30 Days to 30 Years- 1984

Marching along with our blogger countdown to the 30th Anniversary of Epcot, my co-host, @disneymom2jhe of Pursuing the Magic and The Magical Blogorail founder, and I are honored to introduce blogger Rosanne from The Disney Point to the series.

EPCOT Center 1984 Memories

It was fate that made me a Disney fan.

It’s true. I was supposed to be born in late September. In fact, my mom even went into labor in late September. Three days later, on October 1, 1984, I was born. If you read my blog “The Disney Point” then you know that I believe that everything happens for a reason. I was born on October 1 because I was meant to. I was born on October 1 so I could share a birthday with the Walt Disney World Resort, the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

Two years prior to my birth, the gates to EPCOT Center opened for the first time. EPCOT Center was Walt Disney’s pet project – something that everyone thought was insane but as usual Walt dreamed bigger and better than everyone else. Did we ever get to see Walt’s vision of Epcot? Probably not. However, I think Walt would be extremely happy with the story Epcot tells to millions of guests every year.

Most of the bloggers posting this month for “30 Days to 30 Years” will be telling you about a trip they went on on their select year. I cannot do that because I was an infant in 1984. However, I can share with you a few flashbacks to EPCOT Center back then…and I can tell you about my first trip to Epcot as told through my parents.

This video probably says it all about EPCOT Center in 1984. EPCOT Center was a calm, unique place that featured both groundbreaking technology and the cultures of many different countries. In 1984 there weren’t in your face character references or spectacles. You saw the world as it was meant to be seen…that is, without ever leaving Central Florida!

My parents and grandparents were dying to see Epcot, so in 1984 they threw me in the car and drove me to the Walt Disney World Resort. My father recalls that my grandfather was amazed by what he saw. My grandfather, Poppy, came to America via Ellis Island after my aunt and uncle were born. My father was the first of his siblings to be born in the US. His trip from Italy to the US was probably the only international traveling he ever did. He was amazed by EPCOT Center.

My dad’s favorite memory of the trip was in the World Showcase. They finally got me to fall asleep in my stroller when they came upon the Mexico pavilion. They parked me in the shade and decided to relax. Disney had other plans, however. As soon as they started to relax, the Mariachi band came out to play. My Poppy then proceeded to yell at them in Italian to be quiet. After Poppy passed away, my brother and I always took a photo in front of Alfredo’s in the Italy Pavilion. Alfredo was my grandfather’s name and it was always a wonderful reminder of his life.

Even though I don’t remember the 1984 trip, I’ll never forget it. Does that make sense? It’s a part of my life and my history. I’m proud to have had the chance to spend so many important moments in Epcot.

1984 also marked the opening of the Morocco pavilion. The Morocco pavilion is a truly beautiful addition to the World Showcase. Twenty-five years later, my fiance and I took our engagement pictures in that very pavilion. At our wedding, we also danced to “Promise” from IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth as our first dance.

The magic of Walt Disney World stems from the memories that are made each and every day. Just as my parents and grandparents experienced Epcot, I will experience it one day with my own kids. Thank you Epcot, for 30 fabulous years, and for being another stop in this circle of life.

Nothing beats a Disney transgenerational  trip report!  If you’d like to read more of Rosanne’s Walt Disney World travels- from infant to Disney College Program to honeymoon- tune into her blog, The Disney Point, or follow her on Twitter @DisneyRoe, Facebook or Pinterest.


Tomorrow, Amy joins us with a view of EPCOT Center, 1985.