If you’ve never been to Epcot before, you may be wondering, “What kind of ride is Spaceship Earth?” Read on to find out what to expect when boarding this classic attraction in Walt Disney World!
Even if you’ve never ridden Spaceship Earth at Epcot, there’s a good chance you’ve seen it when driving around Disney property. Heck, you’ve probably seen one or several Disney advertisements that feature the towering geosphere show building (affectionally referred to by many as “the golf ball”).
Not only is Spaceship Earth one of Epcot’s legacy attractions, but it also happens to be the park icon, like how Cinderella Castle is the icon of Magic Kingdom.
An Audio-Animatronic spectacle with brilliant narration provided by Dame Judi Dench, Spaceship Earth is a must-visit for us on every Disney trip and a fantastic ride for your next Disney for Couples outing, be it big or small.
Here’s everything you need to know about this legendary Epcot attraction.
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Is Spaceship Earth an Intense Ride?
Is Spaceship Earth the kind of ride that’s going to frighten you into the next century? Not a chance.
No bright or strobing lights. No jump scares. No weird smells, other than the odd odor of crayons as you walk into the show building.
Epcot’s calling card is a smooth 15-minute journey through some classic Disney Imagineering.
Is Spaceship Earth Scary?
Spaceship Earth is not a scary attraction by any means. It’s a slow-moving Omnimover dark ride (think the Doom Buggies of Haunted Mansion) that barely chugs along at 2 mph.
You’ll be ascending toward the top of the geosphere show building for most of your ride as you wind your way through one Audio-Animatronic set after another. Each section represents a different era in the history of human communication, starting with cavemen etchings and ending with the advent of the personal computer.
Is Spaceship Earth a Roller Coaster?
Not even close. Spaceship Earth may actually be one of the slowest Omnimover dark rides in all of Walt Disney World, right up there with Living with the Land and Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid at Magic Kingdom.
🐚 Check out our Ariel sticker here, part of our Princess at the Park collection!
If you’re looking for coaster thrills at Epcot, you’ll want to set your sights on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or Test Track.
Does Spaceship Earth Have a Drop?
Technically it does! But like the rest of the ride, the “drop” is really just an ultra-slow-moving descent from the top of the show building to the final load-out area of the attraction.
This sequence of the ride lasts for about 5 minutes. During it, you’ll be tasked with using your ride vehicle’s touchscreen to create a custom animation. The results are often quite amusing, as you can see below.
So, as you dip back toward Earth, at least you’ll have something to occupy you and yours.
Oh, and here’s a fun tip: When you exit Spaceship Earth, you’ll head into Project Tomorrow. (It’s a rather dated hub of interactive exhibits.) Head to the center of the room and look up at the panoramic screens. You may spot one of the humorous avatars you created at the end of the ride.
Final Thoughts About the Spaceship Earth Ride
Whether it’s your first adventure to Walt Disney World or you’re a frequent flyer like us, you just have to ride Spaceship Earth. Spiritually, it’s also the most aligned with Walt Disney’s original vision for his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Plus, the Imagineers have done a great job at keeping up with maintenance and small enhancements over the years.
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