The Spaceship Earth reimagining at EPCOT has officially moved beyond the announcement stage. On August 27, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a Notice of Commencement to "install signage" at 2060 Avenue of the Stars — the approximate address of EPCOT's iconic geodesic sphere — marking the first construction permit tied to the project.
The filing names Jon Richards Company as the third-party contractor. The firm has a long track record of installing themed elements across all four Walt Disney World parks, as well as at Disneyland in California and Tokyo DisneySea in Japan. Notably, Jon Richards Company is currently active on Monstropolis, the new Monsters, Inc.-inspired land coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios.
What makes this permit stand out is who filed it. Construction permits for routine maintenance or refurbishments are typically handled by Walt Disney World's Facility Assets Management Team — not by Walt Disney Imagineering itself. That distinction suggests the incoming signage work may be a meaningful, guest-facing change rather than behind-the-scenes prep.
The reimagining was announced at D23 Expo 2026, with Disney describing the updated attraction as "a journey through time, celebrating the progress made possible through human connection." The slow-moving dark ride will keep its focus on innovation, but with a broadened lens on human connection. No details have been shared yet about changes to the narration — currently voiced by Judi Dench — audio-animatronics, or a closure timeline. The permit itself expires within one year.
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It's worth noting that Disney first announced a Spaceship Earth overhaul back in 2019, with plans to close the ride in May 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic put those plans on indefinite hold. This story was first reported by Inside the Magic.
