Since opening on October 1, 1982, several attractions have come and gone from Epcot, while others have been changed and updated. Split into Future World and World Showcase, the Epcot theme park sprawls across 300 acres (more than twice the size of Magic Kingdom Park!) and encompasses icons from the spherical Spaceship Earth to the giant slot car Test Track. To help celebrate the upcoming 30th anniversary of Epcot, we wanted to take a closer look at five of the unique attractions and experiences that make this Walt Disney World Resort theme park a fan favorite. Happy 30th birthday, Epcot!

Take 5: Attractions at Epcot

1. The Scientist Who Inspired The Name of Epcot’s ‘Spaceship Earth’ – Learn about the history of the iconic Spaceship Earth. Do you know which great mind actually inspired this classic Epcot attraction?
2. Chat Live with Walt Disney Imagineer Melissa Jeselnick Today at 1:15 p.m. EDT – The Test Track is currently under renovation, but read this Live Chat with Imagineer Melissa Jeselnick for details on what the updated attraction will include.
3. Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Fans Get Early Start Today at Walt Disney World Resort – While not an attraction, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is a staple at Epcot. Now in its 17th year, the event brings food from 6 different continents together in one sensational event.
4. Major Makeover for the France Pavilion at Epcot – By early December, Bistro de Paris in the France Pavilion at Epcot will have a whole new look plus a new name, and by mid-December, a new bakery will be open. The France Pavilion is one of eleven countries represented around the World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot.
5. Voices of Liberty Sing the National Anthem – Watch as the Voices of Liberty, the a cappella vocal group that performs daily at the American Pavilion at Epcot, sing the United States’ national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Tagged: Epcot, Take 5, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort

Here at Disney Parks, we boast an impressive lineup of concerts. With a variety in music, acts, and eras, we entertain guests with artists ranging from Hanson and Smash Mouth to the Never Land Pirate Band and Maestro Goofy. This past summer, we hosted events such as the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot and the Night of Joy at Magic Kingdom Park, giving guests of all ages tunes they could enjoy. But don’t worry; if you didn’t make it to Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort for a concert this past summer, we have more concerts on tap this fall. Read the posts below to see how you can get your groove on at Disney Parks.

Take 5: Concerts at Disney Parks

1. An Early Holiday Gift for Disneyland Guests: Twenty Nights of Disneyland Candlelight Ceremony Performances Scheduled for 2012 – This holiday season – for the first time in its history – the Candlelight Ceremony and Processional is being extended to a total of 20 nights at Disneyland park, with two performances each night.
2. Nova Era Offers a Classic Experience at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort – Did you know that you can hear the stirring sounds of classical music at Downtown Disney four nights each week? Nova Era, a trio of classically trained musicians, perform Thursday through Sunday just outside Fulton’s Crab House.
3. Blues Traveler, Smash Mouth and More Set for ‘Eat to the Beat’ Concert Series This Fall at Epcot – Here’s whom you can expect at this fall’s “Eat to the Beat” concert series at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
4. ‘Candlelight Choir’ Sneak Peek: Neil Patrick Harris Returns, Olivia Newton John Added – See the wonderful celebrity talent we have lined up for this year’s Candlelight Processional at Epcot.
5. Attend a ‘Sounds Like Summer’ Concert at Epcot – Have you attended a Sounds Like Summer concert at Epcot? See who came on stage this past summer.

Tagged: DLR, Take 5, WDW

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

Here at Disney Parks, upholding the ideals of Walt Disney by creating a positive community impact is something that we hold very near and dear. In 1992, the Disneyland Community Action Team (DCAT) transformed into a company-wide community outreach team called the Disney VoluntEARS. As a community partner, Disney VoluntEARS have given nearly 6 million hours of volunteer service since their founding, supporting charitable organizations around the world and helping others with everything from building playgrounds to teaching kids about the environment. Read the posts below to get a glimpse into the many ways that our cast members collaborate and inspire to give back to their communities.

Take 5: VoluntEARS at Disney Parks

1. Disney VoluntEARS Create Play Space in Santa Ana, California – This past week, cast member Adrian Garcia, along with members of the Disneyland Resort College Program, Boys & Girls Club volunteers and KaBOOM! organizers, helped to build a new playground and garden in Santa Ana, California.
2. Walt Disney World Resort Donates Record 3.1 Million School Supplies to Students – In August, Disney VoluntEARS helped with back-to-school efforts for kids, donating a record 3.1 million supplies and 13,000 backbacks to schools in Central Florida.
3. Disney Cruise Line Builds a Nautical Playground in One Day! – More than 150 Disney Cruise Line VoluntEars teamed up with 150 volunteers from the City of Rockledge to construct a shiny, new playground in just six hours!
4. Disneyland Resort Cast Members Educate Local Students About Water Conservation – Did you know that the Disneyland Resort recycles enough aluminum each year to make a soda can five times taller than Mount Everest? In March, 5000 third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students gathered to learn about the environment and protecting water supplies.
5. 400 Children in Germany Attend Disney Cruise Line Community Event – Back in February, the Disney Cruise Line said “thanks” to a community in Germany that many cast and crew members have called home by sharing Disney characters and a movie screening with nearly 400 children.

Tagged: DCL, DLR, Take 5, WDW

Filed: Community Outreach, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

This summer, guests at Disney California Adventure park and Disneyland park were given the opportunity to light up the night when “Glow With the Show” Ears became available. Guests were invited to the unique experience, which could be found throughout Disneyland Resort with a colorful glow at “World of Color,” Mad T Party and “Fantasmic!”, among others. Read these posts to learn more about the magical ears and to find out how you can come get your glow on at Disneyland Resort!

Take 5: ‘Glow With the Show’ at Disneyland Resort

1. Disney California Adventure Park Guests Will ‘Glow with the Show’ – Disney California Adventure park guests were the first to be given the chance to light up the night when “Glow With the Show” Ears became available on June 15.
2. VIDEO: Come ‘Glow With the Show’ at Disney California Adventure Park – Take a look at the magical ears glowing around Disney California Adventure park at “World of Color,” Mad T Party and inside Cars Land.
3. Disney Parks Blog Readers ‘Glow With the Show’ at Disney California Adventure Park – On July 30, we invited 1,000 guests to a “Glow With the Show” Meet-Up for a showing of “World of Color” at Disney California Adventure park.
4. ‘Glow With the Show’ Ears Technology at Disney California Adventure Park Revealed – Unveil the mystery of the technology behind the “Glow With the Show” Ears in this video.
5. ‘Glow with the Show’ Now Glowing at Disneyland Park – “Glow With the Show” Ears now glow at Disneyland park as well!

Tagged: DCA, DL, DLR, Take 5

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

When New Fantasyland opens at Magic Kingdom Park on December 6, one of its landmarks will be Beast’s Castle, which houses the new Be Our Guest Restaurant. Over the past several months, the Disney Parks Blog has offered many exciting peeks at what guests can expect with this new dining opportunity. Read these posts to learn more about the highly anticipated restaurant, which has its first seatings on November 19. And as the song goes, learn how you can “Be our guest! Be our guest! Put our service to the test!”

Take 5: Be Our Guest Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park

1. First Look: Walt Disney Imagineers Offer a Taste of the Be Our Guest Restaurant – Imagineer Ted Robledo gives us a behind the scenes look at Be Our Guest Restaurant in the making back in March.
2. Mystery Photo: Minotaurs Added to New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park – Two larger-than-life minotaur sculptures will welcome guests at the front entrance of Be Our Guest Restaurant.
3. Imagineers Share How ‘Beauty & The Beast’ Inspired Elements of the Be Our Guest Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park – Take a sneak peek at three of the film-inspired chandeliers that will appear in the ballroom-themed dining room.
4. Chef of Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland Shares His Favorites from the Menu – Chef Michael Deardoff gives insider tips on the new restaurant’s menu. Find out what his favorite dish is.
5. Reservations for Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park Open at 7 a.m. August 20 – The first seating for the restaurant is on November 19. Make your reservations now!

Tagged: Dining, MK, Take 5, WDW

Filed: Disney Dining, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

Wildlife Conservation is an important part of the story at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Baby animals are welcomed often and they all become part of the family out on the Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition, Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, etc. See what baby animals we’ve celebrated here on the Disney Parks Blog.

Take 5: Baby Animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

1. Wildlife Wednesdays: Is It a Zebra? Is It a Giraffe? No, It’s an Okapi – New Baby Welcomed to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Family – Meet Nafuna, the rare and fascinating new okapi at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
2. Wildlife Wednesdays: Real-Life Pumbaas (Baby Warthogs) Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – In February, we welcomed five baby warthogs to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
3. Baby Elephant Receives Warm Welcome at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – A year ago today, a new elephant joined the herd as just the sixth elephant born to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
4. Wildlife Wednesdays: Zazu’s ‘Cousin’ – Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Chick – a New Addition at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge welcomed its first Abyssinian ground hornbill chick last August.
5. Baby Goats Born at Circle D Corral This Week - In April of 2010, five new goats were born to Circle D Corral at Disneyland park.

Tagged: DAK, Take 5, WDW

Filed: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

A few weeks ago, the Disney Parks Blog unveiled new Disney Dream Portraits by Annie Leibovitz. Part of the fun of these photos is going behind the scenes with the stars who have brought some of our favorite characters to life. Read these posts for a peek at the magic behind these portraits.

Take 5: Behind the Scenes of Disney Dream Portraits by Annie Leibovitz

1. Disney Dream Portraits by Annie Leibovitz: Behind the Scenes with Russell Brand as Captain Hook – Russell Brand took on his portrayal of the nefarious “Peter Pan” villain at Disney’s Golden Oak Ranch, the site of many Disney productions – including the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films.
2. Disney Dream Portraits by Annie Leibovitz: Behind the Scenes with Jack Black, Will Ferrell and Jason Segel as the Hitchhiking Ghosts – For this shoot, three of the funniest comics around were transformed into three iconic “grim grinning ghosts” from the Haunted Mansion.
3. Disney Dream Portraits by Annie Leibovitz: Behind The Scenes With Alec Baldwin as the Spirit of the Magic Mirror – Alec Baldwin’s photo shoot was totally unique: with no costumes and no set, his photos were all about his face.
4. Disney Dream Portraits by Annie Leibovitz: Behind The Scenes With Queen Latifah as Ursula – Queen Latifah takes on the black tentacles and white hair of the “The Little Mermaid” villain with gusto.
5. Disney Dream Portraits by Annie Leibovitz: Behind The Scenes With Olivia Wilde as the Evil Queen - This video shows off the incredibly detailed costume and set that helped Olivia Wilde prepare to emulate the Evil Queen herself.

Tagged: Art of Disney, DLR, Take 5, WDW

Filed: Art of Disney, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort