Even before the new Magic Kingdom opened, Walt Disney was developing plans for EPCOT Center , or Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, conceived in 1966 as a real community experimenting with the new ideas and materials of the technologically advancing US. The idea failed to shape up as Disney had envisioned: EPCOT didn't open its gates until 1982, when global recession and ecological concerns had put a damper on the belief in the infallibility of science. One drawback of this park is simply its immense size: twice as big as the Magic Kingdom and very sapping on the feet.
Inside the unmissable 180ft geosphere (unlike a semicircular geodesic dome , the geosphere is completely round), Future World , a reminder of the park's original concept, details the history and possible advances to be made in agriculture, transportation, energy and communications. The best of the rides all corporately sponsored, so don't expect any mention of alternative power or global warming are the superb Test Track , a radical combination of simulator and switchback ride in which you test a high-speed car of the future; Body Wars , a fast-paced simulator voyage through the body's immune system; and the 4D cinematic thrill of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience . Occupying the largest area in the park is the World Showcase , with eleven different "countries" represented by street sets. The restaurants here are the best in Walt Disney World, and it's a great place to watch the spectacular nighttime sound and light show, Illuminations .