is one of the coolest attractions at The . Even though it is well over ten years old, the simulator is a must-do for every and provides an experience that is arguably closest to a real launch experience that can get outside of a place like .
EPCOT’s to Mars is steeped in real-world Exploration, blending almost seamlessly the historically accurate past with an inspiring fictionalized future using the Touchstone film to Mars starring , Don Cheadle, and Tim Robbins in the theming. But has moved further and further away from its movie origins, and people like Elon Musk work to make access an ever-closer reality.
I think it’s time that Disney partners with SpaceX founder Elon Musk to revamp to show the young and young at heart a preview of the exciting realities that lie ahead.
Replace Fictional History with Fact
Whether Disney uses SpaceX or not, needs a bit of an update historically. to Mars takes place in the year 2020, and it appears that we step into the year 2036. A look at the pictures up on the wall will show that the “history” is a little outdated. While we have a highlight reel of the , we don’t really have anything historically accurate beyond the era. It’s time to update the ‘s foundational history, including missions like CrewDragon 1, Inspiration4, and even the upcoming Polaris missions.
The , Less Intense ( free) Training to Earth orbit can include soon-to-be realized properties like Starships, private earth-bound stations, and the , More Intense Training to Mars can include sightings of the lunar station, Lunar Gateway, and SpaceX’s lunar landers. The can also include a concept of Musk’s city on Mars.
Updating the Queue
Related: Space 220 Officially Opens
While the giant centrifuge from to Mars is very cool to look at, along with the spacesuits worn in the movie, we can further replace Fiction with Fact by incorporating a look at the interior of SpaceX’s Starship as well as models of other SpaceX rockets.
Instead of fabricated fiction, we will get a legitimate plan for the future already in motion, and isn’t that what EPCOT is supposed to be about?
Update the
is a very not for the faint of heart. Even if choose the over the , it is intense and as close one can get to simulating . So, for those too short or with any other legitimate reason to bypass the experience, there is training.
A partnership with Elon Musk and SpaceX could make this consolation experience all the more incredible, so might even choose to send people to over their own .
Pre-Flight Video Starring Elon Musk
Related: Video: SpaceX Launch Spotted at Disney World
If any of the stuff above didn’t convince you Disney should give a SpaceX revamp, perhaps this will.
Imagine you and your party line up for orientation, and you see the Mars-bound man himself on the screen telling you about his plans for colonizing for the benefit of all mankind. Then imagine Elon Musk as your CapCom taking you through your from .
The itself doesn’t have to change all that much. We can still the X-2 Deep and board the same , but the briefing and communication are recorded by Elon Musk himself.
Continuing the Disney Tradition of Space Inspiration
The name Disney has been associated with for decades. himself gave Wernher von Braun a platform to get the American public excited about . A real was recruited to help build in . Today, Disney’s fascination with has taken a step further into fantasy with , Galaxy’s Edge, and : in and around Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney’s .
Related: 5 Attractions That Take You to Faraway Galaxies at Disney World
I have no doubt that giving a new exciting sponsor like SpaceX will give the chance to show that dreams to are closer to reality than they may think. And partnering with Elon Musk to give him the platform to get people excited about real space opportunities will be a full-circle moment for Disney as a whole.
