Where was the Epcot ball made?

Everyone knows that huge silver "golf ball." It's the icon of Epcot at Walt Disney World. But almost no one knows that world-famous symbol of an Orlando vacation was built here in Tampa. "In effect, we made a tinker toy set that we shipped to the job site," said Bob Clark, who runs Tampa Steel Erecting Company.

Where was the Epcot ball built?

Spaceship Earth is a dark ride attraction at the Epcot theme park at the Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida. The geodesic sphere in which the attraction is housed has served as the symbolic structure of Epcot since the park opened in 1982.

How did they make the Epcot ball?

The panels are made of a material called Alucobond, which is essentially a sheet of polyethylene plastic sandwiched between two thin sheets of aluminum. The Alucobond website says that each panel of aluminum is 0.5mm thick, which is 0.02” thick aluminum.

How long did it take to build the Epcot ball?

Designed by the help of science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, Space Ship Earth is a complete sphere supported by three pairs of legs. The massive structure, which looks like a giant golf ball, is 18-stories high and took 26 months and 40,800 labor hours to build.

How old is the Epcot ball?

Spaceship Earth opened on October 1, 1982, Epcot's opening day. Imagineers took two years to create the sphere and the ride within it. Spaceship Earth is an impressive feat of engineering and actually consists of two spheres.

History of the Disney Parks- Spaceship Earth

What is Epcot ball modeled after?

The enormous AT&T Pavilion at Epcot in Disney World is perhaps the world's most famous structure modeled after Fuller's geodesic dome. Technically, the Disney pavilion isn't a dome at all! Known as Spaceship Earth, the Disney World attraction is a full (although slightly uneven) sphere.

Why is there an Epcot ball?

The design of the sphere makes it so that all water travels through 1-inch gutters all the way down the building and transports the water directly into Epcot's World Showcase Lagoon.

Is the Epcot ball a golf ball?

Spaceship Earth is one of the most recognizable images in all of Disney World. Here are 10 facts about Spaceship Earth at Epcot. We've established that Spaceship Earth isn't a giant golf ball, so what is it? It is an 18 story geodesic sphere that is made up of 11,324 triangular panels.

Is Epcot a giant golf ball?

Spaceship Earth Overview

Epcot's icon is the impressive Spaceship Earth geosphere, affectionately referred to by most as the giant golf ball. (You'd need one heck of a four iron to get it on the fairway.)

How many lights are in the Epcot ball?

There are 1,861 individual Points of Light installed on Spaceship Earth, and there are roughly 60 miles of cable installed for the project. There are more than 11,000 side-firing beams that produce lights that create the starburst effects.

How do they clean the Epcot ball?

At the time, Disney claimed that the panels were "self cleaning" but, in reality, today they are pressure washed. From a thematic perspective, alucobond was selected so that during the day, it would mirror the sky and the landscape as well as glimpses of the guests on the walkways.

What does Epcot stand for?

Epcot, in full Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, formerly called Epcot Center (1982–94), theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, near Orlando, Fla., that features many attractions centred on the advancement of technology.

When did they add lights to the Epcot ball?

Debuting as part of Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration on October 1 2021, the new lighting at Spaceship Earth is a permanent addition and will live on beyond the 18 month 50th celebration event.

Are the lights on Spaceship Earth permanent?

As part of the 50th Anniversary, all of the Disney World park icons have new nighttime “Beacon of Magic” looks. Spaceship Earth's new nighttime lighting is actually a permanent addition to this park icon and it's GORGEOUS.

What time does the Epcot ball lights turn on?

The Beacons of Light illuminate around dusk and run until after Harmonious, reverting back to normal (meaning the pre-Beacons of Magic look of Spaceship Earth) around 30 minutes after Epcot's closing. The show mode occurs every 15 minutes or so.

Is Disney getting rid of Spaceship Earth?

evolve this unique attraction in a way that will resonate with the wide array of guests who visit Walt Disney World.” We saw some signs pointing to the possibility that Spaceship Earth would close for refurbishment back in February of 2020. Then Disney announced that Spaceship Earth would close on May 26, 2020.

Why is it called Epcot?

It's a geodesic sphere devoted to the future of communication.) Now, the story of Epcot (which stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) goes back much further than its 1982 opening.

Was Epcot supposed to be a city?

Thing is, EPCOT wasn't supposed to be an amusement park. It was originally proposed as a fully fledged “city of the future,” or, more precisely, an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT). The backstory: Walt Disney was often frustrated with modern city living.

Was Walt Disney alive at EPCOT?

The original concept of EPCOT was eventually abandoned by Walt Disney Productions after Walt Disney's death in 1966, citing the impracticality of maintaining, governing, and operating the city. The plans for the property were folded into Walt Disney World, at the behest of Roy O. Disney, which opened in 1971.

What are 3 interesting facts about EPCOT?

Would the original EPCOT have worked?

To be that guy: in the 50/60's yes, it would have worked. there are many planned / gated communities that have grown in the post-suburban world.

What is inside the ball at Epcot?

The EPCOT ball is typically called Spaceship Earth. The whole of the Spaceship Earth attraction is housed inside the ball, and you'll take a journey through time in a slow-moving vehicle when you board the ride. The name Spaceship Earth was given to the structure and ride by world-famous architect Buckminster Fuller.