Changes
/* Opening */
===Opening===
Despite the massive amount of construction that was necessary, EPCOT Center was ready in time for its opening day- October 1, 1982<ref name= "day"> http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/epcotgrandopening.html </ref>. When the park opened it featured nine pavilions in World Showcase and seven pavilions in Future World<ref name= "day"/>. On October 1, the International Ceremony of the Waters took place, where containers of water from 25 bodies of water (, representing) 29 countries were poured into The Fountain of Nations<ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/10/vintage-walt-disney-world-fountain-of-nations-dedication-at-epcot/ </ref>. A Grand Opening Week was then held from October 17-October 27, during which many of the parks individual pavilions were dedicated. On hand for the festivities were VIP Cast Members including Walt’s widow Lillian, key members of the press, celebrities (including Drew Barrymore and Marie Osmond) and top executives from sponsor companies<ref name= "allears"> http://allears.net/ae/issue678.htm </ref>. On October 24, Disney CEO Card Walker officially dedicated the new park:
{{Quotation|To all who come to this place of joy, hope and friendship—welcome.
October 24, 1982}}
Walker's dedication was followed by speeches from Florida Governor Bob Graham and AT&T president William Ellinghouse<ref name= "allears"/>. Also on hand for the opening were marching bands and dancers who performed, “We've Only Just Begun To Dream” and a new Sherman Brother’s song, “World Showcase March”<ref name= "planet"> https://www.mouseplanet.com/10072/EPCOT_Centers_First_October </ref>. Various musical acts from different countries also performed in World Showcase, and the festivities concluded with 1,000 doves and 15,00 balloons being released in celebration<ref name= "planet"/>. Also of note, CBS aired a television special, ''EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration'', which was hosted by Danny Kaye and actually aired the day before the official dedication, October 23<ref name= "planet"/>. The opening day EPCOT Center pavilions were:
{| class="infoList"
====History Since Opening Day====
After the Grand Opening in October of 1982, EPCOT Center continued to expand rapidly. The expansion, known as Phase II, began on October 1, 1983 with the addition the Horizons pavilion. Horizons, which was sponsored by General Electric, was a dark ride attraction that took guests into the 21st century, to see what the future might be like. The attraction would be one of EPCOT Center's most popular rides in the 1980s. Exactly one year after the addition of Horizons, the [[Morocco]] pavilion opened in World Showcase. Although the pavilion didn't feature any new attraction, the popular Restaurant Marrakesh opened at this time. Future World saw even more expansion in 1986 when [[The Living Seas]] opened on January 15th. Although a Seas pavilion had always been planned for EPCOT Center, changes in design and budget constraints delayed the pavilion’s construction. Sponsored by United Technologies, The Living Seas focused on oceanic study, and housed the world’s largest aquarium (at the time of its construction). World Showcase was the next area to expand, when in 1988 the [[Norway]] pavilion was completed. Although not ready for the pavilion’s opening, the popular [[Maelstrom]] attraction opened later in 1988. In 1989 the final pavilion was added to Epcot, The Wonders of Life. The pavilion was sponsored by Met Life and featured the popular motion simulator Body Wars as well as Cranium Command and the Making of Me. The addition of the Wonders of Life signaled the end of EPCOT Center’s expansion.
