Of course, the first attraction we rode on our first day back at EPCOT after four months was the iconic Spaceship Earth.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 1 spaceship earth reopen](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-reopen-1200x675.png)
Spaceship Earth was originally scheduled to close for a reimagining on May 26th, but this was postponed and the ride reopened with the park for Cast Member previews today.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 2 spaceship earth 1](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-1-1200x900.jpg)
Markers on the ground ensure guests waiting in line remain six feet apart.
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![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 4 spaceship earth 4](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-4-1200x900.jpg)
Cast Members working the attraction were all wearing face masks and shields.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 5 spaceship earth 5](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-5-1200x900.jpg)
A hand sanitizer dispenser was sitting right at the front of the attraction’s queue.
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![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 7 spaceship earth 7](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-7-900x1200.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 8 spaceship earth 8](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-8-1200x900.jpg)
With low crowds at the park, we didn’t have to worry too much about social distancing in line.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 9 spaceship earth 10](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-10-1200x900.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 10 spaceship earth 11](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-11-900x1200.jpg)
We were a little anxious to see if anything about the attraction had changed, even though the reimagining had technically been delayed.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 11 spaceship earth 13](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-13-1200x900.jpg)
Cast Members were leaving rows empty between parties, although at certain points when the ride vehicles turn, this became moot. Guests are six feet apart for most of the ride, but end up next to each other at other times.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 12 spaceship earth 14](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-14-1200x675.jpg)
It’s hard to get good pictures during the dark ride, but we didn’t notice any major modifications. Maintenance or repairs have not been performed on the ride. The Michelangelo animatronic wasn’t moving, and we don’t think that’s on purpose.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 13 spaceship earth 15](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-15-1200x675.jpg)
The moon landing video was working properly.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 14 spaceship earth 16](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-16-1200x675.jpg)
The major change that we did notice on the ride is that all smell effects were turned off. This is most noticeable in the scene where Rome is burning. This is possibly to prevent any accidentally infected air from wafting around.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 15 spaceship earth 19](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-19-1200x675.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 16 spaceship earth 20](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-20-1200x675.jpg)
Touch screens on the vehicles were still up and running.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 17 spaceship earth 21](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-21-1200x675.jpg)
As you can see, there was an empty car between us and the party ahead.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 18 spaceship earth 22](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-22-1200x675.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 19 spaceship earth 24](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-24-1200x675.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 20 spaceship earth 25](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-25-1200x675.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 21 spaceship earth 28 1](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-28-1-1200x900.jpg)
Upon exiting into the Project Tomorrow area, we were greeted by a sign reminding us to keep six feet between us and other parties.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 22 spaceship earth 29](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-29-1200x900.jpg)
These social distancing markers near the exit of the attraction are for handicap loading. You can also spot some more hand sanitizer.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 23 spaceship earth 30](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-30-1200x900.jpg)
As for Project Tomorrow, almost all interactive elements were turned off.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 24 spaceship earth 31 1](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-31-1-1200x900.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 25 spaceship earth 32](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-32-1200x900.jpg)
The one exception was the kiosks that enable you to “send a postcard” to yourself. These touch screens let you view the “future” that you created on the ride itself and send it to your email address.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 26 spaceship earth 33](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-33-1200x900.jpg)
Benches were still open, with some seats marked unavailable.
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 27 spaceship earth 34](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-34-1200x900.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Spaceship Earth Reopens at EPCOT With Seating Modifications and No "Burning Rome" Smell Effect 28 spaceship earth 35](https://wdwnt-buzzy.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/07/spaceship-earth-35-1200x900.jpg)
Back outside, the ride was getting a little busier and guests maintained six feet while walking through more of the queue.
We’re happy we got to ride Spaceship Earth again! We aren’t sure if or when the reimagining will be taking place, but we’ll keep you updated.
NOOO!!! 😭. Rome burning is my favorite part!
No “Rome is burning” smell?! Why do we even bother having it open?! Lol
What about Soarin’? Half the ride is the smell and wind effect.
Alexandria is burning, not Rome. The library is in Alexandrai, Egypt. They say on the ride that Rome fell and the library in Alexandria burns.
Yeah, too bad every Disney fan in the last 35 years has called it the “burning Rome smell”, so it’s a little late to change the fan terminology.