Spaceship Earth Refurbishment News & Updates
As part of EPCOT’s reimagining, Walt Disney World planned a multi-year Spaceship Earth refurbishment and overhaul. That reimagining was delayed indefinitely due to the parks’ closure, but enhancements are still planned. We’ll discuss details & potential closure timelines, and share some newly-leaked concept art for the project. (Updated July 16, 2023.)
All of that, plus what we know about the reimagined Spaceship Earth, the planned new scenes, why the project is delayed, and what actually is happening to and around the geodesic sphere in EPCOT’s main entrance plaza. We’ll also discuss what this news likely means if you have a trip planned for Walt Disney World in 2024 and beyond.
Let’s start with the reimagining delay. This is obviously no secret to anyone, but a lot has changed in the last 4 years. Spaceship Earth’s reimagining was announced at the 2019 D23 Expo after over a year of rumors. Details were limited to a tease of the “story light” at the time, but on February 25, 2020, Imagineering revealed that Spaceship Earth would close a couple of months later, on May 26. That ended up being true…but only because all of Walt Disney World closed less than a month after the announcement and remained closed until mid-July. When EPCOT reopened, Spaceship Earth returned with it…
During the closure, all construction projects halted in the parks and the Walt Disney Company announced a $900 million decrease in capital expenditures spending. This was mostly due to postponed construction and refurbishment projects that will still happen down the road–but it also includes budget cuts and other scale-backs in spending resulting from the financial hits of closing Walt Disney World.
When EPCOT reopened after its four month closure, Walt Disney World had quietly removed concept art and scenes from the Epcot Experience overview video and released this statement: “As with most businesses during this period, we are further evaluating long-term project plans. The decision was made to postpone development of the Mary Poppins-inspired attraction and Spaceship Earth at this time.”
July 16, 2023 Update: Spaceship Earth finally has a refurbishment scheduled after its multi-year refurbishment was delayed for multiple years! Hooray for this overdue announcement!!!
According to Walt Disney World, Spaceship Earth will close on July 19, 2023 and will reopen…one day later, on July 20, 2023. Wait, that can’t be right?! Unfortunately, it is. At least, as of right now. This single-day closure added at the last-minute suggests an urgent maintenance issue, which is no surprise given that Spaceship Earth is at least 3 years overdue for a massive overhaul.
It’s possible that the closure could end up being extended if the scope or scale of the problem ends up being larger than anticipated. We are expecting that Spaceship Earth still sees a lengthy (~18 months) refurbishment and reimagining in 2024 and 2025. But that hasn’t been announced or even rumored at this point.
Either way, there’s considerable work needing to be done on the ride system that can’t wait too much longer. When we first reported on the rumored reimagining, we shared that Spaceship Earth was overdue for track replacement. That was back in 2018. Five years later, and that has not happened. Spaceship Earth is basically held together with duct tape at this point, experiencing more downtime and having ever-increasing issues. It’s only a day, but here’s hoping that this is a precursor to a larger project and longer downtime, which is desperately needed.
Our guess is that Walt Disney World wants Spaceship Earth open when the EPCOT overhaul is officially “finished” in late 2023 and Disney100 kicks off. That’ll give the company a chance to close one chapter with the iconic attraction present, before opening another with a new phase of projects at EPCOT in 2024. At least, that’s our hope. Spaceship Earth’s infrastructure badly needs it, and could use an update to show scenes, too.
What any Spaceship Earth refurbishment will entail remains to be seen at this point. It’ll be lengthy regardless–multiple months, if not a year or longer. Whether it’ll be a full-scale reimagining or “just” necessary TLC will likely dictate whether the closure is on the longer or shorter end of the spectrum.
If Spaceship Earth does get reimagined–and that’s really needed at this point, here’s what could happen…
Previously, Walt Disney World announced that the reimagining would be “Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story.” It’s conceivable that this could still happen sometime in early 2024 or 2025. Again, this work is overdue by several years, so at some point, they won’t be able to put off the necessary portion of the track maintenance and replacement any longer.
This reimagined Spaceship Earth was to have a 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.
In Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story, guests would visit Egypt, which is part of the current version of the attraction–but it would be “an Egypt like you’ve never seen before, transformed through the power of light.”
Per Walt Disney Imagineering, this will be the Spaceship Earth’s fourth “and most ambitious” update since EPCOT Center’s grand opening on October 1, 1982. Of course, that could very well be marketing puffery. It’s not as if Disney is going to tout this as “eh, maybe the third-most ambitious update ever, give or take.”
As previously shared at the most recent D23 Expo, the next iteration of Spaceship Earth will still focus on the story of humanity, following our long journey from prehistoric humans to today brought to life.
Many of the existing scenes in Spaceship Earth will remain in the attraction, but updated with new technology and blended together with brand-new scenes to tell a story about our shared human experience. Throughout the reimagined Spaceship Earth, you’ll hear new narration and see how light plays a central role in the human journey. The attraction will come to life in dynamic ways in a celebration of what’s possible when we all come together.
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.
What else Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story would have (or will) entail was unknown. That is, until now…
A poster on the WDWMagic forums leaked concept art from a former Imagineer’s online portfolio.
It’s important to note that this uncovered concept art predates the announcement of Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story. It is not new.
Nevertheless, it shows what could have been–or what could still be!
What you’re looking at here is concept art for Spaceship Earth’s 180top and descent.
This is the essentially the conclusion of the attraction, which is currently driven by interactive screens in the ride vehicle. Outside of that, there are some random triangles and curtains as show “scenes.”
The current descent has been lambasted by fans since it debuted over a decade ago. Pretty much as soon as the current version of the attraction debuted, there were rumors that the descent was unfinished, and would be added to over time while the attraction was operational. Despite vague signs of work being done, that never happened.
Regardless of what happens with Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story and the Story Light, it’s highly likely that something will be added to the descent during Spaceship Earth’s next refurbishment or reimagining. (The Alice in Wonderland stuff is presumably unrelated, and part of a different project–not sure why it’s part of this composite.)
It’s pretty obvious that Imagineering was not satisfied with it before, and the interactive technology has not aged well in the ride vehicles. The big unknown is whether the new Spaceship Earth descent will be what you’re looking at in this concept art, or something different entirely.
For my part, I’m cautiously optimistic about the eventual Spaceship Earth refurbishment or reimagining. The major rumored changes are occurring later in the attraction to scenes that I don’t think are particularly strong at present. From my perspective, there’s little chance that the future 180top and scenes thereafter can be a downgrade from the current incarnation of Spaceship Earth. Ditto the new narration.
Moreover, Imagineering has made some tremendous strides with technology since the last Spaceship Earth overhaul, and several of those could be implemented to nice effect. I’d imagined plenty of projection mapping will be used, but if we get some of that Mystic Manor-esque ‘magic light dust’ that’d be icing on the cake.
Suffice to say, this is one scenario where rumored details about the overhaul of Spaceship Earth corroborate Imagineering’s statement of ambitiousness. With that said, what follows here is rumor–but thus far all of the past rumors about the scope and specifics of Spaceship Earth’s overhaul have been corroborated, so we give these a reasonable degree of credibility.
The first element of the rumor is that all scenes will be refreshed prior to the Industrial Revolution, with more significant changes for the scenes following that. It’s anticipated that the 180top will be drastically reimagined utilizing the latest in projection mapping tech. During the closure there’s also likely to be track replacement, new load and unload stations, and a new post show. There’s definitely going to be a new exit area.
Second, this refurbishment is expected to last approximately 2 years. We’ve tried to nail this down more specifically, and all we’ve heard is that it could last around 18 months.
However, that was also back when Spaceship Earth was going to be one component of the bigger picture EPCOT overhaul. It was thus possible that part of the reason the project would last so long is because Spaceship Earth would close for the duration (or at least a major phase of) the central spine redesign. With the rest of that wrapping up in late 2023, it’s possible Spaceship Earth could be closed for less than a year.
As of Summer 2023, there are still temporary corridors that bypass the Big Epcot Dirt Pit in the center of the park and take guests directly into the new neighborhoods that replaced Future World.
The central spine of the park behind Spaceship Earth has been razed, and won’t be finished until Late 2023. However, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Connections Cafe & Eatery, Creations Shop and Club Cool have all now opened; Moana’s Journey of Water is done and will start previews next month. As a result of all this, there are fewer walls than 18 months ago. Progress!
On a positive note, some enhancements did still come to Spaceship Earth, they just happened outside the iconic geodesic sphere. First, EPCOT’s main entrance plaza reimagining has been completed, revealing the iconic prismatic pylon fountain in front of Spaceship Earth!
Three acrylic pylons standing over 16 feet tall and featuring the park’s logo surround the fountain and hearken back to the creation of EPCOT Center. This completes the first phase of EPCOT’s massive overhaul, as the construction walls that have lined the front of the park for over a year are now down. The new entrance plaza looks nice.
At night, Spaceship Earth looks even better. Epcot’s icon comes alive with new Beacons of Magic, an addition during the World’s Most Magical Celebration for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. These special effects light up and transform all four park icons: Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth at Epcot, Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios, and Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom.
New lights have actually been installed in between the reflective panels of Spaceship Earth, connecting to one another and resembling stars in a nighttime sky. Unlike the other Beacons of Magic, these are the only permanent new lighting that will continue beyond “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” as a defining feature of the reimagined Epcot. (Read & see more in Beacons of Magic at Epcot: Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Highlight!)
Ultimately, we’re still looking forward to more changes to Spaceship Earth, and left wondering whether the reimagining project might begin around the time other new additions. Now that both Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure have debuted, Epcot has more to do. With both Moana’s Journey of Water and CommuniCore Hall right around the corner, the front of the park will once again be construction-free.
Consequently, it’s entirely possible that Imagineering will let EPCOT have its “moment” for Disney100 in late 2023 and early 2024, and then could start the Spaceship Earth reimagining after Spring Break 2023. The reimagining of Spaceship Earth could then be part of a second phase of the EPCOT overhaul, joining Journey into Imagination and [insert whatever else is on your personal wish list here]. It’s unlikely that Walt Disney World will release an official timeline for this reimagining project until Destination D23 Expo in September 2023–and maybe not even then–but we’ll keep you posted as more becomes known!
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Your Thoughts
What do you think about this Spaceship Earth closure and reimagining? Thoughts on when the project will occur–if at all–now that it’s been delayed indefinitely? Excited for the exterior enhancements? Could you handle Spaceship Earth being closed for 2 years? Do you agree or disagree with our thoughts here? 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!
I’m not happy that my Grandsons and oldest Daughter will not get to see Spaceship Earth their fist time going to WDW Oct. this year. I vote for it to be put off.
at this point, depending on park closures and the virus, i could see them waiting to even start the spaceship earth refurb until after a lot of the other walls come down and other projects are completed. it’s still running fine, and they are going to be in need of as much positive PR as they can get. adding another closure on schedule would probably not be a wise choice. i can see this being postponed.
I’m guessing they won’t start the refurb for at least a month after the parks finally reopen – possibly several. Two connected reasons: Having hemorrhaged billions, Disney will not want to reopen any portion of WDW with a flagship attraction closed. And related to that, people will want to reconnect with the comfort of the familiar, not restart their Disney dreams with a stoic assertion that it’ll all be worth it two years from now. People will crave the normalcy they’ve sorely missed, not more upheaval now for the promise of wonders later.
We have to be careful using the word cancelled. It is possible Disney will delay the Spaceship Earth refurbishment. But it won’t be cancelled. The attraction needs to be update. Disney will continue to upgrade WDW for the next 50 years…just like the first 50 years. The attraction will be upgraded. When is the question. Cancelled is not an option.
One good thing about a delay in updating SSE is that technology will probably improve giving them the ability to improve the ride even more than if they stick to the current schedule.
We have our SSE fastpasses for our mid May trip… I know it’s not gonna happen, even if the parks do open, I don’t think we’re ready to travel through all the airports. Maybe we’ll do a virtual trip and watch a bunch of youtube 1st person pov ride videos instead this year.
Not a fan of SSE. I think I’m just bored with it so an upgrade will be welcomed for me. Looking forward to it
We are sad as our trip is July 2020. Thankfully we rode it August 2019, but it’s my fav and I feel like a day in Epcot won’t be complete without it .
I’m happy they are upgrading, sure. I just wonder why announce it only a few months before people booked from May on are due to arrive…summer is supposed to be a busy time at Disney. Or is it? 😉
Not happy to see another classic opening day attraction going away.
On the plus side, Eisner isn’t around to screw up the replacement (think of the mess that is Imagination).
Sounds like you’re one of those fans who doesn’t know how much Eisner loved the parks and Imagineering, and doesn’t appreciate the work he did to save the company from a LBO, twice. If it hadn’t been for Eisner, there’d be no Disney parks or anything similar to what we know and love.
But I agree, the versions of Journey since the original suck! Kind of like the ruins of the Maelstrom, huge disappointment.
Actually the opposite, Eisner saved the company over the 10 years of his tenure and he deserves much credit.
My comment had to do specifically with the mess in Imagination, all his doing. But I agree the mess at Malisrom.
Hi FW, I agree about the Imagination pavilion being a sad, sad vestige of its former (80s) awesomeness. I know things are going to change over time, but they are supposed to be improved, not suckified!
And after visiting the Paris parks in March, built under Eisner’s tenure, DLP is amazing! The level of detail is incredible. People are always going to complain about something and Eisner is a frequent target, especially for locals. The reality is, he loved the parks more than the rest of the company. The footage of him shown in The Imagineering Story, along with unseen clips of Walt, Marty Sklar, Bob Gurr, etc is some of the best things I’ve seen in decades.
I love Space Ship Earth but I’m pleased its getting an update. I hope and pray they don’t screw it up though! When one messes with this icons it really is almost anxiety producing. And those asking whether to bother with Epcot now, Tom has a good write up on that very issue. My opinion is ride Space Ship Earth before it closes if you can! Otherwise, Future World is a mess now.
I just sat and cried at this information SSE has been my go to ride at Epcot and I must admit I’m not thrilled about all the changes it’s just too much all at once
I like SSE but I do not like the current version in comparison to Cronkite and Irons version. Plus the ride is in poor shape. We got stuck at the top back in October and we had to evacuate walking down the typical descent. It was disgusting all the accumulated dust, dirt, and trash. They descent looked like it wasnt clean since 1982.
Me too, I am old enough to remember Epcot opening, and now that I live back in the UK will sadly not be ‘around’ when SSE re-opens and I mean that as it sounds sadly. I had hoped to return 2020 to see SSE one more time, but not possible so RIP SSE and Me!
Totally agree……..favorite rides have faded into the past……great memories gone……am getting old, and next trip in nov. 2020, May be last! Sorry to miss SSE for the last time.
Yay for us! My daughter loves this ride, and I’ve been worried it would be closed before our next trip. And we will be at Epcot May 25. Whew. Now, if we can just get Space 220 to open.
So one of our favorites will be out of action when (if) we go next year.
Such is life, it will just make for some real anticipation to ride it the visit after next.
Didn’t read the entire post…are any changes planned for the interactive activities after one exits the ride portion of Spaceship Earth. My kid loves doing those.
Maybe I’m not up on the lingo but what is the ‘180top’ that you mentioned?
Mixed feelings. I am thrilled to be going just before closure. Sad it will be down so long. It is an icon and sometimes seeing how much of the future we already experienced is a lesson in itself!
After giving myself a good talking-to about how if I love SSE I should appreciate a long and thorough refurb (I won’t lie, my original reaction was crushing disappointment), I’m excited by this. As great as SSE is, the track is in poor shape and the condition (and dirt!) of the ride is pretty poor. I’m sick of seeing that bit of broken flexi-plastic near the first launch, among countless other things.
Here’s hoping it gets a refurb that does it justice, and that the maintenance is kept up after completion. Meanwhile I’ll be riding this as many times as possible before May.
One point you don’t address is whether you think Epcot has a capacity issue (with SSE down). SSE is a people-eater, and the number of those in Epcot has been decreasing.
And is it just my wild overoptimism, or does that concept art suggest the screens will be removed from the new ride vehicles?
It definitely looks like the screens are gone. That’s one of the first things I noticed, and I assume/hope it’s an intentional part of the art.
that was one thing I loved. the little questions and choices at the end and you get a video emailed to you. How disappointing. I hope they add something you can walk up to after you depart the ride so you can still do that. It was so much fun.
I always got a kick out of the interactive video…but mostly because I’d always make a face at the camera so the video would come out looking ridiculous/hideous. Then I’d inflict it on my friends via email.
I’m glad I knew the closure was coming and had a chance to ride it a couple times on my recent trip, both to get my nostalgia fill and…well, frankly because it put the current state of the ride in stark context for me. It REALLY needs work on the track; it was just rattle and bang all the way up and all the way down. I like the Dench narration just fine, but I’ve always hated the way they handled the birth of the internet in this one–the old scene with the two kids basically skyping was charming and was one of the few predictions that was actually close to accurate. The garage scene is just creepy with its static mannequin sitting in the dark. Won’t be sorry to see the post-technical revolution stuff overhauled (if it’s done well), though I hope they keep the fabulous lady with the fro in some capacity.
I always got a kick out of the interactive video…but mostly because I’d always make a face at the camera so the video would come out looking ridiculous/hideous. Then I’d inflict it on my friends via email.
I’m glad I knew the closure was coming and had a chance to ride it a couple times on my recent trip, both to get my nostalgia fill and…well, frankly because it put the current state of the ride in stark context for me. It REALLY needs work on the track; it was just rattle and bang all the way up and all the way down. I like the Dench narration just fine, but I’ve always hated the way they handled the birth of the internet in this one–the old scene with the two kids basically skyping was charming and was one of the few predictions that was actually close to accurate. The garage scene is just creepy with its static mannequin sitting in the dark. Won’t be sorry to see the post-industrial revolution stuff overhauled (if it’s done well), though I hope they keep the fabulous lady with the fro in some capacity.
We took a short trip to WDW in August adn for Epcot, we took the skyliner, came in the International Gateway, and never made it to Future World. It sounds like that might still be a good strategy for a while! 🙂
I couldn’t love an attraction more than I love Spaceship Earth. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a terrific outcome.
It had better be a damn sight better than the ruins of The Maelstrom. Two year closure for a crappy overlay and cheesy story, no thanks.
Totally agree!!!
Yea I’m happy it’s getting some love
Whew …we will be there the week prior. I havent been to Epcot in years and our children never have but I was worried we wouldn’t have much to do. At least this will hopefully still be up and running.
I’ll be there the week before as well. None of my family has ever been to Epcot, so we’re excited it’ll be open for our visit.
“will close starting on May 26, 2020”
Just my luck, we arrive at Disney with plans to visit Epcot May 27th….
Should we even bother with Epcot at this point for that week?
We visting the 26th the day they close. When disney says 26th closing it really means at 9 the 25th
It was really chopped up last week when we were there.