Awesome Planet

From The Mickey Wiki: Your Walt Disney World Encyclopedia!
Revision as of 13:00, 15 February 2020 by Mmouse (Talk | contribs)

Jump to: navigation, search
Awesome Planet
350px
The Awesome Planet attraction poster
Epcot
Land Future World
Theme Conservation
Opening date January 17, 2020
Ride duration 10:00 minutes
FastPass + No

Awesome Planet is an attraction located within The Land pavilion at Epcot

Attraction History

Awesome Planet was originally announced on March 19, 2019, as the long awaited replacement for The Land pavilion's former attraction Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable [1]. At the time, the film was described as,"an on-screen exploration of the realm we call home, (which) showcases the spectacular beauty, diversity and dynamic story of our earth with all the grandeur guests have come to expect" [1]. At this time, it was also noted the film's space sequences were created by Industrial Light & Magic.


In comparing Awesome Planet to its predecessor, Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable, Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald noted that in this new era, Disney wanted to give guests a more optimistic message. Fitzgerald noted:

we need to give to the audience is an optimistic message of hope for our planet. We worked with Jane Goodall, Sylvia Earl, we had many, many experts thanks to our DisneyNature team bringing in these people to help us with messaging.... It totally fits in The Land pavilion, it totally fits with Epcot’s message of an optimistic celebration of our world, but also a call to action for our future"[2]

The films narrator Ty Burrell was chosen in part because of the character Phil Dunphy he played on ABC's Modern Family [2]. Since Awesome Planet is framed as if it is being narrated by a "planetary realtor", who is trying to sell the audience on the wonder of Earth, Burrell was a natural choice. Furthermore, Fitzgerald noted that when casting the film's narrator they wanted someone who could be a "Disney dad", telling the story in a warm and friendly way, while also being able to add levity [2].

Prior to the opening of Awesome Planet, the Harvest Theater was updated, and the capacity for in theater effects was installed. The theater's famous preshow wall carpeting (which has been featured since EPCOT Center's opening day) remained, with Tom Fitzgerald noting that the carpet was "core DNA in Epcot [2]".

On January 17, 2020, Awesome Planet officially opened in The Land pavilion [3]. Since opening, the attraction has not seen any major changes.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/the-land-pavilion/news/19mar2019-awesome-planet-coming-to-epcots-land-pavilion.htm
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2020/01/14/interview-with-wdis-tom-fitzgerald-and-marie-colabelli-about-three-new-epcot-shows-canada-far-wide-awesome-planet-beauty-and-the-beast-sing-along/
  3. https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/awesome-planet/news/16jan2020-video---awesome-planet-at-epcots-land-pavilion.htm