EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration (1982)

EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration Poster

Danny Kaye tours EPCOT Center, singing its praises in Future World and the World Showcase. He meets celebrities and park characters like Dreamfinder and Figment, and speaks with some of the people responsible for creating the park.

Introduction
"EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration" is a 1982 tv special that documented the grand opening of EPCOT Center, a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Produced as an ambitious accompanying park to the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT was developed to display the developments of the future and celebrate the different cultures of the world. The star-studded opening event was telecasted on October 23, 1982, and featured famous celebs, elegant musical numbers, and excellent unique impacts.

Principle and Design of EPCOT
EPCOT, which stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, was an idea initially conceived by Walt Disney himself, who envisioned a futuristic city that would show advances in innovation and city preparation. Although the preliminary prepare for a working city was eventually discarded, the amusement park version kept the spirit of innovation and progress at its core. EPCOT was divided into 2 distinct areas: Future World, which highlighted technological improvements, and World Showcase, which celebrated the diverse cultures of eleven different nations. The park was an ambitious $1.2 billion job that covered 260 acres and took three years to develop.

Celeb Appearances
The opening celebration was a star-studded occasion, with numerous popular personalities making appearances throughout the unique. Hosted by Danny Kaye, the show also consisted of musical performances from the likes of Marie Osmond, performing a rendition of "New World Bound", and high-energy dance numbers from the Osmond siblings. The Miami Sound Machine offered an electrifying performance, and the world-renowned French mime Marcel Marceau showcased his distinct talent. The young Drew Barrymore, fresh off her success in "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", made a special appearance, revealing her enjoyment about the opening of the park and riding a few of its tourist attractions.

Special Effects and Musical Numbers
The tv unique showcased the cutting-edge unique effects and technological marvels of the park, some of which were incorporated into the fancy musical numbers staged throughout the show. The grand finale, entitled "The Great EPCOT Inauguration Celebration", was an awesome spectacle that included a futuristic water ballet, pyrotechnics, and an efficiency by the Florida A&M University marching band. The event culminated in the magnificent unveiling of Spaceship Earth, the park's iconic geodesic sphere that still stands as the sign of EPCOT to this day.

Tradition of EPCOT Center
In the 3 decades because the park's opening, EPCOT has continued to develop, showcasing a myriad of new tourist attractions and upgrading its existing ones to show altering technological trends and world occasions. A few of the attractions that debuted during the 1982 opening and were included in the unique, such as Horizons, World of Motion, and the initial Journey Into Imagination, have been replaced or reimagined throughout the years.

However, the park has remained true to its original mission of celebrating resourcefulness, human accomplishment, and international cooperation. Today, EPCOT is an integral part of the larger Walt Disney World Resort and welcomes millions of visitors from around the globe every year, who concern experience the park's special blend of entertainment and education.

Conclusion
"EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration" is a testament to the aspiration and imagination behind one of Walt Disney World's many renowned parks. The 1982 tv special showcased the splendour and optimism of EPCOT Center, recording the enjoyment and marvel of the park's opening day. By highlighting its technological marvels, varied cultural offerings, and the star-studded performances, the unique left a long lasting impression on audiences and developed EPCOT as a positive and innovative location.

Top Cast

  • Danny Kaye (small)
    Danny Kaye
    Self
  • Drew Barrymore (small)
    Drew Barrymore
    Self
  • Eric Sevareid (small)
    Eric Sevareid
    Self
  • Roy Clark
    Self
  • Alex Haley
    Self
  • MJ Lallo
    Narrator / Nat'l
  • Marie Osmond (small)
    Marie Osmond
    Self
  • Alan Shepard
    Self
  • Ron Schneider
    Dreamfinder