Walt Disney World: New Horizons

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
And now, here is the second major attraction of Alta Pueblo.

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Recuérdame -- La Leyenda de Coco

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The vivid landscapes of Pixar's 2017 masterpiece lend themselves beautifully to a typical dark ride structure. Who wouldn't love to soar through the Land of the Dead and join Miguel on the adventure that changed his life -- and his family -- forever? Now, in the grand tradition of Peter Pan's Flight and the E.T. Adventure, we can do just such a thing.

From the courtyard of Alta Pueblo, we step into a stone-cut building and find ourselves in the humble Mexican town of Santa Cecilia. The queue takes us through the neighborhood, passing by various houses and through the Rivera family's abode/workshop. We can see that their ofrenda is ready for the coming Dia de Muertos. Heading outside, we take a path towards the vast cemetery. Various gravestones are decorated for the holiday, and the burst of fireworks illuminate the tomb of the famous musician, Ernesto de la Cruz. As we linger through the cemetery, we start to see the spirits of the dead appear before our very eyes. Going inside the tomb is a vast parade of alebrejes -- spirit animals that serve as guides for the dead. Hopping aboard our own alebreje, we sail forth for the Land of the Dead.

Inside the tomb, we see an animatronic Miguel strumming Ernesto's legendary guitar. A vast array of marigold petals surround the boy as a blinding light transitions us into the Land of the Dead. We pass along the marigold bridge and fly through the vast Land of the Dead. Looking down at the streets, we can see Miguel and Hector strolling along, and the dead Riveras looking for their descendant. A loud roar alerts us to the arrival of Pepita, who knocks us off-course with her mighty wings.

Reeling from the blow, we fly towards Ernesto de la Cruz's mansion, wherein skull-shaped fireworks illuminate the skies. However, as we pass through an opening in the mansion walls, we find more ominous things occuring. A screen details a famous scene from one of Ernesto's movies, wherein Ernesto discovers he is being poisoned. Hector and Miguel watch in shock -- realizing that Ernesto had Hector killed all those years ago! As we exit, we hear Ernesto say "You need to do whatever it takes to seize your moment..."

A sharp descent takes us down into a cenote pit! Hector laments, "I'll never see my daughter again...my Coco." Miguel reacts in shock. "Coco? That's my great-grandmother! Then that means...we're..." "...family", they both realize. The same roar that knocked us off-course is heard again. It's Pepita, having come to the rescue.

Flying back out over the Land of the Dead, we soar around the Sunrise Spectacular amphitheater, where the Riveras are getting their sweet, sweet revenge on the man who caused them so many wrongs. As we fly past, we see Pepita hurl Ernesto across the stadium and across the town, landing by way of running into a giant bell. With justice served, we return home to see Miguel singing for Mama Coco, thus restoring her memory of her beloved father. We can see the ghosts of Hector, Imelda and the other dead Riveras looking on with pride as we leave this joyous scene and return to the loading area.


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What do you think, guys? It's kinda bare-boned, but I'm sure you'll get a sense of what the ride will be like.

Now, I think that we'll do one more ride for Port Disney, and that will come later tonight, because it's a concept I've shared before. Until then, please feel free to post any comments or feedback, and I'll see you in the next post!
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
And now, the final ride-through for Port Disney.

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Frozen Ever After

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On the outskirts of Arendelle, you'll find yourself standing before the mighty North Mountain, with Elsa's ice palace sitting alongside it. A cave at the base of the mountain leads us inside and into an ice cavern, filled with interactive elements. First, guests come up to a large LED screen with various snow effects. When someone moves around in front of this screen, motion sensors capture their movement and make ice effects to the corresponding movement, making it seem like they have Elsa's powers. Next, there are musical icicles that light up different colors and make musical notes when touched by the guests. Then, guests use touch screens on the wall to pull snowflakes of different shapes and colors to their corresponding collection area.

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Leaving this cavern, we find ourselves on the outskirts of Arendelle, with the castle and village in the distance. In the forefront of this view, a snowy path is trod upon by a parade of sleds. In fact, they look a lot like the sled Kristoff was given when Elsa named him "Official Ice Master and Deliverer" (complete with cup-holder).


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The ride will begin like the current EPCOT version of the ride. Upon boarding our sled, we first run into Olaf, who actually walks as he welcomes us to Arendelle. He sings...

"Do you wanna build a snowman?
C’mon, let’s go and play!
Elsa wants to give us all some fun,
She’s making everyone

A snowy summer day!"


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"It's Summer Snow Day!" he jubilantly tells us. "The celebration's starting at the castle soon. And everyone's invited: you and you and you — all of you! It’ll be so beautiful! See ya there!" Next stop, the Troll Kingdom, where Grand Pabbie tells the baby trolls about Anna and Elsa. Unlike EPCOT, they are found on both sides of the track. From here, things change. We continue on through the forest. Wait...are those wolves? We can hear their growling and see their eyes glowing. But, we make it through and come across Anna on her own sleigh. "Oh, hello!" she says. "Glad to see you. My sister, Elsa, is up at her ice palace, and I've got to bring her back to Arendelle for the festivities. Why don't we head up there together?"

We float under an snow covered rock arch and come up upon Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post, where he stands on the porch and offers us his winter sale. In the windows, we see projections of his family in the sauna, waving. We float past a nearby barn and meet Kristoff (playing his lute and singing about reindeer) and Sven (with his tongue stuck to an icicle sticking out of the snow), and then emerge into the Crystal Forest, filled with pointed ice spikes. The forest transitions to the rocky North Mountain. Anna once again appears aboard her sleigh. "Come on! Elsa's ice palace is just up this way!" As "Vuelie" swells, we head up the North Mountain, snowflakes swirling above our heads. At the top, we turn left to a wall of pointed ice arches looking out over the frozen mountain landscape, just as a very familiar song begin...


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Through a swinging set of doors, we finally enter the ice palace, the highlight of the ride and the main musical location. Hey, we can't leave out "Let it Go". However, the ride sequence that accompanies the song will be completely re-worked. Now, we'll actually see the castle growing and building right before our eyes. Above us, we see a grand ice chandelier growing and pulsing in time. Elsa, who we see projected in the balconies, uses her powers. We then float underneath it and the huge ice chandelier above, pulsing with the music. Then we continue out of the tower and under the icy arches and to the next scene, where we see Elsa on her balcony completing the song.

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As we leave, we hear Anna calling out to her sister: "Elsa! Come on, it's time for the celebration to begin!" We pass by Marshmallow and the Snowgies. With a jubilant cry of "Let it go!", Marshmallow blows some ice breath at us as we head down the North Mountain and arrive back at Arendelle.



From here, the ride finishes like at EPCOT. We pass by a model of Arendelle Castle, with fireworks going off. Heading into the vast courtyard, we see the citizens of Arendelle joining Anna, Elsa and Kristoff in the festivities. All raise their voices in a jubilant rendition of "Making Today a Perfect Day". Though the sun shines as bright as ever, Elsa is making the snow fall in a jubilant display. Sven can be seen cutting an ice-cream cake, as he did in "Frozen Fever". As we turn to go, we see Olaf, who bids us a fond farewell.

Docking our sled in a barn on the outskirts of Arendelle Castle (Kristoff's own sled can be found nearby), we exit through a shack built into the other side of the mountain and emerge back in the daylight.


~ ~ ~

Port Disney

Novus Harbor
Attractions
1) Biblioteca Novus
2) Explorers' Workshop
3) World of Color

Dining
1) Adventurers Club
2) Fibonacci Cafe
3) Villa Scoperta
4) Astronomers' Lounge

Shopping
1) Emporio
2) Silas' Goods
3) Novus Relics
4) Figaro's Clothiers


New Orleans Bayou
Attractions
1) Big Band Beat
2) The Art of Disney
3) La Bouff Plantation
4) The Princess and the Frog: Tiana's Tale

Dining
1) River Belle Terrace
2) Club 33
3) Creole Cafe
4) French Market
5) Mint Julep Bar
6) Tiana's Palace

Shopping
1) One-of-a-Kind Shop
2) Lafitte Jewelers
3) Cristal d'Orleans
4) Mlle. Antoinette's Perfumerie
5) Porte d'Orleans
6) Dr. Facilier's Voodoo Emporium
7) Thieves' Market


Discovery Bay
Attractions
1) Journey to the Center of the Earth
2) 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
3) Spirit of Discovery
4) Fireworks Factory
5) Professor Marvel's Hall of Wonders
6) Western Balloon Ascent
7) Island at the Top of the World
8) Mystery of the Nautilus
9) Voyage to the Lost World
10) Spark Gap Loop
11) The Timekeeper

Dining
1) Confucius Tea House
2) Lucky Fortune Cookery
3) Cafe Hyperion
4) Grand Salon
5) Harbormaster's Grill
6) Vulcania Restaurant
7) Teddy Roosevelt Lounge

Shopping
1) Silk Road Traders
2) Francisco Tonsorial Parlor
3) K.A. Bhume's TNT & Joke Shop
4) Nautilus Gifts
5) James Cook's


Pirate's Cove
Attractions
1) Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure
2) The Black Pearl
3) Adventure Isle

Dining
1) Blue Lagoon Restaurant
2) Tortuga Tavern
3) Honest Marooned Pete's

Shopping
1) Pieces of Eight
2) House of Treasure


Alta Pueblo
Attractions
1) The Myth of Zorro
2) Recuérdame -- La Leyenda de Coco
3) Teatro de Charros

Dining
1) Hacienda de la Vega
2) Sabor del Toro

Shopping
1) Tienda Avila
2) The Governor's Goods


Atlantica
Attractions
1) Flounder's Flying Fish Coaster
2) Scuttle's Scooters
3) Sebastian's Spin
4) Jumping Jellyfish
5) Blowfish Balloon Race
6) The Whirlpool
7) Ariel's Playground
8) Legend of the Little Mermaid

Dining
1) Sebastian's Calypso Kitchen

Shopping
1) The Sleepy Whale Shoppe
2) Mermaid Treasures
3) Kiss de Girl Fashions


Arendelle
Attractions
1) Frozen Ever After
2) For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing Along Celebration
3) Arendelle Castle

Dining
1) Restaurant ved Elven
2) Arendelle Treats

Shopping
1) Wandering Oaken's Trading Post (and Sauna)
2) Troll Handel
3) Olaf's Holiday Hearth

~ ~ ~

And with that, we have fully explored all five theme parks of the Walt Disney World Resort! But don't think the fun stops here. There's still a whole bunch of other wonderful things to do here at Walt Disney World, and I have a few ideas for how I'd spruce up some of the other elements of the "Vacation Kingdom." So, expect to see a lot more interesting posts in the days to come, the first of which will come later tonight.

You see, in the grand tradition of the various planning videos and old "Resort TV" loops of the day, the discussion of Walt Disney World's theme parks is usually followed by a discussion about one of the most innovative time-savers in Disney history. More on that later on, but until then, please post any comments you may have and I'll see you in the next post!
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
And now, here is the first post in this thread to go beyond the theme parks...

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Disney's FastPass+ Service

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Disney's FastPass+ Service, introduced in 2014, is a next-generation advancement on the famous FastPass service that was introduced back in 1999. We've all hated having to wait in line for a really popular attraction at the parks, right? And I'm sure we've always wanted to just skip the line and go straight to the loading bay. Well, with Disney's FastPass+ Service, those dreams can become a reality. It's a service that's easy to use and cuts the wait time on some of the most popular attractions in the park. Plus, it's entirely free!

Here's how it works...


1. Using the My Disney Experience app, or one of many FastPass+ kiosks found throughout the parks, select which attraction you would like to go on. (You can make up to three initial reservations. When one expires, you can set another time.)
2. Next, select a time you would like to go on the ride. This way, you can spend your time playing in the park, rather than waiting in line!
3. When the time rolls around, head for the FastPass+ entrance, scan your MagicBand or your park ticket against the checkpoint, and hop on the attraction with little or no wait!

Now, one of the things I don't like about the current FastPass+ system is that it's used for pretty much every attraction under the sun. Well, I'd honestly cut back on that a bit, and only use it -- much like the original FastPass system -- for only the most popular attractions in the park.

Here's what each park would offer for FastPass+ attractions in my ideal Walt Disney World...

Magic Kingdom

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • The Haunted Mansion
  • Indiana Jones Adventure
  • "it's a small world"
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Peter Pan's Flight
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Pooh's Hunny Hunt
  • Princess Fairytale Hall
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Space Mountain
  • Splash Mountain
  • The Time Machine
  • TRON Lightcycle Power Run
  • Western River Expedition
  • Wreck-It Ralph
EPCOT
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Horizons
  • Intracellular
  • Journey Into Imagination
  • Legend of Valhalla
  • Mary Poppins' Jolly Holiday
  • Mission: SPACE
  • Mt. Fuji Bullet Train
  • Mythica
  • Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
  • StormRider
  • Soarin'
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Test Track
Disney's Hollywoodland
  • Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage
  • Fantasia
  • Fantasmic!
  • The Incredibles Escape the Martians!
  • Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway
  • Millenium Falcon: Smuggler's Run
  • The Rocketeer and the Squadron of Doom
  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
  • Tower of Terror
  • Toy Story Mania!
Disney's Animal Kingdom
  • Amazon River Adventure
  • Countdown to Extinction
  • Dragon's Tower
  • Expedition Everest
  • Festival of the Lion King
  • Flight of Passage
  • Kilimanjaro Safaris
  • Na'vi River Journey
  • The Rivers of Nature
Port Disney
  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
  • Biblioteca Novus
  • Frozen Ever After
  • Island at the Top of the World
  • Journey to the Center of the Earth
  • Legend of the Little Mermaid
  • The Myth of Zorro
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure
  • The Princess and the Frog: Tiana's Tale
  • World of Color
~ ~ ~
And on that note, the next post will take a few days to arrive. Since I have nothing to say about the two water parks of Walt Disney World -- Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Disney's Blizzard Beach -- I think we'll just move on to Disney Springs. There are a few things I'd like to do with Disney Springs, particularly, a brand-new district that will blend right in with the charm of the existing entertainment complex...

Until then, please keep all the feedback and comments coming and I'll see you in the next post!
 

Twilight_Roxas

Well-Known Member
Because while the Magic Kingdom does Mickey’s not so scary Halloween party. DHS or Port Disney could have a Halloween event for teens and adults with mazes, scarezones, and Scareactors. Just a suggestion.
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Because while the Magic Kingdom does Mickey’s not so scary Halloween party. DHS or Port Disney could have a Halloween event for teens and adults with mazes, scarezones, and Scareactors. Just a suggestion.
I will certainly keep this suggestion in mind.

~ ~ ~

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Disney Springs is a sprawling entertainment complex, featuring all sorts of unique shops (including World of Disney, the largest Disney store in the world) and dining experiences, and tons of unique entertainment, such as an AMC theater, a bowling alley and a resident theater for the legendary Cirque du Soleil. It's just about as old as Walt Disney World itself, having opened as the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village naught but four years after the Magic Kingdom opened its gates. Over the years, it has gone through many refurbishments and name-changes; its transformation into Disney Springs being the most recent. Now, the complex has turned into a unique district based around a Floridian fishing village, as it grows and expands over the years.

Each district brings its own distinct flavor to it, and each one blends into each other harmoniously. But yet, there's still one aspect of the complex I would like to add on, one that would add a bit more kineticism and excitement to the Disney Springs complex. Enter Paradise Pier.




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The quaint charm of Paradise Pier, which has since been turned into Pixar Pier at Disney's California Adventure, would lend itself perfectly to the Floridian fishing village vibe of Disney Springs. Its Victorian-era seascapes with gingerbread lighting and fun on every corner bring a smile to all those who enter. And yes, much like with the other areas of the complex, this one has a backstory:

The Springs Grand Centennial Expo of 1950 celebrated the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the springs and the founding of the Glowing Oak Ranch by Martin Sinclair. His great-grandson, Martin Sinclair IV, and his wife, Claire, carried on the family tradition of the Glowing Oak Restaurant, which provided all the meals at the exposition. To commemorate the occasion, Martin opened an elaborate seaside carnival he called "Paradise Pier", built in the grand tradition of the piers and amusement parks that were famous in the late 1800s, particularly the iconic Coney Island. Of course, it had all the trimmings -- a huge, towering roller-coaster, a Ferris wheel, a nickelodeon, games, all sorts of goodies to munch on and so much more! One of the most popular attractions at the expo was "Exposition Downs", a Prior & Church racing derby, one of the few authentic racing derbies left operating in America. Originally built in 1920 for the Revere Beach Amusement Park in Revere Beach, Massachusetts, it was believed for years to have been destroyed in a fire, but shortly before the exposition it was found stored dismantled in a barn near its original site. The poor condition made it impossible to restore, but enough survived to allow the exposition's designers to recreate it as the featured amusement attraction at the expo.

Claire Sinclair loved riding Exposition Downs, and rarely let a day go by without climbing aboard her favorite horse and challenging her husband Martin to a race- the loser had to wash the restaurant dishes for the rest of the day! As a surprise for his wife, Martin purchased Exposition Downs after the fair closed and preserved it on-site so that Claire could ride it as often as she wanted. They continued to ride it every day, rain or shine, and continued to make the loser wash the dishes until just a few days before she passed away. Martin insisted that Exposition Downs be forever operated in her memory for future visitors to the Springs, and to this day his grandson, Martin Sinclair VI, still invites visitors to ride the race horses -- but he doesn’t expect them to wash the dishes if they lose!

To this day, Martin VI has kept Paradise Pier in peak condition. It still looks as fresh and exciting as it did when Martin IV opened it some 60-odd years ago. And what's more, a few special additions have been added to the pier to ensure the fun never ends! Paradise Pier remains a fun way to spend part of your day at Disney Springs!


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Our time in Paradise Pier begins long before we even reach the pier itself. Not too far a walk from the Cirque du Soleil theater in the West Side is Disney's Dreamscapes, an elaborate escape room complex home to many unique experiences. There are six rooms featured in the complex. Five of these rooms are based around a certain theme: Toy Story, Aladdin, Star Wars, Mickey Mouse and Guardians of the Galaxy. One room specifically changes themes with each season. January and February bring Pirates of the Caribbean, Spring brings Inside Out, Summer brings Phineas and Ferb, September and October bring The Nightmare Before Christmas and the Christmas season (November-December) brings Frozen.

The prices for these escape rooms will be competitive with local establishments and cost each adult around $30, and each child $25. Special prices may be given to groups of eight or more. To experience these rooms, you must make a reservation online or in person. Each party gets a 15 minute grace period. Once that is up, your reservation will be given to another party.

As guests walk through the doors of Dreamscapes, they will be met with a large lobby. A counter to the left will house check-in for those that made reservations online, and will also allow guests the opportunity to book in person. Once guests check in they will be given a buzzer, and be asked to wait in the lobby. As guests wait they will be pleased to know that restrooms are available in the lobby. The lobby will be decorated with various posters marketing the rooms currently being offered. Once the escape room is ready for guests they will be escorted to their room rather it be on the first, second, or third floor. Guests will then enter a debriefing room specific to their chosen adventure. This is where each journey stops being the same...

Let me tell you exactly what each escape room will entail...


  • Toy Story -- Escape from Sid's House: Return to the world of the original 1995 film as you try to help Woody and Buzz escape from that toy-torturing tyrant, Sid, once and for all! If you can find three crucial elements of escape -- a toolbox, a crate and a pencil -- within 45 minutes, you'll be home free! If not, it's "to infinity and ka-boom!"
  • Aladdin and the Cave of Wonders: Jafar and Iago have tasked you to find treasure from within the fabled Cave of Wonders. Solve three of the Cave's riddles within 45 minutes, and you'll prove yourself worthy of being a "diamond in the rough." If not, you risk never seeing the light of day again!
  • Star Wars -- Death Star Battle: The Rebellion has started their famous attack on the Death Star! It's up to you to escape before the Death Star is destroyed! Figure out how to work the escape pod within 45 minutes, and you'll be safe!
  • Mickey Mouse and the Boiler Room: Inspired by the Mickey Mouse short of the same name, it's up to you to fix a boiler in the hotel room before the supposed monster of the boiler room has you in its clutches! Then again, it's not so easy when the boiler itself is the monster... Think you can handle it in 45 minutes?
  • Guardians of the Galaxy -- Kyln Prison: With Rocket Raccoon at your aid, you've got to figure out the access code to bust out of prison before 45 minutes are up!
  • Pirates of the Caribbean -- Battle for the Buccaneer's Gold: Aye, mateys, a great battle is occurring at sea! Jack Sparrow is entrusting you to uncover three crucial pieces of treasure -- however, he's been quite cryptic with how he's described them. If you can't decipher what these treasures are in 45 minutes, it's off to Davy Jones' locker with ye!
  • Inside Out -- High Emotion: Riley's memories are all out of whack! You've got to line up memory orbs in their proper place whilst also keeping the Personality Islands afloat! If you can't fix things in 45 minutes, that sickly grey thing that once plagued the Control Panel may return...permanently!
  • Phineas and Ferb -- The Escape-inator!: This time, Dr. Doofenshmirtz wants to make sure Perry the Platypus won't stop him from conquering the tri-state area! He's locked Perry -- and you -- within a powerful prison, and you've got to figure out how to escape within 45 minutes!
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas -- Oogie Boogie's Treat: Looks like you're in for "season's screamings" as Oogie Boogie has thrown you into his lair, in the hopes of making you the main ingredient of his Snake and Spider Stew! Luckily, you've got Sally at your side, and if you can find that lucky key to get out within 45 minutes, maybe you'll be able to stop Oogie!
  • Frozen -- Colder by the Minute: Relive the climax of Disney's 2013 animated classic. Hans has Elsa -- and you -- locked away in the middle of a raging blizzard. You've got to help Elsa escape from the cell by any means. Say, these bars are a bit loose ... If you can find a way to remove the bars in 45 minutes, there's a good chance you'll be able to stop Hans cold. If not, well the eternal winter may indeed be eternal...
After exiting your selected escape room, guests will be taken to a general area for a photo op on a background included within the price of admission. Each theme will have its own backdrop. Guests will then return to the lobby, and either exit back onto the Pier...or try their hand with a different escape room.

I must point out, this concept was inspired by two sources: a concept devised for the currently-ongoing One Little Spark Competition by "Team Green" -- consisting of @kmbmw777, @Miru, @NateD1226, @Pi on my Cake, @tcool123 and @AceAstro -- and an idea request from @disneyforever101396. Now, he requested I include The Muppets in the Dreamscapes. But, I chose not to because it would be redundant with what lies a few feet away...


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The Muppets' Putt-Putt Pandemonium brings the wacky world of the Muppets to the wacky world of miniature golf. Each of the 18 holes is made to look like it was made up by a certain Muppet. We begin, as always, with Kermit, sitting in the swamp underneath a glorious rainbow. Fairly simple hole. It only gets more complicated from here...

Other holes include Dr. Honeydew and Beaker's "Golf Labs" where the golf ball is the subject of the latest experiment; Fozzie's Banana-rama course, festooned with banana peels! Watch your step!; The Great Gonzo's Stunt Course, where your golf ball can try its own stunts!. And who could forget Miss Piggy's showstopping number? And oh, what's this? Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem want to be involved! They parked the bus right in the middle of the course though! Hit the ball up into the bus (and then get into the bus) to continue this hole by shooting it out the first escape in the back and into the hole.

It all leads up to Sam Eagle's "glorious three-hour finale!" What better way to end a show than with Fireworks? Unfortunately, this time you are hitting the ball into the fireworks shop setting of a chain reaction of fireworks to end your fun and dangerous time at The Muppets' Putt-Putt Pandemonium.

~ ~ ~
So yeah, this took a little longer than expected. Now that I've finished the parks -- which, to be fair, were comprised mostly of ideas that I already had -- I think I'll take a little more time to complete these posts. Expect the next part of Paradise Pier to come by soon, and until then, please post any comments or feedback you may have, and I'll see you in the next post!
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
~ ~ ~

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Beyond Disney's Dreamscapes and The Muppets' Putt-Putt Pandemonium is the main entrance to Paradise Pier itself. A glorious Victorian gate stands proudly, decorated with an elaborate sign bearing the pier's name, topped with a depiction of the Sun. A banner below promises "Fun in the Sun for Everyone!" Once past the entrance gate, we find two points of interest on either side. On the left, Treasures in Paradise, a quaint gift shop offering unique merchandise local to Florida. On the right is a signature restaurant -- Triton's. Named after the mighty King of the Sea, and father to "The Little Mermaid", Triton's offers lavish meals and breathtaking views. It's a feast for the eyes and the mouth!

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Combine the exterior of DCA's former Ariel's Grotto and the lavish interior of the Triton's restaurant on the Disney Wonder cruise ship, and you've got Triton's at Disney Springs. Make your way past a fanciful bronze statue of Ariel and journey inside a grand ballroom that recalls the opulent sea palace of King Triton bedecked in a dazzling Art Deco theme. Brimming with ornate chandeliers, stained glass, sea-inspired architectural flourishes and a sweeping mural of Ariel and her father, Triton's serves up a regal atmosphere that guests of all ages are sure to admire. Large windows look out to the pier, and towards a beautiful patio.

What's more, Triton's also serves as the triumphant return of character dining at Disney Springs. Character dining is no stranger to Disney Springs. Back in the old days when Paddlefish was still referred to by its boat's namesake, the Empress Lilly, they used to do character breakfasts. However, these were discontinued once the Empress Lilly closed in 1995 to be transformed into Fulton's Crab House. But now, Triton's is offering character meals with the Disney princesses. Now that Akershus has returned to its non-character roots, I figured, since Cinderella's Royal Table can be quite cumbersome to get into, Triton's could serve as a new location to meet your favorite Disney royalty. Of course, Ariel is the main draw at Triton's, but Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Aurora and Rapunzel all make appearances as well, meeting guests both within the restaurant and out on the patio.

The complex that houses Triton's also plays host to the Cove Bar, a bar crafted in the same Art-Deco style as Triton's, but with more of a focus on the blues and greens, with a bit of mood lighting adding an adult flavor. Beers, wines, aquatic-inspired cocktails, specialty non-alcoholic beverages and light appetizers are what's offered on the menu. On the other side of the street, sharing space with Treasures of Paradise, is the Flavors of Paradise old-fashioned ice-creamery. Decked out like an ice-cream parlor of days of old, this is the place to go if you wish to indulge your sweet tooth whilst out on the boardwalk.




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Of course, no seaside amusement park would be complete without an epic roller-coaster. Luckily, Paradise Pier provides that and more with The Wooden Screamer. If I may paraphrase from Disney's official description of the original Californian version of this mighty coaster: "Imagine a roller coaster modeled after the traditional wooden coasters of the 1920s. Now add a launch that takes you from 0 to 55 miles per hour in under five seconds, a loop-de-loop around a glimmering sun, over a mile of track reaching heights of 120 feet, and a 108-foot drop at 50 degrees—and you've got The Wooden Screamer, the adrenaline rush of the century!"

This Floridian equivalent to California Screamin' perfectly encapsulates the original splendor of the famous Disney coaster before it got turned into the Incredicoaster in 2018. Every last detail of the original California Screamin' has been painstakingly re-created -- right down to Neil Patrick Harris' iconic carnival-barker-esque safety spiel!




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Found nearby the entrance to The Wooden Screamer is that Sinclair family favorite itself, Exposition Downs. Basically serving as a counterpart to King Triton's Carousel Jessie's Critter Carousel at DCA's pier, Exposition Downs is a "racing derby" carnival ride themed around an old-fashioned horse race. The spirit of the horse-race is imbued in every last detail of the attraction. Even the fencing lining the queue is immaculately-painted white fencing, reminiscent of the miles of fences that define the hundreds of horse meadows that fill the state of Kentucky which surround the dozens of thoroughbred racetracks across the country. Around the fences there are bright cherry trees and jade green bushes with blooming flowers. Does this sound familiar? You might be reminiscing of Saratoga Springs. With a beautiful fountain next to the queue, we try bringing some of Saratoga Springs to the this ride. There are also several small meadows where topiary race horses appear to be grazing on the rich Kentucky bluegrass and beds of flowers that surround the Exposition Derby. After waiting a bit, you arrive to your horse getting ready for the race.

The Equestrian Mounts represent elegant horses, that are made of a material that appears to look like porcelain. There are 64 different horses for guests to ride on. To help guests differentiate the horses, the caparisons (the blankets covering the horses under their saddles) are made out of bronze-like ornamentation that are decorated in different patterns and colors. On top of the caparisons are golden saddles for guests to board on. The rest of the racing derby is just as elegant as the horses - an all- white tent, with floral designs, and a golden roof. At the sound of a ringing bell, and to the iconic strains of the "Allegro Vivace" segment of Rossini's William Tell Overture (a song made famous by famous TV horseman The Lone Ranger), the horses will gallop up and down around a bronze statue of Citation, a famous race horse who won the Triple Crown in 1948. The horses are near each other, giving the illusion of a race! The race will have ten "laps" before finishing. Exposition Downs uses the original Prior and Church-designed mechanism to operate the horses. A combination of cables and wheels, along with a wavy under-the-platform rail allows four horses, side-by-side, to move both up-and-down and randomly back-and-forth while constantly “changing the lead”. The weight of the rider is irrelevant in determining which horse will win each race.

Upon exiting the Exposition Downs, riders enter the Exposition Stables and Gift Shop, where everyone from would-be Derby-winning jockeys to the casual horse racing fan can find fun collectibles, horse-race-themed clothing items, charms and jewelry, lucky horseshoes and a unique selection of Exposition Downs Disney trading pins among many other items. The shop itself represents a finely-crafted thoroughbred horse stable, with finely-crafted hard-wood stalls, authentic race-horse gear handing on the walls and ceiling fans gently moving the air to keep the horses- and shoppers- comfortable after a heated race on the Exposition Downs. 95% of all funds generated by the Exposition Stables shop is donated to the Thoroughbred Charities of America, a charitable organization that raises and distributes money to assist with Thoroughbred horse rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming; backstretch and farm employee programs, and equine-assisted therapy programs.




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Now of course, a big high-tech dark ride like Toy Story Mania would feel out-of-place among the more relaxed nature of Disney Springs. So, the question is this: What will replace Toy Story Mania in Disney Springs' Paradise Pier? Fortunately, I have an answer: the Pierside Cinema. Now, I know what you guys are thinking -- why would you open a movie theater in Paradise Pier when there's already an AMC? Well, it all comes down to what the theaters show. While the AMC is your typical AMC, the Pierside Cinema specializes solely in classic Disney films. I'll let blogger Mark Robinson explain further: "How long has it been since you and the kids got to see a classic Disney film on the big screen? Since most of the Disney titles are readily available on DVD and Blu-Ray, it is my suspicion that it has been a long time since anyone has seen these films as they were originally intended to be seen. How about an onsite, old-fashioned looking cinema that shows just classic Disney movies?"

The Pierside Cinema, although keeping the lavish exterior of DCA's Toy Story Mania, is designed to look like an old-fashioned movie house, the kind commonly found along piers and seaside amusement parks. Inside a grand and opulent lobby, posters line the walls,
predominantly the "Classics"-era re-release posters, as well as posters from the Renaissance films. A snack cart sells those three classic movie-time treats: popcorn, candy and soda. The lobby leads towards the theater itself, where rows upon rows of comfy chairs face a mighty screen. Each night, a different Disney classic would play on the screen -- from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, straight through to Tarzan and Toy Story 2. After all, the era of theatrical re-releases ended in the 90s, so it makes sense to stop there. It would take many of us back to a time where a release or re-release of a Disney film was a not-to-be-missed event.

Here's a list of all the films that would be shown here.

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • Pinocchio
  • Fantasia
  • Dumbo
  • Bambi
  • Cinderella
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Peter Pan
  • Lady and the Tramp
  • Sleeping Beauty
  • 101 Dalmatians
  • Mary Poppins
  • The Jungle Book
  • The Aristocats
  • Robin Hood
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • The Rescuers
  • The Great Mouse Detective
  • The Little Mermaid
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • Aladdin
  • The Lion King
  • Pocahontas
  • Toy Story
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • Hercules
  • Mulan
  • A Bug's Life
  • Tarzan
  • Toy Story 2
Plus, when Halloween time rolls around, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus are the main attractions. And when the familiar chill of Christmas fills the Orlando air, the feature presentations are Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas and a double-bill of Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too and Mickey's Christmas Carol.

Each film is preceded by a few previews for Disney-related media (movies, TV shows, theme parks, etc.), as well as a beloved Disney short. After the pre-show ends, the film begins in a familiar way...




All in all, seeing a film at the Pierside Cinema should be a nostalgic experience, no matter how old you are.

Running along the edge of the pier beyond the Pierside Cinema are the Games of the Boardwalk. It wouldn't be a seaside amusement park without a few games of chance. In fact, you can try your hand at four specific games of chance:

  • Goofy About Fishin': Go fish! Younger pier-goers can try their hand at fishing alongside Goofy. Magnetic fishing rods lure the fish to bite; when retrieved, each fish reveals a prize, so everyone’s a winner!
  • Dumbo Bucket Brigade: Oh, no! The circus tent at Dumbo's circus has caught on fire! It's up to you and Dumbo to save the clown firemen before the flames prove to be too intense! Grab an old-fashioned water brigade cannon and squirt a steady stream of water into the center of the bucket. Whoever gets their clown up to the top of the ladder first wins!
  • Casey at the Bat: Do you have the same powerful skill as the Mighty Casey? Find out in this game! All you gotta do to win is throw just one ball into the catcher's mitt.
  • Bullseye Stallion Stampede: By feverishly rolling balls in a skeeball-style game, players earn points depending on which hole the ball falls through. The more points, the further your horsey goes and whoever reaches the finish line first wins.

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Standing proudly on the edge of the pier is Mickey's Fun Wheel. Ready for a ride on the wild side? Lift off and soar 150 feet into the air for incredible panoramic vistas of Disney Springs! As you travel around the wheel, your gondola also sways and slides forward and backwards on interior rails for an extra thrilling experience. In fact, Mickey's Fun Wheel -- in addition its DCA sister, the Pixar Pal-a-Round -- is one of only three Ferris wheels in the United States that combine fixed gondolas and sliding gondolas. The other is the original: the Wonder Wheel of Coney Island. Each gondola features the image of a different classic Disney character - Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto or Goofy. All in all, Mickey's Fun Wheel is one of the more famous attractions at Paradise Pier -- an uplifting trip around the whirl-d!


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Directly across from Mickey's Fun Wheel is the Springs Balloon Tour. Built in eternal tribute to the Golden Age of Ballooning, the Springs Balloon Tour is a fun, family-friendly attraction that invites you to see the Pier from new heights. Your adventure begins when you hop aboard one of eight hot-air balloons, each uniquely colored to evoke a sense of pageantry and dignity. You'll find yourself feeling the same way those early balloon-sailing pioneers did as the balloons ascend in unison, fly in a circle and inspire you to create your own adventure based on this experience.

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And there we have the main meat of the boardwalk itself. Our time on Paradise Pier will end in the next post, detailing two more attractions, as well as a slew of new restaurants and experiences! Until then, please post whatever feedback or comments you may have and I'll see you in the next post!
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
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On the other side of the lagoon that Paradise Pier surrounds, you'll find a bevy of unique and exciting attractions. First and foremost, we might as well talk about two more carnival attractions you'll find here. Firstly, on the path leading from the boardwalk, a few feet away from the Springs Balloon Tour and Mickey's Fun Wheel are the Silly Symphony Swings. Silly Symphony Swings is a chairswing ride themed around the famous Mickey Mouse short The Band Concert -- particularly, the short's famous climax.

As we all know, in The Band Concert, conductor Mickey is determined to get through a performance of the "William Tell Overture", no matter what. Although his patience is tested many times by a certain fife-playing duck, the real test comes when the playing of the overture's "Storm" section summons a tornado! But, determined to the end, Mickey continues to conduct and the band keeps playing -- even from within the tornado itself! And on-board Silly Symphony Swings, you'll get a chance to spin and swirl, as if you're caught in a tornado!


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The second carnival attraction found on the other side of Paradise Pier is the Golden Zephyr, a ride that puts you on the back of a rocket for a ride spanning over the lagoon. Spin around (gosh, there sure are a bunch of spinny things here at Paradise Pier, aren't there?) on a relaxing trip amid the hustle and bustle of Paradise Pier. Unlike other classic spinny things -- like Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Astro Orbiter at the Magic Kingdom -- the rockets of Golden Zephyr are controlled by centripetal motion over the lagoon and can not be automatically controlled to go up and down.

If you were to enter Paradise Pier via the right side of the diverging paths, you would come across an elaborate garden right along the edge of the lagoon. There's various trees and shrubs and benches, making a perfect place to relax amid Disney Springs. Going along the path, you'll find a variety of entertainments and themed restaurants, tying into the "fun in the sun" feeling of Paradise Pier.




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We begin with the most elegant aspect of Paradise Pier -- the Avalon Ballroom. Borrowing the elaborate exterior from The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure, the Avalon Ballroom is the place to go if you want to kick your feet up! Though by day, it rests dormant, by night, the place comes alive with the sweet sounds of fine music and the familiar tap of happy feet as they glide across the floor. Like with the ballrooms at the Grand Floridian, the Contemporary, the BoardWalk and the Yacht & Beach Club, the Avalon Ballroom contains many different dance halls. The Goodman Ballroom specializes in jazz, the Armstrong Ballroom specializes in swing, and the Astaire Ballroom offers formal dancing events and balls, inviting one and all to waltz their way across the boards. Three other ballrooms -- the Kelly Ballroom, the King Ballroom and the Fitzgerald Ballroom -- offer a wide variety of music, from contemporary to modern and everything in-between. Of these six, the Goodman, Armstrong and Astaire Ballrooms are all strictly for adults only (the Astaire Ballroom is strictly formal, hence the 21+ age range), offering cash bars with alcoholic drinks and light appetizers; whilst the Kelly, King and Fitzgerald Ballrooms are open for all ages. The only times the Goodman, Armstrong and Astaire Ballrooms are open to those younger than 21 are when wedding receptions are held there. Yes, like with the hotel ballrooms, all six ballrooms are open for wedding receptions, corporate events and other important occasions.



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In the center of the grand lobby of the Avalon Ballroom, a spiral staircase leads up to Jazzman's Lounge, an elaborate fancy restaurant with dramatic views of Paradise Pier. Basically serving to Disney Springs what Palo is to the Disney Cruise Line, Jazzman's Lounge offers elaborate 5-star meals and the finest wines. Named for Carole King's classic song, the Lounge is decorated with portraits of some of the greatest jazz musicians who ever lived, whilst instrumental jazz -- mixed with the stylings of legends like Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Bring Crosby -- lend a cool and calm vibe to such an elegant place. Jazzman's Lounge sits right on top of the Avalon Ballroom, its exterior blending in beautifully with the Little Mermaid-inspired exterior of the Ballroom.

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A wrought-iron fence looking out towards Saratoga Springs on the other side of the river separates Avalon Ballroom from the final three buildings of Paradise Pier. First, we have the Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar. Built in the style of DCA's Blue Sky Cellar, it is in this place that guests can get in touch with their creative side and learn more about the art of Imagineering. In tribute to the former DisneyQuest, almost all the aspects of Floor 2 of DisneyQuest -- which all, fittingly enough, were themed around being creative -- will be re-opened here in the Blue Sky Cellar.

Here now is a complete list of everything that you will be able to see and do here at the Blue Sky Cellar:

  • Imagineering Exhibit Center: View concept art, models and blueprints for new and upcoming developments at Walt Disney World Resort. The Exhibit Center also features a preview film that features Imagineers talking about the upcoming attractions, which is updated routinely as construction progresses.
  • Animation Academy: In just 30 minutes, you'll be able to draw one of your favorite Disney characters. This is a similar set-up to the Animation Academy at Disney's Hollywoodland.
  • Living Easels: Use a giant digital easel to create your own artistic masterpieces.
  • Disney's Song Studio: The long-lost art of WDW Forever CDs is back! At the Song Studio, you can make your very own personalized musical souvenir. For just $20, you can pick ten tracks of any Walt Disney World park audio -- background music, ride themes, ride narrations, etc. -- and put them together to make your own CD. I already mentioned that a similar merchandise option is available at Sherman Music Co. at Disney's Hollywoodland, but Disney's Song Studio is exclusively Disney park music, whereas Sherman Music Co. is open to music from all kinds of Disney media.
  • The Amazing Destini: The Amazing Destini a figure that entertained guests at the 2011 D23 Expo. This is a full-fledged real-time AA figure. And to be honest, you gotta see him to believe him!
  • CyberSpace Mountain: In this beloved part of DisneyQuest, reborn for a new generation, you can personally design your very own roller-coaster. 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!
  • 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 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 simulator and explore the park yourself! But if you don't want the fun to end, no sweat. Once you're done creating, as you're inside the simulator, a special thumbdrive of your park 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!


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Right next door to the Blue Sky Cellar, we have another two-floor building, each one offering a different experience. First, on the bottom level, we have The Grid: Laser Tag Arena, inspired by the iconic computer world of Tron. The lobby is modeled after the headquarters for ENCOM. As guests enter into the digital world, guests will be able to choose what distinct arena they wish to play in: The Solar Sailer or The End of the Line Club. The Solar Sailer is aimed for all ages and is modeled as a vehicle storage center. The visuals are somewhere between Legacy and the original film. Lightcycles, Recognizers, and Solar Sailers fill the space and act as obstacles. The End of Line Club is aimed at those looking for a challenge in the arena. It is centered around the nightclub from Tron Legacy. On busy nights, this laser tag arena even has a live DJ in the center of it playing 80's hits from artists like Madonna to George Michael!

Above The Grid is The Eight Ball, a pool hall offering at least 20 tables for guests to shoot billiards, whether novice or advanced. Much like with the Avalon Ballroom, the Eight Ball is divided, with 10 tables reserved for the under-21 crowd, and 10 reserved for the above-21 crowd, complete with bar. The under-21 tables oftentimes have live billiards lessons, so that all ages can learn to play like a pro.


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Finally, I feel that it really wouldn't be a "fun in the sun" area without featuring a restaurant that runs on fun: Dave & Buster's! Yes, the iconic restaurant chain has set up shop at Disney Springs. A combination of a restaurant and an arcade, Dave & Buster's remains a classic restaurant for all ages. Enjoy pastas, burgers, steaks, seafood, chicken and dessert; followed by a bevy of interactive games and simulators!

And with that, our tour of Paradise Pier is complete! I'll end with a crudely-drawn Paint map detailing where things will be found...


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What do you think, guys? Do you think this could be feasible at Disney Springs? Please let me know what you think! And I must give shout-outs once again to @kmbmw777, @Miru, @NateD1226, @Pi on my Cake, @tcool123 and @AceAstro for inspiring The Grid, and a huge shout-out goes towards @Corey, who devised The Eight Ball and Avalon Ballroom for his own ideas for a fifth district.

The next post should be coming along soon, and in that post, I'd like to go over what I'd like to do to give new life to a long-lost aspect of Walt Disney World...
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
The following is an idea I've always had in my ideas for Walt Disney World. I still think it would be a very valuable addition to the Walt Disney World experience, and thus, I'd like to share it with you...

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Athel Island

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Walt Disney World is a place where you can live a beautiful fantasy or an exciting adventure. The young and the young at heart can play together in an escape from the real world that we all live in. This was showcased more than ever in Walt Disney World's earlier years at Discovery Island, a now abandoned section of the resort's property. Discovery Island opened in 1974 as Treasure Island, and was a sanctuary for tropical wildlife such as birds, snakes and primates. Located in the middle of Bay Lake, between the Contemporary Resort, Wilderness Lodge, and Fort Wilderness, the island occupied a prime location, and was a popular draw for long-stay visitors who wanted more than just to visit the parks. In 1998, following the opening of Animal Kingdom, attendance to the island began to dwindle, and it closed for good in 1999. The structures on the island stood abandoned for many years before Disney started to dismantle them a few years ago, but much of the original island still remains, buried under a thick layer of vegetation and dirt. Well, I plan to turn this abandoned island into an all-new unique experience to the Disney Parks. Athel Island will be an exciting half-day park experience that will allow guests of all ages to have their own adventure!

Backstory and Mythology
A group of travelers led by the legendary explorer Ezkiel Athel get caught in a deadly storm and shipwreck on an island in the middle of an uncharted region of the Pacific Northwest. When they arrive, all they discover is an odd shaped rock shaped like an idol of sorts. After going through the island, there's no other inhabitants on the island, not even deer or any sort of wildlife. Once they have explored, they find that they enjoy the island, with it's rushing creeks and bursting geysers. However, they find that the most beautiful trait of the island is the gorgeous mountain that rises above the treetops.


After figuring out how to survive in the unforgiving, but beautiful wilderness, the villagers learn how to fish for food, which plants are edible, how to build homes and other survival techniques. As the community grows, they learn more and more about the wild and discover new artifacts and items unknown to the outside world. So, they decide to have traders go out into the world to trade and spread the stories of the island, which they have named Athel Island after their heroic leader. But they also believe their prosperity is due to the idol who looks over the island and gives the villagers good karma for every day and every night...

General Theming
The theme of the island is based off of the wilderness of an untouched Pacific Northwest island, featuring giant redwood trees, rocky creeks, and multiple geysers across the island.


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Attractions & Amenities
The park features many adventurous activities for guests to enjoy. Guests can have their own adventure at the following experiences...

The fun, adventure and mystery of Athel Island set in even before you get there, because even the boat ride is a journey within itself. Guests travel to Athel Island on small steam ships, reminiscent of the boats found on the world famous Jungle Cruise, or the existing steam boats ferrying guests between Magic Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge / Fort Wilderness. These steam ships will depart from the Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness.

After boarding their vessels, guests are treated to a 15 minute cruise around Athel Island as they are told of the history of the island. The cruise ends with a short trip through Goff Caverns, a beautiful natural cavern lit by stunning multi-colored crystals, geysers and waterfalls. The boat enters the caves underneath the mountain, where the guests see several scenes before arriving at the dock. Guests will encounter AA bats, see the beautiful caverns and escape an active geyser, which erupts out of the caverns and out of the side of the mountain, adding a layer of kinetics akin to that at Typhoon Lagoon.


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Guests can disembark their boat on Athel Island inside Goff Cavern, emerging out of the caves into the central village, from where they can experience the many attractions on the island.

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Rising up from Bay Lake is a new structure that will become an iconic landmark of Athel Island. Mount Athel rises six stories in the air and is the primary location for more physically demanding activities. The mountain will have a light brown appearance save for patches of grass in various spaces. Redwood trees will be strategically placed so they're smaller as they go up the mountain and bigger near the bottom, giving it a forced perspective look of appearing much taller than it actually is.

Hollowed out within the mountain is a series of man-made caves for safe "cave exploration" on the Cave Exploration Trails. Think of this as a network of caves all tying back into each other, essentially a big maze with three different cave paths all criss-crossing at various points. This is similar to Injun Joe's Cave on Tom Sawyer Island, except on a grander scale, and with elements of Disneyland's Rainbow Caverns thrown in. The cave exploration trails inside Athel mountain will have some small interactive halls with projection effects, AA bears, diamonds and more. One of the games the guests can play is similar to the indoor queue game from the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Magic Bands can be tapped to the games and interactive elements for a personalized touch (like the guest's name appearing in the waterfalls).


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Going up the mountain will be various Wilderness Hiking Trails, where you can hike all the way to the top of the gently sloping mountain. There will be three trails, one of which is the most extreme and uphill. One trail is the lightest and fastest way to get to the peak, and the other is essentially the "Scenic Route", winding its way around the mountain in such a way to afford great views of the surrounding areas.

Rock Climbing Walls will also be naturally worked into the sides of the mountain, again at various levels ranging from a 20 foot Kid's Climb to the 70 foot expert course to get to the very top.

Brave guests will also be able to partake in one of the most popular outdoor activities in modern day tourism...the Zipline! Once again, there will be three different ziplines at various points along the mountain. One right at the peak will give guests a real rush as they careen down at a steep angle, by far the most thrilling offering of the entire park.

Slightly below the peak guests can ride a Scenic Zipline that is much longer than the "thrill" version but not nearly as steep of an incline, affording guests a lot of good views as they zip back down to the bottom. Finally about 40 feet up will be a beginners zipline where you can go back down the mountain at a relaxing pace, minus any steep incline. Perfect for kids who are unsure rather or not they're ready for the bigger courses.

Also starting on the side of the mountain is the Treetop Adventure. Nestled among the trees is a small building in the style of Wilderness Lodge, where guests can put on their safety harnesses. From here, another zipline takes guests down the mountain and into the redwood forest below, where they will begin their high-ropes adventure. Several unique challenges face the guests on this aerial course, passing over most of the island before returning guests the the base of Mount Athel. You must be at least 48" tall to take on this adventure.

Throughout the park, there are countless weather-resistant animal audio-animatronics. These AAs will be similar to the ones in the extinct Journey into Nature's Wonderland attraction at Disneyland.

Guests can also go to the Fishing Pond, or Salmon Creek Fishing Point. Here you can rent fishing poles and catch a variety of different kinds of fish. However, you must throw back all of the fish to keep the ecosystem of the park intact.

For the kids, the Geyser Splash Pads will be a great place to cool off in the hot Florida sun. Tying part of the backstory into this attraction, everyone from the entire family can enjoy the geysers just like the villagers on the expedition did.

We also have the Wilderness Explorer Adventures locations. At these locations, a cast member will present the guest with a question, task or challenge which, when completed, will earn the guest a Wilderness Explorer Badge (sticker). This does not replace the current setup at Animal Kingdom, but is instead complimentary. Certain badges can only be found at Animal Kingdom, while certain others can only be found at Wilderness Retreat, so to collect a full set, guests must visit both parks. Although the Up characters are here, ties to the movie will be kept loose in order to keep a more consistent theme throughout the island.


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Finally, we have Russell's Balloon Tour, a suspended dark ride where the riders sit in a basket underneath a faux hot air balloon, travelling over most of the island, and even out over the water. This peaceful attraction allows a view of the island for those who aren't keen on riding down the ziplines or running through the trails. The balloons gently rock and bob up and down to enhance the sensation of flight. The balloons travel through the thick forest, winding over the many paths and buildings, before they travel out over the open water of Bay Lake. Turning and returning to shore, the balloons enter a rocky canyon filled with mist, much like the one in Up, catching a glimpse of the Spirit of Adventure docked in Muntz's cave (using forced perspective to make it appear larger than it actually is), and then passing Kevin. As Kevin flees into the forest, the balloons follow, returning to the station near the base of the mountain.

The traditional Carl, Russell, and Dug meet n' greet characters will be out and about near the docks here, but with a couple special surprises. Dug's voice collar will work, and he'll be able to interact with the guests via an unseen cast member feeding lines based on the activity of the people around the dog. Expect many "Squirrel!" and "oh please, will you be my prisoner!" jokes. Joining the trio will be the highly-popular Kevin, making her second home here -- the first one being in Animal Kingdom, of course.

Restaurant
Along the creek, a quick-service restaurant will be featured that serves a variety of seafood, meats and greens. A wooden terrace overlooks Bay Lake, as the location occupies the former Discovery Island dock area. This location is only open for lunch. A select few menu items are showcased below:

Fish Tacos:

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Fish and Chips:
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Garden Salad:


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Gourmet Bacon Cheeseburger:


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Easter Eggs
No Disney experience is without it's Easter Eggs! Throughout the island are subtle references to the island's past and different Disney references only fans would understand! These include tie-ins with Wilderness Lodge's backstory, references to Discovery Island's real past, references to Rainbow Caverns and the Mine Train Into Nature's Wonderland at Disneyland, and references to various imagineers.

MyMagic + Implantation
MyMagic+ as many will know is a way Disney has made planning a trip less stressful. MyMagic+ comes with several features--namely, Disney's FastPass+ System, the Magic Bands, and My Disney Experience. However for Athel Island only two out of three of these great features will be used. Those two being the Magic Bands and My Disney Experience.

On My Disney Experience guests will be able to check the time for the next ferry to Athel Island. They can also use this same feature to find out when the next ferry is leaving from Athel Island. If wanted guests can take a survey made just for Athel Island. Using this survey, My Disney Experience can help guests find what's best to their liking on Athel Island. On my Disney Experience guests will also find out which activities are closed for the day rather it be by weather or anything that may occur. Finally guests will of course be able to see what time Athel Island opens and closes along with various activities located on the island.

The Magic Bands will of course still be used to enter the park. If of course the guests has one. With scanners that can track Magic Bands within the park guests can be welcomed to the park by name by the cast members. The cast members can even suggest activities based on their Athel Island Survey results on My Disney Experience.

In sum, Athel Island will be a place where every guest of the Walt Disney World Resort can come and have the adventure of a lifetime!


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What do you think, everyone? By the way, shout-outs are in order for @DisneyPrincess1993,@RMichael21, @tcool, @orlando678-, @TheOriginalTiki, @MCParradox and @JokersWild; because I got the idea from them, an idea which they created for The Creator Games back in 2015.

You know, there are so many places to see in Walt Disney World, and so many things to do, and the complex is so big! Of course, Disney offers tons of ways to get around, and I'd like to share a few of those ideas in the next post. Until then, please post whatever feedback you may have! It's all very much appreciated!
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
"Traveling is the best way to go" at Walt Disney World, so let's take a look at how I'd improve that area!

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Transportation at Walt Disney World

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Walt Disney World is quite a big place -- twice the size of Manhattan, to say the least! Needless to say, with such a big place, you can bet there are plenty of ways to get around. Whether it be the classic monorail, boat or bus, the old-fashioned power of your own two feet, or the new Walt Disney World Skyliner or even the Minnie Vans service, there are plenty of ways to get around the "Vacation Kingdom." In this post, I'll detail what I would do to spruce up the transportation experience here at the resort.

Let's begin with the all-time classic mode of transport...


Walt Disney World Monorail

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"Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas."


The Walt Disney World Monorail is as old as the resort itself, taking guests on a relaxing journey through the original stretch of the "Vacation Kingdom". It provides a simple, sophisticated method for transportation throughout the resort. This elevated highway, once thought to be that of science-fiction, can accommodate all guests. Beginning from the quaint Disney Square, you can take three loops: the Express loop, which takes you directly to the gates of the Magic Kingdom; the Resort loop, which -- in addition to the Magic Kingdom -- services the Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian and Contemporary Resorts; and the Port Disney/EPCOT loop, which -- as the name implies -- services EPCOT and the newest member of the WDW family, Port Disney. However, it's not always perfect: People have often complained that the current fleet of Mk VI monorails is deteriorating, resorting to shorter and shorter operating hours due to their old age and unreliability. These issues will be solved with an all new fleet of Mk VIII monorails.

These new monorails will still retain the iconic style of its predecessors (the famed white body with the identifying-color stripe running across it). There will be 14 of these monorails, and every single color in the current fleet will be used: Red, Coral, Orange, Peach, Gold, Yellow, Lime, Green, Teal, Blue, Silver and Black. Now, as you can see I only listed 12 colors. What of the other two? In honor of the new fleet, I'd like to bring back two retired members back into service: Monorail Purple...


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...and Monorail Pink.

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Both Pink and Purple were retired from service due to the infamous crash of 2009. But I say, we should welcome these two back to the fleet, bringing the total up to 14 monorails. Trust me, we're gonna need 'em come peak season.

The new monorails will be six cars long, with a wrap around sunroof on each car, connecting the two side windows with a smooth, circular curve of glass. The first and last cars will have the pilot’s cabins, along with a passenger compartment; the second and fifth cars will be open and spacious to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers more easily, with benches on each end of the cabin, and on the side walls. Finally, the two middle cars will adopt a similar style to the current monorails, split into two compartments, each containing two facing benches and enough room for more passengers to stand.


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Now, let's talk about something I mentioned in the Disney Square post, but didn't get a chance to elaborate on...

WEDWay PeopleMover

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An expanded version of the PeopleMover that currently cruises through Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom, the WEDWay PeopleMover serves as an alternative to the Walt Disney World Monorail, servicing some of the areas the monorail can't reach. There are two main lines -- one servicing the east side of the resort, and one servicing the west side. Each line will be comprised of enclosed tunnels full of virtual windows that see out into magical landscapes, and sometimes even real windows into magical landscapes.

The West Side Line begins from Disney Square, then travels to Disney's Hollywoodland -- with ramps leading towards the BoardWalk and Swan parking lots -- and then, it travels on to the Art of Animation Resort; the Animal Kingdom Lodge; Disney's Animal Kingdom; Blizzard Beach; the Coronado Springs Resort and then back to Disney Square. The East Side Line services the Port Orleans Resorts; the Saratoga Springs Resort; Disney Springs; Typhoon Lagoon and the Old Key West Resort.


Boats

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The boats will stay roughly the same. The Sassagoula Boats that run between Port Orleans Riverside and Disney Springs, as well as the ferries and small boats that run between Disney Square and the Magic Kingdom, will receive only a paint touch up, and a basic refurb while the boats that run between EPCOT and Disney's Hollywoodland, and the bigger boats that run between Disney Square and the Magic Kingdom, will be completely repainted to drop their dated pastel color scheme and instead will feature deeper colors. The interiors will also be updated to fit more guests safely and comfortably.

Motor Coaches

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The motor coaches will go through quite a few changes, dropping their early-'90s look, instead featuring a color scheme similar to the color scheme rolled out on a few coaches, as pictured above. The iconic bus spiel that plays as guests enter each park will also be updated, as will spiels detailing some of the major E-tickets and experiences at the parks. Half of the updated fleet will also be articulated, allowing twice the amount of guests to board.

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Not much for transport, but I do think these changes could help improve the act of traveling around WDW immensely. I don't know what the next post will be about. I may go back and update a few things in the parks; or I may try something different. Now that we've covered most everything at WDW, and I have no clue what to do about BoardWalk or ESPN Wide World of Sports, I may slow the posts down a bit, usually posting if there's something I need to change.

I will admit -- I want to share a revival of the Walt Disney World Tour 2001 resort TV loop, and what I would do to bring that back for a new audience. I have strong nostalgic memories for it, so I want to honor it in some way. If anything, I'll share it at the end of the year, given that this whole project has been going on since May. Of course, I also plan to go into detail of what I would do to spruce up the parks for Halloween and Christmas. Hey, maybe my next post will discuss Valentine's Day, 'cause I've got quite a few ideas for that holiday up my sleeve!

So until the next leg of our journey, please leave any comments you may have and I'll see you guys in the next post!
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Okay guys, you know how I said that Valentine's Day celebrations at WDW would be touched upon next? Well, the plans have changed. Ever since the Parks Panel at D23 this past weekend, I've decided that I want to go back and update my plans for EPCOT. Besides, I feel that some of these new announcements would kind of cancel out some of my ideas, anyway.

BTW, don't expect much in the way of new developments. Despite a few changes, this will mostly be the same as before, but I'll still offer a full picture of what each area will hold. With that in mind, let's begin...

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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

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Walt Disney knew he would not see the completion of his "Florida Project" and that the job would be left to his brother Roy. Still, Walt would sit in his hospital bed at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, across from his beloved Studio, and there, despite his condition, would plot and map the design of his new Florida property among the ceiling tiles of his hospital room. Although this project would contain an East Coast Disneyland in the Magic Kingdom, Walt's biggest priority was for a little something he called "EPCOT."

EPCOT was to be the heart of "The Florida Project." When Walt Disney World opened in 1971, the actual geographic center of the whole forty-three-square-mile destination was where the EPCOT Center park was placed. It would be known as the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. It was to be an ever-changing laboratory where the greatest minds could come together and solve the problems of the world as well as a community of nations that would serve as a showcase of harmony and goodwill. While Walt's visualized "Progress City" was never built, a spectacular scale model was, and still is, presented to passengers aboard the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover at the Magic Kingdom. As Walt envisioned it, people would actually live and work in Epcot - an idea that came true thirty years later at Celebration, a community of homes, shops and workplaces built on a portion of the Walt Disney World property.

In the late 1970s, then Disney CEO Card Walker wanted to revisit the EPCOT idea. Still, the Disney Board was wary and agreed that Walt's vision for EPCOT would not work in its initial design. Thus, a compromise was reached: The concept for EPCOT would be turned into a theme park called "EPCOT Center", so named because they believed that if the park was a success, they could potentially build Walt's city of the future around it -- thus, being the "Center" of EPCOT.

EPCOT Center opened to the public eleven years after the Magic Kingdom opened -- on October 1st, 1982. Essentially, EPCOT -- in both its past and present forms -- is a celebration of what it means to be a member of the human race. Four distinct neighborhoods highlight a different aspect of the human experience: World Celebration focuses on the joys of human life, with an optimistic eye towards the future; World Discovery allows us to explore the vast unknown for ourselves; World Nature offers an insightful look at the natural beauty of our planet; and World Showcase celebrates our world's diverse culture, represented by a colorful league of nations around the scenic shores of a central lagoon. Through this park, we are able to see humanity at its best, and we are given new hope for the future.


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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, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Upon entering the park, you'll find yourself in a natural oasis. As in the old days, the Entrance Plaza is full of beautiful trees and gardens. As for the former Leave a Legacy monoliths, the pictures have been moved outside the turnstiles so that all those who have "left a legacy" can still have a place here in this park. The large, geometrical sphere of Spaceship Earth, the symbol of all EPCOT, rises high over the numerous trees. 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 the EPCOT logo as well. To the left of the Spaceship Earth plaza is the Wheelchair and Stroller Rental shop. 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. 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.



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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 Alexandria 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. Set to a powerful score by Edo Guidotti 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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After your journey, get a taste of new technologies at Project: Tomorrow, a showcase introducing the latest in high-tech medicine, transportation, energy efficiency and more. Step inside the interactive area intended for one and all—from kids short and small to adults big and tall—where you’re invited to build, create, compete and play with a series of exhibits that bring innovative ideas and brand new technologies to life. There are several exciting ways you can play, with games and activities that include:
  • Body Builder – Assemble a digital human body during this 3-D interactive game that simulates the Siemens technology developed to perform remote surgeries.
  • Super Driver – Hit the road with a driving simulation video game that shows off accident avoidance systems being built for cars.
  • Innervision – Experience the future and take a peek at groundbreaking medical diagnostics in the home.
  • Power City – Discover how to responsibly go about managing power and energy within a growing city.
In the middle of this exhibit is a large Earth globe, constantly spinning and featuring the faces of guests who come in here. See, to get this to happen, there's a booth set up nearby the globe. It takes guests' pictures, then asks them to point out their home location on the globe, and it suddenly appears!

EDIT: I am sure that this post-show will be removed once work begins on the "5th version" of the ride, so this will just serve as a placeholder until we get more information on what the new version will entail.

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So, that's where we'll stop for now. I fully intend to share my thoughts for an updated Spaceship Earth at the conclusion of these updated posts, so be on the lookout for that! In the next post, we'll explore the first of the three new neighborhoods: World Celebration. Until then, please leave any feedback you may have!

Also, I must say that most of the new introduction was taken from @MANEATINGWREATH's introduction to his "WestCOT Center" concept, so all credit goes to him on that count!
 
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DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
World Celebration

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Heading beyond Spaceship Earth, we enter the first distinct area of EPCOT: World Celebration. World Celebration is devoted to the wonders of our world, and an everlasting tribute to the powers that helped make this world what it is. Any adventure at EPCOT begins here at World Celebration, and its warm and inviting atmosphere is the perfect way to be led further into the wonders of EPCOT. World Celebration is surrounded by ponds and canals, like the ones that surrounded the CommuniCore Plaza back in the early days of the park. 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 plaza. New paths lead directly from Spaceship Earth both east and west, allowing easy navigation and traffic flow to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and The Living Seas. In addition, the World Celebration plaza would also make use of real-life urban technologies, like capturing and using rainwater for irrigating the landscape. The lighting will also be something of note, as when the sun goes down, the flora of World Celebration will transform into a neon spectacle that will be some serious competition for the nighttime effects of Pandora: The World of Avatar. Dark lights and other neon stimuli will light up around World Celebration, creating a colorful array of designs they truly bring it to life. Even the monorail track that goes around the front half of EPCOT will be affected by these lights, and glow similar to this image at the Disneyland Hotel pool.

Exiting from Spaceship Earth, the first thing you'll come across in World Celebration is Dreamers' Point, which offers sweeping views of World Showcase just across the way. Dreamers' Point is anchored by a new statue celebrating the legacy of
the original dreamer, Walt Disney, plus beautiful natural environments and global design elements filled with Disney magic and surprises, including a Wishing Tree in an enchanted forest and the Storyteller's Fountain, celebrating the power and music of iconic Disney storytelling. World Celebration is also the place to go if you want to meet up with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto.

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Further down the way -- connected to Spaceship Earth via a "light trail" -- is the EPCOT Festival Center, the premier place for specialty events for EPCOT's four signature festivals -- the Festival of the Arts, the Flower and Garden Festival, the Food and Wine Festival and the Festival of the Holidays. It will provide a stunning elevated view of the entire park and an ideal spot to witness the park's nighttime spectacular, HarmonioUS. This beautiful three-level structure will have one of the most remarkable architectural designs at any Disney park, featuring a plaza level, a middle expo level, and a park that sits in the sky on the top level.

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With the arrival of World Celebration comes the removal of Innoventions. Only one quadrant of the Innoventions complex remains -- specifically, the northeastern quadrant. Formerly the home of Electric Umbrella, this quadrant plays host to a re-located Centorium. The Centorium is the largest shop in EPCOT, so large that it takes up two floors. The first floor of the Centorium 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. The second floor of the Centorium can be accessed by a glassed-in elevator. From here, you can look down at the first floor. Items include various electronic gadgets, such as watches, model vehicles, and iPod/iPhone/iPad accessories. The Centorium building also plays host to the park's Guest Relations center.

Now, I'm sure you're wondering, why would I move Centorium? Well, I figured that one of my concepts for a new restaurant would serve as the new "main child-friendly restaurant", hence why I feel it's not too much of a hassle to remove Electric Umbrella. Plus, I wanted to make sure I had enough room for this next addition. With the arrival of this new transformation for EPCOT, I want to be able to restore what is widely considered to be the park's mission statement...




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New Horizons is the rock in which EPCOT casts its very foundation. Within its walls, New Horizons brings the entirety of World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature 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 New Horizons provided us with an inspiring and exciting look at how life may change for humanity in the years to come.

By the way, if you're wondering how Horizons would fit, I crafted this in Paint, showcasing that if Horizons were to overtake Mouse Gear, it would still be able to fit within the park without disrupting the monorail line. Of course, the landscape would have to be altered and the lagoons be pushed back in order to make way for such a big building, but it's certainly not impossible.


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However, given that the old Horizons is very much outdated -- and that quite a few of the elements it depicted have indeed come to fruition -- this new version of Horizons would depict a new vision of the future, whilst still remaining faithful to the original. In fact, I would utilize @Harryg11's excellent outline for a new Horizons.

Setting off from a redesigned FuturePort, the wheels of time turn ever faster in this vision for the future with its roots in the past. This inspirational, 20-minute, Omnimover-style attraction is built as both a tribute to the original classic, and an inspiring look at new technologies. The experience is narrated by the old narrators' granddaughter from Mesa Verde and her "beachboy" husband. It seems only fitting to have this new version of Horizons narrated by the descendants of the old narrators. This new journey begins with a truncated "Looking Back at Tomorrow" sequence, featuring the Jules Verne, Robidas Paris and the 30's perception of the 80's. Then, we jump ahead to the future as seen through the eyes of the 80's -- the original Horizons. 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 "beachboy's" solo sub repair room. Finally for Brava Centauri, the anti gravity room with the dog and the child's missing shoe.

From there, 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 Nova Cite, the 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, Space Centauri depicts the harvesting many resources in the cosmos, plus the arrival of fusion power -- the power of the stars. Heading inside a space station, we see our guides 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 for their nephew's birthday party. 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...

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Often considered to be this park's masterpiece, New Horizons is the promise of a bigger and better future with an ongoing message of global unification and peace. In this future, and as it should stand 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 original ride's narrator, "If we can dream it, we really can do it. And that's the most exciting part."

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Going forward from the center of World Celebration, we find two extensions. First, heading over towards Test Track in World Discovery, we have a building once referred to as Odyssey. Now, the building has turned into a newly-revitalized 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 fact, there's so much to see, that the Odyssey building has been expanded with the addition of a second floor.

The all-indoor showcase of Innoventions is divided into one unique exhibit after another, all in focus on the wonder and imagination we might use to better our lives in the coming century. The House of the Future and Apple Exhibition, the latter hosted by the multinational Apple Inc., preview the up and coming best in personal living, consumer electronics, computer software, and online communication. The Tesla Showroom specializes in electric car displays and, through Tesla, Inc.'s Solar City subsidiary, solar panel manufacturing and use.

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"If We Can Dream It" Labs are an interactive design laboratory which enables guests to create new technology that will be useful into the 21st century and beyond. Acting as a continuation to the Spaceship Earth finale, these laboratories will set guests up at specific design stations for a variety of technology of the 21st century. If you're interested in designing technology for outer space, you venture to the space port and with assist from design guides, follow the "story" on each design studio to help build technology for the future. For instance, the space port story - a group of explorers are on the Moon and their communications are lost. You are given three options to see how you can restore the communication and you work together with friends and family to try and solve the mystery and get the communication back by creating new solutions to the problems. It's an interactive exhibit that actually requires critical thinking skills and deductive reasoning, making it a unique location in EPCOT and something that embodies the edutainment values of the original theme park.

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Tucked away inside a special corner of Innoventions is an old friend from the early days of CommuniCore, SMRT-1. SMRT-1 is a purple and chrome robot set on a rotating pedestal surrounded by telephones, and he invites guests to play along in trivia and guessing games. When your turn comes up, SMRT-1 asks you (in its synthesized voice) to speak your answer loud and clear through the phone. It also spends some time ad-libbing and singing between games: "If I keep this up I might graduate from Solid State."

Going upstairs to the new second floor of Innoventions, the first exhibit we'll come across is perhaps, the kookiest of all the exhibits found here:
Von Drake's House of Genius. What technological expo wouldn't be complete without an appearance from Disney's foremost genius on just about anything? Professor Ludwig Von Drake is, as described by Walt, "an eminent psychologist, renowned color expert, etymologist" and "the most sought after lecturer in the world." This so-called "House of Genius" is an unexpected delight - a look at the future, a future that appeals more to the cartoon denizens of Disney. A quick tour through the Hall of Invention shows a number of utterly useless inventions and ideas - back-scratching robots, googly-eyed trash cans that chow down on garbage, dancing wind-up toys the size of automobiles, you name it, it's there. Von Drake Labs on the other hand is an interactive playground for scientists of all ages to explore. Various contraptions and whirligigs invite hands-on discovery and nonsense, often at the expense of an unwilling Donald caught as a stubborn participant in the wrong place at the right time.

The lighthearted House of Genius ends in Von Drake's "Sing-Along Stadium," a small viewing chamber for those fabulous Sing-Along Songs, which the Professor co-hosted alongside his associates, Professor Owl and Jiminy Cricket. Throughout the day, all the episodes these three enigmatic figures hosted play on a loop, all of them remastered from their original VHS distribution. They are, in order of release date, Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, Heigh-Ho, The Bare Necessities, You Can Fly, Fun With Music, Under the Sea, I Love to Laugh, Be Our Guest, Friend Like Me, Circle of Life and Colors of the Wind. Of course, during the Festival of the Holidays, the Jiminy-hosted Very Merry Christmas Songs joins the rotation as well. Of course, if you wish to meet the Professor in person, he and Donald have their own meet-and-greet here!

Moving on, we come upon three more exhibits. First is City Builders. This exhibit allows its guests to sit at design stations and essentially build a city from the ground up. Starting in the current year and working your way up 100 years, you'll be able to create your own city using futuristic designs and your own customized layouts. Nearby, we find that CyberSpace Mountain, a staple of the Blue Sky Cellar at Disney Springs' Paradise Pier, has found a second home here at Innoventions. Its hands-on approach to the wild world of coaster-building would be a natural fit for this interactive play-place! Finally, by combining state-of-the-art virtual-reality technology, physical sets and multi-sensory effects, including touch and smell, The VOID: Step Beyond Reality invites Innoventions visitors to become active participants in uniquely themed environments. Surrounded by 3D imagery and sound in an immersive story by ILMxLAB and The Void, brave heroes walk around freely without a tether as they explore an exciting new world. Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire, Ralph Breaks VR!, and Black Panther: Wakanda Escape are among the three featured adventures. Interact with popular characters and each other in a virtual environment designed to capture the groundbreaking technology - and the magic of illusion.


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Innoventions perfectly compliments Flamingo Cove, a natural arboretum tying in with the lush greenery 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 will once again find a home here at EPCOT. Leading off past the arboretum, the path splinters off in two directions. The left path leads to World Showcase, while the right path connects back to World Celebration.

As for the other extension of World Celebration, since this area of EPCOT is devoted to the promise of the future, we're going to need to showcase how we can discover new ways to improve our future. Fortunately, we have the perfect way to showcase that. Permit me to present one of the most visually stunning pavilions in all of EPCOT: the Journey Into Imagination pavilion!




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The Journey Into Imagination pavilion is marked by two large glass pyramids that can turn into rainbow prisms (thanks to new projected lights). Unique fountains provide fun, enticing kinetic energy. At night, LED lights and fiber optics will brilliantly illuminate the area. Walking up towards the pavilion, you'll find that it looks more fanciful than ever. Outside, the building looks almost unchanged, aside from the new color scheme that reintroduces the light purples and blues that adorned the pavilion back in the day. And, thanks to a recent cleaning, the two glass pyramids atop the pavilion shine so bright that even on a cloudy day it becomes necessary to wear sunglasses to observe the structure. As guests enter the pavilion, they will first see that the building has been gutted, and the original lobby has been restored to its former glory, as in the days of the original Journey. The Walt Peregoy murals on both the ceiling and the walls have been lovingly recreated with updated color schemes and iridescent painting effects. A central spiral staircase leads upstairs to ImageWorks. Wrapping around this staircase is a circular queue that leads towards a strange purple-colored vehicle, our chariot that will take us through the adventure this pavilion is named after: Journey Into Imagination!

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That's right -- this iconic EPCOT Center attraction has returned to delight a new generation. On-board this adventure, guests meet Dreamfinder and his newest creation: a little purple dragon named Figment. After visiting 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." The only change I'd make to the ride would be to utilize modern technology to improve the turntable's reliability, and to prevent the turntable from drilling itself into the floor.

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Upon exiting the ride, you can go up inside one of the pyramids and explore the ImageWorks, where you can let your imagination run wild through several different exhibits. Much like with the ride downstairs, the ImageWorks has been restored to its former glory. Though some exhibits have been given 21st-century updates, some of the experiences remain the same as they used to. 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.

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1. Figment's Coloring Book: Use projected light to add color to giant pictures of Dreamfinder and Figment.
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.
3. The Mirage Room: The use of mirrors makes it seem like you can grab onto a three dimensional image of Figment, but when you try to, you can't because it's a mirage.
4. Stepping Tones: Hexagonal colored spots on the floor play sounds when stepped upon.
5. Optical Illusion: 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.
6. Dreamfinder's School of Drama: Step onto the stage and follow Dreamfinder's instructions. Through the use of Chroma-Key video technology, a background is added into the picture and other guests can see the finished product. You can act out one of three unique tales: a western called Daring Deputies and the Return of Sagebrush Sam, a sci-fi epic called Acrobatic Astronauts in Galactic Getaway and even a fairytale called Enchanted Travelers: Wily Wizard and the Cranky King.
7. Making Faces: Your picture is taken and then you get to alter your face with different hairstyles, noses, ears, and accessories.
8. Magic Palette: Paint pictures of Dreamfinder, Figment, or the Journey Into Imagination pavilion using a touch screen and computer controls.
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. Electric 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.

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


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Just outside of the attraction is the pavilion's beautiful outdoor courtyard, known as the Magic Garden. Guests are greeted by an array of colorful, "jumping" fountains. The outside of the pavilion even features a recreation of the glass pyramids, as fountain jets shoot upwards towards it, almost creating a rising waterfall. A Figment topiary spins around and around. This garden is a nice place to meet up with Dreamfinder and Figment themselves.

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Located within this garden is the Sparks of Inspiration shop,selling Figment and Dreamfinder merchandise, creative supplies such as pencils and sketchbooks, and novelty science items such as bubble mixture or laser pens. Plus, tying right in with the "imagination" aspect of the pavilion, this is the place where imaginative folk can design our own toys, purchase Legos and erector sets, customize our phone cases, and make their own plush, a la Build-a-Bear Workshop. This will be in the same place as the original Kodak Camera & Film shop was years ago.



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Continuing further down into the pavilion, you'll come across the Magic Eye Theater, home to an all-new 4D attraction. In a matter most similar to the extinct Cranium Command at Wonders of Life, Inside Out: Magical Mind is a humorous and often thought-provoking presentation on the importance of a child's imagination. The old Magic Eye Theater has been retrofitted to resemble the Headquarters of the human mind, in this case, the mind of Riley, a twelve-year-old girl living in San Francisco. The 4D film portrays the imagination in a new light; one that captures the design and thought process behind peculiar ideas and nonsensical creations. We join Joy, Fear, Sadness, Anger and Disgust as they aide Riley in the creation of an illustrated book report. We explore colorful imagery and visualized thoughts from reading the book, and things grow even wilder as Riley puts crayon to paper; a literal whirlwind of color and light.

The show exits out into Bing Bong's Sweet Stuff, a delightful, whimsical merchandise and confectionery location is found in a specially-made circular store just on the outskirts of the Jumping Fountains. Bing Bong's Sweet Stuff offers a scrumptious selection of candies, saltwater taffy, rainbow cotton candy, caramel apples, as well as fun Inside Out and Figment souvenirs, apparel and accessories. An Audio-Animatronics Jangles the Clown serves up "Memory Refreshers," frozen drinks available in all colors and flavors. Rainbow Unicorn oversees all the clothing and jewelry, and Bing Bong himself, joyfully crying candy tears, sits front and center in his makeshift rocketship.

In addition to all this, the five emotions -- Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust -- can be found for meet-n-greets at the Magic Garden.


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Now, in modern-day EPCOT, I noticed there's a big patch of land right nearby the Imagination pavilion that just sits there. I feel like we can do something important with such a great big space, and as such, I'd like to welcome you to Food for Thought, a new table-service restaurant with a twist.

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This restaurant is guaranteed to mesmerize guests, and makes full use of the MyMagic+ system. As guests enter the dining room, they place an order on a digital touch screen kiosk, and then scan their MagicBand or park ticket. An attendant will seat the guests, and they will scan their MagicBand or park ticket again at their seat. This will allow their order to be delivered straight to them, but not in a conventional manner. When the order is ready, it is placed on an elevator and sent up to the center peak of the restaurant. From here, the order slides down a coaster-type track, stopping right in front of the guest who ordered it. This adds a great amount of kinetics to the restaurant which, when combined with the spectacular views of the nearby gardens, are sure to make this a guest favorite. The concept of the "rollercoaster restaurant" is one that I have borrowed from Food Loop at Europa Park in Germany, which is, to my knowledge, the only application of this system in the world.

But what will the place serve, you may ask? Well, taking full advantage of being located in an imagination-centric pavilion, this restaurant practically runs on "create-your-own." Inspired by the "create-your-own-pasta" bars at Port Orleans Riverside and Art of Animation, this restaurant allows guests to create their own breakfast platters, yogurt parfaits, salads, pasta, pizza, burgers, sandwiches, ice-cream sundaes and more, thus allowing for a truly unique and imaginative experience!


Menu
Create-Your-Own Breakfast Platter - $7.99
(4 Items Per Platter)
- Eggs, made how you like them (Scrambled, sunny-side up, over easy, over hard, or over medium) or Omelette
- Toast (1 or 2 slices)
- Bacon (American or Canadian)
- Sausage
- Biscuit or English Muffin
- Pancakes (2, 3, or 4 pancakes, with butter, syrup and 1 optional mix-in: blueberries or chocolate chips or 1 optional topping: strawberry topping, bananas or whipped topping)
- Waffles (2 or 3, with butter and syrup)
- French Toast (2 or 3 slices, with butter and syrup and optional fruit garnish and whipped topping)
- Potatoes (Home Fries or Hash Browns)
- Oatmeal
- Yogurt
- Fresh Fruit Bowl
- Kellogg's Cereal

Create-Your-Own Yogurt Parfait - $5.99
Start With...
Greek Yogurt
Vanilla Yogurt

Pick Your Fresh Fruit (1 or 2)
Raspberries
Strawberries
Blueberries

Pick Your Toppings (3)
Walnuts
Raisins
Granola
Bananas
Cranberries
Pecans
Kiwis

Create-Your-Own Salad - $8.99
- Romaine Crisp Mix
- Baby Spinach
- Spring Lettuce Blend
- Purple Onion
- Red Bell Peppers
- Sweet Grape Tomatoes
- Cucumber Slices
- Carrot Shreds
- Green Peas
- Sliced Cremini Mushrooms
- Diced Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Shredded Cheese Mix
- Broccoli Florets
- Preserved Beets
- Garbanzo Beans
- Cauliflower Florets
- Banana Peppers
- Artichoke Hearts
- Olive Mix
- Diced Ham
- Scratch-Made Hummus
- Homemade Corn Salsa
- Cottage Cheese
- Fresh Seasonal Fruit
- Pineapple
·- Feta Cheese

A La Carte Salad Options (all $8.99)
- Homemade Potato Salad
- Homemade Spring Pasta Salad
- Homemade Macaroni Salad
- Fresh Basil & Tomato Penne Salad
· Homemade Broccoli Crunch Salad
- Homemade Cole Slaw
- Homemade Three Bean Salad
- Fresh Apple Waldorf
- Fresh Fruit Salad

Create-Your-Own Pasta - $10.99
Pick Your Noodle
Spaghetti
Penne
Linguini
Rotini (Regular or Tricolor)

Pick Your Sauce
Marinara
Alfredo
Pesto

Pick Your Meat
Meatballs
Grilled Chicken
Shrimp
Prosciutto
Bacon
No Meat

Pick Your Veggies
Artichoke Hearts
Roasted Red Peppers
Kalamata Olives
Green Peas
Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Spinach
Onions
Broccoli
Shredded Carrot

All pasta dishes come with free breadstick and dusting of Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Additional breadsticks cost $1.30.

Create-Your-Own Pizza - $8.99
All pizzas begin with basic crust and tomato sauce.

Pick Your Cheeses
Mozzarella (shredded or blocked)
Parmesan
Romano
Ricotta
Goat Cheese
Vegan Cheese

Pick Your Meat
Pepperoni
Meatballs
Sausage
Bacon
Grilled Chicken
Smoked Ham

Pick Your Veggies
Green Peppers
Red Peppers
Onions
Cherry Tomatoes
Basil
Mushrooms
Spinach
Olives
Pineapple
Jalapenos

Create-Your-Own Burger - $10.99
Pick Your Burger
100% Angus Beef
Chicken
Grilled Chicken
Tofu Burger
Veggie Burger

Pick Your Toppings
Ketchup
Mustard
Mayonnaise
Cheese
Bacon
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Pickles
Onions

A La Carte Sides (Optional)
French Fries - $1.30
Onion Rings - $1.30
Baked Beans - $1.30

Create-Your-Own Sandwich - $9.99
Pick Your Bread
Italian
Flatbread
Whole Wheat
Gluten-Free

Pick Your Meat
Sliced Ham
Salami
Pastrami
Prosciutto
No Meat

Pick Your Cheese
American
Cheddar
Provolone
Pepper Jack
Swiss

Pick Your Veggies
Green Peppers
Red Peppers
Onions
Tomatoes
Pickles
Lettuce
Cucumbers
Spinach
Olives
Jalapenos
Avocado
Carrots

Pick Your Sauce
Ranch Dressing
Italian Dressing
Guacamole
Mayonnaise
Ketchup
Mustard
Vinagrette
Honey Mustard
Sriracha

A La Carte Sides
French Fries - $1.30
Onion Rings - $1.30
Rice - $1.30
Vegetable Dippers - $1.30
Baked Beans - $1.30
Mashed Potatoes (with or without gravy) - $1.30
Macaroni and Cheese - $1.30
Corn Muffin - $1.30

Create-Your-Own Ice Cream Sundae - $7.99
Pick Your Base
Apple Cobbler
Chocolate Cake
Seasonal Pie: Grape (winter), Berry (spring/summer), Pumpkin (fall), Peppermint Eggnog (Christmas)
Warm Fudge Brownie
2 Fresh Buttermilk Waffles

Pick Your Flavors (3 Scoops of Ice Cream Per Sundae)
Vanilla
Chocolate
Strawberry
Mint Chocolate Chip
Coffee
Cookies & Cream
Rocky Road
Cake Batter
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Butter Pecan

Pick Your Sauce
Hot Fudge
Caramel
Butterscotch
Strawberry
Marshmallow

Pick Your Unlimited Toppings
Sprinkles
Chocolate Chips
Cherries
Bananas
Shredded Coconut
Chocolate-Covered Peanuts
Marshmallows
Seasonal Fruits
Crushed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Crushed Oreos
M&M's
Sliced Almonds
Assorted Crushed Candy Bars
Whipped Cream

Drinks
Fountain Drinks ~ $8.00
Water ~ $5.00
Juice ~ $5.00
Milk ~ $5.00
Coffee ~ $12.00

With all these elements in store to return, the Journey Into Imagination pavilion is sure to return to its' former glory, instilling its way back into our hearts, with Dreamfinder and Figment at the helm.

~ ~ ~

What do you think, guys? I know not much has changed here, but I tried my best to tweak things around so that they line up with the announced changes. Plus, I feel that opening an updated Horizons would ultimately work the best, so that way, it would be a fresh new take on a beloved classic, yet still remain familiar enough to attract the EPCOT purists.

Well, World Discovery will likely be along sooner or later -- most likely, later tonight or tomorrow -- so until the next post, please leave any feedback you may have and I'll see you later!

EDIT (as of September 18, 2019): I have gone back and added in @MANEATINGWREATH's Inside Out: Magical Mind and Bing Bong's Sweet Stuff concepts from his WestCOT, so all credit goes out to him on that count!

EDIT (as of November 4, 2019): Once again, I have returned to this post with another new idea in store; namely, turning Odyssey into Innoventions. Once again, @MANEATINGWREATH's Mirror Disneyland concept served as my biggest inspiration for this idea, so credit goes to him.
 
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DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
World Discovery

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Passing in-between the Centorium and New Horizons, we find ourselves in World Discovery. After passing through the archway, guests can spot a small water play area just ahead. World Discovery features elevated plateaus of grass and trees, offering shade from the hot Florida weather. We can see the four distinct pavilions of World Discovery just ahead. We will head to the left and travel through World Discovery in a counter-clockwise motion.



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Continuing down to the left, guests will arrive at the first pavilion of World Discovery, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The very first Walt Disney World attraction based upon a Marvel property (because Guardians was relatively unknown when the contract between Disney and Universal was made), Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind brings together our world and another. If EPCOT well-and-truly is a permanent World's Fair, it seems only appropriate to welcome other worlds into the fold. Quoting from the Disney Parks Blog's description, "The adventure starts in the 'Galaxarium,' a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and Xandar. You will be invited to learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share – until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and adventures across the cosmos ensue. The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus your attention on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster."

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Continuing around World Discovery, the guests walk through several tucked away seating areas and shaded tree areas. They come across a ramp, which leads the way upwards to the next pavilion: PLAY!. Replacing the former Wonders of Life pavilion, PLAY! is set around a futuristic city and will give guests the chance to explore, create and interact. If we want to shape our future, we're going to need plenty of bright-minded folk, and this pavilion gives the young and young-at-heart a chance to let their creativity flow. Interactive exhibits, brain games, animation classes and meet-and-greets with beloved Disney characters make up the various offerings found here at the pavilion. As part of this new pavilion, you’ll have the chance to help legendary fashion icon Edna Mode on her quest to rid the world of uninspired style, or make a splash competing in a water-balloon fight hosted by Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby of DuckTales fame.



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In the center of World Discovery, you’ll find one of the park's most exciting thrill rides, Mission: SPACE. Although it remains ever-popular, Mission: SPACE has become rather...outdated. 2036 will soon be here, and the ride will be an artifact. In order to update it and keep it fresh, while we won't dismantle everything the attraction has to offer, we will open the pavilion up to more awe inspired scenery of space. Today's space program needs people to be inspired by space. We need people passionate about exploring the universe, we need them to help drive commercial spaceflight, we need them to vote for politicians who put importance on a strong space program. We need kids to want to look up from their phones and look at the sky in wonder. We need to have people dreaming of exploring the endless depths of the universe. And that’s what I hope this new Mission: SPACE does.

Once you step inside, you'll find yourself in the headquarters of the Cosmos Space Center; an organization devoted to all studies in astronomy: space colonization, planet observation, you name it. In this attraction's timeframe, manned flight to Mars is now a common thing; and pretty much anyone can get in a spaceship to observe the beauty of space. This means that when you get into your simulator, it won't be for training. It'll be for real. The pre-show and briefings will be updated to reflect this fact. Now, there are two flights you could go on: the Green Flight, which offers stunning views of Earth, or the Orange Flight, offering a daring mission to the Cosmos base camp on Mars. The new Orange Flight offers a dramatic change in pace from the old. This Flight will be more of a dark ride than a thrill ride, although there will still be thrills to spare. A similar queue format to what is there now will be included -- the main changes will be to the narration of the attraction - in which you will pilot your enclosed vehicles through the terrain of Mars - making the attraction more interactive and unpredictable than what it is now. When the time comes to do ride-throughs, you can bet that a ride-through of the new Orange Flight will be featured here.

No matter which Flight you take, when you step out of your spacecraft, you're invited to take a space-pod (similar to the Hydrolators at The Living Seas) to go up to the Cosmos space station, just above Earth. And of course, you can get there even if you don't take a Flight. The Cosmos Space Station is quite large. A huge window at the far end looks out into space. The stars move as we turn through our orbit. The center of the hub features a large round window in the floor surrounded by metal railing that allows us to look down on earth. The area around the window hosts Mission: EARTH -- a series of interactive stations (think Wonders of Life) that teach us about how space exploration helps us learn about earth. Just off the hub is a theater (two auditoriums, alternating the same show) that features The World Beyond, a planetarium-style experience that deals with the physics of the universe. We go on a virtual voyage through the universe, experiencing both its beauty and its severity, concluding with a close-up look at a supernova. The American Space Experience is a 2,500-square-foot exhibit is more like visiting a corner of the Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, New Mexico, than visiting the world’s greatest theme park. But if you take the time to examine the exhibits, they really are interesting. Unlike the exhibits in many science museums, these NASA exhibits are up-to-date.


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And then there is the Spacewalk. Utilizing Kuka-arm technology, we take off for a wild ride on an EVA unit. At the pre-show, we learn how to operate our EVA units. Each unit is suspended from an overhead track on a continuously moving belt. It has a seat and a four-point safety harness. Our feet dangle free. A joystick allows us to control yaw and roll. We can turn completely around or roll completely upside-down. If we want, we can ride backwards facing a friend to share the experience. A moving walk allows us to board and secure ourselves while the units keep moving. The ride circles us around the exterior of the space station. We have views into space (occasionally obstructed by appendages on the exterior of the space station) and into the interior of the space station. We can see some of the public spaces filled with our fellow visitors, and we see other "off limits" spaces we wouldn't otherwise see (i;e crew quarters, lab, etc.). These give us a better picture of life on the station. All the attractions return us to the hub.

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The Cosmos Space Station also plays host to Space 220, a culinary experience featuring the celestial panorama of a space station, including daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up. You'll board a special elevator for a journey to a space station that is home to an incredible dining experience. Along the way, viewports will give you a real-time perspective as you travel high above the planet. Once you arrive, you’ll enjoy fantastic meals and drinks while taking in views that are truly out of this world.

When we are ready to leave, a second set of space pods returns us to World Discovery below.


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Outside the Mission: SPACE pavilion, bordering World Celebration, is a copy of Shanghai Disneyland's Jet Packs attraction, copied here to add some kineticism to this side of the park.



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At the farthest edge of World Discovery's eastern end, 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 stretch of track going around it like the rings of Saturn. If you're curious as to what this building is, then hop aboard a "SimCar" and take a journey unlike any other on Test Track! Test Track is an exhibition of forward-thinking technology and innovation in transportation. A tour of the facilities allows us a first-hand account of how vehicles are tested and designed for use on the road. Better yet, these are no ordinary cars of today - these are self-driving cars that we can design ourselves! Our prototype "SimCar" whisks us onto a digital circuit, in which we experience for ourselves the difficult tests and trials that all prototype vehicles must undergo. Narrow switchbacks, hairpin turns, harsh elements, inclement weather, and barely-missed collisions are all on the checklist for today’s run, ending in a climactic mile-long race at 65 mph! Afterward, we are invited to explore an exhibit in regards to the history and future of transportation: World of Motion. Named for the extinct attraction from the early days of EPCOT Center, World of Motion features original cars and machinery from various decades in our storied history, as well as diagrams, photographs, documentaries, and hands-on games and exhibits. World of Motion also acts as the resident "exit thru the gift shop." Speaking of which, World of Motion shares floor space with the Green Light gift shop, selling merchandise themed around Test Track.

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Tying into the transportation aspect of Test Track, located across the way from the Test Track complex is the first station for the EPCOT PeopleMover. One of the concepts devised for the EPCOT city was that of the PeopleMover. All the transport in EPCOT was to be solely public -- you would travel short distances via footpower, medium distances via PeopleMover and long distances via monorail. Sadly, when the plans for the city fell through, the only PeopleMovers put into power were at Disneyland in California (which has since closed), the Magic Kingdom here in Florida and the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. The EPCOT PeopleMover is designed in the style of the former Disneyland PeopleMover, in that it's open-air and that its track can rise and descend.

The EPCOT PeopleMover serves as the major mode of transportation to get around the front half of EPCOT. It begins -- as stated earlier -- nearby Test Track in World Discovery, then glides past the other pavilions of World Discovery, enters into the Centorium, gliding right along the second level -- its track will be at level with the walkway on that level -- deposits guests off at a station nearby the EPCOT Festival Center, then glides around World Nature, depositing guests in-between The Land and Journey Into Imagination before heading back to World Discovery.


~ ~ ~
Not many changes in this part of the park, apart from the arrival of the EPCOT PeopleMover. Now, since college will be starting for me soon, expect my posts to come less frequently than they have over the course of the summer. I still intend to work on this whenever I get the chance, so posts will still be coming. But until the next post comes along, please leave any feedback you may have. It's all very much appreciated.
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Well, hello again, everybody. Now that I have a brief amount of free time on my hands, we might as well continue our tour of a new EPCOT.

~ ~ ~

World Nature

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World Nature is devoted to the natural wonders of our humble planet. The pathways are lined with beautiful rose gardens, flower beds and grass fields. The pathways stretch over large vasts of reflective pools of glistening water beds. Continuing along the rim of the area, the guests walk up a ramp along the flower mural, arriving at the first pavilion of World Nature: The Land.



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The Land focuses on agriculture and conservation, and how man is learning how to live in harmony with our environment. However, in today's state, the theme doesn't really resound, despite this being one of the few Future World pavilions to fully commit to its original theme. Hopefully, with this refurbishment, The Land will once again shine bright with its original message.

Much of the guest-facing areas of The Land actually are quite well done and probably do not need to change much. Guests take a walk up a ramp, going past 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. I'd like to have the pavilion's interior represent what a landscape would look like. 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 painted with murals depicting mountains, cliffs, trees and other things. 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 has just re-opened with an all-new film: Awesome Planet. The film not only focuses on the ideals of conservation and man’s harmony with nature, but also take guests on a journey across the world past some of the most iconic natural landmarks known to man. Continuing along the rim of the overhead balcony surrounding the pavilion, guests will comes across the Garden Grill, a rotating, circular restaurant, which also offers a look into the dioramas featured in the Living with the Land attraction. Of course, the murals on the walls surrounding the restaurant will represent farming and harvesting. The restaurant consists of a 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.

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The escalator descends down into the sitting courtyard for the Farmer's Market. Given the new atmosphere of the pavilion, the current seating area has been replaced by a variety of picnic tables, given that you are now dining on the "grass", if you will. A common complaint back in the day was that the seating in this food court was just too small. These picnic tables will certainly help. Each one is topped with a uniquely-designed umbrella. Also tying in with the new atmosphere, there are different stations in the food court, each offering a different type of food, combining the tastes of its three former incarnations--Farmer's Market, Sunshine Seasons Food Fair and Sunshine Seasons. Each station is themed around a small farm-based market stand, not unlike what you'd find at an actual farmer's market. There are ten stations: "Soups & Salads", "Barbecue", "Sandwiches", "International Cuisine", "Pasta & Potato", as well as a cheese stand, a produce stand (try the fruit and cheese platter--it's a hit!), a bakery (offering all kinds of sweet treats, as well as breakfast foods from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.), an ice cream stand and a drink stand.




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Anyways, after such a good meal, you can find out how the fruits and vegetables at the Farmer's Market and Garden Grill were grown on-board Living with the Land. The attraction takes guests through the many agricultural procedures done throughout many different climates, before taking guests into the heart of the attraction, the agricultural plant domes, where guests pass by real growing methods incorporated by The Land, spotting several fruits and vegetables along the way, while also spotting new and innovative ways to advance the growing process of these crops. The only change the ride will get is this: In the final room of the ride (just before the boats head out into the unload), the music that plays will be replaced with a newly revamped version of the ride's original theme song, "Listen to the Land", albeit with the lyrics changed from "Let's listen to the land we all love" to "We're living with the land we all love."



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On the opposite side of the Farmer's Market, guests will find The Land's major E-Ticket: Soarin'. Soarin' is one of the major highlights of a day at EPCOT and a must-see for anyone visiting Walt Disney World. This attraction, which utilizes three different theaters, takes guests aboard hang-gliders and lifts them up in front of a large IMAX projection screen, where the simulating experience of flight overwhelms them with the sights and smells of some of the world's most famous landmarks: the Matterhorn, Isfjord, Sydney Harbor, Neuschwanstein Castle, Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Great Wall of China, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal, Monument Valley, the Lau Islands, Iguazu Falls and the Eiffel Tower, culminating with a flight over EPCOT itself. Soarin' is, essentially, an experience that celebrates the thrill of travel and the wonders of both the natural and the man-made world.

Right next door, a new pavilion has been added to the EPCOT experience. Since World Nature already represents Land and Sea, then why not complete the triptych and add a pavilion themed around Sky? Enter The Changing Skies.


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The Changing Skies is a pavilion devoted to the concept of weather and climate, in all its forms. The pavilion's design is a hybrid of the Science and Invention Pavilion design (pictured above), mixed with Tony Baxter's original concept for The Land (for reasons which I'll get to later). Drenched in the colors of sunrise -- yellow, red and orange -- curved walls and fixtures lead the way towards tall glass biomes, each holding a different environment within. Stepping inside the pavilion, a crystalline ceiling showcases warping clouds. The sides of the pavilion feature mural mosaic pictures of different weather conditions. The rim of the building features several attractions, while the middle of the pavilion features several interact exhibits about the weather, even including one specific exhibit where a guest can actually host their own, live weather forecast news special. The pavilion is themed around the Center for Weather Control, home of the pavilion's major attraction...



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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, the C.W.C. 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 C.W.C. 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 Mission: SPACE over on the other side of the park. 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.

NOTE: I've heard of a contract between Disney and the OLC that says that Disney can't copy attractions from Tokyo DisneySea over here in America. I don't know if that's still in play, especially seeing how the Magic Kingdom got a variant of "Once Upon a Time", Tokyo Disneyland's nighttime show, but since the Tokyo StormRider has closed to make way for, coincidentally, a Finding Nemo ride, this technically means Disney could clone the ride here. Yay, loopholes!


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For a more gentler approach on weather, come and take a ride on WeatherTrek, a suspended weather balloon dark ride through the climate extremes of the world, such as the polar icecaps, the Sahara, the rainforest, and the jungle. In what is widely described as "the natural Peter Pan's Flight", the journey combines sweeping music, a Next-Gen take on the pirate ships of Fantasyland, and a unique blend of physical sets/Audio-Animatronics and screen-based technology, to make a truly immersive experience.

In the center of the pavilion, much like the Sensory Funhouse at the former Wonders of Life, you'll find the CWC Expo, a series of various exhibits about the sky and weather. There's so much you can do here...


  • Sit in replicas of some of history’s most famous aircrafts including Lindenberg's The Spirit of St. Louis, as well as the pilot's seat of Boeing’s newest plane. Disney’s photopass photographers will be there to take your picture in these iconic vessels.
  • Create your own live tornado! In the center of the exhibit, guests can use levers to study and manipulate a 40-foot vortex of swirling air and vapor.
  • Walk through a wind tunnel that guests, where guests can learn the basics of fluid dynamics - you know, hot fluids rise, fill the shape of the container, etc.
  • Enjoy the “Build a Storm!” station. On one of the many screens in this exhibit, guests can use buttons and levers to decide what type of storm they would like to create, wind speeds, time of year, temperature, etc. in order to try and wreak as much havoc upon man’s world as possible.
  • At night, enjoy a fully functioning observatory, where guests can study the stars with the aid of a professional astronomer. During the day, this area is an planetarium, with exhibits on the conditions of different planets atmospheres, as well as a short video on how we could terraform Mars.
  • Other exhibits include learning how rainbows are made via Newton’s prism (refraction- reflection-dispersion), a tank which demonstrates how tsunamis are formed (and guests can actually push a plate on the back of the exhibit rapidly to create their own demonstration), watch a Tesla coil in action, and an exhibit on civil engineering and earthquakes. (where guests can use wooden blocks to construct their own structures to see if they would survive an earthquake - which is represented via mini shaking plates)
What's more, there are various places to shop and eat. The Changing Skies' main eatery is the Cloud 9 Cafe. Since this is a pavilion about the sky, it makes sense that the place specializes in bird-based meals. Turkey and chicken are the names of the game here, although vegetarian options are available for all those who prefer to keep their feet on solid ground. For something sweeter, try Sky Candy, a candy store famous for its cotton candy, which is also served in the next door restaurant. It also serves chocolate bars, tootsie rolls, lollipops, fudge, and ice cream. It is decorated with sky blue wallpaper with white clouds on the background, and features industrial-looking plane parts hanging from its high ceiling. If you're in the mood for merchandise, visit Winds of Change. Inside, guests can buy shirts that read “Future Pilot” (or Engineer, Weatherman, Astronaut, etc.), original concept art of the pavilion, and other generic Disney Merchandise. Mickey and friends appear in doll form donning the apparel of pilots, mechanics, and astronauts. The pavilion sells a series of novels about the history of air and space travel.



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Built just steps nearby, on the grounds formerly held by the northern quadrant of Innoventions West, is an all-new experience at EPCOT: Journey of Water. Inspired by the 2016 animated film Moana, Journey of Water brings an interactive spin to the concept of the water cycle. In a vibrant tropical setting, guests will be able to interact with "living water". And for all you character-hunters out there, I'm sure we'll be able to meet Moana herself near this attraction. The experience is also a fitting segue into the final pavilion of World Nature...


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At the farthest edge of World Nature, you'll find The Living Seas. In current-day Epcot, this pavilion, which has been given more of a Finding Nemo theme, is a major rallying point of people against the "toonification" of Epcot. 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". The floor shakes, bubbles burst up, and an effect made to look like we're going past rocks on our way down deep under the sea, and a minute later, the other door opened up and voila!--there you are, under the ocean. The effect was simple, and it works like gangbusters. In fact, to show how well it works, just look the elevators used on Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts at Universal. That elevator is just a spruced up Hydrolator! From there, you board a SeaCab vehicle which took you on a quick ride into the Seabase itself.

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Before I continue, I must ask if you're able to see how the story of the pavilion works out We arrive at the seaside. We are talked to about oceanic exploration. We get a sense of the importance and mystery of the ocean. We then go to a “seabase” that is being used for undersea exploration and scientific study. The huge aquariums of Seabase Alpha are not just aquariums. They're part of the show. These are windows from the seabase out into the ocean. This is a point I cannot make strongly enough. The entire idea of the aquarium was that it was the ocean, the scientists (and us by our luck in being able to visit a working scientific research station) used these windows out into the ocean for their research. Again, this is not something that had to be beat over our heads. It was not overly explained. It just was.

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. A separate experience also allows guests to be able to swim with dolphins. The research station with the manatees all lived within the seabase theme. 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. All together, the experience adds up to one pavilion, one purpose. You are arriving at a seabase, which is being used to explore the world under the ocean. It teaches and entertains.

~ ~ ~
What do you guys think of The Changing Skies? I should point out that the pavilion was partially inspired by the World Above pavilion designed for The Sorcerer's Apprentice: Homecoming Edition by @Brer Oswald, @DisneyFan18, @kmbmw777, @MA Screamin', @mickeyfan5534, @Pionmycake and @TwilightZone; so credit goes out to them!

Well, it certainly felt good to come back to this concept again after so long. I don't know when the next update will be, but I'm sure it won't be too long before we begin our trek through World Showcase.

Also, I should mention that I was inspired by @MANEATINGWREATH's WestCOT concept to go back and change something at Journey Into Imagination. So, should you revisit that post, you'll notice I changed a few things around.
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
It’s really great. With your future concept for Halloween did you get to see Villains Grove during the Oogie Boogie Bash at DCA?
Yes, I have. I will certainly be working this into my Halloween plans. Let's just say Magic Kingdom won't be the only park getting in on the Halloween festivities...

~ ~ ~

World Showcase

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The fourth and final neighborhood of EPCOT, 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 manmade 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. My vision for World Showcase is to finally fill most of the expansion plots that are found throughout World Showcase. Here is a basic picture showcasing what I'd like to do here, as well as give you a brief preview of what's to come...

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What I want to do here is give a feng-shui aspect to World Showcase. As you can see, I have seventeen countries around the World Showcase Lagoon. I deliberately made it so that there are seven countries on each side, with The American Adventure -- the host pavilion of World Showcase -- right in the middle. With that said, let us begin our world tour...

Just continuing north from Future World and arriving at Showcase Plaza, directly ahead is the World Showcase Lagoon. 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.


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Another form of transportation are the World Showcase Buses, a series of double-decker buses that take guests around the World Showcase. Ever wonder why the walkways in World Showcase are so wide? Well, that's because the buses used to travel along the walkways. Right in the middle of the plaza is a viewing area for the nightly fireworks show, HarmonioUS. On both sides of the viewing plaza are two cubical, indoor gift shops -- Port of Entry and Disney Traders -- which host several country-related items, as well as EPCOT merchandise. Mere steps nearby 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.

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The Showcase Plaza is also a place where you can meet up with various Disney characters throughout the day. In fact, at certain points, one of the World Showcase Buses transports many different characters to the Showcase Plaza for a meet & greet session.

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Right in the middle of Showcase Plaza, separating the two shops, is a large planter. Looking from above, you'll notice it's basically the two current planters combined into one. The reason for the combining is because I'd fill this enlarged planter with seventeen flagpoles, representing the seventeen countries that surround the World Showcase Lagoon. When World Showcase opens for the day at 11:00, I'd have it be marked by a Flag-Raising Ceremony. This is, perhaps, one of my favorite ideas I've ever devised for EPCOT. 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, 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: "Ladies and gentlemen, the raising of the flag of _____"; followed by a repetition of that phrase in the country's language, if necessary. For the anthems, I would use Philip Sheppard's absolutely beautiful arrangements, composed for the 2012 Summer Olympics, as performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In fact, here are the links to each and every one: Mexico, Norway, China, South Africa, Greece, Germany,
Peru, Italy, United States, Japan, India, Morocco, Jamaica, France, United Kingdom, Egypt and Canada.

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.




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Heading immediately to the left from Showcase Plaza, we'll arrive at the first country of World Showcase: Mexico. 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 band. 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 "Animalés Fantásticos: Spirits in Wood". This is an exhibit honoring Oaxacan wood carvers who believe that when they carve a figure, they are unleashing the spirit of each being from each piece of wood. Every figure is handmade from the soft wood of the copal tree, found in the hills surrounding the Oaxacan Valley of Southern Mexico, and blends the modern and traditional, the mundane and the mythical—but always with humor, movement, fantasy and color.

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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 Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, a slow boat ride down the rivers of Mexico, where the guests are taken on a whirlwind tour, experiencing glimpses of Mexican culture. But it's not all fun and games -- Jose and Panchito are off searching Mexico for Donald so that they can get their concert started. Continuing back outside the stone steps of the Mexican temple, outside of the pavilion, guests will comes across a stone wall with inscribed details. This is often where Donald, Jose and Panchito host meet-and-greets.




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From the sunny streets of Mexico, we arrive in the tundras of Northern Europe. This is Norway. 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 (and memorabilia) from the sisters' travels with their parents when they were younger. Now that Elsa is queen, 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.

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Just outside of the Stave Church Gallery, we come across a quaint Norwegian village. 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 is 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 sit-down dining experience, where guests are welcomed into a beautiful Norwegian hall, where the delicious food and customs of Norway are shared with the guests. The character dining aspect has been removed. Given that the princesses featured there hail from other regions of the world, it doesn't seem to make much sense to have them featured here.

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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 cross over the lake and in front of the waterfall, leading to the entrance to Norway's major attraction. Although Anna and Elsa continue to greet guests here in the pavilion, the Frozen Ever After attraction is no longer featured here. In my plans, it has moved to the Arendelle section of Port Disney. However, the ride's stone-faced facade would remain, but this time, it would serve as the entrance to the Museum av Norrøn Mytologi (or in plain English, "Museum of Norse Mythology"). After passing through the museum for a while, going past various displays and murals about the Vikings and Norse lore, we hop aboard Viking ships of our very own to sail through the Legend of Valhalla.

Sailing across the rainbow bridge, we find ourselves in the mighty halls of Asgard, home of the Gods. Once there, we encounter many of the famed Norse Gods: Odin, father of the Gods; Thor, the god of thunder; Baldur, the god of peace; Aegir, the god of the sea; Tyr, the god of war, and many others. Things go awry when Loki, the notorious trickster god, fools us into trying to take one of the Golden Apples, the source of the Gods' immortality and perpetual youth. Guest then find themselves in a race to escape Valhalla, fleeing from Idun, the guardian of the Golden Apples, and the Valkyries, warrior maidens on flying horses. This ride would be a true E-ticket attraction with state-of-the-art audio animatronic figures and multiple drops. In fact, the ride's show building would be expanded to fill the rest of the expansion pad the Royal Sommerhus takes over, thus allowing for a longer and more elaborate experience.


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Speaking of Vikings, don't be surprised if you run into a few while you're here in Norway! In fact, right along the water's edge is a gigantic replica of a Viking ship, where guests can climb aboard and explore how the Vikings of old sailed the seas. It’s essentially a bigger and better version of the old Viking ship that used to be in the pavilion from 1998 to 2008.




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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: China. 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.

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 will come across 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.

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Attached to the temple, just inside of the lobby, to the left, guests will comes 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. Reflections of 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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Located further down the ramp, just after the entrance archway is the Nine Dragons Restaurant, which offers an extensive selection of Chinese dishes in a beautiful, relaxing setting. Now, among the restaurants of World Showcase, Nine Dragons is always one that never really receives particularly glowing praise. Given how common Chinese restaurants are, it really does feel as though Nine Dragons is just another one of them. Therefore, I'd say it's time to give Nine Dragons a renovation so that it can finally stand out among the other restaurants of World Showcase. For this, I'd turn this into a buffet-hybrid type restaurant comprised of different stations. Each station would highlight one of the eight culinary traditions of China including the bold and spicy flavors of Szechuan cuisine, the predominantly seafood Shandong cuisine, and the hearty Cantonese cuisine. At each station, in addition of a selection of pre-prepared items, diners would also have the option of selecting various raw ingredients to be prepared by a chef stir-frying on a wok right in front of them. This would not only help provide a greater and more varied selection of Chinese cuisine, but also help make the restaurant a more unique dining experience.




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At the edge of China is a bridge going over a river leading into the lagoon. On the other side of the river, we find ourselves trekking into the fourth country -- and first new addition -- of World Showcase: South Africa. Bringing Africa to life in the World Showcase is quite a daunting task. Africa is already well-represented at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Their Africa section is basically a more elaborate version of the Equatorial Africa pavilion scheduled to open here at EPCOT. Likewise, World Showcase is very much urban-based, and it would be a bit jarring to see a non-urban based pavilion here. Therefore, South Africa will feature two distinct areas: a Dutch-inspired area representing the colonization of South Africa; and a traditional African area honoring the rest of the continent. Much like with the nation's anthem -- a combination of two different songs, sung in five different languages -- we are honoring the unity between Africans and Afrikaners.

On the edge of the water, built among the existing sandy rockwork, is a replica of Umhlanga Lighthouse. The front half of the pavilion is modeled on the Groot Constantia Manor House, a historic museum and winery that architecturally has Dutch influence. The main building and its adjacent garden hold the table service restaurant, Kos vir die Siel (that's Afrikaans for "Food for the Soul"), which features a host of famous South African dishes, including boerewors, Cape Malay curry, chakalaka and pap, authentic braai, and the national dish of South Africa, bobotie. Kos vir die Siel is surrounded by smaller winery buildings housing retail, as well as a counter-service cafe, Indlu Yokuvumelana (that's Zulu for "House of Harmony"), which features famous South African comfort food and baked goods, including Malva pudding and the famous melktert. However, it should be noted that this pavilion does not contain an actual winery because of its next-door neighbor: Greece. Greece, as we all know, is one of the wine capitals of the world, so a wine-based attraction would make more sense there.

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Beyond this Dutch colony, we come across the vast African wilderness. This area is marked by large, rolling hills and cave entrances. Early African structures modeled on the village of uMgungundlovu mark the entrance to the Caves of Man, an explorable cave system modeled on the Cradle of Mankind, the real cave system where the earliest human remains have been found. As part of their extensive research and building process, Disney has teamed up with the true-life Cradle of Mankind to help make sure the Caves of Man closely resemble its South African counterpart.

Also found here in the jungle is Tales from Africa, a hyper-realistic take on African fables, told with puppetry--specifically, puppetry like the Handspring Puppet Company, creator of the puppets used in War Horse. The stone cave tunnel from the main area of the pavilion leads to waiting tunnel area, built rustically, with light streaming in between a wood and thatch roof. The theater seats 900 in a rough semi-circle around a round thrust stage. The theater and stage are very plain so that the focus can be on the show. Limited set pieces, stylized like the puppets, appear for each fable. I envision this show to be different every time. With such a vast wealth of African folktales about the various animals that inhabit the continent, the show certainly would have a vast wealth of tales to tell. No show would be the same as the other one. Rotating stories would allow for increased re-watches.

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What do you guys think? I know there aren't many changes here -- and fair warning, there won't be that many changes here from last time, so I'm sorry if things sound repetitive as time goes on -- but the biggest change regarding my World Showcase ideas is yet to come. I hinted at it a few times in the introduction, but soon, you'll get to see it in full force.

Once again, I took most of my inspiration for South Africa from the two concepts presented by @Imagineerland over the years. so all credit on that count goes to him.
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Happy October, everyone! I love this month, if only because it means we're one step closer to Halloween! BTW, expect to see a Halloween-related post or two coming up over the course of the next few weeks...

Until then, let us continue our tour of a new EPCOT.

~ ~ ~



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With South Africa explored, we come across the fifth country -- and second new addition -- to World Showcase: Greece. Greece has one of the most unique histories and one of the most famous collections of architecture in all the world, and the atmosphere would lend an air of peacefulness to the World Showcase experience. The architecture of the Greece pavilion is inspired by the glorious architecture that borders the Mediterranean -- the architecture of Santorini, Ios, and Naxos. But as you head towards the rear, you'll find yourself taken back in time to the days of Ancient Greece. A gorgeous blend of Mediterranean buildings and ancient Greek architecture. And with traditional Greek music playing in the background, it would be absolutely beautiful!

The surroundings of the Greece pavilion are lush and green, taking inspiration from the cliffs and greenery of Santorini. Even the borders along the World Showcase Lagoon would be outfitted in a similar fashion. Proceeding further into Greece, we find a bustling Mediterranean community living under the shadow of Mount Olympus. Η Αγορά, which means "The Marketplace", is the pavilion's major shop, selling Greek dolls, Greek Orthodox Iconography, leather goods, and evil eye charms, just to name a few. Smaller stores come in the form of Θησαυροί της Ελλάδας ("Treasures of Greece"), which sells Greek masks, carvings, statuettes, paintings, pottery, miniature mosaics and stories on scrolls, and Νέκταρ των Θεών ("Nectar of the Gods"), which sells food items, like Kalamata olives, olive oil, and traditional Greek spices. The smells of such wares carry throughout the pavilion!

Η Ελιά, which means "The Olive Tree", is an authentic Mediterranean and Greek restaurant set around a giant olive tree. According to Greek mythology, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, gave such a tree to the Greeks as a blessing. And the food for sale at The Olive Tree is a blessing unto itself! Spanakopita, tzatziki, gyros, baklava, mousaka, and souvlaki every day. Not to mention ouzo, raki, and other traditional Greek drinks. Of course, the wine would flow like rainfall here. Greece is home to some of the world's most famous wines, so it seems only fitting that the pavilion honor such a legacy. Η παραγωγή του κρασιού ("The Making of Wine") is connected to the The Olive Tree, showing us how authentic Greek wine is made. The Making of Wine features wine tasting (at a cost), wine-flavored ice cream, wine-flavored candy, and wine-flavored...well, I'm gonna stop whining about it and just let you put the rest together for yourself.

The center of this Mediterranean town is a prime source for entertainment. A large circle in the center of town marks the performance space of a team of Greek dancers. To the lively sounds of the bouzouki, a team of Greek dancers take to the streets to perform a series of traditional Greek dances, and even invite fellow guests to come and try their hand at a dance or two! But, if you're the kind of guy who likes to rub shoulders with Disney characters, Greece is the place to go if you want to meet Hercules and Megara. The characters from the 1997 cult classic have only appeared sporadically throughout Walt Disney World over the years. A Greece pavilion would be the perfect place for them to meet with guests on a regular basis.




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Standing proudly beyond this Mediterranean town is the imposing visage of Mt. Olympus, home of the gods of Greek mythology. The mountain itself is towering, creating an impressive backdrop when you view the pavilion from across the lagoon at Showcase Plaza. Surrounding the mountain are the ancient remains of Greek temples, with an impressive replica of the Parthenon found within the forecourt. Inside the mountain, we'll set forth on an adventure of epic proportions: Mythica. Mythica is another roller-coaster coming to the park, themed after the perils of Greek mythology. Beautifully blending a dark ride with a classic Disney roller-coaster, Mythica promises itself to be another shining jewel in EPCOT's crown.

The ride's queue is themed to what looks like the ruined remains of an old Greek temple, taking guests past marble columns and beautiful frescos. Finally, guests walk into the pre-show, where the largest animatronic Disney has ever created will make its appearance. In dedication of the original designs for The Living Seas, Poseidon will make his appearance in this hall. He will stand still as guest enter in this hall in groups. But, as soon as the hall is filled, Poseidon will come to life in a jovial way. He will greet the guests and offer guest the chance to help Helios on his quest to take the sun on its daily journey. Guests will make their way through a side tunnel that will lead them into the station. From here they will board their ride vehicle that is shaped similarly to a Greek chariot. This ride vehicle will leave the station and with a flash of lightning, guest will find themselves flying through mist and clouds until they reach Olympus, where an animatronic of Helios tells guests that he needs their help to get the sun delivered to the sky. The coaster dives left into a heat room, simulating proximity to the sun. With the sun "following" us, our journey is stopped by a Hades animatronic (an original design created specifically for Mythica), who steals the sun in the hopes of using it for his own nefarious purposes. In Hades' wake, the track rolls backwards through a backwards section as if they are falling and losing control of the chariot. Finally the coaster will come to a stop again as Zeus (likewise, another original design) tells guests that they must retrieve the sun. With that, Zeus gives guests the power of lightning and the coaster launches off again on a new track. With strong use of special effects and projections, quest will rush through a battle between Zeus and Hades. Of course, all ends well -- Hades is defeated, Zeus and Helios retrieve the sun, and as we return to earth, Zeus gives us a blessing of a prosperous and fulfilling life.




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Moving on from Greece, guests will arrive at the entrance to Germany. Germany consists mainly of many different shops, with some restaurants tucked in here and there. Just on the outskirts of the pavilion is a beautiful wishing well, where Snow White often meets guests. Upon entering the pavilion, to the right is the Das Kaufhaus store, which specifically sells crystal and glass figures, artwork and other types of merchandise. Surrounding the front of the pavilion is a nice relaxing area of trees and benches, which also make a great location to view the nighttime fireworks. Along the edges of the lagoon, the iconic miniature train display has been moved here because of the new pavilion moving in next door. Guests find themselves in a quaint village of Germany, just at the base of a clock tower. Every hour, on the hour, the clock comes to life, as a series of gizmos and figures appear from within the clock's frame, creating in the midst of the town. The clock comes to life in a wonderfully animated scene, including several different moving gadgets and figures. The German village surrounds a beautiful fountain, atop of which sits a statue of.

On the left corner of the town is Karamell-Küche, a wonderful bakery, offering all sorts of treats. The bakery specializes in caramel sweets, from everything to caramel and vanilla cupcakes, chocolate cookies with caramel frosting, brownies, cupcakes and wonderful other snacks. Passing through the sweet shop, guests will come across Die Weihnachts Ecke, a store completely devoted to Christmas items, featuring many different ornaments and Christmas merchandise. Through this store, guests will then be able to come across Weinkeller, a location that features a variety of different German wines and alcohols, where guests can purchase and even partake in their own wine tasting. Through the wine room, guests will then be able to reach the Kunstarbeit in Kristall store, which features more art work pieces and figures made completely out of glass.

All of these stores appear on the left hand side of the Germany pavilion. On the right side of the pavilion, the Volkskunst store can be located, offering many different Germany-based merchandise, from clothes, to yodeling attire, to sports equipment and working clocks. The store is also attached to the Der Teddybar store, which sells Disney Princess and teddy bear merchandise. On the farthest back end of the Germany pavilion, guests will find the sit-down Biergarten restaurant in the clocktower structure. Biergarten is a place where it's pretty much Oktoberfest every day. As guests dine on a German buffet, they are entertained by a German band, who perform on instruments native to Germany, as well as a lively troupe of German dancers, who often invite diners to join them in a polka or two. Nearby, Sommerfest has great German dishes, where guests can dine while being entertained by a quartet of yodelers. The location also features a quick-service location, consisting of mainly hot dogs and pretzels.


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In my ideas for Germany, my biggest priority would be to restore something that's been a long time coming for this pavilion: the Rhine River Cruise. According to the Walt Disney Company's 1976 annual report, the Rhine River Cruise was to be "... a cruise down Germany's most famous rivers -- the Rhine, the Tauber, the Ruhr and the Isar. Detailed miniatures of famous landmarks will also be seen, including one of the Cologne Cathedral." While a majority of the show building was never actually constructed, the load and unload area of the ride would have been located next to the entrance to the Biergarten restaurant. Today, this area is hidden behind a giant mural depicting the German countryside. My version of the ride would be based upon what was originally planned, and similar in style to the boat ride in Mexico. The ride would feature a dramatic score comprised of music from some of Germany’s greatest composers including Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and Wagner. Guests would sail past scenes of some of Germany’s most enduring landmarks such as the Neuschwanstein castle, the Brandenburg Gate, the Cathedral of Cologne, and the Schwarzwald (Black Forest). As in the original plans, when we reach the unload dock, the exit walkway has small seating areas so that we can stop and view the shows at Biergarten from above.

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From the boisterous celebrations of Germany, we come to the mysterious, yet inviting, country of Peru. In my previous post, I mentioned this is where Brazil would go. However, two things put a halt to such plans. One, I realized that the mighty Amazon Rainforest that dominates most of the Brazilian landscape is represented well in the South America section of my Animal Kingdom concept; and two, given recent events surrounding Brazil, I don't think they're looking good in the media right now. Hopefully, soon the country will be able to reverse such negative things, but until then, I've decided to remove it from the line-up. However, I didn't want to lose a South American delegate for the World Showcase, so I've decided to go with Peru. And like with South Africa, the concept for Peru has come from @Imagineerland, so all credit goes to him. In fact, I'll quote from his descriptions...

"The front of the pavilion includes a set of giant stone walls from the ruins of Saqsaywaman, the ancient Incan capital (Image 1), and a church on a hill, formed of ancient stone wall terraces. This is based on the Jardin Sagrado at the base of Iglesia de Santa Domingo, which was built on top of exposed Incan ruins (Image 2). The path leads to a courtyard next to the church, surrounded by town square buildings (Image 4). A feature element of the pavilion that sits off this courtyard is a force perspective hilly street that disappears around a bend, making the pavilion seem like it keeps on going (Image 3). On the church square is retail, a table service restaurant and snack stand locations, and the entrance to the attraction."



The attraction in question is the Lost City Trek. The story for this coaster involves a mining and archaeological trip that has discovered an authentic Incan lost city right underneath the town. Setting off from a queue loaded to the brim with all sorts of mining bric-a-brac, going past offices of various heads of the archaeological dig. The ride itself is an indoor wooden roller coaster, the first of its kind, that takes guests through the underground world of ancient Peruvian history, dodging through the pillars and stones of the lost city, and careening through unstable mine shafts that could collapse at any moment. This wild and crazy ride is similar to the experience of Big Thunder Mountain but "plussed" with new technology. In fact, I think the Grizzly Mountain Mine Cars from Hong Kong Disneyland provide an apt comparison.



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Strolling along, we find ourselves in the pastoral settings of Italy. Guests arrive in the quaint city square of a city reminiscent of Venice. It looks quite majestic and beautiful. In the forefront of the pavilion, there are two landings jutting out onto the World Showcase Lagoon, the two, connected by a pair of twin bridges. The landings display a set of fountains. In-between the bridge landings and tunnelways, several canal boats can be seen on a nearby dock, making it seem as though the landings really are floating over the canals of Venice. Back up north, guests will arrive in the Italian courtyard. To the left, guests will come across Enoteca Castallo, an Italian shop, which specializes in clothes, perfumes and ceramic art pieces. Just across the courtyard, guests will come across Il Bel Cristallo and La Bottega Italiana, one being a wine location, offering a variety of wines to the guests and the other a chocolate store, offering some of the finest chocolate sweets and candies from Italy. Outside of the two stores, a small seating area is located, which also happens to be a perfect location for guests to have a wine tasting. The courtyard often becomes host to a series of performances from two different sources: Sergio the mime and the World Showcase Players. That's right--they're back! This troupe of players go around World Showcase to tell their butchered versions of classic tales from the countries they perform in. In the UK, they perform King Arthur & the Holy Grail, as well as A Christmas Carol during the holidays; they perform Cyrano de Bergerac in France, and here in Italy, they perform a very unique take on Romeo and Juliet.

Tucked away in the corner behind one of the shops is a stairway leading up to one of the upper levels of the buildings. This location is often used as a meet & greet location for Pinocchio and Geppetto. Speaking of Disney characters, the Lady and the Tramp topiary located here will be removed. They are not Italian characters. The back end of the Italian pavilion is reserved exclusively for some of the best restaurants in EPCOT. Guests come across a beautiful fountain area. Just past the fountain, to the left, is the Tutto Italia restaurant, which offers some of the best pasta, salad and Italian dishes. At the farthest back end of the Italy pavilion, guests will come across the Via Napoli pavilion. This restaurant is a great pizzeria, utilizing three different oven burners to create some of the finest dishes, transporting the flavors of Italy to their guests. The restaurant features a large sitting area, as well as a quaint outdoor seating location, offering wonderful views of the fireworks at nighttime. An extension to Via Napoli would give the pavilion its own counter-service restaurant. It would serve the same pizzas as its table-service counterpart, but give guests the opportunity to buy pizza by the slice.

Beyond all that, this pavilion will be expanded upon. I know it’s already a sufficient sized pavilion, but it has always seemed to be missing some of the grandeur of some of the other pavilions. I hope to fix that with this expansion. My personal feeling is that a pavilion based on Venice, a city of water, really needs some more water.


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So I have created a new area between the existing Italy area and the American Adventure to fill that need for water. Stairs from the main square of the pavilion lead down to a walk way that is sunk about 5 feet, a Venetian canal beside it. Directly across the water is the Masquerade Celebration Carrousel, a double level carousel sitting right at the edge of the water. The queue begins in the building next to the carousel and takes you through a Masquerade mask workshop. The short queue then ends at the carousel. The carousel animals are all normal carousel animals, but wearing masks. It exits to the plaza by the canal.
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To the left, the water turns underneath two pedestrian bridges while tall buildings around it house shops. You'll also find the Gelataria, a bakery that offers a wide assortment of sweet Italian gelato, as well as numerous pastries, such as biscotti, cannoli, and zeppole. The store by the World Showcase concourse is also expanded.


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What would Italy be without the iconic sounds of the gondolier? Now, at last, EPCOT's Italy gets that iconic sound in the form of Gondolas di Italia. Even though World Showcase is already heavy on boat rides, I think this idea is too good to pass up and there is something about gondolas themselves that would add extra allure to the attraction and make it somewhat unique. Based upon the original concepts for an Italian expansion, the ride begins with that yellow building we passed by earlier, which was meant to be the starting point for our cruise. It is here where we board our gondola. As we journey down along the rivers of Italy, a live gondolier will sing to us and tell us the history and stories of Italy as we glide along. We'll travel through scenes from some of Italy’s best-known cities, including Venice, Milan, Florence, Pisa, Rome, and Naples, and encounter some of the country’s most enduring landmarks. The ride will use miniatures and audio-animatronics to help bring Italy to life. It won't be an E-ticket, but it will certainly be educative, relaxing and entertaining.

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Another four pavilions down! What do you think, guys? Once again, it should be noted that my Greece pavilion was a combination of four distinct concepts -- @MANEATINGWREATH's Beastly Kingdom from his 2016 Dream Resort thread, the Greece pavilion concepts of @MonorailRed and @ScorpionX, as well as the Helios' Journey ride created for a tournament back in 2013 by @Voxel and @jdmdisney99. Their version was created for a potential Italy pavilion expansion, but I thought it would work better in Greece. Besides, the Greek gods and Roman gods are basically the same people with mostly different names.

Now, I think we'll put our tour of my new EPCOT ideas on hold for a while. In addition to college eating up most of my time, I want to focus more on Halloween, since this is the spookiest month of the year. At some point in the month, expect to see some Halloween-related fun popping up on the thread. And until then, if you have any feedback, please feel free to post it, because it is all very much appreciated!
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Well, my friends, life got in the way. I think I shall put my Halloween post on hold for a while. I think that for the forseeable future, my game plan is to get through the rest of my updated EPCOT walk-through, and then move on to holiday celebrations as a whole. In addition to Halloween and Christmas, I also have plans for Valentine's Day celebrations at the parks, so be on the lookout for that once I get done with EPCOT.

I have no clue when the next post will be up, but for now, after seeing the EPCOT Experience in action, I've decided to go back and update my World Celebration post and ensure that Odyssey will be part of my ideal EPCOT. How, exactly? Well, just scroll on up and see...

If anything, my next post in this thread will be up when winter break starts up for me. So until then, see ya soon!
 

DisneyManOne

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Well, I am finally on winter break, so until late January, I have lots and lots of free time on hand. So, let us dive back in to my second EPCOT walkthrough, shall we?

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Continuing on from Italy, we arrive at the heart of World Showcase, exactly symmetrical to where we first entered World Showcase. From across the vast World Showcase Lagoon, one could just make out the border-line buildings of Future World, the majestic Horizons building and the Spaceship Earth globe. This location is the home of the host pavilion of World Showcase, The American Adventure. When entering into The American Adventure, guests feel as though they are entering into the colonial era of American history. The buildings are adorned in brick layering, with white finishings. Oak trees planted about create a serene vista for the American pavilion. The pavilion is similar to the Liberty Square land over at the Magic Kingdom, as they share the same theme.

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A beautiful plaza featuring lush fountains and beautiful gardens greets us as we enter. Orchestral arrangements of beloved Americana fill the air. At certain points throughout the day, the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps add a flavor of Revolutionary-era America to the pavilion. Every now and then, Mickey and his pals appear at the pavilion, dressed in their patriotic finest. Just across from the main plaza of the pavilion, guests will find the America Gardens Theater, which is host to several events such as the Eat to the Beat concert series during the Food and Wine Festival and the famous Candlelight Processional during the holiday season. Most of the time, the theater is specifically used solely for special event purposes. On the right-hand side of the America Gardens Theater, guests will be able to find what appears to be a landing dock, reminiscent of the earlier settlements of the pilgrims' arrival to America. The dock leads the way towards the Mayflower, the ship upon which the Pilgrims had sailed to reach America. The ship, while immobile, offers guests a great view of World Showcase, while including several interactive elements which guests can discover, similar to Disneyland's Sailing Ship Columbia. The plaza features two small food buildings. The first is Fife & Drum Tavern, featuring turkey legs, pretzels, popcorn and ice cream. On the other side of the plaza is the famed Funnel Cake Stand. The area also features a few small carts featuring merchandise.

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I've always felt that the Liberty Inn is very mediocre, and not fitting for an American pavilion. While every other country has a sit down restaurant at the least, America just has a boring counter location that is not very good. Besides, burgers and fries don't really represent "America"...but they sure do represent the stereotype that we're fat and lazy. Furthermore, the restaurant layout is very flat, the least dimensional of all of World Showcase. Therefore, I have once again utilized an @Imagineerland concept that was too good not to use. What was once Liberty Inn (and what will soon be Regal Eagle Smokehouse) has turned into the Colonial Marketplace, a kind of narrow street that leads back in the pavilion, based upon Elfreth's Alley in Philadelphia, the nation's oldest residential street. The counter service is divided up into multiple little shops with different menus and multiple themed dining rooms. I think this would add a lot of interest and culinary diversity to the pavilion. For example, there would be a New England section offering various seafood dishes, a Louisiana section featuring jambalaya and gumbo, a Southern BBQ section with ribs, grilled chicken, pulled pork, etc. and a Hawaiian section offering dishes with a tropical flare.

Furthermore, I would finally take the opportunity to bring a table-service experience to The American Adventure. For this, I'd pretty much occupy the space the toilets (the ones on the right-hand side of the pavilion, not the ones nearby Liberty Inn, which would be redesigned to match the Colonial Marketplace) currently have, and restore the original herb garden, as well. Situated among this herb garden is The President's Tavern. Here, guests would dine in an upscale, colonial-inspired dining room surrounded by antique furniture and paintings of the Founding Fathers; Guests will feel as though they are dining at Mount Vernon or Monticello. The menu would change each day of the week, highlighting a different regional cuisine each day. These changes would help make America a more complete pavilion and do greater justice to American culture and cuisine.

The plaza then proceeds to open up before a beautiful fountain, centering the pavilion, showcasing the main building, which overlooks all of World Showcase. The building's interior is very regal and colonial, set around a grand rotunda. Quotes from some of the most famous American innovators festoon the walls. Paintings around the room showcase the many different eras of American civilization. In a small side passage to the right, guests will find the National Treasures Exhibit, which features actual artifacts from previous historical figures, such as Martin Luther King, Will Rogers and Mark Twain. Heritage House Gifts, found within the building, features American-based merchandise, such as t-shirts from many different city, hats and colonial props and some of America's favorite candy treats. At certain times throughout the day, guests' ears are treated to the powerful sounds of EPCOT's premier a capella group, the Voices of Liberty. They perform underneath the building's rotunda, which amplifies their sound.

When the time is right, guests then proceed up a grand staircase through the Hall of Flags, featuring flags from all of the states of America. This staircase takes guests up to the upper level of the rotunda, which offers more breathtaking views of the rotunda. Further down the hall are the doors that serves as our entrance to a stately theater. On either side of the audience stand life-size statues of the "Spirits of Freedom," iconic statues that embody the ideals of individualism, innovation, independence and more. We'd best take our seats, because the curtain is about to go up on one of the most moving and influential attractions in all EPCOT -- and all Walt Disney World, for that matter.




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The American Adventure unfolds the rich, weaving tapestry of our nation's history in a stirring and dramatic production featuring 35 Audio-Animatronics figures, digital rear-projection images on a 72-foot screen and stirring patriotic songs. Pivotal moments in history appear and disappear seamlessly through the use of a massive mobile device. Ten different sets are stored under the stage and are moved forward or backward on cue by this American technological marvel. Our hosts, Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain allow us witness to such landmark events as the landing of the Mayflower, the Boston Tea Party, the winter at Valley Forge, the Declaration of Independence, the Civil War and the Great Depression. A feat of entertainment, engineering and aesthetics, The American Adventure is a strong reminder that the "Golden Dream" of America is always there for anyone who wishes to have it come true. When the show ends, guests exit the theater -- and the building, for that matter -- via a long, carpeted ramp that leads down to the first floor of the building. There are areas where it levels off so the ramp isn’t too steep. The ramp leads right back out into the plaza of the pavilion.



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As stated before, The American Adventure is the halfway point in our journey around World Showcase. We have eight more pavilions to enjoy here before we return to Showcase Plaza. Continuing down along the lagoon of World Showcase, guests will then come across the next pavilion: Japan. Guests find themselves in a beautiful city, designed to recreate the wonderful and beautiful setting of Japan. To the left, a tall building is located, where Matsuriza, a troupe of Taiko drummers, often showcase their drumming talent. Just beyond the building is a beautiful Japanese garden, featuring beautiful flowers, cascading waterfalls and real fish. Bridges lead across the garden at the summit of a small hill, where the Katsura Grill quick-service restaurant, as well as the new table-service restaurant, Takumi-Tei, is located. Katsura Grill is inspired to appear just as it would in Japan. It seems as though it is something out of an anime movie, which is essentially what the entire pavilion feels like. The restaurant also features a small outdoor sitting area on the other side of the restaurant. Takumi-Tei celebrates the relationship between Japanese craftsmanship and the natural world, while the food is inspired by the wonderful collaboration between nature and takumi, the artisan. The upscale dinner menu will highlight wagyu beef in a sublime setting, and guests interested in the ultimate experience will be able to indulge in a multi-course tasting menu featuring traditional tea service.

Across from this half of the Japan pavilion, across the main courtyard, guests will come across the Mitsukoshi building, a complete Japanese store, one of the biggest in EPCOT. These store features everything from kimonos, Japanese t-shirts, headdresses, jewelry, selections of bowls, bonsai plants, paper fans, lanterns and a great deal of Japanese wines, candies and other sweets. One could probably spend hours in this store, as there is so much to see. The store wraps around the complete right side of the pavilion, leading to the back and heading towards the front of the pavilion. At the exit of the gift shop, still in the main Mitsukoshi building, guests will then be able to find the Bijutsu-Kan Gallery. Located above the Mitsukoshi store are two restaurants that share the same building space: Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining. Teppan Edo is a teppanyaki-style restaurant. More commonly called a "Japanese steakhouse," the experience combines cooking and service into one fun performance. Tokyo Dining offers sushi, fish and maki.

Standing at the far back of the pavilion is an all-new addition: the hulking structure of Mount Fuji. One can argue that Disney already has enough mountain-themed roller-coasters, but each one has its own unique theming, details, and identity. I am envisioning this coaster to be along the lines of the Matterhorn at Disneyland or Big Thunder Mountain at Magic Kingdom in terms of both the ride experience and thrill level. The building found at the pavilion's rear serves as our queue as we weave past displays detailing the history of the mighty volcano. Once aboard the roller-coaster, guests would travel both inside and outside the mountain from its base to the snowy summit, passing through caves, past waterfalls, and even narrowly escaping an avalanche.




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With Japan behind us, we move on to the next addition to World Showcase: India. To me, there’s just something so beautiful about this country, that I felt it definitely deserved a spot in the World Showcase roster. India is a country with plenty of qualities that would be wonderful to showcase through attractions, shows and food. India calls to mind the wonderful people and culture of its land, the exotic jungles and mountains of its landscape and its mysterious and beautiful animals.

We enter the India pavilion through a gate inspired by the the Mughal Red Fort in Delhi. Along the lagoon, much like the lighthouse that marks South Africa, is an ancient temple inspired by the Shore Complex of Bengal. The pavilion itself is dominated by a 5-story Hindu gopuram (monumental gateway tower), a replica of the one at Virupaksha, pictured above. Behind this gopuram is a step well descending deep into the earth. It's a very peaceful pavilion, yet at the same time, inviting and adventurous. The pavilion’s major gift shop is Cancala Ioga, selling Indian toys, books, games, film, and sundries. Another store is present nearby: Faridabad Fashions. This one sells Indian clothing, shoes, and perfumes. A band of Indian musicians strolls through these marketplaces, performing on traditional Indian instruments. In-between these two stores, tan walls, dim lighting and lanterns mark the Shaanti Coffee House. Befitting the name of the coffee house -- "Shaanti" being the Indian word for "peace" -- there's an air of relaxation here, inspired by Hinduist and Buddhist ways of life. The menu offers the finest of Indian coffee and all sorts of Indian desserts.

On the other side of the street, you'll find the pavilion's signature table-service restaurant, the Maharajah's Palace. Inside this opulent restaurant, you can dine like Indian royalty. The restaurant is designed gloriously, like the inside of an actual Indian palace. Large windows provide breathtaking views of the World Showcase Lagoon. Ancient Indian riches are prominently displayed. All in all, it's a breathtaking place to be inside. But what of the menu? Here at the Maharajah's Palace, you can feast on the finest Indian delicacies imaginable: Curry, chicken, naan, pork, hummus, and all other sorts of Indian food await your taste buds. Speaking of royalty, India is the place to go if you want to meet the gang from The Jungle Book: Mowgli, Baloo, King Louie and -- for the first time ever in a Disney park -- Shanti, the girl who Mowgli followed into the man-village.


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The pavilion is dominated by the huge and hulking Rajput fort - a backdrop inspired by Gwalior and Amber Forts - built of yellow sandstone atop a rocky outcropping. Inside, an elaborate Omnimover dark ride in the style of Journey Into Imagination or World of Motion. You know, India is a country rich in folklore, from epic poems to religious icons to morality fables that would make The Twilight Zone blush. And that's where the book of Hitopadesha comes into play. Hitopadesha is a series of ancient Indian texts designed as common fables for both children and adults alike to gleam meaning from. The fables are separated into different themes such as losing and gaining friends, war and peace. It is in this tradition that The Four Fables casts its foundation. The Four Fables will bring life to the four themes of the Hitopadesha. These fables are a part of Indian culture that used anthropomorphic animals to tell their stories. Riding aboard hollowed-out logs, complete with vines draped over them, we will travel through the jungles of India to see how these four fables are illustrated through the eyes of the animals. Though at times, the journey may be treacherous, peace and friendship always triumph with each new day.

Also within this fort is a beautiful art gallery. It's a gorgeous hall made of "marble" (painted from a distance), as well as tile pedestals. Here, on the tile pedestals, guests will find authentic pieces of Indian art, and sculptures, each with an adjoining placard to explain the cultural significance in English and Hindi. Although the gallery is beautiful enough as is, it's actually the queue/holding area for a second attraction here in India: a show called Festival of Wonder, a celebration of the many wonders found in India. Utilizing live musicians, a team of dancers, CircleVision screens and many other wonderful surprises, Festival of Wonder would certainly be one of the most amusing aspects of EPCOT.




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The sand bottoms of the Indian landscape soon gives way to the mystery and wonder of Morocco. Guests find themselves walking among the beautiful, ornately designed buildings of Morocco, with its grand archways and beautiful architecture. Tall, turret-like building stretch into the sky. The place is somewhat designed to be similar to a maze, with several buildings revealing passageways, connecting location to location. Moroccan artisan's actually came from their country to EPCOT to match the pavilion detail to detail. Koutoubia Minaret, a replica of an ancient prayer temple, stands guard at the entrance of the pavilion. Just on the borders of the World Showcase Lagoon, guests will find Souk Al Magreb, a merchandise cart which features hand-crafted brass merchandise. Also on the border of the lagoon is the Spice Road Table, which offers small plates and an interesting wine list featuring bottles from throughout the Mediterranean region.

A fountain is located in the center courtyard of the pavilion. The fountain leads to the Medina, which stands for "Old City". Here, guests will find the Marketplace in the Medina, where guests can come across hand woven baskets, wallets, bags, hats and carpets. After passing through a small chamber, featuring a fountain, guests will find the Brass Bazaar attached to the Marketplace. The Brass Bazaar features decorative plates, pots, serving sets, wooden collectibles and even lamps. Pointed archway buildings and swirling patterns adorn the passageways from building to building, featuring wooden, plaster and tiled accents. The passageway leads towards the back of the Moroccan city, where guests will find an entryway into one of the buildings. Inside the building, a magic lamp, the same one seen in Aladdin, rests on a mantle. The room is filled with large, luxurious pillows. This is a common location for Aladdin, Jasmine and the Genie to host meet-and-greet appearances. The passageway then connects back to the Tangier Traders merchandise store, which is a complete clothing store, offering garments, woven belts, shoes and other styles of Moroccan clothing. The store is also attached to the Tangerine Cafe, which operates as a quick-service restaurant in Morocco, while also featuring a very nice dessert display, as well. Across from the Tangerine Cafe is the Gallery of Arts and History, a gallery showcasing how the unparalleled artistry and craftsmanship of Moroccan decorative arts are a visual representation of cultural identity. At the farthest back corner of the pavilion, guests will find Marrakesh, a nice sit-down restaurant, where guests feel as though they are completely surrounded by the feelings of Morocco through the flavor of their food, their customs and their fantastic hospitality service. A live band and belly-dancer are also on hand to entertain diners.



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Also at the far back of the pavilion is a brand-new attraction. I thought it would be best, as a way of balancing the attractions in World Showcase, to have something that would appeal more to children and therefore looked at Moroccan folktales for inspiration. One of the most popular pieces of literature in the Arab world is One Thousand and One Nights, more commonly known as Arabian Nights. This is a collection of various stories and tales that, while they did not originate in Morocco, are reflective of the country's culture and history. It would be extremely tempting to put an Aladdin attraction in Morocco since it is one of the stories found in Arabian Nights, but I do not feel that World Showcase is the proper venue. But however, there's another story in the Arabian Nights that I'd use in its place. The hum of an ethereal flute beckons us to enter where inside we find the wonders of Sindbad's Storybook Voyage.

To the strains of the inspired hero's anthem, "Compass of Your Heart" (written by iconic Disney composer Alan Menken), the fantastic adventures of Sindbad and his trusted tiger cub Chandu are reborn. Hopping aboard a boat of our own, we follow Sindbad and Chandu as they explore the islands and continents of the Arabian Sea in search of adventure. Giant Rocs, beautiful mermaids, musical monkeys, and a one-eyed, singing cyclops are just a handful of the obstacles and friends encountered on our voyage thru fantasy and beyond. This attraction features a cast of hundreds of animatronic characters that tell the tale of Sindbad. Walt Disney envisioned Audio-Animatronics as a way to bring cartoon characters to three-dimensional life, and that vision has never been more fully realized than in Sindbad's Storybook Voyage. The characters are beautifully conceived, and appear as though they were taken right from the pages of a storybook. What really sets them apart though is their remarkably fluid animation. It is eerie how lifelike their movements are, and they really have to be seen to be believed. Sindbad is a curious choice of subject for a Disney theme park attraction given the fact that Disney has never produced a Sindbad movie. However, the designers have done a brilliant job of bringing the story to life even without a movie tie-in. This attraction is an absolute must see if you're visiting EPCOT.



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Now, the expansion pad in-between Morocco and France has reduced in size ever since the Ratatouille ride was being built. So, if a new country were to be added on this pad, it would have to be a small country, perhaps an island country... With that, I welcome you to the tropical paradise that is Jamaica. Another area of the world that has yet to be touched upon here at World Showcase is the Caribbean, so I decided to add Jamaica to represent it. Many of the Caribbean countries originated from Spanish settlers like Puerto Rico and Cuba so their architecture, cuisine and culture would look similar if we were to add them to the Showcase. However, Jamaica embodies that island nation vibe and lifestyle perfectly as well as brings diversity in its history, cuisine and architecture. I can easily see something like in the picture above alongside the World Showcase Lagoon.

Marked by a replica of Lover's Leap Lighthouse, Jamaica is the tropical paradise we’ve all come to know and love. Reggae music fills the air as guests move through traditional bungalows. These bungalows serve as locations for the shops of the Mandeville Marketplace, an open-air bazaar selling authentic Jamaican goods. Located in a tropical-colored building overlooking the bungalows is Restaurant Royale, serving Jamaican patties, chicken, and seafood, plus authentic Caribbean beer and coffee. To make up for the small size of the pavilion, the restaurant is on two levels. Plus, there is an eating garden right outside the restaurant's doors. Nearby, located among the bungalows is the Banana Boat Café. Named after the iconic Harry Belafonte song, the Banana Boat serving Jamaican jerk chicken, beef, lamb sandwiches, salads, and desserts ... most of which involve bananas (and a drink of rum).


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In a shaded alcove of the pavilion is a replica of one of Jamaica's most notable landmarks: Dunn's River Falls. In case you're unfamiliar, Dunn's River Falls are a notable landmark, and tourists can actually climb up the waterfalls. However, for guest safety, EPCOT's replica wouldn't allow that to happen. The only way you could climb up the Falls would be via stone staircases on either side.

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At the far back of the pavilion is a replica of Rose Hall in Montego Bay. This is the home of The Heartbeat of Jamaica, a show that showcases the history and culture of this vibrant island nation. In a vibrant theater-in-the-round setting, the world of Jamaica is brought to life in a highly-emotional journey, utilizing the music and dance of Jamaica, brought to life through a host of live musicians, singers and dancers. Much like with Restaurant Royale, the theater offers two levels of seating to allow for bigger guest capacity in a small setting. Don't be surprised to see a few performers up in the balconies during the show! Located right nearby the theater is the Taino Spirit House, featuring traditional and contemporary art forms from around the Caribbean.

Here is how the pavilion would be structured.


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~ ~ ~

What do you think, guys? I know not much has changed here, but still, it's nice to be back in the swing of things. By the way, I should give credit where it is due: My India pavilion was inspired by three sources: S.W. Wilson's concept for a new version of EPCOT, @ScorpionX's concept from the "Gemini Series" and the India created by Team Verde -- aka, @ctxak98, @DinoInstitute, @Magic Feather, @RMichael21, @Skipper2 and @TheOriginalTiki -- for The Sorcerer's Apprentice: Homecoming Edition. Likewise, most of Jamaica came from @ScorpionX as well, so all credit goes out to these wonderful people.

So, in the next post, we'll conclude our tour of World Showcase. Until then, please feel free to post any comments or feedback you have! It's all very much appreciated!
 

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