Spaceship Earth Closing for refurb 25th August

[Scott McDuck]

Is a surge in ridership expected in the final days before closure? 8/25 falls toward the beginning of our trip; we'll have 8/23 and 8/24 available to potentially visit. I may alter my schedule of which park to visit in order to visit Epcot on one of those two days and get to ride it before closure. But I don't want to do so if there's going to be hour-long waits if everyone is doing a last hurrah.

We'll have park-hopper ticket so could always make a last-minute decision/hop.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Is a surge in ridership expected in the final days before closure? 8/25 falls toward the beginning of our trip; we'll have 8/23 and 8/24 available to potentially visit. I may alter my schedule of which park to visit in order to visit Epcot on one of those two days and get to ride it before closure. But I don't want to do so if there's going to be hour-long waits if everyone is doing a last hurrah.

We'll have park-hopper ticket so could always make a last-minute decision/hop.

I would anticipate more people will ride it prior to it's closure but not sure we will see the 'surge' we do with some other attractions. My understanding is this is a refurbishment and not a re-theming so that decreases the demand.

We will be halfway through our trip when it closes so we'll be sure to ride it once or twice before it closes. People like us will increase the numbers but I'm not anticipating it to draw huge crowds.

 

[stinkpickle]

A few of the curtains covering old scenes had fallen, and it was doing a lot of stopping and starting last week.

 

[OKW Lover]

A few of the curtains covering old scenes had fallen, and it was doing a lot of stopping and starting last week.

What scenes were covered? I haven't ridden in several months.
Was the stopping and starting the usual brief stops for loading/unloading handicap guests? Or something more extensive?

 

[hardcorestitch]

Going later in September. Think we are also missing Buzz Lightyear & Little Mermaid and of course Rivers of America, TSI and Muppetvision

The Rivers of America will never come back again unfortunately

 

[CaroM8]

A few of the curtains covering old scenes had fallen, and it was doing a lot of stopping and starting last week.

Even last year it was stopping a lot - I think we were stuck 3 times for about 10mins each time. Not that I am complaining - it's a good nap spot

 

[Minnie1222]

What scenes were covered? I haven't ridden in several months.
Was the stopping and starting the usual brief stops for loading/unloading handicap guests? Or something more extensive?

I just rode it less than a week ago. Honestly I did not see anything out of the ordinary. There were the occasional brief stops to load/unload guests. Nothing extensive.

 

[Minnie1222]

The Rivers of America will never come back again unfortunately

We've had it for like 50 years now. It's time for something new and I think Cars would be a great replacement.

 

[fbarker]

It’s possible that they won’t have an idea of how long it will take until they get in there and see everything that needs to be fixed. SSE is one of my favorite attractions and it can really use some TLC right now.

I am sure they have a very good idea what needs to be fixed and what modifications will be made, but they may not be sure how some of the projects will take and thus a date can not be given.

 

[fbarker]

We've had it for like 50 years now. It's time for something new and I think Cars would be a great replacement.

I have to disagree with you. SSE is an iconic ride that needs to remain in its current format. To change it to Cars would not be a good choice.

 

[Minnie1222]

I'm willing to bet that the majority of the people who are "outrage" over the closing of Rivers of America and TSI still haven't bothered to come and say goodbye for one last time. If it's that important, then show up in person to pay your tribute. Complaining from afar does nothing. I haven't been interested in this area for decades, and still I came to say a proper farewell three times now. I'm ready to let it go and welcome the next chapter.

Picture taken 5 days ago. You can still walk near the water if interested.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I have to disagree with you. SSE is an iconic ride that needs to remain in its current format. To change it to Cars would not be a good choice.

Person was responding to the post about Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island closing for Cars Land, not the thread topic of Spaceship Earth.

 

[pooch]

That’s great if you have the time and money to that. Not everyone can just get down to WDW whenever they want. SSE is my fondest memory of past WDW trips. I love Dame Judy. I always thank the Phoenicians. But I am unable to get there to say goodbye. Doesn’t mean I love it any less because I can’t come down & say a “proper farewell”.

 

[Minnie1222]

That’s great if you have the time and money to that. Not everyone can just get down to WDW whenever they want. SSE is my fondest memory of past WDW trips. I love Dame Judy. I always thank the Phoenicians. But I am unable to get there to say goodbye. Doesn’t mean I love it any less because I can’t come down & say a “proper farewell”.

Spaceship Earth is only down temporarily for refurbishment. There's no need for a proper farewell. I was talking about Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island.

 

[scrappinginontario]

That’s great if you have the time and money to that. Not everyone can just get down to WDW whenever they want. SSE is my fondest memory of past WDW trips. I love Dame Judy. I always thank the Phoenicians. But I am unable to get there to say goodbye. Doesn’t mean I love it any less because I can’t come down & say a “proper farewell”.

Spaceship Earth is closing for a refurbishment, not a re-theming. No need to go down and say farewell, it’s not going anywhere, just closing for a tune-up of the existing ride.

She’s going in for an oil change, not being exchanged for a brand new car.