Spaceship Earth, as well as Cinderella Castle, The Hollywood Tower Hotel and the Tree of Life will all be Beacons of Magic for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration. Imagineers will utilize projection mapping for all but Epcot’s icon. Instead, Spaceship Earth is getting a new permanent installment.

Riddley states, “Our new lighting system for Spaceship Earth is something entirely original — a first-of-its-kind programmable LED lighting system invented by our very own Imagineers to integrate seamlessly into the iconic Spaceship Earth façade.”

He continues, “Installation of the system is nearly complete, and our team has been hard at work testing […] We are finding some very cool effects — giving the surface of Spaceship Earth an entirely new feeling and visual identity visible from all corners of the park. We are exploring visual poetry that respects the lighting legacy of this grand icon while bringing rich new depth and motion to life — all inspired by colors and textures that evoke stardust and the mystery and wonder of our universe. And we’ll be able to tie this program into the surrounding Main Entrance Plaza and new fountain and pylon lighting.”