Ever since I first heard of Epcot’s VIP Lounges, they have fascinated me; it’s like finding out you have a secret room in the back of your closet.
Even people who know Epcot inside and out may never realise that right under their noses, behind a nondescript door, lie secret areas waiting to be explored. But why were they built, who are they for, and what do they look like?
When Epcot was first being built, getting sponsors onboard was critical to help underwrite the massive cost, so to sweeten the deal, each sponsor was promised their own private lounge, hidden within their respective pavilions. These would be luxurious suites where executives could relax, entertain clients and have their own private clubs on Disney property.
Over the years, some have been abandoned, some remain as time capsules of the 80’s, one has been demolished entirely and the lucky few still with sponsors have been updated with cool features to impress their guests.
Here’s an overview of all of the lounges in Future World, past and present:
Base21 - Spaceship Earth (Siemens)
Photo: www.zannaland.com
Entrance
Base21 is accessed from a door in Project Tomorrow. A doorway leads to a small room where you can enter a secret PIN. Once entered, the room glows green, a frosted glass door on the far side turns transparent and opens, leading to a lobby with an elevator, display case and stairway.
Features
The Magic Mirror.
Photo: http://www.disneyeveryday.com/
On the second floor is a reception in the Explorers Lounge, featuring an interactive TV, a “Magic Mirror” featuring augmented reality technology that overlays costumes over your reflection.
The whole facility is controlled by smart technology, allowing you to customise the lighting via tablets and screens.
The view of Innoventions Plaza.
Photo: http://www.disneyeveryday.com/
Around the corner is the main room, known as the “Observatory” which overlooks Innoventions Plaza, this large room has drop down projectors and a corner bar.
Further around the corner is the Innovation Lab – a conference room, and further still is a VIP entrance to board Spaceship Earth.
Who can get in?
The lounge seen from Innoventions Plaza. Photo: http://www.disneyeveryday.com/
Since Siemens ended its sponsorship, the lounge is currently closed.
Where to get a peek
From Innoventions Plaza, you can look at the rear of Spaceship Earth and see the Observatory’s windows. Some nights you can even see the coloured lights of its ceiling.
For an overview of the lounge, click here to see a video from the designers.
For a detailed trip report, visit Disney Every Day's Blog
Exxon Lounge – Universe of Energy
Mural inside the lounge.
Entrance
The entrance is by an exterior door, to the right of the building between two of the coloured panels.
Features
Like the other lounges, you would enter via a reception, this then lead to a lounge where you could grab a drink and watch the pre-show on a private screen.
There was also a countdown clock to next show, when it reached zero, you were invited to board the moving theatre cars before the general public.
Invite to a Christmas party i the lounge.
Photo: www.progresscityusa.com
Compared to others, the lounge was quite humble, there was a TV and refreshments, but there was also an upstairs area where you could view the primeval world diorama, along with some meeting rooms and a kitchinette.
Who can get in?
The lounge used to be available only to Exxon employees and their guests. But since they dropped their sponsorship in 1996, the lounge is used as offices, so is only open to cast members.
Where to get a peek
You can still see the door, to the right side of the Universe of Energy building
Screenshots from Universe of Energy - Martins Complete Ultimate Tribute
Wonders Retreat - Wonders of Life (MetLife)
Entrance
The lounge entrance.
Photo: www.easywdw.com
The lounge is accessed through the rear of Frontiers of Medicine, where you would swipe a card and according to guest reports the doors would open "like Star Trek".
On the first floor there was a funfair themed reception room, from there you’d follow a corridor to an elevator which was covered in mirrors.
Photos: www.eatingaroundwdw.wordpress.com
Features
The elevator opens out into a large lounge with windows overlooking the entire pavilion. In the centre was a large circus tent, in a corner was a tent-themed bar.
At the far side of the room was a conference room which showed films, including “The Making of Me”
The final room was carousel themed, with a panoramic painting of horses around the outside and a large round table in the centre. Calliope music played throughout.
Once you were done relaxing, you could go back downstairs and skip the queue for Body Wars.
The Theater
However, nowadays much of the lounge has been painted white to be a blank canvas for events.
Who can get in?
The reception area has been open to Chase cardholders in previous Food & Wine Festivals
The Carousel Room
The lounge itself is available to hire for special functions, and has been used for various Disney dining events too
Where to get a peek
You can see the lounge’s windows above the old entrance to Cranium Command, and Frontiers of Medicine.
To see a fun exploration or the lounge, click here.
To see the lounge now, visit the Disney Events page
Map of the lounge
GE Executive Club – Horizons
Entrance
Photo: www.horizons1.com
The GE Executive Club was accessed by a door on the right hand side of the pavilion, from there, you entered a red-carpeted reception area with white leather sofas. In the middle of the room was the receptionist who would check your badge, and to the left of the desk was a corridor lit in purple, allowing guests to skip the Horizons queue and board between the load and unload areas. To the right of the desk was an elevator.
Features
Article about the roof camera. Photo: www. mesaverdetimes.blogspot.com
On the 2nd floor there were meeting rooms, a kitchen area, and a hostess station where you could organise travel and entertainment, there was even GE merchandise for sale. Multiple people fondly reported that the lounge also served amazing tangerine candy for those too young to enjoy the bar.
In a sunken lounge area, a round sofa faced a large screen hooked up to a camera on the roof. Using a control panel, you could pan and scan over Future World West, leading to some mischief from less than chivalrous executives scanning girls across the park.
Visiting dignitaries included Michael Jackson and Ronald Regan, the camera on the roof proved useful for the Secret Service to keep an eye on the park.
Who can get in?
When Horizons was open, the lounge was open to GE Employees and Clients, but now the building has been demolished.
2nd Floor. Photo: www.mydisneyworldblog.blogspot.com
Horizons Stationery. Photo: www.horizons1.com
The kitchen. Photo: www.mydisneyworldblog.blogspot.com
Cast Member nametage. photo: http://www.nametagmuseum.com
A family in the sunken Living Room area
Photo: www.disneyworldsisters.tumblr.com
HP Red Planet Room - Mission: Space
Entrance
The lounge entrance. Photo: www.disneyeveryday.com/
The entrance is to the left of Mission:Space’s entrance. You follow a short corridor to a door which then leads to a hallway with an elevator.
Postcard From Space Booth
Photo: www.disneyeveryday.com
Features
Upstairs there is a kitchen which serves free drinks, computer with internet, and a secret “Postcards From Space” booth hidden behind a TV
There’s also a projection-based tabletop game called Hover Race
One side overlooks the gravity wheel from the queue, the other side overlooks the Advanced Training Labs
Down a hallway, there’s a map where visitors pin their hometowns along with pictures of their trips.
Like the other lounges, this too has a hallway, allowing VIPs to board the ride without queueing.
Who can get in?
The lounge is no longer open to the public
Where to get a peek
If you look up in the first Mission:Space queue room, opposite the gravity, you can see the lounge through the windows.
For a detailed photo report of the lounge, read Disney Every Day's trip report.
GM Lounge - Test Track
Entrance
The hidden entrance.
Photo: www.disneyeveryday.com
You enter right of the main entrance at a door market with a “GM” plaque, from there you follow a long corridor to an elevator which your ride to the 3rd floor.
Features
Once inside you can get a view of Test Track, with windows overlooking the first descent and weather tests.
In the main lounge area, a large window faces out over Future World East.
By the reception desk there are the Test track car design terminals, along with free drinks.
The old view over Test track.
Photo: WDWMagic User DisneyEater
The lounge also has a large conference room and offices for GM personnel, there is a also a VIP boarding area, allowing guests to skip the queue.
Who can get in?
The lounge is open to current and retired General Motors employees (Monday-Friday 9-5)
Where to get a peek
You can see the lounge’s windows above Test Track’s entrance, on the 3rd floor.
For a detailed trip report click here
Photo: Jacob Kraemer
Photo: www.disneyeveryday.com
Photo: www.nametagmuseum.com
Photo: WDWMagic User DisneyEater
Kodak Lounge - Imagination Pavilion
Entrance
Entry was via a ramp on the outside at the rear of the Imagination pavilion, past the exit of Captain EO.
Features
According to an old Kodak website:
The lounge. Photo: Jeff Lange
GET VIP TREATMENT - Kodak shareholders enjoy the hospitality of our VIP Lounge at the Journey Into Imagination Pavilion in Epcot Center® at Walt Disney World® in Orlando, FL. While complimentary soft drinks, coffee and Florida orange juice are served, our Kodak staff will answer your questions and help you make lunch and dinner reservations, reserve golf tee times, and even escort you to a viewing of the 3-D movie, "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience," with no waiting, no line.
Compared to some of the other lounges, Kodak’s was a modest affair, with comfy sofas, a conference room and access to Honey, I Shrunk The Audience, via the preshow.
Who can get in?
Originally the lounge was for Kodak Employees and shareholders, but now it is used as an office for Future World East Attractions management
Where to get a peek
The lounge’s 3-panel-window is visible from the monorail, at the back of the Imagination pavilion.
Photo: backstagemagic.tumblr.com
Kraft/Nestle Lounge - The Land
Entrance
The lounge is accessed via the elevator nearest Living With The Land, where you have to press the buttons in a particular sequence to reach the 3rd floor. On leaving the elevator, you follow a short walkway decorated with benches and folk art, with windows overlooking the pavilion. At the end of the hall was a reception desk where you’d check in, after that you would follow the curve of the building to a lounge area on the other side.
Features
When it was still in use, the lounge has refreshments as well as stunning views over the desert and farm scenes of Living With The Land, there was also the Simba Conference Room and other offices. Most recently it was used in the early 2000s as a VIP lounge for Annual Passholders.
Facing the elevator in the hallway.
Photo: WDWMagic
The reception desk during the lounge's brief stint as an AP Lounge. Photo: WDWMagic
One of the curved walkways to the seating area. Photo: WDWMagic
Photo: WDWMagic
Who can get in?
The lounge was originally used by Kraft executives when they would visit during their sponsorship of The Land pavilion. It is now used as a training classroom for new Disney Cast members at Epcot, as well as a break area for cast members working at the Garden Grill.
Where to get a peek
The lounge and walkway is visible above the Garden Grill, and also from the desert and farmhouse scenes of Living With The Land.
For some less-than-official sneaking around the closed lounge, here's a cool video to check out
The lounge's windows are visible above The Good Turn Restaurant in this 1982 picture of The Land. Photo: www.epcotlegacy.com
Living Seas Salon - The Seas with Nemo and Friends (United Technologies)
Entrance
The entrance is one of the few places to find the old Living Seas Logo (albeit reversed).
Photo: DisBoards user AuroraMeansDawn
The entrance door is just to the left of the Coral Reef Restaurant’s entrance, outside is a camera where you would show your United Technology pass. Inside was a reception area where you could enter a conference room or take an elevator upstairs. The elevator features a similar artwork to The Living Seas former queue. Exiting the elevator, you enter a small area with benches and restrooms with a long ramp to enter them main salon.
Features
The lounge was the most lavish in all of Walt Disney World; with the main feature being stunning views of the Living Seas’ aquarium through all the windows. The lounge has luxurious wood panelling and maritime-themed art as well as the famous clear piano, still in use today
The lounge serves refreshments, has a bar and shares a kitchen with the Coral Reef Restaurant. There is also a conference room with a table rumoured to be carved from a single trunk of hardwood at a cost of $35,000!
VIPs also enjoyed a secret entrance to the Water Rotunda, where they could enter Sea Base Alpha
Notable visitors include President George HW Bush!
The VIP entrance to the former Living Seas preshow theaters. Photo courtesy of RetroWDW
Views into the aquarium from the main salon.
The conference room, with a seriously Dr No vibe.
The very 80's 1st floor lobby. Photo: www.sparklyeverafter.com
Views of Spaceship Earth
Concept art for the lounge by Tim Delaney
Conference Room
Who Can Get in?
The salon was formerly open to United Technologies employees, and used for meetings until 1991 when they ended their sponsorship. It is now available for special functions such as wedding receptions.
Where to get a peek
You can visit as a guest if you take The Undiscovered Future World tour
Visit the Disney Events Group page for more photos and hire details.
In addition to these lounges, there are man more scattered around Walt Disney World, from The Loft at Norway to the Indy Speedway lounge, which I'll cover in future posts.
Acknowledgements
Disney Blogger and all around expert Suzanna Otis was a massive help getting information on the Wonders Retreat, you can visit her site at www.zannaland.com
Epcot Guru Joshua Harris helped with some background information on the lounges too. If you haven't already, check out his ongoing project of preserving and celebrating Epcot at www.epcotlegacy.com
Disney Every Day's blog posts on the open lounges were a massive help in capturing small details.
Finally, Ed's Disney blueprints were a massive help in working out how everything was laid out. You can see his library of blueprints here.