EPCOT Center was my jam. I loved it! Looking back on those original Future World pavilions today, I took for granted just how rare they were (and still are) for a theme park. They brought the type of education we see today in science museums to the masses in an entertaining way. A perfect example is the flagship attraction Spaceship Earth, which is still in place today. Despite multiple updates, it remains a slow-moving Omnimover ride through humanity’s past.

We have seen four different versions of Spaceship Earth during its 36-year history, and each has its own style. I’ve experienced three of them many times and have a few memories of the original during our 1984 vacation. To celebrate the continued success of this remarkable pavilion, I’ve started a weekly blog series that covers Spaceship Earth, scene by scene. Every Friday, I will make the slow journey up the geodesic sphere and back down again. I’ll discuss one scene each week and compare the different versions occupying that space.

My goal is to celebrate one of Disney’s greatest attractions by spotlighting why it works so well. Much of EPCOT Center is now gone, but Spaceship Earth remains extremely popular. Not every change was for the better, but the attraction’s soul remains. I’ll begin this week with our first moments after boarding our time machine vehicles. Before we travel back in time and see the cavemen, our narrator has sets the stage for what’s to come.

Photo by Erin Heaton

A Grand Approach

I’ve always loved the growing anticipation as we stroll up towards the entrance. The metal bars of the queue are basic, and the process has been complicated by FastPass Plus. Even so, they barely lessen the impact of the final walk towards a small opening beneath the massive structure. I enjoy visiting Spaceship Earth in the final hour when it’s a walk-on right up the path. It reminds me of the pre-FastPass days when Omnimovers could still provide a relaxing trip without the hassle of an appointment.

One reason for my excitement is the chance to see the Claudio Mozzoli mural, which presents several eras of communications history. This artwork fits best with earlier versions of Spaceship Earth, but it still captures the essence the attraction today. The stunning image of an astronaut working in space with a caveman in the background is both gorgeous and emotionally powerful. It has been my phone background for years and always inspires me to dream big.

We finally reach the unassuming but effective walkway onto the moving platform. The semicircle path gives us just enough time to step into our vehicles before it’s too late. Although they resemble other Omnimovers, our time-machine vehicles include a headrest to help with the steep inclines. I wouldn’t call it a comfortable seat, but it does the job and allows speakers to play behind our ears. We are now ready to enter the dark unknown for an epic journey.

A Word from Our Sponsor

Spaceship Earth currently operates without a sponsor, which is an interesting situation for the park’s centerpiece. When Disney ultimately finds a partner, I suspect we’ll see some updates. If nothing else, our introduction will remind us of the corporate backers. The most recent sponsor was Siemens, and they do little up front but welcome us aboard. We choose our spot on a map and pose for a picture, and it’s time for Judi Dench to begin our journey.

AT&T initiated our trip in the prior two versions with Jeremy Irons and Walter Cronkite narrating. Here is the introduction from the Irons version: “AT&T welcomes you aboard Spaceship Earth. Journey with us now to the dawn of recorded time as we explore the amazing story of human communication.” This quick overview ensures we have a basic grasp of what is to come. We’ll hear a bit more about the sponsor at the end, but here it just sets the stage for the adventure.

The original version, which was either narrated by Vic Perrin or Lawrence Dobkin (more on that later), was sponsored by Bell Systems. In each case, I appreciate the lack of unnecessary business talk here. EPCOT Center is known for having more blatant corporate messages, but there is little of that incursion within Spaceship Earth.

Photo by Dan Heaton

Introducing the Theme

There is a different tone to each Spaceship Earth version, and the mood is set with each narrator’s first words. We’re not 100% sure about the original voice but recognize the missing emotional draw of the 1982 attraction. Following my podcast with Peggie Fariss (show producer on Spaceship Earth), I asked her about the narrator’s identity. She is not 100% sure but believes in Marty Sklar’s assertion that it was Dobkin. Fariss thinks that Perrin did provide the voice of the shaman, however.

Although it’s still not definite, I’m going to use Dobkin’s name when I refer to the original version. During the podcast, Fariss also explained how the change to Cronkite in 1986 rounded the attraction because people connected with him. Cronkite’s revised introduction fits with his smart, down-to-earth style as a news anchor:

“For eons, our planet has drifted as a spaceship through the universe. And for a brief moment, we have been its passengers. Yet in that time, we’ve made tremendous progress in our ability to record and share knowledge. So, let’s journey back 40,000 years to the dawn of recorded history. We’ll trace the path of communications from its earliest beginnings to the promise of the future.”

I love the way that Cronkite strikes a balance of intelligence and appreciation for our progress. Cronkite also introduces the idea of Earth as a spaceship drifting through the universe. The key word is “drifting”, which implies the lack of clear direction. Humans have only been part of this journey for a short time, but our achievements are remarkable. This longer opening is quite different from the 1982 start, which includes the iconic “Where have we come from, where are we going?” question.

That introduction is more ethereal and high-minded. Dobkin continues, “In the dust from which we were formed, answers recorded on the walls of time.” I enjoy the mystery of this line, but it’s possibly too much for theme park guests. The final statement states, “So let us journey into that past, to seek those walls, to know ourselves and to probe the destiny of our Spaceship Earth.” It is a noble goal yet needs more humanity.

An Epic Journey

Spaceship Earth received a major update in 1994, including a brand-new narrator. While I love Cronkite and “Tomorrow’s Child”, there is a lot to appreciate with this version. Jeremy Irons brings awe and grandeur into the mix, and that matches the epic feeling. The orchestral music becomes more powerful, and the finale promises technological marvels around every turn. Irons also returns a sense of mystery to Spaceship Earth, beginning with his introduction:

“Like a grand and miraculous spaceship, our planet has sailed through the universe of time. And for a brief moment, we have been among its many passengers. From the very beginning, we have always sought to reach out to one another…to bridge the gaps between us…to communicate.”

Irons’ opening is incredible and the best from any introduction. It depicts humanity’s amazing journey in poetic terms yet doesn’t feel aloof. Irons’ delivery sells awe without being on the nose. His style is different from Cronkite’s and feels less prominent. He evokes the wonders of history but never speaks down to the guests.

Before Irons begins speaking, this version includes famous audio clips of Susan B. Anthony, John F. Kennedy, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. It feels like those figures are drifting through history, and that mystery builds the right mood. Irons also conveys the idea that communicating is an essential way for humans to connect. This concept foretells the rise of the Internet and the latest technological advances. Irons is the perfect choice to handle this ambitious version.

Photo by Dan Heaton

A Return to Earth

Today’s Spaceship Earth includes Judi Dench, who became the narrator in the 2008 Siemens update. Her script and vocal delivery seem designed to connect more on a personal level. Another change is the theme shifting to innovation. Instead of describing grand questions about communications, Dench presents technological advances throughout history. This version connects past scenes to our modern-day world, with mixed results. Dench’s introductions reveals that change:

“Like a grand and miraculous spaceship, our planet has sailed through the universe of time; and for a brief moment we have been among its passengers. But where are we going? And what kind of future will we discover there? Surprisingly, the answers lie in our past. Since the dawn of recorded history, we’ve been inventing the future, one step at a time. So let’s travel back in time together. I’ll show you how our ancestors created the world we know today, and then it will be your turn to create the world of tomorrow.”

This is easily the longest introduction, with an opening that is very close to Irons’ start. The theme of going “back in time together” conveys the point that Dench is on our level. We are experiencing the past to understand the future, and that idea fits to the new descent. The interactive screens make us more active participants, and the script reflects that change. It will be our turn in the end, which shows an attempt by Disney to make Spaceship Earth a less passive experience.

Photo by Erin Heaton

A Profound Journey

In the book Walt Disney’s EPCOT Center: Creating a New World of Tomorrow, Richard M. Beard describes Spaceship Earth’s message as “profound, provocative, and promising“. Those traits are evident within each introduction, particularly earlier versions. The questions about who we are as humans and where we come from are a fascinating way to start the attraction.

During the weeks ahead, I’ll delve into how Disney presents the answers to these questions through each historical era of Spaceship Earth. Despite the various changes, it remains one of my favorite attractions. There is so much to explore in each scene, including the different variations over the years. Let’s board our time machine vehicles and discover more about our grand and miraculous spaceship!

Sources: INTERCOT, Martin’s Videos, Walt Disney’s EPCOT Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow by Richard M. Beard

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Photo by Erin Heaton

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