Disney World Got Rid of Horizons Over 20 Years Ago… and the Replacement Is FULL of Problems

Two decades later, this ride still isn’t ready for takeoff. 

Nearly 25 years ago, Disney removed one of their most popular — and beloved — attractions and replaced it with a ride that seemed like the kind of technological marvel that would move E-Ticket-Level attractions into the 21st Century. However, many would argue things haven’t gone that way.

The iconic EPCOT attraction Horizons, which opened in 1983, provided an optimistic view of the future if humanity, and served as a “thesis statement” for the park in that it combined the themes of its fellow Future World pavilions. It was also technologically revolutionary for the time, mainly thanks to its use of two massive OMNIMAX screens, as well as an ending sequence that featured the first interactive simulator ending in theme park history.

However, despite these advancements — and the adoration of many theme park fans — Disney closed the attraction for good. Horizons fell victim to several factors, mainly structural issues with the building and sponsor General Electric choosing not to renew their agreement. Instead of seeking out a new sponsor for the existing attraction, Disney decided to tear it down and start all over. 

In the spring of 2000, Disney announced that Horizons would be replaced by a new space attraction, initially sponsored by Compaq. Over the next three years, the attraction took shape as a massive simulator that would allow guests to experience firsthand what astronaut training is like, including experiencing the feeling of a 2.5G liftoff. Mission: Space (sponsored by Hewlett-Packard, who had merged with Compaq in 2002) opened to great fanfare in 2003… and in the eyes of many nearly immediately fell on its face. 

From the get-go, the ride faced criticism for inducing nausea among riders. Mission: Space’s ride system, a “multiple-arm centrifuge that achieves the illusion of acceleration by spinning and tilting sealed capsules during the four-minute “mission” spun at such a rate that Disney actually needed to install vomit bags and benches near the exits for sick riders. The issue has plagued the attraction in the two decades since, to the point that the original ride experience was renamed the Orange Mission, while a new tame Green Mission (which doesn’t feature spinning) was introduced to placate those who suffer from motion sickness. 

In addition to these issues, many would argue the ride hasn’t aged well in other ways. Its aesthetic and design is very early 2000s, and the ride’s storyline of an astronaut training simulator doesn’t hold up well compared to the heavily-themed and immersive rides, lands, and attractions that have come to dominate the theme park space (no pun intended) over the last two decades. 

These issues, plus renewed nostalgia amongst many for classic EPCOT attractions like Horizons, have led many fans to call for Mission: Space to be closed and replaced with a newly upgraded Horizons. For many years, this seemed like an impossible dream. However, with EPCOT other late-90s thrill ride Test Track is in the midst of a massive refurbishment that will see elements of the classic ride it replaced — World of Motion — integrated into its storyline, it seems slightly more likely that at least a portion of Horizons could return as part of a potential replacement or retheme of Mission: Space. Especially given how many references to it continue to pop up in new EPCOT projects.

Disney launched Mission: Space to great fanfare in 2003, with the ride seemingly promising to revolutionize EPCOT. However, the ride’s replacement of the beloved Horizons, combined with its litany of issues, has led to many calls for it to be replaced. Stay tuned to AllEars for further deep dives into Disney World history. 

Extinct EPCOT: The History of World of Motion

What do you think of Mission: Space? Let us know in the comments below. 

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