EPCOT Center Guide Book - Late 1983

It wasn't too long after EPCOT Center opened that their guide books changed format from a small, nearly square shaped booklet with a spinning wheel inside to the taller brochure style format we are used to today. I acquired my first of this new style guide during a family visit to Disney World in late March, 1984. This guide book is dated 1983, but the inclusion of Horizons (it was listed as "opening Fall 1983" on the guide we picked up during our 1983 Disney World trip), which opened on October 1, 1983, means this guide was from our my second trip that included a visit to EPCOT Center, in 1984.

The guide book was very similar in structure to the Magic Kingdom guides of that era, with a foldout map inside the front cover, and detailed descriptions of the attractions, shopping, and dining found in each Future World and World Showcase pavilion. Horizons is the only new pavilion added from the 1982/early 1983 map, though the "future site of The Living Seas" and "future site of Morocco" now appear on this park map. Norway wouldn't appear as a coming attraction on maps for a few more years.

The map also shows a long forgotten forerunner to the various food festival booths that would later line World Showcase Lagoon, a small seasonal spot known as the Renaissance Food Festival. I don't remember ever visiting this place, but at least there's some evidence that it actually existed thanks to Michael Crawford's Progress City, U.S.A. website.

The rest of the guide looks like most Disney guides from that time, with photo tips, recreation and other Disney World resort information, a property map, and ads for Disney films coming soon to theaters near you.

 

 

 

Your Guide to the Magic Kingdom - 1982

 By 1982, Disney World's Magic Kingdom guidebook had been around for a while, but now mentioned the new theme park that would open before the end of that year (EPCOT Center had its own separate guidebook). In addition to references to EPCOT Center, there were a few changes to the book from the previous year's version, including moving the park map right to the front of the guide and a series of whimsical drawings of Disney characters (mostly Mickey Mouse) highlighting each Land in the Magic Kingdom. Also gone are references to the A, B, C, D, and E tickets that were important in previous guides, as Disney had now fully committed to a single park admission that allowed unlimited access to all the rides and other attractions inside the park.

 

 

 

 

EPCOT Center Tips on Your Visit - 1983

While visiting EPCOT Center in March, 1983, Disney offered these tips for enjoying your visit to the newly opened park. They were helpful for us, as Future World attractions had long lines during the day, but weren't nearly as crowded in the evenings.

Also included was a list of all of the original dining options in EPCOT Center. It's not quite as extensive a list as we see now!