Epcot’s Spaceship Earth To Transform Into Death Star Live Online

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL — Star Wars fans who want to see the Death Star materialize right before their eyes will get their chance Monday. That’s when Disney plans to go to the dark side in celebration of its impending release of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”

In honor of the upcoming Lucasfilm’ flick, Epcot’s iconic Spaceship Earth will be “magically transforming” into the Death Star late Monday night. For those not in the know, the Death Star is the humongous, spherical space station that spirits Darth Vader around in the “Star Wars” movies as he wreaks havoc on planets and strikes fear in Rebel forces’ hearts.

Disney plans to use some of its trademark “Imagineering” magic to facilitate Spaceship Earth’s transformation. It seems elaborate digital projections have been created to make the Epcot attraction look like Vader’s flying fortress. The after-hours event during which the transformation will take place is only open to those who signed up for a Disney Parks Blog meet-up via the Disney website on Friday. To make sure all “Star Wars” fans get to see the spectacle, however, Disney promises they can watch it live via the park blog Monday night. The transformation is expected to take place at 10:25 p.m. on Dec. 5.

“Rogue One” is set to arrive in theaters on Dec. 16. The flick is the “first of the Star Wars standalone films,” its website explains. The story follows a “group of unlikely heroes” that come together on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star, “the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction.” Advance tickets for the show are avaialble at theaters across the country with some offering special promotions, as well. A rundown of theaters can be found online here.

Disney inked a $4 billion deal with George Lucas back in 2012 to purchase Lucasfilm and its epic “Star Wars” franchise. Since the deal went through, characters such as Princess Leia and Han Solo have become as commonplace at Disney properties as Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

To watch the Dec. 5 transformation live online, visit the Disney Blog.

Photo by Gene Duncan used courtesy of Walt Disney News