Is Epcot a giant golf ball?

Epcot's icon is the impressive Spaceship Earth geosphere, affectionately referred to by most as the giant golf ball.

How big is the golf ball at Epcot?

No Small Golf Ball

The Epcot ball is a 165-ft diameter geodesic sphere that is elevated above the ground to stand 180 feet tall. Each face of the polyhedron is divided into three isosceles triangles to form each point.

Why is Epcot a giant golf ball?

The design of the sphere makes it so that all water travels through 1-inch gutters all the way down the building and transports the water directly into Epcot's World Showcase Lagoon.

What is the big ball called in Epcot?

Spaceship Earth is a dark ride attraction at the Epcot theme park at the Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida. The geodesic sphere in which the attraction is housed has served as the symbolic structure of Epcot since the park opened in 1982.

Is the Epcot Center a golf ball?

It is, of course, the Walt Disney World park's most recognizable feature—by a mile. But far fewer people are familiar with the theme park's unique history, starting with its name. (For the record, Spaceship Earth is not a giant golf ball. It's a geodesic sphere devoted to the future of communication.)

DISNEY WORLD TIP: What is the giant golf ball in Epcot?

What's in the golf ball at Epcot?

The EPCOT ball is typically called Spaceship Earth. The whole of the Spaceship Earth attraction is housed inside the ball, and you'll take a journey through time in a slow-moving vehicle when you board the ride. The name Spaceship Earth was given to the structure and ride by world-famous architect Buckminster Fuller.

What is the Epcot ball made out of?

They chose a material called Alucobond which is polyethylene plastic sandwiched between two sheets of aluminum.

What is Epcot known for?

Epcot Experiences and Nighttime Spectacular

Around World Showcase, spot performers, short films, and artwork from countries around the world, and in World Discovery, World Celebration, and World Nature, find fun play areas, aquariums with a variety of marine life, and more.

Why is it called Epcot?

The concept was an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, often interchanging "city" and "community." In Walt Disney's words in 1966: "EPCOT will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centers of American industry.

How long did it take to make the Epcot ball?

Designed by the help of science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, Space Ship Earth is a complete sphere supported by three pairs of legs. The massive structure, which looks like a giant golf ball, is 18-stories high and took 26 months and 40,800 labor hours to build.

How heavy is the Epcot ball?

The structure is 180 feet (18 stories) tall (the sphere starts 15 feet above the ground). The structure weighs close to 16 million pounds. 9. … But it isn't the Largest Thing in Epcot!

What does Epcot stand for car?

But the “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow,” Walt's passion project, would be a major part of the park. Walt envisioned a genuine city, devoid of crime, unemployment, and those pesky automobiles that produced traffic and pollution.

Do they clean the Epcot ball?

At the time, Disney claimed that the panels were "self cleaning" but, in reality, today they are pressure washed. From a thematic perspective, alucobond was selected so that during the day, it would mirror the sky and the landscape as well as glimpses of the guests on the walkways.

What is the golf ball at Disney?

Epcot's icon is the impressive Spaceship Earth geosphere, affectionately referred to by most as the giant golf ball. (You'd need one heck of a four iron to get it on the fairway.) During Disney's Millennium celebration, there was a giant Sorcerer Mickey hand and the word "Epcot" added to the exterior.

Where was the Epcot ball made?

Everyone knows that huge silver "golf ball." It's the icon of Epcot at Walt Disney World. But almost no one knows that world-famous symbol of an Orlando vacation was built here in Tampa. "In effect, we made a tinker toy set that we shipped to the job site," said Bob Clark, who runs Tampa Steel Erecting Company.

What are 3 interesting facts about Epcot?

Is Epcot outdated?

EPCOT Center has been dead for 23 years. Arguably, the original concept started disappearing with the name change, and has been gone 20 years ago, give or take. The current, disjointed incarnation of the park has now existed for longer than EPCOT Center did.

Was Walt Disney alive at Epcot?

The original concept of EPCOT was eventually abandoned by Walt Disney Productions after Walt Disney's death in 1966, citing the impracticality of maintaining, governing, and operating the city. The plans for the property were folded into Walt Disney World, at the behest of Roy O. Disney, which opened in 1971.

What should I not miss at Epcot?

Is Epcot fun for adults?

Of all the Disney parks, Epcot is probably the most adult friendly and fun park to discover.

What is the best age for Epcot?

Epcot (Ages 10 to 14)

Kids ages 10 to 14 will really enjoy Epcot, not only because of some of the major thrill attractions like Mission: SPACE and Test Track, but also because of the sense of adventure that comes with exploring World Showcase.

How old is the Epcot ball?

Spaceship Earth opened on October 1, 1982, Epcot's opening day. Imagineers took two years to create the sphere and the ride within it. Spaceship Earth is an impressive feat of engineering and actually consists of two spheres.

How many bulbs are on the Epcot ball?

With nearly 2.000 fixtures, there are nearly 12,000 side-firing beams that produce the iconic starburst effects.