Posts Tagged ‘Mission:SPACE’

It’s wiring made wonderful!  Make it your mission to track down this special Mickey, hidden in Future World at EPCOT.

Mission: SPACE, one of the most highly-anticipated attractions to open at Walt Disney World, represents the culmination of 40 years of actual man-hours, as well as technologies specifically invented for this ride.  Designed to allow passengers to experience space flight in a realistic way, Mission: SPACE was built in cooperation with former astronauts and NASA personnel.

The “back story” is very much front and center as guests, or “trainees” at the International Space Training Center, are assigned a role and join a crew of four to complete a training mission that will help prepare them for the first manned flight to Mars.

The stunning Planetary Plaza at the entrance includes some of the most imaginative and beautiful detail to be found in any park.  The glowing replica of Mars with its dramatic red color stands close to the enormous 16-foot-diameter sphere of Jupiter.  Earth is encircled by a ship in flight and the model of our moon features plaques on its surface that commemorate each lunar mission.

The queue area is dominated by an enormous gravity wheel, and showcases fascinating displays and a review of the “history” of space flight.  The gravity wheel sports one of three tributes to Horizons, the attraction that formerly occupied the site.

After an informational video, astronauts-in-training board the flight simulators for a spectacular journey that includes lift-off, a slingshot maneuver around the moon, hypersleep, and Mars landing, along with some special challenges to test the crew.

There are two different ride experiences to choose from:  the original, very intense “orange” version which simulates weightlessness and g-forces by means of a centrifuge; and the alternate “green” version which retains the motion simulation but forgoes the physically-challenging centrifuge effects.  There are multiple alerts and warnings throughout the attraction which detail the health conditions that may be adversely affected by the ride.

The post-show area is not to be missed, with interactive games and activities, a themed play area for kids, and an opportunity to send a “Postcard from Space.”

Employees of Hewlett-Packard, the current sponsor, have access to the Red Planet Room where they can relax and enjoy complimentary beverages, play games, watch television, and use an internet-connected shared laptop.

Mission: SPACE

EPCOT, Future World

Approximately 6 minutes

Guests must transfer from ECV to wheelchair and then to ride vehicle

FastPass available

Video captioning and translation devices available

Park admission required

 

 

Perhaps only those truly knowledgeable about Walt Disney World will recognize the spectacular image of Mission: Space featured on our Destinations page, but everyone can appreciate it.

 

Stark and soaring; it is architecture embracing astronomy, both literally and figuratively. The work of photographer Jamie Berman, it is representative of a signature style where the everyday becomes elegant abstraction. Jamie, thanks!