Credit: DisneyDo you miss it? Because we still do.
Fans have seen a number of classic rides and attractions come and go over the years at the Disney theme parks. Change is the name of the game when it comes to theme parks, and Disney plays this game well, debuting new experiences on a pretty frequent basis.
Over the last decade, Walt Disney World has welcomed several new attractions, namely Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, TRON Lightcycle / Run, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. These three attractions are often ranked as the best at the resort, each demanding some shockingly long wait times.
But what if we said the best ride to ever grace EPCOT has been defunct for over a quarter of a century? Would you believe us?
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EPCOT has a relatively long and complicated history. Inspired by Walt Disney’s vision for a futuristic community, EPCOT, as a theme park, leaves a lot to be desired.
In terms of thrill rides, the park is pretty lackluster. When it comes to the total number of rides and attractions, EPCOT is also rather disappointing.
However, EPCOT is perhaps the most unique theme park in the world, blending education and entertainment in a way that only Disney can. The ultimate example of this was Horizons, a slow-moving dark ride once found inside EPCOT.
Costing an estimated $60 million, Horizons was the dawn of a new era for EPCOT and Walt Disney World as a whole. The ride opened in 1983 and was immediately labeled a classic, thanks to its impressive and detailed scenes and the ride’s actual story.
Riders were shown what life could look like in the future, from the sea to outer space. In every sense of the word, the ride was a hit, but Horizons wasn’t just a popular Disney attraction; it was the perfect Disney attraction. In many ways, Horizons was the sequel to Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, a classic experience that gets to the very heart of what the Disney theme parks are.
However, unlike the Carousel of Progress, Horizons wouldn’t last forever.
After a troubled final few years, Horizons closed for good on January 9, 1999, marking the end of an era and the start of a bold, concerning new chapter for EPCOT. To say guests took the loss of Horizons hard would be an understatement, with fans still feeling just as sad and disappointed as they did 25 years ago.
The story wouldn’t be that bad if what replaced Horizons were a worthy endeavor. However, this could not be further from the case.
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In 2003, Mission: Space opened, taking over the footprint of the former Horizons. This state-of-the-art space flight simulation ride had a budget of $100 million and featured a lot of impressive technology not yet seen inside a Disney theme park.
Mission: Space turned out to be a somewhat lackluster attraction, one that rarely, if ever, sees wait times beyond 45 minutes. Mission: Space is one of the more controversial attractions offered in Walt Disney World, with some fans criticizing its somewhat tacky story and theming, and others simply not being able to handle how intense it is. Whatever you think about Mission: Space is one thing, but the ride is certainly a downgrade from Horizons.
The classic attraction has become an icon of EPCOT and Disney World as a whole and will always be remembered fondly.
However, whether or not Disney can recapture the magic of Horizons is up to Disney.
Do you miss Horizons?