Welcome to my random thoughts about Epcot, my favorite theme park at Walt Disney World. I just love Epcot and you will soon see the results of a project that I have been working on about Walt's vision of his "City of the Future." I stayed at the Walt Disney World Swan (would stay again) and that made getting to Epcot a breeze. In fact, not once did I step through the front gates. With the 15th Annual Food and Wine Festival beginning that weekend, the park was on overdrive.
One benefit of staying next door to a theme park, is the ability to just go at a relaxed pace. This was meant to be an adult visit to the parks and Epcot is the best place to let your mind wander. I am a huge fan of the Beatles and saw multiple shows of The British Invasion. For me, this little area is a gem. It is a complete experience. Grab some Fish and Chips (and I am not a fish eater but wow), a large beer (Golden for me, otherwise known as a Carls Combo), and take a seat on a bench, steps, or sidewalk. The band comes out for multiple steps and combines both Beatles songs with others from the period. Once upon a time, they also changed costumes to match the period of songs but that must be a budget cut.
For parents, this is a wonderful spot to take a rest. Just let you kids run free in the hedge maze that surrounds the stage and sit back. They can't get lost and you won't loose site of them. The music drowns out their screams. The area is usually pretty empty until just a few minutes before the show begins. Then it fills up fairly quickly. If you need an extra jolt, just buy a Flake Bar in the nearby shop.
I spent a lot of quality time in each of the Pavilions. The Mexico interior remains inviting. Even more so with the tequila bar. GRAN FIESTA TOUR STARRING THE THREE CABALLEROS is really not very good but that song is just wonderful.
Of course, my favorite bathroom in all of Walt Disney World is the hidden interior facility inside of the Odyssey building. Most people don't know it is there and it is a throwback to 1982 when it was built.
This was a chance to try the new resturants. For the longest time, one thing that you would not find on Disney property was a good pizza. That is no longer the case. Via Napoli is outstanding. The dining room is light and airy. I love the giant family table that runs down the middle of the room. I had the Quattro Formaggi pizza and it was cooked to perfection. I would easily be eating here again in the future.
The new fast food window at Mexico, not so much. I applaud Disney for trying to be authentic with the street tacos. But remember, I live in Southern California. There are a couple of places that do it much better here. Flavorless meat, served with ordinary bland corn chips and for a price that can only be charged at a theme park. The seating area is nice but the new sit down restaurant building is too large for its site and starts to disrupt the pattern ACCESS TO WATER that makes the World Showcase so desirable. The lagoon is a void that enhances what is around the edges. This is a big block that does not support that illusion. The outdoor dining for the Rose and Crown is tucked away and steps back from the lagoon. This is just a big showy building designed for a premium view of Illuminations.
Oddly, while eating my tacos, I noticed Chad Emerson, author of Project Future, and Lee Cockerell, author of Creating Magic being escorted by the restaurant manager. It's a small world after all. I did not ask how their meal was. I suspect I am not going to get an invitation from management anytime soon.
I had to see CAPTAIN EO at the Imagination Pavilion. I was at the West Coast reappearance and I remember the film quite well from the first time it ran. The lasers are missing but we get a dancing floor. The WDW version is less aggressive in the way it bounces and that is a good thing. It is still a fun flashback.
Germany. Wouldn't it be fun to walk through the right hand arch and enter a boat ride through the Danube? The huge show building is still there. Okay, where is the beer? And the little model trains.
Oh Canada, I love your miniature Rockies. And the film is really quite funny. When I hear Martin Short I hear the new Cat in the Hat. Perfect voice.
As you may know, my favorite attraction in all of Walt Disney World is THE AMERICAN ADVENTURE. It is the culmination of everything I think Walt was trying to accomplish with the technology that was within his grasp. Advance Audio-Animatronics, the multi-plane camera, and the largest rear screen projector combine with a solid script to deliver and emotional appeal to Americans to remember we still have to work at this democracy thing. The Steinbeck spoken by Mark Twain while standing on the top of the Statue of Liberty just slays me. Timely. And admit it. Most of you cannot get through the montage of famous Americans without tearing up. I know you.
Make it a complete experience. Start with the Drum and Fife Corps do their show. They march out of the backstage, do a few fancy steps, then present a few patriotic songs while encouraging the crowd to sing along. Once they are done, step into the rotunda, and if you can, sit on the floor to listen to the Voices of Liberty. The voices may change but the acoustics combined with brilliant costumes and incredibly talented singers will get you in the mood for the attraction. The museum was closed on this trip.
Another kid bather in Epcot. There is this design pattern called STILL WATER that describes our need to be in touch with water. When we have access to such places those areas have a higher degree of life. For this trip I was trying to understand how they are integrated into the parks.
Not a big fan of the Nemo characters taking over the Living Seas. There is something just right about the living the experience that you could never have - going to a deep sea research facility - that was perfect for a permanent World's Fair. Then I started to listen to the Mr. Ray audio explanations about the various animals. Just go listen to his rap about Manatees. You just want to pet one right afterward and say everything is going to be okay.
Looking at the pattern ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND I spotted the indoor spot in the Living Seas. Next time I need to get a photo of my head being eaten by Bruce. Somehow appropriate.
For fans of Lefse, I give you these three Norwegian heroes. Frankly, the Trolls in Malestrom give me nightmares and I did not want to deal with that this trip. Cold sweats, ringing in the ears, and that image of giant oil platform.
CLUB COOL: I am a Diet Coke junkie and the opportunity to step into a cool building with free flowing, flavorful drinks is too good to be true. It would be neat if they could bring the Coke machine that had some 200 or so flavors and featured at the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival. That was an amazing machine and a worthy addition to Club Cool.
SUM OF ALL THRILLS: Other than having to sit through the pre-show EVERY time you want to ride the thing, this is a very fun attraction. It is even better after you have experienced the Forbidden Journey at Islands of Adventure. A true behind the scenes look at what was tossing you all about.
SPACESHIP EARTH: Love this attraction but I am going to get up on a soapbox for a moment. The script is really dumbed down. I cringe every time Jewish and Islamic scholars are reduced to redundant backup systems for Western thought. Stepping down now.
LIVING WITH THE LAND: Next time I need to take the tour. The most EPCOT Center type thing left in Epcot.
SOARIN': Peter Pan for adults. Still a favorite. A fan for the projector would be a cool addition.
UNIVERSE OF ENERGY: Feeling a bit dated but Ellen really is very funny.
TEST TRACK: Thanks to the single rider line this is one of my favorite WDW attractions. I am really looking forward to the Carsland addition at Disney California Adventure. I kept imagining the current technology with the peeks that they gave at the D23 Expo.
MISSION SPACE: Did both versions back to back. Unfortunately, the guys at WDW Today had me staring at Gary Sinise's forehead. It really doesn't move. The attraction, even in the mild version, tries to scare you. And for many it works. I saw people back away from the Green Team. The Orange Team rarely had much of a wait. If you do like tight spaces even the Green Team may be uncomfortable. From a motion point of view, you will find it to be similar to the motion in Soarin'. The Orange Team is something completely different. The sustained G-forces are a very special feeling. It is not thrilling in the roller coaster sort of way. It is just something you don't normally experience. Of course, in the end you are cheered for failing to land properly but you are alive. One of the best things about the attraction are the little buttons and switches that are all interconnected. So fun.
THE FILMS: In this order, France, Canada, China
FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL: I am tend to avoid food festivals where you buy little samplers and then try and find a spot to eat. Maybe it was living adjacent to Grant Park in Chicago and having the Taste of Chicago out the front door. But I did want to try a wine tasting and ordered my ticket online well in advance. I am going to avoid naming the winery. As a wine collector with a particular bent, I wasn't expecting much and it was so much less. And the ladies behind me agreed. Actually, their comments made it a very funny experience. When the extra glasses of wine from the people who did not make it remain, you know this wasn't very happening grape juice.
