The first thing you’ll see when you arrive at EPCOT, is what most people call the “golf-ball”. This always makes me smile, because the only thing about it that reminds me of a golf ball is that it is round and seems to sit up from the ground as if on a tee! This giant icon is actually made up of over 11,000 triangular tiles and is 180 feet tall – so it’s quite the “golf-ball” indeed!
What Spaceship Earth really is though – besides being the recognizable symbol of EPCOT – is a slow and fascinating ride (inside the sphere) through the history of human communication from the stone age to the computer age.
Along your journey you will discover the dawn of human civilization when communication was simple drawings painted on cave walls, through the invention of alphabets that allowed written communication, which eventually led to printed books. You’ll see how the invention of the Gutenberg printing press brought us into the modern age of communication with newspapers, media and the telephone – and eventually television and computers. Where do we go from there? That’s something that this attraction leaves you pondering as you leave – what amazing things come next?
While Spaceship Earth is definitely a classic attraction at this point, it’s still always interesting to check out all of the animatronic details in each scene – as many times as I have ridden it, I see something new every time!
This 16-minute ride is continuously loading, so even if the line seems long, it actually moves pretty quickly. It can seem a little deceiving, but once you enter the entrance, you are mere steps away from being directed into your own car for your trip back in time. Spaceship Earth is a very slow moving ride and has no height restrictions, making it enjoyable for all ages. Bonus tip: It’s also great during the summer months as a welcome cool respite from the Florida sunshine and heat!
Want some fun facts about Spaceship Earth to impress your friends?
- The ride inside is actually within a sphere that is separate from the exterior shell by a stairway that winds around between the 2 layers.
- If you stand underneath the sphere during the frequent Florida quick showers, you will not get wet. Water is diverted into channels on the outer shell and escapes down through the supports holding this icon. I heard the water is then channeled into the lagoons.
- The music you hear along the way features styles and instruments from each era and transitions seamlessly into the next scene.
Have you ridden Spaceship Earth? What is your favorite scene? (Mine is Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling!)
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Debbie and her husband live in Chattanooga, TN. They both are huge Disney fans and try to visit the most Magical Place on Earth at least once a year, if possible. They are enjoying taking each of their now 10 grandchildren and hope to also take their great granddaughter in the near future. One of their favorite trips has been visiting Disney with adults only, including one trip when their son proposed to his girlfriend. Each trip begins with the planning, which can take up to a year, beginning with how to get the grandkids excited about their upcoming trip. They have surprised some of them the day before they left, while the latest one had “presents” every 10 days starting at 90 days all leading up to an exciting trip with her parents along also. Their philosophy on Disney Trips? “Each trip is completely different, like visiting Walt Disney World for the first time.” They both enjoy all that Disney has to offer, but enjoy Animal Kingdom and EPCOT the most. It is their goal that everyone who visits Walt Disney World has a magical trip with lots of memories to last a life time.
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