10 Things You Didn't Know About Epcot

10. Walt's Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow

Epcot walt disney
Disney

When Walt Disney dreamt up the idea for Epcot it was never supposed to be the park you visit today.

Following Disneyland, Walt wanted to build a futuristic city, a community. That city was the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Or EPCOT, for short.

Walt had a daring dream to create a city with homes, hotels and even an airport. This was to be an industrial park area, a welcome centre and of course, a theme park area. All of this accessible by People Movers and Monorails.

The plan had been to first build Magic Kingdom, a park not too different from Disneyland and then go on to build this elaborate city of tomorrow for his Florida project.

Walt even made a film telling the world about his plans for the Disney World Florida Project and the dream he had to create this city of the future.

When Walt passed away in 1966 the corporation decided not to continue with his idea and instead focused on the Magic Kingdom. Without his vision to lead them the EPCOT concept was put on hold. It wasn't until the 1970's that the idea for the park was looked at seriously again.

Rather than the elaborate city of tomorrow, Epcot would now be a park based on the world's fair. A place that mixed education and entertainment.

The park was named EPCOT Centre as it would have never existed without the idea of the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Part of the dedication reads: "Epcot Center is inspired by Walt Disney's creative genius. Here, human achievements are celebrated through imagination, the wonders of enterprise, and concepts of a future that promises new and exciting benefits for all."

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Jen has been a writer and video editor at WhatCulture for over 10 years. She has a BA Hons in History from Newcastle University and in a past life worked at Beamish Open Air Museum and was a corporate trainer (BTC Award in Education and Training). Jen joined WhatCulture to discuss all things Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World, as well as her love of all things movies. She has worked closely with Universal and Disney, giving WhatCulture readers breaking news and exclusives. Her knowledge of Disney parks has lead her to be published by The Sun. If you've ever completed a Disney movies or Friends quiz on WhatCulture it was probably written by Jen. Jen's love of all things Universal's Halloween Horror Nights brought her to WhatCulture's Horror Channel as a video editor. Her video edits can be found across WhatCulture's Film & TV and Horror channels, along with WhatCulture's Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts.