‘Captain EO,’ starring Michael Jackson, returning to Disney World on July 2
Dewayne Bevil, Featured, News, Things to do — By Dewayne Bevil on April 28, 2010 at 9:20 amIt’s official: Captain EO is returning to Disney World. The 17-minute 3-D film featuring Michael Jackson will re-debut July 2 at Epcot, where it played from 1986 to 1994.
Captain EO will play in the Honey, I Shrunk the Audience building in Epcot’s Future World for an indefinite amount of time, although Disney officials said Tuesday that Honey is expected to return eventually.
There has been a movement for the revival since Jackson died unexpectedly last year. The film, directed by Francis Ford Coppolla, already has been brought back to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. , and has start dates in Disney parks in Paris (June 12) and Toyko (June 30).
Public demand played a role in the comeback.
“It’s certainly rooted in guest feedback,” says Disney World spokesman Rick Sylvain. Response at Disneyland, where EO has been playing since February, has been “overwhelmingly positive,” he says.
The film as a futuristic, Epcot-y feel with its space warrior theme. Jackson plays the title character. Other recognizable actors include Anjelica Huston as “the Supreme Leader” and Dick Shawn as “Commander Bog.” (Shawn died in 1987.) One of the captain’s alien crew is a flying sidekick called Fuzzball.
It features two songs by Jackson: “We Are Here to Change the World” and “Another Part of Me.”
OK, so who’s excited about this? And who had their fill of Fuzzball by the ’90s? Drop me a line at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com.
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Tags: captain eo, Disney World, Epcot, Future World, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, michael jackson
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76 Comments
I love Captain EO. I’ll be there. Thanks Disney for bringing it back along with the Electrical Parade.
“OK, so who’s excited about this?”
Oh, I am, I am!! Now if they would only bring back the original Kodak preshow in front of it….
Now my 4-year-old can experience the same little show that made great childhood memories for me.
They show the original “making of” Kodak film in the queue at Disneyland, so I imagine they’ll do the same at Epcot.
Do they still make film?
Could Capt. EO be too scary for younger kids? I saw a little clip of it and it had a big, ugly, spider lady hanging in the air. Can anyone that has seen all of it, give an age range?
I remember seeing it when I was like 5 and it was fine then.
it’s not really scary. You can view it on youtube. but youtube doesn’t do it justice. What makes it cool is the effects. and of course Michael.
you can see it on youtube. just type Captain EO
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that show was call “Capture a smile” if I am not mistaken. It would be over the top cool if thtat was brought back too.
This is excellent news! I wish WDW would bring back more of the classics to the other parks as well.
I’m excited to get rid of Honey I Shrunk the Audience. I’d be even more excited if they’d come up with something new to put in that theater soon.
This is great, finnaly it’s comming back to my city.
I saw it as a kid at Epcot Center, this will bring back so many good memories. spreading messages of truth, fairness, and love, who better that Michael Jackson right.
So, is it July 2nd or the 3rd? Headline says the 2nd but the article states the 3rd. Great job, as always, reporting correct and consistant information!
Rats, it’s the 2nd. Have corrected now. Thanks.
Thank you. Always here to proofread.
hey Upset……you shouldn’t take too much credit for being a proof reader when you can’t spell “consistent”.
GREAT news. I love that movie.
Awesome.. now they just need to bring back the Adventurers Club! Stupiud Disney..
Kongaloosh!!!
Please still be there at the beginning of December 2011!!
I’ll second that!!!
HELL F*** YEA…
I remember waiting HOURS for this ride… I have been waiting for this and knew it had to make a come back… It’s about time…
Now Disney might make some Money…
I was looking forward to taking my 2- and 3-year-old nephews to see “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” 3D for the first time. I will not be taking them to see a Michael Jackson film and have no interest in seeing it myself. Hoping that “Honey” will be back soon.
Captain Eo is really cool. If you have never seen it you should reconsider. I think you will enjoy it. Michael Jackson may have had an odd personality, but you can’t deny he was incredibly talented.
I agree. I like the current “honey” show. I saw Capt EO when it was new. I thought it was lousy then, and I probably will think it’s lousy now. On the other hand I’m not sorry I saw it originally, it’s part of “the World” history – unfortunately that’s where it belongs: in history.
I dont think your 2 or 3 year old relatives will even remember the movie anyway.
Jen,
It’s totally worth seeing. Why wouldn’t you want to treat your children to a Michael Jackson film? Michael is mesmerizing to watch. Your kids will adore him!
Please do not tell me you are another one who fell for the media drivel about Michael. PLEASE visit http://www.somj.org pm me “That Pirate Chick” and I’ll be happy to direct you to the truth.
Michael was innocent of all charges he was ever accused of. Its sad that some remember the lies opposed to the truth. It is also sad when it’s due to willful ignorance.
You’re nuts. I would have given him the benefit of the doubt, until I he said in an interview that the movie he climbed into bed to watch with the little boy that became the major story was ‘The Shining’! You spend a day with Uncle Mike in a fairy-tale park, and then, when it’s time to go to bed, he pops in one of the scariest movies that a child could watch. If they were watching Peter Pan, I might have believed that he was just a fun-loving kid, but a movie like that was meant to scare the kids and have them cuddle for protection.
Please give me a break…Captain EO was an awesome movie and one of my favorites as a kid. Don’t worry, I am sure they will bring back your “Honey” soon enough to satisfy you and all of the other whiny soccer moms.
How unfortunate for your kids!
Yay!! I am so excited to share this with my children. I pulled up the movie on You Tube after Michael Jackson passed away and I showed it to them, but it will be so much better in 3D and on the big screen
Honey I Shrunk the Audience needs to go away permanently. It’s terribly outdated and boring. No one ever goes to it anyway.
Is Craptain EO the answer? Short term, yes of course. Long term, absolutely not.
Disney needs to put an all new show in this space.
Then if you still want Craptain EO, go to youtube.
I saw Captain EO the first time I visited EPCOT, it brings back some happy memories. Good to hear it’s coming back!
now if they only would restore the original ‘Journey into Imagination’ ride, the pavilion would be complete!
I miss that attraction and the Imageworks which was upstairs as well. They need to bring both back.
I agree, the original journey into imagination ride was very creative especially for the kids.
Amen to that! The old Journey into Imagination ride was my favorite when I was little-the new one’s a little cheesy for my taste, and I don’t like Figmant being treated as a nuisance.
Will they also bring back the “Making Memories” pre-show? I always thought CaPTain EO was an anagram for EPCOT…
Very Gay_e. One of the lamest, most pretentious over-produced garbage ever. This is perfect for the effeminate, Gap-wearing, tone-deaf yuppies who swarm Disney properties. Enjoy your karaoke!!!
Michael Jackson’s music is far from being anything like Karaoke Are you kidding???? You’re not hailed as the greatest entertainer of all time if your product is mediocre and lame as karaoke.
Have you ever listened to this mans voice, I mean really listened? He is a vocal genius!
This is AWESOME NEWS!!!! I love Michael Jackson. I can’t wait to see this!!! Never got to see it last time around…..Michael is amazing.
We first visited Captain EO just after it first opened. I still smile when I recall watching the kids play in the water spritzes while waiting our turn to see the show. I can hardly wait to get back and relive a piece of our history with our grandkids!! Gotta see “Figment”, “Beaker” and the “Professor” too! Captain EO was one of the coolest shows of the day then.
I will enjoy seeing it again. My son may, now that he’s grown ,not try to claw his way throught he seat when the lion comes on seat.LOL I also agree that they need to bring back the ORIGINAL journey… We miss Figment!!!
I agree it’s time for Honey to go. It’s been around a long time and very dated. Captain EO is a great on to take it’s place, but don’t overplay it either. You need to keep changing. Thank you.
I’m really not happy about this. I spend several weekends a year at EPCOT and hoped that Disney would not bring it back just because of his death. Yes he was talented, but remember the reason that they took it out of the park to begin with. Just because he is gone doesn’t mean that his image is clear of all the bad accusations from the past. This is really disappointing for me and I am a HUGE Disney fan. Sad, sad day.
Heartbroken!,
Are you kidding!!!!! this closed in 1997 Eleven years AFTER It debuted–and 5 years after the false allegations!!! Disney taking Captain EO out of the park had nothing to do with the Chandlers or their lies!!!
in 2003 Michael was found innocent Read Aphrodite Jones’ book the Michael Jackson Conspiracy Open your eyes to the truth before you go spouting ignorance online about something you obviously know nothing about!
This is a glorious day! Long live the KING!
Kudos to the Walt Disney Company!
Let’s face it, he was cleared because he could afford the best lawyers and had celebrity status, had it been you or I facing similar charges we would be looking at a 30 year stretch. As for replacing Honey I Shrunk The Audience, why not replace it with something new instead of trawling something up from the past, obviously the cheap option.
OMG! my daughter is going to be f-n Thrilled!!!!! !I am so excited!! I get to share this with her!!!!!!
I had planned a trip to CA JUST TO SEE THIS AT DISNEYLAND!!! omg it’ll be on the east coast is awesome!!! I am so excited!!! I am so thankful that Disney heard our cries and paid homage to this legendary person by putting this back at the parks! YES!!!!!
of course they are bringing back during “peak seasonal” times of the year when we can’t use our seasonal passes. Hopefully it will still be there in the middle of August when we can use them again
Honey, I Bored the Audience is outdated and seriously, who really cared about the movie then, much less now? This is great news in the short-term if nothing else for reasons of nostalgia. I think they should run this until they come up with a new production to put in its place and move this to DVD with 3-D effects. Not quite as good as seeing it at EPCOT, but it would still be a must-have for many collectors.
Perfect – honoring a pedophile at a children’s amusement park.
You’re idiot! Where’s your mind???
@feathers I find that very offensive…not the pedophile part (that’s your opinion), but to call any of the Disney parks a child’s amusement park, especially EPCOT….I shake my head in disgust
hey how about if you have such a problem with it… dont come back to the park! i know half the people that work at the park would be a lot happier to not have to deal with simple minded haters like you! do us all a favor… dont come to disney world!
What a great news! Can’t wait to see it! Love Michael and love Captain EO. Finally I’ll get a chance to see it in Epcot- my favorite park.
RIP Michael.
Love to see this again, making it another reason to return to Orlando from the U.K. (If i can fill all the paper work in to get in the U.S.A but thats another topic.)Shame we can’t have Walter Cronkite doing the voice over at Space Ship Earth. What a voice..
Woo! Hoo! I am so excited to see Captain EO again. Thanks Disney. I saw when I was younger with my parents and I can hardly wait to see again.
Why do people continue to drag Michael Jackson’s name through the mud though, I just do not understand it. As a non-American, I’ve always looked to the US as the land of justice and fair play. I cannot believe after hounding this gentle, kind, sweet soul throughout his life it continues even after he’s left us. When you look within your heart, do you really see only negative and hateful things about him?
The only thing crazy about Michael Jackson is that he thought he could change the world through L.O.V.E. and I believe he will continue to do so for a very long time. His message after his passing is even stronger and it has hit many of us throughout the globe.
All for love,
‘feathers’ you obviously don’t believe in a person being innocent until proven guilty. This is hardly the forum in which to perpetuate false allegations against Michael Jackson who was found not guilty of all charges by a jury in 2005. To continue to say such things about him – or anyone else in a similar situation – is nothing short of scandalous and, given that you did not provide your actual name, cowardly.
I love it! I LOVE MICHAEL JACKSON! Long live the King!
To “Heartbroken”: I was heartbroken when I visited Disney World years ago with my young kids and found out that they had taken out “Captain EO” and replaced it with “Honey I Shrunk The Kids” or whatever it was called. I felt like my family lost out on seeing Captain EO back in the 90’s. Now with the economic crisis I don’t know if we could afford to go back and see it this year.
Missing MJ.
Captain EO was pretty cool. I never was a Michael Jackson fan. I have listened to Christian music only for more than 25 years so I never really got into Michaels music.
Go ahead and attack me for that choice.
I would like to see Disney bring in something new, exciting and takes advantage of the high tech 3D and hidh defintion that is avaiable now.
No one is attacking your choice in Christian music but you should try listening to MJ’s stuff as well as other stuff. His music is fun…
Thank you Mickey!!!!! I love EO!!!
I am so excited about them bringing back Captain Eo…I just wish that they would bring it back sooner here in Orlando…My friend from NYC is coming down and,I know that she is a MJ fan…I used to go to see CE every time that I went to Epcot before they took it out…
LOVE IT!! Ill be visiting Disneyworld in Oktober and finally i can see captain eo joehoeee
Thnxx for bringing it back
I too am looking forward to see Captain EO again. The film was quite enjoyable, and the effects they threw in (lasers, smoke) added the thrill. I had enjoyed MJ’s music for a long time (as for the man himself, well, he was the quirky guy, but who isn’t, really?).
As a replacement for Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (HISTA), I also think this may be a short-term thing (EO scary? Yes, Supreme Leader had wardrobe tips from the ‘Aliens’ queen, but what about the mice, snake, and lion effects in HISTA? I work at MuppetVision 3-D, and I get comments from parents about their kids being scared to death in HISTA, hence being scared to see other “tamer” 3-D movies…like Muppets…I know, I’m biased, but I do get those comments!).
But frankly, EO would be there for a while, then they will bring back HISTA, or perhaps something new, in light of the spate of 3-D movies being released nowadays? Disney-Pixar’s “Up” comes to mind, and come to think of it, wouldn’t that fit into EPCOT’s theming? Hmmmm…..
HAL
Heee heeeeee! Sham-on, cha-ewwwwww!
First Tina Fey now Michael Jackson. Just great, who will we see at WDW next…perhaps that hot new couple Jesse James and Ricky Martin?
MY DEAR LORD i hope i never see lady ann and the rest of her family (if she even has one) at disney world. i mean jesse james is a loser but Tina Fey?! are you crazy?! and ricky martin!? whats wrong with him. i bet she is one of those stupid people who hates gay people. guess what, you stupid lady… i’ve got some news for ya. everybody at disney world is gay. like some astonishing 70% of the dudes who work there. maybe you are taking your kids to the wrong themepark… holy land is only a couple miles away. whatever will she do when she realizes peter pan and all her favorite disney princes are gay and that she is a loser who has no place in a disney park! SUBMIT YOURSELF LADY. GO TO HOLY LAND INSTEAD. i would HATE to encounter somebody like you while i was at work. YUCK. i bet ann is really ugly too.
This is great news! Its nice to see something fresh but classic at the same time come back to Epcot. Hopefully this will also liven up the Imagination pavilion which has become less and less popular over the years.
Go Disney! GO EPCOT!!
It’s possible that as a child tina fey would sleep in michael jackson’s bed. E! should do an investigation, they can ask the one cory that didn’t OD.
ann you really suck . you are a zombie.
For any one who thinks that Michael Jackson is guilty you should look up a man by the name of Charles Thomson on Youtube or your search engine to find out the truth. Charles Thomson is a journalist that tells the truth about what happend to Michael Jackson concerning the false allegations brought up against him. As for Captain Eo returning to all the Disney parks I am all for it.
Cant wait to show my girls
They will love it
I want to go see this. Mike was awesome. Also, I read that this film cost around $30 Million to make. It will definitely be worth watching. I love his music and dancing.
Honey I Shrunk the Audience is a total BORE.
If you would like to read more of what I have to say about Captain EO returning to Disney parks, check out my blog page at http://www.disneydude.com.