My 40 Year Love Affair with EPCOT

On April 5th, 1982, I saw EPCOT Center for the very first time. From the monorail that ran from the Walt Disney World Transportation and Ticket Center, the night sky seemed to glisten with thousands of stars- or were those stars in my eyes? My wife and I were married two days prior, and a short stop at Walt Disney World was the beginning of our honeymoon in the Bahamas. 

My soon to be favorite Disney park was still under construction. As we entered into it and rounded the bend in front of the World Showcase Lagoon all lit up, I was struck by how massive the project was. And just how beautiful! It seemed to call me to explore and discover all this new Disney world would offer. I knew a little about it, but I had to have more information.

It'd be several months later when I finally got my hands on the greatest book about the once greatest park, Walt Disney's EPCOT Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow by Richard R. Beard, I was convinced a visit upon opening was a requirement as a die hard Disney theme park fan. How right I was! I devoured every page and poured over each piece of Imagineering concept art (usually by Herb Ryman) over and over again.

In April of 1983 for our one year anniversary, we traveled to the World specifically to experience EPCOT. Taking it slow, we savored every experience over the two plus days we spent just at this park.  

Future World sparkled with fresh ideas at Communicore, a variety of attractions kept us busy for hours on end before even entering World Showcase. The Imagineers gave it their very best making sure each pavilion was varied in tone as well as in style of attraction. Spaceship Earth was informative and set the stage for the adventures ahead. Universe of Energy was powerful in its presentation and the surprise movement of its theater cars. The journey back to the realm of dinosaurs was thrilling and unexpected. The story of World of Motion was told humorously but with no less impact. The show was Audio-Animatronic heavy, expertly done and included a not-so-subtle not to Imagineer Marc Davis' unbuilt Western River Expedition.

The other side consisted of the warm and engaging Land pavilion with the Listen to the Land boat journey and a new theater show Kitchen Kabaret, a spiritual cousin to the Country Bear Jamboree. Of course, Journey into Imagination wowed us with the never to be improved upon adventure with Dreamfinder and Figment. We easily spent an hour playing with all the games in the Image Works. 

As fun and informative as Future World once was, once we entered World Showcase, my heart was captured by what was designed for the other half of the park. I was always drawn to travel to distant locales, and this chance to experience the flavor of places I had yet to visit drew me like a moth to a flame. 

Mexico, China, Japan and France were early favorites, and each had its own charms. El Rio del Tiempo was an instant favorite, at once both mysterious and familiar. (It's been a ride I write about in one form or another on this blog for Cinco de Mayo.) Its theme song was a delightful piece of ear candy. Impressions de France wowed us with its beautiful score and equally gorgeous sights. It'd be several years more before I'd finally travel there, but the experience set the longing in motion.

Regal and inspiring, The American Adventure remains one of Disney's best attractions in any park. Very befitting to be center stage as the host nation for this permanent World's Fair. A walking Audio-Animatronic? You had to see it to believe it. It was the forerunner to all Disney has accomplished today with its more dynamic robot actors 40 years later. 

Long before the Food & Wine Festivals(s) took over the park, EPCOT was the place to go for a great meal! Chefs de France, San Angel Inn Restaurante, and The Good Turn restaurant provided terrific service, good food, and great atmosphere at a fair and decent price. Shopping was part of the experience as well, but it wasn't an overflow of Disney characters here. Goods unique to each nation made browsing stores a unique experience in each pavilion. Something Disney has forgotten, but perhaps it will return as the Disney suits grapple with one more great aspect learned by its competitor who created a slam dunk experience with Harry Potter down the road. 

Not once were we bored, wishing instead to be at the Magic Kingdom, or missed any of the Big 5 Disney characters.

Each day at the new park, we stayed until the it closed, well after dark, taking in the lights of each building, shop, restaurant, and garden. Another magnificent Disney creation.

Part of EPCOT's Golden Age.

It was during this visit, we discovered that we were about to be parents for the first time. Our kids would be introduced to this place to discover there was more to Disney than just animated movies and Disneyland. 

The year 1989 brought our next visit to Florida, and this time it was with three young children. We began our tour with a day at EPCOT Center, believing they'd be more open to the park as a first experience than if it came after a visit to the Magic Kingdom or the brand new Disney-MGM Studios. We need not have worried. All our kids loved to learn, and Disney made sure the second park on the property was as enjoyable as it was educational. 

Since our earlier visit, the park had opened both a pavilion in Morocco and Norway to World Showcase as well as the Living Seas and the amazing Horizons to Future World.  Disney had debuted a new nighttime show IllumiNations as well, and it instantly became our family's favorite evening experience.  

This park just kept getting better and better! Then it all stopped.

We came back in 1992 for another visit with my sister and her family. The Disney-MGM Studios had more attractions added and the resort continued to grow, but EPCOT stood still. And it remained that way for years. 

By our next visit in 1999, the suits had made only minor changes to the park while concurrently destroying some of what made it great. The death of Journey into Imagination into both versions much less magical was only the beginning. On the plus side, the new parade for the Millenium, Tapestry of Nations was added for a brief time. Disney could still pull off the magic, but the suits began to make one bad choice after another when it came to this once ambitious theme park.

I continued to love it, remaining upbeat about its future. I still loved World Showcase but found myself less and less excited about Future World as the company continued to ignore it, update it, and even give it proper care and maintenance. 

Resting on its laurels.

We began to travel elsewhere, and it would be a decade before I would return to the World in 2009. EPCOT Center was gone for good.  Optimism had been replaced with the ordinary and expected. Test Track and Mission: Space were great fun, but they should not have come at the expense of the iconic attractions they replaced. Soarin', however misplaced, was a great addition. World Showcase would see nothing new aside from a growing number of food booths. By and large, the park was ignored, and it showed. Our most memorable experiences that trip were outside the parks.

We returned with family in 2018 and 2019- this time with grandkids- and again in 2021 with our youngest son, now a grown adult. All three trips, I was excited to share my favorite park. Gran Fiesta Tour and Frozen Ever After made it clear where they were headed. Neither family was all that impressed with what they saw, and our youngest son found it to be last on his list of parks in Orlando. Telling.

"New" Epcot.

Does Imagineer Zach Riddley's Epcot give me hope? Not really. (Read this.) Sure, there's more characters, more Marvel, more and more  commercialism. There's also less inspiration, less innovation, and less charm. I can't blame him. It's our fault too. (I prove it here.) Yet, the Walt Disney Company is all about the buck now. Instead of providing the first class experience they were once known for, it's now about drawing more money out of each guest.

I'll still enjoy Epcot as a memorable family vacation from time to time. But now it will be with even greater memories for what once was. Sad to think the park's glory days are behind it. But I'll still go. Just not as often and with more lowered expectations. I guess that means my 40 year love affair with Epcot will continue but with a more matured pair of less rose colored glasses.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

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Want more Epcot? It's one of my favorite places to write about. Here are links to some of the articles, but there's tons more to discover:

Epcot's Unbuilt Costa Rica Showcase

Disney Park Countdown- #2 Epcot 

Thursday Night at Epcot's Germany Showcase

Disney World After A Decade Away: Epcot

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Epcot 

Abandoned Science and Technology Pavilion for Epcot

Imagineer Harper Goff's Rare Plans for Epcot

Epcot at 30 

EPCOT Center Dreams Fill Coffee Table Books 

Dine or Ditch: The Land's Garden Grille Room 

Japan's Never Built Omnimover Ride 

2021 Trip Report: Epcot 

2019 Trip Report: Turning Epcot Upside Down 

Can Epcot Be Saved?

Attraction Poster for World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland

The World of Frozen is kind of a lame name for the new land coming to Hong Kong Disneyland, but the attraction poster is also not what I would have hoped for. It's "ok", but that's the problem. Hopefully, the execution of the land with its Frozen Ever After boat ride and Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs roller coaster is better!

(Thanks to HKDL Fantasy. Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

 

Joy and Happiness, Frozen or Not, at Hong Kong Disneyland

Fans of Hong Kong Disneyland eagerly await the opening of its brand new Frozen themed expansion in Fantasyland. The new land will be home to a new version of Epcot's Frozen Ever After as well as the Magic Kingdom's popular Seven Dwarfs Mine Train redone as Wandering Oaken's Sliding Sleighs. Until they open, there's always some old standbys to keep visitors happy. Particularly its on-of-a-kind stellar attraction, Mystic Manor. However, there's more. The older iconic Disney attractions are classics for a reason.

 

 

As these photos clearly show, It's A Small World has so much charm that it is also a must-see attraction in the little park that could. The Imagineers took care to include landmarks that are specific to Hong Kong, a savvy tip of the hat to the locals as well as looking at the overall set design from a very appropriate Asian point of view.

 

 

Beginning with new colors on the exterior, they also used a different palette of colors once inside the building to bring joy and happiness to their audience. Many of the sets here are highlighted by darker, more dramatic backgrounds, giving the entire attraction a distinct feel compared to those in Tokyo, Paris, or in the States. Golds and rose tones create a brand new look for the classic finale scene that was first used for the beloved show at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

 

It's a Small World might be mocked by many, being the target of disdain for the more jaded person, but it's a wonderfully delightful and heart-warming attraction for the rest of us. Truly, one of my all time favorites in any of the Disney parks I visit!

 

(Photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Youngest Astronaut

Here she is, the world's youngest astronaut. Well, maybe not. My oldest granddaughter dreams of being an astronaut and has ever since she was young enough to understand what they were and what they do. I wouldn't put it past her to accomplish her goals. She's one smart and very determined young lady!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft)

Lights of the Grand Bazaar

What an amazing city Istanbul is! As part of a tour, we had to connect there, and I wisely decided to take the one which spends 24 hours in one of the world's oldest and most important cities. Turkey is rich in history and is pretty important in current world events. The Grand Bazaar has over 60 covered streets inside with more than 4,000 vendors selling everything from the expected carpets and spices to leather goods and lamps. Lots of lamps. My photo does not do it justice. The colors here are varied, rich, and full of life.

The experience is just as spectacular! As a Westerner unfamiliar with this part of the globe, the flavors, sights, and sounds of the Middle East and Europe create an intoxicating mix. Ancient architecture, visitors from all over the world, unique foods, and 20 million citizens make Istanbul a destination like no other. 

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

D23 Revealed: Imagineering Concedes the World of Dinosaurs to Universal's Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure

Reflecting on this year’s D23, it is a clear sign of the times. Disney's Josh D'Amaro makes the startling "Blue Sky" comment that fans may not be all that excited about Disney Imagineering's newest ideas for Animal Kingdom. Replacing Dinoland U.S.A. with a Moana and possibly Zootopia mini themed lands. This "Boundless Future" shows Disney is now going to play catch up with its competitor Universal Orlando Resort. Bob Chapek and Mr. D'Amaro now seem in lockstep, allowing the success of the soon coming Epic Universe to chart the course at Disney.

Conceding the realm of dinosaurs to Universal Islands of Adventure and its mega popular Jurassic Park franchise, the transition of letting the Dinosaur aka Countdown to Extinction attraction disappear means Disney has given up on one of the key - and most interesting- concepts for Joe Rohde and team's original lands. 

Sadly, this move will actually decrease guest interest in visiting the fourth Walt Disney World park. A park about animals but without dinosaurs? What kid wants that? Better to revamp the land and make the prehistoric attractions better. But Disney seemingly has lost its mojo unless a project is IP related. When they can play off someone else's creativity, the results can be stellar. Coming up with something compelling and new is more difficult and seemingly not on the horizon. At least not under this leadership.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Karen Carpenter's 1983 Concert

In order to support their new album and the earlier one, Made in America, Karen and Richard Carpenter took to the road for a series of smaller venue concerts that fully displayed their incredible talents both individually and collectively. It was very different than their last full tour, when the show was captured on the U.K. disc, Live at the Palladium. 

OK. If you'd read this far, you're probably a die-hard Carpenters fan and realize this never took place! Sadly, Karen had passed early in 1983 with the disc Voice of the Heart being released later in the year.

While discussing my upcoming Fresh Look/Revisited article for the next in the series,  Live at the Palladium, a friend and I got into a great little talk about what could and should have been the new concert style and line-up of songs. Something very different than what came before it years back.

So now, sit back, relax, and go back in time with me to the concert that should have been but never will be...

Beginning with a new instrumental introduction,  a very brief overture made up of three of their biggest hits, we hear Karen's voice from off stage- "I've been so many places in my life and time..." She lingers on the lyrics as she walks out to thunderous applause with the lights also showcasing Richard. Once it dies down, Karen continues with a full version of the iconic Leon Russell tune, A Song for You, as the audience claps wildly. Karen and then Richard welcomes the audience. No gimmicks or lines written for them. Natural, heartfelt, personal.

The pace picks up as the duo launches into their latest single, Kiss Me The Way You Did Last Night, and then follows it with the next single to be released, the new Carpenter/Bettis ballad, In Love Alone. A smartly styled version of the old Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway classic, Where is the Love, follows. No duet, just Karen on lead with Richard's superb backing vocals. It's breezy and light, the perfect album cut. It wouldn't be a Carpenters concert without Karen performing her old favorite, I Need to Be in Love.

Next to come, a short look backward. Richard introduces a newly constructed mini Bacharach Medley- the one he originally wanted to do before Burt changed it up at the last minute back in 1970. It's got a full length take on A House is Not a Home. Karen hasn't lost her touch caressing a lyric!

With the next upbeat number complete- the one where Karen is finally on the drums, she departs as the room shifts to a late night jazz cafe. The lighting slowly changes to a soft blue color and three background singers appear off to the side. Richard loosens his bow tie, and the band takes on an instrumental number. Showcasing each player as he introduces them, this break gives Karen time to change. She comes back in a period appropriate outfit that's also contemporary but not trendy. Classy and elegant befitting the duo's superstar status.

Beginning with In the Wee Small Hours, the room goes quiet as Karen begins. It's from their upcoming Great American Standards disc due in a few months. Moving on to This Masquerade, Richard shows off his skills at the keyboard. The last two songs in the set display the duo's strengths- incredible vocals by Karen and top notch production by Richard: Ordinary Fool and I Can Dream Can't I? Once Dream begins, the lighting changes once again and the curtain goes up to reveal of the full orchestra that's been behind them all along.

A new Hits medley wows the audience before the crowd departs. We've Only Just Begun indeed!

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2025 Note: This is part of a continuing series on the music and lives of Karen and Richard Carpenter. There are so many stand alone posts highlighting different aspects of their career, recordings, rare photographs, and life that I've lost count. 

Below is the list of my "Revisited /Fresh Look" reviews, the more extensive articles than my initial ones a decade earlier. Each have different photos and clippings and focus on various aspects of the individual disc's creation, promotion, and public reaction.

My Revisited / Fresh Look at the albums:

Offering / Ticket to Ride
Close to You
Carpenters 
A Song for You 

Now & Then

The Singles 1969 - 1973

Live in Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974 - 1978

Christmas Portrait

Karen Carpenter (The Solo Album)

My Initial Reviews of the albums:

Offering/Ticket to Ride

Close to You

Carpenters

A Song for You

Now & Then

The Singles 1969-1973

Live In Japan

Horizon

A Kind of Hush

Live at the Palladium

Passage

The Singles 1974-1978

Christmas Portrait

Made in America

Voice of the Heart

An Old Fashioned Christmas

Time (Richard Solo)

Lovelines

Karen Carpenter (Solo)

As Time Goes By

New Pirate Adventures? It Could Only Happen At...

When it comes to great theme park rides, Pirates of the Caribbean set the standard for excellence back in 1967 when it had its debut in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. The Imagineering team fired on all cylanders, and be it California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, or Shanghai, the crowds have made it a not-to-be-missed destination.

What if I told you there was a new kid in town, one playing for keeps- and it wasn't in a Disney park?

 Here it is: Europa Park hits another home run with their Pirates of Batavia (Piraten In Batavia). The old one had been destroyed by fire, so the park built a brand new attraction. And is it good! 

How does in compare to Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure or the originals? See for youself.

Look at this video from Theme Park Worldwide: 

Surprised? I was! Perhaps Europa Park should be on my list for my next adventure.

Taste of Morocco

One of the larger benefits of my work is traveling to far off places and distant lands.  

Of course, when I'm home and need a taste of these journeys, a visit to Epcot's World Showcase helps satisfy that case of wanderlust. Those of us that have to travel a lot know it becomes a terminal disease of sorts as it just gets in your system.   

Walt Disney World's Morocco gives me a taste of this as do all the national pavilions as designed by the old school Imagineers- but not the new France expansion. It's a bit too cartoonish in its execution and moves away from the artists original intent. In contrast, for the creation of Morocco, the King sent his own artists to bring in the intricate tile work. That is commitment to excellence.

I'd like to think they'll once again embrace the true cultures of these nations, but you and I, sadly, know better. 

A New Islands of Adventure Attraction?

Never content to let Disney steal the spotlight without a few well placed barbs, Universal Orlando Resort, has an ace up their sleeve to compete with Disney's recent D23 exposition in Anaheim, California. Introducing the brand new Jurassic World attraction, the Gyrosphere. This would be one incredible - and definitely thrilling- attraction should they decide to add it to Islands of Adventure. For now, we'll settle for a great attraction poster. But truth be told, Universal is going toe to toe with Disney, and it seems they won't stop. Epic Universe will pull yet another day from Orlando theme park guests, while it seems Disney might be content with upcharging everything in sight.

(Art copyright Universal Creative.)

Mickey's Magic at D23

Did the Mouse pull a surprise rabbit out of his hat at this year's D23? Certainly, Bob Chapek and his leadership knew some things would be a surprise to us hard core fans. Would it be Marvel, Star Wars, and a whole new slate of movies? How will these impact Disney+? Did Imagineering gives us something worthy of really competing with Universal's brand new park, Epic Universe? Long term, how does this all impact the company and more importantly, the theme park guest? I'm chewing on it all. But I'll be back when I have my thoughts in order and am ready to write on it. Stay tuned.

It's a Win!

Anybody play the strategy board game Pandemic? If you do, you'll appreciate this milestone accomplishment: We ended the game with three viruses eradicated, no outbreaks, and not a single cube on the board. This game's very collaborative and fun! And it's been a great time for my wife and I to work together and appreciate each others' problem solving skills.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

A Look Back at D23

The 2022 Edition of D23 kicks off! While its sure to be one Disney fans will talk about for months to come, I thought it be fun to take a look back on what was expected to be announced at the event held over a decade ago. As expected, there were definite surprises and disappointments, but it makes for one interesting read. Here it is, straight from 2011:

 

What a difference a couple of weeks makes!

While I was in the real world and away from the on line one, the Walt Disney Company held its 2011 D23 convention in Anaheim, California. Seems like it was full of surprises- especially in the Parks division- and maybe not in a good way.

 

For west coast parks, it was a showcase of what's to come soon for California Adventure with even a bit of surprising news for Disneyland thrown in. Special presentations on both Cars Land (who cannot get excited now?) and Buena Vista Street (ditto) delighted attenders of the sessions with detailed looks at the park's long desired frostings on the cake. But those were a given, weren't they?

So when I returned from an extended service project putting shoe leather to my deeply held conviction of Jesus Christ being the only perfect sacrifice given for the sins of mine and all men, I expected some news that would thrill and delight me. It wasn't to be.

My first reaction after browsing the internet sites brought a collective question best summed up as "...but what about...?" Fill in the blanks here: Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and particularly Shanghai Disneyland.

The model of Shanghai Disneyland was certainly unimpressive from what I could tell, revealing nothing but the deep commitment to secrecy to prevent competitors from delivering cheap knock offs of the attractions. We fans should not be surprised by this, as the Chinese have been producing knock offs of famous brands for ages be it clothing, coffee shops, or even theme parks.

Aside from a fan pleasing virtual ride through of the classic unbuilt Western River Expedition, there was little to please those most looking forward to something, anything, on the east coast.

Animal Kingdom and Epcot need the most refreshing of the Orlando properties, so I did hope there would be something for these two given all the low (high?) profile visits to the Vacation Kingdom of the World by folks rumored to either be buying the place or investing deeply in it. The same could be said for Disneyland Paris and the Studios that creativity has forgotten about. The Ratatouille attraction seemed a given, but then again, I was astounded by no announcement.

In my slight disappointment, a more balanced thought pattern emerged. The Imagineering division of the Walt Disney Company had recently created some wonderful plans for many of the parks- and the budgeteers finally released the cash to bring some to life. The new Fantasyland will be a beauty and is quite the investment into the future of the Magic Kingdom. Again, Shanghai and the plethora of new attractions for Hong Kong Disneyland will do the same in securing the market in China.

Looking deeper, the remodel of theme for Disneyland's Carnation Gardens does create a large lot of available property back in Frontierland; while of course, any announcement for Tomorrowland and especially the Peoplemover tracks would be the icing to anything announced to us rabid fans at a future D23 convention. Instant crowd pleaser. In Florida, leaving room for later surprises almost guarantees another convention in the future as well.

Conclusion? It helped me put my expectations in check. The Company we love to love and sometimes hate has given us much recently. And there is more to come. Be patient with me because I believe another couple of years will produce another Carousel of Projects, a list of announcements that will be much to talk about for years. 

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What did you think? Were you disappointed? Perhaps surprised that more than a decade later, we're still waiting for certain additions and changes to happen? Me, too. And my guess is we will still be waiting after this year's D23. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Goodbye Queen Elizabeth

 

Goodbye Queen Elizabeth! The world has known few like you. May this wise and godly woman Rest in Peace.

Fun with Foursider

 

Here's a rare CD that will be extremely difficult to find! In fact, I believe there is only one copy of this greatest hits disc, the Foursider by Julius Wechter & The Baja Marimba Band. How can that be?

 

 

Leave it to those clever folks on the A&M Corner discussion boards! Some of its members, fans of all things A&M Records, founded by the great musician Herb Alpert and co-founder Jerry Moss,  came up with a plan to create discs that never will be but should have happened. We've been challenged to do the same. Go here and join in.