What is left of EPCOT Center?

BoarderPhreak

BoarderPhreak

Well-Known Member
This scene, outside of the France pavilion. I've made it almost a mission to photograph it on every visit, LOL.

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The aforementioned "air conditioned hallway" of Communicore:

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One of the remaining murals by the entrance, home of Daisy:

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Some lights in front of ol' Communicore:

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The trains in Germany (not long for this world if Brazil moves in):

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The Fountain of Nations, coming to a dumpster near you...

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Another one of the last murals left, this one in front of SSE:

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This popcorn joint...

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Balloons in The Land remain largely untouched:

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The Horizons planter in front of MS:

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tirian

tirian

Well-Known Member
milliebubbles said:
Thank you! I haven't seen those lights in years and forgot they are a thing. Will certainly look for all of this. Thank you so much!!!
Click to expand...

I realize it’s silly to insist you visit an air-conditioned hallway, but when you stand in there and look out the soaring glass windows toward the Imagination and Land pavilions in FW West, you get an idea of how massive and inspiring EPCOT Center felt. The tall ceilings, glass walls, manicured gardens, ponds, and pavilions jutting out the ground combined into an emotional response that was greater than the sum of its parts. The view from the hallway makes a big difference.

This is the same approach Apple has been applying to its newest stores. If you’ve been in the one in Chicago, giant glass walls frame a riverfront view, and the real trees inside soften the cold tech. Apple acts as if their aesthetic is unique, but WDI did it in 1982.
 
tirian

tirian

Well-Known Member
BoarderPhreak said:
This scene, outside of the France pavilion. I've made it almost a mission to photograph it on every visit, LOL.

i.php


The aforementioned "air conditioned hallway" of Communicore:

i.php


One of the remaining murals by the entrance, home of Daisy:

i.php


Some lights in front of ol' Communicore:

i.php


The trains in Germany (not long for this world if Brazil moves in):

i.php


The Fountain of Nations, coming to a dumpster near you...

i.php


Another one of the last murals left, this one in front of SSE:

i.php


This popcorn joint...

i.php
Click to expand...
Believe it or not, Daisy’s mural is relatively new! But it is a reprint of the original EPCOT Center concept art, and therefore technically part of its past.
 
Figments Friend

Figments Friend

Well-Known Member
BoarderPhreak said:
One of the remaining murals by the entrance, home of Daisy:

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Balloons in The Land remain largely untouched:

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Click to expand...

A couple of observations -

These two items mentioned above were not present during EPCOT Center's early period and are both fairly recent additions.
Both were added in roughly the mid 2000s, so they don't make 'the list' in some respects.
They DO however both harken back to that early EPCOT Center period, but neither of them are bonified exsisting relics of that Park's history.

The 'mural' used for a photo backdrop in the entrance plaza is a modern printed graphic image made to look 'retro'.
It was artistically inspired by the design used for the early EPCOT Center Commemorative Ticket stubs, from 1981.
Shown here -

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The photo backdrop was added back in 2008 or 2009.....cannot recall the exact year.
But it is a recent addition and not 'original'.

The Land's hot air balloons , as they appear today, are also not 'original' ones from years prior.
The originals were removed, repainted and resigned during the Pavilions' refresh back between 2004 and 2005.
They were painted in the shops over at Hollywood Studios during the time the Pavilion was having a general interior revamp done.
When they were re-installed, they became non-moving.
The original set used to slowly move up and down.

Pair of photos showing the differences :

1982 original moving balloons -
Gawd, i SO miss that amazing ceiling mural !

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Today's version of the hot air balloons in The Land -

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BoarderPhreak

BoarderPhreak

Well-Known Member
Figments Friend said:
...The photo backdrop was added back in 2008 or 2009.....cannot recall the exact year.
But it is a recent addition and not 'original'.

The Land's hot air balloons , as they appear today, are also not 'original' ones from years prior...
Click to expand...
I hadn't noticed the front mural (or Daisy for that matter) before, so yeah... I can believe it's not original.

As for The Land, yes. Lots of things changed (including the balloons) when it was "renovated." It brightened things up, but it was a real loss, IMO.
 
HauntedPirate

HauntedPirate

Park nostalgist
Premium Member
BoarderPhreak said:
I hadn't noticed the front mural (or Daisy for that matter) before, so yeah... I can believe it's not original.

As for The Land, yes. Lots of things changed (including the balloons) when it was "renovated." It brightened things up, but it was a real loss, IMO.
Click to expand...

I believe I took a photo of it years ago, before it became a meet and greet backdrop. If memory serves (and many times it doesn't these days), I took it at night as we were walking out of the park.
 
The Empress Lilly

The Empress Lilly

Well-Known Member
tirian said:
I realize it’s silly to insist you visit an air-conditioned hallway, but when you stand in there and look out the soaring glass windows toward the Imagination and Land pavilions in FW West, you get an idea of how massive and inspiring EPCOT Center felt. The tall ceilings, glass walls, manicured gardens, ponds, and pavilions jutting out the ground combined into an emotional response that was greater than the sum of its parts. The view from the hallway makes a big difference.

This is the same approach Apple has been applying to its newest stores. If you’ve been in the one in Chicago, giant glass walls frame a riverfront view, and the real trees inside soften the cold tech. Apple acts as if their aesthetic is unique, but WDI did it in 1982.
Click to expand...
Silly?

I took a trip to EPCOT two weeks ago just to say goodbye to CommuniCore. I spend one whole day, my last day, swooning over the architecture. Just swooning over CC West, that is. Seeing it one last time from every angle, inside and out. I waited for an empty moment to make my last walk through the hallway, because I'm bad at goodbyes and knew how teary-eyed I'd be. :'(
 
Figments Friend

Figments Friend

Well-Known Member
The Empress Lilly said:
The Symbiosis carpets in The Land can be visited right now during Food&Swine Festival.
Click to expand...

Whoa!
Really...??
😲

Fantastic!!!
I regretted not being able to get some good quality photos of those gorgeous carpeted walls, but now I have my chance!
I'm in town in about two weeks, and will definitely be stopping in.
Thank you for mentioning this, and bringing it to my attention!
:)

-
 
TalkingHead

TalkingHead

Well-Known Member
I recall the area between the bus stop and the front gate being vintage. Are there restrooms over there that play EPCOT background music?
 

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