With all the talk of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary, the folks at Disney merchandising must be feeling nostalgic. They’ve reached back to some of EPCOT’s dearly departed attractions to create new graphic posters.
The throwback posters are part of a larger collection of Epcot art, which also includes current and future attractions, as well as each of the countries of the World Showcase
The prints, which measure 14×18 with a mat, are being sold for $39.99 on shopDisney.
Even if you’re not in the market for nostalgic wall art, it’s fun to look back on some fondly remembered — and some barely remembered — EPCOT attractions.
Check them out here:
Maelstrom
Visitors to Epcot learned the mythology of Norway, met a troll or two, and got a welcome splash of water on this boat ride. Maelstrom’s epic adventure began July 5, 1988. The attraction closed Oct. 5, 2014, to make way for Frozen Ever After. As popular as the new Frozen attraction is, Maelstrom is still fondly missed.
Universe of Energy
For 35 years, the Universe of Energy dramatized the story and potentials of the world’s energy supply. It had audio-animatronic dinosaurs. For a while it had Ellen DeGeneres. And it was the best napping place in all of Epcot. The Universe of Energy (a k a Ellen’s Energy Adventure) opened along with Epcot in 1981 and closed in 2017. The pavilion’s next life will be as home to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Horizons
Horizons opened in 1983 as a sort of sequel to the Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress. The ride vehicles took guests past scenes of an imagined future that combined all of the elements of Future World: communication, energy, transportation, physiology, and the physical world. Horizons closed permanently in 1999, to be replaced by Mission: SPACE.
World of Motion
Another EPCOT original, World of Motion (1982-1996) presented a whimsical journey through the history of transportation and humanity’s dream to be free. World of Motion was replaced by Test Track in 1999.
Wonders of Life
The Wonders of Life pavilion was devoted to health care, physical fitness, medicine and nutrition from 1989-2007. It was home to Body Wars (an “Inner Space” version of Star Tours) and Cranium Command, an audio-animatronic show about the human brain (and a sort of precursor to “Inside Out”). After closing in 2007, the pavilion was used as festival space until work began to turn it into the upcoming PLAY! pavilion.
Kitchen Kabaret
“Veggie veggie fruit fruit. Veggie veggie fruit fruit.” If you’ve seen the temporary Epcot Forever fireworks show and wondered just what the heck you were hearing, it was an homage to Kitchen Cabaret, an audio-animatronic show that celebrated healthy eating. The show, which opened with Epcot in 1982, was replaced in 1994 by Food Rocks.
The Living Seas
The precursor to The Seas with Nemo & Friends, the Living Seas pavilion opened in 1986. Fans from way back might remember taking a ride on the “Hydrolator,” which is featured in the poster. They then boarded a “Seacab” on the Caribbean Coral Reef Ride to get to the main exhibit area of the fish tank. That coral reef has since been repopulated by Nemo and his friends.
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