3. The Jeremy Irons Era (1994-2007)

In 1994, Spaceship Earth received its first major renovation. Gone was the Cronkite narration, and with it, several scenes from the ride. The space station scene at the ride's climax was removed, along with a few minor scenes meant to portray modern times. And, notably, the ride's ending was wholly redesigned.

The most obvious changes for guests were the introduction of a new score (brilliantly composed by Endo Guidotti) and a new narration by actor Jeremy Irons.

Irons's voice, coupled with a newer, more dramatic script, made the overall tone of the attraction serious and meditative. Not quite as flowery as the Bradbury version, or as simplistic as the Cronkite version, the Irons script perfectly walked the line between the two. The attraction's opening line in this period perfectly illustrated that fact: “Like a grand and miraculous spaceship, our planet has sailed through the universe of time. And for a brief moment, we have been among its many passengers.” That line is so iconic, it's even managed to stick around after the 2007 update.

For many (including this author), the 1994 refurbishment remains the definitive edition of Spaceship Earth. Its notes of inspiration, history, futurism, and hope all perfectly intertwined with the visual and auditory components to make a truly wonderful ride. The ending, featuring Guidotti's moving score and an overwhelming fiber-optic effect, along with a arresting tableau of families connecting wirelessly using technology, was one of Disney's most effective denouements.

And, as testimony to the attraction's success, it stuck around the longest – going a full 13 years between major refurbishments.

4. The Judi Dench Era (2007-Present)

Epcot is a tricky place. Ostensibly, Future World represents an attainable version of tomorrow, but when tomorrow finally gets here, it can look somewhat obsolete and old. And, with technology, the rate of progress has increased over time, making the shelf-life of these attractions and experiences shorter and shorter.

So, in 2007, Spaceship Earth was in need of a redesign. Many of its predicted future technologies were already everyday realities, and the experience needed a slight facelift.

The result is the attraction we have today – one with a charmingly casual narration by the incomparable Dame Judi Dench, and a score by the illuminatingly talented Bruce Broughton.

As for the ride's set pieces, this edition saw a few more scenes get axed. The scene with a young man and woman essentially skyping between North America and Asia was removed and replaced with a scene depicting the rise of computers, including a kinda-sorta-Steve Jobs animatronic. Also, notably, the ride's stunning fiber-optic ending was replaced with an in-car animation, shown on newly installed television screens.

The Spaceship Earth of today is wonderful, certainly. It's fun, it's fascinating, and, importantly, it's air-conditioned. Yes, its ending leaves something lacking, but on the whole, the ride is as engaging and moving as its ever been. Its subtle shift in tone has made it less self-serious, and more playful and light-hearted. It's left behind its lofty inspiration, and introduced a more easy-going atmosphere.

Ultimately, that's what's happened to Epcot as well. The Living Seas began with a serious description of the dawn of the oceans, and now it's themed to Finding Nemo. The Universe of Energy explained how the world's energy came into being, and how it's used. Ellen's Energy Adventure is a funny, snarky trip through the production of fossil fuels. And, of course, Maelstrom was a quirky boat ride touching on the culture of Norway. Now, it's becoming an elaborate synergy opportunity for the Walt Disney Company.

But isn't the world becoming that way too? Aren't we all taking ourselves a little less seriously now? Isn't fun just as important as work, or even moreso? Isn't that, really, a good thing?

Epcot, like the world, is changing. Its centerpiece attraction has always been in flux, but it's always withstood the changes and still been as important and powerful as ever. Let's have a bit of faith that Epcot, itself, can do the same thing.