The work around Spaceship Earth at EPCOT is spreading. Planters have been pulled out of the plaza behind the attraction, benches are gone from the nearby breezeway, and Spaceship Earth itself is now loading guests through a temporary entrance.
Laughing Place spotted the changes on Thursday. With the planters gone, crews are still working to remove the old light ribbons that ran around them.
Planters have been removed from EPCOT Plaza behind Spaceship Earth revealing work is still ongoing to remove the “light ribbons” that never seemed to work around the planter. #waltdisneyworld
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughingplace) October 22, 2026
The Light Ribbons Keep Coming Out
In Laughing Place’s photos, the plaza is much more open than it was. One central planter full of red and yellow flowers is still standing, roped off with stanchions, and pale stripes now cut across the darker pavers where the old lighting ran.
Those light ribbons were the in-ground lighting strips added during EPCOT’s redo of its central area. They were meant to be one of the signature touches of that space, but they never seemed to work properly.
Earlier this month, EPCOT filled the first stretch of those channels with new pavement in World Celebration Gardens behind Spaceship Earth. The planters were the next thing standing in the way, and now that they are out, the remaining strips around them are being removed too. The new paving traces the same sweeping curves the lights followed, so the look of the plaza survives even without the glow.
Benches Out Of The Breezeway
The benches in the EPCOT breezeway are gone as well. The tables pin traders use are still there, so pin trading in that spot is not affected for now.
The benches have been removed from the EPCOT breezeway, but the tables for pin trading still remain. #waltdisneyworld
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughingplace) October 22, 2026
Disney has not said why the benches were taken out or whether they will come back once nearby work wraps up.
A Temporary Way Into Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth is open, but guests are not using its main entrance right now. A temporary entry has been set up on the side of the queue, where a Cast Member scans Lightning Lane guests.
Spaceship Earth isn’t using its main entry point but a temporary one on the side of the queue with a Cast Member scanning for Lightning Lane. #waltdisneyworld
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughingplace) October 22, 2026
The photos show the familiar Lightning Lane and Standby signs, with the standby line stretching back under the sphere.
If you are heading to EPCOT soon, the ride is running as usual. Just look for the Cast Member at the side of the queue rather than the usual entrance.
Spaceship Earth is headed for bigger changes down the road. Disney has said it will reimagine Spaceship Earth, though it has not tied any of this week’s work to that project.
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