Let’s be honest: Mission: SPACE is one of those rides that people either love or avoid like the plague.
Some guests treat it like a must-do thrill. Others walk right by it, remembering how it left them queasy years ago. And then there’s the camp that thinks Disney’s been quietly prepping to shut it down altogether.
But if you’ve seen the latest updates, that shutdown talk might finally be cooling off. Two of the planetary mosaics outside the ride—those colorful tiled planets in the walkway—just got a serious glow-up. These mosaics were in rough shape, with cracks, chips, and concrete band-aids. Now? Two of them look good as new.
Add that to the return of the spinning Earth sculpture (which had been missing or broken for over a year), and it’s pretty clear: Disney is investing in this attraction, not walking away from it.
That’s a bold move considering Mission: SPACE has a reputation. It’s intense. The Orange side uses a spinning centrifuge that simulates G-forces—so real, it actually caused a couple of tragic incidents in the early 2000s. Disney responded by creating the Green side, but the damage to the ride’s reputation stuck.
Since then, fans have speculated for years that Disney might shut it down quietly. After all, EPCOT is in the middle of a big transformation. But when Disney starts putting money into polishing things up—like these recent repairs—it usually means they’re in it for the long haul.
And honestly? That’s probably the right call.
Not every Disney ride needs to appeal to everyone. Mission: SPACE still offers something few rides anywhere else can: a genuinely intense space launch simulation. If that experience were to disappear, EPCOT would lose a unique thrill ride that adds variety to its lineup.
So no, Mission: SPACE isn’t perfect. But Disney keeping it around—while freshening up its surroundings—might be the best possible outcome for both thrill-seekers and nostalgia fans alike.
For now, the mission continues.
