Old Epcot Memories

[Dr Albert Falls]

What I remember most about the old EPCOT CENTER was the opening-year publicity and nationwide anticipation.

In late 1982, it seemed EVERYONE was talking about EPCOT. There were books, newspaper articles, and magazine features. Besides the opening day TV special, there was a weekly show on The Disney Channel called "EPCOT Magazine". Everywhere you turned you saw photos of Spaceship Earth and Figment. Saturday Night Live did jokes about the place. Everyone you talked to wanted to visit there.

Today-- at the the 70s/80s themed nightclub in Chicago called "Polly Esters", there is a mural of Spaceship Earth and the monorail on the wall.

I can only imagine that the opening of Disneyland in 1955 had a bigger nationwide impact. Certainly, no theme park opening SINCE then has made such a huge splash.

The reason? When EPCOT debuted, it was SO different-- nothing at all like the Magic Kingdom just up the street.

Also, unlike theme parks of today that intentionally start out small with new "phases" sporatically planned through the first decade of operation--- EPCOT was almost fully operational on Day One (Journey Into Imagination and Horizons opened within the first two years) The unique architecture alone helped fuel public interest.

Finally--like the decade Disneyland opened-- EPCOT came at a time when then the nation needed it. The tensions of the Cold War were in full force, and they only way to gain superiority in the scary world was through technology.

EPCOT showcased that technology (or at least the perception that American know-how could do anything). A stroll around World Showcase also gave us comfort knowing that international harmony was possible.

 

[MartyMouse]

I could go on for days talking about how amazing EPCOT Center WAS. Let me start with this my sister went to EPCOT Center during it’s first year of operation with a school trip or something like that, I had already seen some information about the “new park” at the (now closed) Walt Disney Story in the Magic Kingdom but she brought me a book that showcased all the aspects of EPCOT and I was hooked. The book was published before Horizons had opened so all that the book had was a few paintings (the same ones that would later be featured in the rides pre-show area) and all I could say was WOW this ride looked great. Also the book featured a look into the future of EPCOT – I know that it featured some information on new countries to be added (however I can’t recall them) but what stuck with me was the Living Seas, the way the book described the attraction was a little miss leading – it talked about showing what it would be like to live under the sea and it also told of a submarine ride, I still loved the attraction when I finally got to experience it.

One or two years later I finally got to go with my late grandparents and my sister, I have been so many times that the memories are a little fuzzy but I do recall the following information –

We got to the park before it opened and the old guy at the gate joked with us and gave us trivia questions before opening the gate- later on that trip we ran into him at the Buena Vista Shopping Village (now Downtown Disney Marketplace) he was off but still stopped and talked to us and was a very pleasant man.

Oh Oh Oh – yeah I remember that the tickets were not paper but rather a thin plastic that you slipped through a reader at the turnstile much like you do now but when we went back two years later they were gone.

Spaceship Earth was a little disappointing for a pre-teen (as I was then) however I recall the ride backwards was cool and it freaked my sister out (she can’t stand to go backwards) also Walter Cronkite impressed my grandfather.

Horizons blew me away the fact that you were riding sideways was amazing to all. The smells were great (not like the sulfur smells in Spaceship Earth), it had the feel of an old school Disney ride with all the animatronics but the Imax screens were very impressive, I can still recall the feeing in the pit of my stomach when the shuttle launches. We didn’t really get that fact the you were choosing your own ending until it was too late and the ride picked it for us. After the ride that cool hallway you exited through was awesome (in the 80s) with that big GE logo at the end.

The Universe of Energy was very exciting to a young man such as myself; I recall the original pre-show with the flipping screens and the Exxon tiger running through them. The fact that the “theater” turned it a ride was just the coolest thing to me back then. I knew to expect the dinosaurs because of all the information about them back over at the Magic Kingdom, but what killed us all was the movie at the end of the ride – boring – my grandfather fell asleep.:snore:

The Land is a hard memory to recall I know we did the boat ride but we were so tired at that point because we went after the walk through World Showcase.

I know we ate at the Odyssey Restaurant because my grandfather knew we could get a hamburger there and at that age I wouldn’t eat anything but. What I can recall (now I maybe wrong) but I was like the old Tomorrowland terrace in there but with more relaxed atmosphere and the décor was dark brown and I want to say maroon.

Wow when I started typing this I just thought I would only be able to recall a few memories from my first trip to EPCOT Center but I find that I have opened the floodgate of my mind, I guess that the fact that I can recall so much form so long ago is a true testament to how great the old EPCOT Center was.

 

[BwanaBob]

Originally posted by cymbaldiva
What other restuarants used to be there?

- Why yes, I really do love to talk about food!

The Stargate Restaurant (now Electric Umbrella), Beverage Base (behind Electric Umbrella),Sunrise Terrace (the old Pizza Pavillion) and of course the Odyssey Restaurant.

And I still have those "old" plastic tickets! With your picture on the back!

 

[OliveMcFly]

I remember riding Horizons with my brothers and the ending they picked dominated and I never got the ending I picked. I also loved to ride World of Motion because the cars went upstairs and outside. I loved the old Image Works. I remember I always wanted to ride the elevator and take the stairs, but mommy always yelled at me. When we were there last August we noticed the upstairs and and that's when all this came back.
I am curious to know more about the Odyssy Restuarant. I guess it's used for private affairs now, but I would love to see some interior pics from the olden days, as well as interior from Horizons and World of Motion. I wanna see the loading and unloading areas.

 

[O'Malley]

Hi folks,

New to this forum, but a long time Disney fan! We just came back from 2 weeks at Disney, and as usual, enjoyed every minute of it!

On the topic of old Epcot memories, one of my favorites was the double decker bus that you could actually RIDE in. It always circled the World Showcase, making three stops. It was wonderful to sit on the second story of the bus and watch the countries slowly roll by. But as the years went by, the bus became a favorite, and it was always packed. With ever increasing crowds around the Showcase, the driver was always having to toot his horn to get people out of the way. It was then relegated to carting Disney characters around for meet and greets.

The Odyssey Restaurant closed so long ago, I'm still amazed that Disney hasn't done anything with it.

The World Showcase used to open at 9:00 am. I remember once when we arrived at the park before 9:00 am, waited to get in, then walked straight to the back of the World Showcase. We stood in front of Italy, and I had to do the customary Clark Griswald line "First ones here!" I shot some unforgettable videotape of an empty World Showcase on a beautiful sunny day. For about the first 15 minutes, the stores were vacant, the Disney cast members were at their posts inside the stores, and it was just incredibly peaceful. I videotaped Morroco, Japan, America, and finally Italy. Just then, a double decker bus came up loaded with Disney characters, music blaring, and my wife and I were the ONLY ones around. I videotaped the bus, but I was surprised when the bus stopped right next to us. All the characters disembarked, dancing and clapping to the music. The big ol' bear from Jungle Book did a waltz with my wife. Mickey and Minnie also did a waltz together (probably because there was no one else to dance with). The characters were great, but it was a bit uncomfortable after about 30 seconds because no one else was around! The characters kept waving at my camera. Luckily, two families with two children came running up, and the characters turned their attention towards them.

I also recall discovering Norway between our trips in 1987 and 1989. We thought it was just another great looking pavillion, but were delighted to find the Maelstrom inside. With our first ride, we expected a Norwegian style version of the Mexico boat ride, but were delighted when we we thrown backwards over the falls. We rode it at least 7 times in a row. At that time, nearly everyone had to sit through the movie at the end. The exit doors were always closed. After about our 5th time through, we noticed a couple people simply walk out those doors before the movie started. We were so naive, we thought we would get in trouble or something for getting out of our seats and leaving before the movie started! As the years went by, the ride was more crowded (especially after Test Track opened in 1999), and lines were long. Of course, now there's only a handful of people that watch the movie, while everyone else bypasses through the open exit doors.

We also greatly miss the original Jouney Into Imagination. We were very disappointed with version 2 last year, and even more disappointed with version 3. Poor Figment....

I also loved the old GM World Of Motion ride. My father is a retired GM exec, and we always went up into the lounge area. Tremendous view from there, especially of the monorail and the Epcot ball. The view was later ruined with Test Track's huge superstructure, so we turned our attention towards the demolition of Horizons (also one of our favorites).

The old Communicores were wonderful. I remember around 1990 we sat through a show about the Disney computer system. It had a little sparkle of light and a blonde woman as hosts (the sparkle of light was called "IO". Very boring, but since we were both in the computer field, we were intrigued by the Unisys platform that Disney had at that time.

Call me old fashioned, but I still like Spaceship Earth without the giant "2000" on the side, or the current "Epcot" wording. I also miss the old Spaceship Earth ride, before they added all the verbal warnings, TV screens demonstrating how your car will rotate, etc. I also remember the line of video phones waiting for you after the ride the over (currently where the Global Neighborhood is now). This was the only way you could book lunch or dinner reservations around the World Showcase at that time. I remember how strange it was to talk to a real live person on the phone, and having their face right in front of you on a video screen. Seems trivial now, but in 1987, we felt like we had to comb our hair or something before making reservations over a live video phone!

Epcot is still my favorite park. I have a VERY thick book from 1982 about EPCOT, as well as an Epcot souvenir book from around 1980. It contains artists drawings of all the pavillions (and some that were never built).

 

[O'Malley]

By the way, a few tidbits about the GM ride. My father was invited to the grand opening of the World Of Motion (still have old Super 8 film of that), and I remember he ranted and raved about how "cool" it was to ride.

My wife and I rode it for the first time in 1987. My father took us up into the GM lounge (which was much more extravegent in the 80's), and when we were ready to leave, a GM rep took us to an elevator, and when we came out to get on the ride, it was on the LEFT side of the loading platform. The old World Of Motion used the standard moving walkway to load guests from the right hand side of the side, so when we were ready to get on from the left side, they actually stopped the ride so we could get in a car! I remember lines of people staring at us like we were special guests of Eisner or something. It was embarrassing, and we only did that a couple more times in the next few years (we preferred to stand in line).

Also, when Test Track first opened, we used to come down the lounge elevator and would be loaded from the LEFT side of the platform, in our own car. Because of the popularity of Test Track, and the number of GM employees whose kids have now discovered "the ultimate FastPass" being the GM lounge bypass, they changed the loading so now GM guests are dumped into the queue line just after the pre-show area.

 

[OliveMcFly]

The book you have sounds very cool. Maybe you can share some of the unbuilt rides with us? :kiss: I love hearing things like that. If any one is interested in cool sites about vintage Disney check out Widen Your World - Forgotten Disney - This is also a interesting site Walt Disney World Blues. Have Fun!

 

[cymbaldiva]

Originally posted by BwanaBob
The Stargate Restaurant (now Electric Umbrella), Beverage Base (behind Electric Umbrella),Sunrise Terrace (the old Pizza Pavillion) and of course the Odyssey Restaurant.

And I still have those "old" plastic tickets! With your picture on the back!

Do you remember any details about the Odyssey?

My 1st visit to EPCOT was in 94 and it was closed... I would really enjoy any info on the place.

 

[durhay]

I've been scanning pages from that Epcot book recently, as well as old guidebooks. I even have the receipt - bought on 1/5/83 for $2.00 at Centorium. I'll put a few up, if there is room - I'm scanning at high res for preservation. My favorite part of the book is at the end, which describes the future world showcase pavilions. Israel, Equatorial Africa (with a ride hosted by Alex Haley), Spain, and More Canada. Okay, I'm kidding about the last one.

 

[durhay]

Various Epcot memories

Speaking of food memories, I distinctly remember on my first trip watching a family next to us consume 5-6 of those pizzas at Stargate. I remember the dad taking a pizza, folding it over twice, and eating it in two bites. And on a completely different topic, I remember the first or second trip there was a cold snap and all the flowers died from frost. In all the planters around Epcot they had these metal signs that said "Jack Frost paid us a visit" etc. etc. And who could forget those early character costumes with the rainbow stripes ala Buck Rodgers? I wish I could.

 

[MGMBoy]

Hmmm...Warm fuzzies...I remember first spinning backward on SSE and looking up at the space station-esque scene before backing down through "Tomorrow's Child" (BTW, The set-up was geomatric screens with varying color fields and they had outlines of the children running around and playing.

Old UoE (before they added that incessant, obnoxious Ellen voice-over)

WoM was one of the most classic moments ever (repetitive song aside). I still remember how, near the end, you'd go by a window and they had a special effect that put you in a light cycle (trick ala hitch-hiking ghosts).

Then there was Horizons. I have the script from that attraction memorized. Probably my favorite attraction ever. I could go on for pages about that ride.

That reminds me...I think I may have video of at least a few of those attractions. I'll try to find them and capture them for you guys. I'll keep you posted. TTFN.