Living with the Land updates

S

SkippingSpud

New Member
In what period was the Listen to the Land song used? It is very catchy!

When I went in Feb 2012, the doors where definitely working as I remember being worried about how close the boat would get before they would open.
 
George

George

Liker of Things
Premium Member
SkippingSpud said:
In what period was the Listen to the Land song used? It is very catchy!

When I went in Feb 2012, the doors where definitely working as I remember being worried about how close the boat would get before they would open.
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I'm not sure of the exact date that "Listen to the Land" quit playing. I believe the ride was called that from 10/1/82 until 93ish. I thought the song lasted after the changes in the 90's, but I'm not 100% certain. However, I would bet @marni1971 knows.

What is more important than dates though is that this song played during a time when educational materials were part of EPCOT, when the raison d'etre of the park was laid out in grand rides that actually enunciated a vision since they weren't worried about being hip or edgy, a time when a pimply faced, 120 pound teen could explore and poke his head in nooks and crannies throughout the park and have his hand poked by hundreds of pins...a time when two eighth graders could eat at the Good Turn, tip the waiter and not feel taken advantage of, a time when every ride started and finished in a fashion that made you know you were at a great place (it could be a candle on one little block that was turned out in the middle of hundreds of other little blocks, or a futuristic city scape, or a ride that corkscrewed up into to the show building), a time when you didn't think that there was no way they would build this today as the most expansive piece of themed entertainment in history was moving around under you while Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain narrated our history, a time when Walter Friggin' Cronkite said, "Behold the majesty of the Sistine Chapel", a time when the grandest, most daring, most forward looking dark ride ever built actually existed...most of all it was a time when a simple, little melodic folk song with a chorus sung by children could be used to inspire about something important and taken for granted.

@sshindel , @Tiggerish
 
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TomP

TomP

Well-Known Member
George said:
I'm not sure of the exact date that "Listen to the Land" quit playing. I believe the ride was called that from 10/1/82 until 93ish. I thought the song lasted after the changes in the 90', but I'm not 100% certain. However, I would bet @marni1971 knows.

What is more important than dates though is that this song played during a time when educational materials were part of EPCOT, when the raison d'etre of the park was laid out in grand rides that actually enunciated a vision since they weren't worried about being hip or edgy, a time when a pimply faced, 120 pound teen could explore and poke his head in nooks and crannies throughout the park and have his hand poked by hundreds of pins...a time when two eighth graders could eat at the Good Turn, tip the waiter and not feel taken advantage of, a time when every ride started and finished in a fashion that made you know you were at a great place (it could be a candle on one little block that was turned out in the middle of hundreds of other little blocks, or a futuristic city scape, or a ride that corkscrewed up into to the show building), a time when you didn't think that there was no way they would build this today as the most expansive piece of themed entertainment in history was moving around under you while Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain narrated our history, a time when Walter Friggin' Cronkite said, "Behold the majesty of the Sistine Chapel", a time when the grandest, most daring, most forward looking dark ride ever built actually existed...most of all it was a time when a simple, little melodic folk song with a chorus sung by children could be used to inspire about something important and taken for granted.

@sshindel , @Tiggerish
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Wow,wow, wow. That is quite a paragraph and brought back so many memories. FWIW, I get the hands poked by pins reference and have a mini version sitting on my end table right now.
 
jdmdisney99

jdmdisney99

Well-Known Member
JimboJones123 said:
Is the "Listen to the Land" song back?

No?

Welp, nothing to see here then.

Seriously, bring it back.

For the nostalgia. For the pavilion branding. Plant the seeds in younger riders to take the attraction home with them in the form of a song.
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Always thought they should bring that back at during the film/montage scenes.
 
MerlinTheGoat

MerlinTheGoat

Well-Known Member
I think Listen to the Land was removed in 1993. Which is also apparently the one where the opening and exit showscenes were changed. I definitely remember hearing it when I rode it as a child (I should still even have an old cassette with the song among other EPCOT classic tunes somewhere around the house).

I actually do like the current version (maintenance problems aside and needing some tech upgrades), it's my second favorite ride at EPCOT currently (American Adventure isn't a ride). Really love the peaceful zen-like way it begins, particularly the thunderstorm scene and the peaceful music and fantastic atmosphere that accompanies it. I don't consider the beginning scene inferior to what it once was from a show perspective.

I do really miss the song Listen to the Land however. I think a compromise could be made fairly easily though. Keep the opening scene as-is, but starting at the barn (the one with the film clips) play the original Listen to the Land (and throughout the greenhouse). Those scenes already play music of a similar genre anyways so replacing the music with the original soundtrack there would fit perfectly and probably be fairly easy and cheap to implement.
 
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Mike S

Mike S

Well-Known Member
Never heard the song on the ride but I heard it many times growing up from a CD of WDW and DL music we had. That same CD is actually sitting on my dresser right now. Ah memories :)
 
ryan1

ryan1

Well-Known Member
I rode LWtL in September, the first ride since probably April or May and it definitely seemed different than 4 months ago. The last green house scene where they show the fish in the water tub watering/fertilizing the plants tiered above it was new and some of the plants were in different places.

There were also a lot more fish in the tanks as well as a lot more crocs in that area.

It was probably the best ride through in several years. It seems to be in great shape and there was an actual LINE for the ride last month.
 
raven

raven

Well-Known Member
BTW, if you use the restrooms next to the Garden Grill restaurant, Listen to the Land is still a part of that soundtrack. You may have to be in there from 20 minutes or so but it is there.

On the same note, a portion of Magic Journeys is played as part of the soundtrack in the restrooms on the side of the Imagination building.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Listen to the Land closed Sep 27 1993. The first version of the replacement opened ten weeks later.

On my recent trip I noticed none of the show doors were working. Must have the same bug Energy has.
 
The Empress Lilly

The Empress Lilly

Well-Known Member
George said:
I'm not sure of the exact date that "Listen to the Land" quit playing. I believe the ride was called that from 10/1/82 until 93ish. I thought the song lasted after the changes in the 90's, but I'm not 100% certain. However, I would bet @marni1971 knows.

What is more important than dates though is that this song played during a time when educational materials were part of EPCOT, when the raison d'etre of the park was laid out in grand rides that actually enunciated a vision since they weren't worried about being hip or edgy, a time when a pimply faced, 120 pound teen could explore and poke his head in nooks and crannies throughout the park and have his hand poked by hundreds of pins...a time when two eighth graders could eat at the Good Turn, tip the waiter and not feel taken advantage of, a time when every ride started and finished in a fashion that made you know you were at a great place (it could be a candle on one little block that was turned out in the middle of hundreds of other little blocks, or a futuristic city scape, or a ride that corkscrewed up into to the show building), a time when you didn't think that there was no way they would build this today as the most expansive piece of themed entertainment in history was moving around under you while Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain narrated our history, a time when Walter Friggin' Cronkite said, "Behold the majesty of the Sistine Chapel", a time when the grandest, most daring, most forward looking dark ride ever built actually existed...most of all it was a time when a simple, little melodic folk song with a chorus sung by children could be used to inspire about something important and taken for granted.

@sshindel , @Tiggerish
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Wow, you're on a roll. Best piece ever written about EPCOT Center.

:cry:
 
RSoxNo1

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
marni1971 said:
Listen to the Land closed Sep 27 1993. The first version of the replacement opened ten weeks later.

On my recent trip I noticed none of the show doors were working. Must have the same bug Energy has.
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Was it open on September 27th, or was the last day of operation September 26th?
 
dizknee24

dizknee24

New Member
This attraction needs some love. I understand it costs more money to staff people on the boats, but they could have show times throughout the day where the CMs are giving the spiels. Fill in the inbetween with the recording.
 
Pick145

Pick145

Active Member
I understand the yearning for the days that there were CMs giving the spiels, but I distinctly remember how hit or miss that could be. With a recording it not only saves money, but it saves guests from listening to a burnt out CM stumbling over the spiel, missing information along the way. In an attraction like Living with the Land, it is much harder for a CM to stay in the spirit of the show than in real roll play attractions like the Jungle Cruise, Kilimanjaro Safari or Great Movie Ride.
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
raven said:
BTW, if you use the restrooms next to the Garden Grill restaurant, Listen to the Land is still a part of that soundtrack. You may have to be in there from 20 minutes or so but it is there.

On the same note, a portion of Magic Journeys is played as part of the soundtrack in the restrooms on the side of the Imagination building.
Click to expand...

Check :cautious:
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
George said:
I'm not sure of the exact date that "Listen to the Land" quit playing. I believe the ride was called that from 10/1/82 until 93ish. I thought the song lasted after the changes in the 90's, but I'm not 100% certain. However, I would bet @marni1971 knows.

What is more important than dates though is that this song played during a time when educational materials were part of EPCOT, when the raison d'etre of the park was laid out in grand rides that actually enunciated a vision since they weren't worried about being hip or edgy, a time when a pimply faced, 120 pound teen could explore and poke his head in nooks and crannies throughout the park and have his hand poked by hundreds of pins...a time when two eighth graders could eat at the Good Turn, tip the waiter and not feel taken advantage of, a time when every ride started and finished in a fashion that made you know you were at a great place (it could be a candle on one little block that was turned out in the middle of hundreds of other little blocks, or a futuristic city scape, or a ride that corkscrewed up into to the show building), a time when you didn't think that there was no way they would build this today as the most expansive piece of themed entertainment in history was moving around under you while Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain narrated our history, a time when Walter Friggin' Cronkite said, "Behold the majesty of the Sistine Chapel", a time when the grandest, most daring, most forward looking dark ride ever built actually existed...most of all it was a time when a simple, little melodic folk song with a chorus sung by children could be used to inspire about something important and taken for granted.

@sshindel , @Tiggerish
Click to expand...

So, this thread can be closed now. Nothing more needs to be said. About Epcot. Ever.
 

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