Unbuilt Magic Carpet Ride for Epcot

Let me admit up front here that the recent Theme Park University  articles on Unrealized World Showcase inspired me digging into my Imagineering concept art files.

Yes, Israel was on the books.

Signage was out at World Showcase and everything!

During Epcot's Millennium celebration, smaller exhibits were offered by a variety of countries not found in full form in World Showcase. One was The State of Israel. But did you know that at one point in time, Imagineers planned an "Arab Countries" pavilion as well? In our day and age, it would be so wrong to have one without the other if you'd even have one or the other!

Iran as well!

Seen at top is a very rare piece of concept art for the Magic Carpet ride. Much like the very popular Soarin' in Future World but on a more intimate scale, 8 guests at a time would board a carpet for a flight over that part of the Middle East. The concept took on a large part of its look from an unrealized idea for Iran.

The biggest difference would not have been just capacity but the ride vehicle itself...and the fact guests would fly over physical sets a al If You Had Wings. (Look closely at the art, and you can see one carpetful of guests in the foreground and one carpetful of guests beyond the arches.) Guests would be flying face down as opposed to sitting up, providing quite a thrill. A certain crowd pleaser.

Could these countries all co-exist peacefully? At least along the lagoon at Epcot they could! 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Epcot's Tapestry of Nations

What were you doing to celebrate the Turn of the Century from the 1900s to the 2000s? Our family decided it was time to go to Epcot- and we were not disappointed!

Of course, being Disney and being an opportunity for a once in a lifetime Millennium party, the brilliant Imagineers did what they could before the accountants took control: they created some wonderful entertainment to mark the occasion. The best part of the mesmerising Tapestry of Nations, one part parade and one part performance art.

There's not too many pieces of concept art out there for The Tapestry of Nations. In fact, this is a fairly poor scan of a very small piece I have tried to enlarge and improve. But if you can imagine larger than life puppets and drummers all moving around World Showcase to an incredibly original sounding theme sound, you'll get the idea. Or just go to these videos to see if for yourself.

Along with the somewhat charming but overblown Millennium Village (now a convention space!), and an incredible new version of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, this spectacle represented much of what was good about Epcot and its original vision. Edutainment at its best.

Our last night visit to Epcot, (a family tradition to spend our last night at our favorite park), was one we will never forget. Let's just hope the suits don't make us wait another hundred years for something so truly magical!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)