UPDATE: Disney previously announced Spaceship Earth would be closing May 26th, 2020! After closing for the COVID-19 pandemic, this project was put on hold. We will share more if and when we learn more about this overhaul.
If you were unsettled by the news that Spaceship Earth would be undergoing refurbishment as part of Epcot’s major transformation, at the D23 Expo this year, trust us, you’re not alone.
Epcot’s Spaceship Earth
It frankly rocked our worlds to imagine what this could mean for the iconic geodesic sphere that’s graced the front entranceway of Epcot since the second Disney World park opened in 1982.
When we heard changes would be coming soon to Spaceship Earth, our minds were immediately flooded with questions: When is Spaceship Earth closing to implement the changes? Will we still be able to thank the Phoenicians? Is Rome still burning? How will Michelangelo finish the Sistine chapel? Will that little caveman kid still be making a handprint on the wall? WHAT ABOUT THE PAPYRUS?!?!?!
Transformation of Epcot ©Disney
Read more about Epcot’s Transformation here
We were hoping the Epcot Experience exhibit would answer some of these pressing questions when it debuted last week. Unfortunately, we walked out of the exhibit scratching our heads. A 12-minute multi-media presentation at the center of Epcot Experience alluded to a possible name change of the classic Disney attraction — Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story — but, yeah, that’s about all the new info we got!
Epcot Experience
Click here to learn more about Epcot Experience
Epcot Experience
So to try to answer some of our burning (literally?) questions, let’s go back over what Bob Chapek said at D23 back in August when the changes to Spaceship Earth were announced.
What’s Spaceship Earth’s Closing Date? What’s Being Added and Taken Away? Here’s What We Know About Spaceship Earth 2.0:
World Celebration (formerly the center part of Future World) is where the biggest changes to Epcot will be occurring. We’ve already seen a massive overhaul of this section of the park with the removal of the Leave a Legacy monoliths that are being relocated to just outside Epcot’s entrance to make way for the updated fountain area in front of Spaceship Earth.
Epcot Entrance Transformation
To learn more about Epcot’s reimagined lands, click here!
Chapek told us Spaceship Earth would remain a part of the brand icon for Disney World Resort and Epcot, but that Disney would be bringing “new magic” into the original Epcot attraction.
Epcot Construction
To quote his speech at D23, “New Spaceship Earth will still feature great moments of human history, but instead of inventions and technology, we’ll focus on something that binds us all together — storytelling.”
“Many of the scenes you know and love will remain, but we’ll bring them to life in amazing new ways…” Chapek stated. Hmmm…. the decision to use the word “many” instead of “all” here has us sweatin’ for the lab coat and yellow leggings lady in the computer room!
Spaceship Earth
Now the plot will revolve around the “power of storytelling to unite the human experience.” And will involve a magical “story light” which “will come to life in dynamic ways giving each scene energy and stunning beauty while creating a narrative that ties your journey together.”
Epcot Transformation Concept Art ©Disney
In addition to this new magical story light, Chapek says they’re adding “fresh narration.” Sorry all you Dame Judi Dench lovers, but it looks like Judi’s getting the boot! It’s alright though — she’ll be in good company with Jeremy Irons and Walter Cronkite, two of Spaceship Earth’s previous disembodied guides!
Chapek went on to state, “We’re also adding new scenes to reflect the universal nature of the human experience.” New scenes?!? Does that mean some of the old ones have to go??? Or could it mean they’re just going to tack on a bunch of new stuff once we pass through Woz’s garage? I mean, we really don’t need to be staring at a projection of the Earth for THAAAAT long, do we? Then there’s all that space on the way down they can use?
Spaceship Earth
Chapek concluded his D23 segment about Spaceship Earth by saying their hope was to “…evolve this unique attraction in a way that will resonate with the wide array of guests who visit Walt Disney World,” and that there will be a new exit area as well.
Dreamer’s Point is what this new area behind Spaceship Earth is being reimagined into and from the concept art Disney’s released, we gotta admit, it looks quite breathtaking.
©Disney Concept Art of Dreamer’s Point
Not to mention we’re excited about this new Walt Disney statue that will be a centerpiece of Dreamer’s Point! Now we get why it’s called that! It reminds us of one of Walt’s famous quotes, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible!”
©Disney Walt Statue in World Celebration
Oh, and if you haven’t been floored by any of this info yet, just take a look at Epcot’s new three-tiered pavilion which you can read more about here! Epcot’s transformation is going to be completely bonkers!
World Celebration Concept Art ©Disney
Alright, alright… back to Spaceship Earth, the reason why we’re all here. While we await further news about the fate of this classic Disney attraction, we can be certain of very little other than Spaceship Earth is here to stay and not getting scrapped like Hollywood Studios’ 2 past icons, the Earful Tower or Sorcerer Mickey’s Hat. Unfortunately, we don’t have a confirmed closing date for Spaceship Earth at press time, but based on the timeline of the Epcot transformation, we’d suggest you ride while you can.
While Epcot’s track record with improving classic rides (ahem, Journey into Imagination with Figment!) isn’t reassuring us, we’re making this promise to ourselves: if we don’t smell Rome burning on Spaceship Earth 2.0, we riot!
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What concerns you about the Spaceship Earth refurb? What changes to Epcot are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments section!
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I know one thing. My wife and I were planning on spending our 10th anniversary in Walt Disney World, as we had our honeymoon and 5 year anniversary. But, every trip to Disney since I was a kid had started with riding Spaceship Earth and Ended with it. (Logo is tattooed on my leg)
We have recentlyscrapped our plans to visit due to this and other changes/closures. Disney is turning this and other parks into just run of the mill amusement parks instead of setting the standard and leading the pack.
Hey Chapek, leave the IP to the Magic Kingdom and the studios. This isn’t what Walt would have wanted for EPCOT! I hope you’re haunted by his ghost..
Here’s a handy Disney translator for you:
Reimage, Reimagine, Remake
… all mean: Add SJW crap
They keep eliminating for refurbishment. How about eliminating $25 off park passes for each refurbishment and closing. If it aint broke, don’t fix it. Spend your time on the million dollar skyliner which isn’t working as it should. And Disney wonders why attendance is down? Look in the mirror.
I sure hope Spaceship Earth will still be open in Jan for our last trip to Disney! A discount on tickets to parks where major construction is taking place and many rides are closed seems only fair. Many businesses do that. So many attractions are closed at Epcot! At Disney World prices on everything keep skyrocketing, but lines for rides & food are getting longer! Food is more expensive, drink prices are insane. Why are we paying for the honor of standing in long lines? Live performances are being cancelled too. “Pay more, Get less” should be Disney’s new slogan! What would Walt think?
DIsney is rolling over in his grave. They are making Disney unaffordable and removing all that made the park what it was. If it is not broke do not fix it is not being used. But transform into cheap and unattractive parks that makes it look like a cheap amusement park but cost 5 times more than any amusement park is why park raising prices which is something Walt himself did not want. But Isner is beginning to make the Disney brand fall and something that will never recover.
It would be really great if publication dates were visible at the top of these articles. Because it’s really annoying to see a linked article in a new Instagram story, think closure dates or other information has finally been released, then scroll through just to find the SAME EXACT ARTICLE you’ve been reading for months.
I also do not understand what they’re doing to my beloved Spaceship Earth. I go at least twice every year to WDW. Every time I’m in Epcot – the line up into Spaceship Earth is crazy. So if everyone still loves it , and is willing to stand in line for it….. why are they changing it??? Makes no sense. What’s next – the changing of The Land??? STOP PLEASE STOP
So when does it actually close down for remodeling?
Ajax, no word on this from Disney yet.
If these Disney designers are so good at what they do, why don’t they make more rides wheelchair accessible ??? I see a lot of people complain about the prices, and I agree with them. The try being in a wheelchair and you are unable to transfer from your chair to the ride and still having to pay full price to get in the gate. Something needs to be done about the situation. They should contact me as I have a lot of ideas. I consider myself a Disney addict, but even this addict is getting his full. I am sure I’m not alone when I say … Make More Rides Wheelchair Accessible. !!!
Kal, I agree with you. This is becoming fake news. This news is only hurting Disney by making people change their plans or not plan at all because of it. If they cannot report an exact date, then don’t bother to repeatedly say it is closing. It is a teaser ad for people to read the story.
I don’t understand why so many people in the comments seem to think that Walt Disney wouldn’t want a refurbishment to Spaceship Earth…Epcot’s theme is progress and technology of tomorrow—so why would a ride in EPCOT remain the same forever? For nostalgic reasons alone?
I like to think of it from the perspective of someone who’s never come to WDW…would this experience “wow” people today who ride it for the first time? Could it “wow” people and still teach the same lessons as before with better technology? I love Spaceship Earth and my memories with it, but I, personally, am excited to see how Imagineers create new memories.
I am still fuming over the way WDW screwed up Journey Into Imagination…why oh why did they do that???..Please do not screw up our beloved Space Ship Earth. I am a writer/producer who as very young reporter covered EPCOT’s opening way back in 1982…it’s iconic…so please Disney Geniuses…be careful!
i hope they don’t wake up the monk!
Spaceship earth has always been one of my favorites. It’s so relaxing on a busy day Theirs something about the calming sound ,and the attraction as a whole that I love.I always make it a point to ride it multiple times when I’m there .
Wow, it is nice to see so many guest voice their unhappy opinions about the changes at Epcot. I too am very unhappy. Every time they re-imagine an attraction, it takes a giant leap backwards. The old Test Track was much better than the new dark test track, Journey to Imagination is shadow of what it once was, Honey I shrunk the Audience is gone, the Communicore is gone, Ellen’s Energy Adventure gone, and on and on. Epcot used to be a huge learning experience for young and old, but now it is destined to become just another thrill park with dark rides. This was never Walt’s dream.