Fun Facts about Spaceship Earth That Will Surprise You
Rumors abound that the most iconic attraction at Epcot could go on hiatus soon. Sweeping changes are afoot at Future World, and it’s logical to expect that the most eye-grabbing park feature would be a part of them. Before we learn about the next version of this attraction, let’s appreciate what we already have. Here are a few fun facts about Spaceship Earth.
Based on a Book
Do you know who R. Buckminster Fuller is? The author was an accomplished futurist and inventor who earned his reputation in the fields of architecture and systems theory. His work emphasized the concept of receiving the best results through the least amount of effort. And he also invented the term geodesic dome, which is what Spaceship Earth is.
Fuller’s most famous book is entitled Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth. Yes, the author coined the phrase, Spaceship Earth, too. The idea of the book is that Earth is a spaceship whose rocket fuel comes from the Sun.
The futurist viewed all of humanity as astronauts and caretakers of the planet. His belief is that the resources on Earth are limited and that it’s our responsibility to protect them. Disney adapted many of these philosophies at Future World, most famously on Spaceship Earth. However, The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends also highlight some of these same concepts.
Construction Facts
Building a construct like Spaceship Earth is a massive endeavor. Imagineers required 26 months to finish the geodesic sphere. Specifically, they created an imperfect Class 2 geodesic polyhedron. Why is it flawed?
When you scrutinize Spaceship Earth, you’ll notice that it’s shaped in a series of triangles. These futuristic metallic pieces mesh together in what should be a perfect sphere of 11,520 triangles with 3,840 points.
However, Spaceship Earth only has 11,324 triangles for a justifiable reason. Disney had to add access points for cast members to get in and out. Plus, the facility’s drainage system prevents a few triangles from completion.
Imagineers used a substance called Alucobond for the 960 flat panels. Due to the unimaginable weight of these pieces (16 million pounds!) and other factors, they faced an unprecedented problem. They couldn’t support the weight of the structure by standard means.
Instead, these construction experts drilled straight into the ground. They screwed six pylons into the soft swampy Florida land to secure the entire structure. These pylons go as deep as 185 feet. So, they go even farther down than Spaceship Earth goes up. It’s “only” 180 feet high.
The Secret Trap Door
Here’s one of the coolest secrets about Spaceship Earth. It has a trap door! You’re never going to see it, though. Imagineers built a door into the roof of the structure.
Cast members sometimes take this trap door so that they can perform maintenance on the top of the geodesic sphere. You can imagine just how breathtaking the view is for the lucky folks who get to go up there. But it’s not for the faint-hearted, either.
Recycled Audio-Animatronics
When you take a ride on Spaceship Earth, you may notice a few familiar faces along the way. During the leaner years at The Walt Disney Company, park officials cut corners by recycling audio-animatronics (AAs). Specifically, they took several old AAs from the Hall of Presidents and made them seem even older.
During a ride through history, you’ll get a look at an early printing press along with its originator, Johannes Gutenberg. That AA was once the 15th President of the United States, James Buchanan!
Amusingly, Buchanan’s loyal assistant is also a former POTUS. An old Andrew Jackson AA operates the press. He’s the one wearing the apron. Meanwhile, Buchanan is the figure holding the magnifying glass.
All told, nine AAs from Hall of Presidents were transferred over to Spaceship Earth. Attentive riders will discover:
- John Adams as a monk
- Dwight D. Eisenhower as a mandolin player
- Franklin Pierce as one of the scholars
- Teddy Roosevelt as a Roman senator
- William Taft as an Egyptian priest
- Zachary Taylor as a centurion
- John Tyler as a Turk
You had no idea that Spaceship Earth was so American-centric, did you? It’s full of recycled ex-presidents!
You Won’t Believe Who Wrote the Story!
Fahrenheit 451 is one of the seminal pieces of 20th literature. Author Ray Bradbury’s connections to Disney date back to the 1964 New York World’s Fair. While WED Enterprises stole the show with their four pavilions, Bradbury consulted on the US Pavilion and impressed Disney officials.
After Walt Disney’s death, Imagineers approached Bradbury about contributing to the story of Spaceship Earth. It was an ambitious project that spanned 40,000 years of history. Disney wanted to do it right, and so they hired Bradbury to join the writing team. Elements of his ideas remain to this day.
Spaceship Earth’s storytelling accuracy represents more than a testament to Bradbury’s greatness, though. Imagineers spoke with the Smithsonian Institute about various aspects of human history. And they even received feedback from universities as a failsafe. Other than museums, it’s as historically accurate as anything on the planet.
Famous Narrators
Since the ride debuted in 1982, the narration has been an integral part of the attraction. Disney has gone all out in selecting high-profile, credible celebrities for this gig, starting with the first one.
Vic Perrin was the original narrator on Spaceship Earth. He’s most famous for the voiceover intro for The Outer Limits. An old-timey radio announcer, Perrin voiced several cartoon characters and even some Star Trek creatures.
Less than four years later, Disney replaced Perrin with an even more recognizable voice. Legendary news anchor Walter Cronkite took on the role. Folks, it’s hard to top a person known as King of the Anchormen. For this reason, Disney kept Cronkite for eight years, even though everyone understood that the ride needed plussing.
The major overhaul for the attraction occurred in 1994. At that time, Disney changed several of the scenes. Coinciding with this plussing of Spaceship Earth, the company hired a new person as the narrator. Since Disney couldn’t top Cronkite, they went an entirely different way by casting a revered actor.
Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons replaced Cronkite in 1994. His tenure lasted until the next sweeping ride change in 2007. At this point, Disney replaced Irons with an even more accomplished English thespian, Dame Judi Dench. She has narrated the ride ever since. To me, Dench IS the voice of Spaceship Earth.
Even so, you should enjoy her narration while you can. Based on the history of Spaceship Earth, any significant changes to the attraction are likely to come with a new narrator. Who do you think is worthy of replacing someone as talented as Dame Judi Dench?