Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.
Magical Sibling Visors (1985)
We return to Walt Disney World in 1985… the home of double-decker buses, unadorned golf balls, and tall socks. My Dad, sister, and I are in EPCOT Center's World Showcase, overlooking the lagoon. You can see The American Adventure and Japan in the background, along with one of the Friendship boat launches.
Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.
Communications Mural on Spaceship Earth (2009)
Continuing our tribute to the final flight of the Space Shuttle, let's take a look at this mural located on the exterior of Spaceship Earth in Epcot. Taken during a December 2009 visit, it's a carry-over from when this attraction was solely communications-based. Even with a retheme, it remains as a symbol of something the Shuttle program never actually accomplished… cool stuff. Thanks NASA!
Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.
Space Shuttle History in Epcot (2007)
In honor of the final flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-135, which launches on Friday, here's a nice tribute to America's space program found in The American Adventure pavilion over at Epcot's World Showcase. While you are waiting for the namesake show, you'll find paintings like this one situated on the walls, each denoting different elements of the history of the United States. I snapped this photo on a September 2007 visit.
Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.
Reflective mirrors at Universe of Energy (2009)
Today's photo reminds me of everyone who attempts to take goofy photos of themselves while visiting "The Bean" down at Chicago's Millennium Park. But actually this is the exterior of the Universe of Energy pavilion in Epcot's Future World. Here you can see our extended family during a December 2009 trip. I'm in the top row (with my tongue sticking out). The second row features Amy, my Mom, my brother-in-law Brian, my sister Karen (who took this picture), and my Dad.
Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.
Virgin Spaceship Earth (1985)
EPCOT Center opened in 1982, and its icon Spaceship Earth anchored a minimalist environment when compared to a park like the Magic Kingdom. Today's photo was shot in 1985, just 3 years after the park opened, and you can see the wide open spaces, trees that still were growing, and lots of white or light colors used in architecture. You can also gaze upon my Mom, Dad, and sister Karen standing patiently while I snapped a photo with a Kodak Instamatic 126 film camera.
Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.
Please don't call this a "big, silver golf ball"!
"Since the dawn of recorded time, communication has revolutionized our lives and changed our world. We now have the ability and the responsibility to build new bridges of acceptance and co-operation between us; to create a better world for ourselves and our children as we continue our amazing journey aboard Spaceship Earth."
The iconic symbol of EPCOT Center, er, Epcot, is Spaceship Earth, an 18-story geodesic sphere that opened with the park in 1982. I took today's photo during a trip in 2009. Thankfully, it wasn't ruined by a stupid Mickey wand.
It houses a ride originally sponsored by the Bell System (1982-1984) and focused on communications. This theme was continued when AT&T (1984-2004) picked up the sponsorship after the breakup of the Bell System. In 2007, the storyline was changed to reflect general technology, thanks to sponsor Siemens AG (2005-present).
Epcot has changed a lot over the years, mostly for the worse, but Spaceship Earth remains an element that still reflects the World's Fair feeling of awe found in the original EPCOT Center.
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.
