Spaceship Earth 2-Year Overhaul Info
After years of rumors, Walt Disney World has officially announced an overhaul of Spaceship Earth. This massive reimagining will close the attraction for ~2 years, and will substantially change the ride. In this post, we’ll offer official details along with speculation about timing, history, and more. (Updated February 4, 2020.)
Let’s start with what’s official. At the D23 Expo, Disney announced that Epcot’s Future World Being Replaced by 3 New Neighborhoods. One of these will be World Celebration, which is essentially the central spine of EPCOT. It will offer new experiences that connect us to one another and the world around us. A reimagined Spaceship Earth will remain the flagship attraction of the park’s core.
With Spaceship Earth’s reimagining will come changes to the message and substance of the attraction, but not its core ride system or the nature of its show scenes. However, there will be a shift in theme: from technical innovations in communications–a vestige of its original sponsors of Bell System/AT&T–to the power of storytelling to unite the human experience…
Disney has announced that this will be accomplished via new narration, an entirely new musical score, and new show scenes. Most notably, guests will follow a magical “Story Light” that brings the entire experience to life in dynamic ways, giving each scene energy and beauty that ties the entire journey together.
The new Spaceship Earth will focus on the moments and ideas that define our shared story. To accomplish this, the current scenes that begin the attraction will be joined by new scenes and upgrades throughout Spaceship Earth. Additionally, the back of Spaceship Earth will be reworked with a new post-show.
Upon exiting Spaceship Earth, there will be a breathtaking new view of World Showcase from Dreamers Point, which will also feature a statue of Walt Disney seated on a curb. This area behind Spaceship Earth will also feature natural environments, a wishing tree in an enchanted forest, and a story fountain playing Disney music.
This isn’t the first time a radical overhaul of Spaceship Earth has been on the table. Before we discuss a timeline, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and look at what almost was–but will not be: Time Racers. This was a time travel themed roller coaster proposed for Spaceship Earth as part of an early 2000s initiative known as Project Gemini.
That comprehensive plan would have reimagined Future World into Discoveryland, which would’ve demolished buildings (including Innoventions), removed concrete, and transformed the area into a lush, green environment. This ambitious proposal for overhauling Future World was rumored to cost $500 million, and ultimately the entire thing was shelved, save for a clone of Soarin’ Over California.
Irrespective of why Time Racers didn’t happen, Spaceship Earth instead received a more modest refurbishment a little over a decade ago. While that wasn’t exactly well-received by fans, it was certainly a more welcome change in keeping with the spirit and mission of EPCOT Center than Time Racers would’ve been. We’re expecting the upcoming changes to be far more ambitious and scope-changing than the last refurbishment, but still in keeping with the spirit of the original attraction.
The official confirmation of an overhaul of Spaceship Earth came after over a year of persistent rumors. (We originally published this article well before the official announcement, and have updated it a couple of times since.) Notably, those rumors were right on the money.
These predicted that all scenes would refreshed prior to the Industrial Revolution, plus more significant changes for the scenes following that. They also indicated that 180top would be drastically reimagined utilizing the latest in projection mapping tech. These indicated that it’d be a 2-year closure with the aforementioned show scene changes, plus track replacement and extended track layout, new load and unload stations, and a new post show.
We mention these rumors because Walt Disney World has released nothing about the Spaceship Earth overhaul aside from the announcement of the “Story Light” and tonal change, plus vague details about some scenes changing and others staying put. Disney hasn’t even released any concept art–it only flashed on screen during the D23 Expo. Given that and the fact that none of the leaks have yet to be contradicted, we’re continuing to use them to “fill in the gaps” on what’s on the horizon for Spaceship Earth.
The major remaining question on the mind of many Walt Disney World fans is when will the Spaceship Earth overhaul begin? Given that the attraction will likely be down for two full years, many people are wanting to be sure to get a last ride in before the current incarnation of Spaceship Earth goes away.
Officially, Walt Disney World has not revealed a closing date. Given the status of Spaceship Earth as a beloved fan-favorite and the duration of this closure, it stands to reason that a a few months of notice would be ideal and appropriate here. However, the entire Epcot overhaul has been on a vague timeline, with interdependent opening and closing dates. As such, we doubt that a huge amount of notice will be given here.
Turning once again to rumors, it was originally expected that Spaceship Earth would be closed by late last year. As other dates have slipped, the revised (anticipated) closing date slipped to “this winter.” (Sound familiar?!) In other words, no one really knows for sure, and the actual closing date depends on a few factors.
Our guess is that Spaceship Earth will not go down until at least after Test Track returns from refurbishment on February 26, 2020. At that point, both of the Future World bypasses will be open, all three of the new movies will have debuted, and nothing else that’s major will be down for refurbishment. However, we don’t think it’ll close right away once Test Track returns–and not just because FastPass+ remain available for Spaceship Earth through April 2020.
We expect that Walt Disney World will get even more strategic with its timing, waiting until after Easter, Spring Break, and the initial rush of Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival have subsided. June through August are the slowest months of the year at Epcot. That could remain true in Future World even with Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opening in Summer 2020 back in World Showcase.
The reality is that there’s no perfect way to time this. No matter when Walt Disney World opts to close Spaceship Earth, it’ll be down for at least one Food & Wine Festival, Christmas, plus the debuts of the Play Pavilion and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Spaceship Earth is a people-eater that soaks up crowds, and it being down is a big blow for all of those occasions.
With all of that said, our guess (and this is absolutely a guess) is that Spaceship Earth will close in June 2020.
Of course, with any Spaceship Earth changes comes the inevitable discussion of a new narrator. The current host is Judi Dench, who we think nicely delivers a script that’s questionable at times. When this narration was originally unveiled, it was panned by fans as being cheesy and pandering. We largely agreed with that, but it’s interesting how some of the worst lines have become the most iconic (or infamous, depending upon your perspective) over time.
It’s safe to say the current Judi Dench narration won’t return if there’s a substantive overhaul. Every fan has their personal ‘wish list’ for who might be the new narrator, me included. Personally, I wouldn’t mind Judi Dench getting another crack at it, but with a better script. Failing that, Idris Elba, Benedict Cumberbatch, Emma Thompson, or Tom Hiddleston would be solid picks. (Like a stereotypical American, my idea of a dignified and intellectual voice is British.) For a few Epcot or Disney-related wildcards, I could also go for Mark Hamill, Patrick Warburton, Tom Hanks, or a reprise of Jeremy Irons.
Ultimately, hat’s roughly where things stand right now. Two words that are not coming up when discussing the changes are “intellectual property.” This has me breathing a temporary sight of relief, but this is Disney, circa 2020. There’s always the chance that will change. We doubt it, though.
While this is not predicated upon any inside info, the Imagineering team behind Epcot’s reimagining seems like it’s deftly balancing general public ‘interests’ against those of purists in an attempt to appeal to both. Retaining and enhancing Epcot’s most iconic attraction that still more or less exists in the spirit of the original is a sensible move in pursuit of that end.
We’re actually cautiously optimistic about the changes to Spaceship Earth. If the “Story Light” is anything like what we’re expecting (basically, a similar effect from Mystic Manor), it could be really cool. Other than that, Spaceship Earth could use a refresh in many scenes, including both 180top and the descent. Reframing the focus from communications via technological innovations to storytelling seems like a very “Disney” move, and we hope it’s one that’s accomplished with integrity.
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Your Thoughts
What do you think about the Spaceship Earth overhaul? When do you think it will occur? Are you cautiously optimistic about the Story Light? Any ‘wish list’ items for this reimagining, or a narrator of choice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
So frustrating not to be able to find a date for when this blog post was written. If I read the whole thing I can get a general idea but would be nice if the start of the thread was posted at the top.
While it is frustrating to not find the date at the top, nearly all of Toms articles get comments on day 1 of the post. It sucks when there’s multiple pages, but you can still find it by going to oldest comments. Toms mentioned before that something with the calendar widget on the site editor he uses doesn’t work quite right. Can’t remember the exact issue though.
3 words james earl Jones would have the perfect voice for it
Dame Judi Dench already had the perfect voice for it, and she’s certainly in better shape.
I kinda hope they get her back again.
I go end of Sept I hope it isn’t closed!!
Spaceship Earth is a timeless attraction and the communication storyline should be kept intact. The only change needed is the final scene which will consistently require updating based on our evolving technology. The last time my family traveled to WDW was in 2015 the ride system appeared to be showing some age. It was creaky to the point where Judi Dench could barely be heard. Hopefully, this issue will be addressed but otherwise, massive alterations are not necessary.
Am I nuts, or did Walter Cronkite do the initial narration back when the park opened? as a little kid knowing who he was made SE feel like something important. not sure that there is a journalist who carries that kind of gravitas (ir if it would make sense), but I could see Morgan Freeman, George, Clooney, Tom Hanks, or Gary Sinise all doing justice to this.
You are correct, Frank!
If their redoing it I would like to see Neil Degrass Tyson do the narration.
Noooooo! Please no! He is sooo condescending. I couldn’t bear it. Morgan Freeman would be a great choice.
I agree, Bernardo. I’m fine with “someone with a great voice whom I don’t necessarily know”. There are a lot of great voice actors out there who do audiobooks/animated television shows/etc.
I don’t know who does the voicework in HEA or the intro to Illuminations, but people like that do a great job.
I would be sad to see Spaceship Earth completely change, it’s an oldie but a goodie! It doesn’t surprise me though with all the new stuff going on. Thanks again for the awesome update!!
My pick for narrator: Peter Renaday. If he is not up for it, then a narrator similar vocals to either Paul Frees, Dal McKennon, Jean Shepherd, or Jack Wagner. I do not want any famous celebrities doing narration since I will find their voice too recognizable and hindrance to the ride. Some other changes: get rid of “pick your future” screens, transition from moon landing to a romanticized version of the future with Audio-Animatronics instead of showing mainframe computer/home computer scenes, and bring back “Tomorrows Child”
I know it’s a cheesy line, but I’m gonna miss “Thank the Phoenicians, they invented them” most of all 🙂
I love Spaceship Earth but the last time I rode it back in September I did feel that a update and refurbishment was needed. My kids were a little bored on the ride so I guess that means some things are going to have to change to keep up with the younger generation. I alway embrace change so I am excited to see what they have in store for the future of this attraction. BTW your picture of looking up at Spaceship Earth in the beginning of this post is AMAZING!!
I’m sure they want to have thee renovations completed before the 50th anniversary, but hopefully the start date is pushed back a few years. Epcot is already limited with attractions so the crowds for Spaceship Earth would just flow to the Tier 1 rides an add to the already long wait times.
I’m remembering my first visit to EPCOT back in 1983. I was mesmerized by the sight of Spaceship Earth and had absolutely no idea what kind of attraction was inside. I just know it was the most futuristic looking thing I had seen to that point in my young life. After finishing the attraction…, I was a little disappointed. I mean, after all, the Main Entrance music that was playing outside as we walked into the entrance of EPCOT had set me up to expect all the great wonders of my future world to be revealed. Only the very last minute or so as we were descending did I get that “Oh, wow” feeling. So, I would like to see changes to Spaceship Earth that would more reflect what the outside of the building itself presents. Disney could take most of the scenes that currently are in SE and place them in a warehouse and have us walk through them and I would still want to do that, but SE just needs to be something special. Time for the imagineers to up their game and put some pizzazzzz into this one. Oh, and while I’m wishing on a star, could we have that Main Entrance Medley instrumental music back.., please?
Morgan Freeman is an interesting idea, but I wouldn’t be able to leave the exhibit until he tells us how things have been going with Andy on Suantinea.
I find spaceship earth a little frustrating- it could be a truly breathtaking ride but feels slightly pedestrian. The technology isn’t up to date with the here and now and the animatronic figures feel dated. If it meshed the technology of Frozen, and even King Kong, to take you back to the past in a full sensory way I think it could be the best ride in the park. (I hope this isn’t too controversial mentioning universal). Morgan Freeman narrating would be wonderful. Though as a Brit like the shout out to Idris Elba too.
One great way to get Marvel into a park would be to get Robert Downey, Jr. as the next narrator and direct him to give his Tony Starkiest reading of the script without actually using any Marvel IP names in the process. #StarkExpo
Or go even more oblique and have John Slattery do it.
The front end of EPCOT needs to be carefully re-imagined. World Showcase should also be looking at adding 2-3 more countries to bring it line with how the world works today. With the front end they need to have a clear vision with whatever direction they want to go. For a while now it feels like EPCOT is piecemeal of ideas that would go better in their other parks.
My vote is Morgan Freeman for narrator.
While I have a nostalgic wish that Epcot could remain as it originally conceived, just with suitable updates, I realize that the World’s Fairs it was designed to imitate no longer exist and every year, fewer and fewer people even know they existed. I’m hoping that Imagineering has its eye on the current popularity of hands-on science museums and tech expos as today’s equivalent. They could always use Big Hero 6 for theming if they have to have IP; but I suppose only time will tell.
Meanwhile, regardless of the plan I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that Disney’s planning for all of it to finish in time for the 50th anniversary celebrations. WDW has lately had a theme for every year and it seems certain that, whatever the scheduling of specific events, 2021’s theme will be the anniversary. Having most of Epcot hidden behind construction walls for all of that seems to make no sense at all from a marketing standpoint, while having a grand reopening of Epcot sometime in midyear could be a perfect way to keep interest up.
On the other hand, time is getting short to finish by then and indeed may already be too late unless plans turn out to be smaller in scale than now seems. I’d hate to see WDW’s golden anniversary marred by having the most iconic part of its second park still buried under scaffolding and go-away green walls for the whole celebration.
Separate from the 50th, starting construction right after Galaxy’s Edge opens seems likely to be the best possible timing at this point. It’ll raise attendance everywhere but the percentage of those visitors likely to say “My vacation is ruined!” because Epcot is under construction will be at an all-time low.
There’s precedent for Disney doing 18-month milestone anniversary celebrations, and there’s also precedent for debuting something new about halfway through to give the festivities a shot in the arm.
I could absolutely see the front half of Epcot functioning as that ‘something new’ for the start of Summer 2022.
If Matthew McConaughey isn’t the new narrator I’ll just die.
“Alright, alright, alright….let’s talk papyrus, people.”
Comment of the day. It’s early, but maybe of the week.
This!
I really like the theme established for Epcot with the world showcase and future world. But I think this illustrates one of the problems with it. If you have attractions that show off cutting edge and or future technologies, then they have to be updated regularly, and significantly. If you don’t you end up with some weird fusion of the early 90’s and how they envisioned the future.
“Hey look, those people are talking to each other with videos. Wow, the future.”