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Walt Disney World EPCOT Center Grand Opening Day Lot — October 1, 1982 — License Plate, Sticker & Original Kodak Brochure
One of the most significant dates in Walt Disney World history was October 1, 1982 — the day EPCOT Center opened its doors and declared to the world that “The 21st Century Begins Today.” This lot brings together three authentic pieces from that landmark moment, offered together as a complete opening era collection.
This is not a reproduction. This is not a reissue. This is the real thing.Item 1 — EPCOT Center Grand Opening Souvenir License Plate
The crown jewel of this lot. A full-size Walt Disney World EPCOT Center souvenir license plate featuring the iconic rainbow stripe design with bold “EPCOT CENTER” lettering and the opening day declaration: “The 21st Century Begins October 1, 1982.” The Walt Disney World logo anchors the top.
Most remarkably — this plate is still in its original factory shrink wrap, never removed, never displayed. In over 40 years this plate has never been on a wall, never been handled, never been opened. Finding an opening day EPCOT license plate in original wrap is exceptionally rare.Item 2 — EPCOT Center Grand Opening Circular Sticker
The matching opening day sticker featuring the same “The 21st Century Begins — Walt Disney World EPCOT Center — October 1, 1982” design in the classic rainbow colorway. Shows honest age-appropriate wear on the backing consistent with 40+ years of careful storage. A genuine piece of opening day ephemera.Item 3 — Original EPCOT Center Kodak Opening Era Brochure
“Compliments of Eastman Kodak Company” — the original park guide distributed to guests during the opening era of EPCOT Center. This is a stunning time capsule featuring:
• The iconic Spaceship Earth cover art in the original teal and orange color palette
• Complete Future World map with “Opening Fall 1982” notation
• Original attraction listings with opening-era corporate sponsors — Bell System presenting Spaceship Earth, Exxon presenting Universe of Energy, General Motors presenting World of Motion, American Express at CommuniCore, Kraft presenting The Land
• Original nine-nation World Showcase listing
• Kodak disc camera advertisement insert — a perfect snapshot of 1982 technology
• Printed notation: © 1982 Walt Disney Productions
This brochure captures EPCOT Center exactly as it was conceived and opened — before any changes, updates, or rebranding. A true primary source document from opening day.This complete lot comes from the personal estate of a former Disney management employee — someone with deep professional ties to Walt Disney World during this exact era. These items were preserved with care for over 40 years by someone who understood their significance. This is not a flea market find or bulk lot acquisition. This is genuine Disney history from someone who was there.
Condition Summary:
• License plate: Mint — factory shrink wrap intact, never opened
• Opening day sticker: Good — age-appropriate wear on backing, sticker intact
• Kodak brochure: Very Good — crisp cover, complete, shows light handling consistent with age
I welcome all reasonable offers and genuinely enjoy working with serious Disney history collectors and EPCOT enthusiasts. A complete opening day lot this intact does not surface often — let’s make a deal.
A once-in-a-generation offering of authentic EPCOT Center opening day history — straight from a private single-owner Disney estate.
