The 1986 EPCOT Map ( left ) has a more stylized , less realistic look than park maps today ( right ).
BY TRISHA DAAB
VINTAGE MAP PHOTOS BY TRISHA DAAB
Are you ready for a trip back in time ? Let ’ s head into the past and visit ( or revisit ) EPCOT Future World in 1986 .
YOU WON A CAR ! OR A VISOR ! OR A STICKER ! You ’ re entering EPCOT during the 15thanniversary celebration of Walt Disney World . After cruising in on the Monorail and entering the front gates with your printed ticket , you receive a special 15th-anniversary celebration contest ticket .
Every 15 seconds , a giant neon timepiece rings to let everyone know another winner is announced . ( There ’ s a Mickey alarm clock version of this clock over at Magic Kingdom .)
Check your ticket ... You ’ re a winner ! Head to the Ticket Redemption at EPCOT Center at the base of Spaceship Earth . Will it be the car , the Mickey beach towel , or maybe a Betamax of a Disney classic ? It ’ s a ticket to Discovery Island on Bay Lake ( where guests will continue to view a variety of animals until they are relocated to Animal Kingdom in 1999 ).
Bingo . You ’ ll spend tomorrow on Discovery Island with this ticket . With your plans for tomorrow set , it ’ s time to explore Future World today .
Sadly , none of these tickets were winners , but in our journey of the imagination , let ' s pretend we ' ve won a Discovery Island ticket .