LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Spaceship Earth, the iconic centerpiece of Epcot, relaunches in February with changes and refinements installed during more than seven months of construction and detailing.

Presented by Siemens, the relaunched Spaceship Earth looks on the outside like it did when Epcot opened a quarter century ago. But on the inside, Spaceship Earth has undergone changes since summer 2007 that will treat guests to an innovative “interactive” attraction with many new scenes, new costumes and set decorations, new lighting and special effects, a new musical score and narration, and a totally re-themed interactive post-show.

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Enter a wonderland of enchanting princesses and swashbuckling adventurers during Disney’s Pirate and Princess Party returning to Magic Kingdom for 13 magical nights beginning Jan. 21, 2008.

A treasure map leads feisty buccaneers and pretty princesses on a trek through Magic Kingdom seeking treasures, colorful beads and encounters with favorite Disney characters. Youngsters can explore themed pirate coves and princess courts overflowing with special entertainment, dance parties, plus favorite attractions are open throughout the evening’s festivities.

Centerpiece of the after-hours event is the nightly “Enchanted Adventures Parade,” a colorful cavalcade starring a 39-foot pirate ship with swinging and sword-fighting mates. And perched high on the gold-filled treasure chest is Tinker Bell herself guarding the goods from Captain Hook and the larger-than-life crocodile — Tick Tock — that angrily snaps and slithers along the route.

Disney maidens and princes, knights on horseback, regal dancers and the Jolly Rogers flag corps make fairy tales come alive in the nightly spectacle. The night is capped with the dazzling “Magic, Music, and Mayhem” fireworks spectacular orchestrated to an original musical score with memorable pirate and princess melodies.

Disney’s Pirate and Princes Party takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight on Jan. 21, 26, 29, Feb. 2, 5, 9, 14, 22, 26 and March 1, 6, 11 and 14. Tickets are $45.95 plus tax for ages 10/up and $39.95 plus tax for ages 3-9.

A DREAM IS A WISH…: Comedian and actor Steve Harvey joins Mickey Mouse and 100 U.S. high school students Jan. 20, 2008 at the closing ceremony of the “Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey.” The teen-focused personal and professional enrichment event took place during Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend (Jan. 17-20) at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Harvey and a team of judges chose 100 teens from more than 3,000 applications to attend the first-ever event. Celebrities joining Harvey for the weekend of symposiums and hands-on workshops included 2008 Grammy nominees Keyshia Cole and Musiq Soulchild, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks, teen stars Kyle and Chris Massey, television host Star Jones Reynolds, BET founder and Charlotte Bobcats owner Bob Johnson, and “American Idol” champion Fantasia Barrino. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)

RIDING THE WAVE: Larger-than-life puppets such as Crush the sea turtle, take to the stage in “Finding Nemo — The Musical” the live musical production at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The endearing undersea environment that charmed audiences in the Disney•Pixar smash-hit film “Finding Nemo” comes to life with innovative lighting, sound, special effects, animated projections and theatrical puppetry of Michael Curry, who co-designed the richly detailed puppets in the Broadway version of “Disney’s The Lion King.” The creative ensemble includes Tony Award-winning “Avenue Q” co-creator-composer Robert Lopez and a cappella musical “Along the Way” co-composer Kristen Anderson-Lopez, plus the theatrical puppetry of Michael Curry, who co-designed the character puppets in the Broadway version of Disney’s “The Lion King.” (Gene Duncan, photographer)

READY, AIM…FUN!: Seated in one of the new attraction vehicles, Walt Disney Imagineers Ira Frank (left) and John Noonan (right) test the new “spring-action shooters” which Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests will use to score points when the Toy Story Mania! attraction opens summer 2008. Standing at right is Jim Jannick. An innovative ride-game experience coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios summer 2008, Toy Story Mania! combines memorable film characters from Disney-Pixar classics “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2″ with games that match their motion picture personas. Donning 3-D glasses, guests seemingly shrink to the size of a toy and hop fanciful ride vehicles that follow a midway-themed route. At each game booth, they aim for animated targets using a special spring-action shooter. The challenges are designed to be fun for everyone from beginners to serious gamers — and, for Disney theme park guests on both coasts, as Toy Story Mania! also is coming to Disneyland Resort in 2008. It’s all part of Disney Parks’ Year of a Million Dreams celebration for 2008.

COUNTING DOWN TO FEBRUARY 14: Mickey Mouse prepares to surprise his favorite Valentine, Minnie Mouse, with a bouquet of flowers. Throughout Walt Disney World Resort, couples who’ve been bitten by the love bug don’t need a fairy godmother to find romance and storybook settings at one of the most romantic places on earth.

MARATHON CHAMPION’S TRADITION: Sao Paulo’s Adriano Bastos, four-time Walt Disney World Marathon champion, receives a special green and yellow, Brazilian flag-inspired pre-race hair style Jan. 6, 2007, courtesy of Disney’s “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.” Bastos has become known through the years in the Disney Marathon for his unique and colorful hair styles that pay tribute to Brazil. Bastos, who won the 2007 Disney Marathon, will return to defend his title Jan. 13, 2008 during the 15th anniversary of the event. The Sao Paulo, Brazil resident is the only four-time winner of the Disney Marathon. Bastos won the 2007 Disney Marathon the day after this photo was taken with a time of 2:19:24. A record 40,000+ athletes are registered for the various race events as part of the 2008 Disney Marathon Weekend. (Todd Anderson, photographer)

ENCOURAGEMENT FROM TIGGER: Runners get the unique chance to high-five favorite Disney characters during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This year’s event, the 15th anniversary, takes place Jan. 10-13, 2008. More than 40,000 runners (a record field) are registered for the weekend’s various races. The four-day “weekend” includes a Health and Fitness Expo at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, a 5K “Fun Run” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, Kids’ Races at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex and the event’s two signature races — the Disney Half Marathon and Disney Full Marathon. Also featured — Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, for runners who challenge themselves to complete both the Half Marathon and the Full Marathon in consecutive days. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)

‘MOMS HIT MAIN STREET: Members of the newly formed Walt Disney World Moms Panel enjoyed the day in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in mid-December. The on-line forum, made up of real-life moms, was created to help families better plan their vacations to Walt Disney World. The site www.disneyworldmoms.com goes live on Jan. 7, 2008. (From left to right front row, Beatrice Rose, Laura Spencer, Kara Bacon, Beth Choisez Back row, Erin Foster, Heather Roberts-Nault, Darcie Maranich, Heather Murry, Michelle May, Kimberly LaPaglia, Bret Caldwell, Brigitta Noer. (Gene Duncan, photographer)

A JOLLY ROGER ON A MAGICAL CASTLE: Guests can enjoy a world of Pirates and Princesses in a special after-hours party returning to the Magic Kingdom in 2008. Disney’s Pirate and Princess Party will be held 13 magical nights beginning Jan. 21, 2008. A treasure map leads feisty buccaneers and pretty princesses on a trek through Magic Kingdom seeking chocolate treasures, colorful beads and encounters with favorite Disney characters. Youngsters can explore themed pirate coves and princess courts overflowing with special entertainment, dance parties, plus favorite attractions are open throughout the evening’s festivities. Also featured: the “Enchanted Adventures” parade and a special fireworks show. Disney’s Pirate and Princes Party takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight on Jan. 21, 26, 29, Feb. 2, 5, 9, 14, 22, 26 and March 1, 6, 11 and 14. Tickets are $45.95 plus tax for ages 10/up and $39.95 plus tax for ages 3-9. (Diana Zalucky, photographer)