Guests would board their Omnimover vehicles at the structure’s base and begin rising up a ramp. Taking this history through communication theme as their guide, the attraction as it appeared on opening day in 1982 isn’t all that different than the Spaceship Earth we know today. Because the attraction was sponsored by the Bell System network of telephone companies, heavy emphasis was put on the concept of communication throughout history and how evolutions in communication technology played massive roles in humanity’s history. Eventually, with the help of legendary science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, they settled on a trip through the entire history of humanity. While Spaceship Earth’s structure was being designed, Imagineering’s show producers were attempting to figure out what kind of attraction they wanted within. However, in the end Disney decided to have the entire ride housed within the sphere, using a twisting Omnimover ride system that would wind up and down a circular ramp. Initially, Disney planned on having the bulk of Spaceship Earth’s attraction be housed in a show building behind the sphere, with only climax happening within the structure. Structurally, the complete Spaceship Earth stands 180 feet tall, with structural pylons running underground as deep as 160 feet. WDI achieved this by essentially building two individual domes, one upside down, on top of each other, setting it on 6 giant legs, and covering the structure in triangular tiles. Disney decided to take things a step further, constructing a complete sphere instead. Expo ’67 Pavilion That structure, designed by Buckminster Fuller (who also coined the name Spaceship Earth), was a geodesic dome. Since the park was essentially going to be a “permanent World’s Fair”, Imagineers took inspiration for its icon from the United States Pavilion at the 1967 International and Universal Exposition (AKA Expo 67) in Montreal. The initial concept for Spaceship Earth was born in the mid-1970s, as Walt Disney’s dream of an Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow evolved into the EPCOT Center theme park. Come along with us as we chart the evolution of this classic attraction and see if we can use where its been to glean any insight onto what the future holds for Spaceship Earth. However, while the exterior of the geodesic sphere – or more colloquially the giant golf ball – has remained relatively unchanged during that period (outside of a certain regrettable seven-year stretch that we’ll discuss) the attraction housed within has gone through numerous changes and three major refurbishments during that time period. The Storied History Behind EPCOT’s Spaceship Earthįor nearly 40 years, Spaceship Earth has been one of the defining landmarks of Walt Disney World and the main symbol of EPCOT. Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.Epcot International Festival of the Arts.Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind - Coming in 2021.Festival Pavilion - Opening Date Unknown.