mission space

Mission: SPACE at Epcot® Set to Send Guests Out of This World
The excitement, the thrill and the rush of rocketing into outer space are coming to Walt Disney World® Resort.

Mission: SPACE presented by HP - the next awesome adventure at Epcot® - begins sending guests on an out-of-this-world journey they never thought possible on Aug. 15. Guests who accept the mission will engage in a one-of-a-kind astronaut experience that launches them into a simulated space adventure - from pulse-racing liftoff to the sensations of traveling though outer space on a mission to Mars. "The combination of creative and entertainment magic of Disney and the technology of HP create an experience that our guests can get nowhere else in the world," said Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World® Resort. "Epcot is the perfect setting, continuing the park's dedication to the explorer in all of us." The new attraction is the most technologically advanced ever created by Disney. In association with former NASA advisors, astronauts and scientists, Walt Disney Imagineering developed Mission: SPACE as the first ride system ever created to take guests straight up in simulated flight.

Pre-Show
The setting for the attraction is several decades into the future at the International Space Training Center. As the "crew" selected for this ultimate space mission, guests head to the dispatch area and then move to the Ready Room where they receive a history of astronaut training and are given the role they will assume during the mission - as the commander, pilot, navigator or engineer.

Countdown Liftoff
Then it's on to the pre-flight corridor to load into the spacecraft, receive final briefings from CapCom and buckle in for liftoff. When the countdown reaches zero, the most unique and exhilarating ride experience ever begins. The earth begins to rumble, white clouds of exhaust start to stir as the ascent toward the sky starts and guests are rocketed into the galaxies. Guests hear from CapCom and are asked to perform vital tasks that will land their spacecraft safely on Mars. Each guest will assume the role of commander, pilot, navigator or engineer. But there is no mission without surprise as guests encounter unexpected twists, turns and other challenges that test every astronaut. Quick thinking and fast reactions are needed by each guest to successfully complete the mission.

"It's an amazing experience, it's out of this world," said Bob Zalk, Walt Disney Imagineer and co-producer of Mission: SPACE.

"Guests will certainly say this ride is unlike any other experience they have had before." The realism of the experience adds to its uniqueness, said Susan Bryan, Walt Disney Imagineer and co-producer of Mission: SPACE.

"Mission: SPACE is very much based in reality, it's a mix of real science and thrill," Bryan said. "The sensations are what the astronauts actually experience, but it's accessible to our guests."

Epcot® is the Walt Disney World® Resort discovery park, where guests are immersed in a celebration of both technological accomplishments and international cultural achievements. The 300-acre theme park features two unique worlds - Future World and World Showcase - with attractions, shows, interactive presentations, dining, shopping and architectural wonders. Epcot® is part of the 30,500-acre Walt Disney World® Resort, near Orlando, Florida.