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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Michelangelo, not Da Vinci.
I t seems, more and more,, Epcot is no longer the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. It is turning into Hollywood Studios 2😢😢😢😡😡
I am a huge spaceship earth fan and I can jump on board with all the other updates, just not this one. I have to thank the phonecians every time. I won’t be back until February and hope my prayers are answered and it will still be open so I can ride 5 or 6 times. Also, not sure why but years ago I named the lab coat yellow leggings lady Roz. Not sure if I heard someone call her that or if she just looks like a Roz to me…but I hope she stays too 😊
Just don’t give me anymore of that fake child’s voice that is being used for the announcements before Epcot Forever. As if using a child’s voice would bring families with small children flocking into Epcot
I really enjoyed this article and your style of writing. Thanks for keeping us informed.
I agree if Rome doesn’t burn we make the smell ourselves with a riot!!!
elude: evade or escape from danger, typically in a cunning way
alude: suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at
I really like the addition of the gardens to soften all that concrete.
Perhaps they will make more use of the return trip where it is all stars and so you do the electronic postcard thing so you don’t notice that there is nothing there.
If their “storytelling” additions are their own franchises and we get little mermaids and stitches added I shall be deeply cynical – I fear what Bob says about EPCOT losing its EPCOTness. It has already lost its semi-educational (edu-tainment) approach for trivialities – except for The Land
they have a delightful, iconic sphere and I hope they maintain its importance.
Spaceship Earth 2.0? Isn’t it more like 4.0? It’s been updated several times already
Story telling sounds like Disney speak for marketing their brands. What do you want to bet that the interactive play area at the end of the ride turns into a shop selling souvenirs of the stories you just saw.
My fear is that they’ll replace the wonderful history storyline and the witty narration with a bunch of tableaux from Disney movies. Bob, the previous poster, is right: Epcot is turning into Hollywood Studios 2. Sigh.
I heard that everything after the printing press scene will be completely new, including the space dome and down decent. Also, that the ride will be lengthened into the Global Neighborhood area, with possible show scenes and with new load and unload areas.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. I love Spaceship Earth, but I can see why they would want to update it. Personally, I would like to be able to purchase souvenirs from this attraction. I hope they keep the ending however. I love to see what the video says my life would be like in the future.
Hmm, story telling, huh? Does this mean we’ll get scenes based off of various myths and legends? (Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Chinese, etc.)
P.S. I wonder who the new narrator will be? I personally wouldn’t mind David Tennant taking on the role, considering his experience with time travel! A MCU actor would be neat too!
Yes,
I love the ending too, where you can see your future!
Our entire family looks forward to this. Please keep a little bit of the old style, but add new magic!!!
This is very heartbreaking, my family and I are a Disney family we always have been Epcot being our favorite park of all time now your taking the beautiful odd icon beacon of the park seriously it’s just wrong. This ride was amazing as a kid , a great resting ride for adults and an education one.
Shelly, the structure is staying, as is the ride (though there will be changes, the extent to which Disney hasn’t released yet).
I loved Epcot from it’s very beginning and I’m totally sure after space ship Earth is completed we will love and enjoy it even more. Thanks for all that you do and continue to do to make Disney the happiest place on Earth.
Thank you for making my dreams come true.
AB, thanks. I’ve changed it to alluded.
I think this sounds great. They already have the scenes in place for the “storytelling” narration to change the focus a bit. The cave drawings, the Greeks in the theater. If they can keep this first ancient scenes, I am okay with other changes and updates. The city on the moon they had years ago has been dark and all we do it sit in the dark for a long time. Glad they are going to fill some of that space.
Do you think it will still be open Nov 16th?
I really hope Disney doesn’t screw this up. It’s a Disney icon. They are becoming so “PC” with everything that the original Walt charm is getting lost.
Thank you for all the Disney updates! Although I admit to being an anti-foodie, (sorry!) I love all the other details you provide us with so we can plan efficiently and enjoy every detail of Disney World. Space ship Earth is my sons favorite ride! When I told him it would be down for a complete refurbishment so that the ride will be smoother and it might be even more fun, he literally cried. He didn’t want to miss it! We are going to Epcot in January 2020. Then we won’t be back to Disney World for 10 years. (Just too expensive!). Hopefully your sources can let us know the closing date on this ride Ahead of the closing. Sometimes Disney closes rides without warning, then it’s too late to catch a last ride on your favorite ! I don’t think we’ll be able to come any earlier than January! We will sure miss Spaceship Earth!
That’s my favorite ride there! I hope it’s just updated and not completely replaced!
Pris, not sure what PC has to do with updating a rather outdated ride. Yes, Spaceship Earth is a classic, but it also didn’t have much to do with Walt since he was gone before it was even created.
Replacing history lessons with “Storytelling” sounds like re-writing or “reimagining” history, which is what the PC crowd loves to do. I hope they don’t do this.
Thank god they are updating this. Long over due. This has become the “if you had wings” of Epcot. Hot, tired? Go on spaceship earth and cool off and take a 10 minute nap. I’m hoping for a smoother track and a whole new visual experience. Technology should prevail, especially at Epcot. Now, can we get an entire refurbishment of the Carousel of Progress???
If by “storytelling”, new scenes will be used simply to emphasize and market classic or even new Disney titles, then we’ll be honestly disappointed… but, there could be opportunities to display different ways of storytelling, from an historical and technological point-of-view. Like the rest of Future World, Spaceship Earth could use some renovating, and Walt never meant for Epcot to become so stagnant that it became a caricature, of itself. To me, Epcot losing its identity would be a poor business move; after all, why would anyone want to go to do versions of Hollywood Studios?
Then, again, look at how well Downtown Disney’s transformation to Disney Springs turned out!
I love SSE and I will be able to handle some change as long as it’s still an attraction.
What a wonderful article! Thank you!!!
What was once my absolute favorite park, I stay in the Crescent Lake area and would go to Epcot EACH day of our stay. I LOVED the educational and historical views of Spaceship Earth and Epcot itself. I understand it has long gone from the original “Experimental Protocol Community of Tomorrow”, but incorporating Disney IP is done in all the other parks, with maybe Animal Kingdom being the least of these.
I can see it now, Hercules in the Rome is burning section.
They don’t want to say or portray something that in 10 minutes or 10 years they have to apologize for in this PC society we have now. Like others have said we are losing EPCOT and me for one am not happy. With costs of AP’s going up and now the changes coming to my favorite park, I think Disney has shifted to something I don’t know anymore and are starting not to like. My relationship with them may be at an end.
Did is miss the date when it is closing? I don’t see it in the article.
Everything is getting a make over at Epcot it seems. space ship earth is one of my all time favorites . a lot of walls and new building going on right now. I found out this week while visiting that the Impressions of France movie is changing. another attraction I loved. all this during Food and Wine. .
So many mixed feelings about this! I’m excited to see a prettier Epcot entrance but I don’t want Spaceship Earth to change! Hoping they wait until after the beginning of January so we can ride it one last time before they change it…
This is one of the changes I am going to have a tough time getting behind. They have taken a lot of the cool technology stuff out of Epcot that I love. I’m still not over losing Horizons. I’m with many people that I’m hoping the scenes we love don’t disappear.
I really thought you had a date which is the most important piece of information. So clickbaity.
Technology changes way too quickly for it to stay the old EPCOT/Future world. If they kept it like that, rides would be closed every year for updates! (As much as we all cherished the old rides, I can’t justify universe of energy talking about solar and wind energy being used in the future and my children looking at me like “who doesn’t know about those”! I really like what they are doing with EPCOT and cannot wait for the future of EPCOT!
I still miss world of motion, loved seeing transportation changing through the years then checking out the autos at the end. Losing the Vikings ride to Frozen 😔 now this? I still sing tomorrow’s child at the end. Just please no restaurant ,gift shop or photo pass things at the end please. Leave it about learning not selling stuff.
Spaceship Earth is one of my favorite attractions, both inside and out. Love the monorail pics you can take here! I would hate for the upgrade to lose the historical component of the attraction. Much as I love Disney characters, I would hate to see them included in the storytelling. Epcot is unique. Let’s keep it that way. As to the new narrator, I could listen to James Earl Jones, Chris Hemsworth, or Robert Downey Jr. all day long.
She would be referred to as Dame Judi, not Dame Dench. Similar to Sir Paul McCartney would be referred to as Sir Paul, not Sir McCartney.
When I first went decades ago, it was cool to see tomorrow’s tech. Now it’s like a look into the past. It sorely needs to be updated. Epcot is my favorite park by far and I hope they keep to the original themes of world showcase and vision of the future rather than pimping out their latest movie.
Thank you, Joan!
Trish, good news about Impressions de France: it’s not being replaced. A Beauty and the Beast sing-along will be alternating with the film.
Kerry, the date hasn’t been released yet.
Ann, we will update as soon as Disney releases a date (or a season) for the closure!
Michael, we haven’t heard anything about a closing date, but we’ll update as soon as we do!
Yeah, I’m thinking the Ms. Go-Go boots is gone, gone, gone!
JAMES.EARL.JONES!! This is the only acceptable change to Spaceship Earth
Hi Melanie……
So the computer lab lady you were talking about that you named Roz, (great name by the way) her name is Foxy Brown! She actually has a Facebook page as well! I love this ride too and it’s one I have to ride every single time like you!
I can’t wait to see what WDW has in store for the new update for this and I hope they don’t take her out!