Wondering just how many triangles are on the Epcot Ball? Let’s explore Epcot’s classic icon- Spaceship Earth!
Spaceship Earth: How Many Triangles Are on the Epcot Ball?
Lovingly called the Epcot ball (aka the Giant Golf Ball), this amazing structure is officially called Spaceship Earth. It is a symbol of Epcot, named for the original idea of Walt Disney to create the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow). The experimental community did not happen, and we instead have Epcot Center, which is a theme park located at Walt Disney World.
Epcot opened in 1982 as the second theme park (11 years after Magic Kingdom) with the Walt Disney World resort.
Guests first see Spaceship Earth just after entering through the Epcot entrance—it’s hard to miss. Spaceship Earth is a journey through time, showing how humans have communicated for over 40,000 years.
This geodesic sphere of Spaceship Earth is famous for its unique design and history, and it’s a highlight for many visitors to Epcot. It’s essentially the icon of Epcot, as Cinderella Castle is for Magic Kingdom.
The creation of Spaceship Earth was thanks to Disney Imagineers like John Hench and science fiction writer Ray Bradbury. The name was inspired by writer Buckminster Fuller—read on to learn more about their roles.
Fun Facts and Key Takeways about Spaceship Earth
- The original design of the Epcot ball i/e Spaceship Earth called for 11,520 triangles, but the final count is 11,324.
- It took 26 months to build Spaceship Earth from concept to completion.
- The sphere’s diameter is approximately 165 feet, and it’s taller than an 18-story building.
- Lawrence Dobkin, Walter Cronkite, Jeremy Irons, and Dame Judi Dench have all provided narration for the ride.
The Design and Structure of Spaceship Earth
Epcot’s *Spaceship Earth* follows a geodesic dome design, which uses many interlocking triangles, as noted above. Let’s explore this iconic design more!
The Geodesic Dome Concept
Spaceship Earth is a Class 2 geodesic polyhedron with a gorgeous mix of big isosceles and smaller equilateral triangles. This design covers an area of 109,375 square feet and rises 180 feet high. And what’s inside is also iconic! The Geodesic Dome concept was something created by Buckminster Fuller.
Unique Architectural Features
Spaceship Earth actually has a special two-dome design. The first dome sits on a table-like base and the second dome hangs below it. This setup helps with both structuring and managing rainwater. The water runs off into underground drains that then feed into the World Showcase Lagoon- genius design.
The building took 26 months with help from science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, who also wrote the script for the narration and Disney’s creative and talented Imagineering team. The name Spaceship Earth comes from futurist and author Buckminster Fuller, who coined the term and wrote many books about how technology can improve our everyday lives.
It weighs an incredible 15,520,000 pounds. Standing on six legs, it uses to steel to make up the skeleton shell structure that supports the full flat triangular panels of the shell-within-a-shell concept that they designed. Aluminum also plays a big role in the materials and design of Spaceship Earth.
Inside, it’s all about steel and neoprene. The result is an impressive structure inside and out that has stood the test of time- with a few upgrades of course.
The design of the 160-foot-diameter sphere is a product of teamwork. Disney’s Imagineers, like Disney legend John Hench and groups like MIT, all lent their skills. Thanks to their skills, we have the perfect Epcot icon and one of the few educational attractions left from the Original Epcot.
How Many Triangles Are on the Epcot Ball?
When Spaceship Earth sphere was built, they found they could only use 11,324 triangles because of the need for certain design elements and outlets, doors, etc. This was in contrast to the original intent of the design, which was supposed to be 11,520.
These panels are not just for looks. They make the sphere of Spaceship Earth stronger and they make it last longer. Did you know there is a small, parked service car in between the inner structure and the cladding surfaces? This car allows a technician to ride prone along the sides of Spaceship Earth and make necessary repairs. I really would like to sign up for that job!
The History and Construction of Spaceship Earth
Getting help from not only design experts but story experts was important to help truly depict the importance of communication which is what Spaceship Earth is all about. Input by Ray Bradbury helped design the story that takes you on a historical journey through communication over 40,000 years.
Construction Timeline and Challenges
Building Spaceship Earth took 26 months of careful planning and hard work. This massive project faced many hurdles, like using new computer technologies and materials that weren’t the norm in the early 1980s. But these challenges only pushed the WED enterprises team to be more creative.
The Ride Experience Inside Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth is not only impressive to look at- there’s a full on ride inside. Not a thrill coaster or fast paced ride by any means, the Spaceship Earth ride is a favorite of most Epcotians none the less.
Embark on a memorable journey through the evolution of human communication. Discover the beginning with ancient cave paintings. Progress to key moments like the Egyptian hieroglyphs, the creation of the alphabet, and modern technological advancements. And end in the grand finale of creating your own tech designed future!
From the birth of writing to the computer age, it connects the story of human advancement.
Ride Vehicles
The Omnimover vehicles move smoothly through the 109,375 sq ft exhibit. They hold four riders each with two in each row, making it easier to see the incredible animatronics that tell the story.
Omnimover Vehicles were designed and patented by WED Enterprises (the former name of Disney Imagineering) in 1968. These vehicles have been featured in many Disney classic attractions, including the Haunted Mansion.
They are designed to rotate or tilt to a programmed position and have individual speakers on each ride vehicle. This gives ride designers control over what the guest sees and experiences and allows a design as “busy” as Spaceship Earth to happen without chaos.
Past and Current Narrators of Spaceship Earth
Narrators, including Vic Perrin, Walter Cronkite, Jeremy Irons, and Dame Judi Dench, have made the story come alive over the years. The original narrator was Vic Perrin. This narrative script was a bit more sparse than the following versions (I did ride it during the opening year, but at age 10 I didn’t pay much attention to the script). This version was replaced in 1986.
Next came the 1986 version narrated by the famous newsman Walter Kronkite. In this version, the twinkling lights tunnel debuted. This is one of my favorite parts of this attraction!
The next version featured classic English actor Jeremy Irons and the music of Bach’s Symphony No 2. This version brought us further into the future with newer scenes featuring new technology like video calls- which at that time was something we had only imagined.
Next came the current version, featuring the wonderful voice of Dame Judy Dench. This version officially debuted in 2008 and featured some changes to classic scenes, such as the video call scene being replaced by a scene of the garage creation of the personal computer, as well as depictions of how mainframe computers looked and their origin.
Spaceship Earth combines dark ride elements, animatronics, interactive parts, and great narration. This makes the experience engaging and it portrays the amazing journey of human communication over the years, all while maintaining the original theme of Epcot’s Edutainment.
The Wrap Up
Spaceship Earth is the big spherical heart of Epcot (it will always be Epcot center to me) that anchors the theming of the park. It tells the story of how we have communicated over time. The sphere is 180 feet tall and made of thousands of aluminum and plastic triangles. Since 1982, it has been the sparkling beacon of technology and innovative design at Epcot.
Situated by the World Showcase Lagoon, Spaceship Earth is more than just a big giant golf ball. It’s a representation of technology and tells the story of how we’ve learned to talk to each other better over thousands of years. From pharaohs in Egypt to us using smartphones today, the ride takes you through this great journey. The stories Spaceship Earth tells, past and future features, remind us of our shared history and our excitement for new technology. It’s more than just a ride. It’s a way to see how we all connect and move forward together.
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Shelley has been going on Walt Disney World trips since she was a toddler growing up in South Florida. Since then, she has expanded her interests and passion to include Disneyland and runDisney trips. She is a Disney College of Knowledge-certified Travel Planner, runner, Physician, mom of three, and all-around Disney fan. She believes the magic is in the details of any Disney or runDisney trip!
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