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A Grand and Miraculous Refurbishment Coming to Spaceship Earth
A re-imagineered Spaceship Earth will be coming to EPCOT, bringing the attraction into the internet age and beyond. 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?
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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 a major update.
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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. Like the attraction itself, the evolution of Spaceship Earth has been an exciting journey filled with chapters of progress, displays of ingenuity, and an endless future of invention.
- October 1, 1982: EPCOT Center opens with Spaceship Earth as its centerpiece. Sponsored by the Bell System and narrated by Vic Perrin, the ride traces communication from prehistoric cave paintings through the dawn of telecommunications.
- May 1986: Legendary news anchor Walter Cronkite takes over narration duties, introducing a new score and updating the grand finale scenes.
- November 1994: Actor Jeremy Irons steps in as narrator, bringing a brand-new musical score by Edo Guidotti and introducing guests to fiber optics and digital breakthroughs.
- February 2008: The current version opens, featuring narration by Dame Judi Dench, interactive touchscreens inside the Omnimover vehicles, and a revamped descent focused on personalizing your future.
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? While the ride currently tells the story of human communication, the Imagineering team is reimagining that focus into a broader theme that remains classically EPCOT: human connection.
By taking guests from the foundational chapters of language and early technology straight into today’s interconnected global landscape, the refreshed attraction will bridge past achievements with modern digital innovation.
So, here’s to the next 30,000 years on Spaceship Earth. The present is just the beginning!
