EPCOT is one of four mesmerizing Walt Disney theme parks located in Orlando, Florida. It was inaugurated in October, 1982 and spreads over an area of 300 acres.
It is twice the size of the Magic Kingdom which is another theme park in Florida. EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow and has the honor of being dreamt by Walt Disney himself although he didn’t live to see its completion.
After closing down during the COVID-19 pandemic, the park reopened with additional safety measures that complied with many modern standards according to revised guidelines. EPCOT is an attraction that brings some of the older Disney fans to the premises. It provides them with unique opportunities to enjoy some of the most amazing rides as well as tour facilities anywhere in the world.
Have you visited EPCOT? Do you plan on visiting the Park anytime soon? Here are some intriguing facts that you must know before your next visit!
Contents
- Interesting Facts to Know about EPCOT
- 1. EPCOT is one of the most iconic Walt Disney Theme Parks in the US
- 2. The original design of the park was very different from what it is today
- 3. NASA helped design the Mission: Space ride for Disney
- 4. The legendary landmark at the park is made up of 11,000 triangles
- 5. Science-Fiction author Ray Bradbury is responsible for the Spaceship Earth ride
- 6. EPCOT’s ‘The Land’ grows some of the food used in the park
- 7. ‘The Seas with Nemo and Friends’ is one of the largest aquariums in the world
- 8. EPCOT has had a vibrant history of celebrity performances
- 9. The Germany Pavilion’s train set varies its theme with seasons
- 10. One of the Park’s best kept secrets is a small set of underground tunnels
- Video: Ultimate Guide to Disney World’s EPCOT in 2021!
- Summary
- Related Articles
Interesting Facts to Know about EPCOT
1. EPCOT is one of the most iconic Walt Disney Theme Parks in the US
For a number of reasons, EPCOT has cemented its place as one of the most unique theme parks in the US. It is the third-most visited in North America and the sixth most thronged by visitors anywhere in the world.
It features some of the most vibrant attractions with a theme of human achievement. It transformed from a community concept to a World’s Fair-inspired attraction with a focus on science, technology and arts after it first opened its gates to the public almost 4 decades ago.
2. The original design of the park was very different from what it is today
Walt Disney imagined the theme park himself. He wanted it to be a modern working and livable city that was the first-of-its-kind anywhere in the world.
EPCOT 1966 Original Plan
Although this original idea never came to life, Disney’s architects and Imagineers created a theme park that would embody his vision in some form. Therefore, the Park features some of the most legendary and futuristic technology as well as infrastructure anywhere in the world.
3. NASA helped design the Mission: Space ride for Disney
The Mission: Space ride is designed and built to provide the closest replication of space flight possible.
In this regard, Disney employed the help of both former as well as current NASA engineers, astronauts, scientists and advisors to make sure that this would happen.
The ride was therefore able to achieve the goal that it was trying to obtain: to become a hub for enthusiasts looking to explore space travel without spending a fortune.
4. The legendary landmark at the park is made up of 11,000 triangles
One of the Park’s most famous attractions as soon as visitors step foot into its premises is the iconic
Spaceship Earth dome that is referred to as the ‘golf ball’ by fans. However, the spherical shaped structure is a labor of love and high-tech engineering.
The massive geodesic structure contains nearly 11,324 aluminum and plastic-alloy triangles that add up to a total weight of over 16-million pounds. However, the structure is a sight to behold for anyone visiting the Park.
Disney went to extreme lengths in building the Park and the various structures that it contains. They took help and inspiration from some of the most creative minds on the planet.
For instance, the globally acclaimed author of ‘Fahrenheit 451’, Ray Bradbury was brought onboard to help design the script and storyline for EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth attraction. Housed inside the astronomical sphere at the facility, the ride takes visitors through the evolution of human communication.
6. EPCOT’s ‘The Land’ grows some of the food used in the park
There is a reason EPCOT has made a reputation for itself as one of the most visited theme parks in the world.
One fascinating fact that most people don’t know is that the Park’s greenhouses and some of the fruits or vegetables are sent off to EPCOT’s neighboring restaurants like Sunshine Seasons and Garden Grill.
7. ‘The Seas with Nemo and Friends’ is one of the largest aquariums in the world
Holding 5.7 million gallons of water and home to a vibrant array of marine life, ‘The Seas with Nemo and Friends’ is one of the largest aquariums in the world. It is a sight to behold and is unlike any other attraction anywhere in the world.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
The aquarium is an amazing place to be for people of all ages but families along with children enjoy it the most since it is informative and entertaining at the same time.
8. EPCOT has had a vibrant history of celebrity performances
Over the years, EPCOT has seen a large number of celebrities perform at the Park.
Over the past two years, most of the concerts and events were cancelled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic but its legendary ‘Eat to the Beat’ series in the fall and ‘Candlelight Processional’ in the winter brings a wide variety of celebrities to the event.
Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Gary Sinise, Boyz II Men and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy are some of the major names who have participated in events at EPCOT.
9. The Germany Pavilion’s train set varies its theme with seasons
The Park has a host of pavilions dedicated to various cultures and countries from around the world.
These attractions drive international visitors in America through a host of rides and other regional facilities. The Germany Pavilion located near the restrooms is one such attraction which houses a large train display running through a miniature village.
As seasons change, so does the theme and overall design of the attraction to make it more relevant and attractive to visitors.
10. One of the Park’s best kept secrets is a small set of underground tunnels
Some people are aware of the underground ‘Utilidor’ system at the Magic Kingdom theme park but what they don’t know is that EPCOT has its own set of small tunnels running below the Park.
These are located beneath the Future World section but are not open to the public. More importantly, they are used to move staff and celebrities from one side of the Park to another.
Video: Ultimate Guide to Disney World’s EPCOT in 2021!
EPCOT is one of the most fascinating theme parks on the planet. If you are planning to visit the facility any time soon especially after the COVID restrictions were lifted, here’s an ultimate guide that you must see.
Summary
There is a reason why EPCOT has risen to such prominence as a theme park. Envisioned by Walt Disney himself to be more than just a park, it has everything from fancy attractions to marvels of human architectural feats unlike any other place in the world.
It is definitely a must visit for any one looking to enjoy a fun, family time in the US state of Florida.
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Image Credit:
Lommes, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Jedi94, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Hi I’m Jay. I grew up in Seattle, Washington and live in Los Angeles, California. I have travelled to 23 countries so far and planning to go explore more countries soon! My Favorite trips so far have been to Israel, Japan, Rome, Iceland and Australia. I started this site to share my love of travel with everyone and build a community of like-minded, free thinking, free exploring people.
