It used to be a running joke amongst various people I know that the inevitable answer to the question “Where did you go on holiday?” each summer would be “Walt Disney World“. When we started going there were just the two theme parks, the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Center. I don’t think I realised it at the time, but perhaps even then EPCOT was my favourite park. Spaceship Earth (about the development of human communication) and Horizons (about the technological developments coming in the near future) were probably my favourite rides in the park with Journey Into Imagination (with Captain EO next door) and the original ImageWorks quite high up there too… and World of Motion. I suppose being a Web Developer with a keen love of cars, driving and motorsport that all makes sense.

It is sad to think really that Horizons was demolished and replaced, Journey Into Imagination had many revamps that weren’t as good as the original and ImageWorks was removed. Test Track was an improvement on World of Motion, but it did seem like a lot of holidays were spent wondering if and when it would open. That was (mostly) done in the 90s though when EPCOT was the age of a spotty teenager… We all make mistakes in those years. Last time I was there they had added Soarin’ it was absolutely fantastic so here is hoping the future is bright.

I remember being in the World in 1991 for the 20th Anniversary of the opening and again in 1996 for the 25th, etc, but those days didn’t resonate with me, probably because at the time (I was 9 and 14 respectively) 1971 seemed like pre-history. EPCOT, my favourite park turns 25 today though, which makes it the same age as me, so perhaps that’s why it means something to me. I hope to still be going and enjoying it in another 25 years when I’ll be 50 too.