Original Epcot Construction Photos

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

ImagineeringDisney.com has some really cool posts with loads of construction photos from the early days of Epcot...

http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2010/6/25/epcot-construction-from-the-air.html

EPCOT Construction from the Air

Friday, June 25, 2010 at 12:49PM Posted by Mitch As I continue to dig through boxes of old Disney stuff to scan for our Gallery, I love finding things I’ve forgotten about. These sweet photos were taken from a small plane or helicopter during the construction of EPCOT Center, given to me by a friend years ago. (No, I was not in that plane but man I wish I had been!) I’d like to know when they were taken and I’m trying to figure that out. If any of you can decipher, let me know.

The first photo in the above side-by-side comparison was taken in an earlier flight. Notice that a lot of Future World is well underway but Communicore East has barely been started? And Communicore West is mostly dirt. Notice the lagoon is quite underdeveloped compared to the following photos.

It’s interesting that the front entrance has plenty of grass and trees, as do the United Kingdom Pavilion and the lagoon islands yet there is very little pavement anywhere. I like seeing the space for The Living Seas cleared away even though that pavilion wouldn’t open until years later. Something is going on in the space that would later house Horizons. The front of the World of Motion building looks uncluttered (and would stay that way until 1998 when that hideous awning and the stupid test dummy stuff would ruin the view). Of course the America Gardens Theater covered stage was non-existent. No International Gateway. Check out the U.K. and that path next to it. I’d like to know more about that.

Dreamfinder and Figment are looking forward to moving in. Both are oblivious that the company would murder Dreamfinder and attempt to murder Figment the following decade. Singing fish are not even considered at this point, however singing food products are about to make their debut at The Land. Communicore is about to show the world how cool the future would be. Innoventions has not yet bullied Commuicore right out of the building in order to show the world how lame the present can be.

If you look really close to some of these photos you can see John Hench and Marty Sklar trying to convince themselves that the real EPCOT would never have worked. Michael Eisner at this point has no clue what an “EPCOT” is or that he’d soon be granted power over such a thing. He has no idea just how “boring” this park would be (his words, not mine).

It must have been great to walk around Disney’s first non-Magic Kingdom theme park while it was coming to life. I love stories of everyone trying to acquire the little buttons, one for each pavilion with it's respective logo, in order to be granted access to that pavilion (photo to come). Talking with people who spent considerable time constructions site, I get a sense of wonder and amazement and an optimism that must have been amazing to witness first-hand.

Enjoy.

http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2011/5/14/epcot-center-construction-photos-future-world.html

[quote

EPCOT Center Construction Photos: Future World

Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 10:37AM Posted by Fritz

As

D23's Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th at the Walt Disney World Resort

kicks off today, and since we are (sadly) not in attendance, we bring you these rare EPCOT Center construction photos.

Destination D celebrates WDW's 40th anniversary this year. These pics were taken only some 30 years ago but they feature what we consider the second-most important milestone in WDW history.

]

[thecplusplusguy 7]

These are cool pictures, I've seen some of them before. The pic of the truck carrying the dinosaur is cool. That would be a funny traffic jam to be in.

Dan

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Very cool pics! Love being able to see the spiraled flooring inside Spaceship Earth.

[mikeymouse1 25]

Great Pic's! I remember going there when it was under construction and standing on a platform overlooking the park. I was only 4or 5 and I could swear that we rode the Monorail there on some sort of VIP thing and were able to stop and look at the construction.

[mikeymouse1 25]

Ive never noticed but there is a huge building attached to the back of Japan. I wonder was there supposed to be more to the exhibit

[CDNCruiser 14]

I forgot how good the entrance area looked before they put up all those horrible "tombstones" !

[Lou... 3,118]

Love these photos.

You'll notice a perimeter road in some of the shots. That's the replacement for the tunnel/utilidor concept used at MK, it's a much better idea. CM shuttle buses and delivery trucks use it. It's a pretty neat assignment because you stop at all the countries and pick up CMs wearing their country's costume. It's like the UN on the bus.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Love these photos.

You'll notice a perimeter road in some of the shots. That's the replacement for the tunnel/utilidor concept used at MK, it's a much better idea. CM shuttle buses and delivery trucks use it. It's a pretty neat assignment because you stop at all the countries and pick up CMs wearing their country's costume. It's like the UN on the bus.

Yet they abandoned that concept for Animal Kingdom. Seeing CMs walk through the front gates in costume, GRRRRRRR

[Discamper 394]

Yet they abandoned that concept for Animal Kingdom. Seeing CMs walk through the front gates in costume, GRRRRRRR

I think a lot of that started when CM were able to take their costume home. When I was a CM you had to pick up your costume when you started and had to drop it off then you left and there was no way in hell you could leave the property with it.

[WannaBeImagineer 98]

I forgot how good the entrance area looked before they put up all those horrible "tombstones" !

Hey CDNCruiser! I know this is off topic but I wanted to tell you that I love yalls trip reports you and Carol do. We always follow along and your last two cruise trips looked like loads of fun! Ya'll always look truly happy and like your having a great time with friends. Oh and by the way I'm about to turn 30 and I've already got slightly poopy knees, lol.

I hope this didn't make me sound like a staker, just wanted to let you know that we enjoy your trip reports and we're envious of all the traveling! Hopefully we'll run into ya'll one day at the Fort.

Nick

Oh by the way I agree with the "tombstones" comment, I never really understood those things.

[Lou... 3,118]

Yet they abandoned that concept for Animal Kingdom. Seeing CMs walk through the front gates in costume, GRRRRRRR

Nope, not abandoned, they use the perimeter road concept at Epcot, AK ,& DHS.

Your guess is as good as mine as to why CMs are going in through the guest turnstiles at AK. There is a main CM entrance which is not visible to guests. It might be CMs that work at locations very close to the main entrance.

[mikeymouse1 25]

Nope, not abandoned, they use the perimeter road concept at Epcot, AK ,& DHS.

Your guess is as good as mine as to why CMs are going in through the guest turnstiles at AK. There is a main CM entrance which is not visible to guests. It might be CMs that work at locations very close to the main entrance.

There is a C/M parking lot between the guest lot and the bus stops at AK. I too have seen them walking in the front gate to work. It kinda gives ya that budget park feeling!!!