Epcot – Photos Magiques

Walt Disney World: Goodbye Maelstrom

Maelstrom is a classic Disney attraction in Walt Disney World’s Epcot. It’s located in World Showcase and celebrates the Norwegian culture and heritage. The ride system can be compared to Pirates of the Caribbean (although much shorter): a boat ride with a minor drops. Audio-Animatronic figures resembling vikings, living trees, polar bears and trolls are placed throughout the attraction.

Disney announced today that Maelstrom will be closing to be replaced by a Frozen attraction.

These photos were taken during our Wlat Disney World trip two weeks ago.

Disney Parks and Resorts

Journey into your Imagination turns 30

Journey into your Imagination is an attraction at Walt Disney World’s Epcot. Guests are carried in Omnimover ride vehicles through various scenes that evoke imagination.

Since it’s opening in 1983, there have been 3 different versions of the attraction. It’s the original version, once created by Tony Baxter himself, that’s the most popular. Disney purists are lobbying for years to bring this attraction back to its original state. In 2002 they kinda succeeded; only 2 years after its second make-over, which omitted the popular Figment character from the first version, fan out-cry was so loud that the character was re-introduced.

The classic song “One Little Spark” written by the Sherman Brothers is still part of the attraction since 1983.

Photos by Photos Magiques – August 2012

Disney Parks and Resorts

Happy 30th Anniversary, Epcot!

Today 30 years ago Epcot Center opened its gates for the first time. Epcot was originally conceived by Walt Disney as a futuristic city in Florida where people would actually live and work. After his death, these plans fell through and Walt Disney Productions at that time moved ahead with Magic Kingdom and a few Disney resorts first. A few years later it was decided that Walt’s experimental prototype community of tomorrow would be build as a theme park, but without Disney characters and stories. Instead, it was designed as a permanent World Fair with different pavilions depicting countries from all over the world. In Future World, the pavilions bare a (retro) futuristic look and highlight modern technology through exhibitions and attractions.

~~In honor of Epcot’s 30th Anniversary, browse through these photos we took during previous trips to Walt Disney World.~~

To all who come to this place of joy, hope and friendship — welcome. EPCOT is inspired by Walt Disney’s creative vision. Here, human achievements are celebrated through imagination, wonders of enterprise and concepts of a future that promises new and exciting benefits for all. May EPCOT Center entertain, inform and inspire and above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man’s ability to shape a world that offers hope to people everywhere in the world. — E. Cardon Walker, March 1, 1982