Disney once staged a double Concorde landing for EPCOT and the jets almost destroyed the runway
Published on Nov 13, 2025 at 7:07 AM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Nov 12, 2025 at 8:56 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
It might be ‘the most magical place on Earth’, but when Disney World, Florida, staged a double Concorde landing for EPCOT, it defied belief.
On October 18, 1982, two supersonic Concorde jets from British Airways and Air France touched down almost side by side at Orlando International Airport – almost wrecking the runway in the process.
The synchronised arrival was planned to celebrate EPCOT’s grand opening and the debut of its United Kingdom and France pavilions at its cultural world showcase.
It was one of the most dramatic aviation moments in Disney history.
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A double Concorde show for EPCOT at Disney
In his last theme park wish, Walt Disney himself wanted to create an innovative ‘Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow’, aka EPCOT, and this airplane stunt perfectly encapsulated it.
EPCOT theme park at Disney World is split into a cultural ‘world showcase’ where you can go around the world in just one day, and a futuristic look into the world of tomorrow with space, supercars – and even farming.
Concorde, as a groundbreaking supersonic jet, seemed very in line with the spirit of the theme park, innovation, and the future, so it made sense for the two to collaborate in celebration of the launch of the United Kingdom and France pavilions.
On that day in October 1982, 30,000 spectators gathered at Orlando International Airport to see the two supersonic jets land on the runway in a celebration of the future – one Air France and one British Airways.
The jets almost destroyed the runway
As the jets powered up to leave, the heat from their afterburners reportedly scorched the tarmac, leading to claims from onlookers that the runway nearly melted.
While it is unlikely the surface was destroyed, experts say Concorde’s powerful engines could easily soften tarmac on hot days.
Airport staff later confirmed that maintenance crews were dispatched to inspect and repair small patches of damage.
The story quickly took on a life of its own, becoming part of Disney lore, because it represented the spirit of EPCOT: futuristic, daring, and supersonically scorching.
Now that truly is ‘groundbreaking’.
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Daisy Edwards is a Content Writer at supercarblondie.com. Daisy has more than five years’ experience as a qualified journalist, having graduated with a History and Journalism degree from Goldsmiths, University of London and a dissertation in vintage electric vehicles. Daisy specializes in writing about cars, EVs, tech and luxury lifestyle. When she's not writing, she's at a country music concert or working on one of her many unfinished craft projects.
