Epcot's 25th Anniversary

---

For almost twenty-five years Epcot has entertained and inspired guests from around the world. The history of the park's development is equally entertaining, as Epcot's original plan was far different than what became a reality. It's no secret to those who know the park's acronym E.P.C.O.T, or Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, that the theme park was originally not to be a theme park at all but an actual city. Walt Disney had been toying of the idea for a modern utopia for many years and with the purchase of the enormous property in Florida, finally had the ability to fulfill his dream. His vision for the metropolis can be seen on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, in a model originally built for Progress City at the New York World's Fair in 1964. EPCOT was a city like no other, and much like the original Disneyland theme park was based around a hub and spoke design. From the edges of the circle, citizens would take people movers or monorails into the middle hub, or downtown. The downtown would be completely indoors giving it perfect weather regardless of the outdoor conditions. All of the vehicular traffic from the few citizens who did not use the elaborate public transportation would be handled underground, below the towering structures. The promotional video for EPCOT stated that no stop lights would be used within the city limits, because the traffic would be so well controlled. While these utopian visions excited Walt and made the Orlando government anxious to receive the thousands of new tax payers, the project would have been an uphill battle even if Walt hadn't had died before groundwork could begin. With Walt's death in 1966, the project was shelved as work continued building what would become Walt Disney World.

As years passed, when it was decided to try to fulfill Walt's vision of EPCOT, Imagineers and executives racked their brain to come up with a solution. One camp wanted to build a showcase of the different countries of the world, based largely on EPCOT's original downtown design. Another camp wanted displays highlighting technology and science, inspired by the futurism of the original EPCOT design. As the story goes, in the end the final park concept came when someone had the bright idea to push the two models together. EPCOT Center would become Disney's largest theme park to that date at almost triple the size of the Magic Kingdom. During the construction Disney would employ 22 construction companies and thousands of workers to complete the 1.4 billion dollar project. The three year project was filled with problems. The whole site had to be moved 300 feet to avoid the nesting grounds of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. The building was so involved that once the park was completed Imagineers held a huge party that even included a giant cake shaped like the theme park. The park opened on October 1, 1982 as EPCOT Center. The park would keep that name until 1994, when it would be renamed EPCOT '94. Rather than continuing the tradition of renaming the park every consecutive year, the park was finally renamed Epcot in 1996. Dropping the acronym EPCOT to just Epcot further cemented the distance of the park from the original concept.

The first few months at EPCOT Center were a little rocky. The dramatic departure from the fantasy and whimsy of the Magic Kingdom to the science and culture of EPCOT Center was difficult for some guests to handle. Originally, EPCOT Center was not supposed to contain any Disney characters to avoid the problem of having characters appearing in more than one park at one time. Because of this, the practice of hiding "hidden mickeys" around the theme park attractions became popular among Imagineers and continues to this day. Other debates would hit EPCOT Center including the selling of alcoholic beverages within the park. Walt Disney banned alcohol at Disneyland, and the Magic Kingdom opened with the same policy. At EPCOT Center alcohol was first only served at full service restaurants, but eventually would be served even at outdoor carts. The attractions at EPCOT Center also represented a dramatic departure for Disney. Whereas most attractions at the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland were created around highly themed environments and illusion, EPCOT Center's rides were more straightforward and direct. The Future World pavilions, mostly sponsored by technological companies, would contain rides based on concepts in science rather than a direct storyline. The World Showcase pavilions represented actual locations, rather than those based on fantasy.

Over the years Epcot has seen many changes, primarily in the Future World area. Beginning in the mid-1990s, an effort was started to update the pavilions to keep the technology up to date. The renovations also changed the basic feel of most the pavilions. Universe of Energy went from a straightforward presentation about the origins of energy to a zany romp with Ellen de Genres and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Spaceship Earth and Listen to the Land lost their original music and theme songs in favor for more subtle scores. Other pavilions such as the fantastic World of Motion and Horizons were lost all together. They would later be replaced by the more thrill oriented Test Track and Mission: Space.

The World Showcase by comparison has seen very little change, with just two pavilions added since the park's opening. Morocco opened in 1984, and Norway opened in 1989. While there were plans for many countries including Russia, Israel, Brazil and Australia, nothing has ever materialized. The possibility for an African pavilion has been almost completely wiped out by the creation of Animal Kingdom's elaborate Africa area.

Entertainment has been ever changing at Epcot. One of the staples from the early years has been the nighttime fireworks spectacular. The fireworks have gone through various incarnations over the years starting in 1982 with the Carnival de Lumiere. The show changed in 1983 with the short lived New World Fantasy, and in 1984 the show changed to Laserphonic Fantasy. The first version of IllumiNations premiered in 1988. IllumiNations would become the default name for Epcot's fireworks, with many different versions including a special holiday edition and Walt Disney World 25th anniversary edition. The current version, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth was created as part of the Millennium Celebration at Epcot. Disney has often tried to duplicate the excitement of the nighttime shows with exciting daytime shows on World Showcase lagoon. Skylaidescope and Surprise in the Skies never caught on, with the last often being referred to by park critics as "mistake on the lake." Epcot has also been home to some strange entertainment, including "The Magical World of Barbie" and the "Epcot Daredevil Circus Spectacular" (which placed a high wire act near Spaceship Earth).

Since the park's opening, designers and executives have had a tough time deciding what attractions belong in Epcot. The park's somewhat ambiguous theme has lent itself to some unusual concepts, such as the International House of Cheese or a pavilion about moviemaking which would eventually become Disney-MGM Studios. Since the mid-90s, Disney has been adding attractions to try to appeal more towards children. With these latest additions, such as The Seas with Nemo and Friends and the Circle of Life starring characters from the Lion King, the Epcot theme has become more disjointed than ever. The theme of Future World has seemingly become less about science and technology, and more about discovery. Interestingly enough, there have been popular rumors for many years now that the entire Future World area will be rethemed to Discovery Land.

The future of Epcot is ever changing and recently again it seems park management is investing energy in keeping Epcot's attractions fresh and exciting. The Seas with Nemo and Friends is a popular retheming of the Living Seas attraction. American Adventure show has just received a new footage from modern events such a 9/11 as part of the wonderful Golden Dream film montage. O Canada is slated to receive a new film, and rumor has it the original theme song will be re-recorded by a Canadian Idol winner. Spaceship Earth will be receiving an extensive overhaul, including a rework of the ride's show scenes and effects. There is also rumored to be updates in the vehicles themselves, giving the riders a more interactive experience. A new show called Sky Dance is expected to replace Reflections of Earth soon, although an official announcement has not been made.

One thing is for sure, and that is that the next 25 years of Epcot history should become as interesting as the first 25 was. As the Sherman Brothers song goes, "We've just begun to dream."

This article was provided by Orlandovacation.com your source for Disney World vacation discounts.

Epcot images © JWL Media. All Rights Reserved.

Home - Disney News - Disney Travel - Disney Forums - Disney Shopping - Shandy - Contact Us
Disney World Tickets - Disney Vacation Homes - Disney World Packages