HEY. HEYYYYY. DID YOU KNOW EPCOT OPENED 30 YEARS AGO?

If for some reason you’re reading this blog, then yes, you probably knew EPCOT — EPCOT Center, that is — was unveiled to the public on Oct. 1, 1982. A few years went by, and then I was also unveiled to the public. Then a few more years went by. And then this happened.

AWWW YISSSSS check out my sweet ’80s threads. And my little-kid mullet. And my awesome hat.

I don’t exactly remember my first few visits to EPCOT, but I do remember that I didn’t get nearly as excited about my time at EPCOT as I did about my time at the Magic Kingdom. What was the point of Future World? Trying to TEACH ME STUFF? While I was ON VACATION? Ugh. No. The World Showcase was a little more fun because I got exotic candies and stamps in my EPCOT passport book, but none of the country pavilions even had RIDES, save for a few jaunts on boats in Mexico and Norway. I would’ve fallen asleep at the Canada, France and China movies if I hadn’t had to stand.

Of course, now that I am a reasonable adult who loves food and drink and travel and technology and literature, EPCOT is the highlight of my Walt Disney World vacations.* I love drinking around the world. I love listening to Dame Judi Dench’s dulcet tones guiding me through the history of human communication on Spaceship Earth. I love exploring agricultural advances on Living with the Land. I love breathing in the (slightly chemical-y) scent of the orange groves on Soarin’. I love zooming around Test Track. I love not being the first (nor the last) to pass through Norway. I love that damn garden and waterfall in Canada. I love grabbing a pint and a Curly Wurly in the United Kingdom. I LOVE IT. I JUST LOVE IT ALL SO DAMN MUCH.

So it’s not exactly Walt’s vision of a fully functional Utopian city housing 20,000 nonpermanent residents. It’s just a theme park. A theme park that broke the rules and redefined boundaries and continues to take a visionary look at the most exciting parts of our past, present and future. Now I appreciate it. And now I get to share and experience it with all the people who are so important to me.

So happy birthday EPCOT, or happy anniversary, or just happy 30th. Here’s to 30 more years and as many more visits. And 30 more years and visits. EPCOT FOREVER. ♥

*OK, I can’t say EPCOT is more exciting than rope-dropping at MK and riding Space Mountain until I feel nauseated and then getting a pineapple Dole Whip and hitting up Fantasyland. But I can’t say it’s less exciting than that, either. AHHH WDW IS JUST THE BEST EVERYTHING THERE IS THE BEST