In this post we give an overview of Spaceship Earth, an educational dark ride at Disney’s EPCOT theme park in Walt Disney World. We cover the basics of the ride, how to ride it, and our thoughts on the experience before closing with an FAQ. Read on to learn more!
Related Posts
This post is a quick guide to Spaceship Earth, but we have related content that dives deeper into topics. Our Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in deep. The Epcot Rides and Entertainment Guide gives brief introductions to all the park’s offerings. For putting together your day at the park, we have a One Day Plan for Epcot.
Spaceship Earth Basics
Spaceship Earth is a dark ride at Disney’s EPCOT in Walt Disney World. Spaceship Earth:
does not offer rider switch
has a Lightning Lane that is a part of Genie+
does not have a single rider line
is about 15 minutes long
Measured by wait times, Spaceship Earth is the sixth most popular ride in Epcot. (As of this update, Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind still uses a virtual queue.) You should expect an average wait of about 0 to 20 minutes, but this will vary greatly by time of day and day of year.
Where is Spaceship Earth located?
This one is easy! Spaceship Earth is located inside the gigantic geodesic sphere that is the icon of the park. You can’t miss it!
How to Ride Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth doesn’t often have a long wait, so you don’t have to prioritize it too early. Typically, we’ll ride it around the same time we ride The Seas With Nemo and Friends, which is nearby.
If you have Genie+, this will be one of your last Lightning Lane picks.
If you’re visiting Epcot with small children, I’d call this a “probably ride.” Personally we love it, but our toddler has sometimes gotten a bit restless on the lengthy ride. We still ride it as a family without hesitation, but keep in mind the length.
Spaceship Earth Ride Experience
Spaceship Earth is a 15-minute dark ride that takes you through scenes depicting the history of communication. You can view a video of the ride here.
Personally, I think the scenes in Spaceship Earth are some of the most beautiful in Disney World. They aren’t stunning in a large sense, but the care and detailing in each and every scene is astounding.
The ride is both literally and figuratively iconic. Along with Living With the Land, it’s also one of the few remnants of the old Epcot philosophy of edutainment.
Spaceship Earth FAQ
Is Spaceship Earth Still getting refurbished?
Maybe. Disney hasn’t said much about the future of Spaceship Earth since the reopening. The ride was originally supposed to begin a lengthy reimagining in 2020, but things got weird and that didn’t happen. Based on everything we’ve heard / read, it seems likely the ride will close at some point for this work to get done. Unfortunately, there’s really no way to know when it will begin until Disney makes an announcement.
Is Spaceship Earth a roller coaster?
No. Spaceship Earth is a slow dark ride. The only roller coaster at Epcot is Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind.
Does Spaceship Earth have drops?
Spaceship Earth is a long, slow dark ride. During most of the ride, you’re moving slowly upwards. At the end, you’ll move slowly downward, but I wouldn’t call it a “drop” in any sense of the word.
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
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Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Genie+ and Lightning Lane strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.