The development of EPCOT Center was a long and arduous process. After Walt’s dream of a futuristic city faded away, Imagineers and others were left to figure out how keep the spirit of his vision alive. By the mid-1970s, this had evolved into a concept for a series of “EPCOT Satellites”, which would be various research centers and technological demonstration sites that would embrace EPCOT-derived philosophies.
But before the satellite plan was announced, it was revealed that the first element derived from EPCOT that would be built was a new gated attraction dubbed the World Showcase. This would be an international exposition, with pavilions representing dozens of participating nations. Each of the pavilions would house an attraction, restaurant, and shops and other exhibits.
The story of how this idea grew into EPCOT Center is a story I hope to tell someday, but for now it’s fun to look back and see what World Showcase could have been like had WED’s early plans come to fruition. Several years ago someone was kind enough to share this promotional film with me; in it, the narrator speaks of Disney’s achievements in planning at Disneyland and Walt Disney World before discussing Walt’s EPCOT plans. And then it segues into a preview of World Showcase, seemingly pitched at potential participant nations and corporations. According to Imagineer Tom Morris on BlueSky, this was also shown to Disneyland Cast Members at the time to excite them about the project.
The film is undated, but judging from the state of the project shown I estimate it to date from 1974 or 1975.
Have a look…
Recent Comments