The Polynesian Resort Volcano pool has been a staple of Walt Disney World since the opening of the resort. With a volcanic rock mountain formation, a waterfall cascading down the face, as well as encompassing a water slide that was carved out of the rock work, this pool was different than most pools available to guests staying at hotels around this time. This pool featured a deep end (9' 10") with a diving board. The diving board was eventually removed by the early 1980's, but the deep end remained.
Removal of old volcano pool
The public consensus towards pools changed around the mid 90's when deep pools were deemed too dangerous, as well as the fact that a lifeguard would have to be on duty at all times. In the beginning of 2001, a refurbishment of the original volcano pool was in order, to rid itself of a deep end and make a zero entry element, to better conform to government regulations as well as a money saver in the long run. With the zero entry element eliminating the requirement of permanent structures that lower physically disabled guests into the pool, this is the direction that WDW pools will be heading in the future. (Grand Floridian pool being converted as of this post)
These photos were taken over the course of the month of January of 2001. I have many pictures from this portion of the refurbishment, and I am posting them all here, so I apologize for the amount of pictures in this article. As a fan of the history of the resort, I believe every picture that documents a period of time in the evolution of Walt Disney World is important, and worth sharing.
What is very interesting is how much area was torn up. As a guest at this time, having this entire area behind construction walls had to put a damper on your resort experience. In the grand scheme of things, this was a plus for many reasons. The addition of cabana areas and an updated dry play area for children, even though I do lament the loss of the deep end of the pool; especially since the remodel of the "quiet" pool that took place semi recently, which used to be 8' deep. The ability to actually "swim" in a pool has been lost these days. Even though I do know that my kids will enjoy the new pool as much as I enjoyed the former, as the theming is still top notch; I will still hold fond memories of the original even though it is history.
I do hope you enjoy these many photographs and many thanks for taking time to read this. Please visit again, as I will continue to post pictures from WDW's past.
I was perusing some old photographs of EPCOT Center, looking for pictures of the original Illuminations show for a post I am planning to write next. I was looking at a photo taken of the Germany pavilion all lit up for the show and recognized an awesome part of Illuminations history. At first glance the pavilion looks beautiful, all lit up. Then, on closer examination, I see an example of what would be considered one of the first iterations of the projection mapping technology that is becoming an ever-present staple of nighttime spectaculars moving forward.
The projections on the back building of Germany
The projection effect portrayed ornate trimmings that were not present on the physical show building, as well as a stripped pole on the round castle portion of the facade. I do not remember any of the projections on the facades of the countries, but @EPCOTExplorer posted this article with a fabulous photo of the capital building projected on the facade of the American pavilion. I think the projections kind of fell to the wayside next to the lasers and music for each pavilion because of the fact that they were hard to distinguish from across the lagoon if you were not right in front of said pavilion.
Not quite the same angle, but pretty close
The projections used in the former Magic, Memories, and You show were direct descendants of the original Illuminations show. The mapping technology used today is incredibly sophisticated compared to what was presented more that 20 years ago. But I believe the projections used back then could actually hold up today, in certain applications, to convey the stories that need to be told. Today though, we have such advances in this technology that the limits seem to be boundless. In my opinion, if Disney utilizes all the best of all the technologies available in one unifying show, they could create nighttime entertainment options that could not be beat. I do have my full Illuminations post coming soon, so I will be elaborating on all of these subjects soon. Thanks for reading!
As is common knowledge at this point, the Imagination pavilion was far superior pre-1999, compared to the offering that is available today. With two extremely memorable characters, a fantastic ride through experience, and a post show that could provide hours of entertainment; this experience was one that was unforgettable. Here are a few memory triggers for your entertainment, or if you had never experienced it for yourself; these are for you too.
The introduction to imagination
The introductory scene of the attraction was fantastic in many respects. Your ride vehicles broke off from the traditional omnimover style train into smaller chains of vehicles, which allowed you to experience most of the attraction more intimately. This was achieved through the use of a turntable function in this scene. There were four "Flight to The Imagination" scenes constructed as to allow for the guests to spend two and a half minutes with Dreamfinder, while he introduces you to Figment and the attraction. The Dreamfinder is right there, speaking directly to you! The nature of this attraction made this different than most other Future World attractions, as you experienced it with the characters instead of being a third party observer of a story being told in front of you. Dreamfinder beckoned you to come join him and Figment on their journey.
The creation of Figment
After the initial show scene, you progressed through imagery representing various uses of imagination for creative purposes. These show scenes portrayed things such as the arts, literature, the performing arts, and science. The many different effects used throughout the scenes combined for a visceral experience, that provided so many things to look at and really "spark" your imagination.
"Some happy songs, some snappy dances!"
The final major show scene incorporated another turntable where the ride vehicles sped up and connected back together in the omnimover style train. This was a huge scene that incorporated an animitronic Figment leading rounds of the theme song, "One Little Spark", with multiple Figments in various costumes via video screen, singing along. These video clips represent Figments dreams as a superhero, scientist, mountain climber, cowboy, weightlifter, ship captain, and various others.
This attraction also was one of, if not the first, to incorporate and on-ride photo taken of each ride vehicle. This photo was portrayed in front of you before the unload. Even though these photos were unavailable for purchase, it was a fun addition to the overall experience.
Leapfrog Fountains
The pavilion plaza was a fantastic spot to spend time as well. Whether enjoying the multiple water features, meeting Dreamfinder and Figment, or just taking in the ambiance of the whole area; there was much to experience here too.
I miss this topiary
I believe the Dreamfinder and Figment characters resonated with people so much because of the attraction being so intimate and speaking to you individually; as well as being able to meet and actually talk to Dreamfinder after you just experienced this amazing attraction.
With the upstairs Imageworks postshow and Magic Eye theater included, the Imagination pavilion could not help but be loved by most people that had the pleasure of experiencing it in its full glory. The Imagination pavilion that we have today leaves a lot to be desired. I feel that the color scheme that we had previously with the blues and purples better portrayed the openness and aura of the imagination, more so than the orange and red scheme that we have today. The upstairs Imageworks was far superior to the offering available today. As well as the attraction itself being a crude shell of the vast and dynamic nature of the first iteration.
There is plenty of bright side when it comes to this space in Future World. The fountain garden is still present, sans a few fantastic topiaries. The structure is still in it's original, awe inspiring form. The upstairs area still remains relatively unchanged, besides the fact that it is not used for guest areas anymore. And with the direction that WDI has been going with the level of care and detail given to the attractions they have been tasked with; a new attraction utilizing all of the original layout could be back up to the level of the original, if not even better. A new paint scheme on top of it all, and we are back to a beloved pavilion once again.
" ...The original plan for EPCOT envisioned a community for people to live in. How much more exciting was the evolution of an environment of metaphors - visions of the future - that could inspire people to create, as well as to live in, finer cities and then to fly off and land on the moon and Mars.
The challenge of EPCOT - to birth the impossible and to free the spirit - has been met in multifold ways. To enter it is to be bombarded with metaphors that make you feel you could meet and solve the world's problems.
EPCOT keeps changing and growing, and the final sum is that it contains the absolute assurance that our fine Tomorrows will not be left behind in our lost Yesterdays."
-Ray Bradbury
This statement, by Ray Bradbury, was the introduction to an article that was featured in Disney Magazine the fall of 2002. This article was a general synopsis of Epcot in it's evolution over the previous 20 years, highlighting some of the bigger moments in the parks history. As the 30th anniversary approaches, let us take a look back at some of the moments that the author of the article, Tim O'Day, deems worthy of being featured in this article.
The Future Begins
"The 21st century begins October 1st, 1982." proclaimed the preview brochures of the new park that were handed out to guests that were visiting Walt Disney World as well as Disneyland. There was a month long celebration that highlighted the opening each of the 15 Future World and World Showcase pavilions. The grand opening of EPCOT Center took place over the weekend of October 22 to 24, with many well known guests including Lillian Disney, Ray Bradbury, and even George Steinbrenner. A highlight of the main dedication ceremony was the International Ceremony of The Waters which included representatives from 23 countries pouring water from their homelands into the Communicore Plaza fountain.
The Revolutionary New Park Will Be Televised
On October 23, 1982, "EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration" was view by people all across the country, which was hosted by Danny Kaye.
Making Headlines
Emerging technology allowed many of the opening ceremonies to be covered by various media outfits around the world. The now widely available Satellite uplink broadcast technology afforded more that 100 television crews to broadcast live.
Space Cadets
We all know these outfits that debuted when guests were looking for Mickey Mouse in EPCOT Center. The park did not open with the intention of have Mickey and his pals running around Future World, but with guest complaints about the lack of characters, plans were rolled out to present the classic characters in a cohesive way to fit within the environment.
Byte Size
When the park opened, one of the headliner attractions in CommuniCore East was the Astuter Computer Revue. Unfortunately, this attraction has the distinction of being the shortest lived of the opening day attractions in EPCOT Center. It lasted for two years before it was replaced by Backstage Magic in February 1984. The Astuter Computer Revue actually featured many of the computers that ran in the park, such as air conditioning and lighting.
Illuminating The nighttime shows on World Showcase Lagoon have been a staple of the park since October 23, 1982. It was on this date that Le Carnival de Lumiere debuted with the use of rear-projection screens on barges to put on a dazzling display. The shows main drawback was the fact that it was only viewable from the Canada and Mexico pavilions. The next show that debuted was named A New World Fantasy which introduced the use of the automated Pichel lights, which were programmable spotlights that were able to make swift precise movements. In 1984 Laserphonic Fantasy debuted using music by Don Dorsey, who also created the soundtrack to the Main Street Electrical Parade. Illuminations, in it's first iteration, was the next show. It debuted on January 30, 1988 with a full orchestral soundtrack instead of the synthesized music of the previous show. There have been multiple versions of this show, with the most recent being Reflections of Earth which has been running since the Millennium Celebration in 1999.
Le Carnival de Lumiere
What a Doll The People of the World dolls were seen around World Showcase in the early eighties. These larger than life dolls were between 7 and 8 feet tall and were dressed in authentic clothing representing the country from which they hailed. The original dolls were created for America on Parade, a bicentennial celebration that occurred in 1975 and 1976. New dolls were created to match the originals and then brought to EPCOT Center.
Do You See What I See The Journey into Imagination pavilion opened in 1982 with the 3D film Magic Journeys, as well as the Image Works interactive playground. The ride through attraction did not open until March 5, 1983 which introduced us to the Dreamfinder and his lovable sidekick, Figment.
Richard Nixon and his Grandson
Remembering the Smellitzer The epitome of the optimistic future had to be encompassed in the 3 acre show building that housed the Horizons attraction. Horizons showed guests what future living may be like on land, in the sea, as well as in space. One of the most memorable scenes was the Mesa Verde desert laorange grove scene, which featured an orange scent that permeated the entire show scene. Horizons closed for good on January 9, 1999 to make room for the new attraction, Mission: Space.
Moroccan Mickey The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Moroccan pavilion took place on September 7, 1984. Morocco was the first of the two pavilions that were added to World Showcaseafter opening day. The Kingdom of Morocco sent workers to the pavilion during construction to create all of the tile work, carvings, and paintings.
For Kicks The were two different occasions that Mickey donned his Uncle Sam threads in 1985. The first was for the inaugural parade for Ronald Reagan's second term. A few weeks after that Mickey joined the Radio City Rockettes for the Star Spangled Salute to America. This was a part of Worldfest, a yearlong celebration of the nations in World Showcase.
Prattlebot 1985 ushered in the latest in robotic technology, Gyro. What is known about him is that he lives on a diet of diodes and microchips and attended the tech school "Solid State". Gyro had a fiber-optic display screen for his "face" that conveyed his moods. When guest asked how he worked, he would respond, "on twelve frequencies!"
Flipped Out EPCOT Center has featured a few spectacles in the sky, including Skyleidoscopeand Surprise in The Skies. On of the more out of place and unusual events in EPCOT Center was the Daredevil Circus Spectacular, which took place in Future World. Click the link to read my post and check out my pics of the circus.
Jackson Takes Five Captain EO replaced Magic Journeys in the Magic Eye theater September 12, 1986. The theater was equipped with special effects that were synchronized with the action onscreen. These included lasers, fiber-optics, and fog. This film cost approximately one million dollars per minute to produce.
Bubbles When the Living Seas opened on January 15, 1986, it boasted one of the worlds largest saltwater tanks at 5.7 million gallons. It included more than 4,000 species of sea life. The opening of this pavilion was followed up by a one hour national television special "Disney's Living Seas", which aired on January 24. Stars included John Ritter, Laura Branigan, Simon Le Bon, and Olivia Newton-John.
Inside Story The Wonders of Life pavilion opened October 19, 1989. One of the highlights of the pavilion was Cranium Command, which took you into the mind of a 12 year old named Bobby, guests follow Buzzy as a rookie cranium commander navigating through the stresses of everyday life for Bobby. This was a celebrity laden attraction including Charles Grodin, Jon Lovitz, George Wednt, Bobcat Goldthwait, Kevin Nealon, and Dana Carvey.
Track Stars On January 2, 1996 the GM sponsored attraction, World of Motion, closed its doors for good to make way for an entirely reimagined attraction. There was an extremely long period of test and adjust for the new ride. It finally opened as Test Track on March 17, 1999, as a demonstration of the rigors of the automotive testing field with a high speed thrill element.
Richard Petty, Angie Everhart, Carol Alt, and Christie Brinkley
Make Mine Millennium The Millennium Celebration took place in Epcot over the course of 15 years beginning on October 1, 1999. A massive new pavilion, The Millennium Village, was constructed to showcase the art, architecture, music, and dance of various countries that were not represented in World Showcase. Some of countries included were Brazil, Chile, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Sweden , and Denmark.
On of the highlights of the Celebration was the Tapestry of Nations parade which ran from October 1, 1999 until September 9, 2001. The Sage of Time led the parade followed by 120 puppets and 15 Millennium Clock drum floats. The puppets were designed by Michael Curry, who designed the puppets for The Lion King on Broadway.
Future Worlds In 2003 Epcot will be ushered into it's third decade with Mission: Space. This thrill ride of the future will be set 30 years from now, with guests embarking on a realistic deep-space journey that seeks to replicate the sensation of liftoff and leaving the Earth's gravitational pull. Walt Disney Imagineering built this attraction with consultation from former NASA advisers, astronauts, and scientists.
If we were to write an article that encompassed the past ten years as well, in the history of the park, what would we include to express the evolution of Epcot? A couple of things that come to mind would be Kim Possible/Agent P's World Showcase Adventure and the re-imagined Seas pavilion themed to Finding Nemo. Epcot has gone through many changes over the years. Some things were popular, while other things were not so popular to put it nicely. Epcot will keep on evolving through the years, hopefully bringing many more immersive, entertaining, and educational experiences to the park going populous. Let us all enjoy the 30th anniversary festivities, whether it be through the internet or in person, as well as keep looking forward to the optimistic future that Walt had envisioned.
World of Motion was an opening day pavilion in Future World at EPCOT Center. The pavilion opened with the park on October 1st, 1982 with GM as the sponsor. General Motors actually signed on in December of 1977 as the first sponsor to back EPCOT Center. This was a move to try and compete with Ford Motor Company, which sponsored a WED designed pavilion at the 1964-'65 New York Worlds Fair. This ended up being the second most popular pavilion at the Fair. So GM wanted to definitely have its own pavilion at the new EPCOT Center.
The cylindrical show building housed an attraction that was a animitronic powerhouse, which included around 180 animitronics and over 30 show scenes. The ride portion was fifteen minutes in length and the post show was fairly expansive, with many exhibits to easily occupy your time there. This pavilion was a people eating machine, with the hourly capacity of over 3000 people and the Transcenter able to hold an ample amount of guests as well.
The attraction itself depicted the history of transportation through animitronic show scenes, with a heavy emphasis on screen based images as well. The difference between World of Motion and the other animitronic based attractions was the use of humor in the scenes. The comedic elements contained in the show scenes were heavily influenced by Marc Davis as well as Ward Kimball. Some of the elements were direct decedents of the never built Western River Expedition which Marc Davis spent many years designing and developing. The humor in the scenes does play a contradiction to the mostly seriousness of the narration, voiced by Gary Owens.
Traveler by Sea "Undaunted by age old myths"
"Fast, Dependable, Safe Travel...
...to the new Frontier"
I remember as a child being confused on which scenes were from Spaceship Earth and which scenes were from World of Motion. I would look for the Mona Lisa tapping her foot while da Vinci works on his flying machine in Spaceship Earth in the renaissance scene. I think it was more a fact of the chronologic portrayal of the topics presented more than the similarities of the scenes themselves.
"Infallible combination of man and machine; the bicycle"
The horseless carriage
"The sky's the limit!"
The next area of the attraction, were the speed tunnels that were reminiscent of the extinct If You Had Wings at Magic Kingdom. These speed tunnels enveloped your ride vehicles and gave you the sensation of movement with scenes that included whitewater rafting, bobsledding and undersea exploring. With additional scenes involving computer graphic images which made for a pretty disorienting experience,.
These tunnels led into the final scene of the attraction; the CenterCore. This massive scene featured a six story model depicting a city of the future and was located in the center of the pavilion. Your ride vehicle would travel almost all the way around the scene in a circular motion as your eye was drawn to the sparkling and moving lights all over. The grandeur and scale of this scene was a fitting end to the ride through portion of the experience. As in typical EPCOT Center fashion it portrayed the future in a truly marvelous and epic scope as to get you excited to jump headlong into future technologies and products to get to this wonderful time as soon as possible.
Right before you enter the unload area you are treated to a depiction of a morphing of your ride vehicle into a sleek rounded futuristic craft of some sort. This portrayal of the vehicle was created by a pepper's ghost effect a la Haunted Mansion with the hitchhiking ghost scene.
GM held sponsorship of this pavilion even though attendance was on a steady decline in the early '90's. The decision to opt for a whole new experience in the space was ultimately made to keep GM on as a sponsor and to renew interest into the pavilion, and the park as a whole. And on January 2, 1996 the World of Motion would close for good.
I will have to do another post on the postshow area by itself. There were so many things to experience and observe in the Transcenter that this post would get tiresomely long. So to hopefully keep your interest, I will end it here. Thanks for reading!
converted as of this post)
