VIDEO - Spaceship Earth transforms into the Death Star to celebrate 'Rogue One

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Spaceship Earth transforms into the Death Star

Posted: Tuesday December 6, 2016 11:07pm EST by WDWMAGIC Staff

Celebrating the upcoming 'Rogue One - A Star Wars Story,' Epcot's Spaceship Earth transformed into the Death Star for a one night event.

Using lasers and digital projection mapping with imagery supplied by Industrial Light and Magic, the 180ft tall Epcot icon took on a very different look.

Also unveiled was a first look at the AWR Troopers from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” Outfitted in their specialized Stormtrooper armor with a dark, ominous gleam, these soldiers serve as bodyguards and enforcers for Director Krennic, a highly placed officer within the Advance Weapons Research (AWR) division of the Empire. A new Troopers sequence will join the "Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far, Away" stage show on December 16.

AWR Troopers from Rogue One A Star Wars Story

Other Star Wars updates for Walt Disney World include the addition of a Star Wars Ultimate Tour, a return of randomized sequences at Star Tours, and performances of the nightly 'Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular' during the holiday season.

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The_JobuDec 12, 2016

No. I was answering a question, but, you know, points for effort!

RSoxNo1Dec 12, 2016

It was a press event with projection mapping. You're focusing your energy on the wrong things to complain about.

The_JobuDec 11, 2016

Nuthin', friend. A whole lotta nuthin' at all...

Sonic SunglassesDec 11, 2016

Well, the options were rather simple: either use Spaceship Earth as a stand-in for the Death Star via digital projections and laser effects (and save a boatload of money in the process) and have everyone complain about it or construct a massive sphere just like Spaceship Earth at DHS (and waste a boatload of money) and make it look like the Death Star via digital projections and laser effects and have everyone really complain about it. The majority of complaints are coming from people who, like me, saw it on the live stream. We saw it through cameras that weren't white balanced against SSE; they were balanced against the stage with the badly scripted people. Really, that was painful. But anyway, back to the Death Star... Through the eyes of those who were there, no doubt it was an impressive display of the Empire's soon to get kaboominated might.

Beacon JoeDec 11, 2016

WTH does that movie have to do with EPCOT Center?

AgeEight-EDec 09, 2016

I thought the laser effect was neat. It looks to me like they mounted the laser in between the plates on the surface. It could be an optical illusion, but it looked to me in the video as if the laser was firing outward, not inward.

JohnDDec 08, 2016

RIP Earfell Tower

larryzDec 08, 2016

LOL. Photoshop (or whatever they use at Disney) is a wonderful thing!

Cmdr_CrimsonDec 08, 2016

Well, there was that other one that landed in Echo lake.....:cautious:

larryzDec 08, 2016

Those Cali folks are such overachievers... ;)

Cmdr_CrimsonDec 08, 2016

So they have an X-Wing Fighter out in LA For the Premier of Rogue One.... Now I wonder why they can't Land an X-Wing out at Disney's Hollywood Studiooohhhhh Yeaahh..

disney4life2008Dec 08, 2016

Indeed.

Mike SDec 08, 2016

larryzDec 08, 2016

If I had paid extra to see it, I might have been disappointed. But watching from the comfort of my office chair, warm cup of Earl Grey by my side, and a nice crispy biscuit to munch, I found the whole thing rather amusing.