Spaceship Earth Re-Launches into the Future at Epcot

Spaceship Earth has relaunched and reopened at Epcot, where the icon was rededicated Tuesday, March 4, 2008. And while it looks much like it did on the outside when Epcot opened in 1982, the inside has undergone dramatic changes since summer 2007, including an innovative 'interactive' attraction with many new scenes, new costumes and set decorations, new lighting and special effects, a new musical score and narration, and a totally re-themed interactive post-show.

On a trip through time inside the Spaceship Earth attraction, now sponsored by Siemens, guests discover how each generation of mankind has invented the future for the next generation, and how the spirit of innovation has moved people from caves to the cosmos. During the journey, new scenes depict: a family in the late 1960s viewing the moon landing on television; a massive, two-story computer room of the late 1960s with reel-to-reel-computers; a garage of the early 1970s where the 'personal computer' is born; and a 'tech tunnel' in which guests become part of a digital data stream.

Among Spaceship Earth’s other new highlights:The new narration is delivered by English actress Dame Judi Dench, who earned an Oscar as best supporting actress in 1999 for her role in the motion picture 'Shakespeare in Love.' While Dench delivers the ride vehicle narration in English, guests can also choose five other languages for their vehicle, a Disney 'first' - French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.

The new musical score was composed by Bruce Broughton, who has won a record 10 Emmy Awards and has been nominated for an Oscar and a Grammy during a career writing in every medium - from theatrical releases and TV feature films to the concert stage and computer games. A 62-piece orchestra and 24-voice choir brings his latest composition to life.

As the ride-through adventure nears its finish, interactive touch-screens in the ride vehicles light up with a series of questions, soliciting guests' preferences concerning things such as where they'd like to live and work in the future. Then guests are treated to a personalized view of themselves in their idyllic future.

 

Grand Traverse Resort Opens 15,000-Square Foot “Indoor Water Playground

ACME, MI -- Grand Traverse Resort & Spa near Traverse City has announced that new features have been added to its indoor pools to enhance recreation activities and family-friendliness.

The conversion of the 15,000-square foot indoor pools into an Indoor Water Playground with the addition of a waterslide, waterwalk, sprayground, and other features, allows the Resort to provide waterpark-style excitement, fun, and recreation for Resort guests and Club members of all ages, and at the same time continue to offer fitness and lap swimming, aqua aerobics, and swimming classes. The Resort added the following features.

Waterslide:  A 16-foot tall, 70-foot long spiraling waterslide, designed to appeal to a broad range of ages, was added to the lap pool. It provides a thrill with speed and spiral routing as riders exit into a newly designated splash down area .READ MORE