The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT) is the park with the future in sight, here you can play with up and coming gadgets in Future World and experience the sights and flavors of11 countries in the World Showcase. Originally opened in 1982 the park boasted some pretty advanced engineering and ideas which continue to evolve today.
1. The inside of Spaceship Earth hosts a ride, but the outside of the structure also serves a purpose. Aside from finding shelter underneath the giant sphere during a Florida rain, the outside panels of Spaceship Earth were designed to absorb the water, so the rain would never hit the ground. Instead, the panels funnel water through an internal gutter system that are eventually empty into the World Showcase Lagoon!
2. Look up as you enter the Universe of Energy, hosted by Ellen Degeneres, those large panels you see outside are actually 80,000 photovoltaic cells that provide solar energy. The solar energy is converted and that’s what powers the ride!
3. When you become a “crash test dummy” on Test Track, the car you are riding in has more than 4 wheels. There are actually 22 wheels and 6 braking systems in each vehicle! Count your blessings when you exit the ride, the real crash test dummies you see throughout the ride cue are smashed on average of 720 times a day!
4. Mission Space was a bit too realistic for some when it first opened and now has two different versions: green (non-centrifuge version) and orange (the original, full blown experience). Although the ride now offers a less intense experience, it remains the only attraction in Orlando to come with “motion discomfort bags”.
5. Next time you board for your flight on “Soarin’”, look for the flight number listed during the pre-flight video. 5505 signifies your flight number as well as the date the attraction made its debut in Epcot (May 5, 2005)
Although Epcot may not have turned out exactly how Walt originally envisioned it, the advanced concepts used in the creation of the park are right on point with the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. The foresight to save rain water to fill the lagoons is pretty advanced for an idea from 1982!
If you have any fun facts about Epcot we would love to hear them in the comment box below.
Related articles
- 2011 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Details (chipandco.com)
- Teaching History Through the Parks: Epcot (chipandco.com)
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