This page is to help you quickly jump through this picture set. Below you will see a listing of the pages and the captions on that page.

• Page Number: 1
  

  Arrived at EPCOT just after 8:00am. With the park not opening till 9:00am we were let in early for the D23 event.
  Which meant a great opportunity at some daylight pictures with very few guests around.
  For more pictures from the park you can check out my posting in the WDW update, but for now on to the D23 event.
  

• Page Number: 2
  

  The event was held in the World Showplace (located between Canada and the United Kingdom)
  

• Page Number: 3
  

  Heading inside. On the right a check in table for those who did not do it yesterday. On the left a merchandise table.
  Heading into the main room.
  

• Page Number: 4
  

  Show time..
  Opened up with a brief video then Steven Clark, head of D23.
  

• Page Number: 5
  

  A brief video clip of the introduction.
  Steven Clark, Head of D23
  Steven did a brief bit based on the World Key Information System.
  

• Page Number: 6
  

  The first presentation was Epcot: The Dawn of a New Disney Era. It was a video presentation because Marty Sklar had a previous commitment and could not attend.
  It featured some video clips, such as this famous I am sure you have all seen..
  

• Page Number: 7
  

  The Go Ahead for the EPCOT Film Narration (Marty Sklar wrote the narrative for the film).
  A discussion of the EPCOT Forums, Ray Bradbury was the keynote speaker at the first one. Out of these forums they learned that people really trusted Disney more than industry and government.
  An early concept for World Showcase.
  

• Page Number: 8
  

  An early rendering of where World Showcase could go.
  A concept for the American Adventure when it was to be located at the entrance to World Showcase.
  

• Page Number: 9
  

  Ground Breaking...
  

• Page Number: 10
  

• Page Number: 11
  

  Opening day!
  That led to the first panel of the day. Title We Can Do It!
  A wide shot of the panel.
  

• Page Number: 12
  

  It was hosted by Imagineer and author Jason Surrell.
  Disney Legend, original Tom Sawyer on Tom Sawyer Island, and former manager of distribution services at Walt Disney World Tom Nabbe
  former director of Walt Disney World Casting Duncan Dickson
  

• Page Number: 13
  

  Disney Legend and former vice president of the Magic Kingdom Bill Sullivan
  former Walt Disney World vice president of purchasing and contract services Howard Roland
  Disney Legend and executive vice president of Parks, Walt Disney World Bob Matheison
  

• Page Number: 14
  

  Charlie Ridgway had some pictures to share.
  A photo op of both the British and French Concords landing at MCO for a press event.
  

• Page Number: 15
  

  Disney Legend Charlie Ridgway, who helped launch the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971 and EPCOT Center in 1982, among other Disney theme parks around the world
  former president of Disney Participant Relations Jim McCaskill
  The next panel was Looking Back at Tomorrow and featuring Archivists Michael Crawford and Steven Vagnini - no photos were allowed during their presentation.
  

• Page Number: 16
  

  Next up Makin Memories: Epcot on Film
  former Imagineer Bob Garner and Disney author/historian Tim ODay.
  

• Page Number: 17
  

  Some early figment test footage.
  A discussion of this famous shot of Mickey on Spaceship Earth.
  Time for a group photo..
  

• Page Number: 18
  

  And a couple of our hosts.
  At the beginning of the lunch break I had the opportunity to sit in on some Q&A sessions with some of the panelists.
  

• Page Number: 19
  

• Page Number: 20
  

  After lunch we started off with an entertaining presentation by three current Imagineers.
  

• Page Number: 21
  

  Jason Grandt, Alex Wright, and Jason Surrell
  Introductions.. and early trips to the parks.
  They took us on a tour of the park and pointed out details and things that interested them.
  

• Page Number: 22
  

  Started off with a look at Spaceship Earth and how it was constructed. A 3/4 self supporting dome on a raised platform then a 1/4 suspended dome underneath the platform.
  An early look at the park.
  Jason Surrell...
  

• Page Number: 23
  

  A look a the size of the Living Seas.
  For reference where Spaceship Earth would fit.
  Alex Wright
  

• Page Number: 24
  

  Jason Grandt
  Next up the Land.
  A look at concepts for the mural.
  

• Page Number: 25
  

  Wall carpet.. a favorite subject of these three.
  Some of the notes in the Imagination pavilion.
  

• Page Number: 26
  

  Wall tile... to go with the carpet.
  Some early Joe Rhode work (he later went on to projects such as Animal Kingdom and Aulani), the restrooms for Norway.
  

• Page Number: 27
  

  The small walkway around the church.
  Anyone notice these two buildings share one door?
  Stairways to no where.. this one in China.
  

• Page Number: 28
  

  American Adventure... all Disneyland fans recognize this station... its the New Orleans Square one.
  Next stop Japan and the museum.
  

• Page Number: 29
  

  The next panel featured some Disney entertainment veterans.
  

• Page Number: 30
  

  The panel was led by Ron Logan
  Carol Campbell
  She talked about staging all the opening ceremonies for the World Showcase.
  

• Page Number: 31
  

  Bob Radock
  Steve Skorija
  

• Page Number: 32
  

  Gene Columbus
  

• Page Number: 33
  

  Tony Peluso
  Next up EPCOT Illusioneering and Beyond
  

• Page Number: 34
  

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• Page Number: 43
  

  The next panel, Journey Into Imagination was another no photo allowed one. I did snap one picture of the panel exiting at the end. It featured Tony Baxter, Steve Taylor, Steven Vagnini, and Ron Schneider.
  

• Page Number: 44
  

  The final panel of the day was on the Music of Epcot Center.
  The panel featured Steven Vagnini, Tim ODay, Greg Ehrbar and Russell Brower
  

• Page Number: 45
  

• Page Number: 46
  

  They started off talking about Buddy Baker.
  

• Page Number: 47
  

  Next up X Atencio
  

• Page Number: 48
  

  A crowd favorite, the Kitchen Kabaret
  

• Page Number: 49
  

• Page Number: 50
  

  Which led to the Sherman Brothers.
  

• Page Number: 51
  

  George Wilkins
  

• Page Number: 52
  

• Page Number: 53
  

  D23s Melody Dale came out to sing an unused song, Tomorrows Windows from Horizons.
  

• Page Number: 54
  

• Page Number: 55
  

  To close with Bob Moline.
  

• Page Number: 56
  

  Billy Flanigan came out to sing Golden Dream (Billy performed at the opening ceremonies for EPCOT)
  

• Page Number: 57
  

  Some pictures while he was singing (no video allowed so just imagine Golden Dream...)
  

• Page Number: 58
  

  Steven Clark took the stage to wrap up the event.
  

• Page Number: 59
  

• Page Number: 60
  

  We were each given this button on the way out.
  The items that were given out at the D23 event.