Disney has confirmed that Spaceship Earth at EPCOT is getting reimagined, its first major update in almost 20 years. The iconic geodesic sphere will shift its storyline from human communication to a broader theme of human connection. No closure date or concept art has been released yet.
Article Summary
- What's happening: Disney has confirmed a Spaceship Earth reimagining, shifting the ride's story from human communication to human connection.
- Closure date: Not yet announced, so Spaceship Earth remains open as normal for now.
- Concept art: None released for this version, unclear if 2020 concept art is still relevant.
- Previous attempt: Disney announced a different Spaceship Earth reimagining back in 2020, before Covid shelved it indefinitely.
Compare Walt Disney World holiday packages here
Read on for the full breakdown including what happened to the original 2020 plans, when Spaceship Earth might actually close, and what this means if you've got a Walt Disney World holiday booked.
When Was The Spaceship Earth Reimagining Announced?
Disney confirmed the reimagining on 15th August 2026, during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event at the Anaheim Convention Center. The reveal came during the Horizons: A Carousel of Progress showcase, a stage presentation about the future of Disney Experiences. Host Neil Patrick Harris was talking through the topic when the conversation turned, as he put it, to "our favourite geodesic sphere from the '80s".
Joining him onstage were Disney Imagineer Ali Rubinstein and YouTuber Mark Rober, a former NASA engineer who's become a familiar face at Disney's bigger showcase moments. The pair gave a refresher on Spaceship Earth's history before Rubinstein confirmed the ride is getting its first update in nearly 20 years.
What Is Changing About Spaceship Earth At EPCOT?
Spaceship Earth has opened with EPCOT on 1st October 1982, and its current version (narrated by Judi Dench) traces the story of human communication, from cave paintings through to the computer age. Rubinstein confirmed the reimagined version will keep the time-travelling structure of the ride but widen that focus into something Disney is calling human connection instead of communication alone. Beyond that, details are thin. Disney hasn't confirmed which scenes are changing, how the storyline will play out, or what the ride will look like once it's finished.
What Happened To The 2020 Spaceship Earth Reimagining?
If this all sounds familiar, that's because it is. Disney previously announced a Spaceship Earth reimagining back in 2020. That version was due to close in 2020 and we covered the original closure date and concept art here at the time.
Then Covid happened. EPCOT closed in March 2020 and reopened that July without any mention of the project, and Disney later confirmed the reimagining had been shelved indefinitely along with several other planned park updates. It's stayed shelved ever since, right up until this new announcement.
When Will Spaceship Earth Close For The Reimagining?
Disney hasn't given a closure date, and there's no confirmed timeline for when work will start. For now, Spaceship Earth is operating as normal, and there's nothing here to change if you've already got a Walt Disney World holiday booked.
What Does This Mean For Your Walt Disney World Holiday?
For most people reading this from the UK, the answer is not much, at least not yet. Spaceship Earth remains open, EPCOT's festival calendar carries on as usual, and nothing about this announcement changes what you need to book or plan right now. A few things worth keeping in the back of your mind though:
- Trips booked for the rest of 2026 or early 2027 shouldn't be affected, since Spaceship Earth is still operating.
- EPCOT's other headline attractions, including Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Test Track, aren't affected by this announcement.
- If a closure does land during your visit, EPCOT still has plenty to fill the gap, and it's rarely worth reworking an entire itinerary around one ride.
If you're still weighing up when to book, our Walt Disney World offers guide for UK guests and our ticket guide for Brits are both worth a read before you commit to dates.
See current Walt Disney World holiday prices here
Join the FREE Mickey From The UK Email Club
Click Here To Join The FREE Mickey From The UK Email ClubYou may not see all our content on social media - signing up to our Email Club means you won't miss out.
See more from Mickey From The UK in Google Search
Click Here To Add Us As A Preferred Source On GoogleAdding us as a preferred source means you'll see more of our news, guides, and reviews when you search.
Spaceship Earth Reimagining: Your Questions Answered
Is Spaceship Earth at EPCOT closing?
Not yet. Disney has confirmed a reimagining is coming, but hasn't announced a closure date, so the ride is operating as normal for now.
What is the Spaceship Earth reimagining about?
Disney is shifting the ride's storyline from human communication to a broader theme of human connection, while bringing the story "into the internet age and beyond".
When was the Spaceship Earth reimagining announced?
Disney confirmed it on 15th August 2026, during the Horizons: A Carousel of Progress showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim.
Has a Spaceship Earth reimagining been announced before?
Yes. Disney announced a different Spaceship Earth reimagining in 2019, called Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story, which was due to close the ride from 26th May 2020, before the project was shelved following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Has Disney released concept art for the new Spaceship Earth?
No, no concept art has been released for this version yet.
Who announced the Spaceship Earth reimagining?
Disney Imagineer Ali Rubinstein announced it, joined onstage by host Neil Patrick Harris and YouTuber Mark Rober, though Disney hasn't confirmed what role, if any, Rober has in the project.
Will Spaceship Earth be open during my Walt Disney World holiday?
Since no closure date has been confirmed, Spaceship Earth remains open as normal for now.
