Changes
Epcot
,/* A Remimagined Epcot (2017-Present) */
{{Template:Infobox amusement park
| image=Spaceship Earth.jpg
| caption='''Spaceship Earth, the icon of Epcot.'''
| theme=Technology, The Future, Internationality
| opening_date=October 1, 1982
| homepage=[http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/ Epcot Homepage]
| custom_label_1= Previously Known As
| custom_value_1= EPCOT, EPCOT Center, EPCOT 94, EPCOT 95
| icon=Spaceship Earth
}}
Epcot is a theme park located in Walt Disney World.
==History==
===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.
[[Image:WaltEpcotVideo.jpg|thumb|400px| Walt explaining his vision for EPCOT| alt=Walt Disney EPCOT plan]]
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"/>.
===From City to Theme Park===
When Walt Disney died in 1966, the future of EPCOT was forever changed. In 1967 the Reedy Creek Improvement District was signed into law giving Disney more liberties when it came to construction <ref name= "widen"> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/epcot.htm </ref>. Furthermore, the state of Florida created the cities of Bay Lake and Reedy Creek, which were essentially governed by the Walt Disney Company <ref> http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2004/02/23/story1.html </ref>. Although this seemed like the first step towards the construction of EPCOT, Disney’s board of the directors decided that they did not want to build the city. Despite Roy O. Disney’s desire to see EPCOT built, when Walt Disney World opened in 1971 it consisted of only the [[Magic Kingdom]], the Contemporary, the Polynesian and the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds.
[[Image:EpcotConcept.jpg|thumb|400px|EPCOT Center concept art.| alt= EPCOT Concept Art]]
By 1975, Disney had determined that EPCOT as a day to day community was not a feasible idea. Instead, Disney announced that they would be taking the ideals and goals of EPCOT and building it in the form of a theme park. In July of 1975 Disney announced that their plans for EPCOT would have three main components <ref name= "florida"/>. The first component would be the EPCOT Institute, which would have helped facilitate the flow of research and information from EPCOT’s other components to the park's sponsors and the general public<ref name= "florida"/>. The second component of EPCOT would be various “satellites” where research and development of future products and new systems in fields such as: energy, communication, agriculture, and education would take place<ref name= "florida"/>. The EPCOT satellites would be located both on Walt Disney World property and off<ref name= "florida"/>. The third, and most perhaps most prominent component of the 1975 EPCOT plan, was the Future World Theme Center<ref name= "florida"/>. Here, guests would be able to visit various pavilions that showed the research that was being done at EPCOT. Fields including communication, science and technology would all be showcased in the Future World Theme Center<ref name= "florida"/>.
====Development and Construction====
[[Image:epcotconstruction.jpg|thumb|400px|The World of Motion (front), Universe of Energy (middle) and Spaceship Earth (back) under construction.| alt= Future World Under Construction]]
Following Disney’s announcement of EPCOT, plans for their newest theme park remained in flux. By 1976, the scope of the project had been narrowed, with one section of the park being the Future World Theme Center, and the other section being World Showcase. Imagineers Marty Sklar and John Hench literally had pushed models of the two areas together, creating the unified EPCOT that would eventually be built <ref> https://sites.google.com/site/theoriginalepcot/becoming-epcot-center </ref>. During the ongoing development, the name of the park was changed to EPCOT Center, and the parameters of what the park would include were more clearly defined. The Future World portion of EPCOT Center would contain various pavilions including: [[Spaceship Earth]], [[CommuniCore]], the Life and Health Pavilion, the [[Transportation pavilion]], [[The Seas]], [[The Land]], the [[Space pavilion]], and the [[Energy pavilion]] <ref> http://www.mainstgazette.com/2010/04/master-plan-5.html </ref>. Like Future World, World Showcase had also changed dramatically since its initial incarnation. By 1977, World Showcase was designed so that all of the countries’ exhibits were now surrounding a central lagoon. Another change in the area had to do with the exterior architecture. Initially, Disney (and CEO Card Walker) had wanted the exterior facades of each country’s pavilion to be identical and interconnected <ref name= "primer"> Crawford, Michael. The Progress City Primer: Stories, Secrets, and Silliness from the Many Worlds of Walt Disney. N.p.: Progress City, L.L.C, 2015. Print. </ref>. Imagineer Harper Goff on the other hand, felt that the pavilions should be highly themed and unique, with landmarks from each country drawing guests towards the pavilion <ref name= "primer"/>. Although Goff’s idea was initially rejected, the Imagineer continued to press the issue. One day, when various international sponsors were touring the plans for World Showcase, Goff left paintings of the highly themed and aesthetically pleasing pavilions on display<ref name= "primer"/>. Due to the enthusiastic response of the investors, Goff won out, and the World Showcase pavilions were given unique exteriors<ref name= "primer"/>.
Initially planned as a six year project, construction on EPCOT Center began in October 1979, with a projected opening date of October 1, 1982 <ref name= "korkis"> https://www.mouseplanet.com/10081/Building_Epcot_Center_1982 </ref>. At this time, EPCOT Center was considered the largest construction project in the world<ref name= "korkis"/>.
===Construction and LayoutOpening=== In 1978 Disney announced they would be constructing a new theme park, Despite the massive amount of construction that was necessary, EPCOT Center. Construction began on May was ready in time for its targeted opening day- October 1, 1979 and was completed September 27, 1982<ref name= "day"> http://thisdayindisneyhistory. Epcot went under 19 different design renovations before homestead.com/epcotgrandopening.html </ref>. When the final park opened it featured nine pavilions in World Showcase/and seven pavilions in Future World design was accepted<ref name= "day"/>. OriginallyOn October 1, the east side International Ceremony of Future World was supposed to have shallow lagoons. This idea was eventually scrapped and East Future World became the dry sideWaters took place, while West Future World became the wet one. 4where containers of water from 25 bodies of water,000 workers worked on phase 1 representing 29 countries were poured into The Fountain of EpcotNations <ref> https://disneyparks. disney.go.com/blog/2013/10,000 workers /vintage-walt-disney-world-fountain-of-nations-dedication-at-epcot/ </ref>. and 3A Grand Opening Week was then held from October 17-October 27,000 designers were used in total during which many of the creation park's individual pavilions were dedicated. On hand for the festivities were VIP Cast Members including Walt’s widow Lillian, key members of Epcotthe press, celebrities (including Drew Barrymore and Marie Osmond) and top executives from sponsor companies <ref name= "allears"> http://allears. This included moving an astonishing net/ae/issue678.htm </ref>. On October 24, Disney CEO Card Walker officially dedicated the new park:
Main Article: [[Horizons]]
Horizons was a dark ride attraction that opened in 1983 in Future World East. The attraction was considered to be a sequel to the [[Magic Kingdom]] attraction The the [[Carrousel Carousel of Progress]]. Unlike the Carrousel , however instead of Progress which showed showing progress that had already happened in the twentieth century, Horizons showed progress that focused on what life could happen be like in the 21stcentury. .Unlike other pavilions which had a singular theme, Horizons tied together all the other themes of Future Worldincluding: communication, community, energy, transportation, anatomy, physiology, along with man's relationship to the sea, land, air, and outer space. On Horizons guests would look back at what people thought the future would be like, and then look forward to what it could be. On each individual ride vehicle guests could see a vision of the future Sponsored by “traveling” through a space colonyGeneral Electric from 1983 until 1993, desert farm, or underwater research facility. Horizons was permanently finally closed in 1999and eventually demolished to make room for Mission: Space <ref name= "horizons"/>.
===CommuniCore=Wonders of Life====Main Article: [[Wonders of Life]]
Originally sponsored by MetLife, The Wonders of Life Pavilion opened in 1989 in Future World East. The pavilion housed three main attractions: Body Wars (a motion simulator), Cranium Command (an Audio Animatronic show) and the Making of Me (a humorous educational video). Following the end of MetLife's sponsorship in 2001, the pavilion began to see a decline in popularity, which led to it only operating seasonally beginning in 2004. In 2007 Wonders of Life was permanently closed. The pavilion has since been used as the main center for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival and the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
====CommuniCore====
Main Article: [[CommuniCore]]
CommuniCore opened with the park in 1982 and housed exhibits featuring the news that featured new technology. The pavilion was located in Future World East, and was divided into two parts: CommuniCore East and CommuniCore West. Exhibits featuring such things as the Sega game system and touch screens were once shown in pavilion, which each offered unique experiences. In 1994 CommuniCore was closed and redesigned, eventually reopening as Innoventions. When it re-opened the pavilion reopened it still featured technology exhibits , but the name of the pavilion was changed they now tended to Innoventions. Innoventions had a darker color scheme and flashier attractions then CommuniCore however the basic principal of the attractions was the samebe more interactive.
===Wonders =Universe of LifeEnergy====
Main Article: [[Wonders Universe of LifeEnergy]]
The Wonders Universe of Life Pavilion Energy opened with the park in 1989 1982 and was located in Future World East. The pavilion focused on human heath and was sponsored by MetLife. Inside home to the pavilion were three attractions: Body WarsUniverse of Energy attraction from 1982 until 1996, Cranium Command, and when the Making of Me. Body Wars attraction was a motion simulator attraction that “shrunk” riders so that they could enter a human body refurbished and carry out a mission. The attraction is considered to be Epcot's first thrill ride and was also often compared to renamed [[Star Tours]] at [[DisneyEllen's Hollywood StudiosEnergy Adventure]]. Cranium Command was The new attraction featured three films and a humorous film that taught seven minute dark ride, which explored the importance history and future of energy and starred Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the human brainScience Guy. The show featured Buzzy an Audio Anamatronic who is a “brain pilot”. The attraction followed Buzzy as he used a host humanOn August 13, 2017 Ellen's brain Energy Adventure closed to go through an average day. The final make way for a new attraction located in titled Guardians of the Wonders of Life Pavilion was The Making of MeGalaxy Cosmic Rewind. Hosted by Martin ShortOn September 30, The Making 2021, Disney announced that the former Universe of Me was an education film that taught guests how babies were born. The Energy pavilion would be rechristened the "Wonders of Life closed in 2007 after MetLife dropped it's sponsorshipXandar" when Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind opens.
==World Showcase Pavilions== Innoventions===Mexico=== The Mexico Pavilion opened with World Showcase in 1982. It is the first pavilion guests reach if they go left at the entrance to World Showcase. The pavilion is shaped like a large Mesoamerican pyramid The pavilion is home to the boat ride attraction, The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros. On the attraction guests board small boats and tour Mexico, while watching Jose and Panchito (from the 1994 Disney movie The Three Caballeros) search for Donald Duck. Located right next to the attraction is the San Angel Inn, a Mexican restaurant. Also inside the pavilion is a large Mexican shop which sells Mexican themed merchandise as well as Disney Merchandise. Outside of the pavilion guests can eat at either the Cantina de San Ángel or the La Hacienda de San Angel. Located on the lagoon, both restaurants are counter service and offer Mexican food. ===Norway=== If guests continue to go around World Showcase clockwise, the next country they will find themselves in is Norway. Norway opened in 1988 and is themed to resemble a small Norwegian town. The Norway pavilion is home to one attraction, the Malestorm. This boat ride takes guests through scenes depicting Vikings and Norway mythology. The attraction concludes with a 28 foot drop and a six minute travel video. Besides the Malestorm, Norway is also home to a detailed Stave church and a large shop. The pavilion also has two dining options. The first, Kringla Bakeri og Kafe offers pastries and sandwiches. Also in Norway is the Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. The Princess Storybook Dining is a character restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. ===China=== The China pavilion is located next to Norway and opened with the park. The pavilion is themed to look like an ancient Chinese town, and features the Circle Vision 360 film, Reflections of China. Also in China is the table service restaurant Nine Dragons which features gourmet, traditional Chinese food. The quick services restaurant, the Lotus Chinese Cafe also sells Chinese dishes. China is also home to the Dragon Legend Acrobats who entertain guests throughout the day. Main Article: [[Innoventions]]
{| style===Italy==="padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px;"|-| *[[Frozen Ever After]]|*[[Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure]]|}
* Epcot cost nearly 1.4 billion dollars to create <ref> http://www.disneybythenumbers.com/wdw/page20.html </ref>.
*Every fifteen minutes throughout the day, the Innoventions Plaza Fountain, which is located between Innoventions East and West, presents a spectacular water ballet set to music <ref name===The American Experience==="trivia"> http://www.wdwradio.com/2007/09/epcot-trivia-general/ </ref>.
*The Fountain of Nations in Epcot can shoot water more than 150 feet into the air. If all of the water cannons were fired at the same time, 2,000 gallons of water would fill the air <ref name= "trivia"/>.
*There is a marker in Epcot showing the exact center of the park. It is located just to the west of [[Innoventions West]] (on that path that leads straight to [[The Land]]) <ref name="trivia"/>. Around the center, guests can see the names and inventions of history's greatest inventors <ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v==Japan===EcPo2mtUnf8 </ref>.