Is Walt Disney World's "New" Epcot An Improvement?

A brand new Epcot. I couldn't wait to see what Disney Imagineering had accomplished over the last eight years. Eight years! It had to be something incredible, something breathtaking, something unique. Filled with attractions worth the wait, shops and eateries that went to the top of our must do list. What would we find this visit?

I have always loved EPCOT Center. Since my first visit in 1983, this was the park I thoroughly appreciated from the very first visit. Now, decades later, how would the current Walt Disney World leadership and Imagineer Zach Riddley's vision for my favorite Disney park compare?  There was plenty new for us to see: Remy's Ratatouille Adventure in World Showcase, the Journey of Water Inspired by Moana, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and the new Walt Disney statue in Future World (or World Nature, World Celebration or World whatever), and the nighttime show Luminous The Symphony of Us. Could anything ever top Illuminations?

Repeating what we learned from the day before in How to Beat Disney at Its Own Game,  we took an early morning Uber to the Beach Resort.  A nice stroll in the cool of the morning led us to the lakefront and past Stormalong Bay, the best Disney waterpark that is not a waterpark. At moments before 7:00am, we snagged a relatively early virtual queue confirmation and a ride with Star-Lord and Company. After a great breakfast straight from the market and nearby seating in the beautiful courtyard, we moved on to the International Gateway entrance to Epcot. Time to go in. It was an easy walk to the France pavilion. 

Ratatouille happens to be my favorite Pixar film. So of course, Remy's adventure was the first must see of the day. The new attraction was only open to DVC members during our last visit. I wasn't happy, but I wasn't too bothered either. The Food & Wine Festival was waiting.

Shades of Paris.

Aside from the more cartoonish take on Paris, there's plenty of design detail and nods to the movie to be found in the side street and very pretty courtyard that leads to the main attraction. I was not quite as offended as some have been with this design choice. I'm not sure I want this to be the norm going forward. This isn't Fantasyland- or is it? - so I just let my ears be filled with the beautiful soundtrack music and enjoyed the new sights and sounds. 

It was not too long before we entered into the main building to begin the final few minutes of queueing. What did I think? It's all quite understated and charming. By the time we hit the evening (indoor) moonlight, I was just in the right frame of mind. There's no denying Disney Imagineering knows how to do nighttime right when it comes to dark rides. From Peter Pan's Flight to Pirates of the Caribbean's lovely Blue Bayou and Mexico's El Rio del Tiempo and later with Navi River Journey, they are experts in bringing the outdoors inside. 

Straight up, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure is no E Ticket. It occupies the same space as many other projects from the more recent years of Imagineering for the Stateside parks: Frozen Ever After, Toy Story Mania, and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run among others. They all fall just shy of greatness. Remy's is fun, kid-friendly, and different enough to be a draw. It will leave a smile on your face, but you will not be talking about it for more of your day. Would I ride it again? Of course! The film's a favorite and I can't resist a dark ride about Paris. 

Since we'd had breakfast, we walked through the nations of World Showcase to reach Norway and Frozen Ever After. It was still fairly early, but with the new caste system in place, it took us almost an hour to encounter Elsa and the gang. An hour. Yes, it is a caste system- and Disney is making some bad, bad choices by perpetuating this. They've already priced out many average income Americans from enjoying an affordable Disney vacation. This is one more example of how Disney's talk of diversity, equity, inclusion is all just corporate BS aimed toward placating their employees. I solidly stand by that assessment.  

I may be like you- Frozen Ever After is growing on me. Maybe I'm just getting used to this new Imagineering where "good enough" is the mantra of the current organization. There's still a long way to go to reach the high quality of the Frozen attraction in Tokyo Disneysea's Fantasy Springs expansion, but this Maelstrom takeover does have its charms. Namely Olaf and Sven.  

Yum!

This isn't the Disney Food Blog (and I love what AJ and teams does), but I'm going to risk an argument with some of you long time readers: We found the food at the Flower & Garden Festival to be better than that found at Food and Wine. The flavors are lighter, brighter, and the dishes much more creative. The adult beverages blended summer fruit with just the right amount of alcohol. We made many, many stops at the various outdoor kitchens, sharing each dish and drink along the way. The Lobster tail was particularly good and a good bargain. The ribs and shrimp were just as good. My wife loved the offerings she found in Canada. 

Our first day at this park, we did not make a reservation at one of the many terrific places to eat in World Showcase. The new Future World is still not the place to go for a good meal. (Check out our Dine or Ditch reviews of more than a few places at both Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or even Universal Orlando Resort.) Surprisingly, we didn't miss it at all aside from some indoor air-conditioning and table service. 

Finally water and lots of it.

The new garden area surrounding Spaceship Earth and the Walt statue was nice, but that is all it is. There's a good portion of shade to be found but sadly, absolutely no water features. I suppose this was a plan to make the Moana gardens walk through experience more attractive. I'll repeat myself here as I said earlier first looking at the concept art- It's a very pretty place and the concept and execution are great, but it is in the wrong park. 

Community Hall, I mean Communicore Hall, was not open yet. From what I've seen, we did not miss much. It's pretty generic looking and the area as a whole reminds me of those bland corporate campuses I used to work at when we lived in Northern California back in the late 1980s. Certainly nothing special, and definitely nothing worthy of the great Epcot or Disney name. 

It was finally time to see what replaced Universe of Energy.

I hate being wrong. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the best coaster on the Disney property! I LOVE it! The big box is as ugly as Hell against the brilliantly designed original buildings, and I despise the fact that Marvel characters have invaded my park. But darn it- I just want to ride this again and again. And again. 

Naturally, my wanna be Imagineer side realizes once the Marvel thing dies out, it will be an easy transition to something else- even if it was too many hundreds of millions of dollars to build. My tourist side says this was a winning choice. I was shocked just how much I enjoyed it.  TRON over at the Magic Kingdom can't even come close. The ride is fast, smooth as silk, and swerving in the dark through the galaxies is so enjoyable, it makes me wish the ride were brought to California. If I could have purchased another ride, I would have. One day, I want to ride it on September 21. 

Since we were almost there, we walked over to Spaceship Earth for a ride. Then we explored the original entrance area. The journey inside the sphere is still satisfying even if it needs an elegant update. Elegant, not trendy please. (When will they learn trendy doesn't work?) It's a classic for a reason, and it reminds Epcot visitors of what once was and what many hoped the new Epcot would be. Give it some respect. 

The entrance area is just as it should be. Those OG Imagineers knew exactly what they were doing. Beautiful landscaping framing the icon just works. Too bad no one at Disney management seems to listen to them anymore. 

We could not get into Space 220 and didn't want an hour and a half wait for a seat at the bar. Fair enough. This meant that Luminous was the only feature of "New Epcot" that we hadn't seen. 

Test Track was down, and then the wait was so long, we decided to pass it up. (As of yesterday evening, it is closed for version 3.0) Heading back over to The Land side of things, all of a sudden, the park felt very old school. Living with the Land is still a family favorite we ride each trip. The educational aspect of the attraction blends with the entertainment value in a seamless way- and without a Disney or Pixar or Marvel character inserted. Yes, it can be done and done well when the suits want to. Sure Imagination remains a sad mess and Living Seas with Nemo hasn't aged well. Its new paint job was very nice and very needed. Soarin' was as enjoyable as always even if the wait was much too long for reasons stated above.

Japan is always a favorite place to spend an hour.

What was really left for us now was old Epcot- remnants of the days past- and we just loved it. Taking the time to walk and enjoy the surroundings was like breathing again. There was no rush for the next scheduled attraction time. Cruising on El Rio del Tiempo (I wish!) and exploring the shops of China. Additional stops at the outdoor kitchens and viewing the many special gardens. No scrambling to get across the park in fear of missing an afternoon lunch appointment. More time to stop and enjoy the live entertainment and explore each country around the World Showcase Lagoon. Such a relaxing day!

An inspiring attraction!

Our son was ready to indulge us with our desire for some old school theater attractions, so we began with an Epcot Center classic: The American Adventure. We had timed it poorly on our last two trips, thinking there was still one more showing. We would not make this mistake again. 

With a large cast of full functioning Audio-Animatronics, excellent filmed segments, and stirring narration and music, this remains a not to be missed attraction. Our history is filled with events and decisions both good and evil, yet the multi-media attraction focuses on the spirit of Americans. It may be in vogue to slam our country, but once you've traveled the world and gotten to know other countries citizens at more than a passing hello, you soon discover we have it better here than just about anyone. 

This was our first viewing of Canada Far and Wide. The theater was fairly empty, but the low key film was excellent. Sitting in the darker, cooled waiting area was a treat on a hot day. Just walking past the still working waterfall to reach it reminded me that these smaller even hidden attractions and cozy hidden spaces are all part of the park's charm. It's not all about big, expensive rides. 

Our last theater show was Impressions de France. The film is feeling bit dated, but it is also timeless. The music is gorgeous! To say we love  this attraction would not do it justice. We've been blessed to be in France on five different trips, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

At about an hour and 15 minutes before show time, I grabbed us a spot on the bridge between the U.K. and France. As the sun was setting, my absolute favorite section of the park took on the beautiful colors of dusk. Oranges, pinks, and purples filled the sky. The lights of each country started to come on. Pure magic! This spot ended up being a terrific place to watch Luminous. 

We were all very big fans of Illuminations Reflections of Earth. In fact, it is the only nighttime Disney show in any park that we had to see each visit. The barges of Harmonius were hideous, and the show was mediocre at best. Thankfully, the suits responded wisely to fan outcry and gave it a quick death. Millions were wasted, but it was a good decision. So, what would we think of its replacement?

I'm absolutely sure it is actress Michelle Yeoh as the show's narrator. Her distinctive voice lends an air of sophistication to this outstanding event. And Luminous: The Symphony of Us is a park event not to be missed. While its predecessor had to hit guests over the head with its message, this newer production is very subtle, well designed and as beautiful to listen to as it is to watch. The Circle of Life story is touching, heart wrenching, and joyous. Visually, the opening sequence from the "hill" in the center of the lagoon brings the wow factor, proving again that those huge barge screens from Harmonious were not needed. When it all ended, I wished it were longer. That's how good this is! I hope it stays in the park for a decade or longer. Well done, Disney.

We left the park after the show and went through the International Gateway. It seemed everyone else did as well because the Skyliner queue was full. We were told the estimated wait was 1.5 hours. Yes, it was that long. Happily, we walked back to the Beach Club enjoying the cool of the evening. Our Uber ride home was brief and any line was happily avoided. This is the way to beat Disney at their game.

This day may have been the best one on our Disney portion of the trip. But we had two other parks to explore. Next up would be Disney's Hollywood Studios. 

What can I say about "New Epcot"? Is it an unmitigated success? No. The huge core of the park's main entrance area beyond Spaceship Earth feels corporate and unimaginative, more akin to a large city's convention center than a Disney theme park. The new buildings are bland, cold, clean, and sterile. Lacking personality, this area is fresher, but ultimately it leaves a sad uninspired aftertaste as you wander through the area. The landscaping is the star but even this is primarily one note: green. The park's three new attractions are a mixed bag, ranging from wildly successful to pretty good to clearly misplaced. There's little cohesion of all these new elements. The theme of this park has been watered down so many times, I bet it is really difficult to advertise. 

When Zach Riddley's team of Imagineers went back to what made the park great, it was a success. The entrance plaza has returned to its former self. The light show on Spaceship Earth really is stunning. I'm sure that budget allotments could have been adjusted to bring some well needed changes to the park's centerpiece and the beloved but now horrible Imagination pavilion. (Do first time park visitors of the last 20 years know this as anything but horrible? No.) The once inspiring ride is embarrassing at best. Tony Baxter must be angry about what they did to his incredible original show. A refreshing of Test Track is a great move, but that's on GM's dollar. Further more, World Showcase very much needed that Brazil pavilion.  I love touring the countries, but it is time for someplace new to explore. Decades worth of time.

The 2024 D23 announcements may focus on additions to Animal Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom, but I hope they don't leave Epcot out of it all. There's so much potential!  Aesthetics are one aspect of what makes a great park. Content is the other. But for now, the strengths of this park lie in its much ignored roots. Maybe one day, someone with the love of Epcot - like Riddley but with the power of a  Robert Iger- will come along and give it the love and respect it deserves.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Goodbye Test Track 2.0, Hello Test Track 3.0!

Epcot's Test Track is transforming again! Get ready for bits and pieces of the classic Future World attraction World of Motion to be gracefully Imagineered into version 3.0! Am I excited? You bet! Test Track 1.0 was brilliant, but 2.0 not so much. 

This first piece of concept art had already been revealed, giving just a glimpse of what is coming. But wait! There's more.

Here's the new art for the entrance (Top piece.) Do you love the clean lines and classic look? I do too. Like much of the ongoing transformation of Epcot, the best ideas seem to come from what was there before. Take a look at what World of Motion looked like when EPCOT Center opened:

It's Fun to Be Free, the theme song of World of Motion, would be the icing on the cake if it were to return to the ride. Even the queue. 

We won't see this one.

Did you know there's a tribute to World of Motion

in It's A Small World in Disneyland Paris?

I bet there's one thing we won't see. Original scenes full of Audio-Animatronics. But even a few would be nice. 

Why didn't the Epcot of latter years keep our interest? We are the reason Epcot had to change. Check out my detailed theory here.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Rare World of Motion Art

Ah, the EPCOT Center of old! When the Imagineers were forward thinkers and given more reign to create fresh and innovative ideas instead of just expensive promotional attractions for the animation and live action movie divisions most successful films. 

It's fun to be free! Here's a nice, fairly rare, little piece of concept art for EPCOT Center's wonderful and humorous World of Motion attraction. The rest of the pavilion could be explored only after the "E Ticket" ride. But what a ride it was! Filled with state of the art Audio-Animatronics and a clever narration by radio and television's beloved Gary Owens, and a very catchy theme song, it must a must see hit. 

Much akin to Pirates of the Caribbean in the Magic Kingdom, the ride through the history and future of transportation had so much going on that you had to ride several times to catch as much of it as possible. But it seemed like every trip, I would discover something new. There was even a whole scene "lifted" from Imagineer Marc Davis' unbuilt Western River Expedition- a pretty little nifty tribute to the mega complex of attractions that was given the axe when management panicked and brought in pirates instead. (See this.)

Test Track would come along and replace World of Motion, but that was certainly unnecessary. Remember that "blessing of size"? Yeah, me too. Should have had both. Such as shame the Disney suits had such disdain for their old school classics at the time. When they removed this, Horizons, the original Journey into Imagination, and the Universe of Energy, the tore out the heart and soul of the park. It's now just become a showcase for the Company's latest Intellectual Property- but without much intellect. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

World of Motion Meets Western River Expedition

Concept art is something I can never seem to get enough of! EPCOT Center had some of the very best due to the enormous talent of people like Imagineer Herb Ryman. This Future World pavilion might look a bit unfamiliar to you as it wasn't built like this, but instead, it was given a different exterior. Look closely though, and you'll recognize it to be World of Motion presented by General Motors. 

Scenes from World of Motion in postcard form.

The centerpiece attraction was a ride through adventure filled with good humor a la Marc Davis style and scores of Audio-Animatronics. In a very sly and subtle move, there's one very big tribute to Marc Davis in the attraction. The Old West scene of a stagecoach being held up is taken directly from pieces of a journey planned for the never built Magic Kingdom attraction, the Pirates of the Caribbean inspired Western River Expedition. (The best series of articles on this unbuilt Thunder Mesa mega attraction filled area is found on Passport to Dreams Old & New. Here's the link to Part One.)

Don't get me wrong- Test Rack is pretty fun, although I am a fan of the original version instead of the Tron rip-off we now have. (The test crash dummy scene was a perfect blend of concept, theme, and execution.) But the suits and Imagineers should have been able to leave the original E Ticket while building a second one.

Anyone ready to sing World of Motion's classic theme, "It's Fun to Be Free"? Wish I could see this attraction again!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Walt Disney World vs. Universal: September 2021 Trip Report, Day Two- Our Epcot Experience

After our busy morning and afternoon at Disney's Hollywood Studios, I am now going to transition to our evening at Epcot. Be forewarned, my thoughts are blunt, sometimes a bit sentimental, and the rest of this trip report is quite lengthy. Read on at your own risk.

Having "finished" our must-do attractions at the Studios park and not being all that interested in the evening show, we took off for Epcot shortly after our time at Oga's Cantina and then a Mickey ice cream bar. Via the short walk out followed by a ride on the Disney Skyliner, it was so easy with no one in line. Riding the Skyliner was one of this trips personal must-do, and I was not disappointed. (Trip planning note: If you're choosing the Caribbean Beach Resort for this transportation, ask for the Aruba bank of rooms. They sit right between this resort and the Riviera. The absolute perfect location to explore both resorts easily as well as hop a ride to your park of choice.)

Was there enough airflow?

Probably- if we didn't have to wear masks.

We absolutely loved the smooth ride and the views... aside from the exposed backstage areas of the France expansion in World Showcase. (I guess I just can't turn off the Imagineer in me!) It would have taken very little to hide and/or lightly theme the backside of it all. Again, the Walt Disney Company management under Bob Chapek is forgetting the idea of total immersion that Walt never forgot. Not once, not ever. That said, Robert Iger did seem to forget that with Avatar/Pandora, and Michael Eisner before him with Expedition Everest, so what do I know? 

Goodbye to the EPCOT Center I once knew and loved. 

Entering through the International Gateway into Epcot, I was just as excited as I was to get on the Skyliner to go there. I love this park! Or at least it used to be my favorite of the four Florida parks. No longer. It is now at the bottom of the list. This trip and our two evenings there are the cause of this drastic and sad re-evaluation. Will it move back up in the rankings in the future? Who knows? It was telling that in the planning with our son for this trip, Epcot was never our first park of the day choice.

I have long been a major Epcot fan since my first visit in early 1983. There are probably more articles on this blog about it, more pieces of concept art, and more speculation about its future than any other park, in Florida or otherwise. Perhaps even Disneyland itself.

(Here are just a vey, very small sampling of the many articles on the Insights and Sounds blog about this once great park, in chronological order:

• Can Epcot Be Saved?
• Cynical Look at New Plants for Epcot
• We are the Reason Epcot is Changing

Each one is worth a read and includes lots of concept art, some history about the park, and the right way to strengthen the vision and execution of the park's vision. My previous trip reports also tell the story but in different form.)

At opening, EPCOT Center was a compelling masterpiece of art, and technology, history and the future, what was and what could be. Without a Mouse in sight, it worked well as a complement to the Magic Kingdom, yet it had a captivating magic all its own. After several years of investment and some wonderful additions (Horizons, Wonders of Life, Norway and Morocco), it was sadly left to coast for decades, leaving it vulnerable to unfortunate change by misguided leadership.

Epcot is just gorgeous at night!

Back to our evening in the park. First things first: Those huge barges for Harmonious are horrible, and yes, they completely ruin the views across World Showcase Lagoon. It is like the 10 car pile up on the freeway that you can't take your eyes off of. Regardless of the quality of the evening show, there's no excuse for their construction. It's a disgrace. As the humble but beautiful photographer Julia Ormond says to media mogul Harrison Ford in the movie Sabrina, "More isn't always better, Linus. Sometimes it's just more." The same should have been said about the barges and all the now permanent festival booths added during the construction of "new" Epcot. They all litter the landscape. Loud, in your face, and garish, they do not belong. It's not just me who has noticed the most successful parts of this park's transformation are when the Imagineers go back to the original theme park designs.

Unfortunately, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and the expansion area of France were not available to us. Trust me, I tried to get in. The great cast members guarding the entrance to the area were very kind, understanding and informative but politely firm. Reluctantly, we moved on. The attraction based on my favorite Pixar film would have to wait for another time and maybe even, another place. (I wanted to ride it and write a piece on "Mouse vs. Rat"- ie Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway vs. Remy's Ratatouille Adventure- but I guess that will have to wait.)

Wading through the massive crowds present for the Food & Wine Festival, we left France after the disappointing news. Soarin' Around the World was a ten minute wait, so we took off bypassing the U.K. and Canada pavilions for sometime later in the evening. My son hadn't seen the newer show as his last visit to Walt Disney World was 2006 as a teenager. Tastes change. He liked it somewhat better than the original California focused version but only because of the variety of nations and places represented. However, I could tell by the look on his face, this Epcot headliner was not on his future list of must-do attractions. This did not bode well for him enjoying the park and how long he wished to be in it. But, true to form throughout the trip, he took our tastes into consideration, was gracious about his comments, and stayed until we were ready to leave.

By now, we all were hungry and needing a break. Leaving Soarin', we stopped on the way and checked out the Land's Garden Grill, but it was booked solid. I wasn't sure, honestly, if I was in the mood for a character meal or would even want to pay for it. (Should you eat there? Check out my review in the Dine or Ditch series.) I have many fond memories of dining there in the park's early years. For now, that's all this place would represent.

A pattern was forming. During this trip, our dining experiences at the more expensive restaurants were all great choices and provided the kind of break we really wanted- a time to talk and savor the experiences of the World. Yet, even in the planning stages of this and the last few trips to Disney, I couldn't pull the trigger to book Garden Grill. When the elegance of dining in the original rotating restaurant was altered by rubber head characters, I lost a considerable amount of interest in it. Am I alone in this? Sometimes, you just don't want "All Disney All the Time". We continued searching to find just the right place to stop and eat. It took much longer than expected.

Figment is dragged out every time Disney needs to make a buck-

but will he ever get an attraction even half as good as Journey into Imagination?

Here is where my downgraded ranking of the park began in full. 

When the Disney news sources revealed what was to come, I had scoured the approved plans in detail, choosing to ignore the obvious. Now in person, it wasn't possible to do so: This once great park is now focused on the cash cow it is festival after festival after festival. The new permanent booths scattered throughout it made that truth very obvious. Are these boxes sleek and new? Yes, they are, both in World Showcase and in the new Future World neighborhoods. (The sad, new Disney Imagineering buzz phrase for lands with minimal cohesive elements. See California Adventure's Pixar Pier for another awful example of this type of "theming"). Do these booths serve a function? Yes.  Do they also destroy any sense of beauty and peace and eliminate some wonderful views? Yes, absolutely! 

How long will it be until this park turns into one giant food court? Or worse- a row of food stalls with a generic state fair look, each one competing for attention with the ones around it?

Forgive the disappointed snark, but I hope Imagineer Zach Ridley and his team had no choice in the matter. As someone who says he loves Epcot, there can be no other reason for this decision- or many other ones. But I suppose this man has a job to do, and I'm sure it is one he wants to keep. It seems every Imagineer must one day kneel in front of the newest king and submit if he or she wants to remain employed. Makes me think of master Imagineer Joe Rohde and his "excitement" for Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT! on the West Coast. 

A dramatic presentation for ambitious but misdirected plans.

Back to our first night at Epcot. With no luck in securing a reservation at The Land, we walked through the maze of construction walls and festival boxes and eventually ended up at the Epcot Experience (ie. the Odyssey building) for some pretty good ribs. Again, three different versions of the meat were ordered and shared. I love hot spicy foods, and my choice, the Mango Habanero version of the ribs, quickly brought tears to my eyes. Good flavor, decent price, easy, open, and air conditioned seating. While my wife and son finished their meals, I walked next door to see the circular presentation on the future of my once favorite Florida park. It certainly was... colorful!

Yes, Epcot needs a great coaster to bring in the crowds, but the first "other-world" pavilion is not the way to do it. Put Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy in the Studios park. Calling the neighborhood World Discovery doesn't make it any better a fit. I'm positive this was one non-negotiable for the new vision. 

Isn't it time to dust off plans for Mt. Fuji for Japan or the Swiss pavilion and its Matterhorn or even something totally brand new? World Showcase could use a highly themed coaster as well. As promised on opening day, many more international locations were supposed to happen, but when is the last time the suits held to the promise? The park needs at least one brand new country added to the lineup. Brazil? India? Greece? Thailand? But not Wakanda! Now with Xandar coming, that door has been opened. Give me anything that represents a real country in the real world. Please give it a real attraction to go along with the entertainment, shops, and expensive dining.

The future of Epcot represented by one photo.

It's a character world after all!

Test Track was available for a 40 minute wait, but we only needed 20. It was still a thrill, although any kind of social distancing was next to impossible. The cast members were torn between "filling in all the available space" and trying to maintain a sense of concern for potential health related issues. (Disney reminded everyone to put on a mask indoors. This was very consistent. In contrast, it was left to personal choice at Universal where no one said a word. Make your own conclusions.)

Next up was Mission: Space, and we took a ride on the mild version with our son taking another more extreme trip immediately following. Both queues were almost empty, attesting to the lack of popularity for an attraction once considered for Tomorrowland at Disneyland. It's an "OK" attraction, but even at its initial opening up until today, it is not worth a long wait. With nothing else to do on this side of the park aside from eating and drinking, it was back to the land of mazes to reach Spaceship Earth. Then, it would be onto World Showcase for the rest of the evening.

Will this survive the re-Imagineering of the park's icon?

It's not just the new plans that discourage me regarding the future for this place, it is the lack of upkeep and care given to what once were the best and brightest attractions. There were so many Audio-Animatronic figures inoperable in Spaceship Earth that it was easier to count which ones were in working order. The same goes for all the effects. Is this management's plan so that the approval rating can be lowered as an excuse to update it with screens instead? What about the current show for the paying customer? Does that even matter anymore? I was disgusted, and this bad show was just one more item to make my son wonder what I saw in this park in the first place.

The endless maze of construction walls made navigation difficult and unpleasant. In some areas, it was just very dark as well. Everywhere in Future World it was more of the same. You'd think park management would make sure that there was some payoff by either keeping things in tip top shape, offering some entertainment in the area, or some peeks into the future to keep us interested in the progress.  

There was a very lengthy, entirely full queue for the newly opened Club Cool. No thank you. The bright shiny new Creations Shop was worth a look, and we did go inside. It was very well done! Really, it was. However, it is pretty sad when one of the strongest and most successful enhancements to the park is a store. Just a simple, big box retail location. How telling! I was reminded of California Adventure 1.0 when Paul Pressler's vision for terrific shopping and expensive dining meant the attractions were lacking. Where would I find the elegant EPCOT Center of old? The news was no better elsewhere. 

We did not wander into The Seas with Nemo. My son had no interest in a "C Ticket" dark ride or wandering around a giant aquarium that needed something, almost anything. The area around Imagination looked horrible. The pavilion needed a good cleaning and paint job! The water gardens seemed ignored, and for the first time ever, we did not visit the pavilion. After seeing the park's iconic entrance attraction in such a sad state, I did not want to see Figment in his misadventure. 

An average photo for a beautiful pavilion.

It was actually a relief to move on and hit the walkway in Canada. This felt normal, and I wasn't drawn to looking at the barge disaster in the lagoon because the sun had set, and the original well designed buildings of this area put on a spectacular but suitably subtle show. The art of Imagineering at work. The Rose & Crown Pub in the U.K. seemed particularly lively and yet charming. For a split second, this felt like the Epcot I knew and loved. Earlier in our planning, we had a late afternoon reservation there, but we gave it up for something very different as we would be at Raglan Road just a few days before. That decision to change our plans turned our wonderfully!

France was still as crowded if not more so than when we first came in. Between those trying to get into Ratatouille and those wanting gelato, an affordable meal from the always excellent Les Halles Boulangerie, or to just explore the back streets, you could not get through the original space or even close to Impressions de France. Festival booths were also to blame. Further exploration and a chance to see this glorious film would have to wait for another opportunity.

Oddly, Morocco was empty and quiet, eerily so. Spice Road Table had three parties on the patio. Three. The rest of the pavilion and its shops and food stands lacked energy or even open doors, and park visitors seemed to be somewhere else. Interesting. What will Disney do there? Morocco is a beautiful place worth exploring, but even after all these years, it remains relatively undiscovered by guests. 

Peace out!

Walking into Mitsukoshi Department Store in the Japan showcase was very strange. It was truly the first time I realized the international cast members had been replaced by Americans from all over our country. The pearl counter was closed, the merchandise selection was minimal in comparison to the past, and the all around general feel was different. 

The cast at Mitsukoshi has been known for its gracious and quiet and efficient service. Their replacements were helpful and attentive, but they were also not Japanese. Frankly, this small change in ambience was a bit startling and indicative of what measures the park had to take to stay open. Will the international cast members return? I hope so. They add charm, warmth, and a chance to interact with people from around the world. During our last trip, two international cast members here single handedly made the trip experience a positive one for our grandson. Check it out. It's a very sweet story!

Wandering out the back of the sprawling store and into the castle, it was so quiet and peaceful like days of old. Katsura Grill was just around the corner. If you've read the blog for any amount of time, you know that sneaking away for even a moment up on that hidden patio is one of my favorite old school Epcot activities. It did not disappoint. Even our son remarked how far removed it felt from everything else. It's moments like these that make me love the second Disney park in Florida. But these quiet moments of exploration are all too quickly disappearing. 

It took some careful planning to not get the barges in the photo!

Sampling the wares from the new Italian gelato location, I happily strolled the place soaking up more quiet atmosphere. The pizzeria in the back had warm, lovely lighting, and for a split second, it felt like we were back in Venice as I later turned and saw the classic striped poles in the water. When you forget you are in a theme park, well, that my friends, is the power of great Imagineering. When was the last time you forgot you were in a theme park?

We didn't have to see the American Adventure to know we were close. We could smell it! The new Regal Eagle restaurant and its outdoor smoker made sure we knew we had arrived. So did the Rock and Roll band that played covers from the decades- including a red hot take on Led Zeppelin. It was loud, loud, loud. And I like my music loud. With the bright white strobes and other stage lighting, it was almost hard to believe I was at Disney. 

Continuing our grand circle tour, we passed Germany and the Outpost and headed toward China, Norway, and Mexico. Walking and taking in the sights is one of the joys of World Showcase, but I found it was very difficult as it was hard to get a good view of the lagoon. It seemed there was one booth after another blocking so many views that used to be there. And booths taking up places to sit. Double-wide strollers and the overwhelmingly large number of scooters added to the frustration. Benches were few and far between. Liquor was widely and easily available, though. Maybe after this trip, my thoughts on the Food and Wine Festival have changed for good.

Score one win for Zach and his team. The new entrance is beautiful!

The showing of Epcot Forever was happening in about an hour, but we just couldn't do it. We racked up over 13 miles of walking on our first full day, and we were exhausted after getting up so early to secure our Rise of the Resistance Boarding Group. (No Disney Genie needed!) Deciding to head out, we stopped and bought two treats to sample: a lemonade with Blackberry Bourbon (delicious!) and a small almond tart of some sort (good but not great). Once we hit Future World, I was dismayed to realize we had to continue through the maze of walls to get out.

I stopped to take in the views of a revitalized entrance plaza. It was gorgeous. And it was so close to what was there at opening. Certainly a win for the Imagineering team. I walked out saddened by what we discovered here, knowing the Epcot I loved was gone forever. There would be one more visit to this park to experience some old favorites. Would I be left hopeful? The answer had to wait as tomorrow was our day at Animal Kingdom.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Original Version of Epcot's Moana Inspired Journey of Water

Now that Epcot's Communicore West is mostly leveled, the next stage for the transformation of Epcot is set to begin. Moana's Journey of Water has its fans and detractors, but most newer and younger Disney Park fans are not aware that a concept very similar was proposed years ago. 

As part of the Imagineer's proposed Project Gemini, Future World would become Discoveryland, and the opening act to the park and the areas around the main pavilions would be enhanced with hundreds of new trees and shrubbery, giving it a rainforest appearance on the west side. You can see the concept art for yourself (above).

Among the surprises, The Little Mermaid would inhabit the Living Seas pavilion instead of Nemo, a roller coaster with outdoor track would inhabit the area, Spaceship Earth would become a rollercoaster called Time Racers, and an autopia ride would find a home next to Test Track. Oh yes, and Communicore West would have survived with some modest changes...

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

EPCOT Center's Never Built Future World Rollercoaster

 If you think Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the first rollercoaster planned for Epcot, think again. That honor actually goes to another Future World pavilion and not a reworking of the classic EPCOT Center attraction Universe of Energy. Any guesses as to what it could be?

Well, you'd be correct if you didn't think it was Test Track! But it was an attraction thought of for the Transportation pavilion, an early predecessor to the World of Motion. Imagineer Clem Hall designed the piece of concept art for that compound in Future World, but it never was built as designed. Fans never saw what could have been until years later. 

Look closely, and you'll see a four looped coaster track off to the back left side of the rendering before it heads back into the main structure. Shades of Tron, I'd say, decades before Shanghai Disneyland's "E Ticket" attraction came to be. 

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disney World After A Decade Away: Day Two- Epcot

Epcot needs work. There, I've said it and gotten if off my chest. I love EPCOT Center, and I love or used to love Epcot. After not seeing the park for almost ten years, I couldn't wait. Normally, this is the park which begins and ends our vacation to Walt Disney World. Not this time. That's all due to Fast Pass and difficult to get rides where I wouldn't wait 200 plus minutes without a reservation. One disclaimer here: This might be the lengthiest trip report post in the series. EPCOT Center transformed my idea of what a Disney park experience could be, and it has remained my favorite Florida park since its opening. Be forewarned, or just sit back and enjoy it.

After a very satisfying day at Animal Kingdom (aside from not being able to ride Expedition: Everest), I was just itching to get to the second Florida Disney park. As my long time favorite, this one probably has the most blog posts I've ever written about any park save perhaps the original kingdom, Disneyland. I just love Epcot. Have I already mentioned that?

I have this image as a Mac wallpaper.

In the early years of the park, Future World was home to some of my favorite attractions in any Disney theme park: the playful Journey into Imagination, the elegant Horizons, and the warmly humorous World of Motion. Many critics from newer generations of guests mistakenly thought they all felt alike. 

Each one was a lengthy, robot filled experience, but the similarities ended there. Successfully standing on their own, each one had a unique perspective, catchy theme song, and differently flavored presentation.  No wonder Future World just mesmerized me. These were amazing attractions! Disney Imagineers succeeded in hitting each one out of the park. Was there anything the Imagineers couldn't do? It's a different situation these days.  

Our first Epcot day didn't start out as I hoped. We missed the resort bus, not once but twice. When the second time came around, the bus arrived three minutes earlier than scheduled- and we were still getting breakfast snacks at Saratoga's bright and airy quick service snack location. Missed by mere seconds. Thankfully, the next one also came early, and we were right there. 

The lines for security and the park entrance were very long. Efficiency reigned at the gates, and the line moved quickly. As I was first one through, I waited and took the photo at the top of this article. Yet, standing there in front of the park, something just felt different. I could be wrong, but in hindsight, all I can attribute it to was the lack of the original epic and majestic soundtrack playing in the background. Those symphonic medleys signaled you were about to enter an incredible place. This visit, I couldn't even tell you what was playing, if anything at all. 

I knew was we had to get going. That darn Fast Pass reservation for Frozen Ever After was looming. So, finally our entire party came through the security check, and off we went. 

An old favorite!

Spaceship Earth looked terrific, but the arcs of Innoventions / Communicore and the ghastly colors they painted them loudly spoke one thing: No one had a clue of what to do with the future. My suspicions were confirmed as we approached the Energy (closed) / Wonders (closed) / Test Track / Space plaza. The lush flowers and various greenery couldn't hide a sense of disjointedness. Perhaps it was partially the fact the open attractions were only on the right side, making the area feel unfinished. Walking down the avenue, the small splash pad seemed out of place as well, giving a local mall feel to a once great theme park.

New found love for this ride- with some conditions.

Better, much better! It's nice to have two options.

Our initial Fast Pass was for Mission: Space (Green). Definitely not our first choice, but it was all that was available for the early morning time frame. After riding the original (Orange) attraction long ago, I couldn't stand it. One and done. Not only did it make me sick, I found it to be unfulfilling. Expensive simulator and nothing more. 

Grandma and her traveling buddy.

First timers.

Ten years later and with two little ones in tow, the magic revealed itself. Our grandson loved it. The concept of flying a space shuttle around the earth and all the in-house effects made it a winner in his eyes. In fact, it was the sole attraction in Epcot that he requested returning to multiple times...until he rode Test Track and Soarin', then it seemed to be a three way tie... at least for this park! Lesson to be learned: It's best not to assume because we don't enjoy an attraction that someone else will not as well. 

A darker pyramid outside,
but a lighter less cultural experience inside.

Time for the sisters. While heading toward Norway, we came upon Mexico.  Seeing we had 20 minutes to go, we once again played our game of "Could we fit in _________ attraction before we have to get on our Fast Pass ride?" We went for it.

Gorgeous orchids all over Mexico.

Walking inside the pyramid (which seemed painted a different exterior color, more darker than in the past- and a new sign for idiots reminding them not to climb up the pyramid), it was clear there was no line at all for the Gran Fiesta Tour. Had to do it. In less than one minute, we were onboard. The little guys were happily watching Donald Duck's adventures. I enjoyed seeing the Audio-Animatronic trio. It was still a screen for the finale during my last trip to the World. A very big and unexpected improvement when I first read about it. Even better live. In person, this addition completes the story. These three dimensional characters were just what the attraction needed. 

Ah, El Rio del Tiempo! How I miss it!

The conclusion of our happy cartoon voyage brought about very pleasant and bittersweet memories of the Mickey Mouse Revue but more importantly El Rio del Tiempo. More innocent times for sure! Admittedly, the nerd I am, I found myself singing along with the old theme song in my head, wishing for the cultural splendor that used to be the focus of each World Showcase ride. I could see the direction the park was going. Could I live with it or would I ruin what should be a great day by fighting it all?

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

Time for Frozen Ever After. I'd seen the videos, heard the rumors, and been informed about the lengthy queues. The attraction itself left us a family divided, but the new interior village area (the line) was something all of us found to be quite nice. Of course, the little guys loved the attraction! (How can you not love Olaf?) The splash down was a nice touch in the Florida heat, but I found myself highly critical of the work that was done to transform Maelstrom into the home of Anna and Elsa. 

The opening two scenes were fairly strong, nicely staged, and instantly engaging. The story seemed well set, but when it came time to ascend to the ice palace, from there on out, the attraction's weaknesses became glaringly apparent. 

Could Disney not afford at least a crop of fake pine trees for the ascent to the mountain top ice palace? Guests should never be able to so clearly see the interior walls of an attraction when they are so close to the ride vehicle. There was nothing to hide them- just a small attempt to do so by painting them black. Once at the summit, an ice skating Olaf and tongue tied Sven were sweet (and it was good to see Kristof), but these scenes just felt incomplete and barren. So much was lacking! Honestly, it was clear these had been given so little money and an equal amount of attention. 

Finally, it was Elsa's big moment. Up close she looked pretty good and moved effortlessly, but in the reverse descent, bad use of screens and poor film quality made for a much cheapened experience. Couldn't they have been more creative here? I'm not quite sure how I feel about those animated faces. Altogether, the experience was fun, shorter than I hoped, and less than the property deserved. (I know, I should just let it go, but I hoped for more.) 

Snowgies for Bita!

The highlight of it all for us was a view at the charming little "snowgies" (my cute little granddaughter's favorites) and a look at big old Marshmallow before a forward swoop down to Arendelle and the grand finish to our new Norway adventure. 

The attraction earned a hearty thumbs up from everyone but the slightly disappointed grandpa who (quietly) ranked it much lower than everyone else. Still cute and enjoyable but so much less than it should have been. Beyond the cultural faux pas of a mismatched location to story, if you're going to shove another character invasion into World Showcase, doesn't Disney's biggest animated hit in decades deserve a full-scale, epic "E Ticket" attraction- and one with much better capacity? I believe so. 

How the suits handled this decision concerns me when regarding the plans for future attractions. With Ratatouille coming to France, the iconic  Mary Poppins to the U.K. pavilion, and the rest of the coming World Showcase attractions, I wasn't hopeful. The new standard seems to be "good enough". 

Holdovers from the Flower and Garden Festival.

What will be this park's standout? It's Pirates of the Caribbean? It's Great Movie Ride? It's Kilimanjaro Safaris? Is Epcot now doomed to second rate attractions, tired films, and 2-3 minute thrill rides? 

The still powerful American Adventure aside, currently there is not one single ride in the park that is consistently well crafted beginning to end which displays what great work the Imagineers can do when given the opportunity. The closest is Spaceship Earth and that level of excellence is compromised by a less than great descent back to the boarding station.

Back to the trip report. By this point in time, we hadn't yet eaten. Where to go? Holding reservations for the Mexican restaurant on the lagoon, we wanted something different- and fairly cheap. After thinking through what was nearby, we opted for The Land food court. Would have been great to sit inside Odyssey and enjoy a meal, but like some of the park's attractions, this restaurant was shuttered long ago.

This sign has changed multiple times over the decades.

I was again reminded how big this park was, as it took us a bit longer to get there than I expected in my head. I'm fairly certain the distance from Mission: Space to The Land is about as long as from the Haunted Mansion to Space Mountain at Disneyland. Anyone care to check the facts and report back?

Unexpected magic.

A blast of air conditioning hit us from one of the open doors in the breezeway. Seeing it came from a character greeting spot- with Baymax no less, I was intrigued. My grandson and I love Big Hero 6, for the record, so we popped in. God smiled on us once again, as it seemed He did most of the trip, and I caught a nice photo. This quick glimpse was enough to please us and satisfy a desire we once had for this meet and greet (the only one we seriously considered). However, an almost hour long wait was not worth it.

Reading these blog posts, you may be tempted to think I only saw the negative changes in the parks and didn't have a great time. Nothing could be further from the truth! It was in many ways it was a Grandparent's Dream Trip, and there is still much to love about the Vacation Kingdom of the World. In fact, we'd return in a minute if we could. As a Disney theme park lover, I am highly critical of what the suits do to their parks, particularly Epcot. In the new Disney era where profits sometimes overrule thematic consistency or providing guests with the best experience possible, I still expect the best. And I'm a detail guy. Enough said for now on this topic... until I share insights I realized in the next Future World pavilion.

Love these!

Always someplace I look forward to visiting, The Land didn't disappoint. Even with its changes, and there certainly are several here, there's much to see for just about everyone. Walking to the railing inside the pavilion, I was once again hit by that wide open expanse and those terrific balloons. With so few visits to the world in the last couple of decades, one benefit is that many things feel fresh to me. 

The scale and scope of Epcot and actually of all Walt Disney World is just impressive. There's no way around it. It can make for some difficult touring in the hot and humid Florida weather, but that uncomfortable reality aside, it's pretty mesmerizing. Many Disney park fans love to argue which resort is better, Florida or Southern California. They're both just very different- and each lovely in their own ways, with their own set of pros and cons. I will admit the only time I have felt the same sense of grandeur at the Disneyland resort as I have in Florida comes when I view the Cadillac mountain range in Cars Land. It's no small feat of extremely creative Imagineering to make a place seem so vast in such little space. In my mind, it is the new crown jewel of the Company's parks in California. Will Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge be as good? That's yet to be seen.

Well done, Disney.

Let me get my one negative observation about this pavilion over with. The Land Grill Room is now a character meal location. I began to realize that many places we used to enjoying dining at in the past had now become a premier guest experience. In every park. This may come at the cost of offering dining experiences that impress for the average, cash strapped visitor. Perhaps it is a shrewd and financially lucrative decision on the part of the suits, but it lowers the over all experience and creates a caste system among guests. We were not going to pay $35 per person for lunch, even if it was with the Company mascot and his chipmunk friends. 

With crowds being thick, you would expect Disney would construct another indoor counter service location at the other side of Future World to help serve the crowds, keeping them happily full, rested and refreshed by the air conditioning, and ready to reengage. At least for the issue of health and helping guests avoid heat stroke or dehydration. Oh, they did build it. It's just closed like too much of the park. 

Passing by the location of our family's traditional first meal at EPCOT Center, we traveled down stairs to the large and very busy food court. I didn't expect much.

Surprisingly, our fast food meal was in reality pretty darn good. (In fact, we didn't have a bad meal or snack anywhere on the property.) Fast, fresh, and hot when it needed to be. Expecting mall court blandness, I was very pleasantly surprised by the high quality and seasoning of my Chinese entree. The crowd flow seemed well managed, and the staff was pleasant and helpful. The bright and airy space remained very clean thanks to the hard work of the crew. A very positive experience.

A simple bus ride can be memorable.

Grabbing a quick Fast Pass for Living With The Land boat ride, we found ourselves cruising the waterway in a matter of minutes. I still appreciated the educational aspect of the attraction. It's something that made EPCOT Center unique and entertaining in its own distinct, still magical way. The slow and steady removal of that focus leads to a downgrade of the park experience. It's one of a few reasons I bemoan the changing of Universe of Energy to something lesser.

Adding any legally usable Marvel character attraction levels the playing field with Disney's competitors. At some point as a consumer you have to ask yourself, "Ultimately, what is the Disney Difference compared to Universal?" Sadly, it's certainly not as much as it used to be as time goes by. By the early evening, I even found myself here at my favorite park with a case of "screen fatigue"- a common complaint with fans visiting Universal, meaning too many attractions rely on film and its effects, 3-D or otherwise, as the main delivery vehicle of the attraction storyline. This was not something I expected at Disney and particularly Epcot!

The Seas with Nemo was just a depressing experience, aside from a great cast member playing Crush to a clever and engaging young audience- including him answering my sweet little granddaughter's question. I won't say more about the once stunning pavilion with its unexpected hydrolators and great exhibits. It's yet another downgrade from what once was.

A Figment fail.

Next up was Imagination, an even a worse, more discouraging, experience. In its current state, it is a breathtaking- and not in a good way- reminder of how Disney management has left Epcot to rot for close to 20 years. The ride- a disaster which turned the once charming purple dragon full of childish delight into a snarky prankster. The lackluster Image Works made things worse, and why would I sit inside a theater to watch Pixar animation that I own on DVD? 

Due to a surprise that Test Track had only a 30 minute wait (via the app), we cruised over for an all family thrill ride. It's certainly still a rush! I found I preferred the original version that was more like a testing facility and less like Tron. By a large margin actually. The test crash ending that leads to the high speed portion of the ride was an excellent and clever touch. 

More variety like this please.

The world is much more than Europe.

It was time to remove ourselves from Future World and go into my favorite half of the park. World Showcase beckoned, and we began in Canada this time, passing by another splash pad.

The first thing I noticed was the new DVC kiosk. Yes, nothing like Disney pushing even more product on you to remind you that you're in a theme park. I so appreciated that reminder on my around the world journey. Victoria Gardens looked as beautiful as I had remembered, but I don't recall it being accessible only to guests of Le Cellier. Or did I misunderstand? It wouldn't surprise me at all to see that this had changed. The kids explored the hedge maze in the U.K., and we caught a small glimpse of Alice before moving on. Unexpectedly, we walked right by France and headed straight for Morocco as my son in law had wanted to see it last trip but they'd run out of time. 

Perhaps the most richly detailed in all of World Showcase.

Don't get me wrong. I love the recreations of the European nations. Yet, we need something more and different in the park. Morocco and its richly detailed buildings were a solid reminder of this need. Exploring its courtyards and market stalls seemed to remind me of what was planned for Star Wars, but the contrast was refreshing after the previous locations. The Spice Road Table was basically empty. Could it be the prices? Probably, as the Tangierine Cafe seemed full of eager diners. 

A trio of photos from the Japan Showcase,

one of my favorites.

Just love the Japan showcase. There's still quiet nooks to explore and layers of experience awaiting if you take the time to find it. Was there really a need for a new restaurant? Perhaps, but the necessity of a people-eating attraction is even greater. We love hiding back by the tea house late after Illuminations. It's a whole new world after dark. Couldn't wait to return to the Land of the Rising Sun, but it never happened. Next trip.

Alfredos no longer.

Walking all the way down into Germany, we stopped in Italy after bypassing the American Adventure. We decided to view a later show. Italy seemed hot, so hot, much like what we had experienced in Venice years ago. Little shade, few trees, no grass. A perfect recreation minus overpriced gondola rides and the very unique stench of the water. (But we still loved it the real location!) Sticking our head in Via Napoli, we discovered the place was just packed, and to our surprise, it seemed it was with visitors from international locations. Pizza is a universal food!

By this point, it was almost time for dinner. Our reservations were for La Hacienda de San Angel, and it was late afternoon, so a good time for a break and a meal. Winding our way back to Mexico, we stopped at the entrance, gave them our names, and began a meal marked by incredibly gracious and attentive service. It felt very old school Disney from thirty years ago. My wife and I were very, very impressed.

Lovely lighting was the highlight of the bland atmosphere.

Frankly, from a visual perspective, the new waterside restaurant was nothing special to look at. There are many excellent environments to be found in our restaurants in Denver that surpass the surroundings of this new eatery, but only one back home has food as delicious as what we discovered here. From the queso fundido to the corn soup to the melt in your mouth main entrees, we delighted in each course. The drinks weren't bad either!

Three beautiful ladies- not one a Disney princess.

Our early evening dinner at La Hacienda de San Angel was a definitely a mixed bag experience. The food? Incredible. So was the price, though. The atmosphere? Pedestrian. We might return again, although I hear the waterside restaurant in the pyramid may have rebounded from awful food to decent. I hope so. The atmosphere is enchanting.

The ending of our evening at Epcot came about in a manner we didn't expect. Post-dinner, our timing was perfect for The American Adventure. The show is still an incredible and inspiring one. My son-in-law had never seen it, missing it during his initial visit. His take? Very, very good! 

My grandson sat next to me, and at the ripe age of six, he had some great questions and observations. One example of what he quietly whispered in my ear: "You mean two brothers fought on different sides of the war? And only one came home? The other died?"  Of course, he also recognized one of the characters walked up the steps. Pretty observant kid! I believe even the most "adult" focused attractions can be enjoyed by kids if they are prepared for it. Or they can be taught to sit quietly and use "indoor voices" if they must speak. Walt never aimed just for kids- or teens needing thrills- and I wish the suits would remember that when planning new additions to the parks, especially this one. 

Burned out bulbs and all but still a beautiful sight to behold.

Even though I'm quick to say Epcot needs something more than 2 minute thrill rides and lengthy travelogues, our follow up attraction was Impressions de France, the most beloved of the three World Showcase films. (China's is Number Two, leaving Canada at the bottom by quite a distance.) The music still tears me up at times. The quality of the film seemed fresher than I remembered. The Eiffel Tower ending needs a reshoot however to highlight the twinkling effect now in place. 

Due to the Touring Plans app, we discovered Soarin' Over the World had a twenty minute wait. Without a Fast Pass for it on either day, off we went- but not before I snapped a couple of photos. I'd intended to return to the countries after seeing Illuminations. Major mistake on my part. I had misread some information, believing it started later than it did. 

After our flight, including a view of a badly bent Eiffel Tower, we realized our mistake as we were exiting The Land. Cast members were also closing down the pavilion. That's Disney's mistake and shows how things have changed since the first few years at the park. Back then, everything opened and closed at the same time- a sign of giving guests their best. No longer.

Goodnight Spaceship Earth- until tomorrow.

Everyone was tired by this point in time, so we took advantage of an early and empty bus, returning home via a quiet and quick drive. Our next day was also an Epcot visit, one which included Grandparents' date night with the kids while Mom and Dad had their own. That one, too, had an unexpected ending, but more about that next post as well as my final verdict on the state of Epcot.

One last note before signing off. Upon returning home to Saratoga Springs, we received an email survey asking us what we thought of our dinner experience and what we thought was needed to round out the park offerings. Interestingly, one of the main options was a Brazilian Steakhouse. Prepping guests for a new country, I'd say.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)