Park Hopper Tickets

Epcot, Disney's second venture into the theme park business opened in 1982 and was visited by almost 11 million people in 2008, wishing to see and experience the cultural and technological wonders of this incredible variation on theme parks.  Water was imported from all over the globe and emptied into the fountain of nations to commemorate the opening and new beginning.  Taking three years, 1.4 billion dollars and 300 acres, becoming the biggest construction project on the earth at the time, Epcot was born.  Special attributes and emphasis was placed on many details, like the pavement in the park being shaded a particular color of pink to accentuate the greenness of the grass or the sidewalk colors to enhance the overall cleanliness of the park; Epcot was masterfully designed to impress, educate and bring together the countries, and peoples of the earth in hopes of bringing about a brighter, better future for us all.

Divided into two distinct areas, Future World and World Showcase, these marvelous dimensions were fashioned after the world fairs that used to be held in the early to mid 1900s and has now become a permanent example of the world's nations.  Future World is made up of various pavillions that depict the imaginative creations and uses of technology which has taken the world by storm.  Located there are Imagination!, Universe of Energy, Test Track, Spaceship Earth, The Land, Innoventions, The Seas with Nemo and Friends and Mission: SPACE.  In the World Showcase, there are eleven countries represented with only nine at the beginning.  Canada, Mexico, China, Norway, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Japan, Morocco, and the American Adventure.  Norway and Morocco were the added two, and Morocco is the only sponsored nation by its government; the rest being sponsored or paid for by various private companies from those countries.  There are rides like the Spaceship Earth, the Seas with Nemo and Friends, test track and Soarin' Mission Space.  In the dusk of the evening, Illuminations: Reflections of Earth is a magnificent fireworks , lasers, water and fire fountains show that is done with music and is incredibly beautiful set against the various shades of the night sky. 

Each year there are some great events held at Epcot that will delight the visitor, as well as the residents of Florida.  The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival in the spring is a wondrous time to visit and gain knowledge and information about the various types of gardens, flowers and plants, with professional advice given freely.  In the fall, the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is a fantastic event that brings the best of professional and amateur chefs to prepare delicacies from around the world that will impress even the most discerning food critic.  Celebrity chefs are brought in to host the many events and some international cooking contests are held.  Perhaps the most significant and elaborate is the Holidays Around the World, that have the various nations bringing in storytellers to describe the Christmas traditions in their respective countries.  There are three nightly shows called the Candlelight Processional featuring a wonderful choir and a famous guest narrating the tale of Christmas.  During this time, the Illuminations incorporates a exceptional ending to its presentation.