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30 Days to 30 Years- 1987

September 6, 2012 By D Marie 7 Comments

Welcome back, one and all, to our 30 day countdown to Epcot’s 30th Anniversary.  My co-host, Beth (Pursuing the Magic and The Magical Blogorail) and I are so appreciative of our authors, and all who stop in daily to get a dose of magical nostalgia!  Today’s guest blogger, Estelle from This Happy Place Blog, will take us back to 1987; and a happy 5th birthday for this park!

In 1987, I was a darling 3-year old. Walt Disney World was celebrating its 15th birthday, and that second theme park called EPCOT Center was celebrating 5 years of operation.

Epcot during WDW 15th anniversary celebration
From Disney Parks Blog

While it would be another 9 years before I stepped foot on Walt Disney World property at all, this span of years brought a good amount of change to Epcot, even while much would remain the same. Still searching for its true identity even then, Epcot has never stopped being an “experimental prototype.”

Epcot Center Ticket, 1987
Jermiah Good
Take the Daredevil Circus Spectacular, for example.

It seems the safaris at Animal Kingdom weren’t the only place to find real elephants in Walt Disney World’s vast history…

In this 25-minute program, Mickey Mouse served as the ringmaster of a thrill show full of stunts (motorcycles, trapezes, sway poles, oh my!), live music from The Future Corps., four huge elephants, and more. The Fountain of Nations transformed into a stage, as “space cycles” glided along wires run from the Communicore buildings to the center of Spaceship Earth. Also featured was a sky walker’s treacherous journey 180-feet above the Odyssey Lagoon on nothing but a steel wire.

Daredevil Circus Spectacular
Fiesta Fun Center
Daredevil Circus Spectacular
Fiesta Fun Center
The “futuristic circus show” would only last for 5 months, running from October 1987 to March 1988.
If there weren’t pictures or videos of this spectacular, I would never believe it even existed. For further proof, here’s a video from the 1987 Merry Christmas Parade with a feature on the Daredevil Circus Spectacular.


1987 also marked the ending of Skyleidoscope, a daytime extravaganza of boats on the lagoon and high flying planes in the sky. The show had been around since 1985 and went through three incarnations, ending with a special Walt Disney World 15th anniversary show that included bright colors and dragon boats on the water.

Skyleidoscope at Epcot in 1987
Burnsland
It’s understandable why there are many diehard Disney fans who feel so nostalgic for EPCOT Center of the early 80s. I would have loved to see the Dreamfinder part of “Journey of Imagination” more than once, check out Horizons and World of Motion, and listen to Walter Cronkite tell me all about the wonders of technology on Spaceship Earth.
If only we could travel back in time…
Until that happens, I leave you with a 1987 picture of my favorite sight to photograph in all of Walt Disney World.

Spaceship Earth, 1987.
 Burnsland
Thanks to Nick of Fiesta Fun Center and Steve of Burnsland for permission to use their awesome pictures!
P.S. If you are interested in seeing more of 1987 Epcot, check out this playlist I made of some wacky home videos I found on YouTube. (Beware of the short man shorts!)

A fan of Figment and the Mexico pavilion, Estelle has been blogging about her Disney travels, theatre, the Muppets at This Happy Place Blog for over a year. She also reviews books at Rather Be Reading Blog and tweets at @thatsostelle.


We can’t thank Estelle for returning for another series!


Tomorrow, Heidi of  Heidi’s Head gives us a review of 1988; including a listing of attractions that no longer grace the Epcot landscape…

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Filed Under: Blog, DISney

Comments

  1. CJ says

    September 6, 2012 at 3:07 pm

    In 1987 I took a youth group to WDW for the first time. Many great memories, but I still think the 15th anniversary EPCOT celebration was my favorite anniversary WDW has ever put together! Thanks for the wonderful reminders!

    Reply
    • blogging says

      September 6, 2012 at 4:49 pm

      Looking forward to the 15th anniversary report too!!

      Reply
  2. blogging says

    September 6, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    What a terrific snapshot of 1987- I can't even imagine seeing elephants at Epcot!! From your post, it seems that this park's identity has come a long way in the 30 years. Thanks so much Stelle!!

    Reply
  3. Rich T. says

    September 6, 2012 at 7:57 pm

    I wish I'd been to WDW that year to see all of this! I love that quirky Dragon Boat!

    Reply
  4. leedavidt says

    September 7, 2012 at 3:55 pm

    My First Year At Epcot Was 1987 ! I Always Wondered…Did They Have A 5 Or A 15 In Fron Of Spaceship Earth…Now I Know ! This Park In 1987 Changed My Life Forever !

    Reply
    • blogging says

      September 7, 2012 at 4:34 pm

      Isn't it incredible the impact that these parks have had on so many?? Thanks for stopping in!

      Reply
  5. Dory Smith says

    July 27, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    I wan in the WDW College Program in 1987. I was a Friendship boat captain. It was amazing! Thanks for the memories!!!

    Reply

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"Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever.” ~ Walt Disney

Physical therapist, doctor at 60!, special needs advocate, and late-in-life runner, I offer prescriptions for a happy and full lifestyle for all.

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