What Does EPCOT Stand For?

If you’ve been to Epcot at Walt Disney World, you know that it features futuristic attractions and tasty international fare.

When you hear the word “epcot,” you probably immediately think of the giant golf ball–like structure in the Disney park, even if you’ve never set foot in Disney World. People go to Epcot because they have a passion for nature, the environment and science. And it makes sense that Disney World would be a perfect place for people who enjoy those things. Who’s your favorite Disney princess? If you’re a big fan of the Disney company, there are many reasons to take this quiz! Are you ready to find out who your favorite Disney princess is? Is it an actual word, or one coined by the powers-that-be at Disney? Or is it not a word at all, but an acronym? If it’s an acronym, what does the World’s Fair stand for?

I thought that, “Epcot” was a word, but I looked it up and it’s not. You’ll never find “epcot” as a proper noun, even though it’s actually an acronym for the U.S. If you want to know more about the history of the park, take a look at this timeline. If you’re into the Disney movies and you’re looking for fun things to do and see when you visit Walt Disney World, then you’ll want to check out this list of Disney secrets.

What does EPCOT stand for?

If you’re not sure what EPCOT is, then you’re definitely not alone. It’s actually an acronym that stands for “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.” If you’re curious, you can find out more about this awesome and futuristic theme park at Walt Disney World here. Because, at its very beginnings, Epcot was not supposed to be a theme park but, in fact, a community. Do you know the secret to working at Disney? It’s what the cast members wear. If they wear a plaid vest, it means “come join our team”.

The history of Epcot

Walt Disney himself came up with the acronym EPCOT. The Disneyland theme park opened in Anaheim, California, in 1955. In 1959, the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World was opened in Orlando, Florida. Walt Disney had an eye on expanding his reach beyond the movie and theme park industries. He wanted to build a community for innovative thinkers to gather and share ideas about how they could change the world, and eventually built a small village near Portland, Oregon where they could do just that.

Actually, this community was originally designed to be a major part of the “project” Walt and his firm, WED Enterprises (now called Walt Disney Imagineering), were pursuing in Florida. The Florida project would be an East Coast Disney park. Yes, because California was too far for most of the US. population to reasonably travel. But Walt’s “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow,” or EPCOT, would be a major part of the park. Walt wanted a genuine city, without crime, without unemployment, and without those pesky automobiles that produced pollution. A castle that people could live in, and guests could also visit it.

Well then, how did we get the full-blown theme park, with futuristic rides, globetrotting attractions, and a killer fireworks show, we asked?

It was so out there that it bordered on being crazy. But Walt had a vision and he wasn’t going to let anything stand in his way, including the reality of being rejected by the city’s planners. And the odd exhibitionist nature of the theme park/real life city hybrid aspect didn’t sit well with executives either. In 1966, when Walt passed away, his family and friends weren’t sure how to move forward with the city or if such a living community would work out for them as he’d imagined it. Walt Disney World opened in 1971 with the Magic Kingdom and the EPCOT concept was put on the back burner until 1972.

When Disney President Card Walker told Disney Parks Chairman Michael Eisner that it was time to move forward with Epcot, he was not speaking about an expansion of the park; instead, he was referring to a complete redesign of the entire park. The Disney park adopted many of his ideas and themes for the park, including his forward-thinking focus on innovation and technology, which permeates the park’s attractions. And, of course, they kept the name!

Epcot today

In 1982, when Epcot opened, it was originally called EPCOT Center, which better reflected its acronym-ness than EPCOT. In 1993, Epcot was officially called just “Epcot.” It’s kept this name for more than twenty years. On the website of Disney World, “Epcot” isn’t written in all capitals, which suggests that it’s not an acronym. The theme park is Disney World. It’s been the most popular place to visit in Florida for generations and has lots of wonderful attractions. So whether you’re a first-time visitor or a frequent park goer, Epcot is a great spot to relax and recharge your batteries.

At Epcot, there are several country-themed lands. One of them is called World Showcase, and it inspired Walt Disney’s love of the World’s Fair. Epcot hosts an annual International Food & Wine Festival and the Spaceship Earth “golf ball” is one of the most recognizable Disney symbols. A Moana-themed water attraction, a Ratatouille ride inspired by the one at Disneyland Paris, and a Wreck-It Ralph ride themed to the arcade game are being added to the park. When the new attraction “Pavilion of the Seas” opens in June of 2017, there will be several new attractions at Epcot that have yet to be announced. Epcot is a great place to be for the Disney World 50th Anniversary!

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