THEN AND NOW: Epcot Future World [Part 1]

Future World, Epcot

Wonders of Life

World of Motion / Test Track

The Living Seas / The Seas with Nemo and Friends

Holy moly.  Future World has seen share of changes.

In front of the old World of Motion building (Test Track) I tried but was unable to get the exact angle of the "then" photo from an old pictorial souvenir book. A tall mound of landscaping was in my way.  Some guy walked up next to me trying to get the same night shot and he said,

"Boy, isn't that a pretty site?"  

I said, "Umm, take a look at what it used to look like" showing him the old photo on my iPod.  

"WHOA. That was much nicer!" he said.

"Yeahhh. It was a beauty. But don't get me started on Horizons, Imagination, The Living Seas."

Buzzy from Cranium Command is looking handsome, wouldn't you say?? With that nice droopy eye and all. Although it doesn't matter much what he looks like--- NO ONE GETS TO SEE HIM ANYMORE.  The "now" photo was taken within the last few weeks. The Wonders of Life building is open during the Food and Wine Festival but don't plan on enjoying the place the way you used to.  Not a single attraction isn't blocked by a few hundred folded chairs and tables.  And sorry, Martin Short is nowhere in sight if you were planning on learning Disney's version of where babies come from.

Future World, come back. We miss you. You weren't boring like they told us you were. Really, you weren't. You've really lost your identity but it's not too late to find it again.

Related posts:

THEN AND NOW: MK Tomorrowland [Part 1]
THEN AND NOW: Epcot World Showcase [Part 1]
THEN AND NOW: Epcot World Showcase [Part 2]
THEN AND NOW: Liberty Square [Part 1]
Walt's Wife Talks About EPCOT Center
EPCOT Construction from the Air
EPCOT Center Graphics 
Imaaaaaagination 

Disneyland Meets EPCOT Center

I love when a the worlds of Disneyland and Epcot come together in one form or another.  I once collected issues of the Disneyland Line and this one is extra special for that reason.

Check out the date on that.  September 30, 1982.  What were Disneylanders thinking about the first non-Magic Kingdom Disney park ever created... just one day before its grand opening?  I don't really know, but this is what they were reading.

Did any of you go on this trip??

If so, write to us about your experience. There might be a little souvenir coming your way.  What did Disneyland cast members think about EPCOT Center? Was there criticism, jealousy, both?  Were any of you working at Disneyland when EPCOT opened?  Stories?

How cool is that... They showed opening day ceremonies at Disneyland's "Lincoln Theater" starting at 7:00 a.m. California time.  Something like that today would draw a crowd of AT LEAST 12 or 13 cast members.  Back then it must have been a full house.

And "videotape monitors throughout the park" for the first 21 days of October showed pavilion dedications?  Whoa.  Are we talking about monitors on-stage for guests to view as well?  Or just back-stage? And where were these "videotape" monitors?  Either way, that is swell!

Little did Disneyland employees know at the time, their lovely parking lot would one day house not only a controversial Disney theme park but a piece of EPCOT Center.  This guy from World of Motion can now be found at California Adventure in the Hollywood Backlot area.  (photo credit dfan09).

Other pieces of EPCOT Center (also from World of Motion) have found their way to Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean.  In the 1997 rehab, a number of WOM animatronic figures became pirates.  Like the guy with the fruit basket with the horse stealing the apple... Is that guy still ever around?  He hasn't been there the last few times I've ridden.

Any other original pieces from one park now living in the other (Epcot to Disneyland or in reverse)?

Related posts:

EPCOT Construction from the Air

HORIZONS MURAL, "The Prologue and the Promise" [ High Res ]

HORIZONS the way you wish you knew it

 Daredevil Circus Spectaculars at Epcot Are Just Not What They Used To Be