Welcome back to 40 Days to 40 Years! Continue our stroll down memory lane as Diane helps us countdown to EPCOT’s 40th Anniversary by remembering EPCOT 1996.
EPCOT 1996
To all who come to this place of joy, hope and
friendship—welcome. EPCOT is inspired by Walt Disney’s creative vision.
Here, human achievements are celebrated through imagination, wonders of
enterprise and concepts of a future that promises new and exciting
benefits for all. May EPCOT Center entertain, inform and inspire and
above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man’s
ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere in the
world.
—E. Cardon Walker, ~ Disney’s Chairman and CEO ~ March 1, 1982
Even though not to much happened in this year one big thing did at Universe of Energy! In 1996 the Façade at Universe of Energy was updated to feature a brighter rainbow palette.
Ellen’s Energy Adventure
Also in 1996, The Universe of Energy was changed to Ellen’s Energy Adventure.
The long-running show starred Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Nye ‘The Science Guy,’ Alex Trebek, Johnny Gilbert, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Fittingly, it dealt with energy, how energy is produced, the history of energy production, and the search for new energy resources.
In particular it focused on the origins of fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal and natural gas. Also, it mentioned solar and hydroelectric power. This was the longest-running version of the ride to date.
EPCOT continues to be one of my favorite places to visit. I could walk around for hours just looking at everything. I always ride Spaceship Earth and love the new interactive screens in each car. The pictures are hilarious at the end. Another favorite of mine is Figment. I love how funny and adorable he is! As a result, I usually buy something Figment when I’m done with his attraction. One of the most enjoyable things for me is walking around World Showcase and getting to know a little about each country and their culture. Since, 1996 was not a big year for goings on at EPCOT, I have included some interesting tid-bits from Walt about his dream of Epcot. 😉
Some Interesting Facts About EPCOT
While Walt Disney was generating new ideas for Disneyland Park in California, he thought about building an International Street. That idea grew to become the concept behind the World Showcase area in EPCOT theme park at Walt Disney World in Florida. In the film, The “Florida Project” an ebullient Walt explains the concept of EPCOT—a full-scale city of the future where people would live, work, and play in comfort. An international shopping district
would re-create scenes from around the world, and American industry would have a showcase for the latest technologies. Primarily, Walt was interested what we could do today and tomorrow, not yesterday.
“EPCOT” rapidly became one of Walt’s favorite words. And the most prominent project for his company. It was an acronym he and the Imagineers coined from the phrase “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow” as they worked on their city of the future. Though Walt was eager to show it to the public, when he took part in a November 15, 1965 press conference to announce Walt Disney World, EPCOT wasn’t mentioned. However, it was very much on his mind.
Facts Courtesy of D23!!!
Thank you Diane and D23 (The Official Disney Fan Club)!
