I regularly focus on the wonders of the original EPCOT Center, and there is a good reason. For a kid growing up in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, there was nothing else like it. It may look boring or too educational today, but I was thrilled by all of it. In a world where personal computers were just becoming normal, the technology was mind-blowing. I’m glad there are visual artifacts to fuel the nostalgia. A perfect example is EPCOT Center: A Souvenir Program, a 21-minute glance at the park’s early days.

Released in 1983, the VHS souvenir portrays a cool place with a cohesive message. It also reveals a marketing push from Disney that centers on a much different audience than you might expect. A quiet narrator sells the park by just describing it in a straightforward way. We barely hear the term “magic”, and there is no attempt to oversell the thrills. Supported by music that screams early ‘80s, we tour each of the original pavilions. Beyond the peek at old attractions, there are also some hilarious moments with actors trying to look natural at the park.

The Look of Tomorrow

Our program begins with Future World — the star of any early trip to EPCOT Center. After a brief trip to Spaceship Earth, we visit Communicore and even get to design a roller coaster. It’s also silly to catch the excitement from the people who have the chance to vote in a poll at the Future Choice Theater. There was so much potential for this “hub of Future World”; could it ever regain its footing? The dinosaurs take center stage at the Universe of Energy, and that’s all we really see. Even back in 1983, Disney knew what to sell in this slow-paced attraction.

It’s a little jarring to remember that Horizons wasn’t even completed on this video’s release. There are cool shots of the exterior model plus concept art and sets of the ride. It doesn’t take much to sell me on the greatness of this gem. Journey to Imagination partially opened late but was around for this production. Seeing this pavilion in full force is almost more of a gut punch than losing Horizons. In particular, the upstairs ImageWorks stands out as an unfortunate loss.

I can’t forget to mention the animatronic-filled World of Motion, though its scenes look a bit creepy when seen without music. We close our trip to Future World with The Land, which doesn’t look that different from its state today. Listen to the Land looks similar despite the changes for its current version. We did lose Kitchen Kabaret, so it is fun to get a short moment with that show. These pavilions fit together so well! There’s a natural progression from communications to energy, transportation, and nature. Adding Horizons and The Living Seas only enhanced that cohesive feeling.

The EPCOT Center Story

Before venturing into World Showcase, our Souvenir Program takes a brief detour to look back at the origins of EPCOT. It’s a simple history but does include Walt’s famous dedication of Disneyland in 1955. We quickly jump to Disney World’s opening in 1971 and then stop briefly for Walt’s famous 1966 EPCOT film. Predictably, we see Walt give his quote about EPCOT never being completed. However, there is no information about the city he wanted to build. Back in 1983, Disney needed to sell the idea of EPCOT Center being the “realization of Walt Disney’s dream.”

I won’t be too hard on Disney for not giving more information in a 21-minute video. However, their approach does remind me how easy it is to spin Walt’s quotes to fit a certain theme. He did want EPCOT to showcase new technologies, but a theme park wasn’t the plan. Even so, I appreciate that Disney found a compromise that had the spirit of Walt’s dream in a different context. EPCOT Center had a cool mix of education and entertainment when it opened.

A True Community of Nations

Future World has changed dramatically since its early days, but World Showcase has retained a similar physical look. It’s more hectic than the footage we see in this program; there’s no “drinking around the world” here. Beginning with The American Adventure (of course), our journey moves counter-clockwise around the lagoon. Unintentional silliness takes over during this segment. Disney is trying so hard to sell the differences between EPCOT Center and The Magic Kingdom. In France, the narrator speaks about shopping for books, pastries, and perfumes. I’m not sure that is a big enough draw for the modern visitor.

The highlight is the United Kingdom, which maintains such a square vibe. The pavilion is basically deserted and called “a pleasant place to stroll, browse, shop.” It’s a hilarious scene that tries way too hard to sell the relaxation. At the Rose & Crown, my heroes are three guys determined to convince us we’ve entered a real British pub. They only appear for a moment, but their enthusiastic toast is magnificent. World Showcase’s setting may look familiar, but the tone varies considerably. I like the energy of today’s pavilions, but I could do without the crowds.

The Missing Ingredient

The most striking aspect of the Souvenir Program is what’s barely seen — kids. We glimpse a kid eating dinner with parents and a few marveling at a trick, but that’s it. Disney marketed EPCOT Center as a place for adult couples to escape the little tykes. The restaurant shots present middle-aged couples enjoying wine and the peace of no children. This approach fits with the focus on high-end shopping and relaxation, particularly in World Showcase. Disney wants to ensure we know that EPCOT Center has little in common with Mickey Mouse or Cinderella.

The Future World sections focus more on the animatronics than the guests. Visitors are passive observers who marvel at the technology. The crowd shots include a few kids in the background, but even they aren’t babies. There are virtually no strollers anywhere. This place looks amazing! If the attractions weren’t enough, the space to walk is an easy sell. All kidding aside, the lack of people definitely adds to the serene feeling of the video. I remember waiting in long lines at Future World as a kid, so EPCOT Center wasn’t this dead on busy days. It is fun to picture the park this way, especially when compared to the large hordes that we see today.

Hope to People Everywhere

EPCOT Center: A Souvenir Program may turn off viewers expecting a look at a grand place. The park was amazing, but there is no need to oversell it. The narrator describes the “magical, dream-like beauty” of EPCOT Center at night. I’m drawn to that side of Walt Disney World as much as the thrills. The closing statements include an excerpt from the dedication plaque that confirms the differences between EPCOT Center and the current EPCOT:

“May EPCOT Center entertain, inform, and inspire. May it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man’s ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere.”

Today’s EPCOT is fun to visit, and structures like Spaceship Earth and the Imagination pavilion are stunning. Even so, I doubt many visitors leave the park changed. Regardless, it’s great to watch videos like this one and remember what Disney accomplished. They built something unique that remains inspiring to this day.

EPCOT Center: A Souvenir Program is easy to find on the Internet, especially on YouTube. Here’s one example of solid quality that is definitely worth 21 minutes of your time.

Related Articles: Souvenir Program

The EPCOT Film: A Lost Dream of Tomorrow

Dream Big: Engineering Our World and EPCOT’s Spirit

A Day at EPCOT Center (1991)

The Dream Called EPCOT and an Optimistic Future

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