Disney

From 1995 to 2002 the FIRST Robotics Competition championship was held at the EPCOT Center in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

For the purposes of media in the archive, items with an obvious references to Disney or Disney World should be given the disney tag. This includes pictures of one of the championship events with large Disney icons such as Spaceship Earth in the background or "tourist" photos taken during the championship but of Disney scenery or attractions.

1995

The 1995 National Championship was held from March 30th to April 1st, 1995 on the American Gardens Theatre. Normal seating in front of the pavilion as well as folding chairs made up the stands for the event, and the pit area was in a tent outside of the nearby Liberty Theatre. Two fields were set up on the stage of the American Gardens Theatre and matches would be played back and forth between the two fields to cut down on match turnaround time. The award ceremony was held near Spaceship Earth. Teams took photos with their robots around the American and nearby sections of EPCOT.

Walt Disney World Sports Special Events representatives contacted teams with instructions and rates to stay at one of Disney's "All Star" value resorts and receive a special U.S. FIRST package that included meals, ground transportation, and park-hopper passes.

A team party and aftershow put on by Disney included a stage show and fireworks.

• Additional photos on the FRC Archive
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  The award stage near Spaceship Earth [1]

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  The crowd and one of the playing fields on the American Gardens Theatre stage [2]

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  Ramp 'N Roll sign at Epcot [3]

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  Part of the team party aftershow put on by Disney [4]

1996

The 1996 National Championship was also held on the American Gardens Theatre stage. Two fields were set up on stage as in 1995. Over 3,500 people visited the event on its final day.

The pit tent was outside the normal park area and teams had to transport their robots even further across pedestrian walkways than in 1995.

A grey t shirt with "EPCOT" under a stylized Spaceship Earth on the front and a large US FIRST logo and name on the back complete with the original stripy shadows on the symbols was available for purchase as official Disney merchandise.

• Additional photos on the FRC Archive
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  Team 171 with robot and robot crossing sign [5]

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  A Delco-sponsored Innoventions car in EPCOT[6]

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  The pit tent in the backlots of EPCOT[7]

1997

In 1997 the championship moved to the EPCOT parking lot

Showbot, a robot made by Disney Ride and Show engineers, made its first appearance at the Championship.

1998

An early version of the large FIRST logo banner that teams would take photos in front of appeared this year.

A much more elaborate audio-animatronic Showbot was built this year that would roam the crowd and speak to guests and shoot confetti.

• Additional photos on the FRC Archive
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  The 1998 pit tent [8]

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  The 1998 Showbot, built by Disney Ride and Show engineers [9]

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  Team 132's robot in front of the FIRST banner [10]

1999

An official Disney round pinback button was available with the FIRST logo and FIRST Nationals text was available. This pin predates the formal Disney pin trading introduced in late 1999.

2000

The main stage and pit area with other playing fields was located in the Imagine lot of EPCOT's parking lot.

This year both a rectangular pinback button and a limited edition of 5000 enamel Disney pin trading pin were available.

2001

The main stage and Einstein field

The 2001 enamel pin was a limited edition of 1500 and had a rotating robotic arm holding the "10th" in the pin's "10th Anniversary" message. A 10th Anniversary Disney t shirt with a similar robotic arm design was also available. Special bottles of Mt. Shasta water with special FIRST labels featuring

The aftershow this year once again included a fireworks display and light show.

• Additional photos on the FRC Archive
• 

  An overhead view of the main stage and stands outside the gates of EPCOT and the tents housing the pits and other playing fields deeper into the parking lot [11]

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  Part of the aftershow fireworks display[12]

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  Spaceship Earth during the championship[13]

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  Dean Kamen speaking on the big stage with Spaceship Earth in the background[14]

2002

The 2002 Disney pin trading pin had a spinning FIRST logo. The Disney t shirt had a large FIRST logo on the front which would glow in the dark and a small patch referencing Disney's 100th anniversary.