Who is the Imagineer? Is This Piece of Concept Art for El Rio Del Tiempo Real or AI?

Just arrived on my computer, a supposed piece of Disney concept art for EPCOT Center's magnificent El Rio Del Tiempo, an opening day attraction at World Showcase in Mexico. I can't make out the artists signature. Is it real? If so, who is the Imagineer? Inquiring minds need to know. Somebody help me out.

Epcot: Saturday in Mexico Two Ways

Saturday morning at the Mexico pavilion in Epcot. What a great way to spend it! A beautiful skyline looking across World Showcase Lagoon. Music in the air from the Mariachis. Fresh blooms of flowers all through the area, and the stunning nighttime sky inside the iconic pyramid. 

Without a moment's hesitation, I'd reply "EPCOT Center" if asked which Disney park had the most spellbinding Imagineering art. Much of it was created by the legendary Herb Ryman. Not all, but quite a bit. And the pieces created for Future World are just as stunning as the ones created for Mexico, France, and others. 

Oftentimes reality is not as good as Imagineering artwork. Sometimes, reality is better! (See Cars Land at Disney California Adventure for example.) Every once in awhile, concept art shares details we wish Disney had included. Above is one such piece. 

The original and enchanting El Rio del Tiempo took riders through sets both elaborate and simple as they explored the history and culture of Mexico. (I'd still take it over The Gran Fiesta Tour any day- but that's a whole different story.) If you look closely at some of El Rio's great concept art, you'll notice the boats were to be more like the classic flower adorned ones of Xochimilco than the plain and ordinary ones they are. A little change like that, however, would have necessitated a much more grand scale than what was built. Due to budget cuts because of overages throughout the park, the lovely boat ride that was supposed to be more on the scale of Pirates of the Caribbean became a lot less ambitious. 

Unfortunately, it also became the new standard when it came to ride length of future boat ride attractions. From Norway's Maelstrom to Animal Kingdom's Na'vi River Journey, traditional water attractions are now shorter in time, making it more difficult to fully immerse riders in the story and in the landscapes. They are still very popular, though! Maybe one day, elaborate and lengthy trips on the waterways will make their return. Disney Imagineering seems to be bringing back Audio-Animatronics after years of moving away from their use, so who knows what will happen.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Days of Disney Past: EPCOT Center

Make no mistake about it: The original EPCOT Center was absolutely groundbreaking! Sure, it was like a "permanent World's Fair", but it was done with that forward thinking class and style that only The Walt Disney Company could pull off in this era of themed entertainment. There may be a reason that there are so many articles on this blog about the place. Unrealized pavilions and their concept art? Check? Critique on new additions and subtractions? Absolutely! Trip reports galore? Naturally! However...

There's an old saying that "There's nothing like your first time." It happens to be true when I speak about our first visit to EPCOT Center. In an unexpected twist, it almost instantly became our favorite Disney park. This was the park as originally envisioned, not the one chock full of intellectual properties and animated characters. No Frozen, no Guardians of the Galaxy, no Nemo, no Ratatouille. We had taken the monorail to EPCOT Center before the park was even open to the public, and I was smitten when I saw the scope and scale of the project. Breathtaking, really!

Go forward one year, and we were there at the gates. There was no access to the park via the International Gateway back then. One way in, and one way out.

In the days when pleasing the guest was king, World Showcase opened the exact same time as Future World, so we entered the park and almost walked right past Spaceship Earth and directly to the Mexico Showcase. Almost. Of course, we were not immune to the charms of the future world as portrayed by Disney. In fact, I remember clearly just staring at the huge silver sphere. Couldn't take my eyes off it, but we had to stop and get to the World Key Information Stations inside Earth Station to book meal reservations. Super easy, super fun and reasonably priced. 

We only had to wait a few minutes, but we stayed busy by watching a terrific kaleidoscope of images previewing the wonders we'd soon encounter.  Just the presentation and the surrounding area felt fresh, optimistic, and inspiring. The future wasn't scary. It was approachable. We made our way to the front of the line and to the screen. 

This alone was a touch of something entirely new. In fact, in 1982 touch sensitive computer screens were something of a rarity. The Bell System (at divestiture the attraction would then be officially sponsored by AT&T, the company I worked for at the time) and its branch Bell Laboratories really were bringing us the future of communication. Moments after a young woman came to the screen to help us with our meals choices, we were on our way.  No, you didn't have to book 90 days in advance to get a meal reservation. You could do it the day off and get a great selection of choices. Simple, relaxed, friendly, efficient.

The future was interesting, but for me, nothing could compare to the chance to explore the countries of the world. So, deciding to bypass Future World for the time being, we strolled into Mexico.  It and China next door just seemed to beckon us compared to the more familiar Canada and the United Kingdom. The lone Mayan pyramid and the small cantina on the glistening lagoon gave us no hint to what we were about to experience.

Until the changeover from El Rio del Tiempo to the Gran Fiesta and perhaps one day Coco, the sights, sounds, and feel of Mexico made it our favorite place in all of World Showcase. I won't bore you with the details of El Rio del Tiempo, but I will tell you, we were enchanted by it and wished it had lasted even longer than it did. It was planned to be much, much longer - more akin to Pirates of the Caribbean- but yes, budgets were blown past, and time was running short. (If you want to see lots of art and images plus links to video etc, just search on the site for "Cinco de Mayo" or go here for one of many posts.) 

Having visited Baja California, Mazatlan, and Acapulco, I have aways had a soft spot for the country. The gentle boat ride by an active volcano gave the pavilion a touch of glamour and mystery. Something the Gran Fiesta Tour version of the ride replaces with silliness and cheap marketing. It's too bad, but it was foreshadowing of what was to come. We wandered around the pyramid under the moonlight, so glad we were returning for lunch later in the day.

Naturally, we strolled along the promenade and continued on to find China. For younger readers, it's important to remember that at the time, only a select few people were given the ability to travel to this country, thereby making a visit to a fairly accurate representation of the landmarks of the country all the more alluring. The highlight? Meeting the nationals who were privileged to work there. Asia had always fascinated me, and China was out of reach. I was thrilled to step into a place that was forbidden in the real world.

There were no Disney themed items to be found in the shops of World Showcase, only authentic goods right from the countries represented. It was as close as an authentic experience a traveler could get without hopping on an airplane. Needless to say, we were again stunned by the beauty of the landscaping and architecture, thrilled by the 360 movie, Wonders of China. Dreams of traveling there were lit inside.

Making our way around the lagoon, we stopped at Germany and Italy, winding up at the American Adventure. We were very impressed by the show, (Disney always had a way of making you feel proud to be an American) but disappointed there was nothing else to represent our country. Fast food? That's it? Disappointing to say the least, but there was still much to explore. That view backwards to Future World and Spaceship Earth made it crystal clear- wow, this park was huge.

We chose to head back toward Mexico for lunch as we had waterside dining reservations at the San Angel Inn Restaurante.  It was dark, cozy, romantic- and we so enjoyed the margarita, queso fundido, and our main course. It was my first taste of Mole Poblano and not my last, becoming a new Mexican favorite. We ended our lunch with another cruise on the river, heading back into Future World from there.  

The afternoon crowds were heavy back in the other end of the park, so it was fairly easy to get into the big ticket attractions of Future World. First stop, Journey Into Imagination. My father-in-law worked for Kodak for his entire career, so we had heard great things about what Disney came up with. In a word, Imagineer Tony Baxter and his team pulled off something truly magical! Figment and Dreamfinder were delightful and will always be the true "hosts" of the park.  (I cannot tell you what a bastardization of the original attraction this third version is. The second was the worst, but this one is awful too. You'd have to experience the original to understand exactly what I'm saying.) Before I became a collector of sorts of Disney park memorabilia, I purchased a Figment of my own. I had him until two years ago, when his neck broke. RIP, Figment.

Magic Journeys in 3D (a new thing!) was a great second attraction to the pavilion, and the Image Works was just plain fun. We stayed almost two hours- something you could not pay me to do now.

Sing along now: "Just make believe you're a tiny little seed..." The Land is our favorite of the original Future World attractions that are still present in the park. Up until the point Horizons debuted a few years later, this was where the future was in Future World. The Listen to the Land boat tour was the perfect way to share the latest in farming technologies to the public. This was a case of "Edutainment" at its best. 

The film Symbiosis was preachy at times, but the cruise through the greenhouses made learning fun. Kitchen Cabaret brought it home for the kids. The silly presentation about nutrition, while enjoyable, was not on par with the much better Audio-Animatronic musicals found in the Magic Kingdom. However, this wasn't meant to be an E Ticket  headline attraction either. (The show's eventual replacement, Food Rocks, was even less effective.)

Starting with the following morning when we would return for a second full day at EPCOT Center, breakfast at The Good Turn would become a tradition until it became too expensive or too difficult to book. We always enjoyed the warm Florida sun streaming through the greenhouse dome, and intentionally stretched our meal time long enough to rotate into the darker showroom of the boat cruise. It's in the hidden places such as this that Disney's Future World has its own unique, optimistic charms. The future should be warm and hopeful, and it always was in the way Disney chose to present it back then. Now, it's just cartoon filled and silly. New landscapes for selling plush toys and Disney+ subscriptions. 

The Living Seas wouldn't come until later, so we wandered through Communicore (now Innoventions). We passed through both East and West, and we decided to make that area part of the next day. Back then, EPCOT Center was a two full day park. Now we still go for two days because its our favorite park, but it doesn't hold nearly as much substance. Anyway, we were among the first to vote for The Person of the Century poll. Kind of a fun thing to throw in there. My bet was Disney didn't like the results, and the show- and announcement of the winner- soon disappeared.

A journey deep into Spaceship Earth was a perfect way to continue our trip. It was very impressive, and I was pleased to see my employer was represented by such a fine attraction. The ride was long enough to truly "get lost" in the story. The changes over the years have not always taken away from the grandeur- until there was a new ending filled with monitors on the ride vehicle.  Such a pity.

Across the way, we wandered into the Universe of Energy. It's inherent surprises did the trick they were designed to do, and who doesn't love dinosaurs? Yet, it was next door's World of Motion that we really loved from our first ride. Everything about it was Disney Imagineering at its best.

Let me be clear- I love old school Audio-Animatronic adventures like Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. They rely on story to bring the thrills and surprises. World of Motion easily held its own with these classics. From the train being held up (in a nod to the never built Western River Expedition) to the policeman on motorcycle behind the billboard, the attraction built to a grand finale- a ride through the city of the future. Humorous, informative and very repeatable. (Gary Owen's narration was incredible in his signature style.) Motion became a three ride a day attraction for us, and we did it again several hours later after nightfall.  

Upon exiting and by then knowing the song "It's Fun to Be Free" by heart, we stepped into the Transcenter for the Bird and Robot / The Water Engine show followed by the automotive displays, a nice nod to the sponsor. 

I'm all for thrill rides-  and I truly love Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad- but there is something about these older lengthy and leisurely attractions like those mentioned above that really take you out of present day reality and into another realm. This is something Disney did better than just about anyone, but this fact about immersion is almost lost on the current batch of Imagineers... and park guests are now trained to run from E Ticket ride to E Ticket ride due to their brief attention spans and fear of missing out! Without the balance of all kinds of attractions, the audience is limited. This is why parks like California Adventure 1.0 and Disney's Animal Kingdom are not as popular as they could have been. I'd have to say that having smaller but engaging attractions and displays were something I enjoyed here and at Walt's park and at Disneyland Paris. It's a lost art to fill in spots with attractions like these where the business will never create extra revenue by selling upgraded experiences.

Evening meant a return to World Showcase starting with the beautiful gardens of Canada. The land's signature attraction, "Oh, Canada!" had nothing on its Chinese counterpart. This was not the case when we viewed "Impressions of France".  Superlatives are not enough, so Josh D'Amaro, Imagineers, and Budgeteers, after all these years, isn't it time to update the film and give it a technology upgrade as well? It's a masterpiece. So is the pavilion it is built around. A late night stroll through "France" and then around the promenade basking in the glory of a beautiful Florida evening was the perfect way to end our first visit to EPCOT Center. (By the way- Thank God Ratatouille is an add and not an "instead of"!)

The original plan was for tons of additional international pavilions and attractions. You can go here for images about Japan's Omnimover ride, plans for Brazil, Spain, the UAE, Costa Rica, Russia, the abandoned Science and Technology pavilion, and more (like Germany's Rhine River Cruise, the U.K.'s own canal trip). You can even go here to see some of the original ideas for the park before it looked it it does now. But back to our first time visit...

We'd come back and do it again the next day, this time starting in Future World and then working our way through World Showcase, beginning with Canada. 

The changes over the years would not always please us. It actually may be our fault that Epcot changed so radically. Take a look at this article and tell me I'm not wrong. Still, this one single theme park is a big reason I return to Walt Disney World. There's nothing like it.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Epcot's Mexico Pyramid is a Real Place

Ever wonder where the Disney Imagineers got their inspiration for EPCOT Center's Mexico Showcase? It's right here: El Castillo (The Kukulkan Temple) of Chichen Itza, a Mayan pyramid in Yucatan, Mexico. It is almost a full on replica just scaled down to a theme park size. In Florida, the interior includes a beautiful village and a boat ride. Long ago before Donald and the Three Caballeros invaded for their Gran Fiesta Tour, the elegant and mysterious El Rio del Tiempo called to guests willing to explore Mexico's ancient past and vibrant future. I'd look forward to the day the suits decided to return to the park's roots focusing on culture and history in World Showcase. But that will never happen. 

Sprinkling a Bit of Coco at Disneyland

Adding to the slew of characters that have invaded It's A Small World, Disney has announced that Miguel and Dante from Coco will come to the Disneyland attraction as part of the park's 70th birthday offerings. Seems like a no-brainer to me! Coco is a delightful film. It just makes me a bit hopeful that Imagineering has some great ideas in mind for the coming attraction at Disney California Adventure. Perhaps shades of Epcot's classic El Rio del Tiempo? A guy can dream. 

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)
 

Epcot Attraction Poster That I Forgot to Share

The character infusion at EPCOT began years ago, long before Frozen Ever After overtook Maelstrom and the Three Cabarellos axed El Rio del Tiempo. Some additions were more subtle, like the DuckTales World Showcase Adventure, an interactive eye spy game that took younger visitors and their families into several pavilions to hunt for clues and solve a mystery. The attraction poster was a nice touch to advertise something unique, rather fun, and an introduction to the park's future.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

 

Dine or Ditch San Angel Restaurante for Cinco de Mayo?

Back in the 80s when EPCOT Center made its debut, the San Angel Restaurante captured our imaginations and our restaurant dollars. Today is Cinco de Mayo, and the beloved location is still the very best place to celebrate it at Walt Disney World. 

The restaurant sits in the perfect location- Mexico's World Showcase pavilion is beautiful! It's as atmospheric if not more so than the concept art below or even Disneyland's Blue Bayou:

The end result is better than the Imagineering art!

Sitting on the waterside of the lagoon, boats sail on El Rio del Tiempo, the River of Time, taking passengers on their way for a fun and music filled Gran Fiesta Tour. (Yes, the opening day attraction was based on the culture and history of Mexico and not Disney characters- and it was SO much better!)

As you sit there enjoying your excellently prepared tacos, perfectly cooked steak, enchiladas, or Queso Fundido, the perpetual moonlight and smoldering volcano in the distance takes you to a timeless land far away. The stresses of a Disney World vacation melt away. Isn't this why you came to Disney in the first place?

Is this the right place for you to get out of the sun and enjoy a meal when there are so many options at Epcot? This Dine or Ditch review should help you to make a wise decision on what is best for your family and particular trip.  

Regular visitors to Walt Disney World or local Floridians are most likely familiar with this restaurant. But for you on the West Coast or if you're a Disneyland only fan, picture if you will, a lushly themed Mexican version of New Orleans Square's classic Blue Bayou, and you'll get an idea of what's in store for those who choose to dine here. 

In place of the fireflies and charming Spanish moss draped trees of Louisiana, once guests venture into the giant exterior pyramid that represents Mexico and beyond the town's plaza, the lively Mariachi music  fades the deeper they go into the pavilion. They'll eventually discover a smaller Mayan pyramid hidden in a thick jungle. A smoking volcano erupts off just beyond the horizon. The majestic blue night sky glistens under the moonlight while the faint sounds of an ancient civilization are heard off in the distance. Boats sailing on El Rio del Tiempo drift by those dining on the waterfront. Here, passengers begin their journey on a music filled Gran Fiesta Tour to meet up with The Three Caballeros. 

Rarely seen Imagineering concept art of the exterior pyramid.

Sounds like a great place to relax and dine, doesn't it?

It was only fitting that we would eventually eat here during our adults only vacation with our youngest son. We all love Mexican food and great margaritas. But with so many options for this type of cuisine, would we be disappointed or delighted by choosing this place?

Things started off promising: Our wait was merely ten minutes once we arrived on time for our reservation. In what can only be described as a gift from God, at prime dining time and without us requesting it, we followed the hostess to a seat right at the water's edge- front and center - something we had never experienced in any of our other visits. Good start! I was once again instantly smitten by the place.

What to order? Margaritas were the go-to (of course), and we just had to request an appetizer of Queso Fundido, a dish we'd had first in the 80's and now a tradition for each meal here. What's not to love about gobs of gooey melted cheese, bits of chorizo and spices with tons of warm toasty tortilla chips- even at $15 USD? A cool, crisp, very large, and stunningly simple house margarita with top shelf liquor was my choice to complement our meal... but at a $23 price tag, there was not an additional one ordered. 

When eating Mexican, I normally order Carne Asada for a special night out, but after an absolutely great evening at The Edison, the $50 USD price tag for the beef forced me to instead choose the Enchiladas de Pollo at a still expensive $27. No matter, the meal was delicious and beautifully presented with a side of plantains. My wife ordered as I did, but our son chose the $30 Ribeye Tacos which he deemed quite delicious and well worth the price. For me, one of the true determining factors of a great Mexican restaurant is its salsa. I'm happy to report, it is absolutely delicious, very flavorful with more than a hint of heat. Just the way I like it. I could have made an extended meal of just the appetizers.

Our server was beyond excellent, leaving us time to enjoy each piece of the meal while still providing attentive service. Not only did he happily take several "money shot" photos of the three of us with both the pyramid and volcano perfectly in the background, he also spent time talking with us about Epcot, his love for the park, and his appreciation for the company he works for which is headquartered in Mexico City. He much enjoyed the family environment among those who work at his location and stated many of the staff are still there since opening day. 

The relaxing pace, the excellent food and drink, and the professional yet very warm service made for a very leisurely and memorable meal (and an appropriately large tip. I believing in blessing those who provide excellent service). We certainly were not rushed out or pressured to finish our meal in any way. This made it a wonderful setting to discuss the trip, our love of family and being together, and the faithfulness of God. All told, we found San Angel Inn Restaurante to be worth every effort to reserve and every bit of cash it took to dine there.

Should you dine there?

Here are a few things to consider as you decide:

Do you have children with you? In spite of the kid friendliness of the Gran Fiesta attraction, the atmosphere of the restaurant proper feels very adult. It's dark, moody, romantic, and nicely quiet the nearer you are to the lagoon. If your children are patient, well-behaved, and love learning about other cultures, they may enjoy and appreciate the relaxed but refined experience- and so will the diners around them. If they need stimulation or interactions with Disney characters, this may not be the right choice.  

 

Consider your trip budget. It's difficult to deny that San Angel is very pricey for what it is. Although the upscale food is quite good and the drinks sublime, you are paying for the magical Disney atmosphere here. How much is atmosphere worth? That would be the tipping point for us as we have great restaurants in Denver, but none with this type of environment. When the Disney Dining Plan returns, this place should at least be on your list of places to consider.  

Timing. If your desire is to transition out of the hot late afternoon sun to refresh your body and soul and lift your spirits, San Angel Inn is a perfect choice. It feels far away from the crowds and provides a one-of-a-kind experience that cannot be duplicated elsewhere in the World. Wanting a quick bite as you go from attraction to attraction? Maybe not worth your time. After dark, San Angel Inn may not be your best choice as many restaurants offer outside dining options alongside the World Showcase Lagoon. (If you still prefer Mexican for an evening meal, try La Hacienda de San Angel. Their food is even more high cuisine than San Angel Inn, but I find their atmosphere more ordinary. The prices are about equal.) If an evening viewing of Harmonious is a priority as part of your day at Walt Disney World's second theme park, this dining location is not for you.

Dine or Ditch for San Angel Inn Restaurante?  Your mileage may vary, but if you're looking for unique experience that's pure Disney, and you don't mind the high price tag,  it's a "Dine". If Mexican cuisine is not a favorite, the timing is off, or active children are in your party, it's a definite "Ditch". 

Want more Dine or Ditch?

Check out these other reviews:

Raglan Road at Disney Springs

Sci-Fi Dine In at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom

Garden Grill at Epcot

Cafe Orleans at Disneyland

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at Universal Orlando

(Top photo copyright Simply Sinova. All other photographs copyright the Mark Taft.)

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Epcot's San Angel Inn Restaurante

It's Cinco de Mayo, and the best place to celebrate at Walt Disney World has to be the San Angel Inn Restaurante in Mexico's World Showcase pavilion! The chips are hot, the salsa delicious, and the house margaritas are just what the celebration calls for!

This is another instance where the concept art,

thought quite nice, doesn't;t compare to the actual end result!

It's so much for than the food and drink however. Sitting on the waterside of the lagoon, boats sail on El Rio del Tiempo, the River of Time, taking passengers on their way for a fun and music filled Gran Fiesta Tour. 

As you sit there enjoying your excellently prepared tacos, perfectly cooked steak, enchiladas, or Queso Fundido, the perpetual moonlight and smoldering volcano in the distance takes you to a timeless land far away. The stresses of a Disney World vacation melt away. This is why you came to Disney in the first place!

Sure, there are many choices for Mexican food on the property, but for a uniquely Disney experience none beats this way to spend Cinco de Mayo. Is San Angel Inn Restaurante for you? Check out all the details on my Dine or Ditch review.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft. Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Dine or Ditch: Epcot's San Angel Inn Restaurante

Atmospheric and expensive, the San Angel Inn Restaurante holds a very special place in my heart. This World Showcase eatery is one of the original EPCOT Center must-do locations, and it is one we visited for our first anniversary trip in 1983. The San Angel is also one we hadn't eaten at in a decade or so, so I was very curious about how things currently stood. Was it still great? Was I banking on nostalgia and my love for the place because our first visit there was also our first time to Epcot? 

Is this the right place for you to get out of the sun and enjoy a meal when there are so many options at Epcot? This Dine or Ditch review should help you to make a wise decision on what is best for your family and particular trip.  

Regular visitors to Walt Disney World or local Floridians are most likely familiar with this restaurant. But for you on the West Coast or if you're a Disneyland only fan, picture if you will, a lushly themed Mexican version of New Orleans Square's classic Blue Bayou, and you'll get an idea of what's in store for those who choose to dine here. 

In place of the fireflies and charming Spanish moss draped trees of Louisiana, once guests venture into the giant exterior pyramid that represents Mexico and beyond the town's plaza, the lively Mariachi music  fades the deeper they go into the pavilion. They'll eventually discover a smaller Mayan pyramid hidden in a thick jungle. A smoking volcano erupts off just beyond the horizon. The majestic blue night sky glistens under the moonlight while the faint sounds of an ancient civilization are heard off in the distance. Boats sailing on El Rio del Tiempo drift by those dining on the waterfront. Here, passengers begin their journey on a music filled Gran Fiesta Tour to meet up with The Three Caballeros. 

Sounds like a great place to relax and dine, doesn't it?

Disneyland's Blue Bayou has nothing on this place!

It was only fitting that we would eventually eat here during our adults only vacation with our youngest son. We all love Mexican food and great margaritas. But with so many options for this type of cuisine, would we be disappointed or delighted by choosing this place?

Things started off promising: Our wait was merely ten minutes once we arrived on time for our reservation. In what can only be described as a gift from God, at prime dining time and without us requesting it, we followed the hostess to a seat right at the water's edge- front and center - something we had never experienced in any of our other visits. Good start! I was once again instantly smitten by the place.

Tasty- and pricey.

What to order? Margaritas were the go-to (of course), and we just had to request an appetizer of Queso Fundido, a dish we'd had first in the 80's and now a tradition for each meal here. What's not to love about gobs of gooey melted cheese, bits of chorizo and spices with tons of warm toasty tortilla chips- even at $15 USD? A cool, crisp, very large, and stunningly simple house margarita with top shelf liquor was my choice to complement our meal... but at a $23 price tag, there was not an additional one ordered. 

When eating Mexican, I normally order Carne Asada for a special night out, but after an absolutely great evening at The Edison, the $50 USD price tag for the beef forced me to instead choose the Enchiladas de Pollo at a still expensive $27. No matter, the meal was delicious and beautifully presented with a side of plantains. My wife ordered as I did, but our son chose the $30 Ribeye Tacos which he deemed quite delicious and well worth the price. For me, one of the true determining factors of a great Mexican restaurant is its salsa. I'm happy to report, it is absolutely delicious, very flavorful with more than a hint of heat. Just the way I like it. I could have made an extended meal of just the appetizers.

Our server was beyond excellent, leaving us time to enjoy each piece of the meal while still providing attentive service. Not only did he happily take several "money shot" photos of the three of us with both the pyramid and volcano perfectly in the background, he also spent time talking with us about Epcot, his love for the park, and his appreciation for the company he works for which is headquartered in Mexico City. He much enjoyed the family environment among those who work at his location and stated many of the staff are still there since opening day. 

The relaxing pace, the excellent food and drink, and the professional yet very warm service made for a very leisurely and memorable meal (and an appropriately large tip. I believing in blessing those who provide excellent service). We certainly were not rushed out or pressured to finish our meal in any way. This made it a wonderful setting to discuss the trip, our love of family and being together, and the faithfulness of God. All told, we found San Angel Inn Restaurante to be worth every effort to reserve and every bit of cash it took to dine there.

Should you dine there?

The "Money shot".

Here are a few things to consider as you decide:

Do you have children with you? In spite of the kid friendliness of the Gran Fiesta attraction, the atmosphere of the restaurant proper feels very adult. It's dark, moody, romantic, and nicely quiet the nearer you are to the lagoon. If your children are patient, well-behaved, and love learning about other cultures, they may enjoy and appreciate the relaxed but refined experience- and so will the diners around them. If they need stimulation or interactions with Disney characters, this may not be the right choice.  

 

Consider your trip budget. It's difficult to deny that San Angel is very pricey for what it is. Although the upscale food is quite good and the drinks sublime, you are paying for the magical Disney atmosphere here. How much is atmosphere worth? That would be the tipping point for us as we have great restaurants in Denver, but none with this type of environment. When the Disney Dining Plan returns, this place should at least be on your list of places to consider.  

Timing. If your desire is to transition out of the hot late afternoon sun to refresh your body and soul and lift your spirits, San Angel Inn is a perfect choice. It feels far away from the crowds and provides a one-of-a-kind experience that cannot be duplicated elsewhere in the World. Wanting a quick bite as you go from attraction to attraction? Maybe not worth your time. After dark, San Angel Inn may not be your best choice as many restaurants offer outside dining options alongside the World Showcase Lagoon. (If you still prefer Mexican for an evening meal, try La Hacienda de San Angel. Their food is even more high cuisine than San Angel Inn, but I find their atmosphere more ordinary. The prices are about equal.) If an evening viewing of Harmonious is a priority as part of your day at Walt Disney World's second theme park, this dining location is not for you.

Dine or Ditch for San Angel Inn Restaurante?  Your mileage may vary, but if you're looking for unique experience that's pure Disney, and you don't mind the high price tag,  it's a "Dine". If Mexican cuisine is not a favorite, the timing is off, or active children are in your party, it's a definite "Ditch". 

Want more Dine or Ditch?

Check out these reviews:

Sci-Fi Dine In at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom

Garden Grill at Epcot

(Photographs copyright the Mark Taft.)

Imagineer Zach Riddley's Little Mexico Concept Art

While everyone seemed to be gawking at Imagineer Zach Riddley's video and new photos for Epcot's Space 220 restaurant (me included), I dug a little bit deeper. His Instagram page shows a piece of concept art for Mexico at World Showcase that I hadn't seen before. So here it is. Why "Little Mexico"? Well you know a full size pic and in better resolution has to be in The Walt Disney World archives somewhere.

As one of my favorite nations there, I just can't get enough! Cinco de Mayo or otherwise, there's just so much to enjoy. Now, if they'd just bring back El Rio del Tiempo... Oh, I forgot. The days of culture not characters is long gone.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Time to Party!

It's time to break out the margaritas, a plate of sizzling enchiladas, and several dishes of flan. It's Cinco de Mayo, and although we're stuck inside, we can still celebrate. Ready?

Isn't this piece of concept art for EPCOT Center's lovely El Rio del Tiempo beautiful? Imagineer Eddie Martinez created this view of the attraction, mixing all the joy, colors, and enchantment of a Mexican village at the edge of the river. It's easy to see how the suits plan to transition this from the current Gran Fiesta Tour into Coco, but often, it is best to let guests experience their own story as it unfolds in an attraction. not everything has to be a tie in to an Intellectual Property. This was part of the charm of the park at opening!

El Rio del Tiempo and Impressions de France were my two favorite World Showcase attractions from the very beginning. Both this ride and this film celebrated the culture represented without having to put a Disney watermark of characters on top. As the classic Future World attractions such as Journey into Imagination, World of Motion, and Horizons give way to much less vibrant replacements, going to World Showcase gives off that classic Epcot vibe. At least for now, and that is worth celebrating. 

What else can we celebrate? In the midst of a season unique to our generation, we have friends, family, and a God who loves us. We may not always understand why things happen the way they do, but we can trust all things work together for good if we love Him and are called to His purposes. That is good news worthy of a party!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

El Rio del Tiempo (The River of Time)

Imagineer Eddie Martinez was unknown to me until I was gifted this beautiful piece of concept art for EPCOT Center's Mexico pavilion. You might correctly recognize it as a scene from the original boat ride attraction, El Rio del Tiempo (The River of Time).  

Back in the early days (until the Three Caballeros took over and it became the Gran Fiesta Tour), this intimate cultural gem was one of my favorite parts of World Showcase. The transition to Tour was just another early indicator of the direction the suits were going to make Epcot "more Disney". Coco here we come.

Time marches on as well as flows. As I'm writing this post, I'm also preparing to share at my father-in-law's memorial service. And I'm thankful for his life but also aware of my own limited time on earth. Jesus' words ring in my ear- the words he used to comfort two grieving sisters at a loss because of their brother's death: "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” It's from John, chapter 11. 

In the midst of death, there's hope and peace- and in time, a reunion dinner for all who love Jesus, God in the flesh. See you soon, Grandpa Joe. The River of Time continues to flow...

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.) 

Cinco de Mayo Celebration of Epcot's Mexico Showcase

Who doesn't love Cinco de Mayo? And who isn't ready for some margaritas and a nice meal with a festive atmosphere?

At Epcot's Mexico Showcase, the fiesta lasts every day! Ready for opening day, those world famous Disney Imagineers created a beautiful combination of shops and restaurants to complement the lovely El Rio del Tiempo, the attraction found inside the pyramid.  This ride through a Blue Bayou type lagoon unfolds the story of Mexican culture through music and dance. 

Before we get to that, let's talk about where to eat. From my last visit, it boiled down to two choices. One with great food and an average environment, and one with awful food but a spectacular only as Disney can do setting.

Just opposite this pyramid is the restaurant with amazing food: La Hacienda. It may even have the best food in all of Epcot, and it earned deservedly rave reviews from everyone in our group, kids, parents, and grandparents. That's saying something as our state offers some of the best Mexican food in the country.

The other restaurant of notice is inside the pyramid: San Angel Restaurant. One of our early favorites when EPCOT Center opened, but one with now some of the worst food at the park, albeit with a mesmerizing environment. Can't have both here. What would you choose?

Now back to our story of the Imagineers and their vision for the Mexico showcase. They dreamed up a great concept with some wonderful art to support it. 

The concept art reveals their thoughtful undertaking. To capture a country as vibrant and varied as Mexico, they involved local artists in their work. Doing so brought an authenticity to the Disney theme park- even if it is a fanciful dream-like version of everyone's favorite ideas of what the nation actually comprises. 

Approaching the imposing temple sitting alongside the World Showcase lagoon, we see the Imagineers first give us a museum like space devoted to bringing us a small sampling of crafts from local artists. But once we go deeper inside, a surprise awaits!

The Walt Disney World experience is all the more rich because of the vision of the park's creators, and its execution. Just about anyone can build rides, but EPCOT Center was meant to educate as well as entertain. In the early days, long before the inclusion of animated characters, the pavilion's adventures had to stand on their own. And they did. 

Let's go back in time to opening day and step inside to discover the treasures of Mexico. A beautiful plaza calls to us with so much to discover. Moving past the small shops around the colonial plaza, we find yet another temple and a small lagoon.

Going deeper still, we step aboard our small boat, cruising on the moonlit waterway into a smaller but still imposing illuminated structure.  Ancient statuary sits beside it with a singular hut found off to the right. Our adventure begins!

No spoilers here about the ride itself, but instead some concept art (above and below) for the village within the plaza show us the night is alive with music and food!

The plaza sparkles in the moonlight, beckoning us to partake of its pleasures! Time for shopping. Perhaps a meal but certainly there's time for music! Yet, the other countries of World Showcase are waiting for us, making EPCOT Center a full two day park if you include the adventures of Future World. Where to go next?

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Photos copyright the author.)

Mexico Showcase Still Enchants

The Mexico showcase at Epcot is one of my absolute favorites! This photograph is a good example why. This shot was taken inside the grand pyramid- yes, inside! Look closer.

After entering the structure, we wander upon a delightful colonial village with filled with music, shops, and moonlight. Small boats glide on the lagoon waters past a smaller pyramid and a smoldering volcano, right into a journey into Mexicos' history and present. 

Oh, I mean they used to! When the boat ride was called El Rio del Tiempo it celebrated the rich culture of the Mayans and Aztecs and modern day Mexico. Now, as the Gran Fiesta Tour, it celebrates the arrival of the Three Caballeros on the day of their concert. Where's Donald? That's part of the fun for the little kids are Donald's friends search for him by visiting the resort areas of the country. It's cute and friendly, but it's not a cultural experience. It's all about the animated films and television shows now. 

There's a persistent rumor that Coco will take over the boat ride. Would this be better or worse? Can't really say, but regardless of what Intellectual Property Disney uses here, they can't take away from the splendor of the beautiful view of the lagoon, smaller pyramid, and the smoking volcano. Classic Disney Imagineering!

(Photograph copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Pencil Sketch of EPCOT Center's El Rio del Tiempo

From Imagineer Clem Hall, a great pencil sketch for Mexico's classic - and sorely missed- El Rio del Tiempo. When EPCOT Center opened, the countries of World Showcase celebrated their individual cultures and not the Disney character stories that took place in them. This distinction gave the park a fascinating, educational based feel, entertaining guests but also expanding their horizons. 

It was a wonderful plan and could have been maintained had the suits updated attractions with the latest technologies and newest travelogues. But it was not to be. Soon, World Showcase will not only be the home of Frozen Ever After and The Three Caballeros in the Gran Fiesta Tour. Coming soon is Ratatouille and Mary Poppins. More after that without a doubt. If they can shove Guardians of the Galaxy into the park, anything goes. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

First Visit to EPCOT Center

There's an old saying that there's nothing like your first time. It happens to be true when I speak about our first visit to EPCOT Center. In an unexpected twist, it almost instantly became our favorite Disney park. This was the park as originally envisioned, not the one chock full of intellectual properties and animated characters. No Frozen, no Guardians of the Galaxy, no Nemo, no Ratatouille.

Back then, World Showcase opened the same time as Future World, so we entered the park and almost walked right past Spaceship Earth and directly to the Mexico Showcase. Almost. Of course, we were not immune to the charms of the future world as portrayed by Disney. In fact, I remember clearly just staring at the huge silver sphere. Couldn't take my eyes off it, but we had to stop and get to the World Key Information Stations inside Earth Station to book meal reservations. Super easy, super fun and reasonably priced. 

We only had to wait a few minutes, but we stayed busy by watching a terrific kaleidoscope of images previewing the wonders we'd soon encounter.  Just the presentation and the surrounding area felt fresh, optimistic, and inspiring. The future wasn't scary. It was approachable. We made our way to the front of the line and to the screen. 

This truly was a touch of something new. In fact, in 1982 touch sensitive computer screens were something of a rarity. The Bell System (at divestiture the attraction would then be officially sponsored by AT&T, the company I worked for at the time) and its branch Bell Laboratories really were bringing us the future of communication. Moments after a young woman came to the screen to help us with our meals choices, we were on our way. 

Deciding to bypass Future World for the time being, we strolled into Mexico.  It and China next door just seemed to beckon us compared to Canada and the United Kingdom. The lone Mayan pyramid and the small cantina on the glistening lagoon gave us no hint to what we were about to experience.

Until the changeover from El Rio del Tiempo to the Gran Fiesta and perhaps one day Coco, the sights, sounds, and feel of Mexico made it our favorite place in all of World Showcase. I won't bore you with the details of El Rio del Tiempo, but I will tell you, we were enchanted by it and wished it had lasted even longer than it did. It was planned to be much, much longer but budgets were blown past, and time was running short. (If you want to see lots of art and images plus links to video etc, just search on the site for "Cinco de Mayo" or go here for one of many posts.) 

Having visited Baja California, Mazatlan, and Acapulco, I have aways had a soft spot for the country. The gentle boat ride by an active volcano gave the pavilion a touch of glamour and mystery. Something the new version of the ride replaces with cheap marketing. It's too bad, but it was foreshadowing of what was to come. We wandered around the pyramid under the moonlight, so glad we were returning for lunch later in the day.

Naturally, we followed along the promenade and continued on to China. For younger readers, it's important to remember that at the time, few people were given the ability to travel to this country, thereby making a visit to a fairly accurate representation of the landmarks of the country all the more alluring. Meeting the nationals who were privileged to work there was a plus. 

There were no Disney themed items to be found in the shops of World Showcase, only authentic goods right from the countries represented. It was as close as an authentic experience a traveler could get without hopping on an airplane. Needless to say, we were again stunned by the beauty of the landscaping and architecture, thrilled by the 360 movie, Wonders of China. Dreams of traveling there were lit inside.

Making our way around the lagoon, we stopped at Germany and Italy, winding up at the American Adventure. We were very impressed by the show, (Disney always makes you proud to be an American) but disappointed there was nothing else to represent our country. Fast food? That's it? Disappointing to say the least, but there was still much to explore. The view back to Future World and Spaceship Earth- wow, this park was huge.

We chose to head back toward Mexico for lunch as we had waterside dining reservations at the San Angel Inn Restaurante.  It was dark, cozy, romantic- and we so enjoyed the margarita, queso fundido, and our main course. It was my first taste of Mole Poblano and not my last, becoming a new Mexican favorite. We ended our lunch with another cruise on the river, heading back into Future World from there.  

The afternoon crowds were heavy back in the other end of the park, and it was fairly easy to get to the big ticket attractions of Future World. First stop, Journey Into Imagination. My father-in-law worked for Kodak at the time and for his entire career, so we had heard great things about what Disney came up with. In a word, magical! Figment and Dreamfinder were delightful and will always be the "hosts" of the park.  (I cannot tell you what a bastardization of the original attraction this new version is. You'd have to experience it to know.) Before I became a collector of sorts of Disney park memorabilia, I purchased a Figment of my own. I have him to this day. Magic Journeys in 3D (a new thing!) was a great second attraction to the pavilion, and the Image Works was just plain fun. We stayed almost two hours- something you could not pay me to do now.

Sing along now: "Just make believe you're a tiny little seed..." The Land is our favorite of the original Future World attractions that are still in the park. Up until the point Horizons debuted a few years later, this is where the future was in Future World. The Listen to the Land boat tour was the perfect way to share the latest in farming technologies to the public. This was a case of "Edutainment" at its best. 

The film Symbiosis was preachy at times, but the cruise through the greenhouses made learning fun. Kitchen Cabaret brought it home for the kids. The silly presentation about nutrition, while enjoyable, was not on par with the much better Audio-Animatronic musicals found in the Magic Kingdom. However, it wasn't meant to be a headline attraction either. (The replacement, Food Rocks, was even less effective.)

Starting with the following morning when we would return for a second full day at EPCOT Center, breakfast at The Good Turn would become a tradition until it became too expensive or too difficult to book. We always enjoyed the warm Florida sun streaming through the greenhouse dome, and intentionally stretched our meal time long enough to rotate into the darker showroom of the boat cruise. It's in the hidden places such as this that Future World has its own unique charms. The future should be warm and hopeful, and it always was in the way Disney chose to present it back then. Now, it's just cartoon filled and silly.

The Living Seas wouldn't come until later, so we wandered through Communicore (now Innoventions). We passed through both East and West, and we decided to make that area part of the next day. Back then, EPCOT Center was a two full day park. Now we still go for two days because its our favorite, but it doesn't hold as much substance. Anyway, we were among the first to vote for The Person of the Century poll. Kind of a fun thing to throw in there. My bet was Disney didn't like the results, and the show- and announcement of the winner- soon disappeared.

A journey deep into Spaceship Earth was a perfect way to continue our trip. It was very impressive, and I was pleased to see my employer was represented by such a fine attraction. The changes over the years have not always taken away from the grandeur- until a new ending filled with monitors on the ride vehicle.  Such a pity.

Across the way, we went into the Universe of Energy. It's inherent surprises did the trick they were designed to do, (who doesn't love dinosaurs?), but it was next door's World of Motion that we really loved. Everything about it was Disney Imagineering at its best.

Let me be clear- I love old school Audio-Animatronic adventures like Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. They rely on story to bring the thrills and surprises. World of Motion easily held its own with these classics. From the train being held up (in a nod to the never built Western River Expedition) to the policeman on motorcycle behind the billboard, the attraction built to a grand finale- a ride through the city of the future. Humorous, informative and very repeatable. (Gary Owen's narration was incredible in his signature style.) Motion became a three ride a day attraction for us, and we did it again several hours later after nightfall.  

Upon exiting and by then knowing the song "It's Fun to Be Free" by heart, we stepped into the Transcenter for the Bird and Robot / The Water Engine show followed by the automotive displays, a nice nod to the sponsor. 

I'm all for thrill rides-  and I love Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad- but there is something about these older lengthy and leisurely attractions like those mentioned above that really take you out of present day reality and into another realm. This is something Disney does better than just about anyone, but this fact about immersion is almost lost on the current batch of Imagineers... and park guests trained to run from ride to ride! Without the balance of all kinds of attractions, the audience is limited. This is why parks like California Adventure 1.0 and Animal Kingdom are not as popular as they could have been. 

Evening meant a return to World Showcase starting with Canada. The signature attraction, "Oh, Canada!" had nothing on its Chinese counterpart. This was not the case when we viewed "Impressions of France".  Superlatives are not enough, so Imagineers and Budgeteers, after all these years, isn't it time to update the film and give it a technology upgrade as well? It's a masterpiece. So is the pavilion it is built around. A late night stroll through "France" and then around the promenade basking in the glory of a beautiful Florida evening was the perfect way to end our first visit to EPCOT Center. Thank God Ratatouille is an add and not an "instead of"!

We'd do it again the next day, this time starting in Future World and then working our way through World Showcase, beginning with Canada. The changes over the years would not always please us, but this one single theme park is still the reason I return to Walt Disney World. There's nothing like it.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)