it stopped. The next day were on Splash Mountain when the rubber belt that pushes ur log up the first little drop stopped. After about 8 logs rammed us from behind (maybe there were more, but I couldn't feel them after 8) they got the ride going again. Until we were going up for the big drop to the "laughin' place" when it stopped again. So we were stuck leaning back at a 45 degree angel. They had workmen that appeared out of the walls and another customer service person coming down the stairs to reassure us everything would be working soon. After another 30 minutes we had to be evacuated from our logs and escorted from our logs through the ride out the back.