What was you favorite original Epcot pavilion and why?

[zifster]

I put the Land because of the Kitchen Kabaret. I mean JII and the Land have always fought for #1 in my book, I loved them both so much.

LOL. No comment. :hammer:

 

[montyz81]

I would say my favorite ride was Spaceship Earth presented by Bell Systems. I didn't see that on the list. It was my first ride ever at Epcot in March of 1983. I didn't ride the ATT version until Jeremy Irons. So where it says presented by ATT that could mean Walter Cronkite or Jeremy Irons.

 

[SewIn2Disney]

Why no love for Wonders of Life? I know it's not an "original" pavilion per se, but it has been there from early on. It was most definitely my favorite pavilion---and I still love visiting it during special events!
I could have sat in Cranium Command all day....

 

[Krack]

I would say my favorite ride was Spaceship Earth presented by Bell Systems. I didn't see that on the list. It was my first ride ever at Epcot in March of 1983. I didn't ride the ATT version until Jeremy Irons. So where it says presented by ATT that could mean Walter Cronkite or Jeremy Irons.

As far as I know (remember), nothing was different. The Cronkite version was the Cronkite version - it's not like anything changed other than the sponsorship.

 

[Krack]

I think that the most interesting thing about this thread is that if a poll was taking the first year the park was open, the Universe of Energy might have been the most popular - yet, today it gets 0 votes out of 67. At the time, those dinosaurs were ground breaking - my dad, who was mid-30s at the time, thought the Universe of Energy was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

That said, I'm not surprised Horizons and JII are at the top - I voted for Horizons.

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

Seriously, why is CommuniCore not on the list? That's really lame.

Wow still no one liked Universe of Energy yet.

The poll isn't about whether you liked a pavilion or not, it's which one was your favorite. I absolutely loved the original Universe of Energy, for the Kinetic Mosaic, the trippy finale, the music, and the impressive ride system. But there were A LOT of awesome Future World pavilions to choose from as your favorite (including CommuniCore :fork.

 

[Evil Genius]

To me, nothing SAYS classic EPCOT Center more than Journey Into Imagination! As a boy this attraction and pavillion as a whole simply spoke to me! Without sounding corny, it really did capture imagination and for years (and to this day) I can sing the original song word for word. It represented for me everything Disney and EPCOT was about...technology...dreaming...imagining...sheer brilliance.

Second to JII only by a hair would be Spaceship Earth. To me these two attractions are the quintessential EPCOT Center!

 

[Chrononymous]

So many good answers and perspectives.

my vote goes with Imagination, of course.
It was the first ride I ever encountered in EPCOT, and come to think of it...probably my very first Disney ride ever.
But what made it so special was the creativity and brilliance and imagination that went into it's heart.

The great music, the storyline that had a purpose, the puzzling technology,(even as a 13 year old I was determined to figure out how the dreamfinder ship scene worked!) the gorgeous and wondrous and sometimes scary effects, even the mural painted outside the queue.

But to have to pick one, I can't discount the awesome memories I have of the other pavillions as well!

I adored World of Motion. The goofy sarcasm of the narration and the humourous scenes of transportation going wrong seemed absolutely hilarious to me. The whole ride made me smile.

The Land made me feel like I learned something. Listen to the Land was a great and informative peek into experimental farming...which is a subject that was not easy to get a hands on expereince with.
and I loved loved loved Kitchen Kaberet! I mean they deliberately made an old timey vaudville show which never seemed outdated to me (even if the idea of food groups became so later)

Horizons had the ultimate feel good experience of hope for the future. The brilliant idea of freedom to explore, expand, dream and freedom of choice in choosing your own ending made it the best and most optimistic futuristic show I have ever seen.

Spaceship Earth was always so Epic. I mean truly, a wonderful and serious look at out ability to communicate through the ages, with detailed historical scenes that felt like you could actually reach out and touch the past...what's not to Love?

The Living Seas...though I remember admiring the tank better in the Coral Reef restaurant... was equally intriguing.

And even Energy had it's awesome upbeat music, the coolest preshow...and a fond memory of my spouse to be, falling asleep during it, and waking up with a genius idea for a solution to our nation's fuel troubles.

Throw into this mix the Wonders of Life, simply for the colorful pavillion and Cranium Command being one of the most entertaining shows ever...and there isn't a single pavillion that I don't miss in it's original state.

 

[JWG]

I said SSE, but not really the original. What most people think is the original (v2) with Cronkite. That was my favorite. Not the Perrin (sp?) version.

Followed by:
2) Imagination 1.0
3) Horizons
4) World of Motion
5) The Land 1.0
6) The Living Seas
7) Universe of Energy 1.0
8) Wonders of Life

I never liked most of Wonders of Life, but Cranium Command will be missed. Everything else was 'meh. Even Body Wars after 5 years felt like nothing more than a paint mixer. The last few times we rode it there about 4 of us in the simulator.

I'd take Imaginatoin 1.0 and Horizons back as they were or similar. The others I'm good with just a decent replacement. No, I don't think The Living Seas now no longer showing you the massive aquarium but 3D video projection was an improvement.

 

[kaos]

I also need to interject once again, The Living Seas was not an original EPCOT pavillion either. It was a phase 3 addition.

SO, staying true to poll, I selected WoM over Horizons (which is my all-time missed and favorite attraction).

Opening day attractions:
SpaceShip Earth
Communicore East
Communicore West
The Land
Journey into Imagination
World of Motion
Universe of Energy

Phase 2:
Horizons

Phase 3:
Living Seas
Wonders of Life (although it opened late in Phase 3, after WS additions)

Just saying... had the poll been for "favorite pavilion as originaly presented", Horizons gets my vote, no questions asked...

So, for future sake of polls, can we make sure that polling information is accurate prior to posting the poll? Now I kinda feel weird and left out that I voted WoM over Horizons, trying to keep the spirit of the poll and all...

 

[Evil Genius]

I also need to interject once again, The Living Seas was not an original EPCOT pavillion either. It was a phase 3 addition.

SO, staying true to poll, I selected WoM over Horizons (which is my all-time missed and favorite attraction).

Opening day attractions:
SpaceShip Earth
Communicore East
Communicore West
The Land
Journey into Imagination
World of Motion
Universe of Energy

Phase 2:
Horizons

Phase 3:
Living Seas
Wonders of Life (although it opened late in Phase 3, after WS additions)

Just saying... had the poll been for "favorite pavilion as originaly presented", Horizons gets my vote, no questions asked...

So, for future sake of polls, can we make sure that polling information is accurate prior to posting the poll? Now I kinda feel weird and left out that I voted WoM over Horizons, trying to keep the spirit of the poll and all...

Not to be nit pickey...but Journey into Imagination wasn't an opening day attraction:

EPCOT Center opening October 1, 1982

Journey into Imagination opening March 5, 1983

I haven't checked on the others yet. I just know JII off the top of my head.

 

[wolf359]

I think it seemed pretty clear based on the poll choices and the original poster's comment that he was defining "original" as "original version" not limited to what was present opening day only.

If your misunderstanding bothers you that much, you could always start your own poll and use whatever definition of "original" that suits you best...

 

[kaos]

Not to be nit pickey...but Journey into Imagination wasn't an opening day attraction:

EPCOT Center opening October 1, 1982

Journey into Imagination opening March 5, 1983

The pavillion was opened as an opening day attraction- and the reason for the delay of the ride portion was that the turntable needed to be re-inforced. The rainbow tube, Dreamfinder/Figment character, and upside-down waterfalls and jumping fountains were all operating. My grandparents went for the SECOND day that the park was "officially" open, and we were there that Christmas. Plenty of Figment souveniers for sale, but none of us knew who Figment was yet... But I've got some great faded photos of me in that rainbow light tunnel...

I think it seemed pretty clear based on the poll choices and the original poster's comment that he was defining "original" as "original version" not limited to what was present opening day only.
If your misunderstanding bothers you that much, you could always start your own poll and use whatever definition of "original" that suits you best...

No, I understand the English language pretty well, and if the OP was asking about attractions in original form and not "Original EPCOT pavillion", then there should have been a clear and distinct query from the OP, like "Which EPCOT pavillion is your favorite as originally presented" Also, Mission:Space was not placed inside a pavillion or have a pavillion changed, it's pavillion was built on the site of a demolished pavillion... Just to get nit picky. :hammer:

 

[Evil Genius]

No, I understand the English language pretty well, and if the OP was asking about attractions in original form and not "Original EPCOT pavillion", then there should have been a clear and distinct query from the OP, like "Which EPCOT pavillion is your favorite as originally presented" Also, Mission:Space was not placed inside a pavillion or have a pavillion changed, it's pavillion was built on the site of a demolished pavillion... Just to get nit picky. :hammer:

Regardless it's difficult to debate that all the pavillions listed in the poll aren't "EPCOT Center" originals. All of them we part of EC in its original incarnation.

 

[marni1971]

Although it wasn`t one of the originals, Horizons. Hands down.

 

[marni1971]

As far as I know (remember), nothing was different. The Cronkite version was the Cronkite version - it's not like anything changed other than the sponsorship.

1 or 2 new scenes were added from Perrin to Cronkite (boys room apparently is one) plus the descent visuals were updated and the audio changed.

 

[marni1971]

The pavillion was opened as an opening day attraction- and the reason for the delay of the ride portion was that the turntable needed to be re-inforced.

Indeed, JII the pavilion opened October 1982. The ride opened late due to more than the turntable issues. There were a whole load of ride control related issues. It was the Test Track of its day.

Indeed, on opening day the ride was missing a whole train of ride vehicles. Load was empty, unload had a sign saying `coming soon`.

 

[Grizzly Hall 71]

Finally someone LIKED Universe Of Energy lol.

 

[Krack]

1 or 2 new scenes were added from Perrin to Cronkite (boys room apparently is one) plus the descent visuals were updated and the audio changed.

Wow, I never even realized there was a pre-Cronkite version. I definitely rode it (we had family vacations to WDW in '83 and '85), but I would have been 10 years old when AT&T took over sponsorship, and I don't remember the attraction without Cronkite.

You learn something every day!

 

[yankspy]

Seriously, why is CommuniCore not on the list? That's really lame.



The poll isn't about whether you liked a pavilion or not, it's which one was your favorite. I absolutely loved the original Universe of Energy, for the Kinetic Mosaic, the trippy finale, the music, and the impressive ride system. But there were A LOT of awesome Future World pavilions to choose from as your favorite (including CommuniCore :fork.

I was wondering the same thing. That may have very well been my favorite now that I think about it.