Originally Posted By oc_dean .........."snap, snap, snap went the construction walls". I understand Spaceship Earth is about to take on a longterm overhaul that is to fix a lot of problems that have been building up with Spaceship Earth for years. I haven't been to WDW in 11 years .. but tonight .. as I have family members in WDW now ... And one with regular trips for the last month ... has been noting Spaceship Earth is not quite what I remember it to be in my last trip (1995). So .... for all you regular WDW day trippers and AP Holders .. what's going on with Spaceship Earth? A family member told me one of the lower levels of the complex is beginning work. The omnimover may get some needed help. I understand it has detiorated to a clackity-clackity-clack-clack piece of machinary that came out of 1953 or somethin'! Some kind of screens that will go into each omnimover car? Am I getting this partially right? So ... if anyone cares to shed some light on any specifics to Future World's last of the great Omnimover Giants of EPCOT .. I'd love to hear it. thx!
Originally Posted By mrichmondj I may be mistaken, but I don't think Spaceship Earth is technically an "Omnimover." The cars do rotate at the end prior to descent back to the bottom of the sphere, but generally remain in a fixed position and don't rotate about any axis at all while moving through most of the attraction. In contrast, Haunted Mansion is a true Omnimover attraction where each car pivots and rotates throughout the show to present the rider with the best perspective of each show scene.
Originally Posted By pitapan16 I just was on Epcot's Spaceship Earth last night for the first time in about 3 years or so and returned early this morning to Cali. Anyways, my reaction was its a great ride that needs some serious technical help. It is very much a clicky clacky ride pretty much the whole time. A great ride, but needs much attention.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> I don't think Spaceship Earth is technically an "Omnimover." << I believe SSE is an Omnimover. Depends on your definition I guess. Omnimover to me is a chain of cars that move together, because they're in a chain. How much they might rotate during their travel is a choice made by the show people. The new Nemo at Epcot's LSeas is an Omnimover too. I don't think their cars rotate or flex as much as the original ride might have.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj Here's the patent description for an "omnimover." BEGIN QUOTE AMUSEMENT RIDE SYSTEM Abstract An amusement ride system for conveying passengers past a display and including a support track having inclining and declining portions. A plurality of seats are supported on trucks that are conveyed along the track and such seats swivel to face the display as the trucks pass thereby and tilt relative to the inclining and declining portions of the track to maintain the passengers seated erect. Contoured first and second orienting rails extend longitudinally of the support track and guide first and second followers which control the swiveling and tilting, respectively, of the seat. The amusement ride system may also include a safety bar for retaining passengers in the seat and actuated by a trip which strikes an actuating rail in the unloading area. END QUOTE Since Spaceship Earth does not swivel its passenger cars to face any of the displays and does not adjust to maintain passengers in an erect position during the inclines and declines, I would not consider it an omnimover based on the description of the system provided in the patent. By this description, the Haunted Mansion and Buzz Lightyear are the only true omnimover attractions really left in the Disney parks. World of Motion and Adventure Through Inner Space used an omnimover system. Spaceship Earth, Horizons, and Nemo are not technically omnimovers.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Just my humble opinion, and I'll allow for any favoritism for Haunted Mansion...but if you are going to call Haunted Mansion's Doom Buggies and Omnimover, then by all means SSE would have to be considered one as well. Sure the Doom Buggy swivles MORE, but not any differently. Just because the cars rotate at the top of SSE and then return you to ground level in reverse ... big deal. It's the same thing as the Doom Buggy. When you go down backwards into the grave yard, you are not kept upright. In fact I know this due to my lower back giving me a twinge of pain on Haunted Mansion. So if Haunted Mansion is, then SSE is. Just MY opinion. But really, who cares? The question in the original post isn't about definitions, it's about what is going on with SSE. Back to topic...
Originally Posted By MPierce I beleive the main base of the ride has remained the same since 1995. Supposedly there is a rehab coming that will change a few things in the ride itself, and the Global Neighborhood. I always thought the cars you rode in on SSE rotated around to give you a view facing planet Earth. If it is not an omnimover, what is it?
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> I would not consider it an omnimover based on the description of the system provided in the patent << Heck, there are some people who think that the Orlando Airport Shuttle system is "a monorail." It sure does LOOK like one.