“Rather than emphasizing the inevitable development and perfection of incredibly sophisticated machines of the future, Horizons concentrates on the purpose of the machines. And the purpose is us: how can our lives by enhanced by future technology?” – Richard R. Beard, Walt Disney’s EPCOT Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow
When it comes to picking my all-time favorite attraction, there can be only one. Horizons was the perfect blend of everything that I love about theme parks. It had a unique ride system that felt like it came out of the future. There was humor, excitement, and an optimistic look at our technological potential. I want to live in the world of tomorrow that we saw on this ride.
Horizons was the epitome of what made EPCOT Center great. Spaceship Earth may dwarf it in size, but this pavilion was the thematic centerpiece of Future World. It sold the feeling that if we could dream it, we really could do it. If The Tomorrow Society has an origin story, it begins with Horizons.
Continuing the Story
Horizons opened at the start of October 1983, exactly one year after EPCOT Center’s first day. GE sponsored the pavilion, and it served as an unofficial sequel to the Carousel of Progress. Bob Holt and Dana Dietrich narrated the ride and showed us easy living in the future with their family. The original Carousel of Progress theme “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” even played during an early scene.
A similar nostalgia for the past was felt in the “looking back at tomorrow” section, which offered a silly look at predictions about the future in past days. Horizons mixed a charming old-school vibe with the positive look ahead that was such a part of EPCOT Center in the ‘80s. From the moment you walked into the pavilion and heard the George Wilkins’ song “New Horizons”, it felt pitch-perfect.
What Made Horizons Original
There are many websites that give a timeline of Horizons’ history, so I’m not here to re-hash that story. Instead, I’d like to present this pavilion as an exception to fans’ usual nostalgia. When Disney announces the closure of a long-time attraction, we often fall into two main groups. A vocal segment complains on message boards and Twitter about the loss of their favorite rides.
On the other side are Disney supporters that cite Walt’s “Disneyland will never be completed” quote and deride the first group’s resistance to change. They’re not entirely wrong either. I’m often skeptical of updates, particularly IP overlays that seem to lack originality (e.g., Frozen Ever After).
I’ve described these groups to make the case that Horizons is different. There was something for everyone in this ride, and there remains nothing like it. The stunning 80-foot Omnimax screens at the center create an effect similar to the crowd-pleasing Soarin’. I’d argue that Horizons was even more effective thanks to a ride system that placed the screens right in front of you. There were no dangling shoes blocking the view. It also employed groundbreaking visual effects designed by filmmaker Eddie Garrick that took us on a remarkable journey.
A Memorable Conclusion
The “choose your own ending” brings to mind the fun of the different ride sequences of Star Tours: The Adventure Continues. The revolutionary models for the brief trips under the sea, to the desert, and into space remain convincing. Each ride vehicle had its own experience, which was way ahead of its time.
What’s hard to convey in YouTube videos is the experience of being on Horizons. I still have a clear memory of the lighted transition rooms that were strangely ingenious in their simplicity. Nothing felt thrown together; and even a $10 million budget cut late in the design stage wasn’t a killer. In fact, I’d argue that the changes that designers George McGinnis, John Hench, and others employed made the ride stronger. They were forced to cut corners, but we didn’t notice it.
Horizons wasn’t a one-trick pony and had a remarkably long ride time of nearly 15 minutes. The Omnimover technology kept the lines moving swiftly with a capacity of more than 2,500 guests and created the false sense that it wasn’t popular. Horizons was a pivotal reason for the creative success of EPCOT Center.
Nostalgia for EPCOT Center
The challenge with describing Horizons is the inexplicable reasons for why it works. Some rides go beyond the sum of their parts, and this is a prime example. The mix of visuals, sound, and even orange scents came together in just the right combination.
GE was Horizons’ sponsor during its first 10 years, but it rarely felt like an advertisement. The forward-thinking attraction had grand ideas about the future yet never took itself seriously. The attention to detail also represented the best of theme park design.
The reason I call the nostalgia for Horizons legitimate is because it holds the key to Future World’s revival. Amazing structures and upbeat music are still a part of EPCOT, but many attractions don’t connect to that optimistic theme. Can those ideas still work in a modern theme park today?
Sources: MousePlanet’s four-part series by George McGinnis; Progress City, U.S.A.’s three-part series; and Widen Your World
Related Articles – Horizons and Nostalgia
EPCOT Center’s Horizons: Why It Worked
The Power of Transitions in EPCOT Center’s Horizons
From Horizons to Space Mountain: The Life of a Disney Imagineer by George McGinnis
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Exceptional write up on Horizons!
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I’m always sad that I never had the chance to experience Horizons. It’s one of those attractions that so many people talk about with such fondness.
I’m a little amazed at how many connected with it; it really stood out as my favorite by the time I reached my teens in the early ’90s. The YouTube videos can’t totally recreate the experience. Thanks for the comment Becky!
One of the best pieces I’ve read about Horizons, ever. Bravo!
You captured my feelings about this icon in a way that no one has so far. It’s that FEELING of riding Horizons. While impossible to accurately describe with words, you somehow had me nodding my head in total understanding.
When I returned to Epcot to find Horizons closed, I actually cried. I had no idea–this was long before I was a WDW geek and wasn’t as up to date on things. Nothing could have prepared me. It sounds ludicrous, but that ride touched my mind and my heart. I hear the music and I can almost recapture that feeling. The smell of the oranges, the dry agriculture scene and the Omnimax–oh!!–the sensation of that space shuttle taking off or moving through the DNA chain. Nothing like it.
Thank you for a wonderful piece and for giving me a sad, but knowing smile on my face. I plan to share on my FB page and other social media!
Marie, thanks so much for the kind words! I rode it a lot as a kid and definitely took Horizons for granted. My last rides were in 1998, and I also didn’t realize how often it had been closed before that point (it re-opened when Test Track had delays and Universe of Energy was being changed). With Horizons gone and Wonders of Life closed, that side of the park just feels unfinished. It’s really too bad.
I’ve found that something always feels like it’s missing with the YouTube videos or ride audio. It’s still amazing to hear yet is missing that extra something that made Horizons stand out from the other great pavilions.
Great article! I’m totally with you. As a kid who was never really into meeting the characters and going on “kids rides,” EPCOT Center was the most amazing place on Earth. It was its own thing, its own story. It had its own cast of characters. Nothing was more dramatic than the doors opening to the hydrolators, or the Norway movie, “this is no distant dream – we’re at the threshold now” – or – “we are entering a wondrous new age” or when Gershwin played to signal America’s turn in the laser show. Thankfully the current fireworks is pretty awesome, thanks mainly to the music. Peace on Earth ending is brilliant for the holidays. Imagine if that show ended with Let it Go! Wow! I’d honestly never go to EPCOT again, certainly not to watch that. I could go on, but I’m very concerned Disney is not listening to anything to fans have to say. I don’t know if my business is really worth the extra effort if they can get crowds of people to stand in line to see two girls dressed up as princesses.
Jason, I agree that Illuminations is still amazing especially because of the music. I have heard rumors it’s going to change, though I hope it still retains its essence. With the recent and upcoming changes to EPCOT (especially the Frozen ride), it does feel like the park is moving further from what it was. I’m sure there were be larger crowds next year, but I still keep hoping that doesn’t push management to go further that way. I’m not super optimistic, though. Thanks for the great comment!
How well I remember the walk up to Horizons, wondering what that mysteriously-shaped building could possibly contain. Some describe its shape as a spaceship or a jewel, and both are correct. I always left EPCOT feeling that humanity could indeed fix the problems that caused so much suffering in the world, and Horizons was like a hopeful glimpse into that waiting future. You must feel the same sadness that I do, when you visit the park but cannot share it with your children. I’ll never understand why all those amazing Future World pavilions were removed.
My kids still had fun at EPCOT on our recent trip, but there definitely isn’t the same excitement for me in much of Future World. I think management just wasn’t sure what to do with EPCOT, and they’ve been riding on the special events and profits of World Showcase for years. I’m hoping they’ll really tackle Future World after they finish the Studios’ upgrades, but it’s going to be slow going I expect.