in 1973 . ( Yes , the one where he said , “ I ’ m not a crook .”)
DISNEY ’ S CONTEMPORARY RESORT CONSTRUCTION ( 1970-1971 ) THE ORIGINAL EPCOT
The mural in the Grand Canyon Concourse has over 18,000 handpainted tiles . Look at the upper tiles facing the Monorail track to see a five-legged goat !
The resort has even more historic connections , having played host to performances by celebrities at the Top of the World Supper Club , including comedian Shari Lewis and her puppet Lamb Chop . Though the Top of the World Supper Club closed in the early ’ 90s , Disney pays homage to the legend with the Top of the World
Lounge on the 16th floor of the Disney Vacation Club ’ s Bay Lake Tower .
A DINING TIMELINE The evolution of dining at the Contemporary is a little complicated . According to Passport to Dreams Old & New , there have been numerous changes over the years .
Located beneath the concourse mural , Grand Canyon Terrace Café was a moderately priced dining location while Grand Canyon Terrace ( sans the “ Café ”) was more of a finedining restaurant . Terrace
Café changed in the mid- 1970s to the Terrace Buffeteria , which had cafeteria-style service , and the Grand Canyon Terrace changed to The Terrace Buffet and eventually to the Terrace Café ( still operating as a buffet ). That ’ s a lot of name changes !
The Terrace Café changed its name again in the late 1980s to Character Café , a place to dine with your favorite Disney characters . By 1989 , the Contemporary Café opened in its place and still welcomed characters to greet the guests . Eventually , in the late 1990s ,