Last week, EPCOT’s most iconic ride shut down for an extended period, leaving several Disney Park guests trapped on board. Spaceship Earth has been a central feature of EPCOT since the park opened in 1982 and captured the imaginations of millions of visitors from around the world.
Spaceship Earth’s stunning geodesic dome design has long been a symbol of EPCOT. The slow-moving ride inside takes guests on a journey through the history of communication, from the earliest days of humanity to the high-tech future. But last week, the attraction unexpectedly shut down with dozens of riders on board.
Walt Disney World Resort is known for keeping the details of ride breakdowns under wraps, and this case was no different. While the reasons behind the closure remain unclear, one TikTok user (@findingmyshine) shared their experience of being stuck on the ride for over 40 minutes.
@findingmyshine And a free lightning lane for being stopped so long #disneyworld #spaceshipearth #epcot #disneyrides #disneypov #creatorsearchinsights #fyp
“When [you’re] stuck on Spaceship Earth for 40 minutes, you find yourself cheering this man on,” the Disney Park guest joked. “This man staring into your soul, and you just want to thank the Phoenicians.”
It’s not uncommon for omnimover attractions like Spaceship Earth to temporarily stop to assist guests with mobility issues. However, the reason for this longer-than-usual shutdown remains unknown.
Despite the delay, guests stuck on the ride were not evacuated. Disney cast members provided compensation in the form of free Lightning Lane passes for those affected by the inconvenience.
The TikTok user turned a frustrating experience into a pleasant break from the Florida heat. “Inside from the heat it wasn’t bad at all,” they added.
As of now, there has been no official word from Walt Disney World Resort regarding the exact cause of the recent Spaceship Earth closure. However, the World Celebration attraction reopened later the same day and was operating normally at the time of this article’s publication.
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