Furture World / World Showcase Review
By Chris Schuck
Epcot® is separated into two different lands. There is World Showcase and Future world. We will start our trip in Future World.
SPACESHIP EARTH:
On Spaceship Earth you will take a look at the growth of communication technologies from cave paintings through the space age. There are 65 Audio-Animatronics reenacting milestones in communication.
GLOBAL NEIGHBORHOOD:
Here you can explore the world of communication. This is a hands on area where you can interact with things. There are many things to do here including; sampling Internet based TV programs, playing communication games, and so much more. Global Neighborhood is located at the end of the Spaceship Earth ride.
CLUB COOL:
This is a great place to go when you are hot and thirsty. You walk inside a cave that is very refreshing. It is chilly inside. Here you will be able to sample soft drinks from around the world.
UNIVERSE OF ENERGY
Stars Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Ellen has a dream that she is on Jeopardy against her old college roommate Judy. All the categories are about energy and Ellen knows about it. So she then freezes the show and Bill Nye helps her learn about energy. They mostly learn about the beginning of energy. You get to see cool robotic dinosaurs and the moving theater is pretty cool.
WONDERS OF LIFE PAVILION:
There is a show called Cranium Command. At this show you will follow the progress of an inexperienced brain pilot as he gets inside the mind of Bobby. This is a funny show. Body Wars is also located inside this pavilion it is a motion simulator ride that takes you through the human body. The plot revolves around a scientist shrunk down to examine a splinter in the victim's finger. It's a good ride, and the special effects are great. Then there is the making of me show. In the Wonders of Life pavilion there is a lot of interactive things for you to do. Let me suggest the wonder cycles. They're lots of fun.
THE LAND PAVILION:
There are two rides. One part explains about man and the land; the other part takes you through The Land Pavilion's gardens. The second is my favorite. You learn about all these cool ways to grow things, including ones that don't include soil. This is a Rock and Roll show put on my food groups. Then there is the must see show FOOD ROCKS. This show is completely Audio-Animatronics. They teach you about good nutrition. Then there is the Circle of Life show staring Simba and his friends. They teach you about saving the environment here, and why it is good to recycle.
THE IMAGINATION INSTITUTE:
This was formerly Journey into Imagination. Now the ride is centered on the Imagination Institute from the Honey I Shrunk the Audience show next door. You ride through the open house that the institute is having and you are stimulated. The sound room and the ending are very well done. Honey I shrunk the Audience is Disney's FASTPASS® Ticket
INNOVENTIONS:
Innoventions has tons of technology things. There are many exhibits about all kinds of neat stuff of tomorrow and today. Be ware, the Sega area gets pretty busy. A fun place to go here is to Tom Marrow 2.0's playground.
THE LIVING SEAS PAVILION:
The Living Seas consists of a movie, and ride down a 'hierolater' and a tour of Sea Base Alpha. The hydro Vader actually doesn't move at all. I once heard that it moved down an inch, but it actually doesn't. It seems like you are moving down though. After that you ride through a giant
Aquarium and stop at Sea Base Alpha. Once there you can do a lot of stuff related to the sea. It's really quite interesting. They have all kinds of great sea creatures here.
TEST TRACK:
Test Track Is EPCOT® first thrill ride. This ride is very well done too. It is a moving motion simulator. You are the test group in the GM technology-testing lab. You get in the car and go through car tests. The ride is the fastest in Walt Disney World® Theme Pasrks. Once you go outside you hit 65mph. Disney's FASTPASS® Ticket
Now on to World Showcase.
MEXICO
The Mexico pavilion is beautiful. You walk in and you are outside at night in Mexico. The place is beautiful. It looks so authentic. They have a ride her called the El Rio Del Tiempo. In this ride you will tour Mexico's past and present as your boat drifts down the river
NORWAY
Basically there are just shops here. There is a new playground area for the kids too. They have a must see ride here called Maelstrom. This is best ride in World Showcase. It takes you through the history of Norway. Starting with Vikings and ending with Oil. There is a cool part where you go backwards and look over the outside of the pavilion. Then you go down a tiny flume. It's fun.
CHINA
You will explore China through a film called Wonders of China. You will also be able to visit a half scale model of the Temple of Heaven. There is some great outdoor shows put on here.
GERMANY:
More shops here. They have two really good things to buy here though. In the candy shop you can buy Gummy Cola bottles. It's the only place I know of where you can get them. In the Christmas shop you can buy Pickle ornaments. You have to see them to believe them they are neat. Listen for the glockenspiel that chimes every hour.
ITALY:
This pavilion really makes you feel like you are in Italy. It is very well done. At times they have actors that play statues. They come alive and frighten people. This really spooked me the first time I seen it. Now I love it. They also have good food during the Epcot® Food and Wine Festival held in
November.
AMERICA
The only thing to do here is the show and eats at a fast food restaurant. But the show America Adventure is excellent. It covers almost the entire history of America. The show features the most advanced audio animatronics in the Disney fleet. The Ben Franklin. He has to walk up stairs. It is a very well told story also. You really have to see this to believe how well it is done
JAPAN
This is a beautiful and peaceful area in World Showcase. There is traditional Japanese architecture and gardens; there are great exhibits to see. Make sure you stop by one of the eateries and try some Japanese food.
MOROCCO
The architecture, art exhibits, exotic cuisine, live entertainers, and crafts are a delight. Much is hidden here so take some extra time here and enjoy all of the little details.
FRANCE:
This place looks great. It looks just like Paris. It is brighter and cleaner though. The pastry shop has good stuff too. Impressions de France is a great movie to see. In my opinion this theater has the most comfortable seats in World Showcase. You are treated to some beautiful scenes of France, and not just Paris, as you would expect.
UNITED KINGDOM
Another well-made pavilion. This is the only pavilion that is on both sides of the street too. It makes you feel like you are more in London This place if full of quaint shop gardens and a relaxing park.
CANADA
The show O Canada is great. I loved it. My favorite is the song. It is beautiful. The show is done in circle vision 360. The show is about 20min long and you have to stand through it. So this may not be for everyone. Make sure go around back and look at the pretty waterfalls and mountains.
