Epcot

Epcot is a theme park at Walt Disney World dedicated to humanity, culture and innovention.

History

Epcot is derrived from the acronym EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomarrow), a term coined by Walt Disney when he planned a utopian city of the future.

Epcot was originally named EPCOT Center. Currently, the Disney company does not promote the use of the acronym in reference to the Epcot theme park because it feels the term no longer applies. Originally, the theme park was to be the "center" of the futuristic community Walt Disney envisioned and was placed on the center of the property owned by the Disney company in Florida.

The original vision of EPCOT by Walt Disney was of a model community which would be a testbed for city planning and organisation.

The idea of EPCOT was instrumental in prompting the state of Florida to create the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a legislative mechanism which allowed the Walt Disney Company to exercise quasi-governmental powers over Walt Disney World.

Park Layout

The park is broken into two distinct sections, Future World and World Showcase.

Future World consists of a variety of pavilions that explore different aspects and applications of technology.
- Spaceship Earth, resemling a large gray golf ball is a ride focusing on human communication, starting with prehistoric man, continuing on to the Renaissance, and finishing with predictions for the future.
- Universe of Energy is a combination ride and show starring Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Nye, and Alex Trebek (of Jeopardy fame); the topic is, of course, energy: how humans use it, and also how it is misused.
- Wonders of Life is a pavilion that houses a number of separate mini-attractions: Body Wars is a motion simulator ride "through the human body", and there are a variety of other movies and shows, all focusing on the human body and how to keep it in good health.
- Test Track is a ride in which guests sit in six-seater cars and experience the wide range of testing that automobiles must go through before they are released onto the market: e.g., their car passes through extreme temperatures and over rough surfaces.
- The Living Seas is one of the largest (the largest?) indoor aquariums in the world. Guests can view many different animals, including manatees, as well as learn about the preservation of the Earth's oceans.
- The Land is a pavilion focusing on the Earth and human interaction with the natural environment. It contains many different attractions, including a boat ride through a working greenhouse and a couple of shows.
- Journey Into Your Imagination is a light-hearted ride starring Eric Idle and the Epcot mascot, Figment. Guests travel through a series of sensory-enhancing environments in an effort to "be more imaginative."
World Showcase is made up of eleven pavilions: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, The American Adventure, Japan, Morocco, France, The United Kingdom, and Canada. Each of these contains representative shops and restaurants and is staffed by citizens of these countries. Some also contain rides and shows.