Three Things I Love About Spaceship Earth

Before we get started talking about one of my all-time favorite attractions, I want to wish the most magical birthdays to both Mickey and Minnie!! (They sure look great for their age, don’t they?). In honor of this special day, I’m thinking of enjoying some Mickey Mouse Rice Krispie Treats tonight (with some hot chocolate in my Minnie Mouse mug!). It’s party-time, Disney style!

Ahem. So as promised, I wanted to share with you my Three Favorite Reasons why I love love LOVE Spaceship Earth! If you would like to share some of your most treasured Spaceship Earth memories, please leave a comment below, we would love to hear from you! And now, without any further ado, let’s board those Time Vehicles…

My Introduction to Epcot

I’m sure this is one I have in common with many of you. My very first experience at Epcot was visiting Spaceship Earth, and it was a moment I’ll never forget. We arrived in the early evening in October (back when the parks were less crowded that time of year). This was the early 90s (hello, Jeremy Irons!), when Epcot was still relatively young. The sky was purple, soothing music surrounded us, and there was the glistening geosphere rising majestically into the sky. Having never experienced Epcot before, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Sure, I had ridden the Dark Rides at the Magic Kingdom, but those only lasted just a few minutes, and sometimes the ride was a bit frantic (yes Mr. Toad, I’m looking at you!). So as we walked up the ramp (pretty much alone), I was absolutely transfixed by the sheer beauty of the structure, and of that amazing mural. But the attraction itself was beyond anything I had imagined…an extended dark ride that showed us scene after amazing scene, accompanied by some of the most musical beautiful music I had ever heard. And then…the city of the future scene (still my favorite to this day). As we left, I was astounded at what we had just seen. Just the very concept of the attraction (a 15-20 minute slow journey that took you on an educational yet magical tour of one aspect of the human experience) was spellbinding. Best of all, as we left and entered the heart of Future World, I realized that there was so much to explore. The Seas, the Land, Imagination, Horizons, the World of Motion…it was a dream come true (but a dream I had never, well, dreamt of if that makes sense!). And it all began with Spaceship Earth.

Jeremy Irons

One of the great things about Walt Disney World is how it means different things to different people. Or to put in another way, we all have our own personal nostalgic memories, depending on when we first visited. For some, those memories go back to opening day (and ticket books and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea…). For those like me, those first experiences came in the 80s and 90s, when Epcot was new, innovations were popping up every time you turned around, new resorts were opening…and even new parks. For kids today, their first experiences are more recent…and to them their first glimpses of the parks included the Mickey Wand on Spaceship Earth and the Sorcerers Hat in Hollywood Studios (and thus, they actually are very near and dear to their hearts).

Spaceship Earth is much the same. Though the attraction has basically remained the same, it has gone through a few major refurbishments, and depending on when you first visited, that first experience will always be the one you remember. For some us, that meant the version narrated by Walter Cronkite. For Disney veterans, they surely have fond memories of Vic Perrin. First-time visitors today will always remember Dame Judi Dench telling us who to thank for those ABCs. But for me? Spaceship Earth will always be synonymous with Jeremy Irons. I will never forget those classic lines: ”Like a grand and miraculous spaceship, our planet has sailed through the universe of time. And for a brief moment, we have been among its many passengers,” “Finally, from the depths of the Dark Ages came the Age of Enlightenment: the Renaissance,” and best of all, “But will these seemingly infinite communications become a flood of electronic babble? Or will we use this power to usher in a new age of understanding and co-operation on this…our Spaceship Earth.” The reveal of a lonely Earth floating in a sea of stars was perfectly timed with Irons’ classic line. And this is also the version with the scenes of the future shown during your decent. The space shuttle class, the mom singing a lullaby to her far-away child, the archeologists…and of course, the dazzling city of the future. For me, that will always be “my” Spaceship Earth…though for you it may be different. What are YOUR favorite memories?

Those Rich Disney Details

Just like every Disney attraction, Spaceship Earth is filled with lots of details. I mean LOTS of details. Some attractions have their Hidden Mickeys, some have their nods to Disney history, some have cleverly disguised historical references, and some even have their very own trivia facts unique to that attraction. But Spaceship Earth has it all. From the Hidden Mickey formed by the scrolls in the Islamic Scholar scene and the WDI on the radio microphone, to the authentic telegraph messages and yes, all those triangles on the outside of the sphere…Spaceship Earth is a treasure trove of factoids that will make excite any Disney trivia nut (like me). That brings me to the main reason why this attraction is so special to me…Spaceship Earth is well worth seeing over and over and over again. You’re always going to find something new, no matter how many times you ride. Indeed, that’s half the fun…to see if you can find that new detail you haven’t noticed before. What IS that record next to the TV in the Moon landing scene? What is that headline on the newspaper in the giant printing press scene? What can you see out the window in the Renaissance scene? There is so much to see (and hear, and…yes…smell – mmm, burning embers!) that you can visit over and over and have a new experience every time. Or, just sit back relax, and take it all in. Listen to the music. Enjoy the tranquility as you drift through a sea of blue fiber optic lights on your way back to Earth. There’s something here for everyone, and with new changes on the way, I can’t wait to see what comes next.

And thus, our journey ends. But let us know what YOU love most about Spaceship Earth in the comments below! And for more Spaceship Earth magic, be sure to watch our newest Celebrations Magical Moments video, where I’ll take you on a tour of this classic Epcot attraction (and explain what exactly a “pentakis dodecahedron” is!)

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