EPCOT

When Walt Disney envisioned "the Florida Project" he referred to an Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow or EPCOT for short. He envisioned an actual city where people lived, worked, and played utilizing newer technology and modes of transportation. That was prior to 1966 when he left this world before he could see his vision complete. Walt Disney World opened in 1971 with the Magic Kingdom as its only theme park and it would not be until 1982 that EPCOT would be delivered. EPCOT has gone through some changes over the past 36 years and is getting ready for some more changes. It may never be what Walt envisioned but it has become a must visit.

Magic Kingdom has its castle and EPCOT has is geodesic sphere called Spaceship Earth. Spaceship Earth is actually an attraction that takes people through the history of communication from the prehistoric hunters to the computer age with stops in between. I do not have the figures here but I am betting it is almost as much photographed as is the castle. Whereas Spaceship Earth is the icon of EPCOT it is not the only reason to visit. EPCOT is almost two separate parks with Future World and the World Showcase.

Future World (which includes Spaceship Earth(SE)) has an east side and west side. Turn right from SE and you will enter Future World West which includes the Land Pavilion, The Seas with Nemo and Friends also Journey into Imagination. Within the Land Pavilion is Soarin' and Living With the Land ( an educational journey into how produce is grown in different climates). There is a more in depth tour called Behind the Seeds also for an additional charge.

As you head back east you will encounter the Character Spot where you can meet Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy. You continue east and you will eventually come upon Mission Space and Test Track. I won't go into much detail about the attractions because there are so many reviews, YouTube ride-throughs and such my opinion might not be what you want to hear. Next stop is the World Showcase.

In about 1.5 miles you can WALK from Mexico to Canada or vice-versa and pass through Norway, China, Germany, Italy, The American Experience, Japan, Morocco, France, and United Kingdom. In each of the pavilions you can sample cuisine, buy souvenirs, and experience entertainment from each of the participating nations (eleven in all including the United States).

When EPCOT was first introduced there was not much Disney Swag to be experienced at EPCOT. It has been a rumor that the idea of Hidden Mickey's originated with the Imagineers working on EPCOT. I am not sure if it is true BUT I wouldn't be shocked if it was. Over the years more and more Disney has crept into the park. Donald can be found in the Mexican pavilion, Mulan in China, Snow White appears sometimes in Germany as does Belle in France, and Alice in the UK. However, there probably wasn't a bigger outcry of foul play when Disney introduced Frozen to Norway. I say outcry because the EPCOT "purists" complained BUT Norway is possibly the most visited pavilion since the introduction of an Anna and Elsa meet and greet plus the attraction Frozen Ever After. The latter did replace an attraction called Maelstrom. I experienced both and I like the Frozen attraction much more.

As I mentioned before there has been a lot of changes since the opening of EPCOT and there are many more on the way. So I guess I will be having to visit throughout the years to keep up. Oh darn... Have a magical day and see you real soon...