It is the third of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort, which boasts 135 acres dedicated to the world of cinema, television, music and theater.ĭrawn from the Golden Age of Hollywood, the park celebrated Tinseltown. Hello Hollywoodĭisney-MGM Studios opened on May 1, 1989. The park is also home to some of the most popular annual events, such as the International Flower & Garden Festival (born 1994) and the International Food & Wine Festival (born 1995). The theme of unity was clear: “Welcome to everyone who comes to this place of joy, hope and friendship.”Įpcot (an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) was planned by Walt Disney and conceived as a future utopia city with state-of-the-art technology. Performers from 23 countries performed at the World Showcase Festival. The opening ceremony featured the music of Count Basie and his orchestra, Lionel Hampton and his big band, Glenn Miller Orchestra. Utopian dream, EpcotĮpcott opened on Octowith five Future World Pavilion and nine World Showcases celebrating the history and culture of Mexico, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. $ 20 Million Indoor Roller Coaster One of Disney’s signature attractions, the iconic mountain now stands in all Disney parks around the world. On-hand rocketmen included Mercury 7 astronaut, Scott Carpenter, Mercury 7 and Gemini 5 astronauts, Gordon Cooper, and Apollo 15 engineer and astronaut Jim Irwin. The astronaut crew landed at Magic Kingdom on January 15, 1975, with 2,000 people for the grand opening of Space Mountain, Star Jets (now Astro Orbitron), and Tomorrowland’s GE Carousel of Progress.

Count basie big band