| Horizons |
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Capacity: 2,660 guests per hour
Show Time: 14:35 minutes
Speed: 1.53 fps
Ride System: Overhead omnimover
Closed: 9 January 1999
Description:
An incredible journey through lifestyles for the 21st century. After
"blasting off" from the Futureport, you'll examine the marvels
imagined by visionaries of the past ... Jules Verne's cannonball flight
to the moon, for example. Through the wonders of micro- and
macro-photography, never-before-seen images of today's world unfold on
the world's largest motion-picture screen. Then it's off to explore four
future habitats... the urban environment of tomorrow, a robotics-staffed
desert farm, a working ocean colony, and a "space city" where
asteroid mining and zero-gravity crystal manufacture are facts of
everyday life. The rest of the adventure is up to you! You and your
fellow passengers control which future environment to explore as you
choose your own "new horizon" for the finale.
(Complete
ride through video) Horizons
148Mb, WMV9, 28mins,
640x480
• Filmed from 4 different angles (including close ups)
• Original source music
• Re-mastered narration
• Full Omnisphere film loop
• All 3 endings complete
Many thanks to marni1971 for this wonderful tribute to Horizons
For Details on Mission Space which replaced Horizons go here
3 February 2000: Latest news and rumors - thanks to Ntpadude from our Discussion Board
The primary reason to do away with the ride system and gut the building was to correct problems with building failure and reinforce and correct these problems, then install a new attraction that does not place as much stress that the old ride did. News that is leaking around the cast members is that just this past week, Disney has had some serious setbacks discovering that the building is in fact in worst shape then previously thought, they pulled the Imagineers out of the building and cancelled the cast member preview/walkthroughs because the company fears for their safety! Disney is aggressively attempting to save the building, although there is a appearing to be a strong possibility that they will have no choice but to tear the building down and start over again.
There you have it, Horizons was actually closed out of concern for the safety of the guests, had Disney been ready to replace it with a new attraction, work would have begun quickly (like when World of Motion closed), Horizons stayed closed 9 months ready to run again at a moments notice because Disney didn't even have a clue as to what to do with the Horizons situation, repair, rehab/repair or teardown and replace, one thing they didn't want to get out was that they built a building that is in fact almost ready to collapse under its own weight after 16 years. One backroom rumor is that a Florida sinkhole formed under the building's foundation at some time in 1998 or some type of soil subsidence situation caused the problem.
31 January 2000: Orlando Sentinel Article
It's nearly all systems go for Mission Space at Epcot. The shuttle ride, in which guests would experience G-forces, is close to getting final corporate clearance, Disney insiders say. Mission Space would replace Epcot's Horizons pavilion and open by 2003.
16 January 2000: More rumors
The rumors continue to fly around the future of Horizons. Latest word indicates that the IMAX Omnisphere screens have been removed - which is supported by the fact that Horizons is no longer listed on the IMAX website. A post at the Yahoo Horizons Tribute Club also states that the building is to be demolished, beginning in the next 2-3 weeks.
Be sure to visit this club http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/thehorizonstribute for more
6 January 2000: No Horizons on New Years Eve
Rather surprisingly Horizons did not open on New Years Eve for the capacity crowd. If Epcot were planning on reopening Horizons this year, New Years Eve was the day to do it. This isn't looking good for the current show. Despite assurances by sources at WDI that the ride and show is still ready for guests, Epcot management just do not want to open it.
9 November 1999: Great Horizons night shot by Joe
4 November 1999: Horizons under contruction
This picture taken by Brian Fineberg shows Horizons under construction.
1 October 1999: A brief reopening
Some press groups were allowed to ride Horizons last night. This information comes first hand from someone who actual rode Horizons last night. This is now confirmation that the ride has not been gutted (as some sites have suggested). At this stage however, guests have not been allowed to ride.
26 July 1999: July photos
Click each image for a larger version
22 July 1999: Rehab update
We have word from an extremely reliable source that the rehab of Horizons is now underway. Walkthroughs of the building have revealed that the whole ride is intact, rumors that parts have been ripped out are not true.
The plan is still to open the ride for 16 months for the Millennium party. The selectable finale of the ride, the roto-projection system, is being considered for replacement.
To address the issue of the ride system being sold to a park in Mexico - this is true. But Disney have a condition to the sale of "when removed". What this does mean is that Horizons is going to be replaced in 2001 at the end of the Millennium celebrations. We have word that the sponsor will not be Intel. This maybe leaves Intel free to take the new pavilion between JII and The Land?
14 July 1999: More rehab news
I have received a lot of email about the Horizons post below. I have word from a few sources (who have not been wrong in the past) that horizons will reopen in the original format. All that is planned in the rehab is a clean and to repair failed parts. There is no further word on what will happen to the ride after the Millennium Celebration at Epcot. The reopening of Horizons will mean that all Epcot will have the maximum number of rides available for the celebration.
11 July 1998: Rehab news
Horizons is clear for rehab, leaving it set to reopen in its original form in October 1999.
17 June 1999: New tribute club
Be sure to visit this new club http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/thehorizonstribute
1 February 1999: Current photo of Horizons. Note the sign!
(Photo by Greg and Raechel)
9 January 1999: Horizons closed tonight at 9pm.
31 December 1998: The Walt Disney World Cast Member newsletter, Eyes and Ears, has confirmed that Horizons at Epcot will close on January 9, 1999, presumably to make way for the space pavilion to be sponsored by Intel. Publicly, Walt Disney World management has not said anything about what will go into Horizons, and they publicly state they are uncertain as to whether they will "repurpose" the Horizons building.
23 December 1998: Now that Test Track is
approaching full public opening there is sad news for fans of
Horizons. Rumours indicate that Horizons may close as early as
January 9, 1998 to make way for a new Journeys in Space attraction,
rumoured to be sponsored by Intel. Information on the new
attraction is sketchy, but it may involve a space walk and large
simulator technology.