EPCOT Center was my jam. I loved it! Looking back on those original Future World pavilions today, I took for granted just how rare they were (and still are) for a theme park. They brought the type of education we see today in science museums to the masses in an entertaining way. A perfect example is the flagship attraction Spaceship Earth, which is still in place today. Despite multiple updates, it remains a slow-moving Omnimover ride through humanity’s past.
We have seen four different versions of Spaceship Earth during its 36-year history, and each has its own style. I’ve experienced three of them many times and have a few memories of the original during our 1984 vacation. To celebrate the continued success of this remarkable pavilion, I’ve started a weekly blog series that covers Spaceship Earth, scene by scene. Every Friday, I will make the slow journey up the geodesic sphere and back down again. I’ll discuss one scene each week and compare the different versions occupying that space.
My goal is to celebrate one of Disney’s greatest attractions by spotlighting why it works so well. Much of EPCOT Center is now gone, but Spaceship Earth remains extremely popular. Not every change was for the better, but the attraction’s soul remains. I’ll begin this week with our first moments after boarding our time machine vehicles. Before we travel back in time and see the cavemen, our narrator has sets the stage for what’s to come.
A Grand Approach
I’ve always loved the growing anticipation as we stroll up towards the entrance. The metal bars of the queue are basic, and the process has been complicated by FastPass Plus. Even so, they barely lessen the impact of the final walk towards a small opening beneath the massive structure. I enjoy visiting Spaceship Earth in the final hour when it’s a walk-on right up the path. It reminds me of the pre-FastPass days when Omnimovers could still provide a relaxing trip without the hassle of an appointment.
One reason for my excitement is the chance to see the Claudio Mozzoli mural, which presents several eras of communications history. This artwork fits best with earlier versions of Spaceship Earth, but it still captures the essence the attraction today. The stunning image of an astronaut working in space with a caveman in the background is both gorgeous and emotionally powerful. It has been my phone background for years and always inspires me to dream big.
We finally reach the unassuming but effective walkway onto the moving platform. The semicircle path gives us just enough time to step into our vehicles before it’s too late. Although they resemble other Omnimovers, our time-machine vehicles include a headrest to help with the steep inclines. I wouldn’t call it a comfortable seat, but it does the job and allows speakers to play behind our ears. We are now ready to enter the dark unknown for an epic journey.
A Word from Our Sponsor
Spaceship Earth currently operates without a sponsor, which is an interesting situation for the park’s centerpiece. When Disney ultimately finds a partner, I suspect we’ll see some updates. If nothing else, our introduction will remind us of the corporate backers. The most recent sponsor was Siemens, and they do little up front but welcome us aboard. We choose our spot on a map and pose for a picture, and it’s time for Judi Dench to begin our journey.
AT&T initiated our trip in the prior two versions with Jeremy Irons and Walter Cronkite narrating. Here is the introduction from the Irons version: “AT&T welcomes you aboard Spaceship Earth. Journey with us now to the dawn of recorded time as we explore the amazing story of human communication.” This quick overview ensures we have a basic grasp of what is to come. We’ll hear a bit more about the sponsor at the end, but here it just sets the stage for the adventure.
The original version, which was either narrated by Vic Perrin or Lawrence Dobkin (more on that later), was sponsored by Bell Systems. In each case, I appreciate the lack of unnecessary business talk here. EPCOT Center is known for having more blatant corporate messages, but there is little of that incursion within Spaceship Earth.
Introducing the Theme
There is a different tone to each Spaceship Earth version, and the mood is set with each narrator’s first words. We’re not 100% sure about the original voice but recognize the missing emotional draw of the 1982 attraction. Following my podcast with Peggie Fariss (show producer on Spaceship Earth), I asked her about the narrator’s identity. She is not 100% sure but initially believed in Marty Sklar’s assertion that it was Dobkin. Since that point, however, more news has arose that has most thinking it was Perrin. I have updated each article with Perrin’s name instead of Dobkin’s.
During the podcast, Fariss also explained how the change to Cronkite in 1986 rounded the attraction because people connected with him. Cronkite’s revised introduction fits with his smart, down-to-earth style as a news anchor:
“For eons, our planet has drifted as a spaceship through the universe. And for a brief moment, we have been its passengers. Yet in that time, we’ve made tremendous progress in our ability to record and share knowledge. So, let’s journey back 40,000 years to the dawn of recorded history. We’ll trace the path of communications from its earliest beginnings to the promise of the future.”
I love the way that Cronkite strikes a balance of intelligence and appreciation for our progress. Cronkite also introduces the idea of Earth as a spaceship drifting through the universe. The key word is “drifting”, which implies the lack of clear direction. Humans have only been part of this journey for a short time, but our achievements are remarkable. This longer opening is quite different from the 1982 start, which includes the iconic “Where have we come from, where are we going?” question.
That introduction is more ethereal and high-minded. Perrin continues, “In the dust from which we were formed, answers recorded on the walls of time.” I enjoy the mystery of this line, but it’s possibly too much for theme park guests. The final statement states, “So let us journey into that past, to seek those walls, to know ourselves and to probe the destiny of our Spaceship Earth.” It is a noble goal yet needs more humanity.
An Epic Journey
Spaceship Earth received a major update in 1994, including a brand-new narrator. While I love Cronkite and “Tomorrow’s Child”, there is a lot to appreciate with this version. Jeremy Irons brings awe and grandeur into the mix, and that matches the epic feeling. The orchestral music becomes more powerful, and the finale promises technological marvels around every turn. Irons also returns a sense of mystery to Spaceship Earth, beginning with his introduction:
“Like a grand and miraculous spaceship, our planet has sailed through the universe of time. And for a brief moment, we have been among its many passengers. From the very beginning, we have always sought to reach out to one another…to bridge the gaps between us…to communicate.”
Irons’ opening is incredible and the best from any introduction. It depicts humanity’s amazing journey in poetic terms yet doesn’t feel aloof. Irons’ delivery sells awe without being on the nose. His style is different from Cronkite’s and feels less prominent. He evokes the wonders of history but never speaks down to the guests.
Before Irons begins speaking, this version includes famous audio clips of Susan B. Anthony, John F. Kennedy, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. It feels like those figures are drifting through history, and that mystery builds the right mood. Irons also conveys the idea that communicating is an essential way for humans to connect. This concept foretells the rise of the Internet and the latest technological advances. Irons is the perfect choice to handle this ambitious version.
A Return to Earth
Today’s Spaceship Earth includes Judi Dench, who became the narrator in the 2008 Siemens update. Her script and vocal delivery seem designed to connect more on a personal level. Another change is the theme shifting to innovation. Instead of describing grand questions about communications, Dench presents technological advances throughout history. This version connects past scenes to our modern-day world, with mixed results. Dench’s introductions reveals that change:
“Like a grand and miraculous spaceship, our planet has sailed through the universe of time; and for a brief moment we have been among its passengers. But where are we going? And what kind of future will we discover there? Surprisingly, the answers lie in our past. Since the dawn of recorded history, we’ve been inventing the future, one step at a time. So let’s travel back in time together. I’ll show you how our ancestors created the world we know today, and then it will be your turn to create the world of tomorrow.”
This is easily the longest introduction, with an opening that is very close to Irons’ start. The theme of going “back in time together” conveys the point that Dench is on our level. We are experiencing the past to understand the future, and that idea fits to the new descent. The interactive screens make us more active participants, and the script reflects that change. It will be our turn in the end, which shows an attempt by Disney to make Spaceship Earth a less passive experience.
A Profound Journey
In the book Walt Disney’s EPCOT Center: Creating a New World of Tomorrow, Richard M. Beard describes Spaceship Earth’s message as “profound, provocative, and promising“. Those traits are evident within each introduction, particularly earlier versions. The questions about who we are as humans and where we come from are a fascinating way to start the attraction.
During the weeks ahead following this introduction, I’ll delve into how Disney presents the answers to these questions through each historical era of Spaceship Earth. Despite the various changes, it remains one of my favorite attractions. There is so much to explore in each scene, including the different variations over the years. Let’s board our time machine vehicles and discover more about our grand and miraculous spaceship!
Sources: INTERCOT, Martin’s Videos, Walt Disney’s EPCOT Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow by Richard M. Beard
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I agree with Marty Sklar’s contention that the original narrator was Larry Dobkin, not Vic Perrin. Both were active in radio drama, and the recordings from SSE sound much more like Dobkin’s work in radio.
The easiest to find reference for Perrin’s voice is the opening to The Outer Limits. If you listen to it, it’s very different than any recording of the original SSE narration.
On a related note, I also see references to Perrin as narrator of the intro to Universe of Energy (the Radok film). I contend that it’s actually Peter Thomas, mostly noted for Nova, Forensic Files, and the Philips HeartStart AED.
It’s interesting that Perrin is possibly misidentified by many as the narrator of two different attractions. I heard the audio on the version of the original from Martin’s Videos, and a little too muffled to have a decent gauge. It definitely seems like Dobkin is the most likely candidate now for sure.
Looks like it was Vic Perrin after all. Corroborated by the WED Enterprises casting director, Mark Eades,
That’s interesting. I hadn’t seen that info come across my feed. Did Mark write an article about it? The info has gone back and forth over the years, but I figured Dobkin seemed more likely with Marty Sklar’s info and the support from Peggie.
Thanks for doing this series! Spaceship Earth is my favorite attraction of all time, and I have experienced it hundreds of times. A little over a year ago, I got to go on a walking tour of the attraction! I look forward to reading your analysis, and I appreciate your attention to detail in honoring this great attraction! 🙂
Lisa, I’m jealous that you were able to walk onto the attraction. That’s definitely up there on my bucket list of behind-the-scenes tours that I’d love to take, I’ve heard stories about it and would love to learn more about how it all comes together. This series is a fun way for me to dive further into Spaceship Earth. It’s definitely up there for me in terms of my favorites.
Hi, as the WDI Art Director for the Siemens rehab, I’m happy to offer any info you would like on the subject.
Hi Neil. I’d love to learn more about that rehab from you. Can you e-mail me at dan@tomorrowsociety.com? It would be great to connect about Spaceship Earth.
Hey Dan! I’ve had this article bookmarked for weeks and am finally getting to give your articles the attention they deserve. I’m very excited about your in-depth look into my favorite ride. It’s been on my mind a lot lately since it will be closing this year for a very lengthy refurbishment/update. I’m so curious to find out what will be done, and hope everything will only make this wonderful experience even more touching.
Melanie, it’s interesting that we’ve heard a lot of rumors about Spaceship Earth closing, but there’s been nothing official. I wonder if it will be as extensive as the rumors are indicating. With the new entrance also being put in place in the next few years, I guess it’s the right time to do a new version of Spaceship Earth! I hope there’s some advance notice at least so I can hopefully get out and ride it again before it goes down.
I’m surprised the controversy about whether the narrator was Perrin or Dobkin endured for as long as it did when all one has to do is listen to Perrin’s voice narrating “The Outer Limits” to Dobkin’s voice narrating the original “Hall Of Presidents” to know right away it’s unquestionably Perrin (who also narrated the pre-show films in “Universe Of Energy” and can also be heard narrating the Disneyland RR in the early 80s period as well). People were just too willing to take Marty Sklar’s word for it then do the simplest thing which is compare the two voices.
Yeah, I also had it as Dobkin because of Sklar, and Peggie Fariss also said she thought it was Dobkin when I asked her. I’m glad that it finally seems resolved!