You Can Build It - Part V

There are sites around Walt Disney World that tug at our heartstrings, make us wonder how they were created, and move us to capture them for all eternity in a photograph. Yet, the argument can be made that Spaceship Earth is the most awe-inspiring vista in all of the resort.

The idea for a geodesic dome came from R. Buckminster Fuller, but his influence goes even beyond the structure itself as the EPCOT Center icon was given named after a phrase Fuller coined, Spaceship Earth. I don’t think you’ll need my guided tour today, just enjoy these construction photos of Spaceship Earth in your own time.

Further Reading:

You Can Build It – Part I (United Kingdom)

You Can Build It – Part II (The Land and World of Motion)

You Can Build It – Part III (Transportation and Carnival de Lumiere)

You Can Build It – Part IV (Canada)

You Can Built It – Part V (Spaceship Earth)
You Can Built It – Part VI (Miscellaneous)

You Can Build It - Part IV

We’re back in World Showcase, and moving back to the time when EPCOT Center was still under construction. Like we mentioned last week, it is very obvious that the photographer was stationed on either the United Kingdom or Canada projects and was able to move between the pavilions. Today we’re taking a look at some of the work that was done on in and around Canada.

This set of photographs look at the various areas of rockwork that are employed on the Rocky Mountain section of the pavilion. There are also a couple of photos of the pavilion’s weenie, and one-time shop, the Hotel du Canada.

A set of rockwork closest to the ground, with another structure taking place beneath a tarp. Also the stairway through the mountain can be seen along the bottom right of the photograph.

For a look at the scale of this mountain section, there is a set of crew members looking over plans.

A look back at the same section, but with fabrication happening throughout the landscape.

While forced perspective may have been utilized to make the mountain appear larger than it actually was, this photo makes sure that we understand it is still a massive and impressive structure.

The Hotel du Canada, based upon Ontario’s Chateau Laurier, is beginning to take shape.

Details meant to be perceived as limestone brickwork on the Hotel du Canada start to appear.

Further Reading:

You Can Build It – Part I (United Kingdom)

You Can Build It – Part II (The Land and World of Motion)

You Can Build It – Part III (Transportation and Carnival de Lumiere)

You Can Build It – Part IV (Canada)

You Can Built It – Part V (Spaceship Earth)
You Can Built It – Part VI (Miscellaneous)

Silent Saturday - Rivers of America to Cinderella Castle (August 2010)

You Can Build It - Part III

Transportation around EPCOT Center was a much different affair when the park first opened. There was not an International Gateway for guests to enter and exit through, everyone came in through the main entrance near Spaceship Earth which meant there would be more walking at the beginning and ending of a day. However, more guests got off of their feet and took advantage of the internal modes of transportation.

The Friendships were much more popular during this time, and this popularity led to an increase in the fleet. However, the most sought after way to maneuver through the park were the double decker buses known as World Showcase Transportation. In particular the second level which offered stirring breezes and unparalleled views of World Showcase. In the early years the buses made stops between Mexico and China, Italy and The American Adventure, France and United Kingdom, and Canada and Port of Entry. Later routes would transfer the United Kingdom stop to between France and Morocco, and the stop between Mexico and China would remain in the same space, but now be directly in front of Norway.

Also in this set of photographs we find a group of barges for EPCOT Center’s first nighttime spectacular. Prior to any incarnation of IllumiNations there were actually three other shows. Debuting in 1982 was Carnival de Lumiere, 1983 saw A New World Fantasy, and Laserphonic Fantasy had its world premiere in 1984.

Here we step backstage to see Friendship I and Friendship II docked.

Friendship I makes its way out to World Showcase Lagoon, passing by China along the way.

Friendship II makes its way by the raised bridge near China.

Here we see one of the double decker buses from World Showcase Transportation parked backstage.

A row of projection, fountain, and firework barges.

A close up view of one of the barge’s inner workings.

Getting up close and personal with a pair of barges and their set-ups.

Further Reading:

You Can Build It – Part I (United Kingdom)

You Can Build It – Part II (The Land and World of Motion)

You Can Build It – Part III (Transportation and Carnival de Lumiere)

You Can Build It – Part IV (Canada)

You Can Built It – Part V (Spaceship Earth)
You Can Built It – Part VI (Miscellaneous)

You Can Build It - Part II

Continuing on with our EPCOT Center construction tour, we’re stepping away from World Showcase for a little while and focusing in on a pair of Future World pavilions that seemed to also have the attention of our photographer. The Land and World of Motion were both captured in a pair of photographs.

For The Land, we’re looking at the greenhouses, specifically the Tropiculture greenhouse. The greenhouses were carefully plotted out in an effort to tell a specific story as guests made their way through them. On the side of World of Motion, this 60 foot high and 320 foot in diameter structure was built to remind guests of a wheel. It also served as a stark contrast to the other pavilions of Future World East which used harsh angular lines in their designs.

A close up, if somewhat blurry, look at the exterior of The Land’s greenhouse dome.

Another view of The Land’s domed greenhouse, this time we can also catch a glimpse of the red aquaculture facility.

A shot of World of Motion off in the distance, notice how it is already glimmering even at this stage in the construction process. Also, the lagoon sits empty during this period.

The lagoon begins to take on water, and is met by a sea wall. World of Motion begins to take shape, and even beams of the monorail have begun being installed.

Further Reading:

You Can Build It – Part I (United Kingdom)

You Can Build It – Part II (The Land and World of Motion)

You Can Build It – Part III (Transportation and Carnival de Lumiere)

You Can Build It – Part IV (Canada)

You Can Built It – Part V (Spaceship Earth)
You Can Built It – Part VI (Miscellaneous)