Over the weekend, Disney World celebrated EPCOT’s 40th anniversary.

The park opened on Oct. 1, 1982, becoming Disney’s second theme park in Florida after the Magic Kingdom.

To mark the occasion, the park celebrated with a ceremony, themed merchandise, treats and a special Beacons of Magic light show at Spaceship Earth.


What You Need To Know

  • Epcot turns 40

  • The park first opened Oct. 1 , 1982

  • Disney celebrated the anniversary with a ceremony, specialty food, themed merchandise and a special Beacons of Magic show

Disney installed banners with the EPCOT 40 logo at the park entrance. The music at the entrance plaza was changed to the classic EPCOT soundtrack for the day.

As visitors entered the park, they were able to get commemorative guidemaps with a similar look as the entrance banners.

EPCOT 40 merchandise was available at Creations Shop, the park’s main gift shop, with visitors waiting for hours to get in. At one point the line stretched all the way the area near The Land Pavilion.

There was also a special anniversary ceremony featuring performances from Mariachi Cobre and the Voices of Liberty at the American Gardens Theatre. Walt Disney World ambassadors Ali Manion and Raevon Redding also took the stage to talk about the legacy of the park.

The celebration continued into the night with a special Beacons of Magic light show at Spaceship Earth. The show featured music and references to offerings from throughout EPCOT’s 40-year history, including Tapestry of Nations and Journey Into Imagination.

The show ended with “We Go On” from IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, which ended its run in 2019.

Meanwhile, construction continues at the park for EPCOT’s massive transformation. First announced in 2019, the multi-year project has seen the addition of a new fountain at the main entrance as well as new restaurants and attractions, including Space 220, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

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