10 Things You May Not Know About World Showcase Lagoon

1. Origins of the Lagoon

Much like the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Magic Kingdom, the World Showcase Lagoon didn’t exist in the form we know it today when construction first began for EPCOT. The land that would eventually become home to World Showcase started out with just a few small bodies of water, and one of the first tasks for Disney engineers was to create the artificial lake around which the World Showcase pavilions would be situated. In addition to the lagoon itself, a small canal was constructed that ran outside the perimeter of World Showcase.

2. The Arrival of the Epcot Resorts

But even then, the World Showcase Lagoon didn’t exactly resemble the one we see today. For one thing, there was no International Gateway, and thus no canal between the France and UK Pavilions. That wouldn’t arrive until 1990 when the EPCOT resorts were added. Once it opened, the new canal connected World Showcase Lagoon to Crescent Lake and further to the canal that led to the Disney-MGM Studios.

3. How Big Is It?

The lagoon itself is approximately 15 to 25 feet deep and covers an area of 40 acres (.0625 square miles)

4. Where Does the Water Come From?

Curiously, one of the water sources for the Lagoon comes from, of all places, Spaceship Earth. When designing the giant geodesic sphere, Disney’s Imagineers included an ingenious gutter system to collect falling rainwater and divert it to World Showcase Lagoon. This was done so that Guests wouldn’t be subjected to water pouring off Spaceship Earth during a typical Florida thunderstorm.

5. The Drawbridge

In addition to the International Gateway, a small canal leads off of World Showcase Lagoon on the opposite side. The purpose of this canal is to bring the barges used for the nighttime fireworks show (originally IllumiNations) in and out of the lagoon. During the day, the barges are stored in a canal out of sight of Guests, where they can be maintained and readied for the evening’s performance. Due to the enormous size of the barges, a drawbridge was created to give them enough clearance to be moved in and out of the Lagoon. For Guests walking around World Showcase in the middle of the afternoon, that sometimes means they needed to wait while the drawbridge was raised.

6. The Arrival (and Departure) of the Barges

When Harmonious debuted as Epcot’s newest nighttime spectacular, the set pieces were installed in the middle of the Lagoon, where they could be seen during the day. In addition to the evening fireworks, the Harmonious barges were intended to put on a beautiful fountain display during the day, adding another element of magic to the World Showcase experience. The barges were removed when Harmonious closed, with Epcot Forever temporarily taking over as the nighttime entertainment. The lagoon is now home to Luminous: The Symphony of Us.

7. The World Showcase Promenade

The promenade around World Showcase Lagoon is just over a mile long and includes some interesting features. One of these could once be found between the pavilions of Morocco and France. At one point you could find a ribbon of textured concrete running across the walkway, seemingly at random. This was intentional, as it represented the Straits of Gibraltar, which separate the continents of Africa and Europe, symbolizing your journey from the Morocco Pavilion and Africa to the European countries of France and the United Kingdom. (Sadly, this detail has since been removed.)

8. The Pink Pathway

Another thing to note as you walk around the promenade is the uniform pinkish hue on the main thoroughfare. The Imagineers carefully selected this color as it subtly contrasts with the green grass and shrubbery, making them appear brighter and more colorful.

9. Look Down!

Another underfoot detail that most Guests overlook is the variety of paving materials used in each of the World Showcase pavilions. Unlike the uniform flat texture of the promenade, the walkways and courtyards in each pavilion take on the architectural stylings of their home country. You’ll see cobblestones in the United Kingdom, natural stone pavers in Japan, and bricks in the American Adventure.

10. Hop On Board!

That one-mile-plus walk is a long one to be sure, but Guests with tired feet can opt to take one of the two Friendship Launch boats that traverse the lagoon throughout the day. Docks are located at the front of World Showcase and the Germany and Morocco pavilions. The Friendship Launches provide a convenient way to get around World Showcase and allow you to see World Showcase in a way that you never have before.

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