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Credit: DisneyWalt Disney World Resort appears to be wrapping up a long-running exterior refurbishment of the Spaceship Earth attraction at EPCOT. This comes just two months after Walt Disney Imagineering announced plans to finally overhaul the interior of the future-focused ride, whose original reimagining, planned for the 50th anniversary of the Most Magical Place on Earth, was canceled due to COVID-19-related delays.
Spaceship Earth Interior Overhaul
At D23 Expo 2026, Walt Disney Imagineering announced that it would overhaul the interior of the innovation-focused Spaceship Earth attraction at EPCOT. The “next chapter” for the iconic Disney Park ride will be focused on the power of “human connection.”
Back in 2019, Walt Disney World Resort announced plans for an updated version of the attraction called “Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story.” However, that project was indefinitely shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disney says the updated refresh is “classically EPCOT, a journey through time, celebrating the progress made possible through human connection.” The company has not announced when Spaceship Earth will close for renovations, or said whether it will feature a new narrator when it reopens. Dame Judi Dench currently narrates the attraction.
Exterior Refurbishment Wraps Up At EPCOT
Walt Disney World Resort began refurbishing the exterior of the Spaceship Earth attraction at EPCOT in August 2025. Over the last year, crews have slowly removed and replaced silver metallic panels around Project Tomorrow, the interactive exit area attached to the geodesic sphere structure the ride is known for.
Most of the work wrapped up by April 2026, but a few of the panels appeared worn and dirty compared to the fresh installations. As of October 21, Walt Disney World Resort finally appears to have finished refurbishing the Project Tomorrow building.
On Wednesday, WDWNT reported that those obviously worn panels on the Spaceship Earth facade had finally been replaced, seamlessly blending in with the clean, metallic look of the rest of the new panels.
The new panels have a gradient look that adds depth when the sunlight hits them.
Despite this maintenance project and the upcoming overhaul, Spaceship Earth remains open and operational at EPCOT.
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