EPCOT

Walt Disney World

An ever-changing international and discovery showplace covering 305 acres. Opened Oct. l, 1982. Future World — Theme areas focusing on discovery and scientific achievements: Innoventions, Spaceship Earth, Universe of Energy, The Land, Soarin’, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Test Track Presented by Chevrolet, Mission: SPACE. World Showcase — Eleven nations surrounding World Showcase Lagoon: Canada, United Kingdom, France, Japan, The American Adventure, Italy, Germany, China, Mexico, Morocco, Norway.

  • Main Details

  • Size 300 acres
  • Lands

    Future World
    World Showcase

  • Dedication Plaque

    "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." Dedicated by Card Walker, CEO of Walt Disney Productions October 24, 1982 

  • Events

  • Seasonal

    Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
    Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
    Holidays Around the World at Epcot
    Sounds Like Summer

  • runDisney

    Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend
    Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
    Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

  • Attractions

  • Rides

    Ellen's Energy Adventure
    Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
    Journey Into Imagination With Figment
    Living with the Land
    Mission: SPACE
    Soarin'
    Spaceship Earth
    Test Track Presented by Chevrolet
    The Seas with Nemo & Friends

  • Activities

    Advanced Training Lab
    Disney Phineas and Ferb: Agent P's World Showcase Adventure
    ImageWorks - The "What If" Labs
    Innoventions East
    Innoventions West
    Project Tomorrow: Inventing the Wonders of the Future

  • Character Meet and Greets

    Aladdin & Jasmine in Morocco
    Alice in the United Kingdom
    Belle in France
    Disney Pals at Legacy Plaza West
    Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot
    Donald Duck in Mexico
    Duffy the Disney Bear near Showcase Plaza
    Mary Poppins in the United Kingdom
    Mulan in China
    Princess Aurora in France
    Snow White in Germany
    Winnie the Pooh & Friends in the United Kingdom

  • Exhibits

    American Heritage Gallery
    Bijutsu-kan Gallery
    The Seas with Nemo and Friends
    Morocco Gallery of Arts and History
    House of the Whispering Willows
    Leave A Legacy
    Mexico Folk Art Gallery
    Stave Church Gallery

  • Entertainment

    B'net Al Houwariyate
    British Revolution
    Canadian Lumberjacks
    IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
    JAMMitors at Future World East
    Jeweled Dragon Acrobats
    Mariachi Cobre
    Matsuriza
    Sbandieratori Di Sansepolcro
    Sergio
    Serveur Amusant
    Voices of Liberty

  • Shows

    Captain EO
    Impressions de France
    O Canada!
    Reflections of China
    The Circle of Life

  • Important Dates

  • Grand Opening Oct 1 1982
  • Shopping

  • Shops

    After Market Shop
    Art of Disney
    Art of Henna
    Bead Outpost
    Camera Center
    Casablanca Carpets
    Club Cool
    Das Kaufhaus
    Der Teddybar
    Die Weihnachts Ecke
    Disney Traders
    El Ranchito del Norte
    Gateway Gifts
    Glaskunst
    Green Thumb Emporium
    Heritage Manor Gifts
    House of Good Fortune
    Il Bel Cristallo
    ImageWorks
    Karamell-Küche
    Kunstarbeit in Kristall
    L'Esprit de la Provence
    La Bottega Italiana
    La Gemma Elegante
    La Princesa de Cristal - Mexico
    La Signature
    La Tienda Encantada
    Les Vins de France
    Lords and Ladies
    Marketplace in the Medina
    Mission: SPACE Cargo Bay
    Mitsukoshi Department Store
    Mouse Gear
    Northwest Mercantile
    Pin Central - Future World
    Plaza de los Amigos
    Plume et Palette
    Port of Entry
    SeaBase Gift Shop
    Souk-al-Magreb
    Souvenirs de France
    Sportsman's Shoppe
    Stein Haus
    Tangier Traders
    The Brass Bazaar
    The Crown & Crest
    The Gift Stop
    The Puffin's Roost
    The Queen's Table
    The Tea Caddy
    The Toy Soldier
    Trading Post
    Village Traders
    Volkskunst
    Weinkeller
    World Traveler

  • Dining

  • Quick Service Restaurant

    Electric Umbrella
    Fountain View
    Katsura Grill
    Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
    La Cantina de San Angel
    Les Halles Boulangerie & Pâtisserie
    Liberty Inn
    Lotus Blossom Café
    Sommerfest
    Sunshine Seasons
    Tangierine Café
    Yorkshire County Fish Shop

  • Table Service Restaurant

    Biergarten Restaurant
    Chefs de France
    Coral Reef Restaurant
    La Hacienda de San Angel
    Le Cellier Steakhouse
    Monsieur Paul
    Nine Dragons Restaurant
    Restaurant Marrakesh
    Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room
    San Angel Inn Restaurante
    Spice Road Table
    Teppan Edo
    Tokyo Dining
    Tutto Italia Ristorante
    Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

  • Character Dining

    Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
    The Garden Grill

  • Kiosks

    Bierline
    Block & Hans
    Crepes des Chefs de France
    Espresso, Coffee, and Pastries at Epcot Monorail Station
    Espresso, Coffee, and Pastries at The American Adventure
    Espresso, Coffee, and Pastries in Future World East
    Espresso, Coffee, and Pastries near Canada
    Espresso, Coffee, and Pastries near Disney Traders
    Fife & Drum Tavern
    Funnel Cake
    Garden House
    Gelati
    Germany Pretzel Wagon
    Joy of Tea
    Kabuki Cafe
    L'Artisan des Glaces
    Les Vins des Chefs de France
    Margarita Kiosk
    Morocco Juice Bar
    Promenade Refreshments
    Refreshment Cool Post
    Refreshment Port
    Test Track Cool Wash
    UK Beer Cart

  • Bars and Lounges

    La Cava del Tequila
    Rose & Crown Pub
    Spice Road Table
    Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar

Write a Review

Epcot is comprised of two distinct "lands" - Future World and World Showcase.

Future World, a high-energy, high-tech land where guests interact with exhibits, visit a home of the future, thrill to the pulse-racing liftoff of Mission: SPACE, and experience Soarin', an exhilarating aerial adventure that immerses guests in a multi-sensory experience, complete with sights, sounds, scents and the caress of warm breezes.

World Showcase, a world of multi-cultural enchantment, featuring marketplaces bustling with international flavor and a dazzling display of countries that transports guests through the magical worlds of 11 nations with just a few steps.

Epcot is the site for one-of-a-kind world entertainment and special events, including the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, one of the world's largest outdoor festivals of its kind; Epcot International Food and Wine Festival; and Epcot Summer Series, featuring world-renowned live entertainment.

Details

Future World attractions

Spaceship Earth is Future World's landmark adventure. Dramatic scenes in the attraction and its post show depict life in the 21st century's Global Neighborhood. With narration by actor Jeremy Irons and an impressive musical score, guests experience a time-travel journey from the beginning of time to the electronic age. 

Soarin' takes guests on an exhilarating aerial journey over California, with a bird’s-eye view and an extraordinary sensation of free flight. Using stunning cinematic artistry and Imagineering-developed motion-based technology, the experience is intensified with sweeping winds and the fragrance of orange blossoms and pine trees. 

Mission: SPACE presented by HP offers guests a one-of-a-kind simulated space adventure -- from heart-pounding liftoff to the weightlessness of outer space.

Test Track, presented by General Motors, invites guests to buckle up and brace themselves for the longest and fastest ride ever in Vacation Kingdom history. 

Universe of Energy featuring "Ellen's Energy Adventure" with Ellen DeGeneres, Jamie Lee Curtis and Bill Nye the Science Guy. DeGeneres plays a woman who dreams she's on the popular game show "Jeopardy!" As part of the show, guests venture into a re-creation of the primeval world complete with moving, roaring, life-size dinosaurs. 

Imagination! presented by Kodak includes Journey Into Imagination with Figment, featuring the playful purple dragon demonstrating the power of imagination; ImageWorks-The Kodak "What If?" Labs; and the 3-D sensation "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience."

The Land features Soarin'; the motion picture "Circle of Life," an environmental fable starring several characters from "The Lion King"; and the Living with the Land boat ride through greenhouses of the future. 

The Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion features the world’s largest saltwater aquarium, featuring a two-story viewing area of a coral reef filled with colorful marine life, and "Turtle Talk With Crush," a real-time animated character that talks, plays and jokes with guests. The signature ride, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, allows guests to board a clam mobile for a close up look at the underwater life of the Seas.

Innoventions, a showcase where guests can be among the first to experience the technologies of today that will shape their lives tomorrow.

World Showcase attractions

Across World Showcase Lagoon, 11 nations display authentic wares, ethnic cuisine, shows, entertainment and architecture representing their cultures. World Showcase ambassadors come from across the globe to represent their homelands. As part of the show, holidays and festivals are commemorated by the ambassadors in ways they would be celebrated "back home," allowing Epcot guests to join in these international celebrations. Even the landscaping changes from country to country around the 1.3-mile promenade.

Clockwise around the promenade:

Mexico, with an authentic marketplace, lively Mariachi bands and a boat ride through Mexican history.

Norway, where guests embark on a voyage through time beginning in a 10th century Viking village.

China, with unique live entertainment and a Circle-Vision 360 film, "Reflections of China," that showcases past and present China and takes guests to seven cities around the country. 

Germany transports guests with authentic surroundings inspired by towns along the Rhine and in Bavaria.

Italy, romance and beauty featured in a reproduction Doge's Palace of Venice. 

The American Adventure showcases important moments in U.S. history.

Japan, featuring spectacular gardens and outdoor entertainment.

Morocco, where 19 Moroccan artisans spent months re-creating the intricate, colorful tile masterpieces of this North African country.

France, the setting for fresh bakeries, beautiful shops and gardens, artists and an enchanting film tour through its cities and countryside.

United Kingdom, with lovely flower gardens, cobbled streets and corner pub.

Canada, with entertainment by a bagpipe band and a Circle-Vision 360 film through some of Canada's most picturesque regions.

Dining at Epcot

The restaurants of World Showcase offer authentic cuisine from around the globe, from traditional Italian at L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante in the Italy showcase to chicken couscous in Morocco's Restaurant Marrakesh. Guests can make dining reservations for nearly two dozen restaurants through Epcot Guest Relations or at the individual restaurants.

In Future World, restaurants feature regional American favorites from gourmet pizza to fresh seafood. All Epcot restaurants have children's value meals and can accommodate special dietary needs with advance notice.

Important Collections in Epcot Galleries

Five World Showcase countries display treasures from international collections:

The American Adventure pavilion presents "Echoes of Africa" at American Heritage Gallery featuring pieces from the Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection.

The Mexico pavilion's "Animales Fantasticos" features wood sculptures from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Norway pavilion Stave Church Gallery "Heritage Through Design" explores Norway's few remaining stave churches.

Japan's "Tin Toy Stories" is an exhibit featuring over 350 tin toys on loan from a private collection.

The Gallery of Arts and History in Morocco showcases artisan-crafted jewelry, ceramic pottery and ancient musical instruments. 

Opening Day Dedication

'"To all who come to this place of joy, hope and friendship, welcome."

"Epcot Center is inspired by Walt Disney's creative genius. Here, human achievements are celebrated through imagination, the 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."'

E. Cardon Walker
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Walt Disney Productions
Oct. 24, 1982

View Epcot Opening Gala admission tickets

Facts and Trivia

Number of Epcot Audio-Animatronics

Norway 21
Mexico 29
The American Adventure 35
Wonders of Life 1
Universe of Energy 36
Space Ship Earth 65
The Living Seas 1
The Land 64
Journey into Imagination 26
Horizons 54