Walt Disney World spent years transforming EPCOT, but one relatively recent addition is already being ripped out.
Work is underway outside Mission: SPACE, where Disney has started removing decorative pavement installed only three years ago. What began as a colorful addition to Planetary Plaza has struggled to survive the constant flow of guests through the area.
Now, rather than continuing to patch at least some of the damaged sections, Disney is replacing them with something much simpler.
Disney Is Removing the Mission: SPACE Mosaics
Disney installed mosaic planets and stars throughout portions of Planetary Plaza in 2023.
The designs helped extend the space theme beyond Mission: SPACE itself. Guests could spot colorful stars and planets beneath their feet, along with a detailed black hole design near Mission: SPACE Cargo Bay.
But the pavement soon ran into problems.
Frequent foot traffic caused the mosaics to chip and deteriorate. Disney attempted to repair the damage, but portions of the artwork gradually lost their original appearance as concrete patches replaced damaged pieces.
By September 2026, Disney had apparently decided to take a different approach with at least part of the plaza.
On September 26, scoring appeared around pavement containing mosaic stars. Just three days later, that entire section had been torn out and replaced with plain concrete.
More Changes Appear to Be Coming
Disney may not be finished.
Another portion of the formerly decorated pavement has already been scored, suggesting crews are preparing to replace additional sections.
Other remnants of the original design remain for now. Red gems are still visible in one area, while nearby planets have faded from their original colorful appearance to mostly brown and gray.
One of the most dramatic examples sits near Mission: SPACE Cargo Bay.
When installed in 2023, a black hole design featured bright blue, orange, and red mosaics. Disney repaired it in 2025, but by September 2026, much of that color was gone, leaving behind a darker swirl.
Mission: SPACE Isn’t Closing
Despite the work happening directly outside Mission: SPACE, there is no indication in the provided report that Disney is removing or closing the attraction itself.
The removal involves decorative pavement in Planetary Plaza.
Still, it’s a noticeable change considering Disney installed these elements only three years ago. Instead of continuing to preserve every part of the 2023 design, crews are now replacing at least some sections with ordinary concrete.
With additional pavement already prepared for work, even more of Planetary Plaza’s colorful design could disappear soon.
For EPCOT guests, the change won’t stop them from riding Mission: SPACE. But the area surrounding the attraction is already starting to look different.
