EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration (1982) Online

I saw this special on the Disney Channel around 1999. I payed the most attention to the scene where Danny Kaye talked to a seven year old Drew Barrymore. It was sad how Kaye told her that in the future ,she would most likely be going to high school in space. Its sad, since we don't have a workable space station and also, Ms.Barrymore had problems in her teenage years which did not let her graduate from high school.



Alex Haley talking about the future Africa pavilion was also sad. Some people have mentioned Animal Kingdom but even then Animal Kingdom is not solely African related.

After seeing this special I have come to one conclusion, the future is NOT foreseeable!

What this thing ought to have been called is EPCOT CENTER: THE MUSICAL. In a series of loosely tied together segments, Danny Kaye goes from singing dandy to international spokesman to voice over artist for the China film. Don't miss the SHAMELESS use of E.T. (this was 1982 after all) to promote EPCOT. "Are you telling a close, personal friend of E.T. something is impossible?" You gotta' be kidding me.

Roy Clark, clearly inebriated, walks us through the Land. He hijacks one of the boats from Living with the Land and takes some confused tourists on a musical odyssey.

The best part is when Danny Kaye and the Walt Disney Company placate Alex Haley with the idea that they were going to build Africa in the World Showcase.

You can find it on torrent sites usually. If you're down with old school EPCOT this is a must.

Just remember, someone actually thought this was the best way to present the most heavy-handed piece of edutainment ever conceived. Amazing.

Dany Kaye, Is a enormous successful choice for this television special. The creators take you on a whimsical tour around the new EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Comunity Of Tomorrow) Centre. We are given a no holds bared tour of the newest addition (circa 1982) to Walt Disney World. The Show is played like a earlier special with Kaye, Disneyland 25th anniversary, featuring a re-visit by the Osmands. Drew Barrymore, plays a second role to Danny Kays singing and dancing, but she appears to be their just for who she is not just as a key role in the special. For the Disney collector and Fan, This special is a must, There are three including this i would suggest. DisneyLand 25th anniversary, DisneyLand 30th Anniversary, and The Opening Of EPCOT. All are spectacular and if they are released a special DVD's, they are a must for a collection. Greg Sully

Except for the Brady Variety Hour, this was some of the hokiest television I've seen in a while. The video production qualities weren't too bad, but the overall look and feel were unmistakeably early 80's. And Marie Osmond looks like she did battle with the Avon Lady.. and lost big time. WAY too much eyeliner.

It was kind of embarrassing to watch veterans Danny Kaye and Eric Severeid take part in this. Even more interesting was watching Alex Haley talk about the African Pavillion in World Showcase that would be opening 'in about a year.'

As of this writing it is 17 years later and it hasn't opened yet (Unless you count Disney's Animal Kingdom.) All in all though, for all the shortcomings, this still an interesting visual piece of Disney history.

Alex Haley et. al. say a lot of nice things about Walt Disney's Epcot Center. They must have been well paid because I almost found myself believing Mr. Sevareid's observations.

My favorite lines were supplied by Roy Clark of Hee-Haw fame and Marie Osmond. While talking to the hydroponics expert from Arizona, Mr. Clark wondered if he could grow an olive with the Martini already attached. I know, I have not stopped laughing yet. Miss Osmond provided the best however line while singing here song about America. I will attempt to recreate it here. "Free-he-he-he-he-he-he-he-he-he-dom," is how Marie sang the line, freedom.

Utterly self-promotional and honest. I highly recommend it.