The Spaceship Earth attraction at Walt Disney World's EPCOT has been closed since Friday, March 21, with no announced return date or explanation from Disney. The ride did not operate on Saturday and remained unavailable as of Sunday morning, March 22. Separately, Disneyland Paris reached full capacity and turned away arriving guests that weekend.
Spaceship Earth, the geodesic sphere icon at EPCOT's entrance, stopped operating on Friday, March 21, 2026. It remained closed through Saturday, with the My Disney Experience app listing it as unavailable and no cause provided. Observers noted the exterior lighting was dark Saturday night, possibly indicating a power or control system issue. This follows a nearly three-month refurbishment that ended in October 2025, after starting on August 25, 2025. The ride has a history of instability, with reports of nearly 100 breakdowns in the first two months of 2026 alone. Disney has not announced a scheduled refurbishment, suggesting an unplanned outage. EPCOT, opened in October 1982, centers on themes of human progress and technology, with Spaceship Earth offering a slow-moving journey through communication history. The closure raises questions amid the park's recent transformations, including new attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Frozen Ever After. Meanwhile, at Disneyland Paris, both parks hit capacity by 9:16 a.m. that weekend, barring new entrants despite reservations. One social media post stated: “Sunny day and a sold-out Disneyland Paris. The lower prices for stays and tickets that were valid before the opening of Frozen have made it a consistently busy first months of the year, especially on weekends.” Spring Break crowds have intensified attendance. Guests with EPCOT plans should check the app, as no updates on Spaceship Earth's status were available as of publication.