What is exactly inside that ball in Epcot?

[stlsports4ever]

Ok, this is going to sound nuts but my wife and I are talking about what is inside the ball in Epcot...if you all can tell us, it would be awsome. Thanks!

 

[pskelly]

It is a ride, spaceship earth. Entertaining and relaxing.

 

[jcriket]

This is from dis's web page
Spaceship Earth
Rating/Reviews | Photos

Year Opened: 1982

Epcot's icon is the impressive Spaceship Earth geosphere, affectionately referred to by most as the giant golf ball.

When you include Sorcerer Mickey's wand, this incredible architectural achievement, it's 240' high. The surface is covered by 11,324 triangles and the structure is supported by three pairs of 15' steel legs. It is 165' in diameter, and weighs a whopping 16 million pounds.

A fraction of that weight comes from the Sorcerer Mickey hand and wand. (It's a mere 100,000 pounds.) They use 250,000 metallic eye-catchers to create the glistening effect in the letters that spell out Epcot.

Spaceship Earth is a sphere within a sphere. It is this interior space that is home to the attraction. You board your car and you're off on a journey through the history of communication.

Jeremy Irons narrates as you pass through the different eras. Since you're traveling in a sphere, the cars recline. It begins with the cave paintings of Cro-Magnon man, onto the Egyptians and hieroglyphics, the Phoenician merchants, the Greek dramas and the role of the Roman Empire.

If you notice a scent in the air, its because Disney used "smellitizers." The most prominent is the smell of burning wood. It's brief, but you definitely detect it.

You'll see sleepy Monks painstakingly reproduce ancient manuscript. The beauty of the Renaissance is highlighted with an amazing re-enactment of Michaelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel.

When you leave the past, you reach the apex. The "sky" is filled with stars and planets. As the music plays, the ride car slowly reverses and you're now reclining backwards as you begin the descent.

The next segment is the present and "future" or at least what it was thought to be when this attraction opened 24 years ago.

This attraction is 15 minutes long. While it is a bit dated, it's still interesting. If you see a line, wait until later in the day when you usually can walk right on. This is one of those rides that's perfect when you need a relaxing break and don't want to spend a lot of time waiting to get on.

There used to be some great hands-on activities when you exited. Unfortunately, this is now just a big ole' empty space. We're hoping that it will be put to use sometime soon.

Guest in wheelchairs must be able to transfer from their wheelchairs into the ride vehicle

FUN FACTS: If you wanted to use Spaceship Earth as a golf ball, you would need to stand 1.2 miles tall!


Cast members can actually go to the TOP of the dome…there is an elevator that goes all the way up.

 

[Skroops]

I love this ride!

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

I just love Spaceship Earth. No telling how many times I've been stuck on this ride while it broke down. I know many of you have probably been on there with me!!!

 

[RumpleMom]

I think Spaceship Earth has been stopped at times to allow guests to transfer from a wheelcar to the ride, rather than being broken down.

 

[mommykds]

Here is some more info with a few pictures.

http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/ep/e_spe.htm

 

[Micca]

It's excellent. Not a thrill ride, but very nicely done and worth a visit.

 

[Poohbear123]

 

[bytheblood]

I think Spaceship Earth has been stopped at times to allow guests to transfer from a wheelcar to the ride, rather than being broken down.

That was my thought!

 

[marc1477]

Its a great ride and I never miss it when I am there. It is relaxing too. You will want to go on it just to say you been there in the giant golf ball. LOL!

 

[katebeth]

I think it is a very relaxing ride...kinda the heart of epcot

 

[The Mick]

No matter how many times we've done it, Spaceship Earth is a must ride every time we hit EPCOT. It's a tradition. Love that ride.

 

[codygirl5150]

My husband told me when he went to Epcot for the first time when he was about 12 yrs old (1987) he thought it was going to be all this amazing futuristic stuff inside that would totally change his life. When he saw what was really in it he was so disappointed!
Our trip next year will be his first time back!

 

[writersblock42]

My son also was so excited about going inside the golf ball at Epcot and was dissappointed big time.

 

[LaraK]

We always ride this...usually on our way out of the park (shorter lines in the evenings). It's low key, but by then I'm ready for low key.

 

[pigletforever]

When DS was 5 (he is now 17) he rode it 17 times during our 6 day stay. He plans on breaking his record this time

 

[Kramer]

My husband told me when he went to Epcot for the first time when he was about 12 yrs old (1987) he thought it was going to be all this amazing futuristic stuff inside that would totally change his life. When he saw what was really in it he was so disappointed!

Our trip next year will be his first time back!

My wife was similarly disillusioned... she went to Disney World for the first time when we went together about six years ago. She thought the ENTIRE Epcot theme park was inside that giant ball. She was also bummed that it had just a ride inside it.

We stll laugh at that story every time we go there...

 

[CleveRocks]

To the OP:

If you go to Epcot in the morning, resist the temptation to get in even a moderately-sized line to ride Spaceship Earth. By after lunch, there will be no line whatsoever, you can just walk right on. It seems so obvious to get in line for it when you first enter the park ... which is why there are often long lines in the morning.

Be smart, walk right by it and go inside later in the day. If you're not staying in World Showcase (the "back half" of Epcot) past 7:00 p.m., the usual closing time for the "front half" of Epcot, then wait to do Spaceship Earth until you are leaving the park. Like I said, no lines that time of day.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

I think Spaceship Earth has been stopped at times to allow guests to transfer from a wheelcar to the ride, rather than being broken down.

You know, I've never really thought about that! I've just always assumed that we were broke down. Thanks for the heads up guys! All these years, it never even occured to me.........