As a part of EPCOT’s reimagining, Walt Disney World deliberate a multi-year Spaceship Earth refurbishment and overhaul. That reimagining was delayed indefinitely, however a venture remains to be seemingly on the horizon. We’ll focus on particulars & potential closure timelines, idea artwork for the overhaul, and why upkeep is lengthy overdue. (Up to date January 25, 2025.)
Let’s begin with the reimagining delay. Spaceship Earth’s reimagining was introduced on the 2019 D23 Expo after over a yr of rumors. Particulars had been restricted to a tease of the “story gentle” on the time. Then on February 25, 2020, Imagineering revealed that Spaceship Earth would shut a few months later, on Could 26. Then all of Walt Disney World closed lower than a month after the announcement and remained closed till mid-July. When EPCOT reopened, Spaceship Earth returned with it.
When EPCOT reopened after its 4 month closure, Walt Disney World had quietly eliminated idea artwork and scenes from the Epcot Expertise overview video and launched this assertion: “As with most companies throughout this era, we’re additional evaluating long-term venture plans. The choice was made to postpone improvement of the Mary Poppins-inspired attraction and Spaceship Earth presently.” That was the final official replace on the Spaceship Earth reimagining. Clearly, lots has modified within the final ~5 years.
January 25, 2025 Replace: It was a tough week for Spaceship Earth, an attraction that routinely has tough weeks. Though the attraction is lastly operational on the time of this replace, it was closed for nearly two full days and vital parts of others.
Whereas this has been a very unhealthy week for Spaceship Earth, unscheduled downtime and upkeep is just not unusual for this attraction. As mentioned under, it was overdue to an precise refurbishment (not a reimagining) again when the venture was slated to start some 5 years in the past. Now I’m no scientist, however experience infrastructure doesn’t strike me as a kind of issues that improves with age or fixes itself.
As for when Spaceship Earth might go down at this level, the plain timing is after the Check Monitor 3.0 reimagining. That attraction is slated to reopen in late Summer time 2025, which might imply something from late July via October 1, 2025. It might find yourself being even later if the venture has delays. Regardless, it’s not as if Check Monitor will open someday and Spaceship Earth would shut the subsequent–there’s prone to be a multi-month hole between the tasks.
Walt Disney World is reluctant to take a number of main EPCOT sights offline on the similar time, so it’s unlikely that Spaceship Earth would shut for a prolonged venture previous to then. Even after the Check Monitor venture, there’s nothing to say Spaceship Earth might be subsequent on deck–there are a handful of sights in EPCOT needing assist.
One other complicating issue is that, previous to Check Monitor 3.0 debuting, a new bar will open inside Spaceship Earth, changing the previous sponsor lounge that was vacated when the Siemens partnership ending. (The dearth of a sponsor for Spaceship Earth additionally complicates issues–the one purpose Check Monitor is being redone is as a result of Basic Motors is footing a lot of the invoice.)
It will be a curious resolution to open the lounge within the spring…solely to shut it once more just a few months later. It’s totally attainable to have the lounge accessible whereas the experience itself is down for refurbishment or reimagining, however that may essentially entail altering the scope and scale of the venture versus what was beforehand introduced again in 2019/2020.
Frankly, that’s a secure wager, regardless. It’s been over 5 years because the Spaceship Earth reimagining idea was developed, and lots has modified since then–from management to budgets to expertise. Whereas there could possibly be components of the Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story venture that come to fruition, it’s additionally seemingly that there are main modifications to what’s deliberate.
As for when an announcement could possibly be made about Spaceship Earth being reimagined, the odds-on favourite is throughout the 2025 Vacation spot D23 occasion at Walt Disney World over Labor Day weekend. That is the caliber of venture to be introduced at that occasion, versus D23 Expo in Anaheim.
As for closure timing, that actually will depend on how urgently vital downtime is required. If Walt Disney World can get away with it, I’d hazard a guess that they’d push the beginning of the Spaceship Earth refurbishment into January 2026. If not, it might occur earlier. Or, if they will actually get away with it, they may not schedule something–or only a transient closure. Walt Disney World has made fairly clear that they view the EPCOT overhaul as accomplished, so some main reimagining of Spaceship Earth might not occur till the early 2030s.
Keep in mind, all of that is speculative primarily based on a mix of the downtime plaguing Spaceship Earth and what we’ve heard about it being overdue for upkeep. There’s no assure that Walt Disney World will do something, as deferred upkeep has change into the norm over the previous couple of years. That’s beginning to change, which is why we’re optimistic that this venture will lastly be put onto the calendar. Once more, it must occur–Spaceship Earth is in sorry form.
There’s appreciable work needing to be finished on the experience system that may’t wait an excessive amount of longer. After we first reported on the rumored reimagining, we shared that Spaceship Earth was overdue for observe alternative. That was again in 2018.
Virtually seven years later, and that has not occurred. Spaceship Earth is principally held along with duct tape at this level, experiencing extra downtime and having ever-increasing points. A bigger venture and longer downtime is desperately wanted. Spaceship Earth’s infrastructure badly wants work, and it might use an replace to indicate scenes, too.
What any Spaceship Earth refurbishment will entail stays to be seen at this level. It’ll be prolonged regardless–a number of months, if not a yr or longer. Whether or not it’ll be a full-scale reimagining or “simply” crucial TLC will seemingly dictate whether or not the closure is on the longer or shorter finish of the spectrum.
If Spaceship Earth does get reimagined–and that’s actually wanted at this level, right here’s what might occur. That is all what was beforehand deliberate and will have modified considerably within the years because the Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story venture was shelved…
Beforehand, Walt Disney World introduced that the reimagining can be “Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story.”
It’s conceivable that this might nonetheless occur someday in 2025 or 2026. Once more, this work is overdue by a number of years, so in some unspecified time in the future, they received’t be capable of delay the mandatory portion of the observe upkeep and alternative any longer.
This reimagined Spaceship Earth was to have a brand new narration, a wholly new musical rating, and new present scenes. Most notably, visitors will comply with a magical “Story Mild” that brings your complete expertise to life in dynamic methods, giving every scene power and sweetness that ties your complete journey collectively.
In Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story, visitors would go to Egypt, which is an element of the present model of the attraction–however it could be “an Egypt such as you’ve by no means seen earlier than, reworked via the ability of sunshine.”
Per Walt Disney Imagineering, this would be the Spaceship Earth’s fourth “and most formidable” replace since EPCOT Middle’s grand opening on October 1, 1982. In fact, that might very properly be advertising puffery. It’s not as if Disney goes to tout this as “eh, perhaps the third-most formidable replace ever, give or take.”
Walt Disney World beforehand confirmed that the subsequent iteration of Spaceship Earth will nonetheless concentrate on the story of humanity, following our lengthy journey from prehistoric people to at the moment delivered to life.
Lots of the current scenes in Spaceship Earth will stay within the attraction, however up to date with new expertise and blended along with brand-new scenes to inform a narrative about our shared human expertise. All through the reimagined Spaceship Earth, you’ll hear new narration and see how gentle performs a central position within the human journey. The attraction will come to life in dynamic methods in a celebration of what’s attainable after we all come collectively.
Moreover, the again of Spaceship Earth was to be reworked with a brand new post-show.
Fortunately, modifications exterior Spaceship Earth truly did occur. Not utterly as introduced, however to a big extent. Upon exiting Spaceship Earth, there’s be a Dreamers Level, which includes a statue of Walt Disney seated on a curb.
This space behind Spaceship Earth may even characteristic pure environments, a wishing tree in an enchanted forest, and a narrative fountain taking part in Disney music. (These final two issues, sadly, didn’t occur. The realm behind Spaceship Earth is fairly boring and uninspired.)
One factor that desperately wants to alter in Spaceship Earth is the descent. That is the primarily the conclusion of the attraction, which is presently pushed by interactive screens within the experience car. Exterior of that, there are some random triangles and curtains as present “scenes.”
The present descent has been lambasted by followers because it debuted over a decade in the past. Just about as quickly as the present model of the attraction debuted, there have been rumors that the descent was unfinished, and can be added to over time whereas the attraction was operational. Regardless of imprecise indicators of labor being finished, that by no means occurred.
No matter what occurs with the present scenes within the first half of the experience, it’s extremely seemingly that one thing might be added to the descent throughout Spaceship Earth’s subsequent refurbishment or reimagining. It’s fairly apparent that Imagineering was not glad with it earlier than, and the interactive expertise has not aged properly within the experience autos. The massive unknown is whether or not the brand new Spaceship Earth descent might be what you’re taking a look at on this idea artwork, or one thing completely different totally.
Personally, I’m cautiously optimistic concerning the eventual Spaceship Earth refurbishment or reimagining.
The experience system badly wants it. Not solely that, the most certainly modifications will happen later within the attraction to scenes that I don’t assume are notably robust at current. From my perspective, there’s little probability that the long run 180top and scenes thereafter generally is a downgrade from the present incarnation of Spaceship Earth. Ditto the brand new narration.
Furthermore, Imagineering has made some super strides with expertise because the final Spaceship Earth overhaul, and several other of these could possibly be applied to good impact. I’d imagined loads of projection mapping might be used, but when we get a few of that Mystic Manor-esque ‘magic gentle mud’ that’d be icing on the cake.
With that stated, what follows right here is rumor (from pre-2020)–however all the previous rumors concerning the scope and specifics of Spaceship Earth’s overhaul had been formally confirmed by the corporate (earlier than being shelved), so this seemingly speaks to Imagineering’s intent with Spaceship Earth on the time the venture was introduced.
Once more, plans might have modified because the Spaceship Earth reimagining was first introduced. Nonetheless, to the extent there are modifications, it’s seemingly the venture has been scaled again versus expanded. Spaceship Earth is sponsorless, and the finances for the EPCOT overhaul has been spent. Each time it does occur, this venture won’t get the identical degree of funding it could have again in 2020.
The primary factor of the rumor is that each one scenes might be refreshed previous to the Industrial Revolution, with extra vital modifications for the scenes following that. It’s anticipated that the 180top might be drastically reimagined using the most recent in projection mapping tech. Throughout the closure there’s additionally prone to be observe alternative, new load and unload stations, and a brand new submit present.
Second, this refurbishment is anticipated to final between 1 and a couple of years. We’ve tried to nail this down extra particularly, and all we’ve heard is that it might final round 18 months.
Nonetheless, that was additionally again when Spaceship Earth was going to be one element of the larger image EPCOT overhaul. It was thus attainable that a part of the explanation the venture would final so lengthy is as a result of Spaceship Earth would shut for the length (or at the very least a significant section of) the central backbone redesign.
With the remainder of the EPCOT overhaul now completed, we might anticipate a shorter closure. Mainly, the minimal period of time for conducting the mandatory work on the observe and experience system. Whether or not that’s 6 months or over a yr is past me. However no matter reimagining goes to occur should happen throughout that window, versus extending it.
On a optimistic be aware, some enhancements did nonetheless come to Spaceship Earth, they only occurred exterior the enduring geodesic sphere. First, EPCOT’s predominant entrance plaza reimagining has been accomplished, revealing the enduring prismatic pylon fountain in entrance of Spaceship Earth!
Three acrylic pylons standing over 16 toes tall and that includes the park’s brand encompass the fountain and hearken again to the creation of EPCOT Middle. This completes the primary section of EPCOT’s large overhaul, as the development partitions which have lined the entrance of the park for over a yr are actually down. The brand new entrance plaza appears good.
At evening, Spaceship Earth appears even higher. Epcot’s icon comes alive with new Beacons of Magic, an addition throughout the World’s Most Magical Celebration for Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary.
New lights have truly been put in in between the reflective panels of Spaceship Earth, connecting to at least one one other and resembling stars in a nighttime sky. Not like the opposite Beacons of Magic, these are the one everlasting new lighting which have continued past “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” as a defining characteristic of the reimagined Epcot. (Learn & see extra in Beacons of Magic at Epcot: Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary Spotlight!)
Finally, we’re nonetheless trying ahead to extra modifications to Spaceship Earth, and left questioning whether or not the reimagining venture would possibly start across the time different new additions. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, Moana’s Journey of Water, and CommuniCore Corridor have all debuted, and the entrance of the park is as soon as once more be construction-free.
Consequently, it’s totally attainable that Imagineering will let EPCOT have its “second” for a few years earlier than enterprise extra main tasks. The reimagining of Spaceship Earth might then be a part of a second section of the EPCOT overhaul, becoming a member of Journey into Creativeness and [insert whatever else is on your personal wish list here]. It’s unlikely that Walt Disney World will launch an official timeline for this reimagining venture till Vacation spot D23 Expo in September 2025–and perhaps not even then–however we’ll preserve you posted as extra turns into identified!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about resorts on our Walt Disney World Inns Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot it’s essential to know!
Your Ideas
What do you concentrate on this Spaceship Earth closure and reimagining? Ideas on when the venture will happen–if in any respect–now that it’s been delayed indefinitely? Excited for the outside enhancements? May you deal with Spaceship Earth being closed for two years? Do you agree or disagree with our ideas right here? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
