Epcot

"EPCOT" redirects here. For the original concept upon which the theme park was planned from, see EPCOT (concept).

Epcot
Spaceship Earth, the landmark of EPCOT
LocationWalt Disney World, Bay Lake, Florida, United States
Coordinates28°22′16″N 81°33′00″W / 28.371°N 81.550°W / 28.371; -81.550
StatusOperating
OpenedOctober 1, 1982 (42 years ago) (1982-10-01)
OwnerDisney Experiences
(The Walt Disney Company)
Operated byWalt Disney World
Key people:
Kartika Rodriguez (VP)[1]
Javier Rossy (GM, Operations)[2]
Theme
SloganThe magic of possibility
Operating seasonYear-round
WebsiteEPCOT
Walt Disney World
Theme parks
Water parks
Other attractions and areas
Resorts
Affiliated services
Transport

Epcot, stylized in all uppercase as EPCOT, is a 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 human achievement, particularly technological innovation and international culture and is known for its iconic landmark Spaceship Earth, a geodesic sphere.

During early development of the Florida property, Walt Disney wanted to build an 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 305 acres (123 hectares), more than twice the size of Magic Kingdom Park. In 2023, the park attracted 11.98 million guests, making it the eighth-most visited theme park in the world.[3]

  1. ^ Slater, Laurel (March 26, 2021). "Meet the Women Behind the Magic Leading and Protecting Walt Disney World Theme Parks". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  2. ^ Antoldi, Maryanna (October 14, 2021). "Creating a Positive and Inclusive Environment for All". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  3. ^ "TEA/AECOM 2023 Global Attractions Attendance Report". 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.