Okay, Disney fans have some feelings right now. And it all started with one photo of Spaceship Earth.
A Disney World guest recently posted on Reddit asking a pretty bold question: “Is Disney just giving up on maintaining EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth?” They shared a nighttime photo of the giant sphere and said they could count at least 20 lights that weren’t working from where they were standing.
And honestly? The comments went off.
Why People Are Paying Attention
Spaceship Earth isn’t just any ride. It’s the face of EPCOT. It’s on the maps, the merch, and pretty much every EPCOT photo ever taken. So when it doesn’t look its best, people notice.
The guest who posted said a few burned-out lights would be no big deal, but 20-plus felt like a lot. They also said that with prices going up, guests should expect the same attention to detail Disney has always been known for. Fair point.
And it’s not the only thing going on around Spaceship Earth lately. The in-floor lighting near the sphere was recently pulled out and replaced with plain cement. Maybe that fixed some issues, but it also got rid of one of the cool little details that made the area special. On top of that, the main entrance recently closed because water dripping off the sphere made the walkway slippery.
So yeah, people have questions.
“It’s About the Money”
A lot of commenters pointed straight at the prices. One person said they’re shocked by how many people defend a giant company that charges around $200 a day just to get in. They think a lot of Disney’s choices come down to whether fixing something will actually make them more money.
And people shared what their trips are costing. One dad said four days at Disney with a family of four, including flights, a resort, and Lightning Lane, came out to $12,400. He joked that he and his son would rather rent a Jeep in the Florida Keys. Others said they’ve started looking at trips to Europe or even Tokyo Disney instead.
It’s Not Just the Lights
The conversation quickly turned into a whole list of complaints. People talked about bathrooms that were falling apart, trash piling up, overflowing trash cans at Magic Kingdom, and rides breaking down constantly. One family said three big rides at Hollywood Studios were down from opening until around 4:00 PM on the same day. Oof.
And a few people said Universal, especially Epic Universe, actually impressed them more on their latest trip. That one stings.
Is It a Leadership Thing?
Some fans think this all comes from the top. One commenter said Michael Eisner treated the parks like the “front porch” of the company and kept them spotless, while newer leadership sees movies and media as the front porch instead.
Others brought up famous duos, like Walt and Roy Disney or Eisner and Frank Wells, where one person had the big creative ideas and the other handled the money. Their point? When it’s all about money, things start to feel less magical.
A former cast member even jumped in to say they saw changes firsthand from 2017 to 2020, like training getting cut way down and fewer chances to surprise guests with magical moments.
But Not Everyone’s Mad
To be fair, plenty of people defended Disney. Several explained that Spaceship Earth has almost 2,000 lights, and fixing them isn’t as easy as grabbing a ladder. One person who works in film lighting said you’d need huge lifts or people rappelling down the sphere, so repairs likely happen every so often, not every day.
Others said they visited recently and didn’t see any lights out at all. And one longtime fan joked that people have been saying Disney World is going downhill since 1971.
A Fix Might Be Coming
Disney did announce plans at D23 in August to reimagine Spaceship Earth. It was supposed to get an overhaul years ago, but COVID put that on hold. Some people think Disney might be waiting to fix things during that project. Others say, with prices this high, guests shouldn’t have to wait.
So, What’s the Deal?
Is Disney going downhill? Just having a rough stretch? Or is this a bigger leadership problem? Honestly, it depends on who you ask.
But one thing’s for sure. Disney fans are watching, and they want the magic to stay magic.
So what do you think? Is Disney slipping, or are fans being too hard on it?
