EPCOT' Center's World Showcase 1.0 From The Sky

Any serious fan of the work of Walt Disney will instantly acknowledge that EPCOT Center is a theme park and not really E.P.C.O.T. as he envisioned it to be. That doesn't mean that Walt Disney World's second theme park is without its charms or purpose. Going through multiple incarnations of what a World's Fair would look like done Disney style, the first go around resulted in a very standard looking set of circular structures to house pavilions that represent different countries of the world. 

This model viewed from the sky shows the plan. The only positives I could see in this plan were two: Everything was inside and therefore could be "nighttime"; and secondly, ease of getting from one nation to the other. Wisely, cooler more imaginative heads prevailed, and we park goers ended up with a beautiful view on fanciful landmarks around a shimmering World Showcase Lagoon. Can you imagine an Epcot with an Illuminations- Reflections of Earth or the more recent Luminous- The Symphony of Us? Not me! These shows are among the highlights of my day!

Decades later, the bones of EPCOT Center are still intact, but the forward looking, culture focused take on our God given world has been traded out for wine, food, and tons of characters. No matter. Those of us who love this park will always have fond memories of the past along with hopes for the future. 

Why did the park change? It's our fault! Take a look at my article here and tell me what you think.