Our solar system will inevitably fade into oblivion someday in an extremely distant, incomprehensible future, but for one Martian replica, neglect and wear are happening right now at Mission: SPACE in EPCOT.
The Red Planet in Peril
While the box office decided Mars did not need moms back in 2011, the Mars entrance to this attraction does need a little salvation after a sharp decline in shine.
Various portions of the shiny crimson orb are showing heavy wear and tear, and the maroon glow characteristic of the display is giving way to bare grayness and warped material underneath. Dirt is also accumulated in the grooves of the sculpture.
The structure serves as more than decoration — it hides the entrance area for both the Orange and Green Team experiences of Mission: SPACE, and both guests and Cast Members are regularly stationed underneath.
Granted, in Florida, all buildings and set pieces at Walt Disney World are occasionally subjected to extreme weather conditions, thunderstorms, high winds, and catastrophic hurricanes. Hurricane Ian devastated southwestern areas of Florida and caused record flooding in the Orlando area. But maintenance of these structures is equally important
That being said, it looks like our planetary neighbor could use a little love.
Mission: SPACE
Mission: Space is a centrifugal motion simulator in World Discovery at EPCOT, that replaced the beloved Horizons attraction in 2003. The attraction simulates the thrill of space travel using high G-forces to make guests feel like they’re launching on a mission to Mars.
Originally just one experience at maximum intensity in which riders voyaged to Mars was available, until too many guests reported issues with motion sickness due to the centrifuge. As a result, a less intense version of the Mars mission was in place from 2006 until a tamer, more mild mission around Earth replaced it in 2017.
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While you are investigating WDW’s problem areas, how about checking on the ladies room soap that seems to be mostly water and the drinking fountains that either don’t work or have a half inch high arc of water coming out. I use a refillable bottle and in March, for the first time ever, had problems filling it around the parks at fountains.
Sad. Hewlett-Packard used to sponsor this pavilion/ride (this is before it split into half a dozen things) and the place used to be kept spotless. Employees even had access to a wonderful area where there were refreshments, games, and all kinds of fun ways to get off your feet for a while in the hot Florida sun. You could even watch humanity crawl past in the everpresent lines, *and* you had a special entrance to the simulators that let you bypass the mobs.
Good times.
It wasn’t spotless with the sponsor, HP didn’t even want it, it was inherited when they bought Compaq.