“Horizons one is now departing.
Our final destination today: The 21st Century”
This is Horizons - The Animated History.
Horizons was an omnimover attraction located in Epcot Center.
Unlike the other pavilions of Future World, Horizons didn't just represent the future
of one field, it was the future of every field.
In fact, Horizons basically represented the entire purpose of Epcot: celebrating human
achievements and innovation born from imagination.
This ride was considered to be the sequel to the Carousel of Progress and the ultimate
vision of Epcot, embodying communication, energy, transportation, anatomy, along with
man's relationship to the sea, land, and space.
More on that one later.
Not only did this ride depict the futures of the past, and the futures of tomorrow,
it contained technologies that truly were to be a huge part of our daily lives in the
21st century.
From the hologram phone we now call Skype to the important role of the microprocessor
that is literally in every piece of technology you have.
In the early planning phases, the pavilion was supposed to be called Century 3, highlighting
and predicting the scientific advancements we would see as America entered its third
century.
The name was later changed to Futureprobe since international guests who visited
wouldn't relate to an attraction at the same level with a ride name being exclusive to the United
States.
The phrase “probe” exuded a more health-themed attraction which this wasn’t.
Disney and the pavilion’s new sponsor, General Electric, decided to call the attraction Horizons.
The plans for this attraction were previewed in 1979 and 1980 along with the other pavilions,
but could not be built in time for opening day.
Horizons opened on Epcot’s first anniversary on October 1st, 1983.
Horizons became an instant classic, the crown jewel of Epcot attractions.
Not only did the attraction basically resemble the entire purpose of the park, but it was
simply an awesome ride.
First of all, you rarely had to wait to get on Horizons, and it definitely wasn't due
to any shortage of eager guests.
The ride vehicles of this attraction could seat four each, making this a very fast loading
process with an hourly guest capacity almost equal to that of "it’s a small world," and
those boats seat a lot!
Moving past general ride mechanics, Horizons was an attraction you could ride a dozen times
and still be noticing new things.
With so many subtle but memorable details, from the smell of orange groves in the desert
farm, to the interactive choose-your-own ending, these details make Horizons easily one of
the most missed attractions in Disney history.
If it was this awesome, how could it possibly go by the wayside?
This story starts off like just about all the ride closures do: loss of sponsorship.
GE’s 10-year sponsorship expired in 1993 and so begins one of the most bizarre ride
closure stories in Disney history.
In December of the following year, Horizons closed indefinitely, with no real warning
or explanation.
Then, one year later in December of 1995, the ride miraculously reopened, exactly as
it was before.
It reopened to provide at least some sort of ride for guests to enjoy as both the Universe
of Energy and World Of Motion were under extensive refurbishments.
Horizons stayed open for another three years until January 1999 when Test Track officially
opened to replace the World of Motion and Horizons closed forever.
Some say that the absence of GE as a financial backer forced Disney’s hand into closing
ride, with no funding to refurbish the attraction.
Another possible contributor to the destruction of Horizons was the building itself.
Disney always planned for the replacement attraction would be housed in the original
ride building in an attempt to save money.
Following the closure of Horizons, Disney discovered that the building’s structure
was at risk of collapsing in on itself.
This is not far fetched, as Horizons’ 184-car omnimover ride system plus the 3-story steel
building were sure to be putting some major stresses on the former swampland they were
built on.
As has been suggested by the many steel girders driven into the ground following the demise
of building, some believe there had been a developing marshland sinkhole in the northeast
corner of Horizons that escalated in severity throughout late 90’s.
Upon Disney’s realization that their aggressive attempt to save the building was ill-fated,
the solution became to simply destroy not just Horizons the ride, but the building itself
and create a new attraction that would put less stress on the foundations.
Over a year after its final & permanent closure, Disney started drumming up plans with Compaq,
who was soon bought by HP, for a new attraction called Mission Space.
There’s that space pavilion we were talking about earlier!
In March 2000, the ride building was emptied of all its props, which can now be found in
Disney parks and private Disney collections worldwide.
Then the omnimover vehicles were removed, followed by the building’s demolition in
July.
The destruction of Horizons represented the lost sprit of Epcot.
No longer was Epcot about hope, a better future, and a showcase for amazing technologies.
Epcot had lost it’s way.
But has it really?
You have just seen an entire video on the history of one of the best rides Disney has
ever created.
The true spirit of Epcot lives on right here on the internet.
As long as Horizons remains in the hearts, minds, and mouths of inspired people around
the world, the real purpose of Epcot is not forgotten.
Who knows that the future holds for Epcot, after all Horizons' motto is: if we can dream it,
we can do it.
Thanks for Watching!
Have a Magical Day!
[Epcot Horizons Music]
"From all of us, thanks for exploring Horizons."
Now, please take small children by the hand, and watch your step onto the moving belt.
The belt and your vehicle are traveling at equal speed.
[Epcot Horizons Music]