View source for Epcot

{{Short description|Theme park at Walt Disney World}}
{{redirect|EPCOT|the original concept upon which the theme park was planned from|EPCOT (concept)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{use American English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox amusement park
| name = EPCOT
| logo = Epcot logo 2019.svg
| image = Spaceship Earth, EPCOT.jpg
| caption = [[Spaceship Earth (Epcot)|Spaceship Earth]], the landmark of EPCOT
| slogan = The magic of possibility
| location = [[Walt Disney World]]
| location2 = [[Bay Lake, Florida]]
| location3 = United States
| coordinates = {{coord|28.371|-81.550|region:US-FL_type:landmark_dim:2000|format=dms|display=title,inline}}
| theme = {{Unbulleted list|
* Human achievement
* [[Technology|Technological innovation]]
* [[Globalization|International culture]]
}}
| homepage = {{URL|https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/epcot/ | EPCOT}}
| owner = [[Disney Experiences]]<br />([[The Walt Disney Company]])
| operator = [[Walt Disney World]]<br />'''Key people:'''<br />Kartika Rodriguez (VP)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slater |first=Laurel |date=March 26, 2021 |title=Meet the Women Behind the Magic Leading and Protecting Walt Disney World Theme Parks |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/03/meet-the-women-behind-the-magic-leading-and-protecting-walt-disney-world-theme-parks/ |access-date=April 12, 2024 |website=Disney Parks Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=December 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201220927/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/03/meet-the-women-behind-the-magic-leading-and-protecting-walt-disney-world-theme-parks/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />Javier Rossy (GM,&nbsp;Operations)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Antoldi |first=Maryanna |date=October 14, 2021 |title=Creating a Positive and Inclusive Environment for All |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/10/creating-a-positive-and-inclusive-environment-for-all/ |access-date=April 12, 2024 |website=Disney Parks Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=December 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201141728/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/10/creating-a-positive-and-inclusive-environment-for-all/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| opening_date = {{Start date and age|1982|10|1|p=yes}}
| season = Year-round
| status = Operating
}}
{{DWR}}

'''EPCOT''' is a [[Amusement park|theme park]] at the [[Walt Disney World]] Resort in [[Bay Lake, Florida]]. It is owned and operated by [[The Walt Disney Company]] through its [[Disney Experiences]] division. The park opened on October 1, 1982, as '''EPCOT Center'''—the second of four theme parks built at the resort. Often referred to as a "permanent [[world's fair]]", EPCOT is dedicated to the celebration of [[Humanities|human achievement]], particularly technological [[innovation]] and international [[culture]] and is known for its iconic landmark [[Spaceship Earth (Epcot)|Spaceship Earth]], a [[Geodesic dome|geodesic sphere]].

During early development of the Florida property, [[Walt Disney]] wanted to build an [[EPCOT (concept)|experimental planned community]] showcasing modern innovation, known as "EPCOT", an acronym for '''Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow'''. After Disney's death in 1966, the company felt his grand vision was impractical. However, it laid the groundwork for EPCOT Center, a theme park that retained the core spirit of Disney's vision. The park was divided into two distinct areas: Future World reprises the idea of showcasing modern innovation through [[educational entertainment]] attractions within [[avant-garde]] pavilions, while World Showcase highlights the diversity of human cultures from various nations. From the late 2010s to the early 2020s, the park underwent a major overhaul, adding new attractions and Future World was restructured into three areas: World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature.

The park spans {{convert|305|acres|ha|abbr=off}}, more than twice the size of [[Magic Kingdom|Magic Kingdom Park]]. In 2023, the park attracted 11.98 million guests, making it the eighth-most visited theme park in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:13691780-8574-4346-89a1-7841afe1c597?viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover|title = TEA/AECOM 2023 Global Attractions Attendance Report |date = 2024 |access-date = August 16, 2024 }}</ref>

== History ==
=== 1960s: Experimental concept ===
{{Main|EPCOT (concept)}}
[[File:Progress City Model 2024 (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|The remaining portion of the Progress City model, the original concept for the city of EPCOT, seen on display from the [[PeopleMover (Magic Kingdom)|PeopleMover]] at Magic Kingdom in 2024]]
The genesis for EPCOT was originally conceived as a [[utopia]]n city of the future by [[Walt Disney]] in the 1960s. The concept was an acronym for [[EPCOT (concept)|Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow]], often interchanging "city" and "community."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Patches |first1=Matt |title=Inside Walt Disney's Ambitious, Failed Plan to Build the City of Tomorrow |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/news/a35104/walt-disney-epcot-history-city-of-tomorrow/ |website=esquire.com |date=May 20, 2015 |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> In Walt Disney's words in 1966: "EPCOT will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centers of American industry. It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed but will always be introducing and testing, and demonstrating new materials and new systems. And EPCOT will always be a showcase to the world of the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise."

Walt Disney's original vision, sometimes called Progress City, would have been home to 20,000 residents and would be a living laboratory showcasing cutting-edge technology and [[urban planning]]. It was to be built in the shape of a circle with an urban city center in the center with community buildings, schools, and recreational complexes. It would be surrounded by rings of residential areas and industrial areas, all connected by [[monorails|monorail]] and [[PeopleMover]] lines. Automobile traffic would be kept underground, leaving pedestrians safe above ground. This radial plan concept is strongly influenced by British planner [[Ebenezer Howard]] and his [[Garden Cities of To-morrow]].

Disney went as far as petitioning the [[Florida State Legislature]] for the creation of the [[Reedy Creek Improvement District]] (RCID), with the authority of a governmental body over the Walt Disney World land. The RCID was established in 1967. However, Walt Disney was not able to obtain funding and permission to start work on his Florida property until he agreed to first build the [[Magic Kingdom]] theme park. He died in 1966, nearly five years before Magic Kingdom opened.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2017 |title=35 incredible facts about Disney's EPCOT theme park |url=https://abc13.com/happy-birthday-epcot-disney-theme-park-turns-35/2475648/ |access-date=March 14, 2022 |website=ABC13 Houston |language=en}}</ref>

=== 1970s: Concept evolves into park ===
After Walt Disney's death, the company decided that it did not want to be in the business of running a city without Walt's guidance. The original plans for the park showed indecision over the park's purpose. Some [[Walt Disney Imagineering|Imagineers]] wanted it to represent the cutting edge of [[emerging technologies]], while others wanted it to showcase international cultures and customs. At one point, a model of the futuristic park was pushed together against a model of a [[World's Fair]] international theme, and the two were combined.

The park was originally named EPCOT Center to reflect the ideals and values of the city. It was constructed for an estimated $800&nbsp;million to $1.4&nbsp;billion and took three years to build, at the time the largest construction project on Earth.<ref name="Kurtti">{{cite book |title=Since the World Began: Walt Disney World, The First 25 Years |last=Kurtti |first=Jeff |year=1996 |publisher=[[Disney Hyperion|Hyperion]] |location=New York, New York |isbn=0-7868-6248-3 |page=89 |ref=kur96}}</ref> The park spans {{convert|305|acres|ha|abbr=off}}, more than twice the size of [[Magic Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Epcot Fact Sheet |url=http://wdwnews.com/fact-sheets/2016/07/01/epcot-fact-sheet/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616203956/http://wdwnews.com/fact-sheets/2016/07/01/epcot-fact-sheet/ |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |access-date=January 8, 2018 |website=wdwnews.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Epcot Theme Park {{pipe}} Walt Disney World Resort |url=http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123032515/http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/ |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |access-date=October 4, 2014 |publisher=Walt Disney World Resort}}</ref> The parking lot serving the park is {{convert|141|acres}} (including bus area) and can accommodate 11,211 vehicles.

=== 1980s: Opening and operation ===
The grand opening festivities for EPCOT took place over three weeks in October 1982—supervised and directed by Disney Legend [[Bob Jani]]. The park officially opened to the public on October 1, with a dedication ceremony in front of [[Spaceship Earth (Epcot)|Spaceship Earth]] that served as both the kick-off ceremony as well as the dedication of the Spaceship Earth attraction itself. Presiding over the ceremony was Walt Disney Productions chairman and CEO [[Card Walker]], Florida Governor [[Bob Graham]], and president of AT&T (the sponsor of Spaceship Earth at opening) [[William M. Ellinghaus|William Ellinghaus]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=October 1, 2022 |title=The Opening of EPCOT: Part One |url=https://sparkcatcherblog.wordpress.com/2022/10/01/the-opening-of-epcot-part-1/ |access-date=October 25, 2024 |website=Sparkcatcher |language=en}}</ref>

On opening day, Future World featured six pavilions: Spaceship Earth, [[CommuniCore]], [[Imagination! (Epcot)|Journey Into Imagination]], [[The Land (Epcot)|The Land]], [[Universe of Energy]], and [[World of Motion]]. World Showcase featured nine pavilions: [[Mexico Pavilion at Epcot|Mexico]], [[China Pavilion at Epcot|China]], [[Germany Pavilion at Epcot|Germany]], [[Italy Pavilion at Epcot|Italy]], [[The American Adventure (Epcot)|The American Adventure]], [[Japan Pavilion at Epcot|Japan]], [[France Pavilion at Epcot|France]], [[United Kingdom Pavilion at Epcot|United Kingdom]], and [[Canada Pavilion at Epcot|Canada]]. 

Each pavilion had its own custom opening ceremony throughout the next three weeks—culminating in the three-day grand opening event.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 10, 1982 |title=Opening Ceremonies Set for October |url=https://www.epcotlegacy.com/newsbriefs/9-10-82 |access-date=October 25, 2024 |website=E82 {{!}} The Epcot Legacy |language=en-US}}</ref> On October 24, 1982, EPCOT was officially dedicated by Walt Disney Productions executive chairman Donn Tatum and Card Walker.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |date=October 29, 2022 |title=The Opening of EPCOT: Part Five |url=https://sparkcatcherblog.wordpress.com/2022/10/29/the-opening-of-epcot-part-five/ |access-date=October 25, 2024 |website=Sparkcatcher |language=en}}</ref> A 450-piece marching band made up of players from college bands all over the country performed several songs including "We've Just Begun to Dream" and "The World Showcase March"—the latter written exclusively for the opening events by the Sherman Brothers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Veness |first1=Susan |title=The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World: Over 600 Secrets of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom |date=2015 |publisher=Adams Media |page=143 |isbn=978-1-4405-8781-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iUXsDQAAQBAJ&q=we%27ve+just+begun+to+dream+epcot+opening&pg=PA143 |access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |title=Official Grand Opening Ceremonies for EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World |url=https://d23.com/this-day/official-grand-opening-ceremonies-for-epcot-center-at-walt-disney-world/ |website=d23.com |date=October 22, 1982 |publisher=D23 |access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref> Water was gathered from major rivers, lakes, and seas from across the globe and emptied into the park's Fountain of Nations to mark the opening.<ref name=":0" />

During the 1980s, several additional pavilions opened: [[Horizons (Epcot)|Horizons]] in 1983, [[Morocco Pavilion at Epcot|Morocco]] in 1984, [[The Seas with Nemo & Friends|The Living Seas]] in 1986, [[Norway Pavilion at Epcot|Norway]] in 1988, and [[Wonders of Life]] in 1989.

=== 1990s–2000s: Change in vision ===
[[File:Epcot1996.jpg|thumb|EPCOT in 1996]]
Despite its initial success, EPCOT was constantly faced with the challenges of evolving with worldwide progress, an issue that caused the park to lose relevance and become outdated in the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-08-25/disney-theme-parks-marvel-star-wars-epcot|title=D23 Expo: Is Disney's intellectual property squeezing the theme out of our theme parks?|last=Martens|first=Todd|date=August 25, 2019|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 5, 2019}}</ref> To maintain attendance levels, Disney introduced seasonal events such as the [[Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival|International Flower & Garden Festival]] and the [[Epcot International Food & Wine Festival|International Food & Wine Festival]] in 1994 and 1995, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Craig |first1=Dezern |title=DISNEY FLOWER POWER |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1994-04-23-9404261039-story.html |access-date=May 12, 2020 |work=orlandosentinel.com |date=April 23, 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Friend |first1=Samantha |title=Photos of People Getting Happily Drunk in Disney World |url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ppa4vg/disneys-food-and-wine-fetival |website=vice.com |date=December 6, 2016 |publisher=Vice |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> 

It was during this era that The Walt Disney Company sought to differentiate the EPCOT theme park from Walt Disney's EPCOT concept by making the park's name a word rather than a acronym—spelling it in lowercase as a proper noun: "Epcot". Walt Disney World then added the current year to the park's name, emulating the naming scheme for expos and world's fairs like [[Expo 67]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-28 |title=A Look Back at the EPCOT '94 Guidemap |url=https://touringplans.com/blog/a-look-back-at-the-epcot-94-guidemap/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=TouringPlans.com Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> The park became Epcot '94 and Epcot '95 before Disney quietly abandoned the naming concept in 1996 and the park simply became Epcot.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Figueroa |first=Jessica |date=2020-02-20 |title=Walt Disney World Officially Confirms Epcot Name Change to EPCOT as Part of Park's Transformation |url=https://wdwnt.com/2020/02/walt-disney-world-officially-confirms-epcot-name-change-to-epcot-as-part-of-parks-transformation/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=WDW News Today |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the mid-1990s, Disney also began to gradually phase out the park's [[Educational entertainment|edutainment]] attractions in favor of more modern and thrilling attractions.<ref name="Martin 2019">{{Cite news|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/08/epcot-changes.html|title=Epcot's Midlife Crisis: Disney Reveals a Huge Makeover for the Park's 40th Birthday|last=Martin|first=Garrett|date=August 29, 2019|work=Paste Magazine|access-date=September 9, 2019}}</ref> As a result, many of the attractions within the Future World pavilions, were either overhauled or replaced entirely. [[The Land (Epcot)|The Land]] pavilion saw its attractions replaced under new sponsor [[Nestlé]] between late 1993 and January 1995, and Spaceship Earth was updated with music by Edo Guidotti and narration from [[Jeremy Irons]] in 1994. [[Universe of Energy]] was reconfigured as [[Universe of Energy|Ellen's Energy Adventure]] in 1996. [[Journey into Imagination with Figment#Journey into Imagination|Journey Into Imagination]] closed in 1998 and was replaced with [[Journey into Imagination with Figment#Journey into YOUR Imagination|Journey into YOUR Imagination]] the following year, [[World of Motion]] was replaced with [[Test Track]], and [[Horizons (Epcot)|Horizons]] was demolished in 1999 and replaced with [[Mission: Space|Mission: SPACE]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Epcot's World of Motion Became Test Track |date=March 16, 2018 |url=https://thenewswheel.com/how-epcots-world-of-motion-became-test-track/ |website=The News Wheel |access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Horizons |url=https://www.extinctdisney.com/horizons/ |website=extinctdisney.com |date=January 6, 2020 |access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref> 

In 2000, Walt Disney World held the [[Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration|Millennium Celebration]] with the central focus of the event at EPCOT, and a 25-story "magic wand" structure was built next to Spaceship Earth. [[Millennium Village]] was closed on January 1, 2001, and was turned into the World Showplace festival center, which is frequently used for EPCOT festivals. 

Attraction changes continued into the new millennium. Journey into YOUR Imagination closed in 2001 due to strong negative reception and was replaced with [[Journey into Imagination with Figment]] in 2002. The Living Seas was closed in 2005, and rethemed with the introduction of characters from ''[[Finding Nemo (franchise)|Finding Nemo]]'', as [[The Seas with Nemo & Friends]]. That same year, [[Soarin']], a flight simulator ride originally developed for [[Disney California Adventure|Disney California Adventure Park]], was added to [[The Land (Epcot)|The Land]] (replacing [[Food Rocks]]) following its massive popularity in California. The [[Wonders of Life]] pavilion closed in 2007, with the pavilion being occasionally used for the park's annual festivals until permanent closure. The Mexico pavilion's [[El Rio del Tiempo]] attraction closed on January 2, and [[Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros]] opened in its space a few months later. After the "magic wand" structure was removed from Spaceship Earth, the attraction's fourth version, narrated by [[Judi Dench]], soft-opened on December 8. ''Kim Possible'' World Showcase Adventure, an interactive scavenger hunt, opened at EPCOT in 2009.

=== 2010s–present: Transformation and redesign ===
[[File:Connections Cafe, EPCOT.jpg|thumb|As part of Future World's overhaul from 2019 to 2024, several original structures were reutilized, such as the [[CommuniCore]] Pavilion being repurposed as Connections Cafe.]]
Test Track was refurbished into a new version presented by [[Chevrolet]] in 2012, and Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure was rethemed to Agent P's World Showcase Adventure the same year. The Norway pavilion's [[Maelstrom (ride)|Maelstrom]] attraction closed in 2014 and replaced two years later by [[Frozen Ever After]]. Soarin' was also temporarily closed while a new film was added to the attraction. In 2017, Mission: SPACE was divided into a new green/Earth mission, and the original orange/Mars mission.

In November 2016, Disney revealed that EPCOT would be receiving “a major transformation” that would help transition the park into being “more Disney, timeless, relevant, family-friendly”.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2016/11/22/disney-confirms-major-transformation-at-epcot-and-rumors-are-flying|title=Disney confirms major transformation at Epcot and rumors are flying|last1=Storey|first1=Ken|date=November 22, 2016|work=Orlando Weekly|access-date=March 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314152525/http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2016/11/22/disney-confirms-major-transformation-at-epcot-and-rumors-are-flying|archive-date=March 14, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2017, the formal announcement came that EPCOT would undergo a multi-year redesign and expansion plan that would introduce ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy (film)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]'' and ''[[Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]'' attractions to Future World and World Showcase, respectively, as well as maintaining the original vision and spirit for the park.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/15/business/media/disney-epcot-theme-parks.html|title=Disney Vows to Give Epcot a Magical, Long-Overdue Makeover|last=Barnes|first=Brooks|date=July 15, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715181742/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/15/business/media/disney-epcot-theme-parks.html|archive-date=July 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of the announcement, [[Universe of Energy|Ellen's Energy Adventure]] closed the following month, and the pavilion's show building was reused for [[Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-et-s4-disney-epcot-construction-20180731-story.html|title=Disney World: Look at latest Epcot construction|last=Bevil|first=Dewayne|date=August 1, 2018|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=March 21, 2019}}</ref> while the EPCOT 35 Legacy Showcase exhibition opened in the Odyssey Pavilion. That same year, the park reported the first drop in overall attendance ranking among the four Walt Disney World Resort parks, dropping from second to third place, the first in its history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/08/24/disney-world-needs-to-fix-its-fading-theme-park.aspx|title=Disney World Needs to Fix Its Fading Theme Park|last=Munarriz|first=Rick|date=August 24, 2019|website=The Motley Fool|access-date=September 9, 2019}}</ref>

On August 25, 2019, at the 2019 [[D23 Expo]], Disney expanded on the plans for the improvements to EPCOT.<ref name="Epcot-D23-20192">{{cite web|url=http://www.fox13news.com/entertainment/epcot-to-undergo-multi-year-transformation-disney-announces-at-d23-expo|title=Major changes, new attractions coming to Epcot, Disney announces|date=August 25, 2019|work=fox13news.com|publisher=New World Communications of Tampa, Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827175619/http://www.fox13news.com/entertainment/epcot-to-undergo-multi-year-transformation-disney-announces-at-d23-expo |archive-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> One of the most significant changes announced was the creation of four distinct "neighborhoods"; the subdivision of Future World into three areas (World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature).<ref name="Epcot-D23-20192" /> [[Journey of Water|Journey of Water—Inspired by ''Moana'']]'','' a walkthrough attraction, was also announced.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haller |first=Sonja |title=Disney World is getting a 'Moana' attraction and there's no telling how far we'll go to get there |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/parenting/2019/08/26/moana-journey-water-attraction-coming-disney-worlds-epcot-finally/2122470001/ |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> At the same expo, Disney also announced that [[Pinar Toprak]] would be composing a new [[Anthem|musical anthem]] for the park. Toprak's "EPCOT Anthem" was eventually used in various nighttime shows, such as ''[[Harmonious (Epcot)|Harmonious]]'' and ''[[Luminous: The Symphony of Us|Luminous]],'' as well as featured in [[ambient music]] within the entrance plaza and throughout World Celebration.

On October 1, 2019, it was announced that a new nighttime fireworks show, ''[[Epcot Forever|EPCOT Forever]]'', and The EPCOT Experience Center, a preview space for the park's expansion project, would replace ''[[IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth]]'' and EPCOT 35 Legacy Showcase. In late 2019, EPCOT installed new directory signage in Seabase Alpha, restoring the former Living Seas logo, as the pavilion was renamed to The Seas Pavilion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wdwnt.com/2019/10/photos-the-living-seas-pavilion-logo-returns-on-sleek-new-directional-signage-inside-the-seas-at-epcot/|title=PHOTOS: The Living Seas Pavilion Logo Returns on Sleek New...|last=Figueroa|first=Jessica|date=October 11, 2019|website=WDW News Today|language=en-US|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> Agent P's World Showcase Adventure closed on February 23, 2020; it was slated to be replaced with ''DuckTales'' World Showcase Adventure, which did not open until 2022.

In early 2020, Disney officially announced that the park's name would revert back to all-uppercase (from Epcot to EPCOT) as an homage to both the park's original name and Walt Disney's original concept—although the name is still not an acronym.<ref name=":1" /> <ref name="Martin 2019" />

EPCOT [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on The Walt Disney Company|was closed]] from March 16 to July 15, 2020, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Florida]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/12/media/disney-world-close-coronavirus/index.html|title=Walt Disney World closes, paralyzing the company's tourism empire|author=Frank Pallotta|work=CNN|date=March 12, 2020|access-date=July 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2020/05/27/live-blog-walt-disney-world-reopening-plans-presentation/|title=Live Blog: Walt Disney World Presents Reopening Plans to Orange County Economic Recovery Taskforce|author=Laughing Place Staff|work=Laughing Place|date=May 27, 2020|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref> Modified operations were established, including a pause on concerts and fireworks, in order to promote sufficient [[Social distancing|physical distancing]]. ''[[Spaceship Earth (Epcot)|Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story]]'', the attraction's fifth update, the ''Wondrous China'' film, the PLAY! pavilion in World Discovery, and the United Kingdom pavilion's Cherry Tree Lane expansion were indefinitely delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the CommuniCore Hall exhibit space and the CommuniCore Plaza festival stage was built instead of a three-level festival pavilion.

On September 29, 2021, the nighttime spectacular ''[[Harmonious (Epcot)|Harmonious]]'' replaced ''EPCOT Forever'' as part of the resort's 50th anniversary celebration.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Harmonious' Will Tell a Story of Global Connection When it Debuts October 1 at EPCOT as Part of 'The World's Most Magical Celebration' |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/07/harmonious-will-tell-a-story-of-global-connection-when-it-debuts-october-1-at-epcot-as-part-of-the-worlds-most-magical-celebration/ |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=Disney Parks Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=September 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909155748/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/07/harmonious-will-tell-a-story-of-global-connection-when-it-debuts-october-1-at-epcot-as-part-of-the-worlds-most-magical-celebration/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The show ended its run on March 31, 2023, in preparation for ''[[Luminous: The Symphony of Us]]'' which debuted later that year; ''EPCOT Forever'' returned during the interim period. [[Remy's Ratatouille Adventure]] (duplicated from [[Disneyland Paris]]) opened in the France pavilion on October 1 as part of the same celebrations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Just Announced! Remy's Ratatouille Adventure Grand Opening at EPCOT Set for Oct. 1, 2021, in Honor of Walt Disney World Resort's 50th Anniversary |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/03/just-announced-remys-ratatouille-adventure-grand-opening-at-epcot-set-for-oct-1-2021-in-honor-of-walt-disney-world-resorts-50th-anniversary/ |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=Disney Parks Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310235900/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/03/just-announced-remys-ratatouille-adventure-grand-opening-at-epcot-set-for-oct-1-2021-in-honor-of-walt-disney-world-resorts-50th-anniversary/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The EPCOT Experience Center closed in 2022, and [[Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind]] opened on May 27.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Opens May 27 at EPCOT! |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2022/04/guardians-of-the-galaxy-cosmic-rewind-opens-may-27-at-epcot/ |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=Disney Parks Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404193613/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2022/04/guardians-of-the-galaxy-cosmic-rewind-opens-may-27-at-epcot/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Journey of Water|Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana]] opened in World Nature opened on October 16, 2023, and World Celebration Gardens, divided into five sections (Inspiration Gardens, CommuniCore Gardens, Connections Gardens, Creations Gardens, and Dreamers Point) opened on December 5 of that year. CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, named after the former Future World pavilion, opened to the general public on June 10, 2024. Test Track closed for refurbishment on June 17 to make way for the attraction's third iteration, with the return of [[General Motors]] sponsor, which will be reopen in late Summer 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=First look at EPCOT's new Test Track |url=https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202404/10144/ |access-date=April 5, 2024 |website=Theme Park Insider}}</ref> At D23 2024, it was announced that this lounge will take the place of the former Siemens lounge attached to Spaceship Earth and will open in late Spring 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2024 |title=New Spaceship Earth Lounge Coming to EPCOT - WDW News Today |url=https://wdwnt.com/2024/08/new-spaceship-earth-lounge-coming-to-epcot/ |access-date=August 17, 2024 |website=wdwnt.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |date=2024-12-03 |title=New Details About What’s Coming to Walt Disney World in 2025 |url=https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/new-details-about-whats-coming-to-walt-disney-world-in-2025/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Disney Parks Blog |language=en-US}}</ref>

On November 21, 2024, it was announced that the second stage has been installed in the CommuniCore Plaza Stage, and the stage will be the home of '''JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season''', as a seasonal entertainment offering during the 2024 annual EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mike |date=2024-11-21 |title=A Second Stage Has Arrived in CommuniCore Plaza at EPCOT |url=https://blogmickey.com/2024/11/second-stage-communicore-plaza-epcot/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=BlogMickey.com - Disney World News, Photos, and Info |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Park layout and attractions ==
{{See also|List of Epcot attractions}}
[[File:Walt Disney World Epcot Spaceship Earth (50099802977).jpg|thumb|The [[Walt Disney World Monorail System]] passes through World Celebration—providing transport between the park, [[Magic Kingdom]], and the [[Transportation and Ticket Center]].]]
EPCOT is divided into four themed areas, known as "neighborhoods": World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and World Showcase.

The park consists of a variety of [[avant-garde]] [[pavilion]]s that explore innovative aspects and applications including technology and science, with each pavilion featuring self-contained attractions and distinct architecture in its design. Currently, the park features ten major pavilions: Galaxy, Imagination, Journey, Land, Motion, Odyssey, Seas, Space, Spaceship Earth, and World Showcase, which itself has eleven individual nation pavilions.<ref name="Besand 2023">{{Cite web |last=Besand |first=Catherine |date=September 15, 2023 |title=First Look: 11 Must-Have Items in New EPCOT Reimagined Merch Collection |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2023/09/first-look-11-must-have-items-in-new-epcot-reimagined-merch-collection/ |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=disneyparksblog.com |archive-date=February 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208214643/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2023/09/first-look-11-must-have-items-in-new-epcot-reimagined-merch-collection/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

World Celebration, Discovery, and Nature were originally grouped as one area called Future World, which debuted with six pavilions: Spaceship Earth, [[CommuniCore]], Imagination!, The Land, [[Universe of Energy]], and [[World of Motion]]. The [[Horizons (Epcot)|Horizons]] pavilion opened the following year, and [[The Seas with Nemo & Friends|The Living Seas]] and [[Wonders of Life]] pavilions were added in 1986 and 1989, respectively, bringing the lineup to nine. CommuniCore, World of Motion, Horizons, Wonders of Life, Universe of Energy, and [[Innoventions (Epcot)|Innoventions]] closed in 1994, 1996, 1999, 2007, 2017, and 2019, respectively. The [[Fountain of Nations]], a large circular [[musical fountain]] which debuted with the park, was removed in 2019 as well. Each pavilion was initially sponsored by a corporation which helped fund its construction and maintenance in return for the corporation's logos and some marketing elements appearing throughout the pavilion.

Additionally, each pavilion of Future World featured a unique circular logo designed by Norm Inouye (except for the Wonders of Life logo due to its later introduction), which was featured on [[Marquee (structure)|park signage]] and throughout the attractions themselves.<ref name="D23 Epcot symbols">{{cite web|last=Crawford|first=Michael|title=The Symbolism Behind Epcot's Symbols|url=https://d23.com/the-symbolism-behind-epcots-symbols/|website=[[D23 (Disney)|D23]]|access-date=April 23, 2023|date=October 30, 2017}}</ref> The pavilion logos were gradually phased out in the early 2000s, as the pavilions instead were identified by name and recognized by the main attraction(s) housed inside. Several homages remained scattered throughout the park, including merchandising. However, in 2019, the circular pavilion logos were revived as part of the park's transformation, with both classic logos reprised and refreshed and newer logos introduced.<ref name="Epcot pavilion logos revival">{{cite web|last=Figueroa|first=Jessica|date=August 24, 2019|title=PHOTOS: New Epcot Pavilion Logos Revealed as Part of Exclusive Merchandise Line at D23 Expo 2019|url=https://wdwnt.com/2019/08/photos-new-epcot-pavilion-logos-revealed-as-part-of-exclusive-merchandise-line-at-d23-expo-2019/|access-date=October 5, 2019|website=WDW News Today}}</ref>

=== World Celebration ===
{{Gallery
| align = center
| mode = packed
| File:Spaceship Earth 2021 night lighting.jpg
| [[Spaceship Earth (Epcot)|Spaceship Earth]] 
| File:EpcotImagination.JPG
| [[Imagination! (Epcot)|Imagination!]] <br />(formerly Journey Into Imagination)
| File:Odyssey Pavilion, EPCOT.jpg
| Odyssey
}}

'''World Celebration''' serves as the park's main entrance and a central hub that honors global human interaction and connection, including communication, imagination, creativity, and [[The arts|the visual and culinary arts]].<ref name="Epcot-D23-201922">{{cite web |date=August 25, 2019 |title=Major changes, new attractions coming to Epcot, Disney announces |url=http://www.fox13news.com/entertainment/epcot-to-undergo-multi-year-transformation-disney-announces-at-d23-expo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827175619/http://www.fox13news.com/entertainment/epcot-to-undergo-multi-year-transformation-disney-announces-at-d23-expo |archive-date=August 27, 2019 |work=fox13news.com |publisher=New World Communications of Tampa, Inc.}}</ref> The neighborhood features four major pavilions—Spaceship Earth, Imagination, Odyssey, and CommuniCore—as well as additional attractions, shops, and restaurants.<ref name="Besand 2023" />

Guests enter through the main entrance and walk underneath [[Spaceship Earth (Epcot)|Spaceship Earth]], an eighteen-story-tall [[geodesic dome|geodesic sphere]] structure and the anchor pavilion, which also houses an eponymous [[dark ride]] attraction that depicts the history of [[communication]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pedersen |first1=R. A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IFyUx8XEE78C&pg=PA16 |title=The Epcot Explorer's Encyclopedia |date=2011 |publisher=R. A. Pedersen |isbn=978-1-4565-8966-0 |page=16 |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> Directly behind Spaceship Earth are the World Celebration Gardens and Dreamers Point, featuring lush interactive gardens, lighting fixtures and ''Walt the Dreamer—''a bronze statue commemorating [[Walt Disney]]. The [[Imagination! (Epcot)|Imagination!]] pavilion celebrates the concept of [[imagination]] and features [[Journey into Imagination with Figment]], a dark ride starring [[Figment (Disney)|Figment]] that explores [[Sensory nervous system|the senses]].  CommuniCore Hall and Plaza is a multi-use pavilion used for exhibitions, gallery space, a mixology bar, a [[demonstration kitchen]], and music performances, as well as meet-and-greets with Disney characters.<ref name="Haring 2019">{{Cite news |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date=August 25, 2019 |title=New Disney Theme Park Attractions, Restaurants And Parade Outlined At D23 |url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/disney-theme-park-attractioins-previewed-at-d23-1202703922/ |access-date=September 6, 2019 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> The Odyssey Pavilion is an exhibition space during the park's annual festivals.

World Celebration is also home to Creations Shop, the park's main [[gift shop]]; Connections Eatery & Cafe, a quick-service restaurant and [[Starbucks]] themed to [[Food history|global food history]]; and [[Club Cool]], an [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]]- themed attraction and shop featuring complimentary samples of Coca-Cola [[soft drink]]s from around the world.

=== World Discovery ===
{{Gallery
| align = center
| mode = packed
| File:Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT.jpg
| [[Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind]]<br />(formerly [[Universe of Energy]])
| File:Mission Space Epcot.jpg
| [[Mission: Space|Mission: SPACE]]<br />(former site of [[Horizons (Epcot)|Horizons]])
| File:Test Track, EPCOT (2024).jpg
| [[Test Track]]
}}

'''World Discovery''' centers on space, science, technology and intergalactic exploration. Lying on the east side of World Celebration, the Discovery neighborhood currently features three major pavilions in clockwise layout.<ref name="Besand 2023" />

[[Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind]], an enclosed spinning [[roller coaster]] based on the [[Guardians of the Galaxy (2008 team)|superhero team of the same name]]. The building originally opened as [[Universe of Energy]].

[[Mission: Space|Mission: SPACE]] is a [[Centrifuge|centrifugal]] [[motion simulator]] thrill ride that replicates a [[Spaceflight|space flight]] experience to [[Mars]] and a [[Geocentric orbit|low orbit]] tour over the surface of Earth. Next to it is [[Space 220 Restaurant|Space 220]], a [[Theme restaurant|themed restaurant]] simulating dining aboard a space station located 220 miles above Earth.<ref name="Epcot-D23-20192" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Space-Themed Restaurant Lands in Future World at Epcot |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/05/space-themed-restaurant-lands-in-future-world-at-epcot/ |access-date=February 24, 2019 |website=Disney Parks Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=May 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515223842/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/05/space-themed-restaurant-lands-in-future-world-at-epcot/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The building is located on the original plot site of [[Horizons (Epcot)|Horizons]].

[[Test Track]] is a high-speed [[slot car ride]] inspired by the [[Automotive engineering|automobile testing]] procedures that [[Chevrolet]] uses to evaluate concept cars. The Motion Pavilion was one of the original pavilions of EPCOT and has always housed an attraction sponsored by [[General Motors]].

In between Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Mission: SPACE is one standing but [[Play! Pavilion|unused pavilion]] that once housed [[Wonders of Life]].

=== World Nature ===
{{Gallery
| align = center
| mode = packed
| File:The Seas at EPCOT 2024.jpg
| [[The Seas with Nemo & Friends]]<br />(former The Living Seas)
| File:Journey of Water, EPCOT (2014).jpg
| [[Journey of Water|Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana]]
| File:The Land entrance.jpg
| [[The Land (Epcot)|The Land]]
}}

'''World Nature''' focuses on understanding and preserving the beauty, awe and balance of the natural world.<ref name="Epcot-D23-20192" /> Located on the west side of World Celebration, the Nature neighborhood features three major pavilions in counterclockwise layout—inspired by [[Human impact on the environment|human interaction with the Earth]], specifically [[ocean exploration]], [[hydrology]], [[agriculture]], [[horticulture]], [[ecology]], and travel.<ref name="Besand 2023" />

Based on ocean exploration and inspired by the ''[[Finding Nemo (franchise)|Finding Nemo]]'' series, [[The Seas with Nemo & Friends|The Seas]] pavilion features the [[List of largest aquaria#In operation|sixth-largest aquarium in the world]] with marine life exhibits; an [[Omnimover]] attraction inspired by ''[[Finding Nemo]];'' and [[Turtle Talk with Crush]], an interactive show hosted by [[Crusher|Crush]] from ''Finding Nemo''. Connected to the building is the [[Coral Reef Restaurant]], a themed seafood restaurant that provides views into the aquarium. Nearby is [[Journey of Water]], an outdoor [[Splash pad|walkthrough water attraction]] depicting the Earth's [[water cycle]], inspired by ''[[Moana (2016 film)|Moana]]''.<ref name="Haring 2019" /> Finally, [[The Land (Epcot)|the Land]] pavilion features three attractions; [[Soarin'|Soarin' Around the World]], an attraction that simulates a [[hang gliding]] flight over various regions of the world; [[Living with the Land]], a narrated boat tour through [[Audio-Animatronics]] scenes, a greenhouse and [[hydroponics]] lab; and ''[[The Land (Epcot)|Awesome Planet]]'', a short documentary film presented in the pavilion's Harvest Theater about the Earth's biomes and the perils of [[Global warming|climate change]].

=== World Showcase ===
{{Gallery
| align = center
| mode = packed
| File:Canada Pavilion (43268891311).jpg
| [[Canada Pavilion at Epcot|Canada]]
| United Kingdom street at Epcot (cropped).jpg
| [[United Kingdom Pavilion at Epcot|United Kingdom]]
| File:France Pavilion (41459076110).jpg
| [[France Pavilion at Epcot|France]]
| File:Morocco Pavilion (cropped).jpg
| [[Morocco Pavilion at Epcot|Morocco]]
| File:Japanese pagoda at Epcot.jpg
| [[Japan Pavilion at Epcot|Japan]]
| File:The American Adventure (23860705608).jpg
| [[The American Adventure (Epcot)|The American Adventure]]
| File:Italy, Epcot en janvier 2022 (2).JPG
| [[Italy Pavilion at Epcot|Italy]]
| File:Epcot-Deutschland (cropped).jpg
| [[Germany Pavilion at Epcot|Germany]]
| File:China pavilion at Epcot.jpg
| [[China Pavilion at Epcot|China]]
| File:Norway, Epcot en janvier 2022JPG.jpeg
| [[Norway Pavilion at Epcot|Norway]]
| File:Mexico at EPCOT (cropped).jpg
| [[Mexico Pavilion at Epcot|Mexico]]
}}

[[File:Epcot World Showcase Logo.svg | frameless | right ]]
'''World Showcase''' is the park's largest neighborhood, dedicated to representing the culture, history, cuisine, architecture, and traditions of 11 nations from across four continents—[[North America]], [[Europe]], [[Asia]], and [[Africa]]. Each nation pavilion features attractions, shops, restaurants, and landscaping that celebrate or portray authentic settings from each country—several pavilions also contain recreations inspired by existing buildings and landmarks, such as the [[Eiffel Tower]], [[Itsukushima Shrine]], [[Hampton Court Palace]], [[Château Laurier]], [[Gol Stave Church]], [[St Mark's Campanile]], and the [[Kutubiyya Mosque]]. Of the 11 pavilions, only [[Morocco Pavilion at Epcot|Morocco]] and [[Norway Pavilion at Epcot|Norway]] were not present at the park's opening, as they were added in 1984 and 1988 respectively.<ref name="World Showcase theoretical expansion" /> 

The nation pavilions surround the World Showcase Lagoon, a man-made lake located in the center of World Showcase with a perimeter of {{convert|1.2|mi|km}}, which is the site of the park's nighttime fireworks display, ''[[Luminous: The Symphony of Us]]''. In counter-clockwise order, the 11 pavilions are:

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Canada Pavilion at Epcot|Canada]]
* {{flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom Pavilion at Epcot|United Kingdom]]
* {{flagicon|France}} [[France Pavilion at Epcot|France]]
* {{flagicon|Morocco}} [[Morocco Pavilion at Epcot|Morocco]]
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan Pavilion at Epcot|Japan]]
* {{flagicon|US}} [[The American Adventure (Epcot)|United States]]
* {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italy Pavilion at Epcot|Italy]]
* {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Germany Pavilion at Epcot|Germany]]
* {{flagicon|China}} [[China Pavilion at Epcot|China]]
* {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Norway Pavilion at Epcot|Norway]]
* {{flagicon|Mexico|1934}} [[Mexico Pavilion at Epcot|Mexico]]
{{div col end}}

[[The American Adventure (Epcot)|The American Adventure]] is the host pavilion of World Showcase, sharing its name with its marquee attraction: a stage show detailing [[American history]] and hosted by [[Audio-Animatronics]] versions of [[Benjamin Franklin]] and [[Mark Twain]]. The pavilion also includes the American Heritage Gallery, a changing exhibition space. On the shores of the lagoon is the America Gardens Theatre, an outdoor [[amphitheater]] that hosts the park's festival concerts.

The France Pavilion hosts ''[[Impressions de France]]'' in Palais du Cinéma, an 18-minute [[Cinerama]]-style film depicting the culture of France, and along with ''Beauty and the Beast: Sing-Along''. Tucked behind the lagoon-facing portion of the pavilion is [[Remy's Ratatouille Adventure]], a 3D dark ride inspired by [[Pixar]]’s ''[[Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]''.

The Canada and China Pavilions each host [[Circle-Vision 360°]] [[film]]s—''[[Canada Far and Wide]]'' and ''[[Reflections of China]]''—that depict the diverse cultures and countrysides of their respective countries. Two dark boat rides reside within the Norway and Mexico Pavilions—[[Frozen Ever After]] and [[Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros]], respectively—inspired by ''[[Frozen (franchise)|Frozen]]'' and ''[[The Three Caballeros]]''.

A secondary park gate is located between the France and United Kingdom pavilions of World Showcase and is known as the International Gateway. The International Gateway is directly accessible to guests arriving from the [[Disney Skyliner]] and from [[Disney Transport#Watercraft|watercraft transport]], and by walkways from the nearby [[Epcot Area Resorts|EPCOT Area Resorts]] and [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]].<ref name="Disney History">{{cite web |title=Disney History – D23 |url=https://d23.com/disney-history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003643/https://d23.com/disney-history/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=December 21, 2015 |publisher=The Walt Disney Corporation}}</ref>

Each pavilion contains themed architecture, landscapes, streetscapes, attractions, shops and restaurants representing the respective country's culture and cuisine. In an effort to maintain the authenticity of the represented countries, the pavilions are primarily staffed by citizens of the respective countries as part of the [[Disney Cultural Representative Program|Cultural Representative Program]] through [[Q1 visa]] agreements. Some pavilions also contain themed [[List of Epcot attractions#World Showcase|rides, shows, and live entertainment]] representative of the respective country. The Morocco pavilion was directly sponsored by the Moroccan government until 2020, when Disney took ownership of the pavilion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 21, 2020 |title=BREAKING: Disney Officially Taking Ownership of All Morocco Pavilion Businesses at EPCOT – WDW News Today |url=https://wdwnt.com/2020/10/breaking-disney-officially-taking-ownership-of-all-morocco-pavilion-businesses-at-epcot/ |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=wdwnt.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The remaining pavilions are primarily sponsored by private companies with affiliations to the represented countries.

Originally, the showcase was to include partnerships with the governments of the different countries. According to Disney's 1975 Annual Report, the Showcase would:

{{blockquote|...offer participating countries a permanent installation for such features as themed restaurants and shops, product exhibits, industrial displays, cultural presentations, a trade center, and even special facilities for business meetings.

Major sponsorships for each participating nation will be asked to provide the capital to cover the cost of designing, developing and constructing its attraction and/or ride and all exhibits, as well as the Pavilion itself. It will also have the responsibility for funding the housing for its employees in the International Village. Its land lease will cover the cost of maintaining the attraction for a minimum of ten years.

The Disney organization will be responsible for area development, including the construction of transportation systems and utilities. We will also build and operate the internal people moving system, the Courtyard of Nations and central theater facility.<ref name="World Showcase theoretical expansion" />}}

==== Proposed pavilions and unused locations ====
There are currently seven undeveloped spots for countries around the World Showcase in between the locations of the current countries. Two sites are located on either side of the United Kingdom, one between France and Morocco, one between Morocco and Japan, one between Italy and Germany, and two between Germany and China.<ref name="World Showcase theoretical expansion">{{cite web|last1=Weiss|first1=Werner|title=Two Myths about World Showcase at Epcot|url=http://www.yesterland.com/worldshowcase.html |website=Yesterland.com|publisher=Yesterland|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref>

In 1982, Disney announced three pavilions were "coming soon": [[Israel]], [[Spain]] and [[Equatorial Africa]], blending elements of the cultures of countries such as [[Kenya]] and [[Zaire]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alarcon |first=Daniel  |date=January 20, 1982 |title=Disney to offer liquor at new EPCOT center |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/333800571/ |work=[[Tampa Times]] |pages=11}}</ref> A model of the Equatorial Africa pavilions was also shown on the opening day telecast. However, the pavilions were never built. Instead, a small African themed refreshment shop known as the "Outpost" currently resides in the area between China and Germany, where the Equatorial Africa pavilion was to be located.<ref name="World Showcase theoretical expansion" /><ref>{{cite web |author=Kristin |title=The Outpost in Epcot |url=https://www.couponingtodisney.com/outpost-epcot/ |website=couponingtodisney.com |date=June 13, 2014 |access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref>

More than 50 nations, among them, [[Brazil]], [[Chile]], [[India]], [[Indonesia]], [[Israel]], [[New Zealand]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Sweden]] and five African countries ([[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Kenya]], [[Namibia]], and [[South Africa]]), took part in the [[Millennium Village]], a project that took place in EPCOT during [[Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration|Millennium Celebration]] from 1999 to 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/millennium-village.htm |title=Millennium Village |access-date=March 2, 2020 |work=WDWmagic.com}}</ref> The Millennium Village was located inside a temporary structure built behind the United Kingdom pavilions that remains in use as [[Millennium Village|World ShowPlace]].

==== Alcohol policy ====
Unlike Magic Kingdom, which up until 2012 did not serve alcohol,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Genevieve Shaw|title=Magic Kingdom Now Offers Beer|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/beer-wine-now-disneys-magic-kingdom/story?id=17236828|work=ABC News|access-date=January 21, 2017|date=September 14, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621233520/https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/beer-wine-now-disneys-magic-kingdom/story?id=17236828|archive-date=June 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Nall|first1=McGee|title=Disney's Magic Kingdom Adds Alcohol to Menus|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/12/disneys-magic-kingdom-adds-alcohol-to-menus.html|access-date=January 21, 2017|work=pastemagazine.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002321/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/12/disneys-magic-kingdom-adds-alcohol-to-menus.html|archive-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> most stores and restaurants at EPCOT, especially in the World Showcase, serve and sell a variety of alcoholic beverages including specialty drinks, craft beers, wines, and spirits reflective of the respective countries. The park also hosts the [[Epcot International Food & Wine Festival|EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival]], an annual event featuring food and drink samplings from all over the world, along with live entertainment and special exhibits.

== Annual events ==
[[File:Epcot FlowerandGarden 2016 11 (25211946484).jpg|thumb|EPCOT during the annual Flower and Garden Festival]]
EPCOT hosts a number of special events during the year:
*The [[Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival|EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival]], inaugurated in 1994, uses specially-themed floral displays throughout the park, including [[topiary]] sculptures of Disney characters. Each event takes more than a full year to plan and more than 20,000 cast member hours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mouseinfo.com/forums/wdw-news-info/93587-fun-facts-bloom-across-305-acres-2011-epcot-international-flower-garden-festival.html |title=Mouseinfo.com |access-date=October 4, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006085815/http://www.mouseinfo.com/forums/wdw-news-info/93587-fun-facts-bloom-across-305-acres-2011-epcot-international-flower-garden-festival.html |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref>
*The [[Epcot International Food & Wine Festival|EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival]], inaugurated in 1995, draws amateur and professional gourmets to sample delicacies from all around the world, including nations that do not have a permanent presence in World Showcase. Celebrity chefs are often on-hand to host the events. In 2008, the festival featured the [[Bocuse d'Or USA]], the American semifinal of the biennial [[Bocuse d'Or]] cooking competition.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/2008/07/pretigious-bocu.html |title=Prestigious &#91;sic&#93; Bocuse d'Or competition &#91;sic&#93; to be part of Epcot Food & Wine Festival |first=Scott |last=Joseph |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |date=July 17, 2008 |access-date=July 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014033835/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/2008/07/pretigious-bocu.html |archive-date=October 14, 2008 }}</ref>
* The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, inaugurated in 2017, is a festival showcasing visual, culinary, and performing arts. The first annual event took place on weekends from January 13 through February 20, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/11/all-new-epcot-international-festival-of-the-arts-coming-to-walt-disney-world-in-january-2017/ |title=All-New Epcot International Festival of the Arts Coming to Walt Disney World Resort in January 2017 |last=Lim |first=Victoria |date=November 21, 2016 |website=Walt Disney World Resort Blog |publisher=The Walt Disney Company |access-date=November 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201091306/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/11/all-new-epcot-international-festival-of-the-arts-coming-to-walt-disney-world-in-january-2017/ |archive-date=December 1, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bevil |first=Dewayne |date=November 21, 2016 |title=Disney: New Epcot arts show will start in January |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-disney-epcot-art-show-20161121-story.html |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=January 30, 2016 }}</ref>
*The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (previously known as Epcot Holidays Around the World from 1996 to 2016), inaugurated in 2017, is the park's annual holiday celebration. The World Showcase pavilions feature storytellers describing their nation's holiday traditions, and three nightly performances of the [[Candlelight Processional (Disney Parks)|Candlelight Processional]] featuring an auditioned mass choir and a celebrity guest narrating the story of Christmas. Kiosks throughout the World Showcase feature holiday dishes. On [[New Year's Eve]], the park offers a variety of additional entertainment including live DJ dance areas throughout the park.

== Attendance ==
The Walt Disney Company generally does not publish attendance figures for its theme parks,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.frommers.com/blogs/arthur-frommer-online/blog_posts/disney-world-attendance-is-way-down-but-don-t-blame-politics|title=Disney World Attendance Is Way Down, but Don't Blame Politics|author=Jason Cochran|publisher=FrommerMedia LLC|date=July 13, 2023|accessdate=March 19, 2024}}</ref> so industry groups such as the [[Themed Entertainment Association]] estimate these figures.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Year
! Attendance<br />(millions)
! Ref
|-
!2011
|10.8
|<ref name="2011 Report">{{cite web|url=http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/Theme%20Index%202011.pdf |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association |access-date=November 20, 2012 |year=2011 |title=TEA/AECOM 2011 Global Attractions Report |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018203544/http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/Theme%20Index%202011.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2015 }}</ref>
|-
!2012
|11.0
|<ref name="2012 Report">{{cite web|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_27_147625_140617.pdf|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|access-date=April 18, 2014|year=2012|title=TEA/AECOM 2012 Global Attractions Report|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224020854/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_27_147625_140617.pdf|archive-date=December 24, 2015}}</ref>
|-
!2013
|11.2
| <ref name="2013 attendance">{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2013 Global Attractions Report |url=http://www.teaconnect.org/pdf/TEAAECOM2013.pdf |publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]] |access-date=June 6, 2014 |year=2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606220440/http://www.teaconnect.org/pdf/TEAAECOM2013.pdf |archive-date=June 6, 2014 }}</ref>
|-
!2014
|11.4
|<ref name="2014 attendance">{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2014 Theme Index and Museum Index|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_103_49736_150603.pdf|publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]]|access-date=June 3, 2015|year=2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626102318/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_103_49736_150603.pdf|archive-date=June 26, 2015}}</ref>
|-
!2015
|11.7
|<ref name="2015 attendance">{{cite web|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_268_653730_180517.pdf|title=TEA/AECOM 2017 Global Attractions Attendance Report Report|year=2017|publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]]|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519000915/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_268_653730_180517.pdf|archive-date=May 19, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
!2016
|11.7
|<ref name="2016 Report">{{cite web|last1=Au|first1=Tsz Yin (Gigi)|last2=Chang|first2=Bet|first3=Bryan|last3=Chen|first4=Linda|last4=Cheu|first5=Lucia|last5=Fischer|first6=Marina|last6=Hoffman|first7=Olga|last7=Kondaurova|first8=Kathleen|last8=LaClair|first9=Shaojin|last9=Li|first10=Sarah|last10=Linford|first11=George|last11=Marling|first12=Erik|last12=Miller|first13=Jennie|last13=Nevin|first14=Margreet|last14=Papamichael|first15=John|last15=Robinett|first16=Judith|last16=Rubin|first17=Brian|last17=Sands|first18=William|last18=Selby|first19=Matt|last19=Timmins|first20=Feliz|last20=Ventura|first21=Chris|last21=Yoshii|title=TEA/AECOM 2016 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report|url=http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2016-ThemeMuseum-Index.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2016-ThemeMuseum-Index.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|website=aecom.com|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|access-date=July 26, 2017|date=June 1, 2017}}</ref>
|-
!2017
|12.2
|<ref name="2017 Report">{{cite web|last1=Au|first1=Tsz Yin (Gigi)|last2=Chang|first2=Bet|first3=Bryan|last3=Chen|first4=Linda|last4=Cheu|first5=Lucia|last5=Fischer|first6=Marina|last6=Hoffman|first7=Olga|last7=Kondaurova|first8=Kathleen|last8=LaClair|first9=Shaojin|last9=Li|first10=Sarah|last10=Linford|first11=George|last11=Marling|first12=Erik|last12=Miller|first13=Jennie|last13=Nevin|first14=Margreet|last14=Papamichael|first15=John|last15=Robinett|first16=Judith|last16=Rubin|first17=Brian|last17=Sands|first18=William|last18=Selby|first19=Matt|last19=Timmins|first20=Feliz|last20=Ventura|first21=Chris|last21=Yoshii|title=TEA/AECOM 2017 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_268_653730_180517.pdf|website=teaconnect.org|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|access-date=May 17, 2018|date=May 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519000915/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_268_653730_180517.pdf|archive-date=May 19, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
!2018
|12.4
|<ref name="2018 Report">{{cite web|last1=Au|first1=Tsz Yin (Gigi)|last2=Chang|first2=Bet|first3=Bryan|last3=Chen|first4=Linda|last4=Cheu|first5=Lucia|last5=Fischer|first6=Marina|last6=Hoffman|first7=Olga|last7=Kondaurova|first8=Kathleen|last8=LaClair|first9=Shaojin|last9=Li|first10=Sarah|last10=Linford|first11=George|last11=Marling|first12=Erik|last12=Miller|first13=Jennie|last13=Nevin|first14=Margreet|last14=Papamichael|first15=John|last15=Robinett|first16=Judith|last16=Rubin|first17=Brian|last17=Sands|first18=William|last18=Selby|first19=Matt|last19=Timmins|first20=Feliz|last20=Ventura|first21=Chris|last21=Yoshii|title=TEA/AECOM 2018 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/328_572762_190522.pdf|website=teaconnect.org|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|access-date=May 24, 2019|date=May 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523131129/http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/328_572762_190522.pdf|archive-date=May 23, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
!2019
|12.4
|<ref name="2019 Report">{{cite web|last1=Au|first1=Tsz Yin (Gigi)|last2=Chang|first2=Bet|first3=Bryan|last3=Chen|first4=Linda|last4=Cheu|first5=Lucia|last5=Fischer|first6=Marina|last6=Hoffman|first7=Olga|last7=Kondaurova|first8=Kathleen|last8=LaClair|first9=Shaojin|last9=Li|first10=Sarah|last10=Linford|first11=George|last11=Marling|first12=Erik|last12=Miller|first13=Jennie|last13=Nevin|first14=Margreet|last14=Papamichael|first15=John|last15=Robinett|first16=Judith|last16=Rubin|first17=Brian|last17=Sands|first18=William|last18=Selby|first19=Matt|last19=Timmins|first20=Feliz|last20=Ventura|first21=Chris|last21=Yoshii|title=TEA/AECOM 2019 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report|url=https://aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019-Theme-Index-web.pdf|website=teaconnect.org|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|access-date=July 19, 2020|date=July 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717045157/https://aecom.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019-Theme-Index-web.pdf|archive-date=July 17, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
!2020
|4.04
|<ref name="2021 Report">{{cite web|url=https://www.teaconnect.org/tea-theme--museum-index.html|title=TEA/AECOM 2021 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|accessdate=March 19, 2024}}</ref>
|-
!2021
|7.75
|<ref name="2021 Report" />
|-
!2022
|10.0
|<ref name="2022 Report">{{cite web|url=https://www.teaconnect.org/tea-theme--museum-index.html|title=TEA/AECOM 2022 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|date=June 13, 2023|accessdate=March 19, 2024}}</ref>
|-
!2023
|11.98
|<ref name="2023 Report">{{cite web|url=https://www.teaconnect.org/tea-theme--museum-index.html|title=TEA/AECOM 2023 Theme Index & Museum Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|date=June 13, 2023|accessdate=August 15, 2024}}</ref>
|}

== See also ==
*[[List of Epcot attractions|List of EPCOT attractions]]
*[[Epcot Resort Area|EPCOT Resort Area]]
*[[WestCOT]]
{{Clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== Further reading ==
*[[Steve Alcorn|Alcorn, Steve]] and David Green. ''Building a Better Mouse: The Story of the Electronic Imagineers Who Designed Epcot''. Themeperks Press, 2007, {{ISBN|0-9729777-3-2}}.
*Mannheim, Steve (2002). ''Walt Disney and the Quest for Community''. Routledge. {{ISBN|0754619745}}.

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}

{{Adjacent stations|system=Walt Disney World Monorail|line=Epcot|left=TTC}}

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