Welcome (or welcome back) to 40 Days to 40 Years! Take a stroll down memory lane as Disney fans from across the web come together to countdown to Epcot’s 40th Anniversary. Each day, we bring you a new year and another memorable Disney moment. Today, Ami is taking our community back to EPCOT 1989.
EPCOT 1989
“1989- Community Of Tomorrow”
EPCOT Center 1989. Were these the glory days?
We often gripe when our favorite things change. Somehow, we get cozy-comfy and fall in love with our Communicores and SMRT-1’s. And then our hearts ache when they go away. We bury our feet in the ground, staunchly trying to not like the “Innoventions” of the world as much as they deserve. Despite the fact that in order to truly appreciate Epcot, {and when I say Epcot of course what I really mean is Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow Center} then change has to be not only expected but also wholeheartedly embraced.
Now, before you grumble and groan and go off to read a different blog that won’t tout the inevitability of change, give me just a teensy moment of your precious time. After all, you must love EPCOT Center as much as I do! You see, of all Walt Disney’s dreams and aspirations, this was the summation of what he visualized for our future!
Progress City
This is progress: Progress City. Or at least a theme park version of it, because quite frankly, nobody since Walt himself has had the courage to pursue his dreams. In the end, we find that we do love Innoventions. But we still recall fondly the bygone days of Communicore. With a little faith, trust and pixie dust, we keep moving forward.
In my opinion, 1989 was the first year EPCOT Center exploded into it’s full potential. I loved Epcot from the start but I didn’t have the full vision yet. The Park seemed made for me. Ok, that last statement was a bit egotistical. But in all honesty, considering my youth induced center-of-all-itivness in 1989, I’m surprised my sovereignty was limited only to EPCOT Center.
Wonders of Life Pavilion
My inquisitive side {read: nerdy} loved exploring the countries. However, I also loved discovering nifty things in the Communicore areas. Still, it took me by surprise how a place so complex in it’s scientific nature on one end and perfectly romantic and captivating on the other, could now be so exciting as well! They had just added the simulator ride, Body Wars. I had never experienced anything like it! It was a roller coaster. In a human body! How cool is that!?
Times and conditions
change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future.
~Walt Disney
This quote is the essence of Epcot. Our world and our technology are ever changing. Future World is there to astound us with glimpses of what that change is going to look like for us when fantasy becomes reality. In the greater scheme of things, Body Wars did not last very long. It served its purpose by entertaining and educating. Today, many other attractions have come in to entertain and educate and excite many more Disney guests about a future of possibilities!
One day, they too will make way for new attractions. I often wonder about all the children who come to Epcot everyday. Is there an Imagineer just waiting to ignite and create the next Epcot
masterpiece? I envision this child wandering through Innoventions. They might get a sense of the way things tick. Add in riding Journey Into Imagination and Ka-Boom! Future Imagineer! After all… it takes is one little spark!
40 Days to 40 Years
At the end of the day, we all gather around World Showcase Lagoon to watch IllumiNations -which has been around in one form or another since 1988. Our futures have been explored and our hearts and minds have been inspired by the day spent at Epcot! No matter which country or position we happen to be in, we stop and take a moment to celebrate the progress we’ve made. Perhaps we will continue to make as people. Together. All of us sharing in one world, and in one future. The progress we make is for us all. I have to believe those glory days are still in our future.