Happy 20th Birthday
Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow
EPCOT
We all know the EPCOT of today but I
wanted to share with you what "Walt's EPCOT" was.
This is from the transcript of "Walt's last film" a 20+ minute preview to EPCOT that Walt recorded in October 1966.With help from props and animation he outlined, for the media and interest groups, his plans for the Florida Project - Disney World and especially the details for EPCOT.
In this film Walt said "As you can see on this map, we have a
perfect location in Florida - almost in the very center of the state. In fact
we've selected this site because its so easy for tourists and Florida residents
to get here by automobile."
"Now in larger scale on this map, our Florida land is located partly in Orange
County and Osceola County between the cities of Orlando and Kissimmee. And the
important thing is that the Disney World is located just a few miles from the
crossing point of Interstate 4 and Sunshine State Parkway. Florida's major
highways carrying motorist east and west and north and south through the center
of the state."
"But the most exciting, by far the most important part of our
Florida project, in fact the heart of everything well be doing in Disney World
will be our experimental prototype city of tomorrow. We call it EPCOT. Spelled
E-P-C-O-T. Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow."
"EPCOT will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now
emerging from the creative centers of American industry. It will be a community
of tomorrow that will never be completed, but will always be introducing, and
testing and demonstrating new materials and new systems. And EPCOT will always
be a showcase to the world of ingenuity and imagination of American free
enterprise."
"I don't believe there is a challenge anywhere in the world that's more
important to people everywhere than finding solutions to the problems of our
cities."
"So where do we begin? How do we start answering this great challenge? Well were
convinced we must start with the public need. And the need is not just for
curing the old ills of old cities. We think the need is to start from scratch on
virgin land and building a special kind of new community. So that's what EPCOT
is, an Experimental Prototype Community that will always be in the state of
becoming. It will never cease to be a living blueprint of the future where
people actually live a life they cant find anyplace else in the world."
"Everything in EPCOT will be dedicated to the happiness of the people who live,
work and play here and those that come here from around the world to visit our
living showcase."
"We don't presume to know all the answers. In fact, were counting on the
cooperation of American industry to provide their very best thinking during the
planning and the creation of our Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.
But most important of all, when EPCOT has become a reality and we find the need
for technology that don't even exist today, its our hope that EPCOT will
stimulate American industry to develop new solutions that will meet the needs of
people expressed right here in this experimental community."
"Well that's our basic philosophy for EPCOT. By now, I'm sure you're wondering
how people will live and work and move around in our community of tomorrow so in
the next few minutes we will go into detail about some of our preliminary
sketches and layouts. Remember though as I said earlier this is just the
beginning? With that thought in mind lets have a look."
EPCOT Center Dedication Plaque:
"To all who come to this Place of Joy, Hope and Friendship, Welcome. EPCOT is
inspired by Walt Disney's creative vision. Here, human achievements are
celebrated through imagination, wonders of enterprise and concepts of a future
that promises new and exciting benefits for all. May EPCOT Center entertain,
inform and inspire, and above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and
pride in man's ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere."
E. Cardon Walker
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Walt Disney Productions
October 24, 1982
EPCOT of the Past
Now lets look back 21+ years and see some
images we might have forgotten or never knew about.
Spring 1979 "Concept Model" of the EPCOT Center
This 1/8th inch scale model of this park covered over 1,428 sq. ft.
which is larger than most homes
Opened October 1, 1982
Epcot Center 300 acres
Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth, the visual and thematic centerpiece of Epcot, weighs 16 million
pounds -- more than three times that of a Space Shuttle fully fueled and ready
for launch. The outer "skin" of Spaceship Earth is made up of 11,324 aluminum
and plastic-alloy triangles. Also, did you know that rainwater never falls off
the sphere? It's absorbed into the ball and funneled away.
Spaceship Earth at Epcot is the tallest attraction at Walt Disney World Resort.
The giant Sorcerer Mickey hand and wand make the attraction approximately 240
feet at its highest point. It tops The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror at the
Disney-MGM Studios (199 feet), the Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle (185 feet)
and The Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom (145 feet).
Nearly 3,000 designers and 4000 construction workers involved in the building
phase 1
By the end of the first year of operation the park cost $1 billion
During 3 years of building over 10,000 workers representing 18 unions 22 general
contractors and 500 sub-contractors participated in construction
54 million cubic ft. of earth were moved in construction
Epcot Center Parking Lot 210 acres (11,391 vehicles)
24 attractions, 30 food locations, 71 merchandise locations
EPCOT shows and attraction were built to be played 14 hours a day 365 days a
year
More than 1.5 million ft. of motion picture film was shot to produce 31 epcot
shows
After editing some 73,000 ft. of film represents the work of 16 production crews
in more than 30 countries and every state in the U.S.
CommuniCore
CommuniCore was located in two crescent shaped buildings behind
Spaceship Earth. Hands-on experience with new innovations along with new
electronics were available here for guests.
CommuniCore closed in 1994 and was rebuilt into Innoventions, West and East.
Innoventions has house different exhibits over the years from Sega, Dreamcast,
Xerox, Lutron, Disney Interactive, IBM, Motorola, and Compaq, and also has
explored areas of health, nature, the House of Innoventions, and an Ultimate
Home Theater Experience.
World of Motion
World of Motion, presented by General Motors, was a rode trip through
the evolution of transportation. It contained the greatest number of
Audio-Animatronics out of all of Future World. Thirty scenes spanned the
different ages of time from the use of feet, the creation of the wheel, and the
first traffic jam.
World of Motion closed in 1995, when General Motors and Disney began
construction on Test Track, which because of delays opened in 1999.
Horizons
Horizons opened in 1983, a year after Epcot opened. Horizons,
presented by General Electric, applies Future World into one attraction by
exploring communication, energy, transportation, imagination, land, sea, and
life in futuristic families. After you entered your vehicle, you explored scenes
showing ideas for the future from the past including Jules Verne's spaceship.
Capacity: 2,660 guests per hour
Show Time: 14:35 minutes
Speed: 1.53 fps
Closed: 9 January 1999
Universe of Energy
Universe of Energy, sponsored by Exxon, has changed since it
opened in 1982, however it still revolves around the same concept of energy.
When it opened it had a pre-show on turning cubes that showed guests different
types of energy, like wind powered from windmills. Next the guests traveled back
to the dinosaur age to witness the formation of fossil fuels. The last part of
the ride was another film on energy, called the Energy Information Center, on a
screen 210 feet across. This version of Universe of Energy was from 1982 until
1996.
In 2001 Exxon and Mobil merged, into ExxonMobil, so Universe of Energy has some
sign changes. The red sign out front is no longer there, and in 2002 the new
sign that was there was a new design and blue.
The Land
Three million bedding plants and annuals are planted each year. The
largest bed, at The Land at Epcot, measures 20,000 square feet and contains up
to 20,000 seasonal plants.
If you're enjoying fresh vegetables at the Garden Grill, Sunshine Season Food Fair or Coral Reef restaurants at Epcot, chances are they were grown right in the theme park. Last year more than 30 tons of fruits and veggies were harvested from The Land pavilion's greenhouses.
Nearly 13,000 roses are shown throughout the Disney property.
Removing spent blooms in the rose gardens of Epcot requires a good day’s work
each week -- more than 400 hours per year.
The Land pavilion sponsored by Kraft opened in 1982, but has since undergone
many changes including new sponsorship by Nestle.
Kitchen Kabaret was a 14 minute Audio-Animatronics stage show lead by Bonnie
Appetite and included acts of the Cereal Sisters, The Stars of the Milky Way,
Hamm & Eggz, The Kitchen Krackpots, and The Colander Combo and The Fiesta Fruit.
In all 26 animatronics make up the group. Kitchen Kabaret closed in 1994 when
Nestle took over to make way for a new show called Food Rocks.
Imagination
The Imagination pavilion, hosted by Kodak, has undergone many
changes since its opening in 1982.
Journey Into Imagination was a slow moving trip hosted by Dreamfinder and
Figment through their imagination. At the beginning of the ride Figment is
created out of the Dreamcatcher. From there Dreamfinder and Figment explore
different areas of imagination and take them to the Dreamport. The tune "One
Little Spark" played throughout the ride. It closed in 1998 and reopened in 1999
as Journey Into Your Imagination.
Magic Journeys was the first 3-D movie held in Mage Eye Theater.
Magic Journeys follows a child exploring his imagination. This closed and was
moved to Magic Kingdom in 1986, but has since closed from Magic Kingdom and is
completely gone. Captain EO replaced Magic Journeys in 1986. Captain EO, a 3-D
movie, starred Michael Jackson and showed a space fantasy adventure. Captain EO
closed in 1994 when Honey, I Shrunk the Audience became the new 3-D film for
Magic Eye Theater, which is now called the Imagination Institute.
On June 1, 2002 Journey into Imagination with Figment opened.
World Showcase
More than 26,000 feet of lights outline the Epcot World Showcase
pavilions -- a string long enough to stretch across the Golden Gate Bridge more
than six times.
26.3 miles of bratwurst are served every 60 days at the
Biergarten restaurant in the Germany pavilion at Epcot. That, by the way, is the
length of a marathon.
World Showcase Today
The original nine pavilion's from 1982 , American Adventure, Canada,
China, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
Smaller nations, Morocco and Norway, came in 1984 and 1988, respectively.
Announced September 28, 2002
Walt Disney World executives are meeting with Spanish officials in Madrid this
week to discuss making Spain the theme of Epcot's 11th international pavilion in
its World Showcase section.
Newest Edition To Epcot Opening 2003
Conceptual Drawing
Walt Disney World Resort's newest attraction, Mission: SPACE, to be presented by
Compaq Computer Corporation, will lift off at Epcot in 2003. It's the latest in
a series of new attractions and entertainment offerings at Walt Disney World
Resort, continuing a period of phenomenal growth that includes the resort's
current year-long Millennium Celebration.
Offering you a one-of-a-kind ``astronaut-like'' experience, Mission: SPACE will
launch you into a simulated space adventure -- from pulse-racing lift-off to
weightlessness in outer space.
In association with former NASA advisors, astronauts and scientists, Walt Disney
Imagineering created Mission: SPACE with new technologies, making it the first
ride system ever created to take you straight up in simulated flight. Set
decades into the future, you are transported in time and place to an
International Space Training Center where they will encounter simulated
challenges faced by real astronauts.
We have now traveled from October 1966- October 2002 we hope
you have enjoyed the time travel and the more than 20 years of memories. Now go
to EPCOT and make it a magical day.
If you will be going to EPCOT soon, I have listed some special events you can
find over the next few months starting with the announcement that the 100 Years
Of Magic Celebration has been extended to Feb. 28, 2003.
New Concert Series, Diverse Performances Add Pizzazz To 7th Epcot
International Food and Wine Festival
Oct. 19-Nov. 17
Click here to read all the infomation
Holidays Around The "World"
And At Epcot
Nov. 29, 2002-Dec. 30, 2002
Click here to read all the information
Candlelight Processional
America Gardens Theatre at EPCOT
Nov. 29, 2002-Dec. 30, 2002
Click here to read all the information