7 Cool Things About Walt Disney World’s Epcot

Many guests who visit Walt Disney World love to spend plenty of time in Epcot exploring its amazing attractions, entertainment, dining, and shopping. Epcot is divided into two parts with Future World residing in the front portion of the park and World Showcase residing in the rear of the park. Future World celebrates the unique combination of nature and technology through innovative and extraordinary attractions and experiences. World Showcase offers guests the chance to travel around the world while exploring eleven different pavilions representing countries from around the globe. With so many amazing things to experience while in Epcot, it is no wonder why guests love to spend so much time there. While guests might think that they know the park well, there are plenty of hidden details and secrets which they might have never noticed before! Here are seven cool things about Walt Disney World’s Epcot.

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7. Presidential Time Travelers —

The most recognizable attraction in Epcot is Spaceship Earth which is found just inside the entrance to the park. The attraction is housed in a massive geodesic sphere which is decked out in over eleven thousand futuristic silver triangles. Guests who enjoy a ride on Spaceship Earth can travel from the beginning of time to modern day to celebrate the history of communication. Important moments in history like the burning of Rome and the Renaissance are brought to life with the help of audio-animatronics, some of which might seem familiar to guests. Since Spaceship Earth uses so many audio-animatronics, Imagineers tapped into ones which were already created for the Hall of Presidents in the Magic Kingdom. Guests who look closely can spot James Buchanan as Gutenberg, Teddy Roosevelt as a Roman, William Taft as an Egyptian, and John Adams as a monk.

6. Dean Finder —

Journey into Imagination with Figment in Epcot’s Future World invites guests to tap into the power of their imagination in the Imagination Institute. The attraction brings guests on a tour of the facility’s sensory labs, but things soon take a humorous turn as Figment the purple dragon takes over. When the attraction originally opened, Figment was the star alongside a man named DreamFinder and together they would travel around the world collecting the power of imagination. While DreamFinder can no longer be found in Epcot today, guests who pay attention during the attraction can spot a tribute to him. Just after passing by a massive room with computers, guests can spot an office door labeled Dean Finder.

5. 1401 —

Also found in Future World is an attraction which brings a Pixar classic to life. The Seas with Nemo and Friends invites guests to dive into the ocean and relive the classic tale of Finding Nemo. Guests can hop aboard bright pink clam shells and see characters from the film projected into the real life aquariums of the pavilion. Before boarding the attraction, guests move through a queue which features a beachy room. One sign in that room features the address 1401 Coral Coast Highway which may seem like a random address but actually pays tribute to Walt Disney Imagineering which is located at 1401 Flower Street in Glendale, California.

4. Prince Min —

Of the eleven pavilions in World Showcase, one of the most intricately decorated is the China Pavilion. Guests who take the time to explore the entire area can enjoy culture, artwork, cuisine, history, and architecture honoring Chinese tradition. Guests who walk past the Nine Dragons Restaurant and look up to the roof can spot a detail which is a direct tribute to Chinese history and tradition. On one corner of the restaurant’s roof there is a small statue of a man surrounded by animals. This man represents Prince Min, a third century ruler who was ultimately hanged for his cruelty. Chinese tradition calls for a representation of the evil man in each town as a warning and requires that he be surrounded by animals to keep him from escaping.

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3. A Moroccan Tower —

Before entering into World Showcase on the Mexico Pavilion side, guests can pause near The Odyssey and look across World Showcase Lagoon for a wonderful view. Guests who focus their gaze on the Morocco Pavilion across the way will notice that one tall building seems to be much further in the distance than the rest. That is because the building is actually The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror which is located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! When the attraction was initially being built, Imagineers realized that it would be so tall that it would be visible in Epcot. Therefore, they chose an architectural style and color close to that found in the Morocco Pavilion so that the attraction would seamlessly blend in.

2. Saint George —

One of the most festive pavilions in World Showcase invites guests to visit a small village square for an Oktoberfest celebration. The Germany Pavilion features beautiful architecture, wonderful food, and an atmosphere that can’t be beat. In the center of the courtyard, guests can enjoy a beautiful fountain with a large pillar that features a figure on the top. The figure is a representation of Saint George seen slaying a dragon. According to legend, George slayed a dragon to protect a princess making him a protector in German culture. Many villages in Germany feature a statue of Saint George for protection and the Germany Pavilion is no exception.

1. A Lost Narration —

While wandering through World Showcase, many guests love to stop in the America Pavilion to enjoy a showing of the American Adventure. This epic show combines special effects, artwork, audio-animatronics, photography, music, and history to tell the moving story of the American people. The show is narrated by Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain, but many guests might not realize that there was originally supposed to be a third narrator representing the twentieth century. Will Rogers was initially supposed to join Franklin and Twain, but Imagineers decided that three voices were too much for a single narration.