Siemens Ending Partnership With Epcot: What Will Happen To Illuminations And Spaceship Earth?
Siemens is one company that many Disney fans are familiar with, mostly due to its partnership with the huge company. However, that is all about to change. It has been revealed that Siemens is officially ending its partnership with Disney Parks, and it will no longer be a corporate sponsor after a decade together. While this will be a huge change, many are starting to wonder what it may mean for Illuminations and Spaceship Earth at Epcot.
The Siemens Corporation has partnered with Disney Parks around the country since 2007, and they have had their name attached to many of the most popular attractions and shows. Even though it seems as if things have been going well, the company decided not to renew their deal once it expires, according to Laughing Place.
The report states that a Siemens employee confirmed on Twitter that the company has chosen to part ways with Disney, which could end up causing a bit of confusion. As for the tweet, it has since been deleted, but a Twitter user by the name of @Lielder3 originally posted it.
“Well just got the official word. Siemens will end its sponsorship with Disney.”
Disney has yet to confirm this or make an official announcement, but the end of this partnership could be felt across the country. Still, the email did go out to Siemens employees on Thursday morning, advising them the partnership ended.
Siemens is the sponsor of Epcot’s historic attraction Spaceship Earth, which is the icon of the park. The name is visible all around the outside, as well as in and on the ride, which means that a lot of changes will need to be made. It is possible that these alterations can be made without changing up the attraction too much, though.
As for Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, there could be a much bigger change coming to Epcot’s nighttime spectacular. The show has been in place since 1999, and it has undergone some changes here and there. However, with its main sponsor separating from Disney, it may end up going away entirely.
There have been rumors for years that Disney would end up changing the nighttime show at Epcot, but this finally be their way of doing it without much of an issue. Of course, it remains to be seen if a full replacement will come in, but a lot of changes will need to be made to remove Siemens completely.
Siemens has not only been present as a sponsor in Epcot. They were the sponsors of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before their run came to an end almost two years ago. Sylvania presented the lights, and they are a company under the Siemens banner.
Over at the Disneyland Resort, Siemens played a part in one of the most popular attractions in any Disney Park. Siemens Industry Inc. provided the Simatic S7 319F failsafe controller and other parts of the cars on Radiator Springs Racers in Disney California Adventure, as reported by Automation World.
Siemens and the Disney Parks have had a partnership for a long time, and it is quite interesting that the company would choose to pull its sponsorship at this time. Disney has already confirmed that Epcot will undergo a number of changes in the coming years, and the dissolving of their partnership with Siemens may end up kicking it off. Now, the main thing will be witnessing what happens to Spaceship Earth and Illuminations, if anything.
[Featured Imaged by Danny Cox]
