We now know the future of Spaceship Earth at EPCOT.
As Neil Patrick Harris was talking about outer space on the “Horizons: A Carousel of Progress” stage at D23: The Ultimate Fan Event presented by Visa, conversation naturally shifted to our favorite geodesic sphere from the ‘80s.
Makes sense. How can you talk about the future of Disney Experiences without discussing the iconic attraction that celebrates humanity’s march from the caves to the cosmos and inspires guests to imagine, create, and build a better tomorrow.
Joining him onstage to talk about the engineering marvel were Disney Imagineer Ali Rubinstein and YouTuber Mark Rober. This dynamic duo gave a nice refresher on the iconic opening day EPCOT attraction before jumping into the anticipated news.
For the first time in nearly 20 years, Spaceship Earth is getting an update.
The Evolution of Spaceship Earth
Before our ride vehicle turns around and takes us into the future, let’s celebrate the legacy of Spaceship Earth, a groundbreaking attraction that has inspired guests for generations.
Fun Facts about Spaceship Earth
- Walter Cronkite narrated a script that was added to the attraction in 1986. In fact, since opening, there have been four narrators for Spaceship Earth.
- The structure is called a “geodesic sphere” because it’s a perfectly round structure that is supported in the air by three pillars.
- The attraction stands at 180 feet tall with 2.2 million cubic square feet of space inside the geosphere.
- Spaceship Earth is one of the most complicated ride systems Walt Disney Imagineering has ever created because the ride incorporates a continuously moving train of vehicles that spiral up into the structure before turning “backward” to come back down to Earth.
- The storyline currently follows the history of human innovation, from prehistoric times to the 21st century.
Like the attraction, the evolution of Spaceship Earth has been an exciting journey filled with chapters of progress, displays of ingenuity, and an endless future of invention.
Updates Coming to Spaceship Earth
It’s time to invent the future! At the showcase, Ali revealed that a re-imagineered Spaceship Earth will be coming to EPCOT, bringing the attraction into the internet age and beyond.
What can you expect in the world of tomorrow? The ride currently tells the story of human communication, but the team is reimagining that focus on a broader theme that is still classically EPCOT – human connection.
So, here’s to the next 30,000 years on Spaceship Earth. The present is just the beginning!