Epcot®
Although he died in 1966, Walt Disney’s dream of an experimental prototype community of tomorrow was brought to reality by the Walt Disney World Co. in 1982, only in a much broader fashion — an atypical theme park dedicated to the resourcefulness and imagination of America’s free enterprise system; a continual showcase of imagination, instruction, research, and invention; an education in technology and innovation, other lands and cultures.
Comprising 260 acres (over twice the size of the Magic Kingdom® Park) and divided into two parts, Future World and World Showcase, it will take almost two full days and a good pair of walking shoes to truly explore the full scope of Epcot®. While there are plenty of attractions and activities for the little ones, the appeal of Epcot® is mainly to older children and adults. The draw is a huge variety of dining choices, loads of exciting entertainment, magnificent gardens, round-the-world shopping, and attractions that simultaneously entertain and educate. The grounds alone are worth the price of admission, a fact well known to horticulturists round the world. Mature, fabulous gardens abound throughout each pavilion and country offering a distinct, native landscaping. The most important thing is just to enjoy. And with so many diverse attractions it certainly won’t be difficult.
The Lay of the Land
Epcot® looks a bit like a figure 8 with Future World being the northern region and World Showcase the southern region. Future World is composed of two concentric rings, with Spaceship Earth forming the inner circle and seven pavilions the outer. The Universe of Energy, Mission: SPACE® and Test Track are located on the east side of Spaceship Earth and Imagination!, The Land, and The Seas with Nemo & Friends® are on the west side. Walkways connect Future World to World Showcase, which is made up of 11 pavilions fronted by a 1.3-mile promenade surrounding the 40-acre World Showcase Lagoon.
