3/11/2010

Tron to be on Monorails

According to the official Disney Parks Blog, monorails on the Epcot line will soon be wrapped in Tron artwork, complete with light cycles. The art will anticipate the release of Tron: Legacy coming to theaters in December of this year. To see some concept renderings of the art, and to read the full article, go to the Disney Parks Blog here.

Tron: Legacy is a sequal to Tron, which was released the same year Epcot opened in 1982. Tron is about a programmer who gets zapped into a computer where programs appear as human and video games mean life and death.

2/21/2010

World of Motion Section Updates

"It's fun to be free!" Our World of Motion section has been fueled up with more pictures and information, including more details on Transcenter.

Dedication of World of Motion TV Spot

Watch "The Dedication of the World of Motion: An EPCOT Moment" now in our video section. It's a short TV spot that aired on the Disney Channel in the 1980s.

1/29/2010

IMB's SmarterPlanet Now Open

IMB's new exhibit called SmarterPlanet is now fully open at Innoventions. The exhibit allows guests to use computer kiosks to play games and participate in a poll. The exhibit is themed around using smarter technology to solve planet-wide problems such as high energy usage, traffic, food spoilage, and more.

Another part of the new exhibit is a computer game called Runtime. Runtime allows guests to become characters who can move through IBM's history. The entire exhibit is also a showcase for IBM's Smarter Data Center, a module which runs the exhibit. To read IMB's press release for SmarterPlanet, go to their site here.

1/26/2010

Italy to Receive Fast-Food Eatery

According to the official Disney Parks Blog, the Italy pavilion will be receiving a brand new quick-service pizzeria this fall. The pizzeria will be presented by the Patina Restaurant Group - the same group behind Tutto Italia, the pavilion's table-service restaurant. The fare will include pizza and other Italian dishes. For the full article, go to the Disney Parks Blog here.

Mexico Cantina Expansion

According to the Orlando Business Journal website, Mexico's outdoor eatery, Cantina de San Angel, will be reopening with a new bigger area this fall. The eatery is already closed and under reconstruction.

The new restaurant will be almost three and a half times larger than the old one, accommodating many more guests. The restaurant will feature table-service dining, while also continuing quick-service dining. For the full article, go the the Orlando Business Journal site here.

1/3/2010

More Tattoo Fun: Symbols on the Back

A huge Epcot fan since it opened, Suzanne Barrett can now show off five of the symbols tattooed vertically down her back. Starting from the top, they go: The Living Seas, Horizons, World of Motion, Imagination, and CommuniCore - all bold in black. Click here to see some pictures.

The tattoos were done by Jeremy Blaze of Blaze Ink in Winnipeg, Canada. Thank you for sending it in, Suzanne!

12/18/2009

Symbols Tattooed in Unique Colors

Epcot Fan, Erica Erkkila, now has a tattoo of the Epcot symbols linked around her arm - each in a unique color scheme inspired by its pavilion. Click here to see a picture.

Spaceship Earth is lit in purples and pinks like the pavilion at night. Energy is powered with sun colors. The Living Seas contains an ocean scheme. The Land is made up of greens and golds, and Imagination is Figment-colored with the Mind's Eye at the center. Imagination also lends its Rainbow Tunnel scheme to World of Motion. The Horizons, CommuniCore, and EPCOT Center symbols are also part of the tattoo.

The tattoo was done by artist Jana Simpson. Thanks for sending it in, Erica!

Captain EO at Disneyland in 2010

The official Disney Parks Blog stated today that Captain EO will return to Disneyland in February 2010. According to the article, it will return for an "exclusive, limited engagement" at the California park. To read the full article, go to the Disney Parks Blog here.

There's still no word yet on whether or not EO will return to the Imagination pavilion at Epcot.

10/19/2009

Wonders of Life Section Updates

Wonders of Life opened 20 years ago today on October 19, 1989. To celebrate, we've added in more info and pictures to our Wonders of Life section, including Body Wars, Cranium Command, and Pure & Simple.

10/14/2009

Fan's "Century 3" Horizons Guitar

Named after Horizons' initial working name, Century 3 is Kyle Bodshaug's guitar that just got adorned with its name and the Horizons symbol. Click here to see a picture. The symbol also decorates the amplifier. All of his customization is done Awesome Brown, an artist who's also into EPCOT Center.

Kyle is part of Hadley's Hope, a band in Orlando. EPCOT Center is a huge influence on the band. Kyle even wears his Horizons memorial hat to all of their shows for good luck. Thank you for sending it in, Kyle!

Sum of all Thrills Now Open

Raytheon's Sum of all Thrills opened today at Innoventions. Guests get to design their own thrill ride with a roller coaster, bobsled, or jet plane theme. They then get to ride their creation in a KUKA RoboSim 4-D simulator. Find out more at Raytheon's website here.

Sum of all Thrills follows in the footsteps of Compute-a-Coaster, Epcot's original create-your-own-coaster exhibit, once part of Computer Central at CommuniCore.

10/7/2009

Odyssey Cast Member Interview

Find out all about the Odyssey Restaurant in this interview with John Maimone, a former Cast Member who worked there from 1982 to 1985. Find out what the crowds were like those first few years, what was on the menu, and much more. Thanks John, for all your info!

10/1/2009

30th Anniversary of Groundbreaking

Today marks 30 years since the official groundbreaking of EPCOT Center began on October 1, 1979. The park would officially open three years later on October 1, 1982. For some construction footage, check out the Souvenir Program video at about 13:26.

9/21/2009

Fan gets Epcot Symbol Tattoos

Epcot fan, Keith Di Giannantonio, now sports six tattoos of EPCOT Center symbols on his forearms. Click here to see a picture of his symbol tattoos for Spaceship Earth, The Land, Imagination, Horizons, The Living Seas, and CommuniCore. For lack of space on his arms, he chose to omit Energy and World of Motion. Thanks for sending it in, Keith!

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