Shortly after opening the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney began to envision another theme park. This vision eventually became Epcot Center. The name Epcot is actually an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. The project was also called Progress City. Walt’s original vision for the park can be seen in its name.

Epcot was originally planned to have housing facilities, an industrial park and its own airport. The plan called for room for 20,000 residents. The city would be designed in the shape of a circle. The residential areas would be on the perimeter with the commercial areas toward the center. After the death of Walt Disney, the plan for the park changed.

Epcot is dedicated to the cultures of the world and innovation in technology. This is the most educational of all Disney’s theme parks. There are two main sections of the park: Future World and the World Showcase. Visitors experience international cultures in the World Showcase. In Future World, the focus is on changing technology and the innovations of the future.

Future World at Epcot Center

Spaceship Earth is the most recognized ride at Epcot. This attraction is a large sphere, about 18 stories tall. It’s located at the gateway to Future World. This is a dark ride. It explores the history of communication. The future of technology and communication is also shown in this exhibit.

Mission space is another great attraction in the park. This ride simulates training for our space program. The guests are trainees getting ready for a mission to Mars. The highlight of this ride is the gravity simulator. This lets you experience the feeling of blasting off in a rocket to Mars.

The Living Seas is an enormous indoor aquarium. It is set up to look like a deep sea research station. Guests learn about our seas and the life in our oceans. This exhibit is dedicated to the preservation of oceans. Kids will learn the importance of the oceans to our planet.

World Showcase at Epcot Center

The World Showcase consists of eleven different pavilions. Each pavilion represents a different nation: China, USA, UK, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Norway France, Japan and Morocco. Each pavilion is sponsored by the country it represents. The country provides funding for the exhibit.

In each country, you will see employees dressed in clothing from that nation. There are shows that include the music and dance of each country. You can walk from country to country around the world. This is a great way for kids to be exposed to other cultures.

In each area, there are shops and restaurants. The shops have items and souvenirs for sale. These are related to the country you are visiting. The restaurants don’t all have international cuisine, but a few do. There is alcohol and beer available that is imported from the country, such as German beers. This is the only Disney Park that does serve alcohol.