It's amazing the amount of information you could take from EPCOT if you were willing to invest the brain power to do it. Many go there expecting to simply turn their brains off and be entertained. If that's all you're after, you'll find it, but for those of us who see a trip to EPCOT as something more than that, there is plenty you can take with you. In fact, I'm often amazed when someone asks me some little bit of trivia and I'll know the answer because EPCOT (or one of the other Parks) taught it to me. The best attractions - Spaceship Earth, for example - don't hit you repeatedly over the head that you're being educated, but subtly you are. There were a couple of examples of attractions that did hit you over the head - Symbiosis, the original Universe of Energy, and the Seas - but mostly they entertained while educating. Those that can't see it really don't give EPCOT the credit it deserves. I think the most important thing the Park as a whole taught us is what we've accomplished, where we are, and where we might be going. It also taught a oneness - the It's a Small World point of view. We may be separated by wide oceans, but we're not all that different when you get right down to it.
And now here's a short description of what each pavilion taught me (hey, you asked for it, Mr. EPCOT-taught-me-nothing):
1. Spaceship Earth - Duh. The history of communication. Yes, I was taught history in school, but never in a way like this. I can honestly say I never knew some of the information imparted in that attraction. And that which I did know, didn't stick in my head until Disney presented it in an entertaining way (I often think of Jeremy Irons as my Communications school teacher!). Anyone else out there who has memorized his spiel cannot tell me you don't know more about Egyptian papyrus, Greek theatre, Roman roads and Rome's downfall, the contributions of Jewish and Islamic scholars, the printing press, and more.
2. Universe of Energy - Oh, come on. You can't say this attraction doesn't have tons of information contained within it. Oil, solar power, wind power, methods of discovering more forms of power...fact after fact about it is presented in a truly humorous way. Ellen and Bill Nye bring a humor and humanity to an attraction that was nothing but dry facts when EPCOT first opened. If you're one of those who claim this is just a great place for a 45-minute nap, you're one of the ones who are probably just looking for "rides." If all education were like this, I would still be in school today.
3. Wonders of Life - Another pavilion filled with education. From the kiosks and computers imparting information about the human body, nutrition, and good health to the attractions you had to be blind and deaf not to learn something. The Making of Me was all about conception, and while you may already know about it if you're an adult, as a kid it's truly an education...none of that BS about storks and birds and bees. And, it has that spoonful of sugar Disney does so well, making it fun, funny, and educational. Body Wars wasn't so much on the education, so I'll skip it. Cranium Command, though, taught me little things here and there, such as that the hypothalumus controls "automatic" bodily functions. It's also a great example of its theme, "Use your brain, don't lose it." And Goofy About Health was great for the lessons of good nutrition.
4. Horizons - A history of the future. This attraction isn't as heavy on the knowledge as some of the other pavilions, though it does teach about the possibilities of things like uses for crystals, the secrets of the DNA chain, the possibilities of life in outer space or the ocean, and the importance of men like Jules Verne in portraying the future. Still my second favorite attraction of all time, right behind Spaceship Earth.
5. World of Motion - a history of and the possible future of transportation. Just like Spacship Earth, you visit various points in history and LEARN about contributions to man's need to get from one place to another. This attraction also wasn't heavy on seriousness, but it did a great job of imparting mankind's achievements in motion in a fun and entertaining way.
I've only covered about half of Future World, and I think my point is already made. Perhaps later this evening, when I have more time, I'll continue this. Trust me, there's a lot more to be learned from EPCOT, and still some you can learn from Epcot, too. I haven't even covered The Land or The Seas, yet.