EPCOT

EPCOT was the first Disney Park that we visited & was probably my favourite park (just) from previous visits (due to the more ‘Techy’ nature & rides like 'Test Track').

EPCOT stands for ‘Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow’, or more realistically ‘Every Person Comes Out Tired’!

EPCOT was Walt Disney’s vision for a model community, home to 20,000 residents, which would serve as a model for future urban planning. The community was to have been built in the shape of a circle, with businesses & commercial areas at the center, community buildings, schools, & recreational complexes around it, & residential neighborhoods along the perimeter. Vehicular traffic would be kept underground (to separate residents from the potential dangers & environmental impacts generated by cars, trucks, etc) with transport for residents by travelators & monorails. Unfortunately, Walt Disney was unable to obtain planning permission & funding for his new Floridian community until after he had agreed to build the Magic Kingdom. He died before the Magic Kingdom was complete & so EPCOT (the city) never got built.

When the EPCOT Disney Park originally opened in 1982, it was called EPCOT Center as it was constructed based upon the visions that were proposed for the City of EPCOT. The Magic Kingdom is a ‘traditional’ Disney fantasy park (all princes, princesses & Disney characters), but EPCOT didn’t have a particular purpose. Disney ‘Imagineers’ were undecided on what the park should be so it ended up being a multi-purpose venue, exhibiting future technology (Future World) & international cultures (World Showcase).

Future World contains pavilions which explore science & technology related aspects & associated rides, such as: Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Mission Space, Innoventions, Universe of Energy, The Land, Imagination!, & The Seas with Nemo & Friends.

World Showcase contains authentic pavilions which represent 11 countries from around the World (in alphabetical order): Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, UK, & USA.