Yes, one week closer to Disney World.  I can almost smell the artificial scents being sprayed into the air.  Alright my friends, onto Countdown to Disney: week five – Epcot!

 

This park was almost known as the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow, but as no one could ever remember that (and why would those that did want say the whole thing every time?), it was referred to as EPCOT Center.  In 1994 it was renamed Epcot ’94, and then in 1995 it was Epcot ’95.  Thankfully in 1996 they changed it again to just Epcot and left it at that.  Good thing too.  Can you imagine how much money it would cost to change merchandise EVERY year?  I shudder at the thought. 

 

Of course any good cast member would know the full original name of Epcot, plus a few other acronyms that aren’t too nice for Disney’s reputation.  Since these are so well know by now, I don’t feel bad posting some of the nicer ones here:

Every Person Comes Out Tired

Every Paycheck Comes On Thursday

As I said, there are more, but I like Disney and those are still true acronyms.  Plus I’m pretty sure I signed something when I worked there saying that I couldn’t say anything bad about Disney ever again or else they would kill my first born child in punishment for my sins.  Maybe I’m confusing that with the tenth plague.  Either way…

 

So, everyone knows Epcot by the “big golf ball” otherwise known as Spaceship Earth or the geosphere.  Every time I think of it an image from a 1980’s commercial with Mickey Mouse waving from its top pops into my mind.  That was of course back when it was just the geosphere and didn’t have all that other crap sitting on the top and side of it.  Grah.  It was cool when they put the wand with the “2000” on for the millennium celebration, but after that they should have taken it off, not changed it to “Epcot”.  I think it looks tacky and the worst part about it?  They have to put a red blinking light on top of it now for airplanes. 

 

Why is a red blinking light such a big deal to me, you may ask.  Because it ruins the magic.  All of the Disney Parks icons are built to specific heights so that they don’t have to have that blinking reminder that you are so very close to the real world.  Cinderella’s castle is 189 feet tall, Tower of Terror is 199feet, even Expedition Everest, the tallest attraction at Disney, is 199.5 feet tall.  The original geosphere was 180 feet tall, a perfectly respectable height.  Now?  Now it’s 257 feet with that stinking wand and its stupid sparkles.  Take it off, Disney!  You make enough money to be able to throw something away every once and a while. 

 

Moving on. 

 

Spaceship Earth is one of my favorite rides at Epcot.  Why?  It’s the closest ride to a park entrance, so you don’t have to wait for the magic to begin.  It gives the history of communication with old-school animatronics.  It’s voiced by Jeremy Irons.  It has scads of details of inside jokes and historical accuracy.  It’s suitable for the entire family.  It’s air conditioned.  The list goes on and on but in short, it’s one of those uniquely Disney rides that I never tire of.  No matter how much the rest of Epcot changes, it’s still there and pretty darn close to how it was when Epcot opened in 1982. 

 

Before I get into the other aspects of Epcot I’m looking forward to, let me give you a general overview on Epcot and its layout. 

 

Epcot is divided into two areas:  Future World and the World Showcase.  Future world is at the main entrance to the park and hosts the geosphere and most of the rides.  The World Showcase is at the “back” of the park and has pavilions around the World Showcase Lagoon representing 11 different countries.  (Canada, United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan, The American Adventure, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, and Mexico). 

 

Most people don’t know this, but Epcot has two ways to get into the park.  Besides the main entrance, there is a small entry between France and United Kingdom.  I’ve used this way to walk to the park when I’m staying at the Boardwalk hotels.  It also has a boat dock for the boats that run around the Boardwalk area and to and from Hollywood Studios.  If you plan on using this “secret” entrance keep in mind that World showcase doesn’t open until 11, so the “back” entrance won’t either. 

 

Now let’s get to the heart of this post:  why I like Epcot.  I think the first reason is that, like Magic Kingdom, many of my happy childhood memories from my family vacations growing up involve Epcot. 

 

We always seemed to have an extra day to go to one park twice on our vacations, and most of the time we would go to Epcot.  I think my parents liked it because it was more educational that the other parks.  I think my brother liked it because it was the most grown-up of the parks (and as the oldest child, and the only boy of the siblings, I think that’s valid).  I’m not sure why my sisters liked it, but maybe it was just enough that we were still going somewhere at Disney than going home.  Whatever the reasons, that’s where we went and that’s where we had fun.  (Which is not a very hard thing to do with my family – one of my favorite memories is when we all got delayed at a tiny airport for 6 and ½ hours.  Try making that a good experience with any other family.) 

 

But I like Epcot for more than just the memories.  I love Test Track and Mission: SPACE.  Soarin’ Over California is one of the coolest family rides that are out there.  How can you not love Figment from Imagination!?  A few of the sidewalks glow at night, the drinking fountains talk to you, and the main fountain puts on a show to thrilling music.  And that’s just Future World. 

 

The World Showcase is defiantly intended for an older audience; however, it has plenty of activities that will keep the kids entertained.  Every “country” has a kid’s spot where they can make crafts and learn about the pavilion’s culture.  Most countries have live entertainers (Off Kilter, Living Statues, MoRockin, Matsuriza, Voices of Liberty, Alpine Trio, Drums of Congo, Dragon Legend Acrobats, Blamann, and Huitzilin, for example) and Norway and Mexico even have rides.  If nothing else, you have 11 countries cuisine to choose from and even the quick service food is delicious if you don’t want to fork out a lot of cash for the ritzy sit-down places.  Did I mention most countries have character meet and greet spots too?  Oh, well, they do.  Plus, you have the DCOH (Disney Characters On Holiday) bus cruising around the park at various times too.  (Little known secret: a few of the hard-to-find Disney characters may make an appearance by the hard-to-find bathrooms at the Imagination! pavilion.  Don’t camp out there though – it’s more of a lucky chance if you happen to be around for it.)

 

Alright, this is all great, but let me get to my favorite part of Epcot.  Are you ready for it?

 

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

 

If I just explained it as a fireworks and laser show, that wouldn’t be telling you the half of it.  Like Wishes, it’s difficult to explain what makes the show so spectacular.  Yes, the fireworks are cool.  The Earth Globe is beautiful.  The lasers, the fire, the special effects that surround you are exciting.  But there is something in the air that makes it bring a tear to your eye just thinking about it.  Maybe it’s just a part of the Disney theme parks experience, where you’re so tired and emotionally overwhelmed that anything seems significant.  Maybe it’s the overall theme of loving your fellow man and that dreams can come true.  Whatever it may be, its breath taking and it gets me every time.  I can’t wait!

 

So that, my friends, is Epcot.  I’ll be back next week with the next installment of Countdown to Disney.

 

See ya’ll real soon!