300th post! Epcot of the 80s

[jclightchasr]

For my 300th post I would like to hear from all you Epcot fans out there who have fond memories of the park in its early years. With the original Imagination, No tombstones, No wand in site and all the educational influences. Tell us your memories good or bad what you miss and what you are glad to see gone.

Long live Dreamfinder!

[DisneyDD2]

I remember thinking Captain Eo was a blast! Somewhere, I still have some of the plastic figurines from that mini-movie. And I remember really liking the Horizons ride.

[mrsgaribaldi]

I never made it to Epcot in the 80s so I don't know what I missed. I love it now, it's our favorite park

Congratulations on 300 posts

[century3]

My first trip to Epcot was in 1983. Horizons was still under construction. (I’m glad I didn’t have to witness its deconstruction ). The Living Seas, Wonders of Life, Norway and Morocco were yet to be built and there were signs around World Showcase announcing countries that never came to be.

It was still EPCOT Center, and really always will be in my eyes.

This was a wonderful time to go to Epcot. The pavilions were educational in a much deeper way than now. If you love to learn (as I do) then this was your park to be at. Communicore had some nice displays and activities based on the themes of the pavilions with more information on the subjects. Sure the look of many of the areas was a bit 80’s futuristic, but it was the 80’s, so it was just futuristic.

I loved leaving the park at the end of the day, having had a wonderful time and having actually learned a few things. You learn things today, too, but the complexity and level of information you gained then seemed much more.

[AwPhooey]

My favorite memory of EPCOT is Communicore East and West. As a seven year old in February 1988, I was amazed at some of the stuff they had.

My personal favorite was SMRT-1, a purple robot on a 360-degree pedestal. There were a number of phones around the pedestal which visitors used to answer trivia questions.

There were also a number of touch screen computer games that I was fascinated with. I believe one of them was where you could build a roller coaster and, if I recall correctly, there was one about an American flag.

On top of Communicore, there was Horizons and the original Journey Into Imagination with Dreamfinder and Figment. I really miss those attractions!!

[mcjaco]

Our first trip was two weeks after the opening in 1982. Horizons was a hole in the ground, and so was the Living Seas.

The trees were tiny, Communicore was relevant and cool, Spaceship Earth was impressive (and quiet), and I loved Imagination, World of Motion (rode 10 times in one day).

I mostly remember sitting mesmorized at Ben Franklin walking up the stairs to Thomas Jefferson's desk in AA. I couldn't figure out how they did that.

[CAS]

I'll always remember the last scene in World of Motion. It was called Centercore and housed the sparkling fibre optic city of tomorrow. It's to this day still the most inspirational thing I've ever seen. The combination of the emotional music and the awesome sight gave me so much hope and excitement for the future. I must sound silly saying that!

[RhodeHog]

I remember going a few times after it first opened and some people not wanting to go because it was too much learning!

Whenever I left EPCOT I was impressed by the open frontier of the future and the possibilities of what we could accomplish as individuals and as cooperative nations and a desire to know how to be part of that change.

I remember trying on the virtual reality helmet (always a long line) and the talking robot in the front of Communicore. I also remember crowding in to see Captain Eo when MJ was not quite as creepy.

I still have a coffee cup with the old "futuristic" EPCOT logo. Good times.

[AHOTE]

I remember getting a ticket to the preview center and taking the monorail over to the Epcot construction site. It would still be a year before the park would open but it felt great just being able to get that close to it. At that point I was hooked and I began making plans to get there for the official opening in October 1982. Well, that didn't happen but I did get back in November of 82.
I remember the acrylic trilon in the fountain in front of Space Ship Earth that was lighted at night. It made quite an impression. They need to put it back once the tombstones are removed from the plaza.
The fountain behind SSE had a display called Splashtacular if memory serves me correctly.
I remember listen to Don Dorsey play the Moog Synthesizer in Communicore. He played some of the music from The MSEP and the themes from some of the Disney movies. He even answered some questions using the voice synthesizer. It was quite a show. Of course they sold albums of his music that he graciously autographed.
I remember Surprise in The Skies on the World Showcase Lagoon. The speed boats made up like dragons, the ulta-light aircraft and parasails in a pitched battle of good over evil. That didn't last too long either, I believe a cast member died in an ulta-light accident and that it was thought there was too much potential for an accident involving park guests. It was a good show while it lasted.
I think there was even some sort of Barbi thing in the 90's at Epcot that didn't last too long, but that's not a bad thing; talk about not a good fit for Epcot.
I'm sure I'll be able to add some more later.

[BelleLovesTheBeast]

My first trip was in 91 and the first ride I went on was Journey Into Imagination. I remember after the ride ImageWorks had this area where you would act out whatever they told you to and the people on the other side would see you on a TV screen with a background. It was a western scene. I spent a couple of hours just at this pavillion.

My favorite countries were Germany, UK and Norway. I thought it was so cool to hear people speak with their accents.

[Disney Doll]

My first trip to EPCOT was in '83 and then we were back in '86 or '87. I was just a kid so I don't remember much, but reading these posts is bringing a lot back. I do have fond memeories of the original Journey into Immagination. I remember the Dreamfinder and for some reason I remember a scene in that ride with the Dreamfinder riding som sort of balloon contraption. I also remember the lighted rainbow tunnel which I believe was in the area just after the Journey into Immagination ride. I too felt hope and excitement for the future after a day at EPCOT. Seems like that feeling is kind of lost now. Keep the memories coming! I'm really enjoying this.

[Von-Drake]

I also visited in 83 and remember thinking as a kid, this place is only half done (as mentioned above... all the rides under construction) and it is awesome. Then I remember a few years laster after they completed those rides. My granddad loved World of Motion but his favorite was The Living Seas (he loved fishing). Mine was Horizons. I thought Universe of Energy was boring... a few big dinosaurs and a 20 minute movie, but now I miss it. Loved the Mexico ride!! Journey Into Imagination rocked. We bought my dad a Figment hat (Purple and Pink, that had horns coming out the top) we all roared every time he wore it. he still has the hat by the way, maybe I will try to convince him to wear it on our upcoming trip for his grandson.
Thanks for the stroll down Memory Lane.

[mcjaco]

I'll always remember the last scene in World of Motion. It was called Centercore and housed the sparkling fibre optic city of tomorrow. It's to this day still the most inspirational thing I've ever seen. The combination of the emotional music and the awesome sight gave me so much hope and excitement for the future. I must sound silly saying that!

Absolutely not! That was the whole reason I kept riding it. That model was mesmorizing!

We bought my dad a Figment hat (Purple and Pink, that had horns coming out the top)

I still have mine. Along with Version 1 of the Figment stuff animal. I'll never give those up.

[CaptainSad]

Here, remember these...http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/ecindex.htm



I really miss this stuff....

[gwfx1031]

I liked making dinner reservations in the base of SE where you were on a video screen with a CM.

[adoptionislove]

We went as high school students in Oct.1982. EPCOT had only been open a few days and it was SO neat to us.

I'll never forget Kitchen Kabaret. I remember sitting there thinking these giant vegetables are really neat!

[CaptainSad]

Veggie,Veggie,Fruit,Fruit....

[WDW84]

Spaceship Earth: Walter Cronkite and Tomorrow's Child! It was my and my sister's favorite. We always made that our first and last ride of the day at Epcot.

[TheMartellFamily]

Kitchen Kabaret I loved that. The other thing I remember was the 3-D movie that was before Captain EO that had the kids running though the field and butterflies became 3-D. I think that was called Magic Journeys. The first time we went to EPCOT was the end of October 82. It was just open a few weeks. I also remember World of Motion.

[wedway76]

I liked making dinner reservations in the base of SE where you were on a video screen with a CM.

I think I went to EPCOT twice in the 80s. I never saw the original Figment. I really don't remember a lot. I do remember Horizons and The World of Motion, and I do definitely remember and I did like making reservations for restaurants in Spaceship Earth. You could actually make reservations for the same day. You didn’t have to call months ahead of time.