In 1986, EPCOT Center was in its golden era of educational optimism and grand scale. Having opened in 1982, the park was now mature, with almost all its original major pavilions fully open. This 1986 guide map captures the park at a time when its two massive areas, Future World and World Showcase, felt completely unique and state-of-the-art.
Future World: A Vision of Tomorrow
The 1986 map highlights the signature Future World pavilions in all their original glory:
- Spaceship Earth — the park's iconic geosphere, taking guests on a journey through the history of human communication.
- Universe of Energy — featuring solar-powered ride vehicles and a traveling theater through a primeval dinosaur forest.
- Horizons — the beloved look at future lifestyles, from space colonies to desert farms (often called the ultimate continuation of Spaceship Earth).
- World of Motion — sponsored by General Motors, offering a humorous and sweeping look at the history of transportation.
- Journey Into Imagination — featuring Figment and Dreamfinder, guiding guests through the creative process.
- The Land — exploring agricultural innovations and symbiotic relationships with the environment.
- The Living Seas — newly opened in 1986, taking guests on a simulated hydrolator journey down to Sea Base Alpha.
World Showcase: A Global Promenade
Stretching around the World Showcase Lagoon, the 1986 map displays the international pavilions representing the culture, architecture, and food of different nations:
- The pavilions featured in 1986: Mexico, China, Germany, Italy, The American Adventure, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada.
- Note the addition of Morocco in 1984, which was the newest pavilion at the time of this map.
For anyone who loves retro Disney history, this 1986 EPCOT Center map represents the peak era of the park's original concept: a permanent World's Fair focused on human achievement and international community.
