For those who love Spaceship Earth...

[lonepalm]

You would think Disney could do a better job with the script. Certainly they have writers and historians that could manage something awesome if they chose...perhaps it is about PC as much as anything???

To be honest, Disney could have blown everyone away with the script...but we as a society seem to be "dumbing down". We as a society prefer shows like Jersey Shore and 16 & Pregnant over shows that don't lower your IQ. Not only that, but we put a premium on fun and entertainment and mindless things over learning and things to boost intelligence. Now I'm not saying that we should always be exercising our brain...we all need to rest it at some points in time....however, we as a society tend to let it rest and never wake it back up with anything. All of Epcot used to be learning based. Now, most of it isn't. It's only a matter of time before Ellen's Energy Adventure is replaced. Wonder's of Life (the whole pavilion!) is gone, Spaceship Earth has been "dumbed down", Living Seas has been replaced with Nemo, Living with the Land thankfully is still educational, but the lines always seem to be dead when I go there, and the loss of the guide is a huge blow in my opinion. When does it end? Sorry for the rant...

[Amy]

I agree with you lonepalm. I do hope Disney takes note of those who still appreciate the fact that Future World at EPCOT used to be more about educational fun...nothing better when you see a little spark in someone that has just learned something!

[DisneyYorkie]

You would think Disney could do a better job with the script. Certainly they have writers and historians that could manage something awesome if they chose...perhaps it is about PC as much as anything???

To be honest, Disney could have blown everyone away with the script...but we as a society seem to be "dumbing down". We as a society prefer shows like Jersey Shore and 16 & Pregnant over shows that don't lower your IQ. Not only that, but we put a premium on fun and entertainment and mindless things over learning and things to boost intelligence. Now I'm not saying that we should always be exercising our brain...we all need to rest it at some points in time....however, we as a society tend to let it rest and never wake it back up with anything. All of Epcot used to be learning based. Now, most of it isn't. It's only a matter of time before Ellen's Energy Adventure is replaced. Wonder's of Life (the whole pavilion!) is gone, Spaceship Earth has been "dumbed down", Living Seas has been replaced with Nemo, Living with the Land thankfully is still educational, but the lines always seem to be dead when I go there, and the loss of the guide is a huge blow in my opinion. When does it end? Sorry for the rant...

Isn't that all the truth?!!!!

When our idea of television is "Parking Wars"...."Sasquatch Wars"....."Bride Wars"...."Storage Wars".....seems like there might not be many people around that would be able to understand the concepts of energy, the true wonder of life, the realm of space, the majesty of the seas, and the importance of taking care of the land (but not being a slave to it).

Sorry....off my soapbox now

[cy1229]

You would think Disney could do a better job with the script. Certainly they have writers and historians that could manage something awesome if they chose...perhaps it is about PC as much as anything???

To be honest, Disney could have blown everyone away with the script...but we as a society seem to be "dumbing down". We as a society prefer shows like Jersey Shore and 16 & Pregnant over shows that don't lower your IQ. Not only that, but we put a premium on fun and entertainment and mindless things over learning and things to boost intelligence. Now I'm not saying that we should always be exercising our brain...we all need to rest it at some points in time....however, we as a society tend to let it rest and never wake it back up with anything. All of Epcot used to be learning based. Now, most of it isn't. It's only a matter of time before Ellen's Energy Adventure is replaced. Wonder's of Life (the whole pavilion!) is gone, Spaceship Earth has been "dumbed down", Living Seas has been replaced with Nemo, Living with the Land thankfully is still educational, but the lines always seem to be dead when I go there, and the loss of the guide is a huge blow in my opinion. When does it end? Sorry for the rant...

RANT AWAY!!! Nowhere is this more evident that to a teacher trying to get students to learn things not featured on MTV or in a video game.

[lonepalm]

RANT AWAY!!!

Thanks! I always hate to bring stuff like that up, but it's the truth, and sometimes the truth is hard to hear. A lot of people don't like to hear it from someone my age because they think I'm too young to know the difference or they stereotype me because of my age (26), but the fact is that I was never one to like MTV or any of that junk anyway...hell, I don't even party, drink, or smoke! I'm as straight laced as they come, and that is by choice, not because of any religious mandates or anything. But anyway, I just don't know when it became "cool" to brush off knowledge in favor of mindless things, or when it became cool to portray yourself as unintelligent...to me, cool is being yourself no matter what.

Anyway, sorry, that was way off topic of the thread! I really do hope they never remove SSE, but in fact, I am holding out hope that one day, they will return it to a more intelligent speech like it was with Jeremy Irons (they don't have to bring that version back, but make the script a lot more intelligent). I also have hope that Epcot will return to it's original glory as a more educational park, but I don't think that will happen. Disney has to add their characters to every attraction.

[Sharonofwindham]

You would think Disney could do a better job with the script. Certainly they have writers and historians that could manage something awesome if they chose...perhaps it is about PC as much as anything???

To be honest, Disney could have blown everyone away with the script...but we as a society seem to be "dumbing down". We as a society prefer shows like Jersey Shore and 16 & Pregnant over shows that don't lower your IQ. Not only that, but we put a premium on fun and entertainment and mindless things over learning and things to boost intelligence. Now I'm not saying that we should always be exercising our brain...we all need to rest it at some points in time....however, we as a society tend to let it rest and never wake it back up with anything. All of Epcot used to be learning based. Now, most of it isn't. It's only a matter of time before Ellen's Energy Adventure is replaced. Wonder's of Life (the whole pavilion!) is gone, Spaceship Earth has been "dumbed down", Living Seas has been replaced with Nemo, Living with the Land thankfully is still educational, but the lines always seem to be dead when I go there, and the loss of the guide is a huge blow in my opinion. When does it end? Sorry for the rant...

So sad. I have not been to Epcot since Living with the Land has lost the live narration. This has always been one of my favorite attractions, and I really think this would feel very strange to me. It always feels great to walk up to an attraction when there is no line...no wait. This however makes me nervous as well...i don't know how many times I was able to do this exact thing at one of the best attractions of all time...HORIZONS...GONE I know they gave other reasons for the closure, but the only time I ever had to wait in a "Q" for this attraction was the first year it opened.. I now think i would much rather wait a while to get on a favorite ride than to see it disappear for lack of interest from the brain dead majority

[theBIGyowski]

I don't mind the automated narration for Living with the Land...and the reason is that the attraction itself was not very interactive anyway. Everything is very controlled and you float through at a certain pace and all that. Also...it keeps you from getting a CM who may not be easy to understand.

Now...that said...I always love when a CM is present because it makes it feel more special. But...I don't have a problem with the current automated narration.

I'll agree with you on Horizons...I wish we had an attraction like this...you can update it with current and future technologies to keep it from looking too dated. I just hate that attractions like these are all but gone from Epcot now.

[Amy]

I don't mind the automated narration for Living with the Land...and the reason is that the attraction itself was not very interactive anyway. Everything is very controlled and you float through at a certain pace and all that. Also...it keeps you from getting a CM who may not be easy to understand.

Now...that said...I always love when a CM is present because it makes it feel more special. But...I don't have a problem with the current automated narration.

I'll agree with you on Horizons...I wish we had an attraction like this...you can update it with current and future technologies to keep it from looking too dated. I just hate that attractions like these are all but gone from Epcot now.

Well said BIG. I'm sort of the same way about the Land. We had a few CMs that were hard to understand or a little lackluster on their delivery. We still enjoy the attraction and are glad it's still there!

[momeja]

I'm with SharonofWindam, I miss the personalized narration. The automated version feels too canned. And it always makes me worry that Disney will someday have the same "bright" idea for other narrated attractions, like the Jungle Cruise.

Funny thing about SSE, the first time DH and I rode it in 1994, we found it to be kind of boring. It's an attraction that grows on you over time. Now, we wouldn't miss it for the world, and it's one of our very favourite date night attractions. Snuggle up, say cheese at the camera, and watch the stars. It's a great way to end an evening together.

[dstrawn9889]

You would think Disney could do a better job with the script. Certainly they have writers and historians that could manage something awesome if they chose...perhaps it is about PC as much as anything???

To be honest, Disney could have blown everyone away with the script...but we as a society seem to be "dumbing down". We as a society prefer shows like Jersey Shore and 16 & Pregnant over shows that don't lower your IQ. Not only that, but we put a premium on fun and entertainment and mindless things over learning and things to boost intelligence. Now I'm not saying that we should always be exercising our brain...we all need to rest it at some points in time....however, we as a society tend to let it rest and never wake it back up with anything. All of Epcot used to be learning based. Now, most of it isn't. It's only a matter of time before Ellen's Energy Adventure is replaced. Wonder's of Life (the whole pavilion!) is gone, Spaceship Earth has been "dumbed down", Living Seas has been replaced with Nemo, Living with the Land thankfully is still educational, but the lines always seem to be dead when I go there, and the loss of the guide is a huge blow in my opinion. When does it end? Sorry for the rant...

So sad. I have not been to Epcot since Living with the Land has lost the live narration. This has always been one of my favorite attractions, and I really think this would feel very strange to me. It always feels great to walk up to an attraction when there is no line...no wait. This however makes me nervous as well...i don't know how many times I was able to do this exact thing at one of the best attractions of all time...HORIZONS...GONE I know they gave other reasons for the closure, but the only time I ever had to wait in a "Q" for this attraction was the first year it opened.. I now think i would much rather wait a while to get on a favorite ride than to see it disappear for lack of interest from the brain dead majority

IMHO, LWtL lost its live guide for one of two reasons, the first and most obvious, its' ride volume. the second is a lack of people willing to memorize the speil and deliver it with Disney Quality(ever listen to DHS's Movie ride track here? She is quite, how shall i put this? Not like some of the other CMs i have seen there) every time they pass from the dark portion... it is kinda like Mcdonalds and their french fries... Corporate wants them a certain way(the 'same' every time) the only way to do that is to make it a recording.

[theBIGyowski]

I doubt the Jungle Cruise will ever had an automated narrator. The main reason is the 99% of the reason you ride the Jungle Cruise is to hear the corny jokes from the CM. No one rides it to see the animals or anything else...well maybe first time riders...but for everyone that has been on it before...the main reason you go back is the CM. Seriously...think about it...the backside of water...it's only funny because of the CM.

[dstrawn9889]

now that i agree with... Jungle Cruise is NOT LWtL... JC was designed for that... the greenhouses were NOT. the last time i rode with a narrarator on the Land, he seemed 90 and uninterested with the attraction itself(more like team members at Seaworld being ininterested with all things bipedal, or without gills, or blowholes, or even feathers). it kinda rouined the attraction exprience. matter of fact, it was kinda like the track we have now...

[disneevillian]

I don't really mind the auto narration in LWtL because to be honest i miss the original song from the beginning of the ride before the greenhouses more than i miss the live narration

[BwanaBob]

Right up there with the last version of Illuminations:ROE

...but I can't decide between the old or new versions of CoP ("Now is the Time" or "GBBT")

Like them both.

[Mark86]

Spaceship Earth is EPCOT to me. I don't mind the automated narration in LwTL. Maybe it is because I don't pay attention to it anyway