EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth Refurbishment Will Go Forward
The long-delayed reimagining of EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth is finally back on Disney’s roadmap.
The announcement came during the Disney Experiences showcase at D23. (Our first hint this was coming? The “house band” for the event was called the Phoenicians. Thank you.)
Few details were given other than that the story’s focus would shift from the history of human communication toward a narrative about human storytelling and shared connections.
“We’re bringing this iconic attraction back into the present day and beyond,” said Ali Rubinstein, Disney’s Senior Vice President of Global Creative and Development Studios. “We’re bringing new magic to every scene, but Spaceship Earth will remain classically Epcot.”
The description echoes the plan announced at the 2019 D23 Expo, which was described as a multiyear transformation titled Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story. At the time, the project was set to include new scene lighting, an original orchestral score, a fresh narrator, and a magical interactive “story light” guide that would physically accompany ride vehicles through the dark spaces.
Spaceship Earth’s refurbishment was originally announced as part of a major reimagining of EPCOT, but several important pieces of that project were delayed or canceled. In addition to Spaceship Earth, the “play pavilion” planned for the old Wonders of Life was scrapped, as was a Mary Poppins attraction planned for the World Showcase.
Spaceship Earth has been EPCOT’s centerpiece and icon since the park opened on Oct. 1, 1982. Inside is a 15-minute attraction tracing the evolutionary history of human communication. The attraction uses detailed audio-animatronic scenes to take guests on a physical journey from ancient cave drawings and the invention of the printing press to the birth of the modern digital computer network. Over the decades, the ride has undergone four major creative transformations, adapting its narration and musical score each time.
Tonight’s announcement promises a desperately needed modern upgrade. The current version of the ride—narrated by Dame Judi Dench—has been operating without a major creative update since February 2008. Over the last 18 years, the attraction’s technology has become increasingly dated, and the ride systems and audio-animatronics have suffered frequent operational breakdowns.
