Epcot Center Ultralightport

The airport was a private, purpose-built facility that existed solely to support the ultralight aircraft used in Epcot's daytime lagoon shows. It was closed permanently when the final show that utilized it, 'Surprise in the Skies,' ended its run in 1992. The closure was a direct result of a change in the park's entertainment lineup, not for economic, military, or safety reasons in the traditional sense of an airport closure.

The original airstrip no longer exists. The land it occupied, situated backstage between the Imagination! pavilion and the World Showcase area, has been completely redeveloped multiple times. The site was notably used to house the 'Millennium Village' pavilion during the Epcot Millennium Celebration (1999-2001). Currently, the area is a combination of backstage service roads, support buildings, and a major construction and staging zone for the multi-year transformation of Epcot, including the development of the World Celebration neighborhood and the 'Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana' attraction.

The Epcot Center Ultralightport was a unique, private airstrip located entirely within the backstage area of the Epcot theme park. Its sole function was to serve as the launch and recovery site for a fleet of custom-designed ultralight aircraft. These aircraft were the stars of two major daytime spectaculars performed over the World Showcase Lagoon: 'Skyleidoscope' (1985-1987) and 'Surprise in the Skies' (1991-1992). The ultralights, often designed to look like fantastical creatures or featuring vibrant, colorful sails, performed aerial choreography in sync with music and other show elements like boats and kites. The airstrip's existence represents a unique and ambitious era of Disney's live entertainment, integrating manned flight directly into a daily theme park show.

There are zero prospects for reopening. The physical airstrip and its support infrastructure were removed decades ago, and the land has been permanently repurposed. Modern park infrastructure, including the nearby Disney Skyliner gondola system, and the evolution of entertainment technology (such as the extensive use of drones for nighttime shows) make the re-establishment of an ultralight airstrip in this central, high-traffic park location logistically impractical, unnecessary, and unsafe.