EPCOT

Epcot, part of the very popular family vacation destination, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, opened on October 1, 1982.

The name Epcot derives from the acronym EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow), originally intended by founder Walt Disney to be a utopian city of the future. Unfortunately, Walt died before construction began. In the spirit of Walt's vision, the Walt Disney Company created the park as a way to highlight the technologies and visions of the future in Tomorrowland, to educate and inspire us to conserve our earthly resources in The Land, and to embrace other cultures in the World Showcase.

The Epcot theme park icon, Spaceship Earth, looking like a giant golf ball rising high above the horizon, welcomes you as you walk through the Park's main entrance.
The park consists of two sections: Future World filled with rides and attractions to delight all ages; and World Showcase, a collective of Pavilions where you'll find shops, attractions and restaurants that represent the culture and cuisine of 11 countries.

At the Kidcot stations, kids can create free one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Every evening Epcot presents "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth"... an amazing fireworks and light show.

Blogs from Epcot enthusiasts or family travel blogs will give you many insights to make the most of your visit.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “EPCOT”

• Italian doorway

  
  The Backside of Water — Authority: 125
  Next time you are wandering around the Italy pavilion spend a couple extra minutes at the Doge Palace (modeled after the real deal in Venice), the architecture and details are terrific. Look at the door, columns, light, etc. here on the back entrance alone...
  8 hours ago

• Video Walkthrough of Mobile Magic App

  
  Disney Parks Blog — Authority: 620
  We just announced that our first official Disney Parks mobile application is live and shared the list of phones the app is currently available on. Now, we have a video walkthrough. Let us know what you think. As we mentioned, Verizon Wireless customers can download the application for $9.99 for 180 days. Just ...
  8 hours ago

• Epcots Lights of Winter retired from Disney World holiday lineup

  
  Theme Park Rangers — Authority: 502
  Walt Disney World officially announced late Wednesday it is retiring the Lights of Winter holiday arches at Epcot. Guests, passholders and cast members were so upset they generated more than 46 pages of complaints on a fan forum. Read about...
  19 hours ago

• “Lights of Winter” at Epcot Officially Retired

  
  WDW News Today — Authority: 127
  The popular “Lights of Winter” holiday display at Epcot will not be returning this year. The Disney Parks twitter had the following to say about the change: The Lights of Winter at Epcot has been enjoyed for years. But (technology) to operate the lights is obsolete, prompting us to retire the lights. To ...
  1 day ago

• Disney officially retires the Lights of Winter holiday archway at Epcot

  
  Orlando Attractions Magazine Blog — Authority: 472
  With Christmas decorations beginning to show up all over Walt Disney World, fans have wondered when the popular Lights of Winter archways linking Epcot’s Future World and the World Showcase would be installed. The answer: they won’t. Today Disney announced that the Lights of Winter have officially been retired: ...
  1 day ago

• “Lights of Winter” no longer Holiday offering at Epcot

  
  WDW Daily News — Authority: 153
  It appears that one of Epcot’s most visible attractions during the holiday season, the “Lights of Winter” will not be visible for the 2009 season. DisneyParks released the following statement on their twitter page: Note: The Lights of Winter at Epcot has been enjoyed for years. But tech to operate the ...
  1 day ago

• Mobile Magic – First Disney Parks Mobile App Now Available

  
  Disney Parks Blog — Authority: 620
  It’s here. Our first official Disney Parks mobile application is now available and you’re invited to check it out. Trying Mobile Magic is simple. Verizon Wireless customers can download the application for $9.99 for 180 days.   Just go to the Media Center to “Browse & Download,” then “Get New ...
  1 day ago

• Samantha Brown visits Disney World again

  
  Theme Park Rangers — Authority: 502
  Travel Channel darling Samantha Brown was at Disney World last week to film a special. Where was she spotted? Find out at A Mom and The Mouse on TheDailyDisney.com.
  1 day ago

• Sum of all Thrills – Epcot – Walt Disney World Resort

  
  WDW Daily News — Authority: 153
  SUM OF ALL THRILLS: Epcot guests Mason Nance, 11, and Steve Nance, of Memphis, Tenn., experience the new Sum of all Thrills ride, Oct. 15, 2009, at Innoventions East in Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort. This interactive experience, presented by the Raytheon Company, lets guests custom-design their own thrill ride ...
  2 days ago

• Epcot: Flower & Garden Festival gets earlier start

  
  WDW Daily News — Authority: 153
  Next year’s Epcot Flower & Garden Festival will see its earliest start ever. The festival will kick off March 3, 2010 –  two weeks earlier than the 2009 edition. There’s colorful reasoning for the move. “The advantage of starting earlier is that we’ll be able to feature more brilliant color than ...
  2 days ago

• Desktop: Staring at the ceiling...

  
  The Backside of Water — Authority: 125
  ...And staring at the ceiling for good reason I might add! The Temple of Heaven in China is beautiful inside and out, look up as you enter for this masterpiece of art and architecture...
  2 days ago

• Reflection of China

  
  Disney Parks Blog — Authority: 620
  In 2001, I embarked on a personal “art” project within World Showcase at Epcot . I visited various countries and tried to capture the essence of their cultures through their architecture. This image is part of that personal project, and is really a rather “tongue-in-cheek” look at China. Remember the old ...
  3 days ago

• Epcot: Plan for an earlier Flower & Garden Festival

  
  Theme Park Rangers — Authority: 502
  Disney World has announced an early starting date for the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival: March 3, 2010. More details at our sister blog, The Daily Disney. (Preview: More butterflies.)
  3 days ago

• Donkey cart

  
  The Backside of Water — Authority: 125
  This little donkey and colorful cart can be found near Italy. I believe they sell refreshments from it when the weather permits, however they havent been serving when Ive been around.
  3 days ago

• Epcot Bridge Opening Up (VIDEO)

  
  WDW Daily News — Authority: 153
  Here is video of the Bridge in the World Showcase opeing up and allowing the inferno barges to enter in the World Showcase Lagoon.
  5 days ago

• Brandon Struve’s 11/6/09 WDW Photo Report

  
  WDW News Today — Authority: 127
  WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve was on a mission Friday: to take as many newsworthy photos in one day as humanly possible. Did Brandon succeed in his mission? Let’s find out: Welcome to the place “Where Dreams Come True” Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is coming to the Magic Kingdom The Main ...
  5 days ago

• Travel Channel’s Andrew Zimmern: Mickey Melons and Haggis

  
  The DIS Unplugged Disney Blog — Authority: 112
  The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival not only has country kiosks with their wide samplings of dishes, but the festival also brings in dozens of visiting chefs and speakers including many celebrity chefs and television personalities.  October 30th and 31st, Travel Channel Personality Andrew Zimmern attended ...
  6 days ago

• Disney reports eight injuries in 3rd quarter; all other parks report none

  
  Tourism Central Florida — Authority: 423
  Walt Disney World reported eight guest injuries during the third quarter of the year, according to updated state filings, most of which occurred following rides on various thrill attractions. But for the second quarter in a row, none of the...
  1 week ago

• New monorail train goes into service at Disney World

  
  Tourism Central Florida — Authority: 423
  Monorail Teal, the “new” train built by Walt Disney World using the undamaged remains of two trains that collided this summer, is officially in service. “Teal is now up and running,” Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said this morning. More here.
  1 week ago

• Streetmosphere performers at France Pavilion (VIDEO)

  
  WDW Daily News — Authority: 153
  Here are some Streetmosphere performers at the France Pavilion during Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival. This was filmed by my 10 year old daughter
  1 week ago

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