Walt Disney World: Always in a State of Becoming

[DisneyFan32]

Hey @DisneyManOne I found this concept for Sunset Blvd at Disney-MGM Studios, maybe you can do that:

 

[DisneyManOne]

Before we finish our time in the Magic Kingdom, I thought that I would showcase what the park’s new daytime parade would be like.

Walt Disney’s Worlds of Magic Parade

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As I mentioned before, much of this parade would be borrowed from @Evilgidgit’s brilliant Mickey’s Magic Lantern Parade concept, albeit with a few additions of my own. In fact, for the purposes of this description, I will mainly be quoting @Evilgidgit’s original post, only stopping whenever I discuss my own changes.

Following the usual pre-parade, featuring the Main Street Philharmonic and a family chosen beforehand to be Grand Marshal, a fanfare based off the parade’s theme song, “You Are the Magic”, fills the air; followed by this announcement:

“Throughout the years, the legacy of Disney animation has touched the hearts of generation after generation. In the course of over one hundred years, we’ve made so many new friends, learned so many new stories and shared so many memories. Now, we invite you to relive some of those memories, and maybe make some new ones, as the Magic Kingdom celebrates the magic of Disney animation in an elaborate celebration in the streets. Friends and dreamers, get ready to welcome on Walt Disney’s Worlds of Magic Parade!”

The Magic Lantern – Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Ortensia lead the parade in the back of a black and white automobile, representing the start of Disney’s success. Mickey Mouse sits behind a huge contraption, a mix of a 1930s film camera and the aforementioned magic lantern. Gears and levers whirl around inside the lantern, as well as many twinkling gems and starlight. A projected ray of light beams out through the magic lantern’s lens, creating the illusion that the rest of the parade is being materialised from the lantern.

Magic of Art -- Animation begins with a blank page. On an animator’s desk, a castle stands, made up of giant coloured pencils, ink pots, books, drawing equipment, and film reels, with a upright pencil brush serving as the highest turret. The castle is undergoing a mystical change, developing the expected qualities of an actual castle as if by magic. Bubbles fly out of an ink pot, and a large sketchpad flips through its pages, showing an animation of Goofy doing a funny jig. Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy, Pluto, and Chip and Dale are present on the float.

Magic of Wishes – The next float combines the first five animated films of Disney (Snow White, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi). It appears as an extravagant European garden, with curling wooden pillars and fences, lined with vines wrapped around them and exquisite flowers hanging from everywhere. A flying Dumbo, separate from the float, leads it down the parade route, holding his magic feather in his hand. Geppetto has done his work on the garden, everything his creation, from the animated broomsticks, to cuckoo clocks hanging from the wooden fences. Snow White and Prince Florian dance together at the front of the float around a stone well, where white doves sit. Pinocchio, Geppetto, and Jiminy Cricket wave to guests from the back of the float, surrounded by their clocks, and Cleo in her fishbowl. The float is accompanied by the Seven Dwarfs and dancing Swedish-dressed marionettes.

Magic of Imagination – Our next float is dedicated to Mary Poppins and Peter Pan, both hugely popular films set in Great Britain. Mary Poppins was Walt Disney’s magnum opus to some, released in 1964, and remains Disney’s most popular live action film. The rooftops of Edwardian London make up the float. Mary Poppins and Bert lead the float on magically bobbing carousel horses. On the chimney tops of London, merry chimney sweeps step in time with glee, while Admiral Boom commands them to cease their rabble, firing a cannon periodically from above them. The tall chimney stacks transform into the familiar tower of Big Ben (or Elizabeth Tower if you want to get technical). On the other side, Peter Pan and Wendy fly underneath a magnificent crescent moon, who winks at guests as the float passes on by. An assortment of fairies, led by Tinker Bell, follow the float, dancing with flowers and colourful insects.

Magic of Melodies – From the rooftops of London to the mysterious jungles of the world, this float has a real beat to its rhythm, celebrating Disney’s most wildest movies. In @Evilgidgit’s original concept, the two movies represented here were The Jungle Book and The Emperor’s New Groove. I, personally, would keep the former, but swap out the latter with a more well-known animal feature: The Lion King. The front half would be the same as what @Evilgidgit laid out (with my own contributions non-italicized): “There is a catchy beat of a jungle boogie going on, mixing jazz and scat dialogue together. King Louie, Baloo, Timon and Rafiki parade around their golden and dark green throne room/stage, leaping off the float to dance with the guests and accompanying dancers, dressed as animals, and Louie’s swinging monkey pals. Kaa is curled around the tree tops and stone archways of the temple, and other animals from both films are poking out of the foliage.” Standing at the back of the float, atop Pride Rock, is none other than the Lion King himself, Simba, with Nala resting on a ledge close by.

Magic of Adventure – This float, my own personal contribution, is inspired by the exciting worlds under the sea, and the adventure therein. Essentially, this would be a float created for the Jubilation! parade at Tokyo Disneyland, but never actually part of the parade itself. The front half of the float is inspired by Finding Nemo. Escorted on by puppeteers carrying puppets of Nemo, Marlin, Dory, Pearl, Tad and Sheldon, as well as dancers carrying long flags representing the waves of the ocean, a giant animatronic of Mr. Ray sits at the front of the float, inviting all explorers to come join him in exploring the beauty of the ocean. Giant orange rings mark a centralized coral reef, teeming with ocean life. Atop the third orange ring sits Sebastian, singing about how wonderful life is under the sea. His “hot crustacean band” can be found in the coral reef below him, playing a lively calypso melody. At the rear of the float, situated beneath a large pink coral, is none other than Ariel, the Little Mermaid; with her ever-faithful friend Flounder close by. Although Ariel loves her undersea home, she yearns to be part of our world...

Magic of Romance – No parade is complete without the Disney Princesses and their romantic dreams. This section is split between four mini-floats, each carrying a princess and their prince. Belle and the Beast come first, on a golden circular stand resembling a bell jar, actually a gorgeous garden trellis covered in roses. Belle and the Beast dance within. A second float is based around Cinderella in a golden replica of her pumpkin coach, on her way to a royal ball with Prince Charming. The third float features Tiana and Naveen, dancing together underneath a tree illuminated by hundreds of fireflies, and surrounded by a ribbon of golden and silver magic.

View attachment 489394

Magic of Friendship – This charming float takes us into the world of toys, featuring the beloved characters of Toy Story and Winnie the Pooh. Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and friends lead the float, perched on the back of a larger-than-life Slinky Dog, surrounded by many toys and characters from Pixar’s staple franchise. A pile of books transition from Andy’s bedroom to the Hundred Acre Wood, set within one of Pooh’s dreams, where a river of honey pots and Heffalump bumblebees are bringing all of the silly old bear’s greatest desires to life. Piglet, Tigger, Rabbit, and Eeyore are all present to share in the sticky fun.

Magic of Heroes and Villains – The clash between heroes and villains have been a timeless appeal to them. This section consists of a float and set piece, bringing over the superb steampunk Maleficent dragon from Disney Stars on Parade. Prince Phillip and the Three Good Fairies are pursued down the parade route by an army of Maleficent’s minions, her raven Diablo, and thorn ogres (inspired by the fairfolk from Maleficent). Phillip wields his sword of truth to fend off Maleficent, as she breathes fire, her body a polymorphic fusion of thorn, a spinning wheel, and pure evil.

Magic of Legends – As the power of the Magic Lantern comes to an end, our final float personifies the dreams that fill our heart; that some day we can tell our own stories and become heroes, perhaps even myths and legends. This segment is made up of three enormous floats.

Pulled along the route by Pegasus, on the back of a golden chariot stands Hercules, the greatest of the Greco-Roman heroes. He is accompanied by Meg, whilst a layer of clouds brings Philoctetes into view, surrounded by momentums of his time as a trainer of heroes. A secondary unit follows, carrying Hades, Pain and Panic, who are towered by over the bloodthirsty Hydra and its many heads!

Mulan follows, clad in her father’s armour, sitting atop an ornamental statue of her horse. Her float is stylised after the Forbidden City in Beijing, complete with a grand shrine at the back. Chinese imperial soldiers beat rhythmic drums, whilst a proud Mushu stands atop the broken statue of the Great Stone Dragon.

And finally, the magnificent frozen form of the Nokk from Frozen II comes into view, surrounded by equally frigid waves. A cluster of autumn leaves surround the rocky mound of the float. Anna and Olaf stand behind the Nokk, exploring the wonders of Northuldra. Standing atop a small replica of her own ice palace stands Elsa in her post-Ahtohallan dress, casting a flurry of ice and snow into the sky. On the back of the float, in a rocky alcove sits Sven, followed on foot by Kristoff, and the bannermen as the parade glides away for another day.

And that is Walt Disney’s Worlds of Magic Parade! What do you guys think? Next post, I will recap everything found in the Magic Kingdom...as well as discuss the issue of FastPass and how it would work in how I would improve WDW.

 

[DisneyManOne]

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Main Street, U.S.A.

ATTRACTIONS
1. Walt Disney World Railroad
2. Main Street Vehicles
3. Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream
4. Discovery Arcade
5. Main Street Cinema
6. Penny Arcade
7. Plaza Swan Boats

DINING
1. Tony’s Town Square Restaurant
2. Main Street Confectionery
3. Cafe Lillian
4. Lamplight Inn
5. Main Street Bakery
6. Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
7. Crystal Palace
8. Walt’s – An American Restaurant
9. Club 33

SHOPPING
1. The Disney Gallery
2. Emporium
3. Uptown Jewelers
4. Greenhouse Flower Shop
5. Disney Clothiers
6. House of Magic
7. Crystal Arts

ENTERTAINMENT
-- Citizens of Main Street
-- The Dapper Dans
-- Main Street Trolley Show
-- Flag Retreat Ceremony
-- Walt Disney’s Worlds of Magic Parade
-- Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away
-- Happily Ever After Nighttime Spectacular

CHARACTER GREETINGS
-- Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy at Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream
-- Daisy, Pluto, Chip, Dale and Oswald in Town Square
-- Mary Poppins, Bert and the Penguins roaming Center Street

Adventureland

ATTRACTIONS
1) S.E.A. Exploration Campsite
2) Tropical Hideaway Treehouse
3) Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
4) Trader Sam’s Tiki Twist
5) Jungle Cruise FP
6) Falls Expedition: Temple of the Tiger FP

DINING
1) Bwana Bob’s Barbecue
2) Aloha Isle
3) The Adventurer’s Club
4) Shiriki’s Juice Bar
5) Sunshine Tree Terrace

SHOPPING
1) S.E.A. Imports
2) Adventureland Bazaar
3) Tigris Tokens

CHARACTER GREETINGS
-- Raya across the way from the Adventurer’s Club
-- Aladdin and Jasmine at the Adventureland Bazaar
-- The Orange Bird near Sunshine Tree Terrace
-- Jungle Friends (Baloo, King Louie, Rafiki, Timon, Tarzan, Jane and Terk) nearby Jungle Cruise

Treasure Cove

ATTRACTIONS
1) Pirates of the Caribbean FP
2) Shipwreck Shore
3) Dead Man’s Grotto

DINING
1) El Pirata y El Perico
2) Calypso Cantina
3) Blue Lagoon

SHOPPING
1) Port Royal Provisions
2) Avast, a Mast!
3) The Parrot’s Perch

CHARACTER GREETINGS
-- Characters from Pirates of the Caribbean roaming around the land

Liberty Square

ATTRACTIONS
1. Diamond Horseshoe Saloon Revue
2. The Muppets Present...Great Moments in American History
3. The Haunted Mansion

DINING
1. Sleepy Hollow
2. Liberty Tree Tavern
3. The Diamond Horseshoe
4. Columbia Harbour House

SHOPPING
1. Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe
2. Blacksmith Shop
3. Paul Revere’s Silver Shop
4. New England Print Shop
5. Mlle. Lafayette’s Parfumerie
6. Memento Mori

Wildernessland

ATTRACTIONS
1. Country Bear Musical Jamboree
2. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure FP
3. Walt Disney World Railroad
4. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad FP
5. Cars Road Rally FP
6. Unnamed flat ride (I fully intend to go back and edit this list once more details are revealed.)

DINING
1. Mile Long Bar
2. Tiana’s Palace

SHOPPING
1. Frontier Trading Post
2. Prairie Outpost
3. Critter Co-Op
4. Tiana’s Bayou General

ENTERTAINMENT
-- Wildernessland Hoedown

CHARACTER GREETINGS
-- The Country Bears roaming through the land
-- Tiana, Naveen and Louis near Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Shadowland

ATTRACTIONS
1.
2. (At least two attractions are in development for this land.)

CHARACTER GREETINGS
-- The Disney Villains roaming through the land

(I fully intend to go back and edit this list once more details are revealed.)

Fantasyland

ATTRACTIONS
1. Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel
2. Princess Fairytale Hall
3. Mickey’s PhilharMagic
4. Peter Pan’s Flight FP
5. Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival
6. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train FP
7. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh FP
8. Mad Tea Party
9. Alice in Wonderland
10. Enchanted Tales with Belle
11. Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid
12. Ariel’s Grotto
13. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
14. The Barnstormer starring The Great Goofini
15. “it’s a small world”
16. Walt Disney World Railroad

DINING
1. Cinderella’s Royal Table
2. The Snuggly Duckling
3. Pinocchio Village Haus
4. Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall
5. Be Our Guest Restaurant
6. Gaston’s Tavern
7. Prince Eric’s Village Market
8. Big Top Treats

SHOPPING
1. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
2. Sir Mickey’s
3. Castle Couture
4. Mickey’s Music Store
5. Geppetto’s Toy Shoppe
6. Hundred Acre Goods
7. Bonjour! Village Gifts
8. Gadgets & Gizmos
9. Big Top Souvenirs
10. Small World Imports

ENTERTAINMENT
-- Sword in the Stone Ceremony

CHARACTER GREETINGS
-- Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, Drizella, the Fairy Godmother, Merlin, Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, Pinocchio, Geppetto and Jiminy Cricket roaming through Storybook Village
-- Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora and Elena of Avalor at Princess Fairytale Hall
-- The Seven Dwarfs near Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
-- Winnie the Pooh and Friends near The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
-- Characters from Alice in Wonderland near Mad Tea Party
-- Belle at Enchanted Tales with Belle
-- Gaston, Lefou and the Bimbettes outside Gaston’s Tavern
-- Ariel at Ariel’s Grotto

Tomorrowland

ATTRACTIONS
1. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
2. WALL-E: Battle for the Axiom
3. Stitch Encounter
4. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
5. Astro Orbiter
6. The Time Machine FP
7. Space Mountain FP
8. TRON Lightcycle/Run FP
9. Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

DINING
1. Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
2. Cosmic Ray’s Starliner Diner

SHOPPING
1. Merchant of Venus
2. Mickey’s Star Traders

ENTERTAINMENT
-- Tomorrowland Stage

CHARACTER GREETINGS
-- Buzz Lightyear and Stitch roaming through the land

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Now, as to how I would handle Lightning Lane. As you can see from the list, I would rebrand it back to FASTPASS. Not only that, I would make it free once more. And the way the system would work would be a mix of both the old FASTPASS system and the modern Lightning Lane system. Like the old system, tickets would be produced at kiosks. But instead of inserting their park tickets into the kiosk, guests would just scan their MagicBand or park ticket (whether it’s physical or on their device) against a touch-point on the kiosk. This will prompt the kiosk to produce a FASTPASS ticket. Plus, if a party has their MagicBands or what have you linked together, when one member goes to access the FASTPASS kiosk, FASTPASS tickets can be produced for everyone in the party.

Anyways, like before, this FASTPASS ticket bears a ride time on it. From there, all you have to do is to simply have fun in the park and come back to the ride when the time rolls around, show your FASTPASS ticket to the ride attendant, and away you go!

 

[Suchomimus]

I would honestly replace the bus system with a PeopleMover system.

This might be have an obvious answer but would all the PeopleMover stations be built above where the bus stops here?

 

[DisneyManOne]

This might be have an obvious answer but would all the PeopleMover stations be built above where the bus stops here?

Yes. The only trouble would be how to fit those circular stations into such small areas. I am unaware if straightforward, non-circular PeopleMover stations ever existed -- the only one of those I've seen is in the Futureport '82 simulator. But still, I'd have these PeopleMover stations essentially replace the bus stations. Only the hotels that are quite big to get around would retain some sort of bus service, if only to shuttle guests around.

 

[DisneyManOne]

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Isn’t it fascinating – the lives we live? Ours is a world full of discovery and innovation. As history has gone on, we've made so many new things that have helped our lives, and we have learned so much about the people who live the world over. The rich tapestry of the human race – its inventions, its cultures, its food – combined with the wonders of the natural world is something worth celebrating. And that is exactly what we shall do when we step inside Walt Disney World’s glorious second gate, EPCOT.

The sun rises high over the Floridian skies. The monorail pulls into the station, unloading the day’s first group of guests, ready to explore EPCOT. EPCOT tells the story of our world’s greatest resource: its people. People from the past, present and future, and all across the globe, are in showcase in this inspired tribute to our beloved planet and the varied achievements of mankind – and nature – that have since been (or will be) established. Its four distinct districts are ready for guests to come and explore them, to learn about our planet and its many wonderful and natural resources, and what we can do to make sure it can be sustained for future generations. Beauty is the most significant thing stressed in EPCOT. Everything here focuses on the natural, cultural and technological wonders of the Earth.

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World Celebration

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As everyone knows, any day at EPCOT begins in World Celebration, a district honoring the promise of the future and the ideals of community and harmony. The park’s Entrance Plaza has been completely rethemed – full of water features, beautiful trees and gardens. The large, geometrical sphere of Spaceship Earth, the symbol of all EPCOT, rises high over the numerous trees.

The center of the Entrance Plaza is filled with lush gardens, and mazes of trees and flowers. It is also here in the Entrance Plaza that we are introduced to the Spirits of EPCOT. This is a concept I borrowed from @TheSorcerersApprentice and his Europa Park. Essentially, the Spirits of EPCOT serve as embodiments of the values EPCOT seeks to showcase; honoring the ideas, cultures and unity of the world. There are ten Spirits altogether, and they are…

• Concordia, the Embodiment of Unity. With arms gracefully entwined, she stands as a living testament to the power of harmony and cooperation. Amidst the fragrant blooms and serene ambiance, Concordia symbolizes the diverse nations of the world united in a symphony of understanding and collaboration.
• Polycultura, the Embodiment of Diversity. This lively character roams the garden adorned in a kaleidoscope of vibrant garments, each representing a different facet of the world’s cultural mosaic. With a bouquet of diverse flowers, Polycultura celebrates the multilingual, multicultural, and multifaceted nature of the world.
• Inventus, the Embodiment of Innovation. This curious soul, adorned with gears and tools, invites visitors to unlock their inventive potential. With every interactive exhibit and engaging workshop, Inventus encourages guests to embrace the ingenious spirit of the world’s scientific pioneers and inventive minds.
• Libertas, the Embodiment of Liberty and Freedom. Holding a torch to illuminate the path of human rights and democracy, and an open book representing knowledge and enlightenment, she stands as a guiding beacon for Earth’s unwavering commitment to individual liberties and collective progress.
• Sophius, the Embodiment of Knowledge. Wise and scholarly, Sophius invites all who cross his path to partake in the pursuit of wisdom. With a scroll in hand and a quill behind his ear, Sophius encourages guests to explore the depths of philosophy, literature, and intellectual legacy, fostering a spirit of critical thinking and lifelong learning.
• Terra Mater, the Embodiment of Nature. With flowing vines and blooming flowers, she evokes a profound connection to the Earth and its delicate balance. Terra Mater serves as a gentle reminder of humanity’s dedication to preserving the environment and advocating for sustainable practices.
• Pax, the Embodiment of Peace. This gentle woman radiates an aura of tranquility that washes over all of World Celebration. Holding an olive branch, she stands as a reminder of our tireless efforts to promote harmony, resolve conflicts, and build bridges of understanding among nations.
• Melodius, the Embodiment of Creativity. He exudes a passion for Expression in all its forms. Adorned with musical notes and artistic tools, Melodius beckons guests to explore Earth’s rich tapestry of music, literature, and artistic marvels, inviting them to become a part of this timeless legacy.
• Fortitudo, the Embodiment of Resilience. Armed with a shield and an unyielding resolve, Fortitudo embodies the strength that has carried humanity through trials and triumphs alike, reminding all who encounter this figure of mankind’s enduring tenacity.
• Amicita, the Embodiment of Collaboration. Amidst the Entrance Plaza’s lush pathways, Amicita extends a hand of friendship to all. Linked with the other Spirits of EPCOT, Amicitia underscores the importance of unity in diversity, illustrating our dedication to international cooperation and shared aspirations.

And in keeping with EPCOT’s commitment to diversity, each Spirit is of a different race or ethnicity. Concordia is White; Polycultura is Black; Inventus is Middle Eastern; Libertas is of Southeast Asian descent; Sophius is of Far East descent; Terra Mater is Pacific Islander; Pax is Roma; Melodius is Hispanic; Fortitudo is Native American; and Amicita is multiracial.

Guests walk through and around the several mazes of trees and flowers, before arriving at a fountain, just at the entrance of Spaceship Earth. Atop the fountain is a tall, three-pronged sculpture, adorned with the EPCOT logo. Likewise, flags surrounding the gardens bear twelve logos representing the pavilions of World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature. In fact, here are the logos themselves…

Past this fountain, we explore the iconic sphere itself…

Spaceship Earth​

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One of the most iconic structures in all Walt Disney World, the gargantuan silver sphere that is Spaceship Earth clocks in at an incredible 180 feet, encased within a delicate latticework of shimmering steel and fiber optic lighting. Built into the sides of this imposing sphere are two other shops. To the left is the Gateway Gifts store, which features a series of EPCOT and Spaceship Earth-based merchandise. Continuing to wrap in-front of Spaceship Earth and on the opposite side of the plaza is the Camera Center, which features specialty camera and picture products. To the left of the Spaceship Earth plaza is the Wheelchair and Stroller Rental shop. And of course, right in the middle of it all, is an inclined ramp that takes guests inside the giant geometric sphere for a ride that sets the mood for our time here at EPCOT – the very ride that Spaceship Earth is named for.

Spaceship Earth takes you through the historical and cultural progression of the world, showing how the world has evolved through communication. The attraction begins at the earliest periods of the cavemen, who used cave drawings to communicate, and proceeds through many different eras and civilizations, from the invention of papyrus paper and the creation of the alphabet, to the fall of Rome and the rise of the Renaissance, and to the early-century telephones to the later-century computer, before arriving in the current one in which we live today, where various new technologies allow the world to communicate like never before. Set to a powerful score and featuring detailed animatronics, the excitement and majesty of Spaceship Earth is an excellent way to begin a day here at EPCOT.

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Spaceship Earth exits out into Innoventions. “Innoventions” is a combination of the words “innovation” and “invention”. Therefore, the exhibits presented here are exactly that, a cutting edge glimpse into the various future technologies and ideas of our ever and always changing world. In this tribute to the human spirit of innovation, we discover an interactive “museum” bursting with games, activities and exhibitions that connect us with the latest in real-world advancements, as well as with friends, family and beloved Disney characters - both real and virtual - like never before. Innoventions is divided into one unique exhibit after the next, all in focus on the wonder and imagination that we might use to better our tomorrow.

Staircases on either side of Innoventions lead up to the GEO-82 Bar & Lounge. Exclusively for guests 21 and older, GEO-82 offers cocktails and small plates from all over the world, served with a breathtaking view of EPCOT before us.

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[DisneyManOne]

~ ~ ~

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Behind Spaceship Earth, we step into the heart of World Celebration. Its warm and inviting atmosphere is the perfect way to be led further into the wonders of EPCOT. The center of World Celebration is surrounded by lush greenery. In addition, you’ll also find new flowing streams and small rocky waterfalls adding motion beneath the swaying of the tall trees, which also provide much needed shade to the area. Vibrant flowers along the grassy banks of the water add color to the area, while the reflections of Spaceship Earth and the surrounding buildings add even more life and visual interest to the central plaza.

Exiting from Spaceship Earth, the first thing you’ll come across is Dreamers’ Point, which offers sweeping views of World Showcase just across the way. Dreamers’ Point is anchored by Walt the Dreamer, an original statue celebrating Walt’s legacy and how it inspired this park. Ah, but Walt is one of many dreamers honored here. In an idea I borrow from @comics101, Dreamers’ Point is dedicated in tribute to some of the world’s most significant historical leaders, inventors, and innovators; “Dreamers and Doers,” as Walt liked to call them.

Surrounding the Walt statue in the center of Dreamers’ Point, like the points of a clock, are twelve statues dedicated to the characteristics of the dreamers represented (@comics101 compared these to another series of twelve statues – those surrounding the stage of The American Adventure). Such characteristics include communication, dedication, discipline, empathy, focus, integrity, resilience and vision; and such luminaries include Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and Steve Irwin.

Further tributes to these “dreamers and doers” can be found in supplemental statues, busts, paving stones and plaques. The most prominent paving stone is Inventor’s Circle, found on the pathway leading towards World Nature. This multi-layered tribute highlights various inventions that have sparked human progress, from the discovery of fire in 500,000 B.C. to the creation of the Internet in 1990.

The center of World Celebration is home to the EPCOT Gardens, a natural oasis of tall trees and beautiful flowers, foliage which changes with each season, often coinciding with whatever festival is taking place within the park.

Steps away from Spaceship Earth to the east, we find the Connections Cafe and Eatery. This elaborate quick-service restaurant, as the name implies, highlights the various ways we humans connect – as the Disney Tourist Blog describes it, “How humans connect with one another and cuisine; how inside and outside harmonize via the open concept; how friends and family gather together around the table; how show kitchens provide a culinary connection.” An elaborate mural runs the gamut of the restaurant, demonstrating these connections and representing eight different regions of the world. Floor-to-wall windows offer dramatic views of the EPCOT Gardens and World Discovery before us. What’s on the menu? Well, the Eatery specializes in unique takes on pizza, burgers, salads, pasta and desserts – in particular, their luscious Liege Waffle and their delectable chocolate souffle; and the Cafe serves as EPCOT’s Starbucks location. The Connections building also plays host to the park’s Guest Relations center.

A few steps north from Connections is the Creations Shop, the largest shop in EPCOT. There's no way that Disney would let the largest shop in the park be closed down, so it's safe to say it will be staying. The Creations Shop features a large assortment of EPCOT and Disney character merchandise. Items include books, slider puzzles featuring the Future World pavilion logos, stuffed animals, buttons, patches, jewelry, DVDs, CDs, posters, t-shirts, and hats; in addition to electronic gadgets, such as watches, model vehicles, and smartphone/tablet accessories.

Also housed within this building is Club Cool, a modern-looking hangout spot with an emphasis on “cool.” Not only does air conditioning offer a bitter chill on even the hottest of days, but the area is awash in moody hues of blue and white. Breaking the blue and white palette are shades of red, befitting the attraction’s main focus and sponsor, Coca-Cola. Yes, here at Club Cool, we are invited to try various types of Coca-Cola from all around the world. Here’s a list of all the international flavors, and their country of origin:

• Bibo (South Africa)
• Bon Bon Anglais (Madagascar)
• Country Club Merengue (Dominican Republic)
• Fanta Kolita (Costa Rica)
• Fanta Melon Frosty (Thailand)
• Fanta Pineapple (Greece)
• Guarana Kuat (Brazil)
• Inca Kola (Peru)
• Kinley Lemon (Israel)
• Krest Ginger Ale (Mozambique)
• Lift Apple (Mexico)
• Mezzo Mix (Germany)
• Minute Maid Joy Apple Lychee (South Korea)
• Royal Wattamelon (Philippines)
• Smart Sour Plum (China)
• Smart Watermelon (China)
• Sparletta (South Africa)
• Sprite Cucumber (Russia)
• VegitaBeta (Japan)
• Viva Raspberry (Moldova)

And of course, there is also the dreaded Italian variety: Beverly. Long have EPCOT fans enjoyed getting a kick out of tricking their friends and family into giving this bitter-tasting beverage a taste!

Now, I think it’s safe to say that CommuniCore Hall is a massive disappointment. Therefore, I would take a page from Team Tintirrino of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and build a new Festival Center within the same complex as the Creations Shop and Club Cool.

Artwork created by Park Lore and @Architectural Guinea Pig ​

The Festival Center is a place for various events that are part of the now four annual events hosted at the park – the Festival of the Arts, the International Flower & Garden Festival, the International Food & Wine Festival and the Festival of the Holidays. It's got enough space to allow for the usual features of such festivals – panels, stages, lots of seating and merchandise options. Not only that, but the Festival Center also houses the Rooftop Gardens; which give guests a glorious, 360-degree view of the park.

As for the current CommuniCore Hall space, Team Tintirrino provided something incredible that I would honestly love to see brought to life:

Fantasia 2082​

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Experience the power of Fantasia 2082, a journey and celebration of the leaps and bounds of music as told through the format of Walt Disney’s original concept- a concept that inspired and continues to inspire many around the world.

The experience begins with the pre-show. The pre-show takes place in a theater lobby, done in the futurist style of classic EPCOT attraction lobbies, and is filled with exhibits of various musical instruments. These are touchable models, which promotes interactivity and provides a background for the show, educating guests about how music is made. Additionally, overhead monitors throughout the lobby display an original pre-show cartoon about music, based on Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom. This pre-show provides educational and informational value as audiences wait for the show, while an original music loop plays in the background.

Every half an hour, the doors to the theater open up, and the show begins. As we enter, the orchestra is warming up. Cool light fills the space as they tune their instruments, the sounds echoing through the theater.The theater’s interior design will be more of a departure from the rest of the park. It draws inspiration from the interior of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, where Gehry’s interior indeed drew from Fantasia. Intimate, sweeping warm wood panels in abstract shapes, with a circular orchestra platform in the center, define this building. Velvet curtains to hide the stages, and colored lighting is used to change the interior’s mood to fit the scene. The ride system for this show is a unique variation of the Carousel of Progress rotating theater concept. Inspired by Le Dernier Panache at Puy du Fou in France, this ride system is a reverse COP: a single massive circular seating auditorium in the center, which can rotate 360 degrees to view an assortment of stages around the perimeter. This neatly fits into the rectilinear Communicore extension space. The pre-show and post-show lobbies in the corners face the EPCOT central plaza. Central theater seating is on a turntable surrounded by stages - velvet curtains hide stages, able to serve as projection surfaces.

Also on the turntable is the Orchestra Pit, which rotates with the audience so it’s always foregrounding the musical show scenes. Here is an impressive Conductor animatronic, plus several simpler musician motion figures. Later on, the Conductor AA lowers & is replaced by a Sorcerer Mickey AA. There are four major Audio-Animatronic based scenes in this show. Two of them have a few different versions, which are randomized. Different set pieces that raise and lower allow scenes to be switched out.

This show follows in the grand tradition of EPCOT’s style and substance. It focuses itself on a grand theme: music. Specifically, it seeks to show the power of music to both reflect and shape the world we live in. Fantasia presents a natural vessel for these themes; its segments are uniquely animated to the music, and not vice versa. This gives the music a power over its surroundings, a power that is placed on full display here. The Conductor, representing humanity, is controlling the music. Thus, this attraction demonstrates the power of humanity to use music to create change and to tell stories. The different segments show different examples of this. Not only that, but each segment – with the exception of the Finale – features a randomized selection of pieces, so no one concert is the same. This increases the “re-rideability” of Fantasia 2082 and keep music fans coming back for more.

First, music is in its purest form, a great power that can be tapped by individuals, but never controlled. Next, how music can conjure imagery, and alter our perceptions, represented through one of three sequences from the Fantasia films. Next, the genesis for the changing of the seasons and the environment, the catalyst of revelry and story, here, music is the reflection of the world. Music is next shown to reflect fear; startling, and slightly out of control, but still deeply affecting. The changing festival segment is a final example of music controlling the scenery. The climactic Sorcerer’s Apprentice sequence stars Mickey Mouse, inspired by everything shown so far, thinks he is ready to conduct the orchestra! Unfortunately, the music quickly carries itself away, completely overpowering him, until it is finally stopped by Yensid.

This show in of itself features two of the values of EPCOT: it educates and it inspires. People are often dismissive of classical music, and doubt that it would have any relevance. This show hopefully educates them that this is not the case, and that music is in fact a powerful force that is important in any form. It is also intended to inspire guests to pursue their own interests in music, and impact the world in that way. These interests can hopefully also be piqued by the attached post show, where music made by guests can have tangible effects on the environment. The preshow to the attraction, meanwhile, informs and educates, relaying a simple history of music to guests. This show will be a natural fit for any version of EPCOT; it educates, informs, and inspires, believes in the power of mankind, and is timeless, relevant, and very Disney.

For more information, I highly recommend reading the full show description Team Tintirrino devised at this website: https://architecturalguine.wixsite.com/fantasia2024

The post-show is a wonderland of musical experimentation. The centerpiece is a large, playable piano, like the one from Big, but there's many other interactive activities. Examples include an exhibit where you use your arms to conduct a digital orchestra, similar to the Electronic Philharmonic, a rotating selection of different types of percussion instruments that produce different colors and sound effects when played, and a rotating exhibit that focuses on folk music from each of the world showcase countries. This post-show hopefully inspires a new appreciation for making music in the young and the young at heart.

To the left-hand side of the main CommuniCore Hall building is CommuniCore Plaza, an outdoor flex space. As the guidebooks say of this place, “Rejuvenate in this outdoor gathering space, filled with flavor and fun. During the day, stroll through the picturesque gardens that surround the plaza. And at night, take in the beautiful, playful lighting that complements the entire neighborhood.”

CommuniCore Plaza is where one can simply take it easy and relax amid the greenery of the EPCOT Gardens. And as mentioned before, the flex space comes with its own outdoor stage area, which plays host to seasonal live entertainment – particularly, the Flower Power and Eat to the Beat concert series – in addition to Disney character shows and meet ‘n’ greets. For example, when CommuniCore Hall first opened in 2024, the show that debuted with CommuniCore Plaza was ¡Celebración Encanto!, an upbeat show featuring the music of Disney’s 2021 smash hit. And it had a lot – singing, dancing, audience participation, and even an appearance from Mirabel and Bruno!

Beyond the presence of Fantasia 2082, World Celebration is alive with entertainment. Throughout the day, you might come across the Future Corps, an elaborate drum and bugle corps who perform high-energy shows alongside their own color guard; or the JAMMitors, performers who utilize trash cans and buckets as drums. The northwestern quadrant of the EPCOT Gardens is also home to Forces of Nature, a troupe of dancers and gymnasts meant to represent Mother Nature and the elements of nature (fire, ice, water, wind, rain, etc.), all of whom are associated with the Orlando-based acrobatics company AntiGravity, who captivate passers-by with their feats of strength and grace.

As guests are walking towards the western side of EPCOT’s front half, they will immediately be taken away by the most visually stunning pavilions in all of EPCOT:

Journey Into Imagination​

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Identified by its two crystal pyramids, Journey Into Imagination is a whimsical tribute to the inner workings of the human mind. The pavilion is one of the most visually-appealing in all of EPCOT. Those crystal pyramids can turn into rainbow prisms (thanks to projected lights). Gentle shades of blue and purple highlight the area surrounding the pyramids. Unique fountains provide fun, enticing kinetic energy. At night, LED lights and fiber optics brilliantly illuminate the area. Even on the cloudiest, rainiest day, it would be necessary to wear sunglasses to look at the pyramids. That’s how bright they are!

The biggest way I would improve this pavilion in real-life is quite simple: Bring back the original ride and the upstairs ImageWorks.

Once inside, we find ourselves in a circular, sunlit lobby with a spiral staircase at its center. The entire room is surrounded in pastel murals of scenes from Journey Into Imagination, the forthcoming adventure, all while a continuously-moving line of purple sleighs advance around the corner, disappearing into the dark. These two-row, pastel-purple vehicles are a modified version of the Omnimover ride system, with each vehicle able to rotate in any which way. However, once on board, four vehicles at a time advance ahead, separating themselves from the rest.

Rising through the clouds, lights pulse to the classic song “One Little Spark”, a Sherman Bros. original. A jolly, eccentric man, known only as the Dreamfinder, soars into sight aboard his flying machine, the kinetic Dreamcatcher. Figment, a purple dragon who is a literal figment of Dreamfinder’s imagination, is introduced through a pressure cooker. Dreamfinder and Figment use their imaginations to create wonderful imagery and magic for all to enjoy. After a brief tour of the DreamPort, where the twosome store all their ideas, guests then proceed through several rooms representing four different areas influenced by the imagination: art, literature, the performing arts and science; all to discover how much can be accomplished with just “one little spark of inspiration.”

Upon exiting the ride, you can go up inside the pyramids and explore the ImageWorks, where you can let your imagination run wild through several different exhibits. ImageWorks is a futuristic playground of visual delights, light shows, interactive games, and such similar activities that spark creativity and tickle the senses. Families can learn, play, and grow in the ImageWorks, all while marveling at the unthinkable feats of the imagination. There are two ways to get here – you can come here after taking the Journey for yourselves, or you can head up a spiral staircase found right in the middle of the ride’s queue. In fact, if I may borrow a floor-plan from the excellent EPCOT Discovery Gateway site, here’s what you’ll be able to find here.

1. Bubble Music: Held within the small pyramid, guests use touchpads to project bubbles onto circular screens along the roof of the pyramid. When they overlap, they create new colors.​

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The Sensor – “It Knows You’re There!”​

2. Rainbow Corridor: A tunnel of neon tubes light up as you walk past. As you enter, a particular color is assigned to you and follows you all the way through. When the next person enters, a new color lights up.
2a. Lumia: Not pictured in the floorplan, because that floorplan reflects how the ImageWorks was remodeled in 1991. When that happened, the Vibrating Mirror Room was completely taken out and the Rainbow Corridor was slightly shortened. However, here in this Mirror EPCOT, Lumia takes up the former Vibrating Mirror Room space. Lumia is a 7 foot diameter ball that responds to sounds by spinning in different light and color patterns.
3. The Mirage Room: The use of mirrors makes it seem like you can grab onto three dimensional videos of Figment, but when you try to, it vanishes.
4. Stepping Tones: Hexagonal colored spots on the floor correspond to pictures of instruments on the walls. When you step upon a spot, the instrument it corresponds to will start playing “One Little Spark.” If enough people step on the spots, it’ll feel like you’re hearing an entire band playing!
5. Optical Illusion, or Dreamfinder’s Balloon Race: A painted scene showing hot air balloons (including a Mickey balloon and the Dreamcatcher – that would be Dreamfinder’s iconic dirigible) rotate around a cylandrical mirror. The balloons are drawn flat and elongated, but when they are reflected onto the mirror, they appear in perfect proportions. Dreamfinder and Figment banter with each other during the course of the “race.”​

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6. Dreamfinder’s School of Drama: Ever wanted to be an actor? Well, Dreamfinder and Figment are giving you the chance! Through the use of Chroma-Key video technology, a background is added into the picture and other guests can see the finished product. The School of Drama has been updated since the original ImageWorks closed in 1998; and legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde has reprised his role as Dreamfinder here; whilst Muppeteer Dave Goelz has since assumed the vocal performance of Figment from the late Billy Barty in all updated appearances.
7a. Making Faces: At the western kiosk in the center of the ImageWorks, your picture is taken and then you get to alter your face with different hairstyles, noses, ears, and accessories.
7b. Create-A-Figment: At the eastern kiosk in the center of the ImageWorks, you can make your very own version of that loveable dragon!
8. Pattern Panels: Test your memory at one of three series of twelve vertical lighted panels. Follow the pattern and see how long you can keep up!
9. Kaleidoscope: Large versions of traditional kaleidoscopes. Rotate the image to create fascinating designs.
10. Pin Screens: Giant tables with thousands of pins allow you to run your hands underneath creating swirls of color.
11. Electronic Philharmonic: Conduct an orchestra by raising or lowering your hands above sensors that will raise or lower the volume of individual sections of the orchestra. If you go back and forth fast enough, you can get all of the sections playing together.​

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A: Elevator
B: Stairs
C: Escalator Up
D: Escalator Down​

Just outside the attraction is the pavilion’s beautiful outdoor courtyard, known as the Magic Garden. The Magic Garden is home to wacky varieties of flowers and greenery, but it is most well-known for a number of leaping, laminar-flow water fountains and a hypnotic “upside-down” waterfall churn into a gentle flow on the lagoon’s surface. A giant topiary of Figment standing on a grass ball spins around and around in the center of the garden. This garden is a nice place to meet up with Dreamfinder and Figment themselves.

As for the Magic Eye Theater, I’d replace it with two experiences. First, taking the space of the old lobby and the pre-show area, the Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Laboratory is in showcase of a fascinating collection of sketches, paintings and 3D models to gain a better understanding of how artists, architects and engineers at WED Enterprises designed (or design) the upcoming attractions and adventures for the Disney Parks worldwide. Furthermore, the Blue Sky Laboratory also gives guests the chance to indulge their creative side, in a series of unique exhibits:

• Imagineering Exhibit Center: View concept art, models and blueprints for new and upcoming developments at Disney parks worldwide. The Exhibit Center also features a preview film that features Imagineers talking about the upcoming attractions, which is updated routinely as construction progresses.
• Living Easels: Use a giant digital easel to create your own artistic masterpieces.
• Animation Academy: In just 30 minutes, you'll be able to draw one of your favorite Disney characters.
• CyberSpace Mountain: In this beloved part of the Blue Sky Laboratory, reborn for a new generation, you can personally design your very own roller-coaster. You can pick out layouts, settings and themes, and completely customize what the cars will go along – loops, corkscrews, hills, the works. Whether you’re more “chill” or more “thrill”, you can make it as tame or as white-knuckle as you want! Even better, you can step inside a simulator and take your creation for a test-run! The cylindrical simulator is able to capture the exact movement and direction of the entire coaster, as designed by the armchair Imagineers themselves!
• Imagineering the Future: At Imagineering the Future, you can achieve a dream that I’m sure many Disney fans have dreamed of: designing your very own attraction, or even your very own Disney park! If you choose to create your own attraction, you would follow the experience @comics101 laid out for his Imagineering Labs: guests encounter interactive displays on Story & Theme, Layout & Landscape, Physics, Engineering, and Animatronics. By the end of their experience, guests will have created their own attractions, characters, and more! In addition, through the magic of Virtual Reality, guests will have the opportunity to experience their attraction as though it actually exists in one of Disney’s Parks around the world.
  
  Or, if you choose to create your own Disney park, you can pick and choose elements from Disney parks worldwide, even those attractions that aren't with us anymore. In order to get the most out of anything, the restaurants and shops can be filled in automatically, and the foliage can be added in automatically, too. In addition, if you don't want to pick and choose, you can use pre-made sets (like MK’s Main Street, DLP’s Fantasyland and all that other stuff). You can even adjust the exteriors to your liking, too! And the best part? After you’re done, you can step into a similar VR system and explore the park yourself!
  
  But if you don’t want the fun to end here, no sweat. Once you’re done creating, as you’re inside the Virtual Reality system, a special thumbdrive of your park or attraction is made, and it can be hooked up to one of your gaming systems or your computer so you can continue to explore your park or your attraction!

Replacing the theater itself would be an all-new restaurant: Food for Thought. Taking full advantage of being located in an imagination-centric pavilion, Food for Thought practically runs on “create-your-own.” In fact, as if the picture was any indication, this restaurant is basically inspired by Landscapes of Flavor, the main food court of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, which itself contains a “create-your-own-pasta” section. Anyway, this restaurant specializes in food often associated with customization – breakfast platters, yogurt parfaits, salads, pasta, pizza, burgers, tacos, sandwiches, ice-cream sundaes and more – and invites guests to customize their meals to their hearts’ content, thus allowing for a truly unique and imaginative experience. Of course, there are a la carte options, as well, for those who don’t wish to customize. Not only was the 3D theater completely gutted, the exterior was given a tune-up, with wall-to-wall windows offering guests a view of the wonders inside. And the entrance/exit path to the restaurant reuses the old exit ramp that once led guests out of the theater and back into the Magic Garden.

On the outskirts of the Imagination Pavilion is Flamingo Cove, a natural arboretum tying in with the lush green sights of World Celebration. One of the many nice little touches of the original EPCOT Center was the flock of flamingos that used to hang out nearby the Odyssey. Well, with this new arboretum, the flamingos gained a new home.

With such a good, creative meal in our bellies, we venture forth to explore the rest of EPCOT.

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I already shouted out Team Tintirrino, but I shall shout them all out individually: @Architectural Guinea Pig , @Brer Panther , @D Hulk , @Disney Dad 3000 , @Earlie the Pearlie , @Imagineer Brandon and @MickeyWaffleCo. Your Fantasia concept was just too good for me not to use here. Honestly, I really would love to see this come to life! And by the way, I hope you don’t mind me changing the name. I thought 2082 would be much more fitting for EPCOT than 2024.

 

[Architectural Guinea Pig]

I already shouted out Team Tintirrino, but I shall shout them all out individually: @Architectural Guinea Pig , @Brer Panther , @D Hulk , @Disney Dad 3000 , @Earlie the Pearlie , @Imagineer Brandon and @MickeyWaffleCo. Your Fantasia concept was just too good for me not to use here. Honestly, I really would love to see this come to life! And by the way, I hope you don’t mind me changing the name. I thought 2082 would be much more fitting for EPCOT than 2024.

Wow! Thanks for the mention your project is really coming to life and I was so surprised to see our work shown here, and it motivated me to go back and reread the project once again. Still ed we got second place lol

In terms of the name, calling it Fantasia 2024 was intentional as the show is designed to be switched up with new scenes made every year, hence Fantasia 2025, Fantasia 2026, a new experience each time, similar to Fantasia 2000 being released that year (~1999). However, 2082 also sounds really cool

 

[DisneyManOne]

This is going to be rather a short post, as there's not really much I would do for this side of the park. But nonetheless, here we go.

~ ~ ~

World Discovery
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Almost resembling an industrial park or science center campus, all the better to fit its more technological-based attractions, World Discovery focuses on technology and fascination with what lies beyond Earth. The area features tons of trees, almost creating a forest, offering shade from the hot Florida weather, as well as elevated grass plateaus.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind​

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To the north, we find the newly set-up Galaxarium. This building was set up by the Nova Corps, peaceful representatives of the planet Xandar, who also double as the planet’s police force. They have elected to use a pavilion at the Campus to tell the people of Earth about Xandar, and to hopefully establish a peaceful connection with Earthlings. In fact, the purpose of the Galaxarium is to not only give people a glimpse of the universe, but also give them hyperspeed access to Xandar. Alas, those plans are derailed as the presentation is interrupted by Eson, a celestial being who, taking after the Mad Titan, wants to remove all of humanity from the universe. So, the Nova Corps must call on Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket, Drax and Groot to arrive on “Terra” (what we call Earth) in the nick of time to save humanity from the threat of immediate extinction…again.

Hopping aboard a fast-moving Starjumper, we careen through intergalactic mayhem from all ends of the universe, as one of Star-Lord’s “Awesome Mix” tapes blasts a classic tune (either “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire; “Disco Inferno” by the Trammps; “Conga” by Miami Sound Machine; “One Way or Another” by Blondie; “I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls or “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears). These Starjumpers have been specifically spruced up by Rocket, in order to follow Eson from jump point to jump point, from one corner of the universe to the next…and even all the way back to the Big Bang!

An incredible roller-coaster adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened on May 27, 2022. The attraction is a revolutionary roller-coaster ride involving vehicles that can turn 360 degrees, a backwards launch – the first ever for a Disney attraction – and all sorts of unique action. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista and Glenn Close reprised their roles from the movie; and they were joined by Terry Crews playing Centurion Tal Marik. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has quickly established itself as one of the park’s biggest E-tickets! Definitely a big part of any day at EPCOT, and any trip to Walt Disney World! The experience exits out into Treasures of Xandar, selling any and all merchandise themed around Guardians of the Galaxy.

Continuing on, the guests walk through several tucked away seating areas and shaded tree areas. Rising above those treetops is our next pavilion…

Life and Health​

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Honestly, the way I would do this would be to borrow an idea from a Twitter user named Zach Halteman and structure a health pavilion around two IPs: Big Hero 6 and Inside Out. Both would be used as jumping-off points for experiences that tie into health. Alas, you can no longer see full threads if you are not logged in to Twitter, so if any of you have Twitter, I highly encourage you to view the full thread. He came up with some really brilliant ideas.

​

In the center of World Discovery, we find ourselves standing before what looks like a giant golden spacecraft. It is, of course, the home of EPCOT’s “Mission Statement”:

Horizons​

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Honestly, with Mission: SPACE being a very poor thrill ride that frequently gets short wait times and scathing guest reviews, why not put it out of its misery and bring back an old favorite? Within its walls, Horizons brings the entirety of EPCOT together, uniting all prevalent themes into one spectacular attraction. Technology, transportation, food, health, history, space, imagination, and more connect the dots of creativity into a fantastic glimpse at our future from a scientific, nonsensical, or realistic viewpoint. Just about everyone is fascinated with the future and what it might hold for us. And Horizons provides us with an inspiring and exciting look at how life may change for humanity in the years to come.
And by the way, this idea for a modern Horizons was inspired by concepts created by @Harryg11 and @Tegan pilots a chicken , as well as a concept for a modern Horizons devised by RCT3 YouTuber 1guitarwiz in 2012, so credit to them on that count!

Taking off from the FuturePort, readied to “take the journey we’ve always dreamed of”, we meet our narrators: Tom and Corrinne, a.k.a. the Mesa Verde-dwelling granddaughter of the original narrators, and her Sea Castle husband. These two are eager to showcase what the future has in store, just as Corrinne’s grandparents had for years. Brilliant dioramas populated with Audio-Animatronic figures and three-dimensional sets portray our world from on and under the sea, and well into outer space, a decided glimpse at life in the distant future. Our journey begins with a look at what past visionaries dreamed the future would be like from Jules Verne to sci-fi 1920s and 30s comic books. Then, replacing the matinee scene and the 1950s scene, we jump ahead to the future as seen through the eyes of the 1980s – the time of the original Horizons; back when their grandparents were giving these tours. Four famous scenes from the O.G. Horizons have been recreated for this new version, to showcase how far we’ve come in such a short period of time. For Nova Cite, the old narrators’ living room. For Mesa Verde, the harvester scene with the control booth and hover vehicle. For Sea Castle, the young husband’s solo sub repair room. Finally for Brava Centauri, the anti gravity room with the dog and the child’s missing shoe. But of course, what the future truly holds is absolutely magnificent.

After passing through the famous OmniSphere theater, we jump ahead in time to see how these four cities would evolve with 21st-century technology in mind. We are treated to an even bigger and better adventure into the future with an ongoing message of coexisting with our fellow humans in a peaceful and unified world. In urban Nova Cite, the homes are fully-automated and highways have been expanded to include lanes specifically for flying vehicles. Mesa Verde showcases how humans have learnt to live with a land affected by climate change, showcasing more modern desert farming, dense forests filled with trees, and national parks where endangered species can be conserved. Sea Castle has been updated to showcase modern possibilities for how to colonize the seas and to make sure the coral reefs continue to flourish. Finally, Brava Centauri depicts the harvesting of many resources in the cosmos, plus the arrival of fusion power – the power of the stars. Heading inside a space station, we see Tom and Corrinne step inside a teleportation tube to be sent back to Earth. From there, the ride ends much like the original did: the teleportation tube has taken them to their family’s home in Nova Cite, now inhabited by Corrinne’s parents, for their niece’s birthday party…but unlike before, everyone is in the same room, thanks to similar instantaneous transportation methods. Leaving the revitalized utopia, we are given the opportunity to glance at our own future through the ride’s spectacular finale: a simulated, “choose-your-own” journey back to the FuturePort. Via flight (or submarine), we can choose one of three methods: land, sea, or space…

Often considered to be this park’s masterpiece, Horizons is the promise of a bigger and better future with an ongoing message of global unification and peace. We are treated to an even bigger and better adventure into the future with an ongoing message of coexisting with our fellow humans in a peaceful and unified world. In this future, and as it should hold true today, it does not matter whether we come from different races, backgrounds, cultures or religions, we all have the same aspirations and dreams. Together, this peaceful and unified future can be achieved. If I may quote from the ride’s original narrator, “If we can dream it, we really can do it. And that’s the most exciting part.”

Returning to World Discovery, heading over towards World Showcase, we find a circular building made of stainless steel. The gleaming, glass-covered outer surfaces of the circular building constitutes the near-whole of the exterior, a testament to retro-futurism and abstract architecture. However, as you pass by, you might catch a glimpse of black cars roaring past the front of the building, along a stretch of track going around the building like the rings of Saturn. If you're curious as to what this building is, then hop aboard and take a journey unlike any other onboard the…

Test Track​

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Updated for a new audience, this version of Test Track blends the thrills of the attraction that has delighted guests ever since 1999 with the spirit of its predecessor, World of Motion. This new version of the ride demonstrates the powers and capabilities the cars of the future will possess; from enhanced detection systems to even its own customization. And of course, the ride still ends with that famous climactic mile-long race at 65 mph!

~ ~ ~​

 

[Tegan pilots a chicken]

This is going to be rather a short post, as there's not really much I would do for this side of the park. But nonetheless, here we go.

~ ~ ~

World Discovery
​

Almost resembling an industrial park or science center campus, all the better to fit its more technological-based attractions, World Discovery focuses on technology and fascination with what lies beyond Earth. The area features tons of trees, almost creating a forest, offering shade from the hot Florida weather, as well as elevated grass plateaus.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind​

​

To the north, we find the newly set-up Galaxarium. This building was set up by the Nova Corps, peaceful representatives of the planet Xandar, who also double as the planet’s police force. They have elected to use a pavilion at the Campus to tell the people of Earth about Xandar, and to hopefully establish a peaceful connection with Earthlings. In fact, the purpose of the Galaxarium is to not only give people a glimpse of the universe, but also give them hyperspeed access to Xandar. Alas, those plans are derailed as the presentation is interrupted by Eson, a celestial being who, taking after the Mad Titan, wants to remove all of humanity from the universe. So, the Nova Corps must call on Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket, Drax and Groot to arrive on “Terra” (what we call Earth) in the nick of time to save humanity from the threat of immediate extinction…again.

Hopping aboard a fast-moving Starjumper, we careen through intergalactic mayhem from all ends of the universe, as one of Star-Lord’s “Awesome Mix” tapes blasts a classic tune (either “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire; “Disco Inferno” by the Trammps; “Conga” by Miami Sound Machine; “One Way or Another” by Blondie; “I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls or “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears). These Starjumpers have been specifically spruced up by Rocket, in order to follow Eson from jump point to jump point, from one corner of the universe to the next…and even all the way back to the Big Bang!

An incredible roller-coaster adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened on May 27, 2022. The attraction is a revolutionary roller-coaster ride involving vehicles that can turn 360 degrees, a backwards launch – the first ever for a Disney attraction – and all sorts of unique action. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista and Glenn Close reprised their roles from the movie; and they were joined by Terry Crews playing Centurion Tal Marik. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has quickly established itself as one of the park’s biggest E-tickets! Definitely a big part of any day at EPCOT, and any trip to Walt Disney World! The experience exits out into Treasures of Xandar, selling any and all merchandise themed around Guardians of the Galaxy.

Continuing on, the guests walk through several tucked away seating areas and shaded tree areas. Rising above those treetops is our next pavilion…

Life and Health​

​

Honestly, the way I would do this would be to borrow an idea from a Twitter user named Zach Halteman and structure a health pavilion around two IPs: Big Hero 6 and Inside Out. Both would be used as jumping-off points for experiences that tie into health. Alas, you can no longer see full threads if you are not logged in to Twitter, so if any of you have Twitter, I highly encourage you to view the full thread. He came up with some really brilliant ideas.

​

In the center of World Discovery, we find ourselves standing before what looks like a giant golden spacecraft. It is, of course, the home of EPCOT’s “Mission Statement”:

Horizons​

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Honestly, with Mission: SPACE being a very poor thrill ride that frequently gets short wait times and scathing guest reviews, why not put it out of its misery and bring back an old favorite? Within its walls, Horizons brings the entirety of EPCOT together, uniting all prevalent themes into one spectacular attraction. Technology, transportation, food, health, history, space, imagination, and more connect the dots of creativity into a fantastic glimpse at our future from a scientific, nonsensical, or realistic viewpoint. Just about everyone is fascinated with the future and what it might hold for us. And Horizons provides us with an inspiring and exciting look at how life may change for humanity in the years to come.
And by the way, this idea for a modern Horizons was inspired by concepts created by @Harryg11 and @Tegan pilots a chicken , as well as a concept for a modern Horizons devised by RCT3 YouTuber 1guitarwiz in 2012, so credit to them on that count!

Taking off from the FuturePort, readied to “take the journey we’ve always dreamed of”, we meet our narrators: Tom and Corrinne, a.k.a. the Mesa Verde-dwelling granddaughter of the original narrators, and her Sea Castle husband. These two are eager to showcase what the future has in store, just as Corrinne’s grandparents had for years. Brilliant dioramas populated with Audio-Animatronic figures and three-dimensional sets portray our world from on and under the sea, and well into outer space, a decided glimpse at life in the distant future. Our journey begins with a look at what past visionaries dreamed the future would be like from Jules Verne to sci-fi 1920s and 30s comic books. Then, replacing the matinee scene and the 1950s scene, we jump ahead to the future as seen through the eyes of the 1980s – the time of the original Horizons; back when their grandparents were giving these tours. Four famous scenes from the O.G. Horizons have been recreated for this new version, to showcase how far we’ve come in such a short period of time. For Nova Cite, the old narrators’ living room. For Mesa Verde, the harvester scene with the control booth and hover vehicle. For Sea Castle, the young husband’s solo sub repair room. Finally for Brava Centauri, the anti gravity room with the dog and the child’s missing shoe. But of course, what the future truly holds is absolutely magnificent.

After passing through the famous OmniSphere theater, we jump ahead in time to see how these four cities would evolve with 21st-century technology in mind. We are treated to an even bigger and better adventure into the future with an ongoing message of coexisting with our fellow humans in a peaceful and unified world. In urban Nova Cite, the homes are fully-automated and highways have been expanded to include lanes specifically for flying vehicles. Mesa Verde showcases how humans have learnt to live with a land affected by climate change, showcasing more modern desert farming, dense forests filled with trees, and national parks where endangered species can be conserved. Sea Castle has been updated to showcase modern possibilities for how to colonize the seas and to make sure the coral reefs continue to flourish. Finally, Brava Centauri depicts the harvesting of many resources in the cosmos, plus the arrival of fusion power – the power of the stars. Heading inside a space station, we see Tom and Corrinne step inside a teleportation tube to be sent back to Earth. From there, the ride ends much like the original did: the teleportation tube has taken them to their family’s home in Nova Cite, now inhabited by Corrinne’s parents, for their niece’s birthday party…but unlike before, everyone is in the same room, thanks to similar instantaneous transportation methods. Leaving the revitalized utopia, we are given the opportunity to glance at our own future through the ride’s spectacular finale: a simulated, “choose-your-own” journey back to the FuturePort. Via flight (or submarine), we can choose one of three methods: land, sea, or space…

Often considered to be this park’s masterpiece, Horizons is the promise of a bigger and better future with an ongoing message of global unification and peace. We are treated to an even bigger and better adventure into the future with an ongoing message of coexisting with our fellow humans in a peaceful and unified world. In this future, and as it should hold true today, it does not matter whether we come from different races, backgrounds, cultures or religions, we all have the same aspirations and dreams. Together, this peaceful and unified future can be achieved. If I may quote from the ride’s original narrator, “If we can dream it, we really can do it. And that’s the most exciting part.”

Returning to World Discovery, heading over towards World Showcase, we find a circular building made of stainless steel. The gleaming, glass-covered outer surfaces of the circular building constitutes the near-whole of the exterior, a testament to retro-futurism and abstract architecture. However, as you pass by, you might catch a glimpse of black cars roaring past the front of the building, along a stretch of track going around the building like the rings of Saturn. If you're curious as to what this building is, then hop aboard and take a journey unlike any other onboard the…

Test Track​

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Updated for a new audience, this version of Test Track blends the thrills of the attraction that has delighted guests ever since 1999 with the spirit of its predecessor, World of Motion. This new version of the ride demonstrates the powers and capabilities the cars of the future will possess; from enhanced detection systems to even its own customization. And of course, the ride still ends with that famous climactic mile-long race at 65 mph!

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Thank you for the shout out

Le sigh. I do love me some Horizons. I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of this plays out!

 

[DisneyManOne]

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World Nature
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We walk along the large pathways meandering throughout. The pathway is lined with beautiful rose gardens, flower beds, tall trees and grass fields. The pathways stretch over large vasts of reflective pools of glistening water beds. Continuing along the rim of the area, we arrive at…

The Land​

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Held within what looks like a mountain made of glass and metal, The Land focuses on environmentalism – agriculture, conservation, the beauty of nature, and how to live in harmony with our fragile ecosystem. In essence, it’s one great big love letter to our Mother Earth.

Before we even step foot inside the pavilion, our time in The Land starts right outside. I borrow an idea from Team Loki and the 2023 "What if...?" Competition: Four Bio-Domes have been set up on the outskirts of the pavilion – two on each side. These Bio-Domes are…

• Tropical Rainforest: Guests enter a beautiful tropical garden. They can take a calm and serene stroll through the tropical plants and by a waterfall. The tropical plants include the following: fruit trees, cacao plants, spices, philodendrons, orchids, ferns, and “emergent” trees like the Date Palm. And attention, all nature-lovers! The Land Pavilion is offering an exciting new way to experience the beauty of wildlife.
  
  The new butterfly house exhibit at The Land pavilion, called “Bambi’s Butterfly Garden”, is the perfect spot to experience, learn, and appreciate a wide variety of butterfly species in their natural habitat. Our butterfly house is a one-of-a-kind interactive experience, where you can observe and learn about the intricate lives of these beautiful creatures. With over 50 species of butterflies (including the giant Blue Morpho and other gorgeous ones), you are sure to be dazzled by their vibrant colors and majestic flight. Come explore, and witness a world like no other!
• Wetlands: In the second biome, guests will experience tranquility again – this time with native Florida plants and scenery. Here guests will find the following plant species: Cattail, Bulrush, Cobra Plants, Coneflower, Catberry, Water Lily, Columbian Monkshood (for pictures, see https://thegardenersworld.com/wetland-plants/). In a throwback to the original Living with the Land, an alligator enclosure is found in this biome. Looking for a unique and refreshing way to experience the flavors of Florida? The Orange Bird has returned with a juice bar that offers the perfect opportunity – Orange Bird’s Florida Orange Juice Bar! Similar to Club Cool, The small drink sample location blends natural fruits from all over the state into delicious drinks. With an ever-growing selection of juices from all over Florida, you’ll be sure to find something you love. Whether you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up or something to enjoy while taking in the sights, our juice bar is the perfect place to get your fix.
  
  Different stations to sample:
  • Northern Florida
    • Blueberry Lemonade
    • Honey Peach
  • Central Florida
    • Passion Orange Guava
    • Pineapple
  • Southern Florida
    • Coconut Pineapple
    • Mango
  • Citrus Central
    • Orange
    • Grapefruit
    • Tangerine
• Grasslands: Although grasslands vary across the world, all of them are characterized by a nearly continuous covering of the ground by grass. Guests will find the following plant species: Blazing Star, Goldenrod, Aster, Milkweed, Lupine, Purple Coneflower, Clover, Sunflower, and Wild Indigo. In one corner of the dome, guests will find plants that come from African savannas.
  
  The Flock of Birds spinner ride takes the kinetic energy and fun of Dumbo and melds it with a carousel’s attention to detail under the beautiful setting of the Grasslands biome. Modeled like the original smaller Dumbo ride, each of the 10 bird vehicles holds 2 guests (or 3 small ones). Each bird vehicle is a bird found in Grasslands around the world – Western Meadowlark, Bobolink, Sparrow, Prairie Chicken, Hawk, Burrowing Owl, Bluebird, Long-billed Curlew, Emu, and Sarus Crane. Also located here, The Land Garden is where guests can wander a labyrinth of hedges, seeing several flowers along the way. Even the map of the maze is educational–the flowers are symbolized by an image that reflects their appearance.
• Tundra: In this dome sits the coldest biome in the world–the Tundra. Guests will be transported to the harsh, relatively dry lands of the Arctic–a designation that includes locations like the United States (i.e. Alaska), Canada, Russia, Greenland, Iceland, and Scandinavia. Although the number of things that can live there are rather limited, some species are able to thrive, including the following: shrubs (like the Labrador Tea), Arctic Willow, Arctic Poppy, Arctic Crocus, Arctic Lupine, Arctic Moss, Moss Campion, Cottongrass, Tundra Rose, Saskatoon Berry, Bearberry, Pasqueflower, Snow Gentian, and Purple Mountain Saxifrage (for pictures, see https://www.treehugger.com/tundra-plants-5193248). Guests will learn how the size of shrubs is an indicator to naturalists of the climate–taller shrubs indicate greater growth due to higher temperatures. Guests will appreciate the respite of this cooler dome in the heat of the Florida sun. Properly directed fans keep most of the cool air on the plants rather than on the guests. Additionally, the windows are more heavily tinted in this dome to mimic the shorter days of the Arctic.

On the Tundra is a trackless ride similar to Tokyo DisneySea’s Aquatopia. With 14 “snowcraft” vehicles (that each hold 1-2 guests) made to look like a mix between a snow tube and a snowmobile, this ride is on a smaller scale to fit the space of the biome. The paths of the vehicles are determined by computers. Guests will get to come up close to rocks and tundra shrubs as part of their 2-minute journey.​

Beyond these bio-domes, guests enter The Land through the “mountain”, past ever-growing trees growing out of a skylight. Along the walkway leading up to the pavilion are abstract murals representing the layers of the Earth’s core, leading into the indoor atrium, as a complete balcony surrounding the rim of the building looks down onto the lower floor of the pavilion. Each floor of the pavilion represents a different aspect of the land. The ceiling of the atrium is decorated with a mural designed by Walt Peregoy. The mural represents the sky and the clouds. Fittingly, hot-air balloons hang from overhead, adding some atmosphere to the “sky”, designed to represent the Earth and the four seasons. The walls of the atrium are decorated with stylized murals depicting mountains, cliffs, trees and other things, with The Land pavilion logo prominently displayed in-between Garden Grill and the Harvest Theater. Against the vertical beams that go from the ceiling to the ground floor are giant trees, adding some greenery to the area. The floor is decorated with tiling to represent the ground, the dirt and the sand. But however, as the designs edge towards Living with the Land, the tiling will represent water (since Living with the Land is a boat ride).

Located to the right of the atrium is the Harvest Theater, which hosts an elaborate film called Planet of Wonders. The film takes guests on a journey through the biomes of the Earth, from the North Pole to the deep sea to the forests and savannas, revealing how plants, animals and humans all live with the environment. Not only that, it focuses on the ideals of conservation and man’s harmony with nature, and highlights some of the more negative connotations of said harmony – pollution, rising sea levels, climate change, more intense weather, etc., and showcases efforts to mitigate them. It also makes use of in-theater effects like wind and water, to fully immerse guests into the story.

Continuing along the rim of the overhead balcony surrounding the pavilion, guests will come across the Garden Grill, a rotating, circular restaurant, which, for many years, also offered a look into the dioramas featured in the Living with the Land attraction. But given that the most recent refurbishment involved changing the dioramas to be a tad more…gruesome, to say the least (more on that later), those views were hidden from Garden Grill patrons. Nowadays, the initial rainforest and the farm are open to view, while the desert and prairie are covered by murals. Of course, the murals on the walls surrounding the restaurant will represent farming and harvesting. The restaurant consists of a family-style menu that has many healthy, natural food products that are grown right here at The Land, as well as character dining with Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale. Right beyond the Garden Grill is an escalator, staircase and elevator, leading down to the lower floor of the pavilion.

The escalator descends down into the sitting courtyard for the Farmers’ Market. This is an elaborate food court themed around a...well, guess...with a vast wealth of picnic tables, each one topped with a uniquely-designed umbrella. This, combined with the design of the pavilion, gives one the illusion of eating on the “grass.” Various stations, not unlike the kind found at an actual farmers’ market, offer a wide variety of foods, mostly healthy and natural in nature. There are eight stations: “Soup, Salad and Sandwich”, “Barbecue”, “Pasta & Potato”, “The Cheesery”, “Gifts of the Land” (a produce stand), “Grandma’s Bakery” (offering all kinds of sweet treats, as well as breakfast foods from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.), as well as an ice cream stand and a drink station.

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After such a good meal, you can find out how the fruits and vegetables at the Farmers’ Market and Garden Grill were grown on-board Living with the Land. I once again take inspiration from Team Loki and would give this ride a massive overhaul. Rather than focusing the attraction on biomes and farming, the new thesis of the ride seeks to promote sustainable living within all facets of daily life, from sustainable eating to sustainable energy, and simply sustainable living. Living sustainably is proving to be a way we can help counter our environmental crisis; learning to find ways to conserve our resources while still being able to produce needs. Of course, the biggest selling point of Living with the Land remains the agricultural plant domes, where guests pass by real, innovative ways to sustainably grow these crops.

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On the other side of the lower floor is the entrance to the pavilion’s signature attraction: Soarin’. This epic attraction, which opened on February 8, 2001 at Disney’s California Adventure, proved to be so successful that a Disney World follow-up was all but inevitable, opening on May 4, 2005. The attraction has a very notable marquee: a field of clouds, with the ride’s name written in blue, and featuring a red hang-glider flying along a yellow flight path. The wait time and FASTPASS return time are displayed on smaller clouds below the marquee.

Upon passing under the marquee guests are led through an old-fashioned airport – specifically, the airports of the late 1950s and the early 1960s. Posters of various places around the world are set up, as is an old-fashioned departures and arrivals board. A portal at the farthest end of the queue leads towards a hallway, not unlike a jet bridge. After a safety video featuring Patrick Warburton as a flight attendant, we move into the main theater.

The ride makes use of a unique ride system that gives off the illusion of hang-gliding. As the film begins, the vehicles rise up on three levels, and undulate with the wind. There are even certain scents that are pumped into the vehicles at certain moments. Soarin’ uses three theaters: Theater A showcases a film specifically focusing on famous landmarks throughout the United States and Theaters B and C makes use of footage of famous natural landmarks from all over the world; but both make use of a beautiful, sweeping score by famous film composer Jerry Goldsmith.

Not so far away from The Land, you’ll find the second pavilion of World Nature:

Wonders of Space​

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A pavilion based around the glory of outer space is too good not to keep it as part of EPCOT. Plus, space would fit in with the triptych of land, sea and sky that World Nature would seek to represent. The massive, interstellar-inspired structure is remarkable; a sight to behold. It hearkens to a time and moment of idealism and optimism, the hope of the Space Age. Like EPCOT itself, Wonders of Space is equal parts yesterday’s vision of tomorrow and tomorrow’s view of yesterday. The entrance is marked by a gleaming silver pyramid that sits in the shadow of a conjoint and towering space station. The pyramid was a fitting choice, as according to a Disney press release, pyramids were “often used in ancient civilizations as part of their celestial studies and observations.” Furthermore, the exterior is carved into in order to make way for another “weenie” to Wonders of Space. In the entrance courtyard stands an armillary sphere, a tool that, essentially, maps out space.

Like with Horizons before it, we have to enter the pavilion through the “spacecraft.” We are now inside the Armstrong Space Center, where its Mission Control is preparing for a grand adventure. Wonders of Space represents a future where space travel is as common as a trip to the store. Pretty much anyone can set off to explore the galaxy! As such, we are invited to take off on a journey that would put IMAX to shame. Gary Sinise is our host as we blast off to explore the Solar System and beyond, and facing such events as the heat of the Sun, encountering a group of scientists exploring the surface of Mars, traversing through the asteroid belt, jumps through hyperspace and a brief glimpse at the Galactic Center of the Milky Way.

Wonders of Space utilizes a revolutionary new projection-dome system and a souped-up variation on the Soarin’ system, combined with the KUKA system. For this attraction, there are four different spacecrafts in use – Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta – each one located at the northern, southern, eastern and western points of the dome. It was decided to use this model so that the projections appear before each spacecraft without any visual intrusion from the other vehicles. No soarin’ under feet here!

As we exit our spacecraft, we hear the pavilion’s theme song, “Destiny”, fill our ears. It stays with us as we head down the exit hallway to the post-show: the Galactic Center. The Galactic Center is basically an expanded take on the Mission: SPACE post-show, where we can find games, exhibits, real demonstrations of spacecraft and astronaut tech, and yes, merchandise. Held within the Armstrong Space Center, the Galactic Center is designed to immerse guests in the beauty of space. In fact, the ceiling of the Galactic Center depicts a view of outer space. The stars, planets and outlined constellations move.

Among the exhibits at the Galactic Center are Mission: EARTH, a series of interactive stations that teach us about space exploration and sciences, and The American Space Experience. Presented by NASA (I should mention that they also sponsor Wonders of Space as a whole), this is a museum focusing on “the challenge of outer space”. Again, since NASA is sponsoring this, the museum is constantly updated, making sure the pulse of space exploration progress is ever ready for guests to view for themselves. The Space Base is a playplace where little astronauts can blow off some steam. There are also two games to play here. Expedition: Mars is a video game where guests have four minutes to try to find four astronauts on the surface of Mars. Space Race is a game dividing guests into two teams: Triton and Orion; and the object is to be the first team to get their rocketship to the surface of Mars and back to Earth.

There’s also The World Beyond. Much like Horizons and Carousel of Progress, Wonders of Space and The World Beyond are considered “sister attractions”. If Wonders of Space focused exclusively on the Solar System, then The World Beyond focuses on the universe as a whole. In this 3D film, we go on a virtual voyage through the universe, experiencing both its beauty and its severity. It concludes with a close-up look at a supernova - a bit too close, being honest.

This would basically be a next-generation version of the animatronics created by Mike Senna.​

But that’s not all. The Galactic Center is also home to an experience you won’t find anywhere else in Walt Disney World: the WALL-E Encounter. Yes, the art of using animatronics for meet ‘n’ greets has reached its apex here. We can meet up with the beloved, trash-compacting robot – as well as his beloved EVE – in their own space, and they are fully interactive, directly responding to guests and all that.

We naturally find a gift shop at the exit to the pavilion. At The Space Place, we can peruse through a vast selection of space-related merchandise: toy rockets, planetarium models and projectors, robots and other such wares.

On the right-hand side of the pavilion entrance is the entrance to someplace very special… No dining experience on Earth can match what’s in store at the Space 220 restaurant, also moved over here from the other side of the park. Space 220 is an unbelievable experience that transports us further into space for incredible meals that are “out of this world.” So named because the restaurant is meant to make us feel like we’re on a space station located 220 miles above the earth’s surface, we dine alongside incredible celestial views. A lounge and bar, in addition to some of the finest delicacies this side of the Milky Way, make Space 220 one of EPCOT’s greatest restaurants. A menu of internationally-inspired cuisine and more than 1,000 bottles of the world’s finest wines and a wide selection of craft beer grace this galactic galley.

Journey of Water​

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Stunning water features and tropical trees and blossoms compose a “symphonic” masterpiece of natural awe and beauty, with tropical birds, reptiles and fish among the local fauna. Beautiful waterfalls, jumping fountains, and spectacular rock formations form a lush setting reminiscent of the natural beauty and life of the Hawaiian Islands. This lush, entirely-outdoor experience invites us to “meet and play” with the magical, living water, and discover how the water cycle works. The water has a life of its own - it starts as rain, then flows into a trickling stream, which forms the wetland, which turns into a spring, which helps to form the land, which flows into a lake, then a river, then into the ocean and finally, back into the sky to start as rain again – a message on the importance of the natural water cycle and why we should all help ensure that the cycle can continue.

The tropical setting of Journey of Water is further influenced by the 2016 animated film Moana. However, the walkthrough is not entirely Moana-based; instead, it utilizes a similar aesthetic design. For example, a few of the film’s design motifs (eg. the Heart of Te Fiti) are a part of the motifs for the attraction, and images of the film’s characters can be found carved in certain areas of rockwork. The only major inclusion of characters physically is a 16-foot statue of Te Fiti overseeing the lake portion of the water cycle; and Moana herself meeting guests nearby the experience. Real flowers and plants make up the hair and body of the goddess as she watches over this oasis, ensuring that the natural cycle carries on.

Fittingly located steps away from Journey of Water is an entire pavilion devoted to the ocean…

The Living Seas​

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In current-day EPCOT, this pavilion, which was given more of a Finding Nemo theme in 2007, is a major rallying point of people against the “toonification” of the park. So, in my plans, I’d outright remove it, because I have plans to utilize Finding Nemo elsewhere in the resort. Where that is, exactly, is a question for another time (But if you know me, I’m sure you know exactly where it will be located). But for now, here at EPCOT, almost every trace of The Seas with Nemo and Friends has been removed. Seabase Alpha has returned and shined up to its former glory.

The Living Seas experience begins right when you walk in, past the rockwork with the waves crashing upon it, past the beautiful “Sunrise” mural, the sounds and sights setting up a quiet trip to a rocky seaside. The story starts here. As you walk through the entrance queue, you walk past historical pictures and examples of humankind’s exploration under the water. Graphics showing the design of early snorkels, diving bells, actual early dive suits. This pavilion is not about the ocean, it is about oceanic exploration; our quest to understand the mysteries of the seas. The queue brings you to a section that serves as a waiting area for a pre-show film. You are then taken into one of two small theaters to watch it. The film, aptly titled The Sea, in just eight minutes, covers the creation of Earth, the creation of the oceans, the importance of the oceans to life, and the fact that we know next to nothing about them and that we are still discovering new things in them.

Once the film concludes, you're ushered into yet another room to board the Hydrolator. This Hydrolator, although it basically amounts to just a wall that vibrates, is going to “take you down to Seabase Alpha.” From there, you board a SeaCab vehicle which takes you on a quick ride into the Seabase itself.

A lot of the rest of the pavilion is very similar to what exists now. There are things to see, learn and do. Touchscreen computers, a section about undersea exploration robots and suits where kids can get in a suit and try and manipulate the pincer hands. The main room has the big water tube, and divers are constantly coming and going from there into the main aquarium space, oftentimes to assist in live demonstrations of scuba-diving. In fact, here's a comprehensive list, also courtesy of the EPCOT Discovery Center, detailing all the Seabase has to offer.

Level 1

• Diver Lock-out Chamber: Every half hour, divers either enter or exit the main tank through this chamber. Divers demonstrate the latest in wetsuit and air tank technology. An assistant explains the process to us and allows us to ask any questions we may have.
• Module 1A - Ocean Ecosystems:
  
  • Pacific Coast Kelp Forest
  • Pacific Coral Lagoon - 3,000 gallons of water containing starfish, sea anemone, small fish, and hermit crabs
  • Predator Tank - grouper, barracuda, connet head sharks, and green moray eels
  • Web of Life - phytoplankton, zooplankton, and filter feeders
  • Other free-standing tanks explain camouflage, symbiotic relationships, and bioluminescence
• Module 1B - Marine Mammal Research Center: This module allows underwater viewing of the West Indian manatees.
• Module 1C - Undersea Technology Testing Center:
  
  • Turtle Talk - The only remnant of The Seas with Nemo and Friends to remain here. The storyline of the show is slightly tweaked to fit into the Seabase Alpha theme. The introduction to the show would explain to guests that they are there to witness the first major test of a new piece of underwater technology that will revolutionize our study of the oceans: the hydrophone! This technology will actually allow us to speak with underwater creatures. After this introduction, Crush swims by and begins his conversation with the audience. This is actually very similar to how the show progresses at Tokyo DisneySea.
• Module 1D - Earth Systems & Undersea Exploration (According to MickeyWiki, this is where Bruce’s Shark House is now. With the return of the original Living Seas, these exhibits will return):
  • Jason - An Audio-Animatronics version of the real Jason (created by Bob Ballard) explains how robots can explore the depths of the ocean.
  • JIM suit - One complete suit is on display and two are cutaway so that we can try to turn an arrow, push a lever, turn a wheel, and shift a gear using the counterbalanced (for weightless effect) manipulator hands.
  • What on Earth - a map that marks undersea volcanoes, faults, the Ring of Fire, etc. with lights that illuminate when the corresponding button is pressed.
  • “An Animated Atlas of the World” - a 6.5 minute animated video.
  • Clues to an Age-Old Mystery - display shows a sample of the earth’s core.
  • Anatomy of the Sea - this large tube shows what the ocean is composed of.

Level 2

• Observation Deck: Allows viewing of the main tank.
• Module 2A - Ocean Resources Sea Lab:
  
  • Pacific Coast Kelp Forest - same as in Module 1A. This tank spans the height of both modules.
  • Mariculture Lab - displays techniques for underwater farming of plants and animals. A marine biologist is often available for questions/discussions.
• Module 2B - Marine Mammals: This is a view of the manatees (of 1B) from above. Marine-mammal specialists working with the manatees often talk about the animals and answer questions.

If that’s not enough, there’s also DiveQuest, an amazing experience where guests suit up in scuba gear and take a closer look at the deep, underwater sea life. But, believe it or not, that’s still not all we can do here at The Living Seas. An extension has been built at the Seabase, allowing us to take a whirl on an all-new experience here at EPCOT…

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StormRider, an attraction that used to thrill visitors to Tokyo DisneySea, has found a new home here at EPCOT. Although the ride technology will remain the same, the storyline will be slightly different compared to its original Japanese equivalent. As we all know, one of the biggest and most prevalent forms of dangerous weather comes from the ocean. I am, of course, referring to hurricanes and the harsh rainstorms that come with them. Well, Seabase Alpha has been researching these behemoths for years, and they’ve just discovered a way to dissipate hurricanes before they can cause serious damage: a missile-shaped device called a “FUSE.” And the researchers at the Seabase are sending you aboard an aircraft to get the FUSE into the eye of the storm, saving the nearby Florida coast from certain destruction. The mission does not go smoothly however. Due to the extreme winds and heavy rainfall, the FUSE veers off-course and collides with the StormRider craft. What ensues is a wild ride and some special-effects surprises. At its core, StormRider is a full-motion-flight-simulator-based attraction, similar to the former Mission: SPACE attraction. StormRider goes a step beyond your average simulator, however, by introducing additional special effects including the FUSE missile crashing through the “roof” of the ride vehicle and “rain” entering the aircraft’s cracked hull, spraying the riders with a light mist of water. No denying – StormRider will definitely earn its place as one of EPCOT’s biggest draws.

Whenever you decide to leave the Seabase, just hop aboard another Hydrolator, and you’ll be back up “on the surface” in no time. Wrapping around the side of the building, guests will find the pleasant Coral Reef restaurant, where guests can dine among the beautiful scenery of an underwater setting. It is like dinner under the sea.

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My biggest inspiration for improving The Land - particularly in regards to the Bio-Domes and the new Living with the Land - come from a concept created for the 2023 "What if...?" Competition by the members of Team Loki: @AceAstro , @Brer Panther , @cdunlap , @Disney Warrior , @MonorailRed , @PerGron and
@ThemeParkPriest . Likewise, a few elements of Wonders of Space I borrowed from @MANEATINGWREATH and his concepts for WestCOT.

 

[cdunlap]

My biggest inspiration for improving The Land - particularly in regards to the Bio-Domes and the new Living with the Land - come from a concept created for the 2023 "What if...?" Competition by the members of Team Loki: @AceAstro , @Brer Panther , @cdunlap , @Disney Warrior , @MonorailRed , @PerGron and
@ThemeParkPriest .

Thanks for the reminder that I did, indeed, make a hedge maze for The Land as part of a comp when I was starting out here! (I probably did more, but I forgot everything that wasn’t the maze.)

 

[DisneyManOne]

World Showcase

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World Showcase is reminiscent of a permanent World’s Fair, featuring various pavilions representing different countries of the world. The pavilions surround the World Showcase Lagoon, a large man-made lake located in the center of it all. World Showcase can take guests from country to country in just a quick walk, where they can experience the sights, the food, the cultures, the experience of being able to explore the world, assisted by Cast Members who actually come from their country of origin. In keeping with the feng-shui styles of the first three districts of EPCOT (three districts with four pavilions each), World Showcase is similarly designed. Seventeen countries are represented, with eight countries on either side of The American Adventure, the host pavilion for World Showcase.

Just continuing north from World Celebration, we find ourselves in Showcase Plaza, where all voyages through World Showcase begin. Directly ahead is the World Showcase Lagoon. Here, we find that the Plaza has an all-new icon: a train station, designed in the same style of Disneyland Paris’ railroad station, with archways leading out to the edge of the lagoon. This train station is the first access point of the World Showcase Express. Given how massive World Showcase is, it can be quite cumbersome for tired feet to trek across. This train ride – an idea initially envisioned by D Hulk – should help to alleviate such pain and get people around much faster. The World Showcase Express makes four stops throughout World Showcase, the first one being right here in Showcase Plaza.

Hopping aboard a luxurious Old World train, we’ll get a relaxing ride through World Showcase, stopping at South Africa, The American Adventure and France. Utilizing a similar technology as the Hogwarts Express, as we ride along, we’ll see landscapes from certain countries being projected in the windows, as if we are legitimately rolling past their countrysides. As @Suchomimus described it, “Most of the videos would also be filmed along scenic highlights of real life railways and have some transition effects; like tunnels, big buildings, forests and clouds. The only places where it wouldn't be real are the stations themselves and the line from Mexico to Showcase Plaza to Canada, as that will be rendered in photorealistic CGI as with the Hogwarts Express.” This helps hide backstage views from guests’ eyes, and cuts costs by allowing tunnels to go unbuilt. There are four trains used, one for each station – the America, the Africa, the Eurasia and the Oceania – and each train has its own unique design, and its own projection loop (credit goes out to @Suchomimus for devising these loops).

• Oceania: Showcase Plaza - Mexico - South Africa - Greece - United States - Japan - France - United Kingdom - Showcase Plaza
• Africa: South Africa - Germany - United States - India - France - Egypt - Showcase Plaza - Norway - South Africa
• America: United States - Morocco - France - Canada - Showcase Plaza - China - South Africa - Brazil - United States
• Eurasia: France - World Showcase during “Luminous” - Showcase Plaza - extended South Africa sequence - South Africa - extended United States sequence - United States - extended France sequence - France

Located to the left and right of Showcase Plaza are landings for the Friendship Cruise Boats. The Friendship Cruise Boats are a quicker way to travel from country to country, while enjoying a leisurely boat cruise across the World Showcase Lagoon. The boat cruise takes you from the entrance of World Showcase, to Germany and to Morocco. And here at EPCOT, the boats have been given a massive makeover. Now, they look more like elaborate water ferries.

Right in the middle of the plaza, along the edge of the train station, is a viewing area for the nightly fireworks show, Luminous: The Story of Us. On both sides of the train station are two other points of interest. To the left, towards Mexico, is Port of Entry, a shop which hosts several country-related items, as well as EPCOT merchandise. Port of Entry is also the first of several KidCOT Fun Stops. Each pavilion of World Showcase has a KidCOT Fun Stop, and they are, essentially, craft stations where young travelers can make crafts inspired by the cultures of each country represented. At Port of Entry, guests receive passports containing all sorts of fun facts about each of the nineteen countries of World Showcase, and they can go around World Showcase to collect stamps for each country. The Cast Members at each KidCOT Fun Stop are also happy to answer any questions little travelers may have about their homeland.

To the right, towards Canada, is the all-new World Showcase Character Hub, inspired by the attraction devised by @D Hulk for DisneySky, as well as @DlpPhantom ’s International Greeting Place. In keeping with the vintage design of Showcase Plaza, this is held within a building designed to emulate the 1923 Akron Airport Terminal in Akron, Ohio. Within this building, we can meet Mickey and the gang, dressed in vintage traveler’s costumes – Pilot Mickey, Aviator Minnie, Captain Donald, Flight Attendant Daisy and Sailor Goofy. However, also within this terminal is a separate queue for a “visiting guest from a far-off land” – i;e a character from the latest WDAS or Pixar film, thus giving Disney a chance to promote their latest and greatest while still maintaining the overall theme.

Mere steps nearby these locales is Refreshment Port, the place to go if all the world-trekking is making you hungry. They sell chicken nuggets, fries, croissant-doughnuts and ice cream.

In the center of Showcase Plaza is a long, V-shaped, flower-filled planter. In this planter are nineteen flagpoles, upon which the flags of the seventeen countries of World Showcase fly proudly. Furthermore, thirty-one supplemental flagpoles are planted in the surrounding planters, honoring countries represented in Animal Kingdom, as well as other countries around the world that speak to the ideal of world peace. A half-hour before World Showcase opens for the day, a Flag-Raising Ceremony takes place. After a brief announcement detailing World Showcase’s meaning – a tribute to the cultures and peoples of our world – one by one, the flags of all seventeen countries represented in World Showcase, from Mexico to Canada, are raised on the flagpoles to the sounds of their respective country’s national anthem. Each anthem would be preceded by the voiceover declaring: “Friends and neighbors, we will now raise the flag of _____”; followed by a repetition of that phrase in the country’s language(s), if necessary. For the anthems, Disney has utilized Philip Sheppard’s absolutely beautiful arrangements, composed for the 2012 Summer Olympics, as performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

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When the afternoon comes, the streets of World Showcase come alive with the Tapestry of Nations. Tapestry of Nations, created for the Millennium Celebration, is a celebration of the human spirit in the form of a processional. It is a story of unity told and led by the Sage of Time, a wise grandfatherly figure; as well as the Spirits of EPCOT. The Sage of Time reminds us that years ago, humans lived in peace and harmony with one another and with the Earth. But as time passed, humans strove to rule the Earth and to rule over each other. Today, while there are still disputes and power struggles, humans are realizing that life is not about what country you can conquer and which people you can persecute. We are realizing that it is acceptable to be different. We are learning from each other, improving our lives and our societies. Each one of us is a single thread. As we realize we are all a part of one human family, we join together to celebrate our differences, our similarities, and our accomplishments hand in hand. Our threads weave themselves together forming a tapestry of one human family. We are many nations and we are many people, but within each one of us we all have the same threads of joy, kindness, compassion, and love which weave together to form our human spirit.

Each of us and our ethnic, cultural differences are represented by the different groups of puppets. Group A is found between Mexico and Germany; Group B is found between Germany and Morocco and Group C is found between Morocco and Canada. Within each group, each puppet is different. Tapestry of Nations shows us how we can embrace each other and celebrate life together as the puppets dance together along with us, the human audience, which is invited to interact with the puppets to the heartbeat of drums. The parade makes two runs throughout the day: one in the afternoon, and one in the evening, just before the nighttime spectacular.

When night falls, gather around the World Showcase Lagoon to take in the spectacle of Luminous: The Story of Us. This epic nighttime spectacular is essentially the story of human connection and development, and how music links the world together. Utilizing Disney music to help tell the story, the show weaves a powerful narrative of the highs and lows of the human experience. The show makes use of projections, fireworks, lasers, fire, water and light. It’s definitely among the best shows at Walt Disney World.

Soarin’ has given us a little taste of what to expect here, so let’s begin our world tour. We’ll explore the seventeen countries of World Showcase in a clockwise motion. Heading immediately to the left from Showcase Plaza, we’ll arrive at the first country of World Showcase:

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Rising around the bend, curbing the corner of World Showcase Lagoon, guests can see a rising, multi-tiered Aztec temple, surrounded by dense forests. The temple rises high into the sky, dominating over the rest of the Mexico pavilion.

Just across from the temple is a building that plays host to two restaurants, both serving excellent Mexican cuisine. The location features La Hacienda de San Angel, an indoor sit-down restaurant, as well as La Cantina de San Angel, a quick-service location. The restaurants feature a complete tequila bar and are located right alongside the waters of World Showcase, making it an excellent viewing location for the nighttime fireworks. Attached to the side of the restaurant is El Ranchito del Norte, which specializes in Mexican knick-knacks and what not.

Performing in the courtyard of the pavilion, either right in front of the temple, or nearby El Ranchito del Norte, is the world-renowned Mariachi Cobre. These festive performers have been an EPCOT favorite for years, having played here since the park opened in 1982! Come gather ‘round to hear the authentic sounds of Mexico surround you in a veritable fiesta of music!

The colored stone steps leading up to the temple reveal a small seating area, camouflaged in lush foliage. Entrances lead into the temple on both the left and right side of the temple, re-connecting back into the center of the temple, where posters and artifacts align the walls, showcasing the many different facts and activities of Mexico. Inside the center temple room is the Mexican Folk Art Gallery, currently playing host to “Remember Me – La Celebración del Día de Muertos.” This is an exhibit honoring the important Mexican holiday, and Oaxacan alebrijes, spirit animals that serve as guides for the dead. Furthermore, this exhibit is also the first entry in “The Story Behind the Story”, a series of exhibits, shows and small attractions found all around World Showcase. In a concept designed by @comics101, The Story Behind the Story details the culture, histories and other inspirations for Disney’s classic films. Naturally, here in Mexico, this exhibit weaves in themes from Coco, as well, to help link the film to the holiday that inspired its story.

Continuing into the next room, guests find themselves entering into a Mexican courtyard at nighttime. From the stone balcony overlooking the pavilion, guests see a streaming fountain just below, surrounded by bustling merchandise carts and stores, which is then preceded by a courtyard of tables adorned with flickering candles. Strings of lanterns are draped over the courtyard, as the sky is awash in blue lights. The farthest end of the courtyard reveals a small temple. From the balcony, descending ramps to the left and the right lead down into the center, courtyard, Plaza de Los Amigos. The Plaza is filled with all sorts of merchandise, from over-sized sombreros, piñatas, baskets, leather goods, Latin foods, Mexican wines and liquors, ceramic and glass sculptures, blankets and decorations. To the right of the courtyard, another tequila bar, La Cava de Tequila, is located, tucked away in one of the Mexican building facades. Just past the bustling carts and stores, guests will find the San Angel Inn, a restaurant which serves fantastic Mexican food by candle-light. The restaurant is located right on the waters outside of a Mexican temple, surrounded by lush foliage. The entire restaurant is quite romantic and simulates being outside in a nighttime courtyard.

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To the left of the restaurant is El Rio de la Vida (“The River of Life”), an updated take on Mexico’s boat ride. Sailing past the temple, we arrive in Santa Cecilia, to see the Riveras preparing for Dia de los Muertos. In the town square, there is music everywhere. At the edge of town, the cemetery transports us onto the marigold bridge that heads towards the Land of the Dead. It is another Dia de los Muertos, and all are getting ready. We float past the Customs Offices, through the streets of the area, down past Shantytown – everywhere where we can find the Dead preparing to return for one night. As Brian Krosnick of Park Lore said when he crafted his own Coco-inspired ride, “...it was important to me that this ride not become a book report retelling of Coco, but remain a “cocktail party” where we, as guests, get a glimpse into the neighborhoods of the Land of the Dead where residents live in eternal celebration, reunion, and remembrance.”

The last sight we see is of Hector, Imelda, Coco and the rest of the dead Riveras preparing to cross the bridge together. Pepita meets us at a tunnel, taking us back to the Land of the Living. We’re back on the streets of Santa Cecilia. We hear music off in the distance. Dante leads the way to the Rivera household. The place where the Three Caballeros once performed their concert has been transformed into the backyard of Miguel’s house. As fireworks boom up above, we see Miguel singing “Proud Corazon”, accompanied by Hector on guitar and his cousins, Abel and Rosa, on accordion and violin, respectively. All Riveras, living and dead, watch on with pride.

Continuing back outside the stone steps of the Mexican temple, outside of the pavilion, guests will come across a stone wall with inscribed details. This is often where Miguel and Hector host meet-and-greets, although Panchito, Donald and José have been known to drop by from time to time. The Three Caballeros mainly meet over in Brazil nowadays...more on that later.

From the sunny streets of Mexico, we arrive in the tundras of Northern Europe. This is…

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Norway was the second pavilion to be added to World Showcase after EPCOT had opened in 1982, and this country remains to keep its original sentiment. Guests walk along the quaint village of a Norwegian town, taking in the quaint cottage-like buildings and architecture. Of course, given that Norway (and Scandinavia in general) inspired one of Disney’s biggest hits to date, one might expect to see the likes of Anna, Elsa, Olaf or Kristoff here. If you wish to meet them, you can find them at the Royal Sommerhus. The Royal Sommerhus – inspired by the Detli House featured at the Trondelag Folk Museum in Trondheim – is the summer home of Anna and Elsa, chock full of memories from the sisters’ travels with their parents when they were younger. In the years that have followed, the house has reopened so the sisters, and their friends, can relive their fond memories and make new ones with guests. The Wandering Reindeer takes up residence in an old barn next door, offering authentic Norwegian children's toys, including stuffed reindeer. Nearby, a replica of the famous Stave Church offers quiet solitude to take in a small museum of Norwegian history and culture.

Just outside of the Stave Church Gallery, we come across a quaint Norwegian village. The atmosphere is welcoming and warm. If you time it right, you may see Spelmanns Gledje, a band specializing in Norwegian folk music, performing in the village square. The first sight we come across is Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, a small bakery offering baked specialties from Norway, including fruit pastries, desserts and even ham and apple sandwiches. Neighboring the bakery is The Puffin’s Roost, a complete gift shop for everything Norway-related. The gift shop features Norwegian clothes, custom-made in Norway, including heavy winter clothes, to fine wines, perfumes and colognes, leading to a room of princess dolls and merchandise. The inside of the shop almost looks like a quaint skiing lodge. Just outside of the bakery, in-between the building and the Stave Church Gallery, an area of tables is located, under one of the roofed buildings. The roofs of these buildings above the sitting area are topped with grass running up along the sides of the roof, with planted flowers aligning the roof, creating quite a quaint, almost fairytale appearance. Across from Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe is the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, a complete buffet dining experience, where guests are welcomed into a beautiful Norwegian hall, where the delicious food and customs of Norway are shared with the guests.

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At the furthest end of the pavilion is a mountain, with a small waterfall cascading down the side of it, and a cavern from which the water runs down from. The waterfall spills into a small lake, surrounded by beautiful planted flowers and trees. A bridge crosses over the lake and in front of the waterfall, leading to the entrance to Norway’s major attraction. A stone-faced facade, inspired by King Håkon’s Hall in Bergen, marks the entrance to Frozen Ever After, which offers us a chance to explore the North Mountain for ourselves. After exploring Arendelle Harbor at night, we hop aboard our very own longboat. A supernatural, frozen grotto seems magical in its own right, never mind the appearance of Olaf, an Audio-Animatronics figure among the new generation of Disney’s advanced Audio-Animatronics figures. The incredible figure blinks, gestures, walks, jumps, and sings. Soon, we are rubbing shoulders with some “boulders” - aka Kristoff’s family from Troll Valley - before bracing for the cold high up in the icy blue world of the North Mountain, Queen Elsa’s enchanted ice palace. The enchanting Summer Snow Day Celebration - complete with Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Elsa - is sure to melt even the coldest of hearts. Honestly, the only thing I would change are the animatronics; replacing the projected faces with the fully-sculpted faces featured in the Hong Kong Disneyland version of the ride.

Along the banks of World Showcase, the sounds of Norwegian waterfalls dissipate into the background, as the guests come across the next pavilion in World Showcase:

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Guests arrive at the many beautifully-adorned and decorated temples of China. The Chinese architecture depicts the beautiful scenery of a typical Chinese city. The entrance to the China pavilion is highlighted by a tall Chinese red arch, leading the way into a small Chinese water garden, filled with waterfalls and lily pads. Mulan, Shang and Mushu often meet guests in this garden. The garden is also where you'll find the Jeweled Dragon Acrobats, a group that showcases China’s unique and beautiful gymnastic styles.

Nearby, just to the left of the entrance archway is the Nine Dragons Restaurant, which offers an extensive selection of Chinese dishes in a beautiful, relaxing setting. The menu consists of various Chinese flavors: the bold and spicy flavors of Szechuan cuisine, the predominantly seafood Shandong cuisine, and the hearty stylings of Cantonese cuisine. Plus, many of these ingredients are prepared by a chef stir-frying on a wok right in front of them

Straight ahead of the entrance arch, leading down a narrow path over the water garden, steps lead up to a very detailed replica of the Temple of Heaven. Inside of the grand temple, guests can take in the spectacle of Wondrous China. In this experience, guests are welcomed inside of the grand temple. The lobby of the temple is adorned with Chinese artifacts, beautiful sculpting, banners and images depicting the origins of China. Guests are then brought into a Circle-Vision theater – notably, the very first Circle-Vision theater to utilize seamless technology – where guests are then enveloped in the history, the art, the cultures and the life of what the country of China is. The grand Circle-Vision experience offers a wonderful portrayal of the country of China, teaching the guests more about the country through the colorful portrayal.

Attached to the temple, just inside of the lobby, to the left, guests will come across the House of the Whispering Willows. The small room is tucked away in the corner of the Chinese temple and serves as the exhibit area for the pavilion, featuring “Tomb Warriors: Guardian Spirits of Ancient China”. The terracotta soldiers in this exhibit are replicas of the soldiers found in the famous tomb excavation in Xi’an, the single largest excavation in the world. The original figures, dating from 210 BC, were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers. And they were indeed an army! Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses. Legend has it that members of the royal dynasty carried miniature terracotta or stone carved warriors with them in their tombs to protect them from supernatural threats.

Just outside of the temple, an alleyway leads to the back end of the pavilion, running in tangent to the Yong Feng Shangdian store. The store is an extensive shopping plaza, running through the facades of several different Chinese buildings. Wondrous China also exits through the shop’s plaza. The shop features everything from expensive Chinese jewelry and sculptures, to Chinese garments, lanterns and incenses and stuffed animals. Continuing back up north to the entrance of the pavilion, on the right, is the Lotus Blossom Cafe, a small cafe area, serving delicious Chinese cuisine.

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Those are the first three pavilions of World Showcase! What do you think, everybody? We'll go through World Showcase about four or five pavilions at a time. The next post will cover the pavilions of World Showcase East up to The American Adventure; the one after that will cover Japan to France; and the last will cover the International Gateway to Canada.