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Disney Theme
Parks > Epcot
Epcot
Although
he died in 1966, the Walt Disney Company brought Walt Disney’s
dream of an experimental prototype community of tomorrow to
reality in 1982, only in a much broader fashion—an atypical
theme park dedicated to the resourcefulness and imagination of
America’s free enterprise system, a continual showcase of
imagination, instruction, research, and invention, an education
in technology and innovation, other lands and cultures.
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Comprising 260 acres
(over twice the size of the Magic Kingdom) and divided into two
parts, Future World and World
Showcase, it will take almost 2 full days and a good pair of
walking shoes to truly explore its full scope. While there
are plenty of attractions and activities for the little
ones, Epcot's appeal is mainly to older children and
adults. The draw is a huge variety of dining choices,
loads of exciting entertainment, magnificent gardens,
round-the-world shopping, and attractions that
simultaneously entertain and educate. The grounds alone
are worth the price of admission, a fact well known to
horticulturists round the world. Mature, fabulous gardens
abound throughout with each pavilion and country offering
a distinct, native landscaping. The most important thing
is just to enjoy, and with so many diverse attractions it
certainly won't be difficult. |
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The Lay of the Land
Epcot looks a bit like a figure 8 with Future World being the
northern region and World Showcase the southern region.
Future World is composed of two concentric rings with Spaceship
Earth and Innoventions forming the inner circle and the six
pavilions (soon to be seven) the outer. The Universe of Energy,
Wonders of Life, and Test Track are located on the east side of
Spaceship Earth and the Living Seas, the Land, and Imagination
on the west side. Walkways connect Future World to World
Showcase made up of 11 pavilions fronted by a 1.3-mile promenade
surrounding the 40-acre World Showcase Lagoon.
FUTURE WORLD
At
Future World visitors encounter shining glass pyramids,
choreographed fountains, shimmering steel, and unconventional
landscaping. Towering above it all is Epcot’s symbol, Spaceship
Earth, topped with a massive, white-gloved Mickey hand sporting
a sparkling magic wand. Here visitors learn about
communications, energy, health, agriculture, transportation, the
oceans, space, even their imagination. If it sounds a bit like
school, don’t worry. Disney always manages to add their special
style to the learning process transforming it into sheer fun.
Universe of
Energy
Imagination
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Under the angled
pyramids of glass is the Imagination pavilion with its reverse
fountain of water leaping upward in an incredible, massive
stream. Inside explore the many aspects of your imagination with
a ride intended to stretch your senses and creativity, as well
as one of Epcot's most popular attractions, the 3-D
extravaganza, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. |
Honey I Shrunk
the Audience****
Journey into
Imagination with Figment**
The Land
Food, nutrition, farming, and a healthy shot of environmental
education is the agenda at The Land. Here ongoing agricultural
experiments carried out in conjunction with NASA and the
Department of Agriculture can be seen in the greenhouses of
the captivating Living with the Land attraction. Other stops
include an excellent environmental film featuring the stars of
The Lion King and the brand new Soarin’ attraction, a
thrilling hang gliding journey over California.
Daily in the Sunshine Season Food Fair, children ages 3-10
bake fresh Toll House cookies with a Disney chef. You may want
to sign up early for this complimentary but limited program
happening every hour on the half hour from 11:30
a.m.–3:30
p.m.
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The Circle of
Life***
Living with the
Land***
SOARIN'****
The Seas with
Nemo & Friends***
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This
revamped attraction is a winner, combining a kid-friendly
ride with the fantastic Living Seas 5.7-million-gallon
aquarium. The queue winds through a seashore setting that
gradually transitions to a dark underwater theme. Board
your “clamobile” that slowly moves through animated
projection scenes under the ocean. Nemo has wandered off
from his teacher, Mr. Ray, and everyone is searching for
him. Meet up with Nemo’s dad and his friend Dory, check
out the larger-than-life bobbing jellyfish, and even
travel through a fast-moving current tunnel filled with
turtles, finally ending up in front of the
Living Seas aquarium.
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In Sea
Base, don’t skip Turtle Talk with Crush, a fun show
starring the surfer dude turtle, who interacts in a
full-blown conversation with the audience. Then take your
photo inside Bruce the Shark’s mouth. Other attractions
include fish feeds, dolphin presentations, educational
talks by the research team on the Observation Deck, and,
my favorite, the fascinating Marine Mammal Research Center
where manatees reside. |
WORLD
SHOWCASE
Discover the world at eleven stops around the World Showcase
Lagoon. There’s authentic-looking replicas of famous landmarks
and buildings, typical streets overflowing with marvelous
architectural detail, shops presenting the best of the world’s
merchandise, exotic food and wine, and captivating
entertainment. Without leaving the country, or the park for that
matter, behold the Eiffel Tower, stroll a Japanese garden,
witness Venice’s St. Mark’s Square, or visit a Mexican
mercado. Definitely plan to spend an evening here when all
the countries are lit with shimmering lights and the true
romance of this wonderful area of the park shines through.
For children who may not enjoy this trip around the world quite
as much as their parents, there are Kidcot Fun Stops in each
pavilion where cast members supervise art and craft projects. As
an added incentive, each shop in World Showcase and the Camera
Center in Future World sells a Passport Kit containing a blank
passport, an “I’m a World Showcase Traveler” button, and stamp
sheets for each country—at each pavilion kids delight in having
the pages of their passport stamped and personalized. Children
also love Goofy’s Epcot Guide, a scavenger hunt redeemable for a
poster prize upon completion; pick one up at the Main Entrance,
International Gateway, Guest Relations, the Tip Board, and
Kidcot locations in World Showcase.
Those who weary of
walking can utilize the Friendship water taxis that ply the
World Showcase Lagoon, conveniently located at strategic points:
two on each side of Showcase Plaza, one in front of Morocco, and
another in front of Germany. Though a bit slow, they will save
your weary feet quite a bit of plodding around the 1.3 miles of
World Showcase walkway.
Canada
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Nature’s splendor is the emphasis at
Canada’s remarkable pavilion. Standing tall and proud is
the majestic Hotel du Canada, a combination of several
famous chateau-style Canadian Pacific Hotels. Walk up
thick stone steps past 30-foot totem poles to rugged
mountains, rocky gorges, a sparkling waterfall, rushing
streams, and towering evergreens. There’s even a small
version of the famous flowering Butchart Gardens of
Victoria, British Columbia.
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O CANADA***
United
Kingdom
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Where else could you find such a
hodgepodge of English architectural style? There’s
quaint, thatched-roofed cottages straight out of the
Cotswolds, Queen Anne–style dwellings, lofty red brick
castles, even sophisticated Georgian brick townhouses,
all lining the same street. Bright red phone booths sit
beside a proper English park square where a cheerful
garden gazebo almost insists you linger a bit and enjoy.
Stroll the street and pop in a variety of shops or have
a pint at the neighborhood pub.
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Tip:
Don't miss the hidden butterfly garden nesting behind the Tea
Caddy Shop. It can be reached out the back door of the shop, via
a walkway leading from the square, or from under a vine-covered
archway directly off the World Showcase walkway.
France
Towering over fleur-de-lis topiary and
Belle Époque buildings is a 74-foot replica (1/10 the size
of the original) of the Eiffel Tower in the charming
France pavilion. Shining copper mansard roofs and
curtained casement windows top off Parisian-style
buildings overlooking a cobblestone street bustling with
shops and a sidewalk café. Of course you’ll find
world-class cuisine; what could be more French? And if you
can’t stroll the banks of the Seine, you can certainly
walk along the banks of the lagoon where quintessential
French accordion music plays amid sketching artists. Pick
up a glass of wine at the waterside kiosk and just enjoy.
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Impressions de
France***
Morocco
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The Casbah awaits you inside the
fortress-like, sandstone walls of the Morocco pavilion.
The Koutoubia Minaret, a replica of the famous
-century prayer tower of Marrakesh, rises
above the lace-like edifices dotted with keyhole windows
and vibrant hand-cut mosaic tiles. A courtyard graced by
four massive tangerine trees leads the way through the Bab
Boujouloud gate to the Medina, or old city, to its
souk where animated alleyways filled with bazaars
are humming with life and exotic Arabic music.
Tip: Sign up for a complimentary guided
tour of the pavilion offered several times each afternoon.
Aladdin and Jasmine meet daily in Morocco for photos and
autographs. See your guide map for times.
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Japan
A five-tiered pagoda representing the
elements from which Buddhists believe all things in the
universe are produced—earth, water, fire, wind, and
sky—is only a prelude to the serene Japan pavilion. Here
are seductive pathways that meander through an elegant
landscape of manicured Japanese gardens with arched
bridges curving over crystal-clear ponds filled with
lazily swimming golden koi and soothing music playing
amid the sound of delicate wind chimes. A replica of the
great Hall of Ceremonies at the Gosho Imperial Palace in
Kyoto houses an immense retail shop owned by the
three-centuries-old Mitsukoshi firm of Japan. Upstairs
are two restaurants and a tranquil lounge affording
stellar views of the World Showcase lagoon where a
flaming red torii gate stands guard,
authentic-looking in every aspect, even down to the
clinging oysters and barnacles at its base.
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America
Smack dab in the center of World Showcase
is a red-white-and-blue pavilion brimming with the spirit
of 1776 colonial America. Amid the sound of fife and drum
sits a stately Georgian, red brick manse reminiscent of
Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, where inside a patriotic
attraction lures all loyal Americans. Out on the brick
streets are kiosks selling the all-American treats of
funnel cakes, popcorn, ice cream, and giant turkey legs.
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The
American Adventure Show***
Italy
The romance of Venice’s St. Mark’s
Square, reflected in replicas of the 14th-century
pink-tinted Doge’s Palace and its neighboring 83-foot
Campanile bell tower, is a scene almost begging for
surrounding canals. All that’s missing are the pigeons
and a frosty bellini. Perched atop soaring columns are
statues of St. Theodore and the Lion of St. Mark who
gaze down on flower-filled balconies of terra-cotta
houses almost perfect enough for Juliet and her Romeo.
And out in the lagoon, gondolas moored to
barbershop-striped poles lie in wait for their
gondoliers.
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Germany
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This festive and picturesque Bavarian-style
village of rustic balconies brimming with multicolored
flower boxes, storybook gingerbread buildings, and a
towering castle is a World Showcase favorite. Around the
cobblestone platz are quaint shops, lederhosen-clad hosts,
a glockenspiel clock tower, and toe-tapping polka music.
Of course there’s a mandatory Biergarten where oompah-pah
bands, yodelers, and dancers entertain while colossal beer
steins are passed. And just around the corner is a
delightful toy-train village with a horn-tooting caboose,
miniature tunnels and bridges, tiny evergreen trees, and
precious Lilliputian buildings.
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China
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Sparkling in the
sunlight as visitors pass under the resplendent Gate of the
Golden Sun is an extravagant re-creation of Beijing's Temple of
Heaven. Below delicate bridges float blooming lotus in
carp-filled reflecting pools, and tinkling music soothes as you
stroll amid tranquil Chinese rose gardens, willow and mulberry
trees, and delicate waterfalls. It's a setting of serenity and
mystery not found at most stops on the World Showcase. |
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Reflections of
China***
Norway
Soaring over Norway’s cobblestone
courtyard is a castle modeled after Akershus, Oslo’s 14th-century
stronghold still standing above its picturesque harbor.
Below Epcot’s version is a quaint mixture of buildings
representing Scandinavian architecture including a
wooden Stave church and a variety of red-roofed rock
dwellings centered around a charming town square. Here
you’ll find an entertaining boat ride through Norway’s
history and folklore as well as a can’t-resist bakery.
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Maelstrom***
Mexico
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The sight of a colossal pyramid enveloped
in lush jungle foliage is an immediate draw when visitors
turn the bend into World Showcase. Inside is another place
and time, a magical, nighttime village surrounding the
Plaza de los Amigos. The air is filled with the
exhilarating strain of mariachi music in the bustling,
gaslit square brimming with lively shops loaded down with
tempting south-of-the-border wares. Casa Mexicana gives a
peek into the life of a Mexican family with a dining table
of typical food and interactive areas mostly appealing to
children. And the inky-blue El Rio del Tiempo (the River
of Time) floats lazily beneath a rumbling
volcano beside the romantic candlelit restaurant, the San
Angel Inn.
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El Rio Del
Tiempo**
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Run of the
mill |
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Worth a
look |
| *** |
Rather Good |
| **** |
Outstanding |
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