Here is everything you need to know about Walt Disney World’s Epcot’s extinct Horizons attraction including history, fun facts, photos and more. I hope you find this listing informative and helpful!
About Horizons
Horizons was a beloved dark ride attraction that was once located at Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort, Florida. The attraction opened on October 1, 1983, and was part of the Future World section of the park.
Horizons was designed to showcase the potential future of technology and human progress, exploring various aspects of life in the 21st century and beyond. The ride took guests on a journey through time and space, offering visions of potential living environments, workspaces, and leisure activities.
The attraction’s storyline followed the fictional dream institute called “Dreamport,” where guests embarked on a thrilling trip using OmniMover ride vehicles. The ride took visitors through scenes of a desert farm, an undersea research base, and a futuristic space colony, among others.
One of the most remarkable features of Horizons was the Choose-Your-Own-Ending sequence. During the ride, guests could select one of three different destinations for their final scene, including a desert farm, an underwater city, or a space colony. This gave riders a sense of personalization and made each ride experience unique.
Horizons was known for its optimistic and inspirational vision of the future, promoting the idea of technological advancements that could lead to a better and more sustainable world. The attraction’s memorable theme song, “New Horizons,” further added to the overall experience.
Horizons was closed and demolished in 1999 to make way for the construction of the Mission SPACE attraction.
Fun Facts
- Horizons was sponsored by General Electric and was a showcase of the future, highlighting new technologies and innovations.
- The pavilion was designed to be an interactive experience where guests could explore different worlds and lifestyles of the future.
- The ride featured a variety of special effects and animatronics, including a desert oasis, an underwater utopia, and a city of the future.
- The ride also explored the possibilities of space travel and featured a countdown to liftoff, weightlessness and views of Earth from space.
- In the post-show area, guests could explore the various technologies and lifestyles depicted in the ride, such as the future possibilities of communication, transportation, energy, and more.
- The pavilion also featured a restaurant called the “Horizons Cafe” where guests could enjoy a meal while taking in views of the pavilion and the surrounding landscape.
- The pavilion was demolished but many of its elements were reused in other Disney theme parks and attractions, such as the “Mission: SPACE” attraction, the “SpaceShip Earth” attraction, and the “Journey into Imagination” attraction.
Important Horizons Details
- Disney Resort: Walt Disney World Resort
- Disney Park: Epcot Attractions News and History
- Attraction Type: Disney Rides, Extinct Disney Attractions
- Year Opened: 1983
- Year Closed: 1999
- Replaced: Original Attraction
- Replaced By: Mission: SPACE
Experience:
Recent News:
- The True Story of the Unauthorized, Daredevil Documentation of the Horizons Ride at Disney World, August 18, 2018
- Days of Disney Past: A Peek At Horizons, October 14, 2016
- 13 Reasons Disney Parks Fans Still Love Horizons Today, October 2, 2015
- Horizons: Why Disney Demolished Epcot’s Best Ever Attraction, June 27, 2015
- Top 10 Reasons Epcot’s Horizons Was The Greatest Dark Ride of All Time, January 29, 2015
- The True Story of the Unauthorized, Daredevil Documentation of the Horizons Ride at Disney World, August 18, 2018
- Days of Disney Past: A Peek At Horizons, October 14, 2016
- 13 Reasons Disney Parks Fans Still Love Horizons Today, October 2, 2015
- Horizons: Why Disney Demolished Epcot’s Best Ever Attraction, June 27, 2015
- Top 10 Reasons Epcot’s Horizons Was The Greatest Dark Ride of All Time, January 29, 2015