DATELINE - - Orlando - - Columnist Philip Potempa is reporting from Florida this week while traveling.

When legendary newsman Walter Cronkite died in July at age 92, I immediately thought of his legendary voice.

For anyone who has visited Walt Disney World's Epcot Center, that voice was a mainstay of Spaceship Earth.

The attraction --- starring an 18-story globe -- opened with Epcot in 1982. As I recall, Cronkite's distinct voice narrated as guests enjoyed a time machine-themed, 13-minute ride showing advancements in human communications. The timeline spanned the origins of man to the dawn of the 21st century.

But when I visited Epcot on Thursday for a ride "through time," I was surprised to hear a British woman's voice rather than Cronkite's.

Even more surprising, the attraction is no longer sponsored by AT&T. It's funded by the German company Siemens, which took over in 2004.The structure was designed with the help of sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury, who also helped write the original storyline. When Spaceship Earth opened, it was sponsored by Bell System and narrated by voice actor Vic Perrin, narrator of the "Johnny Quest" animated series.

The structure was designed with the help of sci-fi writer Ray Bradbury, who also helped write the original storyline. When Spaceship Earth opened, it was sponsored by Bell System and narrated by voice actor Vic Perrin, narrator of the "Johnny Quest" animated series.

I'm told Cronkite was brought in when the ride was updated in 1986. When it was upgraded again in 1994, actor Jeremy Irons recorded a new script.

As the woman's voice I heard during my recent visit?

Apparently Spaceship Earth was overhauled again in July 2007. When it reopened in February 2008, Dame Judi Dench took over as narrator.

Emergency merit

While filing my Disney and Florida columns this week, I received some nice messages from readers including Roy Speelman of Hammond.

"Hi, Phil,

I have a fun piece of trivia from the Sunshine State I'm trying to recall. The Reedy Creek Fire Department (I am working from memory here) has five fire stations, 17 pieces of equipment, and a large full-time staff of firefighters (up from) a population of only seven. Did I forget to mention it is located inside Walt Disney World? Enjoying reading your columns this week. Regards, Roy Speelman"

Roy is correct in his description.

He is referring to the full-service fire and emergency medical outfit that provides protection for the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which just happens to have Disney World as its largest taxpayer and primary landowner. Currently consisting of four fire stations and approximately 160 full-time firefighters, officers and paramedics, the department responds to more than 29,000 alarms each year. The department operates four engine companies, two truck companies and eight advanced life-support ambulances.

The fire department began operations in 1968 and occupied the first structure on the Disney World property. It was housed in a small mobile home and provided protection during the Magic Kingdom's earliest days. As Roy mentioned, the department initially consisted of seven firefighters operating a four-wheel drive water tanker.

In its 40-year history, this community has never lost a human life due to structure fire, a remarkable accomplishment for an area with an estimated average population that exceeds 250,000.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or 219.852.4327.

Today's Celebrity Birthdays

Actress Kathleen Hughes ("Babe") is 81. Jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis is 75. Writer P.J. O'Rourke and Zydeco singer-accordionist Buckwheat Zydeco are 62. Actor Robert Ginty ("The Paper Chase," "Baa Baa Black Sheep") and England's Prince Charles are 61. Guitarist James Young of Styx is 60. Singer Stephen Bishop is 58. Pianist Yanni is 55. Actor D.B. Sweeney and actress Laura San Giacomo ("Just Shoot Me") are 48. Rapper Reverend Run of Run-DMC and actor Patrick Warburton ("The Tick," "Seinfeld") are 45. Singer Jeanette Jurado of Expose' is 44. Bassist Brian Yale of Matchbox Twenty is 41. Singer Butch Walker (Marvelous 3) is 40. Actor Josh Duhamel ("Las Vegas") is 37. Drummer Travis Barker of Plus-44 and of Blink-182 and drummer Robby Shaffer of MercyMe are 34. Rapper Shyheim is 32. Bassist Tobin Esperance of Papa Roach is 30.