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Project Gemini

time racers
Image: Theme Park Tourist

In the early 2000’s Disney was looking to revamp EPCOT’s image as an educational park to one with more thrills. In addition, the park was becoming dated in the new millennium. The answer to this conundrum was Project Gemini which aimed to turn EPCOT’s Futureworld into a Discoveryland like Disneyland Paris has. As part of this massive renovation Mission: SPACE and a Jr. Autopia family attraction near Test Track would have been built, and the Living Seas pavilion would have been converted into a Little Mermaid-themed celebration of the ocean. The plan also included converting Spaceship Earth into a thrill ride called Time Racers.

Time racers would have been a roller coaster that retained much of the essence of Spaceship Earth with a thrilling "travel through time and space" theme. It would have used innovative projection technology to tell the story. The ride proved to be quite expensive, and Disney instead opted to renovate Spaceship Earth. We will finally see EPCOT’s first roller coaster this summer with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. While it is not the same concept, the Guardians coaster seems to have taken slight inspiration from this coaster that never was.

Guardians of the Galaxy, Disney
Image: Disney

While parts of Project Gemini like Mission: SPACE came to fruition, and the Living Seas was converted into another extremely popular IP, many parts like Time Racers proved too expensive and the full renovation never occurred at the time. However, nearly 15 years later, we are now seeing a massive renovation and reimaging of EPCOT with its many new attractions and new neighborhoods.

The Failed Meet the World Project

japan pavilion
Image: Theme Park Tourist

Meet the World is an attraction that formerly ran at Tokyo Disneyland and was meant to be included in the Japan pavilion at EPCOT. The attraction was similar to Carousel of Progress and featured a rotating theater with audio-animatronics and a movie screen background. The show was 19 minutes long and focused on the history of Japan and the country’s engagement with the world. It ran from 1983-2002.

As mentioned, it was meant to be added to the Japan pavilion at EPCOT. The theater was even constructed. However, due to construction errors and the fact it would have required a complete rework of the construction, Disney decided not to move forward with the attraction. The show building still stands though and is used as a rehearsal and storage space.

Which of these attractions do you wish could have come to EPCOT?

 
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