NEWS: Disney Rolls Out Special 35th Anniversary Celebration for Epcot

October 1, 2017 marks the 35th anniversary of Epcot, a place that dared to redefine the definition of theme park. We love Epcot so we were thrilled to find out Disney World has a very special day planned to celebrate this major milestone. Complete details below.

From Disney writer Jennifer Fickley-Baker:

With the anniversary falling on a weekend – not to mention during the popular Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – there’s sure to be a ton of fun for all!

Here are a few highlights of what’s planned for this year’s anniversary celebration.

Commemorative Guide Map – Be sure to pick up a commemorative Epcot Guidemap and Times Guide on your way into the park. They’ll be available at the park’s Main Entrance, at International Gateway and Guest Relations.

Anniversary Celebration – A special celebration will be held at the Fountain View stage at 10:01 a.m. Gather to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Epcot with Mariachi Cobre and Voices of Liberty.

Exclusive Anniversary Merchandise – Guests visiting Epcot on October 1 will have the chance to grab anniversary merchandise as a part of the “I Was There” collection, which has been specifically designed for this year’s milestone. Items in the collection will be available only at a “pop-up” shop (which will be open for one day only/while supplies last), located just past the Art of Disney location at Epcot on October 1. Additional Epcot 35th Anniversary logo merchandise (not a part of the “I Was There” line) will be available in select merchandise locations at the park, such as Mouse Gear and on the Shop Disney Parks app. Check out the full line anniversary merchandise by clicking here.

Special Edition: IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth – Conclude your day at the park by attending a special edition of the park’s nighttime fireworks show, “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” which begins at 9 p.m.

RELATED ARTICLE: Truth or Fiction: 8 Myths About Disney’s Epcot

by Christy Caby

There are tons of myths that swirl around Walt Disney World.  Folks love to speculate and spread rumors about Disney, and boy do they spread like wildfire!  Here are 8 myths and their verdicts about Epcot:

8 – The countries in the World Showcase are fully funded by the government of the parent countries.

Verdict:  False.

While there has certainly been varying levels of participation and cooperation with governments of the countries represented, this myth is definitely false.  The pavilions are not funded by the government for the parent countries.  There are business sponsors and certain parties that sponsor stores, attractions, etc., but no actual government sponsorship for the entire pavilion.  This was never the case since the World Showcase was built, and will likely never be the case for the area.

7 – There are tunnels like at the Magic Kingdom.

Verdict: True.

This is very true!  The tunnels are only in the Future World area of the park.  The tunnels allow cast members to store additional merchandise and supplies for the stores in the tunnels.  It also allows for waste and re-stocking to be done without moving carts or other eyesores through Future World, which would detract from the theming and the guest experience.

6 – The World Showcase doesn’t have room to add any additional countries.

Verdict: False

This is completely false!  There is actually room for the World Showcase to host 21 different country pavilions.  The areas between existing pavilions have space for another pavilion to be placed and the original plans for the World Showcase was set to include more countries than we have today. We wish Disney would fill in this space with more attractions and/or countries, so hopefully Epcot will see these additions in the future sometime.

5 – Figment was the mascot for the park.

Verdict: True.

This is true.  Figment may not be quite as popular today as he used to be, but he was the unintended mascot for the park.  When Figment was first introduced he became an instant hit that he became a face for the park and appeared on a lot of signage, promotions, marketing materials, etc. as the unofficial mascot.  We still see some of this presence today, but it isn’t as great as it used to be.  He used to even have a meet and greet with Dreamfinder in the park, too!  When Figment was removed from the Imagination pavilion, Disney quickly brought him back because fans weren’t happy at all without him.  We figure Figment will probably be around in some capacity for a long time!

4 – Epcot is boring.

Verdict:  False.

This is definitely true.  Epcot sometimes gets labeled as a boring park or that there isn’t that much to do there.  This definitely isn’t true.  There is a lot of untapped space at Epcot and areas where Disney could definitely add more attractions to the park, but it isn’t boring.  There are a lot of rides, tons of interactive spaces and then all of the countries to tour and explore.  Our kids love Epcot and have a lot of fun looking around at all of the different pavilions all over the park.  The park is getting a little outdated though, so we do hope that Epcot will be the next park to get a big overhaul after some of the existing projects are complete.

3 – The park is more than twice the size of the Magic Kingdom.

Verdict:  True

Epcot is makes up around 300 acres, which does make it about twice the size of the Magic Kingdom.  It isn’t the biggest park in the Disney family, but it is definitely one where you will make good use of your walking shoes and your FitBit goals will likely be exceeded.  It is over 3 miles to just walk the main loop around the entire park.  Then you have to count the walking through the queues, the backtracking, strolling through the shops, etc.  The steps will add up quickly!

2 – The produce grown at The Land pavilion is served in the restaurants.

Verdict: True.

This is also very true!  You learn more about all of the produce grown there on the Living With the Land boat ride.  The pavilion focuses on research related to finding methods that will help with improving efficiency, quality and yield of produce.  The produce that is grown is then served and utilized across Walt Disney World at many of the resorts!  This means that you may be getting among the freshest produce when you dine at the Disney restaurants.

1 – Epcot isn’t a very popular park.

Verdict:  False.

Believe it or not, Epcot is actually the 3^rd most visited theme park in all of the United States.  This puts the park ahead of many of the major thrill ride parks and almost all of the other theme parks around the United States.  Not only that, it is the 6^th most visited theme park in the entire world!  There is definitely something amazing about Epcot that keeps bringing guests through the gates to see the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.  Last year alone saw almost 12 million visitors to the park for the entire year!

Photo Credits: Disney