I wanted to share some older photos from the Walt Disney World Resort with all of you. I knew that our family had some photos taken at E.P.C.O.T. Center when I was a child, right around park opening, and I had my father email me some. I came upon this one…which I thought was pretty interesting! Does anyone remember these large bobbleheads being part of the Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps?? I was intrigued by the bare landscape in the background as well and decided to “Google Earth” this particular area of the park for comparison. What I found was pretty interesting!
If you look at the old photo you can see the gate that Fife and Drum were standing in front of. Do you see the skinny concrete walkway right above the bobbleheads’ hats? It leads from the Italy Pavilion to the backstage area. That narrow walkway is also visible in the Google Earth Image below.
Also notice the absence of the large building in between the gate and the berm. And when looking at the Google Earth shot you can see several small areas of reddish pink pavement that still survived construction behind the gate. Colored concrete was put in “Guest Areas” walkways. It looks as if these areas were paved with the intent that guests would be walking on them!
…On a side note. Do you know why the sidewalks are colored? It is because the colored pavement looks better in photographs.
Another question for you…Did you know that Italy was supposed to have an expansion? It was. EPCOT Center was a Monumental Undertaking and Disney was rushed to open it in October of 1982. There were several projects that had to be placed on hold for World Showcase Phase II. This was one such product that is still on the backburner. Here’s a shot of what might have been. The ruins of a Roman Colaseum complete with a Gondola Ride. (Thanks to Martin Smith for this rendering.)…
I hope you enjoyed this brief look back in time at the Walt Disney World Resort’s E.P.C.O.T. Center…
Until Next Time,
POST UPDATE: Here’s a picture of the Giant Bobbleheads on a vintage Disney Lunchbox. Guess they have been around for a long time. Thanks to my Twitter Friend @TikiTommy1960 for this terrific photo contribution!
P.S. If you liked this post, check out one of the very first posts I wrote on the Disney Every Day Blog. It is Magic Kingdom back in the Day.
