Epcot's once popular space flight simulator Mission: SPACE has needed some major changes for a very long time. The attracrion was stuck in the early 2000s and with better and newer options in the park, attendance hasn't exactly been stellar for the aging thrill ride. Well, after a 2 and a half month refurbishment, Mission: SPACE is back and has been given some fresh elements to hopefully bring the crowds back to the only other thing on Future World East besides Test Track.
So the first question you might have is, what has changed? Not as much as you'd think, and in some instances that is a good thing while in others it could be considered lazy or even a detriment to the updated attraction. Let's break down the changes...
The queue of Mission: SPACE has undergone some minor cosmetic and structural changes. Gone is the replica of the capsule you will be boarding and instead, the entrance area has been expanded to feature separate Fastpass queues for both versions of the ride. Other than how the queue is set up and one new half wall, the interior queue area looks pretty much the same, complete with the still non functioning Gravity Wheel.
The biggest change comes for the ride itself. The Green and Orange versions of the previous version were identical, except the milder Green version didn't spin like the Orange more intense version. With the updated Mission: SPACE, Green is a completely different experience. Now guests will launch into space in orbit around the Earth and see our home planet from high above the atmosphere. This new version also includes a lower 40 inch height requirement and X2 Booster Seats for smaller trainees to use.
While the Green Mission is completely new and a fresh twist on the original attraction, the Orange Version has been improved too with enhanced visuals. Although the new ride film does look great, it would have been nice to see a new mission or a variation on the original mission rather than a prettier version of the same ride we've experienced since 2003.
While the Green Mission is completely new and a fresh twist on the original attraction, the Orange Version has been improved too with enhanced visuals. Although the new ride film does look great, it would have been nice to see a new mission or a variation on the original mission rather than a prettier version of the same ride we've experienced since 2003.
The most controversial change made to the updated Mission: SPACE is Gina Torres replacing Gary Sinise as Capcom. Although her performance isn't awful persay, it is certainly more wooden or stiff than Sinise's version we have come to enjoy. The new male Leutenant character delivers a truly awful performance and is about as wooden as you can get in an on camera acting performance. Both deliver lines during the new ride films as well.
Former cast members especially will be happy to know that the cheesy power ballad "Destiny" has been removed from the attraction's re-entry hallway and is replaced by BGM from the new preshows. The music is very cinematic and well done and is one of the brighest spots of the updated attraction.
Former cast members especially will be happy to know that the cheesy power ballad "Destiny" has been removed from the attraction's re-entry hallway and is replaced by BGM from the new preshows. The music is very cinematic and well done and is one of the brighest spots of the updated attraction.
If you were hoping for updates to the Advanced Training Lab or Cargo Bay gift shop, you are out of luck. The ATL is in the same shape it has been in since the attraction closed including the horribly outdated video games and the gift shop is unchanged as well. Both of these sections could have been improved in some way but instead were left out in the dark.
Overall, there are a few positive changes that were made to Mission: SPACE, but it seems like a lot or corners were cut due to time constraints with the refurbishment. The new Green Mission is a plesent surprise and worth doing even if you prefer the thrills of the Orange Mission. The updated visuals for Orange are great, but it's just a cosmetic upgrade and nothing more. The new acting performances are subpar at best and are inferior to the previous version.
If you enjoy Mission: SPACE, you'll probably be fine for the most part with the changes, but it could have used a few more months to give it the serious update it deserves rather than the quick and fairly lackluster update that we got.
Written by Chris Coburn
If you enjoy Mission: SPACE, you'll probably be fine for the most part with the changes, but it could have used a few more months to give it the serious update it deserves rather than the quick and fairly lackluster update that we got.
Written by Chris Coburn