Changes

===Walt Disney's Experimental Community of Tomorrow===

The genesis for what would one day be known as Epcot began in the early 1960s with Walt Disney himself. After having many grandchildren, Walt began to worry about the world that they would grow up in <ref name= "florida"> https://sites.google.com/site/theoriginalepcot/the-florida-project </ref>. As he looked around at the cities of America, he saw places that were full of crime, disorganization, dirt and chaos. Disneyland on the other hand, was the opposite of these things, and Walt decided that he could take the Disneyland philosophy and apply it to the real world. To go along with this, Disneyland had also proved that Walt and his company were very efficient in the art of constructing and designing buildings. With this information in mind, he began to read about how to start a city.

Walt’s plan for a Utopian city got its name in 1966, when Disney narrated a video in which he described his dream <ref name= "film"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLCHg9mUBag </ref>. The city would be a part of Walt's secret Florida Project in central Florida, and would be called the Experimental Community of Tomorrow, or EPCOT<ref name= "film"/>. Walt called EPCOT, “the most exciting, by far the most important,” and the heart of what he planned to do in Florida. The city would take its cues from the new ideas and technologies of American industry and would be a “community of tomorrow”<ref name= "film"/>. Walt wanted to plan and design every detail of the city, in order to meet the public's needs <ref name= "florida"/>. Industry was also expected to partner with Disney to solve the problems of the society<ref name= "florida"/>. Walt said that EPCOT would never be finished, it would always be improving and he hoped that when it was built, it would house about 20,000 people <ref name= "florida"/>.

====History Since Opening Day====

[[Image:horizonspavilion.jpg|thumb|400px|In 1983 Horizons became the first pavilion added to EPCOT Center]]

After the Grand Opening in October of 1982, EPCOT Center continued to expand rapidly. The first expansion, known as Phase II, began on October 1, 1983 with the addition the Horizons pavilion <ref name= "horizons"> http://www.lostepcot.com/horizons.html </ref>. Horizons, which was sponsored by General Electric <ref name= "horizons"/>, 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. One year after the addition of Horizons, the [[Morocco]] pavilion opened in World Showcase <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/09/vintage-walt-disney-world-morocco-pavilion-opens-at-epcot/ </ref>. Although the pavilion didn't feature any new attractions, the popular Restaurant Marrakesh opened at this time. Future World saw even more expansion in 1986 when [[The Living Seas]] opened on January 15th <ref name= "seas"> http://www.lostepcot.com/livingseas.html </ref>. 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) <ref name= "seas"/>.

World Showcase was the next area to expand, when in 1988 the [[Norway]] pavilion was completed <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/05/this-day-in-disney-history-norway-pavilion-debuts/ </ref>. Although not ready for the pavilion’s opening, the popular [[Maelstrom]] attraction opened later in 1988 <ref> http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/July05.html </ref>. In 1989 the final pavilion was added to Epcot, The Wonders of Life. The pavilion was sponsored by MetLife and featured the popular motion simulator Body Wars, as well as Cranium Command and the Making of Me <ref> http://www.yesterland.com/erasing.html </ref>. The addition of the Wonders of Life signaled the end of EPCOT Center’s expansion.

In 1994 the name of the park itself also changed to "EPCOT '94" as an illusion to the World’s Fair atmosphere that now defined EPCOT <Ref name= "year"> http://www.disneydrawingboard.com/WDW/ECArea/EC%20Park/ECPark.html </ref>. Also in 1994, CommuniCore closed its doors for a lengthy renovation <ref name= "communicore"> http://www.lostepcot.com/communicore.html </ref>. In order to revive the dated CommuniCore’s popularity, new interactive exhibits featuring hands-on activities were added. On July 1, 1994, the pavilion reopened as [[Innoventions]] <ref name= "communicore"/>. Besides changing exhibits, Innoventions also featured darker and metallic looking aesthetics<ref name= "communicore"/>. Another change hit Epcot in 1994 was General Electric ending its sponsorship of Horizons <ref name= "horizons"/>. Although the pavilion initially closed, it later reopened in 1995 due to the renovations taking place in The World of Motion and [[Universe of Energy]] pavilions<ref name= "horizons"/>. Also in 1995, the name EPCOT '94 was updated to EPCOT '95, before Disney finally settled on simply “Epcot” in 1996 <ref name= "year"/>. Of note, is the fact that the new name was not capitalized as it had been in the past; which meant that the name was no longer an acronym. In January of 1996, The Universe of Energy closed for a major refurbishment <ref name= "energy"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?tag=the-universe-of-energy-pavilion</ref>. The pavilion reopened in September of that year, as [[Ellen's Energy Adventure]] <ref name= "energy"/>. Although the main focus and some of the attraction’s scenes remained intact, with the addition of Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy, the pavilion took on a more comedic tone <ref name= "energy"/>.

In March of 2015, Disney announced that all of the Innoventions West exhibits would be closing <ref> http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-disney-epcot-innoventions-west-closing-20150320-post.html </ref>. Despite these closures, the Chase Character Meet & Greet remained open <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/innoventions/news/24apr2015-epcot's-chase-meet-and-greet-to-continue-at-inventions-west.htm </ref>.

Like Future World, as part of the Epcot overhaul, a number of changes were also announced for World Showcase. Most significantly, Disney announced that the Ratatouille attraction from Disneyland Paris would be added to an expanded [[France]] pavilion<ref name="expo"/>. Additionally, Fitzgerald stated that the [[China]] pavilion would be receiving a new seamless CircleVision film.

On February 21, 2019, Disney announced that a new "play pavilion" would be coming to the former Wonders of Life pavilion <ref name="play"> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/02/first-of-its-kind-play-pavilion-new-park-entrance-part-of-epcots-historic-transformation/ </ref>. Imagineer Zach Riddley noted that the pavilion would be "Built on the power of play, it introduces an immersive and interactive ‘city’ where you can explore, create, and interact with some of your favorite Disney characters. This is an experience worthy of our bold vision for Epcot – and another signature element of our transformation.<ref name="play"/>" Although an official opening date was not given, the pavilion is expected to open in time for Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary in 2021.

===Imagination!===

Main Article: [[Imagination!]]

===The Land===

The fastest attraction in Disney World, Test Track opened on December 19, 1998 in Future World East. Test Track replaced the World of Motion attraction, which had been open from 1982 until 1996. The attraction allows guests to design their own cars and then test them on the "SimTrack". The apex of the attraction is a 65 MPH speed test that concludes the attraction. General Motors has sponsored the pavilion in both its World of Motion and Test Track forms.

==Former Future World Pavilions==

CommuniCore opened with the park in 1982 and housed exhibits that featured new technology. The pavilion was divided into two parts: CommuniCore East and CommuniCore West, which each offered unique experiences. In 1994 CommuniCore was closed and redesigned, eventually reopening as Innoventions. When the pavilion reopened it still featured technology exhibits, but they now tended to be more interactive.

==World Showcase Pavilions==

Main Article: [[Canada]]

==FastPass +==