Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.
World Showcase Omnibus (1985)
The year is 1985. The place is EPCOT Center.
While my parents had taken me to Walt Disney World before, this was my first "memorable" trip, which I experienced at age 10. EPCOT Center was just 3 years old at the time. That vacation had quite an impact on me becoming a Disney theme park enthusiast.
Today's photo — taken with a Kodak Instamatic 126 film camera and cropped accordingly — spotlights the World Showcase Omnibus, a double-decker vehicle that used to provide transportation for guests to visit the various countries around World Showcase Lagoon. It was phased out in the mid-1990s, probably because it couldn't contain a gift shop, timeshare information stand, or pin trading station.
Standing in front of the bus is my little sister Karen (age 7), sporting a lovely red Walt Disney World visor… and I'm not sure what she's really doing with her hands. I'm standing cluelessly next to her in my 1985 Walt Disney World shirt (I wore that thing a TON!) and tan EPCOT Center visor. To be honest, I'm not sure if we actually ever rode the bus!
Nevertheless, they are missed in World Showcase, as the buses provided motion, activity, and a unique sense of place.
I had an Epcot (or rather EPCOT Center) visor just like that! And I miss those buses…
I am sure Disney could fit a small gift kiosk on that bus if they tried. Right at the exit so you had to walk through it to get off. Either that or stop right in front of one. Do you think they phased them out so that there weren't any moving vehicles in the park and/or because the countries aren't really that far apart?
I happened upon your blog because I googled pictures of Disney World and Epcot 1985. Our Family My Husband and I and our 4 kids went to Disney World this summer May 21st to May 31st 2011.
The last time I had been to WDW was in 1985 when I was 10 years old which I see you were also 10 years old when you went in 1985.
Anyway I grew up all over the USA and went to Disney Land many times from 1980 to 1987 and one trip to WDW in 1985 then nothing until our family took our first "Big" family vacation to WDW this summer.
I really enjoyed looking at your posts and photo's from past Disney stuff I love knowing and researching "The History" of all sorts of things so I am enjoying your past Theme Park Posts!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Oh and we did not get the Epcot Center Visors but we had Figment Hats LOL!!!