Captain EO
EPCOT · Imagination Pavilion
Overview
Captain EO was a 3D science-fiction musical film starring Michael Jackson as the commander of a ragtag spaceship crew sent to transform a dark planet ruled by the Supreme Leader. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas, it combined in-theater lasers, smoke, and vibrating seats with Jackson's music and choreography, playing in a dedicated 3D theater in the Imagination Pavilion.
ParksLog verdict
Captain EO's two separate runs make it a unique case in Disney history — a genuine time capsule of 1980s spectacle that came back as a tribute a generation later. It's mostly remembered today for its sheer novelty: a big-budget Hollywood short film with A-list talent playing on a loop in a theme park. Worth knowing about if you're curious why the Imagination Pavilion has such a strange, layered history.
About this experience
A 3D sci-fi musical film starring Michael Jackson, combining music, dance, and special effects in a space adventure.
Best for
- Michael Jackson fans
- Guests who remember the original 1980s run
- Disney and 3D-film history enthusiasts
Tips
- The theater that housed Captain EO now shows the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
- Its 2010 revival was a rare case of Disney bringing back a fully retired attraction rather than building something new
Details
History
Captain EO opened in 1986 and ran until 1994, when it was replaced by Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. After Michael Jackson's death in 2009, Disney brought the film back in 2010 as a tribute, running it for several more years before closing it for good in 2015.
Fun facts
- It was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas, an unusually high-profile creative team for a theme park film
- Michael Jackson wrote two original songs for the film, including 'We Are Here to Change the World'