Spaceship Earth's Main Entrance Has Been Closed for at Least a Week, and Cast Members Say the Sphere Drips Onto the Walkway

For now, you can't walk straight into Spaceship Earth, and Cast Members say the reason is water dripping off EPCOT's giant silver ball.

The main entrance under the sphere has been roped off since at least Thursday, October 15, when WDW News Today reported that Cast Members were sending guests to a side entrance because the attraction was "leaking." Blog Mickey found it still closed in a report published a week later, on Thursday, October 22, and Cast Members there gave a fuller explanation: water dripping from the sphere, mainly during rain, makes the walkway underneath very slippery, which they described as an unsafe condition.

The ride itself is open. Only the way in has changed.

The usual way in, closed off beneath the Lightning Lane and Stand-By Entrance signs. Photo: BlogMickey.com

What the old entrance looks like now

Stanchions joined by a black strap now block the path under the Lightning Lane and Stand-By Entrance signs. The barrier carries an "Exit Please Do Not Enter" sign, the posts next to it are wrapped in blue padding, and a purple Entrance flag still dangles from the strap. Look up and, according to Blog Mickey, the panels overhead carry what look like water streaks.

The underside of the sphere, right above the entrance signs. Photo: BlogMickey.com

Where to go instead

For now, head for the side of the building. WDW News Today's October 15 report said a Cast Member at the closed entrance was pointing guests to the right, the west side of Spaceship Earth. Blog Mickey found the temporary entrance a good distance from the sphere, where a path runs down the side of the attraction. An A-frame sign there sends Standby guests to the right and Lightning Lane guests to the left, with Cast Members close by.

That stretch is normally used only as an extension of the queue when Spaceship Earth is busy, according to WDW News Today. Its report adds that you still enter the ride through the front of the building. Blog Mickey sums it up: the side route adds a longer walk to the queue, and the ride stays open.

Blog Mickey says the entrance sits that far back so guests pass the attraction's warning sign before they get in line. The sign cautions that "Those who are made uncomfortable by enclosed, dark spaces should not ride."

The temporary entrance sign at the side of the attraction. Photo: BlogMickey.com

How long will it last?

Disney has not announced a reopening timeline, and we have not seen a public statement from Disney about the closure. Blog Mickey assumes a fix is in the works but has no date for it.

The drips themselves are not new. In August 2020, WDW News Today photographed water running down the sphere and onto guests at the queue entrance, said the leaking had been going on since 2018, and put it down to a seriously damaged drainage system throughout the structure.

Spaceship Earth has seen other recent exterior work: since August 2025, crews have been refreshing the flat panels on the Project Tomorrow building. Separately, Disney revealed plans at D23 in August for a reimagining of Spaceship Earth, but gave no closing date. Blog Mickey says it is not yet known whether that project will fix the drips.

The same entrance, already closed, in WDW News Today's October 15 report. Photo: WDW News Today

Have you had Spaceship Earth drip on you in the rain?

Sources

• Blog Mickey, "Safety Concerns Close Main Entrance to Spaceship Earth" (October 22, 2026)
• WDW News Today, "Spaceship Earth Closes Main Queue Entrance, Reroutes Guests Due to Leaking at EPCOT" (October 15, 2026)
• WDW News Today, "PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Now Constantly Leaking Onto Guests at EPCOT" (August 24, 2020)

Image credits: BlogMickey.com (photos from its October 22 report), WDW News Today (photo from its October 15 report).