12 Amazing Facts About Walt Disney World’s Epcot

Epcot is a truly unique theme park in Walt Disney World as it combines several different themes to share a unified message. The front portion of the park is home to Future World which celebrates the harmony of technology and nature though innovative and wonderful attractions. The rear of Epcot features World Showcase which is home to eleven different pavilions each celebrating a country from around the world through cuisine, culture, history, entertainment, attractions, architecture, and more. Many guests love to spend plenty of time in Epcot enjoying all that the park has to offer, and part of what helps make the location so wonderful is the immense level to detail found in all areas. Epcot is brought to life through wonderful details that help to add depth and richness to every corner of the park. While guests might be familiar with the park in general, they might not realize that many of these details contain hidden secrets or history that have interesting stories. From Hidden Mickeys and specific dates to tributes and cultural references, there are plenty of amazing details and facts found in Epcot. Here are twelve amazing facts about Walt Disney World’s Epcot for guests to discover on their next trip!

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1. Tons of Triangles —

When most guests think of Epcot, they immediately picture Spaceship Earth which is the icon of the park and located just inside the main entrance in Future World. Spaceship Earth is a massive geodesic sphere that is covered in futuristic silver triangles. These geometric shapes help to make the structure appear both classic and futuristic at the same time, and guests love to enjoy the attraction of the same name found inside. While many guests are very familiar with Spaceship Earth, they might not realize that it is covered in over eleven thousand silver triangles!

2. Presidential Doubles —

Spaceship Earth the attraction is a classic that many guests consider to be a must do in Epcot. The attraction brings guests on a journey from the beginning of time to present day to celebrate how communication has changed and evolved over the centuries. While moving through the experience, guests can see scenes depicting important moments in history such as the Renaissance, man landing on the moon, and the invention of the personal computer. These scenes are filled with audio-animatronics, and guests might not realize that some of them are very familiar! Many of the audio-animatronics found in Spaceship Earth were created from the molds of previously existing audio-animatronics found at the Hall of Presidents in the Magic Kingdom. Guests who look closely can find William Taft as an Egyptian, John Adams as a monk, teddy Roosevelt as a Roman, and James Buchanan as Gutenberg.

3. Soarin’s Flight Number —

Soarin’ Around the World is one of the most popular attractions in Epcot and it invites guests to take off for a thrilling hang gliding adventure over some of the most beautiful locations in the world. Guests can dangle their feet high above places like the Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, Monument Valley, and Mount Kilimanjaro. Guests who pay close attention might notice that the flight number of Soarin’ Around the World is 5505, which might seem like a random number but pays tribute to the attraction’s opening day of May 5, 2005.

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4. Fresh Food —

Soarin’ Around the World is located in The Land Pavilion which is also home to an attraction that aims to teach guests about the beauty and wonder of the land. Living with the Land brings guests on a gentle boat ride through different environments to showcase how the land can thrive in all sorts of conditions. Guests then float through beautiful greenhouses which grow immense numbers of produce and vegetation in new and innovative ways. While guests can appreciate the plants on their Living with the Land experience, they might soon be eating them! Much of the produce grown in the massive greenhouses is served fresh in many different dining locations throughout Walt Disney World!

5. Massive Aquarium —

The Seas with Nemo and Friends is a wonderful pavilion that is home to an attraction of the same name. Guests who enjoy spending time in the pavilion can learn all about different types of marine life as well as how to help protect the oceans and keep them clean. Depending on what portion of the pavilion guests are exploring, they can check out dolphins, sharks, turtles, manatees, divers, and much more. In fact, the aquarium in The Seas with Nemo and Friends is so large that Spaceship Earth could fit inside of it!

6. Dreamfinder Tribute —

Journey into Imagination with Figment is a whimsical attraction that showcases to guests how the imagination works best when it is set free. The attraction brings guests into the Imagination Institute where Dr. Nigel Channing is hosting a tour of their sensory laboratories. Figment, the loveable purple dragon, takes over the tour and helps to set imaginations free. The original version of the attraction featured Figment and his friend Dreamfinder who would travel around collecting bits of imagination. While Dreamfinder can no longer be found today, a subtle tribute to him can be found on a door during the attraction that features the name Dean Finder.

7. Horizons Tribute —

Mission: SPACE is one of the most thrilling attractions in all of Walt Disney World. It brings guests into the International Space Training Center, or ISTC, where they can train to be part of a mission to space. Before the thrilling attraction existed, the location was home to Horizons which showcased to guests what the future might look like. While Horizons no longer exists, its logo can be found in two separate locations in Mission: SPACE. When moving through the first indoor room of the queue, guests should look for the logo in the middle of the massive gravity wheel. In addition, guests can spot the logo on the front of the cashier in the gift shop located at the exit of the attraction.

8. Mexico’s Hidden Mickey —

The Mexico Pavilion is home to a wonderful attraction titled The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros. The attraction brings guests on a journey across Mexico with Panchito and Jose to find Donald in time for their big concert. Guests can check out amazing scenes from the beautiful country as well as classic humor from the Caballeros. In the final scene just before the concert, guests can look to the left hand side of their boats to spot another small floating boat with a sign that reads “Viva Donald!” On the bottom right hand side of the boat is a trio of drums that form a classic Hidden Mickey.

9. Prince Min —

The China Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase is home to beautiful details that are sure to make guests feel as though they have traveled directly to the beautiful country. Many of the buildings in the pavilion are rich in detail including a traditional cultural representation on the corner of one roof. Guests should look for a figure of a man with a line of animals behind him. This is a representation of Prince Min, a cruel dictator who was hung for his atrocities. Chinese tradition calls for a figure of Prince Min to be placed in a location surrounded by animals, guarding him and preventing him from inflicting any further harm.

10. Saint George —

The Germany Pavilion also features a statue that upholds a cultural tradition. In the rear of the pavilion is a large fountain with a large pole in the middle. Atop the pole is a statue of a man in armor fighting off a dragon. The man is Saint George who helped to slay the mythical creature in order to protect the king’s daughter. Many German villages feature a representation of Saint George as a tradition, and the Germany Pavilion is no exception!

11. Mini Eiffel Tower —

One of the most recognizable pavilions in Epcot is the France Pavilion thanks to its beautiful charm and Eiffel Tower in the distance. The structure can be found peeking out from behind the buildings in the pavilion, making it appear to be real scale but off in the distance. In fact, the Eiffel Tower in the France Pavilion is so incredibly realistic because the original plans by Gustav Eiffel were used, just in a one tenth scale!

12. Totem Poles —

The Canada Pavilion in World Showcase brings the charm and diversity of Canada to life through wonderful details. Near the pavilion’s large staircase, there are several totem poles that showcase a traditional part of Canadian culture. The totem poles were carved by Canadian craftsman, except for one that was created by Disney. The Disney totem pole is noticeably more cartoonish and also features a Hidden Mickey near the top!