Guests visiting EPCOT this week were surprised to find that Spaceship Earth had undergone an unexpected transformation—without any major announcement from Walt Disney World Resort. After months of speculation, construction walls have come down around the beloved attraction, revealing some subtle but intriguing changes.
A Long-Awaited Change for EPCOT’s Iconic Attraction
Spaceship Earth, EPCOT’s towering geodesic sphere, has long been a centerpiece of the park. Originally slated for a major refurbishment as part of Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th-anniversary transformation, plans for a large-scale overhaul were shelved indefinitely in 2020. Since then, the attraction has remained largely untouched—until now.
While Disney never formally announced any updates to Spaceship Earth beyond the addition of an upcoming Spaceship Earth-themed lounge, ongoing construction near the ride’s exit sparked speculation among guests. In recent months, temporary walls appeared around the eastern entrance of Project Tomorrow, the interactive post-show area that follows the ride.
What’s Different About Spaceship Earth?
According to a report from BlogMickey, the construction walls were quietly removed this week, revealing the extent of the work. While no major alterations were made to the attraction itself, Disney crews repaired and repainted sections of the ceiling both inside and outside the ride’s exit. Tarps still cover part of the ceiling inside, suggesting that additional work may still be in progress.
It remains unclear whether these updates are directly related to the Spaceship Earth lounge, which is set to take over the former Siemens lounge attached to the attraction. The lounge is expected to open later this year.
More to Come for Spaceship Earth?
Though this latest update appears to be a small-scale transformation, some fans wonder if Walt Disney World Resort is laying the groundwork for bigger changes in the future. Spaceship Earth has remained largely the same since its last refresh in 2007, and many theme park guests are still holding out hope that Disney will revisit its original plans to refresh the attraction.
For now, the ride remains open, and with the construction walls removed, guests can once again access the full Project Tomorrow post-show area.
Have you noticed any ongoing construction projects around Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share what you saw with Disney Dining in the comments!
