RetroMagic Events on 9/30 & 10/1/23 – Celebrating EPCOT Center

Donations for Tickets open April 11th at 1 pm Eastern: Buy tickets for RetroMagic Celebration: 40 Years of EPCOT Center

UPDATED as of May 20, 2023 Full details, guests list and more can be found at RetroMagic.net

We are pleased to announce we will host our next RetroMagic event celebrating 40+ years of EPCOT Center in Florida during EPCOT’s and Walt Disney World’s anniversary weekend, September 30th-October 1st, 2023.

The event will be hosted at Disney’s Yacht Club Convention Center with a 90-minute welcome event on Saturday evening, September 30th, and the main stage event, Centorium Archive Display, and vendor area occurring all day on Sunday, October 1st. A very limited number of tickets will be available for an intimate Sponsor’s Lounge VIP Cocktail Reception held on Saturday evening prior to the opening ceremonies. Mingle with our VIP EPCOT pioneers, take advantage of early access to the Centorium display and vendor area, enjoy a culinary cabaret of hors d’oeuvre, and refresh yourself at an open bar. There will be a few surprise experiences exclusive to this VIP event.

Tickets and Pricing

  • RetroMagic Celebration: 40 Years of EPCOT Center (Saturday Evening, September 30th, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM) and Sunday, October 1st
    • General Admission:  $150
    • Gold Key Preferred Seating Closest To The Stage: $200 – SOLD OUT
  • Sponsor’s Lounge VIP Cocktail Reception (Saturday, September 30th, 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.)
    • VIP Event Ticket Only:  $225 – SOLD OUT
    • VIP World Passport (Tickets to both Saturday VIP Event + Gold Key Ticket with Preferred Seating to RetroMagic Celebration): $400 – SOLD OUT
Ticking Summary
  Sponsor’s Lounge VIP Event Saturday Evening Sunday Preferred Seating Centorium Access
General Admission    
Gold Key  
VIP Event Ticket Only      
VIP World Passport
  Tickets will go on sale at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 11th. Tickets do NOT include admission to any Walt Disney World Theme Park, parking, or other Disney-imposed fees/charges. All ticket purchases are final; refunds will only be provided if the entire event is canceled. RetroWDW reserves the right to change venues and modify the plans to as required by Disney Event Services. This is a private event that is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World, or D23.

Donations for Tickets open on April 11th at 1 pm Eastern: Buy tickets for RetroMagic Celebration: 40 Years of EPCOT Center

Event Details

EPCOT will be turning 41 and it is the 40th anniversary of the opening of Horizons, one of EPCOT Center’s marquee attractions. We are assembling a group of the preeminent Imagineers who worked on EPCOT Center to present at the event. Full details on participants will be released once final confirmations have been made. Many unique items, including photographs and videos, have been restored especially for this event and will make their debut this weekend. We know that EPCOT Center fans will not be disappointed! Notice: Filming, photography, and other recordings will take place at this event. By attending, you consent to and authorize RetroWDW and LBVHS to record you via audio, video, or the similar to be used for distribution on our website.

Special Guests

We’re excited to have many Imagineers and executives who worked on EPCOT Center at the event to share their experiences and stories:
  • Steve & Linda Alcorn – Electronic Engineers: World of Motion, Canada, China, France, The American Adventure, and more
  • Tony Baxter – Disney Legend. Lead Designer: Journey Into Imagination
  • Carl Bongirno – Disney Legend. Former President, Walt Disney Imagineering
  • Russell Brower – Composer & Sound Designer: ImageWorks, Innoventions, The Living Seas
  • Trevor Bryant – Production Designer: Horizons
  • John Decuir Jr. – Concept Designer: EPCOT Center
  • Dave “Davey” Feiten – Audioanimatronic™ Animator: EPCOT Center
  • Bob Gurr – Disney Legend
  • Tom Morris – Production Designer & Field Art Director: Journey Into Imagination
  • Jerry Rees – Writer & Director: Cranium Command
  • Tad Stones – Designer: Journey Into Imagination & World of Motion
  • Richard Vaughn – Designer & Sculptor: Spaceship Earth
Look for more announcements soon!

Merchandise

Now available! RetroMagic logo shirts and hats at https://www.retrowdw.com/supportus

Important Parking Information

Disney has already informed us the Yacht and Beach Club parking lots will NOT be available to attendees due to construction and preparation for the large Gartner technology conference happening in the weeks after our event. If you are planning to stay on Disney property, we strongly recommend you book a room in the Crescent Lake/Boardwalk area or along the Skyliner route (Pop Century, Art of Animation, Riviera Resort, or Caribbean Beach), as both options will make it possible for you to walk to the event. We have requested alternative parking at the Boardwalk Resort but have not received permission yet from Disney. Other options would be to park at EPCOT and, for those with park admission, walk to International Gateway or take a Minnie Van, rideshare or taxicab from EPCOT’s parking lot or from your nearby resort or lodging directly to the Yacht Club. Accessible parking will be available at Yacht Club, utilizing complimentary valet parking for those with valid accessible parking placards or plates.

Room Blocks

We are working with travel representatives in hopes of providing discounted options for attendees, so if you can restrain yourself from booking a nonrefundable room, please do so. We promise more information very soon!
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TomorrowlandDave1018
September 26, 2022 1:37 pm

Super excited for this event!

Pam Reigeluth
Pam Reigeluth
September 26, 2022 1:44 pm

Thank you in advance. Hoping Ian allows us to celebrate 40th Saturday

retlaw1901
September 26, 2022 2:36 pm

Looking forward to next September/October. The last meeting in April was awesome.

mckryan
September 26, 2022 4:06 pm

Thanks so much for the advanced heads-up so I can get my room booked when my window opens! Can’t wait for this event!

Mexner53
September 26, 2022 8:32 pm

Finally! An event I think we’ll be able to attend! Thanks for the very advance notice!

tjp2cpa
Tom
September 26, 2022 10:28 pm

Look forward to another event. Any ideas / target where the event would be held (venue)? Just asking related to where to book a room when my booking window opens. It was great in April to be at Bay Lake Tower with the event at Contemporary. Thanks!

Ashley
Ashley
February 22, 2023 11:59 am
Reply to  Tom

Yacht Club

Jonathan Shrum
September 27, 2022 7:37 am

Where can we get RetroWDW hats?

TxBucki
September 27, 2022 10:26 pm

Dang…have to wait a year but I know it will be worth it! The last one was awesome and I know this one will be too! Thanks guys…

Tony McDaniel
October 2, 2022 5:16 pm

Hope to make it to this one in 2023 – it will be my first RetroMagic!

dualshowman007
October 4, 2022 1:00 pm

Cannot overstate how much fun these are and what a good job These guys do. Bravo!

Brian
Brian
October 6, 2022 5:00 pm

I can’t wait for this event! I’ve attended previous RetroMagic events as well as D23 and you blow the “official” stuff out of the water.

Rachel
Rachel
February 22, 2023 3:56 pm

Yay! Can’t wait 🙂

Carole
February 22, 2023 10:08 pm

Cannot wait

Lisa
Lisa
April 4, 2023 4:55 pm

Will you have any room blocks to book?

Cathy Mathews
Cathy Mathews
April 10, 2023 2:41 pm

Oh, the irony. I used to work in Future World Attractions in Epcot back in the 80s. We’re having a reunion… on October 1, 2023. We’ve had to reschedule it twice already. I was considering booking a ticket just to attend Saturday night, but the parking situation has me thinking this was not meant to be. So it’s not that I don’t love y’all, but my fellow Future World Cast Members (friends for over 40 years) take priority for me. I hope you have a great event!

Mark
Mark
April 13, 2023 8:48 am

World passports should be worn around the neck as guests of 1980 Magic Kingdom would carry them

Sarah Williams
April 30, 2023 8:21 pm

Hello my name is Sarah! I am a travel agent .. if you anyone needs help with getting rooms for this event. I am affiliated with Majestic Memories Travel and Vacations. I do have a Facebook page. Sarah Williams affiliated with Majestic Memories Travel and Vacations.. you can pm if you are interested. This looks like a really neat event! My link and my email is below!

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