EPCOT is such an underrated park. First, you’ve got all these AMAZING festivals that bring a lot of extra food, fun, and entertainment to the park.
EPCOT
Plus you’ve got World Showcase where you can walk around the world in less than a day (and again…MORE great food). Then there are the nighttime shows. Of course, there’s the show on World Showcase Lagoon, Luminous “The Symphony of Us.” But there’s also the fancy lighting on Spaceship Earth that lights up the night throughout the evening in the front of the park. However, we recently spotted a BIG problem with EPCOT’s icon.
Back in 2021, Spaceship Earth got some new fancy lights put on it to celebrate Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. the lights are designed in a way that they can be programmed to create all kinds of fun little light shows that happen on EPCOT’s big ‘ole golf ball. In fact, each festival gets its own special light show on the globe.
Spaceship Earth at Night during the EPCOT Festival of the Arts
However, we were recently watching the Spaceship Earth lights from the Skyliner and noticed something. Some of the lights seem to be burned out. For example, when a certain section of Spaceship Earth is supposed to be all lit up pink and orange, there were chunks of lights that seemed burned out so the effect was patchy-looking. It’s been four years since those lights were initially installed, so it might make sense that some need to be replaced.
For example, when you look at this Festival of the Holidays lighting show on Spaceship Earth, there are a line of white lights that look considerably dimmer than the rest.
Spaceship Earth
Here’s a photo taken of Spaceship Earth from afar and you can see patches where the lights seem to be burned out.
Lights are burned out?
Now, don’t get us wrong, we LOVE this lightning on Spaceship Earth — it really brings life to the front of the park at night. But it does look like the lighting needs a bit of a refresh and maybe some lights need to be replaced. So, hopefully, Disney will get on that quickly.
Stay tuned to DFB for more.
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The lights aren’t burning out, the Epcot ball was struck by lightning about 3 times. 1 of which I’ve witnessed in person. So they’re just love taps from nature. They still work but for some reason they shine a different color than what’s supposed to be there. (It’s a backup lighting procedure) We’re kept saying it needs to be fixed but who knows when it’ll actually be touched. ?♀️
So, let me get this straight. Disney is evolving into nothing but a string of airport bars and they can’t invest the money to replace these bulbs? Example – lets ruin the beautiful ambiance of the Grand Floridian lobby and plop a bar in there – can’t people go 8 hours without a drink? Serving alcohol is nothing more than a revenue maker at the expense of families that just want a wholesome experience and don’t get me started on Disney Springs – it’s nothing more than a glorified strip mall of stores. My family loved coming to Disney rather than Universal because the standards were higher, exceptional customer service and quality rides. Not so much now, right?
Full disclosure: we’re old – – both of us in our 70’s. Therefore, we don’t do parks after dark because the crowds at exit are disconcerting. In the light of day, however, EPCOT is a great place to be.
Soarin’ (with an instant replay) always starts our day. The American Adventure is also a must see.
One complaint, however: please bring bk lunch at the Rose and Crown.
I thought LED lights were supposed to last much longer than 4 years. I have found that they never do. I agree that they should always make sure that Spaceship Earth is in tip top condition. OR IS IT IMPLODING THE WAY THE EARTH ACTUALLY IS???
I’m blaming the inhabitants of Tiny Train Town for the shenanigans that are going on with Spaceship Earth’s lights. Look no further than those little rascals.
This is hardly the biggest concern with Spaceship Earth. How about the fact that this once iconic ride is now about 10 years overdue for a massive overhaul. That is 2025 and we are still on the same version of the ride that debuted in 2007 is far worse than a few burned out light bulbs.