Vintage Epcot Center Buttons

Nick

Today I share some buttons from Epcot.

Obviously, since it commemorates Epcot's 10th Anniversary, this is from the early 90′s, as are all of these, so it was still Epcot Center.

I love Spaceship Earth, the icon of Epcot, and it is especially beautiful at night.

I’m not sure why I bought this next one, a rather cheap looking button. Maybe because it was only $1.00?

 

I know why I bought this next one, as I would grab anything reasonably priced with Figment on it.

This next button features Mickey Mouse and World Showcase.

 

And last, but certainly not least, a very colorful button with Mickey and Figment.

A Figment Bottle Opener, a Coca-Cola, and a Smile

By: Nick

I try not to drink too much soda, my beverage of choice is beer, but for special occasions, like Christmas, I will have my favorite, bottled Coca Cola.

And what better way to open this treat than with a Figment bottle opener, bought at Epcot during my first trip in the early 90's, of course.



Figment is enjoying a beverage himself.


Ah, time to enjoy one of my favorite beverages.

Walt Disney World 10 Anniversary Guide

By Nick  

My Aunt Sandy sent even more of her wonderful Disney ephemera to me recently. These are from Walt Disney World's 10th Anniversary.

There are 2 different covers, so I’m assuming they changed them monthly? 

Each features the same 10th Anniversary Parade float.

A nice colorful map of the Magic Kingdom.

They are an almost newsprint quality paper, so it’s amazing they’ve held up so well, and haven’t really yellowed.

This is the earliest park map I’ve seen, and had no previous knowledge that there was once a Hallmark store on Main Street USA! Those were the days when there was a much wider variety of stores featuring a much wider range of products.

 

Which of your favorite attractions, shops, or restaurants are still in the park, and which are just a memory?

 

Photo tips. This guide is compliments of Polaroid. 

Soon, they’ll be adding a whole new park on the map. EPCOT Center!

Downtown Disney was Walt Disney World Village.

The inner pages and back cover of both guides are the same, with the exception of the last page and inside back cover.

This one looks at a decade of dreams coming true, while the inside back cover advertises Disney movies out at that time. Cinderella was in re-release, and, one of my favorites was in theaters, TRON!

The other guide features an ad for EPCOT Center!  This time, Bambi is in theaters. You’ll also, perhaps, notice this picture was taken at a different time than the rest. That’s because I didn’t catch the difference until I was writing this!

They picked up one more guide while on their trip. A guide I’ve featured in a previous post as being one of my all time favorite pieces of Disneyana, and this one that Aunt Sandy sent me is in better shape! It’s the EPCOT Center Preview Guide!

Walt Disney World's 20th Anniversary Press Kit

By: Nick   

I don't know where I got this Walt Disney World 20th Anniversary Press Kit. I also don't remember what I paid for it.
What I do know is, it's a fascinating look at a very exciting time in Walt Disney World history.

Let's turn the handle and see what pops up.

Roger Rabbit! A character now sadly absent at Walt Disney World.


Inside is a packet of information, and a small calendar covering park hours for the 3 gates at that time, The Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, and Disney-MGM Studio from October 1991 to January 1992.



The information included would make anyone interested in Disney park history, drool.

• An overview of some of the new surprises awaiting guests, such as "Spectromagic" and "Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3-D".
• 20 reasons to visit Walt Disney World, such as "Surprise in the Skies" a daytime extravaganza above and around Epcot's World Showcase, and "Sorcery in the Sky", a fireworks display at Disney-MGM Studios.
• 2 pages of Milestones, Attendance Marks, and Attraction Opening dates.
• Park statistics and employment info. 33,000 employees at that time!
• Pricing. A one day ticket? $33. 4 day pass? $111. Annual Pass? $190!
• Personalities available for interviews, such as Michael Eisner, Frank Wells, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Roy E. Disney.
• A list of the celebrities that would be in the "Parade of Stars" in the 20 Year Homecoming Celebration at Disney-MGM Studios. Stars such as, Sally Struthers, Art Linkletter, and Eva Gabor!
• Golf Course info
• Information about a new concept in family vacationing called the Disney Vacation Club.

And if that wasn't enough, there is a plethora of 8x10 glossy photographs, with information on the back.

The 20th Anniversary "Surprise" Celebration Parade.



Dinosaurs, I confess, I never ever watched.



Before it was Old Key West, it was the Disney Vacation Club Resort.



Muppets!



I miss Spectromagic!



I had the great fortune to see most of the attractions described and shown here, and I must say, a lot of it is missed. The "Surprise" parade in the Magic Kingdom was amazing, and "Surprise in the Skies" at Epcot was also spectacular. And while I know "Fantasmic" is incredibly popular, I am not a fan of the crowds, and preferred "Sorcery in the Sky" at the Studios.

Also included is a Vacation Guide.



The back cover of the folder.




I hope you enjoyed this trip with me down memory lane.

Do You Remember: When Figment Posed with Guests?

by: Nick

Somewhere, maybe in a box in the attic or garage, hopefully not lost along with so many other photos of Walt Disney World from the early to mid 90's, I have a photo of me with Dreamfinder and Figment in front of what was then simply the Journey Into Imagination pavilion in Epcot's Future World.
Dreamfinder has, sadly, been gone for a very long time. But as recently as November 2007 Figment still posed with guests.

Me and Figment. I'm looking at my wife, Figment is looking at the FastPass Photographer!

I haven't seen Figment since then, and, as there are those occasional rumors of Journey Into Imagination with Figment closing for good.

Me, Figment, and Barbie

I'm going to try and stay positive, and hope that Figment stays in some capacity at the park, and perhaps they will be improving rather than replacing the Imagination Pavilion. 

 

Epcot Center Commemorative Pre-Opening Guides

By: Nick

Before going to Walt Disney World for the first time in 1992, the place I was most excited to visit, even more than the Magic Kingdom, was Epcot. Upon arrival, the first attraction I went on was Spaceship Earth. The park fascinated me and upon my return home, I hunted down as much as I could; including the brochures featured here, a more extensive guide that I've featured in the past, and 2 very in depth books.

These 2 guides are among my favorite collectibles.




This pamphlet from 1981 is all concept paintings and a description of the coming attractions for Future World and World Showcase. The artwork for Epcot is absolutely beautiful.



This Commemorative Pre-Opening Guide to Epcot Center, from 1982 has mostly construction photos with a few concept paintings from the pamphlet mixed in.








In a future post, I'll share the guide book.