Disney World Showcase is Announced
…With any new concept, there must first be a need, then a right time, then a right place... For the World Showcase, the time is now. the place is Walt Disney World...and the need was never greater."
Disney World Showcase, by Carlos Diniz
One could argue that the evolution of EPCOT Center’s two worlds occurred concurrently with their physical forms tracing their roots all the way by to the opening of Disneyland. While Future World’s ancestry includes several iterations of Tomorrowland, World Showcase is the product of more than a couple unrealized concepts.
Disneyland “Toy Musical Map” created for Mattel, 1955 Featuring International Street
Before Disneyland even opened, plans were underway for a Main Street expansion called International Street where several architectural styles, shopping and dining from around the world would represented. As these plans quickly outgrew the space behind Main Street, they were relocated to an area between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland but were ultimately abandoned when Walt opted for the Matterhorn that opened in 1959.
Original model of International Street
Plans for International Street were revisited during the initial development of E.P.C.O.T. where the concept would find a home inside the climate-controlled center of the city.
E.P.C.O.T. City Center Cutaway by George Rester, 1966
After the opening of Walt Disney World Phase 1, and with the 1973 Energy Crisis thankfully in the rearview mirror, plans for how to properly realize Walt’s final dream restarted. This time they evolved from a residential community to one that would benefit everyone in visited the resort. Including several satellite facilities located throughout the resort. The first of which would be located directly in front of the Transportation & Ticket Center — A permanent international park where the nations of the planet could put their best foot forward called Disney World Showcase.
(Then) President of Walt Disney Productions, Card Walker announces the Disney World Showcase in the (now historic) Ballroom of the Americas at the Contemporary Hotel.
Disney World Showcase by Collin Campbell
This ingenious design allowed for the inclusion of 35 nations with each one receiving equal representation along a completely enclosed promenade, but allowing for each country to expand its pavilion as much as they wished.
This park would also include an open air theater, global gardens, and an elaborate WEDway system.
(Then) CEO of Walt Disney Productions, Donn Tatum being interviewed during the announcment
Eventually, WED Enterprises determined that the Disney World Showcase and the Epcot Theme Center (later Future World) would not be a big enough draw for visitors to the resort, so Marty Sklar and John Hench famous pushed the two models together to become EPCOT Center announced a mere two years later in the same exact location!
EPCOT Center, as seen from World Showcase by Herb Ryman, 1977
