Spaceship Earth Closed?

[-sts-]

I read somewhere that Spaceship Earth will be closing Late 2005 Eary 2006.
Is this true.. I hope its not true...

 

[Perdygirl]

I don't know if it is true or not, but it was pretty deserted when I was in Epcot in Oct.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Spaceship Earth has a new sponsor (Siemens). I'm sure they're going to want to refurb the attraction to suit their own business.

It's not closing for good.

Here's a link to the Orlando Sentinel with the announcement.

 

[DisneyDreamer2]

Test Track is going to be down in Jan and early Feb. My guess is that Spaceship earth will close before that but just for a short rehab to reflect the new sponsor.

 

[GadgetRick]

So, is it open now or closed? The link doesn't say anything about that.

 

[KittieKat]

o God! please no!! Take something else, not spaceship earth!

 

[padams]

It was open last week, and it had a wait time of 20 minutes.

 

[boomhauer]

They close that down, I won't even bother going to Epcot anymore. They've taken enough from that park already.

 

[wendy1974]

I seriously doubt they close the icon of Epcot. It's very possible that it could go down for a refurb and also as a previous poster said with Siemens being the new sponsor they will be making changes to the area that you exit into that used to be sponsored by AT&T. I think that will be great as when I last rode in May that area was all closed off.

 

[iliketoby]

Now I'm worried that my favorite thing in Epcot (if not all of WDW) will be closed during my early January trip!

Anyone know about a refurbishment schedule? ? ?

 

[cleo]

*Sigh*

This rumor goes around every 6 months or so. Have no fear. Spaceship Earth is not closing.

 

[Fenceman]

It was open on Thanksgiving. We walked on at 5:00pm with no wait.

 

[TSR6]

Yes, Disney will be closing a multi-million dollar attraction that has only been open for a couple years. /sarcasm

Keep holding your breath, it's not gunna close.

 

[CarolA]

Yes, Disney will be closing a multi-million dollar attraction that has only been open for a couple years. /sarcasm

Keep holding your breath, it's not gunna close.

HUH?

Spaceship Earth opened when the park did and has had MINIMAL updates.

I would assume that it will be closing at somepoint in the future. Seimens, the new sponsor, does a LOT of things and communications is not thier primary product (although it is a product) I would assume the ride will be "rethemed" to fit thier sponosorship. (Kind of like Test Track fits with GM)

Sorry, folks but the way Epcot work is that the corporate sponsors are PAYING for adverstising..... Also, Epcot was NEVER intended to be stangant and "the same as it always" was

 

[graygables]

On the Undiscovered Future World tour, I was told personally by a tour guide who has been there since Epcot opened that SE is indeed being looked at for a complete overhaul and NO, the structure is NOT dependent on the ride (contrary to rumors). There are designs in place that turn it into a thrill ride, with the loading/preride area in the building off behind (where there are offices/nothing now) and have it "shoot up into the sphere" (to quote him directly). I complained about that and was given a lecture about how "Epcot has to change to continue to be relevant to today's and tomorrow's guests."

For this particular closure, it would not surprise me if it's only Siemen's branding, but I would not at all be surprised if the ride is gutted and changed at some point in the near future. Epcot does have an anniversary coming up, y'know.

 

[erikthewise]

The rumor that SSE would close in 2006 is an old one going back to about 2002. It was based on a proposed project to completely redo the interior. That project was rejected so the rumor is no longer meaningful. While there will probably be some changes, wholesale remodeling or closure seems to be out of the question: see http://www.jimhillmedia.com/article.php?id=1756 .

 

[TSR6]

HUH?

Spaceship Earth opened when the park did and has had MINIMAL updates.

I would assume that it will be closing at somepoint in the future. Seimens, the new sponsor, does a LOT of things and communications is not thier primary product (although it is a product) I would assume the ride will be "rethemed" to fit thier sponosorship. (Kind of like Test Track fits with GM)

Sorry, folks but the way Epcot work is that the corporate sponsors are PAYING for adverstising..... Also, Epcot was NEVER intended to be stangant and "the same as it always" was

Ha! I had a brain fart, and was thinking the post was Mission: Space.

To much work, and not enough sleep!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Just to let anyone know that didn't know already you can go on www.mouseplanet.com and they have an up to date refurbishment schedule for all of the parks. Go to the site and click on the left for WDW Park Update. I looked a couple of days ago and they haven't put anything about Spaceship Earth on there. I too would be sad if they remade SE into a thrill ride. What's would be next getting rid of TTA? Now THAT would be a sad day.

 

[smfnj]

Just to let anyone know that didn't know already you can go on www.mouseplanet.com and they have an up to date refurbishment schedule for all of the parks.

So does The Dis.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm

steve

 

[palmtreegirl]

I'd love to see a new ride.