EPCOT, the second oldest of Disney's Floridian theme parks, was opened in 1982.
Visitors will probably need two full days to see and do everything within the
park.
EPCOT, or the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, was Walt Disney's
visionary idea comprising a huge transparent dome containing an entire city of
harmony and progress, however with Walt's death in 1966, many of the original
ideas for EPCOT were lost, and the resulting EPCOT Centre built by the Disney
imaginers is a compromise between the parts of the dream laid out by Walt and
what could be achieved in practice. It is subdivided into two main sections;
Future World and the World Showcase.
Future World
Future World, which opens (and closes) earlier than the World Showcase, covers
almost the entire area between the main entrance to EPCOT and the large lagoon.
It is themed into distinct pavilions and is dominated by Spaceship Earth, a
large 180ft geodesic sphere made from white aluminum. As well as providing a
focus for the park, Spaceship Earth contains a slow ride which winds its way
along a track through the dome itself, tracing the history of human
communication from cave drawings through satellite and television.
Behind Spaceship Earth is the Showcase Plaza with the EPCOT fountain, and
is flanked on either side by a curved "Innoventions" building containing examples
of "technology from tomorrow", though in reality almost everything on display
has been with us for a few years in one form or another.
 Buckle
up and take the ride of your life up bumpy terrain, through hair-pin turns, into
freezing cold chambers and on to 50-degree banked curves at speeds of up to 60 miles
per hour.
It's all the hair-raising challenges of an automotive proving ground, except
this time you're the test driver.
The Wonders of Life contains "Body Wars", a turbulent simulation ride through the
human body. Other attractions include the Wondercycles, a ride where passengers cycle through
the EPCOT park which is presented in front of you on a television display, along
with distance traveled and energy expended.
The recently refurbished Universe of Energy features "Ellen's Energy
Adventure", presented by Ellen DeGeneres.
In the Living Seas you can explore a large man-made coral reef, teeming with
tropical fish, or even view sharks and manatees up close.
The Land features the Circle of Life, and environmental fable with the
characters from the Lion King, whilst Living with the Land is a sedate boat ride
and walk with an agricultural theme, demonstrating examples of soil-free
gardening, plant biotechnology, fish farming, and pest management. The Journey Into Imagination
Pavilion houses the 'Honey I Shrunk the Audience' 3-D
theatre presentation, located in the Imagination Institute.
The World Showcase
 The
World Showcase covers the area around the lagoon at EPCOT, and provides a view
of the cultural heritage of 11 varied nations including Mexico, Norway, China,
Germany, Italy, America, Japan, Morocco, France, the United Kingdom and Canada.Each individual pavilion houses various attractions, including restaurants,
rides, cinema presentations, live shows, and shops selling articles from the
country concerned. The Rose & Crown Pub in the United Kingdom, for example, sells
a range of typical British Beers (Bass, Guinness, Harp) in a traditional British
Pub environment at very untraditionally high prices ("Innit Guvnor, Cor Blimey
Mate!"). As well, in the American Adventure, an audio-animatronics show depicting
America's "incredible struggles and triumphs" can be seen.
Overall, there is much less of a focus on the classic Disney characters within
EPCOT, with character appearances very rare, although character dining with
Mickey and other characters is available at the Garden Grill restaurant in the
Land pavilion.
Epcot Attractions
Epcot Candlelight
Processional
Disney Height
Requirements |
