Iconic Disney Epcot Ride to Close for Two Years

Walt Disney World Resort's Epcot Theme Park is going through a major overhaul and closing down one of the park's most iconic rides.

According to the Walt Disney World News Today (WDWNT) blog, new details about the overhaul revealed that the Spaceship Earth ride inside Epcot's geodesic sphere will close for more than two years. Reports claim that the ride will be closed from early 2020 and reopen in time for the park’s 40th anniversary in the second half of 2022.

As part of Epcot's overhaul, Disney is redoing the park entrance and the central area of Future World. WDWNT reports this "Project Gamma" will make much-needed changes to Spaceship Earth. The 15-minute ride is aging and Disney is using this park overhaul as a way to extend the length of the attraction with new loading and unloading areas. Spaceship Earth will reportedly receive a new structure that will replace the Project Tomorrow building.

Disney is also setting up projection mapping technologies that will cover the entire exterior of the ride with projections of Earth from space.

TPG reached out to Disney for a comment, but they did not have anything to share at the moment. Disney responded to TravelPulse saying that the park's multi-year transformation will bring new experiences, but keep the original vision of the park.

"As part of this exciting evolution, an all-new nighttime fireworks spectacular joins several previously announced experiences coming to Epcot, including the highly anticipated “Guardians of the Galaxy” roller coaster attraction in Future World, a “Ratatouille”-inspired attraction in World Showcase, a new table-service restaurant adjacent to Mission: SPACE in Future World and much more," Disney said in their statement to TravelPulse.

While some Epcot fans might be sad to hear their favorite ride will temporarily close, there are more than 40 other rides throughout Disney World to enjoy — if you're brave enough, you might even be able to hit them all in one day. For more tips on how to navigate all 40 square miles or ways to maximize your stay, our ultimate guide to Disney World has your answers.