Epcot 30: Suddenly Interesting

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Yesterday, the Disney Parks Blog finally unveiled plans for a public celebration of Epcot's 30th anniversary.  Up until yesterday, the only events to commemorate the opening of the first non-Magic Kingdom style park were limited to Disney fans willing to pay a hefty premium.  The events announced yesterday are much in the vein of Epcot 25 which I was fortunate to attend.

On October 1st, guests can experience the following:

Throughout the day on October 1, guests can attend Epcot history presentations in World Showplace courtesy of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. These presentations are included in park admission and are limited in seating.
1-2 p.m. – Designing the Future – Past and Present: A panel of Disney Imagineers remembers 30 years of building tomorrow!
4:30–6 p.m. – Epcot: How it Changed the World with Marty Sklar
6:30–8 p.m. – Epcot: How it Changed the World with Marty Sklar
Guests can also attend an anniversary moment at the America Gardens Theatre at 3 p.m., which will feature appearances by Disney leaders and include performances by Mariachi Cobre and Voices of Liberty. (Seating for this presentation is also limited.)
That evening, the October 1 presentation of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” will feature a special 30th anniversary tag.

If you are a local or have time off and disposable income, I cannot recommend going to Epcot for the 30th enough.  No matter how you feel about Epcot's current state, it was and still is a special park.  This anniversary will be a reminder of that if it is anything like Epcot 25.  There is something to be said about being around real Disney fans, hearing the original BGM, and hearing Marty Sklar talk.

We at Parkscope were worried this anniversary would be nothing more than a cash grab or a chance for bragging by the Disney fan "elite" (D23 members.)  We are very glad that Disney is once again offering a similar slate to that available five years ago.  Bravo Disney.  Our only suggestion is to announce this further in advance for Epcot 35.

If you are looking for more things to do on October 1st, check out WDWCelebrations.  They did a great job with the 25th.