What’s old is new again as ‘Captain EO’ returns to Epcot
Dewayne Bevil, Featured, News — By Dewayne Bevil on June 30, 2010 at 10:54 am
The movie poster for 'Captain EO' (Walt Disney Co.)
Walt Disney World continues its wave of nostalgia with the rebirth of Captain EO — a 3-D sci-fi movie featuring Michael Jackson and a crew of fuzzy space explorers — at Epcot.
The film, which ran at the theme park from 1986 to 1994, returns July 2 for a limited run, although Disney has not announced when it will stop the show. EO fans will see a familiar production through their special glasses.
“It’s a 3-D film, 70 mm, two projectors. We are showing it the same way we showed in 1986,” says Joe Tankersley, show producer.
“It’s also one of the first ‘4-D’ films, one of the first 3-D films with in-theater effects — wind, water and lighting,” he says. “That’s part of what makes it so special.”
(Check out photos of the movie at Epcot)
EO, with its bag of in-your-face tricks, led the way for other productions such as MuppetVision 3-D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and It’s Tough to Be a Bug at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The new/old film will run in its original home at Epcot’s Imagination Pavilion and temporarily replace the 3-D production that took the place of EO in the ’90s, Honey I Shrunk the Audience.
This year, Disney already has presented a revival — with tweaks — of a fan favorite, the Main Street Electrical Parade at Magic Kingdom. It’s also toyed a bit with Toy Story Mania and Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios. The new bits for Captain EO are mainly “4-D” effect involving the 570-seat theater’s floor, which was altered when Honey moved in.
Disney World guests will start seeing EO a little more than a year after Jackson’s unexpected death. The building did not require major modifications, mostly cosmetic painting and redecorating to get away from the Imagination Institute theming in the pre-show area.
“We had to take down all the wall graphics and re-do the wall graphics with EO,” says Debbie Petersen, art director.
“We took out the carpet because it had Imagination logos,” she says. “We just took all that out and brought in a really fun kind of retro, colorful carpet.”
During the planning for the EO relaunch, someone from the maintenance team mentioned that the show’s original marquees were still on Disney World property. After the last EO show in ‘94, maintenance had unbolted the signs and mounted them high on a wall in the maintenance area.
“I remember thinking they would be in some dusty, dirty closet with dust bunnies all over it,” Petersen says. “They were in pristine condition.”
They’re a physical tie to the past.
“We were excited to have that little piece of history,” she says. “It’s something that none of the other EO shows have.”
EO started playing again at Disneyland in February and is also playing at Disney parks in Tokyo and Paris.
Petersen worked at Epcot when EO replaced an original park show, Magical Journeys.
“When EO came, it was such a jump in technology,” she says. “And just the experience with the music and everything tied together, it was so fun.”
Disney expects that fun to return with the 17-minute film, which also stars Anjelica Huston as “the Supreme Leader.”
“It’s a classic show, it’s really timeless. The humor still works,” Tankersley says. “I think you are going to see a lot of people quoting those lines again.”
Re-opening day
Epcot will open at 8:30 a.m. Friday for guests who want to see EO. (The park typically opens at 9.) There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony, said Dan Cockerell, vice president for Epcot, and the event will include recognition of a couple of cast members who were working at EO when it closed back in ‘94 and are back in 2010.
Our Guide to ‘Captain EO’
It has been 16 years since Captain EO played at Epcot. We don’t want to print spoilers, but here are a few elements of the production that might spark memories.
– The ship is manned by a “ragtag band led by the infamous Captain EO.” That’s Michael Jackson, backed by a bunch of furry creatures that have a bad — yet unspecified — combat record. The most comic of the comic relief is a character named Hooter, who keeps foiling things, which makes the captain giggle. Hooter also plays keyboard.
– Future Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston, playing the Supreme Leader, is almost unrecognizable and evil. She sentences our hero to 100 years of torture. (Other characters are to be turned into trash cans.)
– Jackson looks young — he turned 28 the year EO debuted — and, from certain angles, looks like he could be, oh, Janet Jackson’s brother.
– Michael’s wardrobe is mostly a white, leather space-captain number, but he accessorizes with a cape.
– The two songs (“We Are Here to Change the World” and “Another Part of Me”) lead to dance numbers (moonwalk alert), and the captain obtains the power to turn enemy guards into (very ’80s) dancers.
– The film was pricy to make — upwards of $30 million — but it had pedigree with director Francis Ford Copolla and executive producer George Lucas in the credits.
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48 Comments
I think I have had enough of MJ. Let it go.
Well, I moved here in 1996 and missed EO. I plan to see it tomorrow night (thur). So, STFU.
Then don’t go and see it. Some of us will enjoy this greatly!
Well they probably won’t go and see it. But you see this area is called the “comments” and in case you didn’t realize – it’s where you share your personal comment.
So don’t get mad at people when they share their thoughts.
Matt, we’re not mad with them, we’re also just expressing OUR OPINIONS about the COMMENTER. So, don’t YOU get mad about us expressing our opinions of other commenters.
Don’t get mad at people expressing opinions about opinions of opinions that other people wrote!
I think about maybe 2 people care about what your opinion is. People love Michael and always will, so why don’t YOU let it go….
I love this movie… I’m so glad they brought it back… No matter what your feelings are about Jacksons personal life you can’t argue that he is one of the best performers in history…
This guy is one of the worst role models in recent memory and most probably a molester of children. I am shocked and saddened by Disney’s decision to honor a man who should be utterly forgotten. Disney should know this; as a result of their actions our family of four did not purchase season passes which was our original intent for this year.
Oh I’m SO sure that because of this ONE movie going back into one of Disney’s hundreds of attractions in one of their FOUR parks you decided not to buy four season passes.
BTW – Jackson was found not guilty on all charges. Yutz.
Great. One less family of small-minded bigots to contend with in the park! I’m going to make up for you and buy season park hoppers for the whole clan tomorrow!
Are you SERIOUS? Because of Captain EO? Gawd – glad I don’t hang around with your family…I’m sure you are LOADS of fun to be around.
And no season tickets? Umm…I think they announced this in April of this year…so, if that was your intent for “this year,” wouldn’t you have bought tickets at the beginning of the year rather than waiting to complain about it in June?
LOL are you slow?
The passes are 365 days NOT from January – December
LOLOLOL
I didnt know anybody was that stupid.
If you’re referring to my comment and myself – a current passholder and former cast member who sold them – I know they’re 365 days from date of purchase. I was referring to the person stating it was their “original intent for this year” but complaining about Captain EO in June. It gave the impression TO ME AT LEAST – and NO, I’m not slow and stupid, but thanks for the insults – that it was something they wanted to do at the beginning of the year.
FORGIVE me, OH SUPERIOR BEING and NON-SLOW and NON-STUPID EMBODIMENT of PERFECTION, if I misunderstood the original poster’s intent.
LOLOLOL to you too.
We weep. Seriously. Crushed.
Sheep are for farms.
Whine whine, cry cry. Who cares if you didn’t purchase a season pass. If you truthfully didn’t buy passes due to them bringing back an attraction for a LIMITED run, you are an idiot. There are millions of other visitors who will take your place. Disney doesn’t care one bit about John Lane or him lame excuse on why he didn’t buy a season pass. I am truly grateful that you didn’t buy a pass, John. That’s one less moron we all have to deal with.
John lane.. ……I think you need to re-examine what you stated. Not only did you make your self look like an utter moron but you fail to recognize that the film is just purely entertainment. Disney has been founded on very corrupt business moves; Disney was a known racist and Anti-Semite. So you take MJ and think you know him based on tabloids. Well if you were an intelligent person you would know he was found not guilty. The child in the 2001 case recanted his story. Also the father from the first case committed suicide (Very sad)as he could not live with thinking he contributed to MJ’s mental health issues. It’s a shame that we brand people for things they are not. I would say that MJ had a lot of mental health issues and it is a shame what his life turned into. But when you go and make really stupid comments like “I will not buy a season pass because something has MJ in it” Really do you see how narrow minded that was? I think we should look into what people offer us, MJ was an entertainer. Who care about his crazy antics and all the false allegations. He provided Millions of dollars in money for various children’s charities (More then the Disney Cooperation ever has) and is a guineas world book holder for most charitable donations. So in the end I hope you can reexamine your narrow minded thoughts on this.
didnt he like 2 hangout with little boys, a little 2 much?
John really?? that make no sense! What a sad excuse not to buy season passes you could have just boycotted epcot winstead of the whole resort. And how unfair to your kids, and what values are you teaching them?? You must have told them what a bad man he was and said this is why we are not buying passes. Yes he was extremely out there, but disney is looking at his entertainment side, they are not showing a 60 minutes clip of him and what he has done in his personal life. It’s not fair to fault disney.
Stop Hating on Michael Jackson. He was a troubled soul who had a horrible home life who was always trying to recapture his childhood. But, at the same time, he was an extremely gifted, talented, creative and innovative performer who influenced several generations from music to fashion. That is what should be remembered about him, not the accusations that people have made against him for financial gain. He was never convicted of anything and he spoke out numerous times about the fact he never did anything to anyone and the people who accused him rescinded their accusations. So, I have shared my love of Michael’s music with my two children and I am very excited to take them on Friday to experience something that I greatly enjoyed in MY childhood and they will get a chance to see Michael when he was in his prime.
The evidences was there, but the juror was bias cause he was a celebrity, If it was a regular Joe being accused of being 2 close 2 little boys, he would be in jail right now getting beat up…
And NOMIKE, just what evidence are you referring to? Common, I wanna know. I bet you don’t know much about the details of both cases at all. I know that by just your comment alone about the jury. So common bring it on. Don’t just say that there WAS EVIDENCE. WHAT WAS THE EVIDENCE?
Dont you think the alarm on the hallway that rang in the bed room, or even Mike himself admitting that he thought it was ok to sleep with someone elses little boys is enough? C’mon, you all know you would not let a 45 year old man have a sleepover with your kids would you. Definately guilty!
I would if all i wanted in the first place was to get rich off the scandal.
Hey Mike, the juror? Don’t you mean jury? Or do you think there was just the one?
I guess the results of our judicial system are acceptable only when it suits your purposes. MJ was found not guilty and it was explained multiple times over that he paid the money to stop the madness; BTW, the kid later admitted his father made him do it and the allegations were not true. His father later committed suicide. So, give it up! There are a lot of MJ fans out there who are sick and tired of you guys who prefer to dredge up all the negative BS. Get over it; the man is dead and may he RIP.
Wasn’t the mother of one of the boys who accused him of “molestation” later found out to have also accused a Sears security guard (or someone like that) of raping her too?
I’m glad to see all these people trashing MJ on this board are gifted with the ability to KNOW ALL and that we, apparently, are the stupid ones. WHATEVER!
I’m not saying MJ wasn’t eccentric – he definitely was…but REALLY…. LET IT GO already!
Captain EO isn’t about Michael Jackson’s personal life!
It is a 3D movie that is entertainment. If you don’t like MJ, don’t go see it. But leave opinions about MJ’s personal life out!!!
Michael — come back! All is forgiven!
NOT
I am embarrassed for WDW.
RE:Triva
That kid never retraced his claim, I look all around the web and there’s no story indicating so. Stop trying to defend a man who hung out with little boys. He paid that kid off because he had the goods on Michael. No excuse for man who hung out with little white boys…The man committed suicide because he’s the one who led his kid into Michael’s life, guilt made him take his life…
Hey NOMIKE, you do know that Evan Chandler – the guy who you are referring to – also was terminally ill when he took his own life. Did ya look that up too, or were you there and talked to him about why he was going to kill himself moments before? I’m just saying…since you seem to know all…
Wow! Bunch of finger pointers…I respect the fact that o town girl at least backed her comments with a JOB that supports her views rather than….where exactly did you all say you worked? Yea, thought so.
I WORKED ON THE FILM! Look it up! (john sweeney, art dept. IMDB)
Yo NOMIKE… read this:
http://trashselector.com/evan-chandler-i-lied-for-my-father-im-sorry-michael/
they wont read it. lol
Wow wdw, this is your answer to harry potter an old video you had sitting in the back closet wow good luck with that. disney sucks people get over it…the money you spend on season passes could be better family or whatever vacations else-where with much more enjoyment.
Yah, and that whole Fantasyland expansion that is bigger than Harry Potterville.
Idiot.
If you weren’t in the room with Michael Jackson and ANY boy then stop acting as if you know what went on. If you weren’t an actual eye witness then you couldn’t possibly know anything.
As for Evan Chandler, Jordan Chandler’s father, he committed suicide because he suffered from a rare and painful form of leukemia. The man had been bedridden for a very long time and ended it. There was no admission of regret and no retraction of accusations. How could they retract their accusations? They couldn’t because then they’d have to pay back the $20mill and you know there aint no way in hayle that’s gonna happen.
Nonetheless, Michael was murdered. Too bad everyone else is getting rich now offa his back and hard work.
Thank you! You’ll see from my post above that I stated similar.
I love how people, i.e. NOMIKE, spew garbage without backing it up once they are confronted with the truth.
Now if they’d just bring back the ORIGINAL Journey Into Imagination, we’d be set!!!
Can’t wait to see EO tomorrow night!!
AGREED!!!! About One Hundred Percent! Bring back the Dreamfinder!
I would love to be able to see EO as soon as that, but I’ll just have to wait for a bit. But I can guarantee that I will be taking my Children to this to tell them about one of my favorite childhood memories.
I am so excited about seeing EO again! We saw it when my kids, who are now 21 and 25, were still young. We all loved it. MJ was a fantastic performer and this is him in his prime! I’m so glad we have our annual passes at Disney! Speaking of which, Disney’s going to soon allow us to buy them with a monthly payment plan.
“I can’t wait till they bring back “Captain EO…I loved MJ…and the movie was so cute…”
Wow, you jerks have managed to turn something that is meant to share our parents childhood memories with us, Generation X and Y and future generations, into complete and utter kaos. If you don’t like the fact that Disney has put Captain EO out there, DON’T GO SEE IT!!! Get over it!!
I don’t ever recall seeing Captain EO (then again, I was born in the late 80’s) and am super excited to see it this summer! I do agree that the original Journey into the Imagination was better than the one thats playing now. I do have some type of memories of Dreamfinder. I just hope that I do get to have the chance and share my memories of Disney with my children, in the future.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW. This article is about a show featuring a fictional character. It’s new to those who actually have the imagination to believe the storyline. These children have absolutely no idea who MJ was or what he might have done with other little boys. If you are not a child visiting EPCOT for the first time, your opinions are bunk. Any kid watching the show will see captain EO on the screen, nobody else. It sucks that such a great peice of cinematic history that led to other great disney creations such as (my personal favorite)Mickeys philharmagic, has to be labled as trash cause ya’ll don’t have the imagination to see beyond the casting choices. A man died and he’s being memoralized. He was still a living breathing human being and even if he was guilty, are any of you perfect people. Theres no right answer to any problem like this. Some will hve points, but others will always have better points. Why try and win a battle like this. I began reading this hoping to see an analysis of what ppl liked and disliked about the shows content, not the ppl in it. I have never seen it and I am very dissapointed in humanity for wasting such good comment space. I guess I will just have to go see it and make my own judgements. P.S. Disney did a real good job of catching your attention didn’t they. Their sneaky like that. = P
I, for one, am glad they brougt this back as I did in the mid 80s, but remember very little…hope they keep EO through the fall & perhaps winter (no way I go to any Disney park during the summer months) so some of us locals who like to avoid the summer crowd can revisit this.
And let’s face it, if it were replacing something like Toy Story Mania, complaints would be valid, but the attraction that was housed there (Honey I Shrunk the Audience) is probably MORE dated then EO…goodbye, good riddance, keep EO until Disney decides to really overhaul the entire attraction or something modern!
what next will disney bring back song of the south stop marking out to a accused pediophile who payed millions on millions to stay out of jail and surpress facts and song of the south movie while not pc but is history and if we don’t learn from it we are destined to repeat it.another shame moment just trying to get on the MJ band wagon and media blitz instead of designing a new attraction. mj was a proponal junkie just remember if he wasn’t dead you wouldn’t be watching eo so maybe having eo back is a good thing .So we Welcome back eo because some good came from its return. sometimes the truth hurts and stings too
God i love Bing. I personally have been watching too much television
i bought Satalite Direct TV from http://tele.wokf.org which allows you to watch all your TV programs on your PC (Legally ofcourse)
I saw this today at Epcot and it was wonderful– It brought back memories from the first time I ever saw EO when I was five years old. The singing/dancing is still amazing, even 25 years later. The film is also beautifully designed and also holds up over time. Glad for the chance to see it again.