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Not Just Waiting In Line At Disney World: Test Track

2012-01-11T22:15:00.000-05:00

At the Walt Disney World Resort they don't have mere rides, they have attractions. They are called that because they are truly immersive experiences that put you, as the guest, into the story that they are telling. From the moment you step in line you are entertained. At Epcot, one great example of this experience is Test Track.

Test Track
General Motors (soon to be represented by only their flagship Chevrolet Brand) brings you into the world of automotive design and testing in their attraction aptly named Test Track.

No matter which line you take to experience Test Track (Single Rider, FastPass, or Stand-By) you will get a chance to experience the world of automotive testing while you make your way to the featured thrill ride.

Once you enter the building you quickly see that this is not your typical theme park line for a ride. Disney and General Motors literally spent millions of dollars to create this immersive environment to entertain and educate (in that order) you while you wait.

The Disney Imagineers use real testing equipment and cars as the props in the testing area. As guests you get a chance to see some of the actual testing that is conducted on cars during their development phase.

Track Test may be one of the most impressive of all of the attraction queues in Disney World.

There is no shortage of visual stimulation here. Believe it or you may actually be disappointed if there isn't a line because you will be rushed through this area and not get a chance to check out everything that is here!

There are a number of Crash Test Dummies to be found here. If you read the "Kingdom Keepers" books by Ridley Pearson you may get a little scared, but don't worry they are not audio-animatronic.

The array of tools and equipment here is amazing. At each new testing area there are descriptive panels so that you can understand the type of testing that is conducted.

A close-up look at the tools is provided. You will also notice that Disney uses the area to show off their preferred tool "sponsor" here. It recently shifted from Snap-On to MAC Tools, so all of the tools and tool chests in this area had to be exchanged to reflect the new sponsor.

After your time in the testing area is complete, you proceed to the Briefing Room. Here you will watch a short video that ties together the Automotive Testing Ground Story and introduces you to the car that you will test drive and what to expect on your upcoming Test Drive.

The last pre-ride area is where you finally get to see the amazing ride vehicle that has more computing power than the space shuttle (at least that is what they say!). The excitement builds in this short wait before you get strapped in.

Finally you are in your ride vehicle and ready to go!

Not Your Typical Ride Queue

After you visit the Walt Disney World Resort, we believe that you will agree that Disney does a better job than anyone at creating a complete story around their attraction and make the absolute best ride queues. Don't be ashamed if you feel you are getting rushed too fast through the queue and you did get enough time to take it all in. That is just a good excuse to experience the attraction again!

Disney World Promotes Harmony With The Environment At The Land Pavilion

2011-11-01T23:10:00.001-04:00

Disney World Guests are often given the opportunity to learn while they are being entertained at Epcot. The topic of learning within The Land Pavilion in Future World is: Living In Harmony With Our Environment.

The Land Pavilion
More so than in any of the other Future World Pavilions, The Land Pavilion, both inside and outside exhibits ties to the environment. Even the landscaping around The Land was done in a fashion to embody the natural riches of our land while the trees nearest the entrance develop white blooms that are meant to look like clouds surrounding the upper portion of the mountain like building.

As you near the entrance you will notice a large mosaic that extends on both sides (pictured above). This was constructed to depict the layers you would find if you dug down into the earth. The tile work is quite amazing and worth taking a close look at.

Once inside the pavilion you enter a large open atrium that serves as the hub for the building. The large skylights designed into the roof provide natural sunlight and symbolically connect The Land to the nourishing sun.

While glancing upward you will also notice the 5 large globes hanging from the ceiling. The upper most represents the earth, while the lower four each represent one of the seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Also in the Atrium you will find the Quick Service Restaurant called: Sunshine Seasons.

The "original" main attraction for the Pavilion: Living With The Land is a boat based journey through a series of different environments and challenges that man faces on the planet. The ride concludes with an incredible tour through Disney's special gardens uses state of the art planting techniques that increase produce yields and allow plants to grow in otherwise inhospitable conditions.

On the "new" main attraction called Soarin' which presents a hang gliding simulation over some of California's most scenic landmarks, the environmental ties aren't as strong and it doesn't share the cohesive theming ties that the rest of the pavilion has.

On the 2nd level you will find the Garden Grill. This unique rotating restaurant features fruits and vegetables that are grown in The Land's greenhouses. The restaurant also gives views into the Living With The Land Attraction.

The last attraction in this pavilion is called: Circle Of Life: An Environmental Fable. This uses the popular characters from The Lion King to help tell the story of the need to protect our environment.

Entertainment + Education = Edutainment?
Walt Disney always believed that it was important to entertain the guests first, and if they were able to learn something in the process all the better. The topics presented in The Land are serious, but they are presented in a way that you can be entertained no matter your age or ability to grasp all of the concepts presented.

The Disney Imagineers do an excellent job of harmoniously linking the structure and its landscaping to the story of Environmental Awareness and Living in Harmony with Nature. The next time that you visit Epcot and you make your mad dash to ride Soarin', pay attention to everything else that The Land has to offer and you may come away with a better understanding of our Environment.

Disney World Supreme Gardening At Living With The Land In Epcot

2011-09-08T22:09:00.000-04:00

Disney World mixes gardening with science and takes it to the extreme in the Living With The Land attraction in Epcot. This opening day attraction has been an Epcot staple since October 1, 1982. The Living Laboratory section of the attraction features real gardens utilizing state of the art farming & gardening techniques to grow prodigious amounts of fruits and vegetables that are actually used by some of the Disney World Restaurants.

Living With The Land
In what used to be the featured attraction within the Land Pavilion, Living With The Land now settles for second class status behind the uber-popular Soarin'. The 14 minute boat ride still is very much worth your time to explore. The gardens in the 2nd half of the attraction continue to be the star of the show, with an impressive line-up of giant sized fruits and vegetables and plants that deliver quantities far more than you will ever see in your neighborhood garden.

The Living Laboratory is divided into five sections. As a picture is worth a thousand words we will show a bunch of pictures of what you can expect to see in each:

1. Tropics Greenhouse - This greenhouse features crops that you will find in the tropical areas of the world as the name would imply. Here you will find: Bananas, Papayas, Coconuts, Cacoa, Dragonfruit, Miracle Fruit, Pineapple, Jackfruit, Cleome, Java Apple, Fluted Pumpkin, Peach Palm, Ginger, & Coffee.

2. Aquacell - The Aquacell shows commonly farmed aquatic life such as: Sturgeon, Hybrid Bass, Hybrid Tilapia, Channel Catfish, American Alligator, Freshwater Shrimp, & American Eel.

3. Temperate Greenhouse - In this greenhouse you will find the larger sized crops and grains such as: pumpkins, winter melons, "Nine Pound Lemon", pummelo, brussel sprouts, kale, millet, habenero peppers, sorghum, cotton, corn, and amaranth.

4. String Greenhouse - This greenhouse is where you get to see some amazing demonstrations including the famous tomato tree that made the Guinness Book Of World Records for producing over 32,000 tomatoes in a 16 month period. Each of the plants are grown using high density growing techniques. Besides the tomatoes you will find: eggplant, sweet potato, bell peppers, lettuce, and strawberries.

5. Creative Greenhouse - The 5th greenhouse houses truly innovative growing techniques including versions of hydroponics (without soil) and integrated aquaculture with the plants in a symbiotic growing environment.

Living With The Land Is An Epcot MUST SEE
When you head to the Land Pavilion to ride Soarin' don't forget about this old favorite attraction. Lines are using short and fast moving and the attraction is one that is educational and enjoyable. Make sure that you don't pass it up during your next visit to Epcot.

JAMMitors - Bringing The Beat To Epcot

2011-08-13T09:20:00.000-04:00

Disney World is known for World Class Entertainment and in Epcot's Future World you will find a trio of custodians called the JAMMitors winning over Disney World Guests with their inventive percussion sounds, choreographed movements, and humorous interjections.

JAMMitors
Many Disney World Guests may have never seen or even heard of the JAMMitors. They don't have an attraction that they are based at, and they are not characters from a Disney movie, although after watching them perform you may decided that they are characters.

The JAMMitors are a trio of talented musicians that are dressed as custodians and can be found in the Future World section of Epcot. They bring their assortment of pails and garbage cans along with them and set up an impromptu performance area in different parts of Future World. If you look in the daily show times guide for Epcot you can find out when they are supposed to be performing.

If you happen upon a performance of the JAMMitors, it is certainly worth your time to stop and take in their approximately 8 minute show. No matter where you were hurrying off to, just stop and watch these talented percussionists perform and you will be glad that you did.

Their instruments are an odd collection of items ranging from large trash cans & metal pails to toilet plungers & flyswatters. Their instruments change from time to time, which will also change their show. From the simple to the more extravagant collection of garbage cans, pails and lids of varying sizes come a unique sound that they turn into a captivating music performance.

It doesn't take long to see that these performers are talented musicians. The shows are fast paced and engaging with humorous dialogue inserted between the musical arrangements. This is the kind of show that you will want to see over and over again, because it does change frequently and is so entertaining.

Join the fraternity of Disney World Guests that have become JAMMitor Fans and make sure that seeing their performance is part of your Epcot MUST DO List.

Soarin' - Favorite Disney World Attraction For All Ages

2011-07-17T19:09:00.001-04:00

It is hard to find an attraction that appeals to all age groups, but Disney World certainly has a winner when it comes to Soarin' at Epcot. This hang gliding simulation provides gentle thrills that leave fans young and old walking away amazed and willing to wait in long lines to experience it again.

Soarin'

The concept for Soarin' was dreamed up by Disney Imagineer Mark Sumner who created the prototype for the attraction with an erector set. He was able to come up with a unique ride mechanism that ending up being very close to the final design for Soarin'. The concept was so novel that it was granted a U.S. Patent (#6,354,954) on March 12, 2002.

Walt Disney World Resort guests actually have Disney's California Adventure to thank as they debuted the attraction in 2001, and it's overwhelming success lead to the addition of the Epcot version to the Land Pavilion in 2005.

The ride places park guests in 3 rows of "Hang Gliders" that are raised into position in front of a projection screen. The ride itself combines gentle movements in concert with the action on the screen to give the sensation of "gliding." To enhance the experience there are fans generating gentle breezes and scents of pine trees and orange groves when you pass those items as part of your journey.

It would not be fair to call Soarin' a thrill ride per se, but the experience is extraordinary and one to be remembered. You are taken on a tour of California including such sights as: the Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite National Park, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, PGA West Golf Course in La Quinta, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego, Malibu, Los Angeles, and Disneyland.

FastPass Is The Key To Avoid Long Waits

The downside of the immense popularity of Soarin' is the fact that everyone at Epcot wants to ride it! In order to avoid spending your vacation in long lines, you should definitely take advantage of the FREE Disney FastPass system.

The FastPass system allows you to obtain a pass to return later in the day within a specified one hour time window and get in the much shorter FastPass line.

Even if you are planning to get a FastPass you want to make sure that you obtain one early in the day, because they are routinely all distributed by early afternoon.

Futuristic Entrance To Soarin'

You are greeted by plenty of blue neon and polished metal surfaces as you enter the queue for Soarin'. The long corridor takes you from the center of the Land Pavilion to the pre-show area for Soarin'.

Must Do Epcot Attraction

No visit to Epcot is complete without riding Soarin'. Your Epcot Touring Plan should include getting your FastPass for Soarin' as soon as you get to Epcot to make sure that you don't miss it.

This is the only attraction where we have taken 3 generations of our family at the same time and everyone loved it! There isn't another attraction at Disney World that will get that same reaction.

Duffy The Disney Bear Battles Umbrella At Epcot

2011-06-15T08:25:00.001-04:00

Duffy The Disney Bear is the current star of the World Showcase in Epcot. You can find Duffy Merchandise everywhere and you can even meet the adorable Duffy near the entrance to the World Showcase in Epcot. It was at the Duffy The Disney Bear Meet & Greet Location that some comedy ensued during a typical Florida afternoon rain.

Duffy The Disney Bear Battles The Umbrella

Duffy The Disney Bear was preparing to take a break from signing autographs and posing for pictures with his fans. Since the rains had begun he was handed an umbrella as pictured above for the trek through the rain.

Just as Duffy went to open the umbrella, a gust of wind came along and turned the umbrella inside out as pictured. As you can see in the following series of pictures, Duffy and a Disney Cast Member struggle to get the umbrella back in the proper direction.

Duffy and the Disney World Cast Member work hard to get the umbrella fixed. The smart Duffy stayed under the protection of the edge of the gazebo, while the Cast Member stood in the rain, getting quite wet.

Once Duffy realized that people were watching, you can see the look of embarrassment.

Finally they get the umbrella straightened out and Duffy can be on his way.

Magic At Disney World
Not all of the comedy that you see at Disney World is staged. This scene with Duffy was hilarious, but Duffy weathered the storm and overcame the embarrassment to continue on his way.

Visit Norway Without Leaving Disney World

2011-05-27T07:49:00.000-04:00

A Disney World Vacation is filled with adventures to many different lands, some real, while others only live through the power of imagination. One very real land that you can explore is the Norway Pavilion as part of the Epcot World Showcase. Here you can experience a taste of Norwegian architecture, cuisine, culture, and history without leaving the comforts of Disney World in Florida.

Norway Disney World Style
Many Disney World guests have never visited Norway first hand, so they depend upon the Disney Imagineers to create a land that tells the story of Norway through the buildings and landscaping that permeates the Norway Pavilion.

Norway's History - Stave Church
One of the the most recognizable landmarks when you visit Epcot Norway is their re-creation of a Stave Church. The Stave Churches ( Stavkirke ) once numbered over 1,000 in Norway with their roots going back to 1100 AD when almost every town and village had one. Now only about 28 are still in existence. The Epcot version is a re-creation of the Stave church in Borgund, Norway built in 1180.

Norway's People - Greta Waitz

One of Norway's most loved athletes has been memorialized at the Epcot Norway Pavilion. Greta Waitz, the champion Marathon runner who won 9 New York City Marathons is remembered with a statue. The statue has been a part of the Norway Pavilion for many years, but Greta passed away earlier this year due to cancer.

The area where you will find the statue is also popular due to the grass roof found above the outdoor eating pavilion. The landscaping helps deliver the rural Norwegian feel to the area.

Akershus Castle
In a tribute to the real 14th century castle called Akershus in Norway overlooking the harbor in Oslo, Epcot has built their own version that also serves as a restaurant of the same name. Here you can feast on Norwegian cuisine and see a variety of Disney Princesses within the Royal Banquet Hall of Akershus.

Kringla - Bakeri og Cafe

If you are not up for a full Norwegian feast, you can certainly make room for some Norwegian baked treats at Kringla - Bakeri og Cafe. Here you will enjoy the aromas of some wonderful baked goods like the famous School Bread, Kringla Sweet Pretzel, Cloudhorn, Blood Orange Custard, or Rice Cream.

The Puffin's Roost

There are plenty of opportunities to purchase authentic Norwegian clothing, perfume, and other items at The Puffin's Roost. You can also get your picture taken in front of the large wooden Trolls or dress like a Viking for a memorable picture.

Norwegian Architecture

Along with the centuries old Stave Church and Akershus Castle you also have shops and buildings that are more reminiscent of more recent Norway. The Disney Imagineers have done a great job to make the transitions and have them seamlessly fit together in one cohesive village.

Maelstrom - The Thrill Ride

Although thrill ride is probably stretching it, Maelstrom is the closest that you will get to a Thrill Ride in Epcot's World Showcase. This water based ride takes you on a journey from Norway's Viking roots through it's Legends of Trolls to it's present day life on the sea with Oil Drilling and Fishing. The ride has one semi-thrilling drop and audio-animatronic characters to keep the ride fun. The drop is slightly more exciting than the one on Pirates Of The Caribbean, but not like Splash Mountain. The end of the ride gives guests and chance to watch a brief film to learn more about Norway.

Norway's Viking Roots

Throughout the Epcot version of Norway you will see reminders of the countries Viking Roots, whether it would be the remnants of the 10th Century Dragon-Headed Norse Ship, the Viking Statue in front of the Stave Church or the references within Maelstrom.

Norway - The People

One of the best ways to experience Norway at Epcot is to talk to the Cast Members that are all natives of Norway, working usually for 1 year a Epcot. They are interesting to converse with and that is a great way to learn more about this Scandinavian Country. It is especially a great opportunity for children to learn about a country that they may have not visited in person.

Experience Norway - Disney World Style

Even a short visit to the Norway Pavilion in Epcot can provide the opportunity to come away with a better understanding of the history, culture, architecture, and cuisine of Norway. There is so much detail that there are new things to discover during each visit to Epcot.

Get NASA Astronaut Experience At Epcot On Mission Space

2011-04-06T21:39:00.000-04:00

When Disney World added a simulated mission to space they went to the experts at NASA to come up with a realistic experience. The resulting attraction is the closest you can get to astronaut training without being at a NASA facility.

Mission Space
Disney Imagineers went to the experts when they designed Mission Space for Epcot. More than 25 space experts from NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, including 5 astronauts were consulted during the project. The resulting attraction is an amazing simulation of a rocket trip to Mars utilizing some of the same technology that is used for training astronauts.

Mission Space opened at Epcot on August 15, 2003 in the former location of Horizons. It took over 350,000 work hours to develop this attraction. The outside of the pavilion is marked with dramatic spheres representing: Jupiter, Earth, its moon, and Mars, the red planet.

Creating the attraction involved developing a first of its kind custom designed ride system that used state of the art centrifuge technology. Based on actual NASA astronaut training techniques, Mission Space uses 4 giant centrifuges that each have 10 pods that can hold 4 passengers each.

Orange Mission Or Green Mission?

In order to satisfy the thrill seekers and the "less adventurous" space explorers, Disney World developed a "less intense" version of the ride by removing the spinning action of the simulator. This allows Disney World Guests to choose the Orange "Full Intensity" Mission or the Green "Less Intense" Version.

For those that choose the Orange Mission, the use of the centrifuge action to simulate the verticle take-off of the rocket and the later feeling of weightlessness are truly amazing. There are no other theme park attractions to compare to it.

Real Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Rhea Seddon have ridden Mission Space and give it the "thumbs up" for capturing the realism compared to real space travel.

The "story" behind Mission Space follows the ISTC (International Space Training Center) in the year 2036 as we mark 75 years of space travel looking back to the original flight of Yuri Gagarin.

Here the Disney World Guests become trainees preparing for a Mission To Mars on the X-2 rocket.

The 35 foot diameter space wheel can be viewed by guests as they wait their turn for their training flight on the X-2 rocket. There is also a real lunar rover to see that is on loan from the Smithsonian Institute.

In a tribute to past Disney World attractions (and reuse of old props) the control room contains consoles from the old Magic Kingdom attraction called Mission To Mars.

Trainees are greeted by Gary Sinese, aka CAPCOM, to receive their instructions for their upcoming training mission. Here they learn that each of the 4 trainees has a specific role to play during the flight: Navigator, Engineer, Pilot, & Commander.

Realistic screens await the trainees while they wait to board their flight.

Outside the attraction there is a replica X-2 Training module, so that you can see what they look like. Each one holds 4 people per flight.

The inside of the X-2 trainer is visible as you enter the vehicle. Each person gets their own view screen and joystick controller. Once you are secured in your seats you can still see the others in your group though it is relatively close quarters.

During the ride itself you need to look forward at the screen during the duration to minimize the likelihood of becoming motion sick from the experience. The simulated lift-off generates nearly 2.5 g (or a force equal to 2 1/2 times the normal force of gravity.)

Amazing Ride Experience

Mission Space is a unique ride experience that is certainly one of the most thrilling rides at Disney World. The theming is top notch and Disney really did their homework to develop this attraction to closely simulate the same experience that NASA astronauts go through (albeit for a much shorter 4 minute duration.)

The option to have the less intense version is a great idea and the simulation without the G-forces generated by the centrifuge still make for a fun ride experience.

Mission Space should be on everyone's MUST Do list for Epcot. Depending upon your thrill seeking tastes choose either the Orange Mission or the Green Mission, but don't miss out on experiencing Mission Space firsthand.

Disney World Magic - Mickey Mouse Water Painting

2011-03-18T10:48:00.000-04:00

Disney World is full of unexpected Magical Moments. One favorite is when Disney World Cast Members create a water painting of Mickey Mouse in a totally unexpected location. It doesn't happen with any planned regularity, it's just something that seems to magically happen spontaneously.

Most often the Disney World Cast Member is dressed like the janitorial crew, but instead they are armed with a broom and a bucket of water. These talented artists then create Disney Characters, usually Mickey Mouse, in water on the sidewalk of street with little to no fanfare.

The fragile, temporary nature of painting with water is part of the charm. This is truly about sharing a magical moment, because soon the water will dry and all evidence of this work of art with disappear. The Epcot Cast Member pictured below was in the World Showcase near the Canada Pavilion and was quietly creating Mickey Mouse. At the end he asked the children nearby if they would like to help color in Mickey Mouse's eyes and nose. This added touch was very nice.

Mickey Mouse Water Painting

Here is a video of the Epcot Cast Member finishing the Mickey Mouse Water Painting. Once people realize what is going on, they stop to watch.

Slow Down And Enjoy The Disney World Magic

During your next Disney World Vacation don't forget to slow down enough that you notice your surroundings. Often there are wonderful little touches like the Mickey Mouse water paintings that people are in too much of a hurry to notice and miss out. These little touches are what makes Disney World special and creates memories that you will remember for years to come.

Disney World At Night - IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

2011-02-21T21:42:00.000-05:00

IllumiNations: Reflections Of Earth is the night time spectacular that closes Epcot each evening with music, fire, water jets, video, lasers, and fireworks. This 14 minute show is truly one Disney World Attraction that is not to be missed.

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

IllumiNations first officially appeared at Epcot on October 1, 1999 as part of the Millennium Celebration at Disney World. For over 20 years it has been thrilling crowds at Epcot nightly with a show that is far beyond mere fireworks.

The show takes place in Epcot's World Showcase Lagoon with barges positioned within the lagoon to launch fireworks, jets of flames, and fountains of water.

The star of the show is the 350,000 lb globe that is also a video screen and a pyrotechnic device. The world's first spherical video display system, the globe is wrapped in 15,600 LED clusters.

Each afternoon the barges are moved into position on the World Showcase Lagoon. If you take boat ride across the lagoon you will be treated to a close-up look at the barges.

It's All About The Story!
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth tells the story of our planet in 3 unforgettable acts.

•Act 1: Chaos — The show starts by taking you back to the creation of the Earth symbolized by the Inferno Barge that shoots fire 60 feet into the air. No matter where you stand around the World Showcase Lagoon, you can feel the heat given off.

•Act 2: Order — During this act the Earth Globe takes center stage displaying video of famous faces and achievements across the world.

•Act 3: Meaning — In the final act the Globe opens to display a torch and fireworks spew forth throughout the World Showcase Lagoon lighting up the sky to propel us to the future.

Perfect Ending To Day At Epcot
IllumiNations: Reflections Of Earth is the perfect way to cap off a day at Epcot. The show is completely different from what you will see each night in the Magic Kingdom during Wishes. The use of fire water, video and music in addition to the fireworks really makes this a memorable experience. The story is fittingly told in Epcot's World Showcase with elements that brings the World together.

The night time show is one of the areas that Disney World excels. It is hard to choose between Wishes, Fantasmic, and IllumiNations: Reflections Of Earth. The important detail to remember is that they are each unique and worthy of your time to see during every visit to Walt Disney World.

Disney World Bids Farewell To Dragon Legend Acrobats

2011-01-31T06:59:00.000-05:00

The Dragon Legend Acrobats are a crowd pleasing acrobatic troupe that has been performing at Epcot in the China Pavilion of World Showcase since 1996. Their show will be leaving Disney World soon, so let's take a look at the show that has entertained so many over the years.

Dragon Legend Acrobats
The Dragon Legend Acrobats are made up of boys and girls ages 10 - 18 from the Pu Yang Academy of Acrobatics in China. These young performers are quite talented and it is always interesting to see the feats of balance, flexibility, and skill that they are demonstrating.

They can take a simple concept like a hula hoop or jumping rope and turn it into a display of skill that amazes. In this presentation the performers are able to not only keep a couple of hoops moving, but also to pass them along to each other and eventually the center performer was able to keep an unbelievable number of hoops rotating with her entire body.

There are also performers that can demonstrate amazing flexibility. This young lady in the pictures below was not only flexible, but she could balance that bowl and move it deftly with her feet. Like a good magician, she had the audience mesmerized by her act.

The next act shows a pair of performers demonstrating strength, balance, and agility as they not only bend into different shapes, but are able to twirl these cloth plates as well. Truly amazing!

Amazing Live Entertainment
The Dragon Legend Acrobats have performed at Epcot for nearly 15 years. During that time many different acrobats have performed delighting numerous Epcot guests. For many people like myself their performances will be fond memories of past Disney World vacations. It was always hard to not stop and watch when you saw that they were performing on their outdoor stage in full view of the main walkway past the China Pavilion.

I do not know what form of entertainment will come next to the China Pavilion, but I do know that the Dragon Legend Acrobats are certainly a tough act to follow.

Thanks for making many memorable moments over the years!

Off Kilter Rocks New Stage In Epcot

2011-01-27T21:55:00.000-05:00

Off Kilter is the star of the Epcot Live Entertainment line-up. This irreverent kilt wearing band is a fan favorite playing in the Canada Pavilion at Epcot. Recently they received a major upgrade to their stage.

Off Kilter Rocks Canada
Off Kilter plays their own unique version of Celtic Rock with front man Jamie Holton playing the bagpipes when he is not singing. Although they play in Epcot's Canada Pavilion, oddly enough none of the 5 member bands hails from the land up north. There is an international flavor to the band though as one member is from Ireland, another from Puerto Rico, and the rest are from the United States.

Although they have been playing and thrilling Epcot guests for years they have always had a very plain looking stage. Besides their trademark kilted outfits, there wasn't anything memorable about the stage. Until now...

The New "Canadian" Stage

The new performance stage for Off Kilter now exudes Canada. There are signs of Canada everywhere and it looks great. There is a sign touting "Pure Maple Syrup for Sale Here." There is a wood canoe hanging from the rafters. There is also a large Moose skull complete with antlers hanging dead center in the rear of the stage. You can see snow shoes, skis, blankets, and other authentic Canadian props covering the stage. This stage is much more befitting an act playing in the Canada Pavilion.

The outfits for Off Kilter have also changed slightly to embrace Canada with several of the band members sporting shirts with the Canadian Maple Leaf adorning their shirts.

Same Great Off Kilter Sound

The best part is that on top of the new look you still get the great Off Kilter music and banter. They are great musicians and even better entertainers. Their show is a must see for all Epcot guests.

Off Kilter is:

■Jamie Holton - "Founder", Singer and Bagpipe player extraordinaire.

■Mark Weldon - "Co-Founder", Lead Singer, and Bass player.
■Scotty Zymowski - Drummer
■Tony Escapa - Keyboards
■Randy Holbrook - Lead Guitar

The American Heritage Gallery at Epcot

2011-01-23T23:57:00.001-05:00

The World Showcase in Epcot has many points of interest worth seeing that never show up on any attraction list. One such place is The American Heritage Gallery in the America Pavilion.

The America Heritage Gallery
Housed within the America Pavilion, The America Heritage Gallery is a mini museum filled with artifacts of a diverse collection of people who contributed greatly to American history. You will see displays representing famous American inventors, astronauts, authors, politicians, reformists, and actors.

The America Heritage Gallery is a walk through attraction that gets little publicity. You actually have to go through the entrance to the American Adventure Attraction in order to see the Gallery. You can walk through the American Heritage Gallery without viewing the attraction.

Thomas Edison
Inventor Thomas Edison is represented by 3 of his inventions on display. There is a Tinfoil Phonograph (pictured above) from 1878 - 1879. There is also an example of a Kinetophone and a Kinetoscope. The Kinetoscope was a way of watching moving pictures before modern motion pictures were invented. Inside a cabinet a strip of film passed rapidly by a lighted shutter giving the illusion of movement.

Astronauts - Glenn, Herrington, & Apollo 16
There are several authentic artifacts from American Astronauts: John Glenn, John Herrington, and the Apollo 16 mission.
John Glenn's Jacket from his Space Shuttle mission when he was 77 years old is on display as well as his helmet from his earlier days during his flight aboard Friendship 7 when he became the first American to orbit the earth.

John Herrington's flute that he played during his Space Shuttle mission aboard the Endeavor. Herrington, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, was the first Native American to fly in space.

A moon rock collected during the Apollo 16 mission from 1972 is shown here and dedicated to the memory of Virgil "Gus" Grissom as a tribute to our nation's brave pioneers of space exploration.

Harriet Beecher Stowe And Frederick Douglas
Writing from Harriet Beecher Stowe and Frederick Douglas are also on display. Stowe was most well known for writing Uncle Tom's Cabin and an early copy of the classic novel is on display. There are several items penned by Frederick Douglas including a letter that he wrote to Abraham Lincoln.

Mark Twain And Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of America is represented by a couple of different items. The first of which is the Queen Anne's Chair pictured above. This chair which was produced in 1748 by renowned cabinetmaker Solomon Russell. It was one of two matching chairs that Benjamin Franklin and his wife Deborah used in their Philadelphia home.

There is also a letter penned by Benjamin Franklin in 1783 while he was America's Ambassador to France. His mission at the time was to negotiate the Treaty Of Paris, ending the Revolutionary War.

Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, is represented by some of his writing tools, a Pen & Case from 1880, and an inkwell from the late 1800's. You can also see a Top Hat of his from around 1910. The box is the lower part of the picture is a humidor where he may have stored some of his trademark cigars.

Will Rogers
Actor and showman Will Rogers is represented by some of his famous cowboy tools: Boots, Chaps, Saddle, Hat, and Lasso. Known for his ability with the lasso, it was interesting to learn that as a boy on his family's ranch a freed slave taught him how to use a lasso to rope cattle.

Beyond The Expected
Throughout Epcot and especially in the World Showcase there are many examples of Galleries and displays that don't show up on anyone's list of must see attractions, but are worthwhile to explore nonetheless.

The American Heritage Gallery is an interesting look at some authentic American artifacts, whether you choose to browse them while waiting for the next showing of the American Adventure or you decide to escape the heat or rain and stumble upon it. Regardless the reason, take the time to visit and check out this educational display.

Epcot Salutes World's Great Scientific Discoveries And Innovators

2010-12-30T22:59:00.000-05:00

Epcot chose a creative way to recognize some of the World's Greatest Scientific Discoveries and the innovative people that discovered them.

As you walk along the West Side of Future World in Epcot, if you happen to glance downward you will notice this tribute to some of the World's Greatest Scientific Discoveries dating back to the Wheel and leading up to modern day.

The display is shaped as a series of concentric circles and at the center of the display is a circle with quotations remarking about discovery, innovation, and the power of human imagination , from a range of well-known experts representing the fields of biochemistry, physics, mathematics, & education.

Albert Szent-Györgyi, famous Biochemist that is attributed with discovering Vitamin C said: "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought."

John Dewey, noted Educator and author of the Dewey Decimal System stated: "Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination."

Thomas Edison, Inventor of items such as the light bulb and the phonograph said: "To invent you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."

Sir Isaac Newton, Mathematician and Physicist noted for the concept of gravity and theories of motion said: "If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."

Marie Curie, Physicist who is known for winning the Nobel prize in Physics for her work in Radiation has said: "Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood."

Man's Great Discoveries

Surrounding the central core are many small disks, each representing an important breakthrough in technology. They range from pre-historic time to present day.

The Wheel is one of the earliest discoveries that is represented. Others include: Stone Tools, Agriculture, Alphabet, and the Printing Press.

Several discoveries from the 20th century are also part of this impressive display including: DNA, Transistor, & Nuclear Reactor.

Recognizing The Power Of Imagination
Disney recognizes the power of Imagination and it is certainly evident throughout their theme parks. In Epcot's Future World the power of imagination fuels the technological discoveries in the areas of Energy, Space Exploration, Automobile Design, Exploration of the Seas, & Next Generation Agriculture.

Although this tribute to the power of imagination and discovery was not added to Epcot until 1998, it certainly belongs there, and hopefully inspires the next generation of scientists and inventors.

Epcot Holidays Around The World - The Storytellers Part III

2010-12-12T08:16:00.000-05:00

Christmas at Disney World takes on an international flair when you visit Epcot and experience the Holidays Around The World. Each country is beautifully decorated for the season and you can learn more about each country's holliday traditions through the marvelous Storytellers.

In Part I of this Epcot Holidays Around The World series we travel to Mexico, Norway, and China. Part II visits Germany, Italy, The United States, and Japan.

In the 3rd and final look at the Epcot Holidays Around The World, we look at 3 different interpretations of Santa Claus.

France
In France you will see Père Noël. He will tell the story of Babette and the letter that she wrote to him. You will hear about the magic of Christmas from a child’s perspective as told by the French version of Santa Claus.

Great Britain
Father Christmas is who you will meet in Great Britain. References to Father Christmas go clear back to the 15th Century England. He is the pre-cursor to the American version of Santa Claus.

Canada
In Canada we meet Nowell, the Canadian lumberjack. He tells the story of the customs of the Canadian children during Christmas time. We also see Nowell transform during his story telling from Lumberjack to Santa Claus. This is a very engaging presentation.

Epcot Holidays Around The World
Christmas time is a wonderful time to explore Epcot. You can enjoy the decorations and be filled with the Christmas Spirit as you learn how each of the World Showcase Countries celebrates their holidays.

This is a great experience for the whole family. Make sure you save enough time when you visit Epcot to listen to these great Storytellers tell their tales. You will be glad that you did.

Epcot Holidays Around The World - The Storytellers Part II

2010-12-10T14:01:00.001-05:00

Epcot shares the Holiday traditions of its 11 countries respresented in the World Showcase by presenting Holidays Around The World Storytellers. These storytellers entertain and teach the Disney World guests about the Holiday Traditions that are part of each country's culture.

Epcot Holidays Around The World - The Storytellers Part I looked at Mexico, Norway, & China. We now continue our trip around the World Showcase.

Germany

Helga greets us in Germany and tells us of her childhood in Germany and the traditions that she had with her family.

She tells us about the first Christmas trees and how according the German legend Martin Luther, the great Reformer, is credited with starting the idea of chopping down a fir tree and bringing it indoors to be decorated. These trees were referred to as Tannenbaum.

You will also hear about the legend of the Nutcracker and you will get to meet a Nutcracker that has come to life.

Italy

In Italy you will meet La Befana, the Good Christmas Witch. She will tell her story of how she remembers the Epiphany and the first Christmas over 2000 years ago.

United States
In the United States Of America you can meet Santa Claus himself.

Also at the American Pavilion you will find a woman that explains the newer Holiday called Kwanzaa. It was very interesting to hear about some of the activities that occur during this celebration. It is a celebration of family, community, and culture that involves the seven basic values of African Culture.

Japan

In Japan the storyteller is a Daruma Vendor. The Daruma doll is an important symbol of the Japanese New Year and a good luck charm.

The Japanese New Year's celebration is called O-Shogatsu, which lasts from January 1st through January3rd. It is considered a time for reflection, family, friends, food, and fun!

The storyteller reveals that the Daruma doll has no pupils in its eyes. During the O-Shogatsu celebration, you make a wish as you paint in the left pupil on your doll. If the wish comes true before the end of the year you get to paint in the right pupil.

Epcot Holidays Around The World - The Storytellers Part I

2010-12-08T21:54:00.000-05:00

A Disney World Christmas Vacation is not complete without visiting the Holidays Around The World at Epcot.

The decorations and plentiful entertainment make the Holidays Around The World Celebration perhaps the best time to visit Epcot (with the exception of maybe the International Food & Wine Festival.)

Here each of the 11 countries represented in the World Showcase have storytellers that share how either the Christmas or New Year's Holidays are celebrated in their respective countries. You will get to hear about the traditions in an engaging live presentation that occurs throughout the day at Epcot.

These storytellers provide a great learning opportunity for children and adults alike to learn more about the culture and ways people celebrate the holidays in other parts of the world. Some will be very similar to our own while others vary widely. The presentations last about 15 minutes each and are presented several times each day according to the posted schedule in each country. It will take a 3 -4 hours to be able to watch all of the storytellers, but it is well worth it.

This is the first of 3 articles to cover our way around the Epcot World Showcase starting with Mexico!

Mexico

In Mexico you will get to meet Los Tres Reyes Magos, otherwise known as the Three Kings or Three Wise Men. They will tell their story and they will tell how Christmas is celebrated in Mexico including the importance of the Poinsettias.

Norway

In Norway we meet Sigrid and Julenissen. Julenissen is considered to be the mischievious Christmas gnome.

He is the guardian of every Norwegian family's welfare, so Norwegian children are taught to leave a steaming bowl of porridge for Julenissen during the Christmas Holiday to thank him.

In Norway on Christmas Day many start the day by attending church then spending the day quietly with family members. On Second Christmas Day, children celebrate julbukke by dressing up in costumes and going door to door for goodies.

China

In China you will meet See how kong, the Monkey King. Here he will tell his tall tale about the Chinese New Year.

As the story goes, he was a monkey raised by humans that single-handedly defeated a terrible monster. He then gained incredible powers when he obtained a Magic Stick that had been guarded by the Dragon King.

He started to use his powers to look for adventure and mischief. Buddha was not pleased with his abuse of his powers, so he decided to seal him in a mountain for eternity.

The Monkey King quickly realized the error of his ways. Thang Seng believed that there was good in the Monkey King and asked Buddha to release him. The Monkey King then joined Thang Seng on a journey to India to retrieve Buddha's original teaching tests.

The Monkey King proved to be a loyal comrade to Thang Seng on his journey.

Think Green At Epcot Innoventions With "Don't Waste It"

2010-11-16T21:14:00.000-05:00

Think Green is the message at one Epcot attraction in the Innoventions East Pavilion. "Don't Waste It" sponsored by Waste Management shows families how to Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse your trash. This fun attraction is entertaining and allows you to learn more about Thinking Green.

"Don't Waste It" brought to you by Waste Management

I'll have to admit when I saw the full size garbage truck in the Innoventions Pavilion, I assumed that "Don't Waste It" was a Waste Management commercial disguised as an attraction. After experiencing "Don't Waste It" first hand, I came away very impressed and actually learned a few things about waste handling and how we can make a difference.

Make no mistake, this is still Disney World and the goal of the attraction is to entertain you first, and hopefully you learn something along the way.

"Don't Waste It" takes your team (family) through a series of stations to first learn about your current waste creating and handling habits and then learn how you can make a difference through Recycling, Using Waste As Fuel, and Finally Capturing a Renewable Energy Source (Methane Gas) from Landfills.

The learning happens through the use of fun, interactive, video games at each of the stations. You also get to take your own miniature Waste Management Garbage Truck from station to station encoded with your team's information.

Sort It Out - Recycling

The first challenge is called Sort It Out. Here we are introduced to the concept of Single Stream Recycling. This means that there is not a need to have separate collection containers for glass, metal, paper, & plastic. It can all go to the recycling center in a single stream.

The video game that your family plays has each member help sort the material to be recycled into its separate categories. The game is fun and you have to pay attention.

Here is a quick video explaining Single Stream Recycling:

Fuel The Burn

The next challenge is called "Fuel The Burn." Here you learn that often garbage can serve as fuel to power electrical turbines, thereby turning garbage into electricity. You family works together to bring garbage to the facility and then feeding the correct mix of wet and dry garbage to keep the incinerator burn at peak efficiency.

The better you are able to accomplish this task the more energy you can generate.

Land Fill Up

The last challenge is called Land Fill Up. Here we learn that Landfills can be tapped to collect the methane gas that is naturally generated by the garbage as it decomposes. Waste Management currently has 110 landfills designed to capture this renewable resource and uses it to power 400,000 homes daily.

Think Green!

By completing the games and challenges found at "Don't Waste It" we learn how there is much more to garbage than just throwing your items in the garbage cans and taking to the curb each week.

I also learned that Waste Management is not just a Waste Hauler, but also a company that is using state of the art technology and processes in order to lessen the impact to the environment for all of the garbage that we generate.

The best course of action is to not generate the waste in the first place, but it was great to learn that there is a lot of great technology being put to use to handle our garbage!

Innoventions Hit Attraction!

"Don't Waste It" should be considered an attraction that is definitely worth visiting. The interactive video challenges are fun, and the learning experiences are a bonus.

Innoventions attractions have come and gone over the years, with some being successful and others, no so. "Don't Waste It" fulfills the first requirement of being entertaining and it also fits right in at Epcot's Future World by providing a better look at the benefits that technology is providing to our world.

You can learn more about recycling and Waste Management's efforts to be at the forefront of using innovative ways to handle our waste at: Think Green. As you can tell from the sign that is proudly placed on the side of their Garbage Truck: "The Waste We Collect Helps Power Over One Million Homes," Waste Management is serious about Thinking Green!

Discover How Japanese Myths Inspire Anime Characters At Epcot

2010-10-27T20:51:00.000-04:00

Visitors To The Japan Pavilion in Epcot will be treated to a new gallery called "Spirited Beasts," which looks at a variety of Japanese Myths and shows how they are closely ingrained in the Japanese Culture and have made their way to inspire Anime Characters.

Spirited Beasts
Within the Japan Pavilion, where for years Japanese Tin Toys were on display in the Bijutsu-kan (a collection of Japanese arts) Gallery now resides "Spirited Beasts - from Ancient Stories to Anime Stars."

It is here that the Disney World guests will get the chance to learn about various characters from Japanese Mythology and see how they still have connections in modern Japanese society through their inclusion in the popular Anime Characters.

From one of the key displays within Spirited Beasts reads:

For centuries, heroic animals and magical creatures have appeared in traditional Japanese myths, stories, and art. Today, they are the heroes and villians of Japan's manga comics and anime. These "spirited beasts" from Japan's past have become pop culture superstars, known and loved around the world.

"The ancient legend of the Moon Rabbit, seen here (pictured above) as a handmade paper collage, was the inspiration for this moden anime star, Mina Tsukishiro, the powerful leader of the lunar based Rabbit Force."

Kitsune
Above is an homage to Kitsune - the magical fox spirits. They are capable of growing extra tails as they gain in age, wisdom, and power. They have the ability to take on human form and are known as expert tricksters. You can find Kitsune characters in popular kabuki drama and in manga and anime series.

Saru

Saru is the Japanese name for monkey. It is often used to represent the guardians of sacred shines and temples. The famous Monkey King is known as Son Goku, and is frequently found as a hero in comics and anime due to his popularity.

Tanuki

Japan's "racoon-dog", known as Tanuki is actually a real species, but is better known by its mythical references. The Tanuki is a magical trickster that possesses shape shifting abilities to go along with it's wisdom and spirituality. In modern times you will see the tanuki figure donning a straw hat and carrying a sake bottle used as a sign of good fortune for shopkeepers.

Kappa

The Kappa are mythical water sprites that live in Japan's lakes and streams. They have turtle-like shells, webbed feet and, oftern a beaked face. A bolw like indentation on top of their head holds water, the source of their might sumo wrestling ability.

Bakeneko & Inugami

Even cats and dogs have a role in Japanese mythology. Bakeneko is the cat spirit. It can walk on its hind legs, cast ghostly fire, and impersonate humans. Inugumi is the dog spirit. Known for its fierce loyalty, this magically gifted spirit is diffficult to capture. and quite powerful.

Tsuru

The beautiful Japanese crane is known as Tsuru. For centuries the crane has been a popular subject of Japanese artwork and decorations. The Tsuru is a symbol of happiness, prosperity, and world peace.

Legend has it if you fold 1,000 paper cranes, which is known as Senbazuru, you will be granted one wish.

Moon Rabbit

The legend of the Moon Rabbit states that a rabbit came across an old beggar looking for food. Since he had none to offer, he offered himself to the beggar. The beggar was actually a deity and rewarded the rabbit's compassion by enshrining him on the moon. The Moon Rabbit as he became known ( Tsuki no Usagi in Japanese) can be seen on a full moon night pounded rice cakes with a wooden mallet.

Japanese Myths Inspire Current Culture

"Spirited Beasts" is an excelllent display that shares an element of Japanese history and present day culture that was very interesting to see and learn about. The self guided display allows you to spend as much or as little time as you wish to read about the displays and look at all there is to discover. I would definitely recommend this Gallery for all Epcot visitors to check out. The subject matter is such that it can appeal to all ages.

This is one of the great aspects of Epcot's World Showcase where you come away knowing a little more about cultures other than your own. This is an experience that you do not get from any of the other Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks.

Disney World Welcomes Karamell-Küche Shop To Epcot Germany

2010-10-06T17:17:00.000-04:00

A new addition has come to the Germany Pavilion in Epcot. "Karamell-Küche- Handcrafted Caramel Treats" is the name of this confectionery shop sponsored by Storck which is the maker of Werther's Original candy. The name literally means "Caramel Kitchen" in German. One step inside the shop and you are instantly struck by the wonderful aromas of the caramel treats.

This Disney World shop is the first and only freestanding retail shop in the world for Storck. You can find Werther's Originals caramels and other candies for sale in the shop (as pictured above). Some of the items in this shop cannot be found anywhere else.

This is definitely the place to be if you have a sweet tooth. Everywhere you look there are candies to tempt you.

In the display window you can also see a sample of the candies that are made on site and are also for sale.

The shop has a show kitchen where Disney Cast Members make fresh treats that are sold in the shop. These include: caramel popcorn, caramel apples, and caramel-covered strawberries and marshmallows.

The above picture shows a Cast Member making some of the treats.

There are two large cases of treats to choose from. the hardest part of the process is making up your mind. As mentioned earlier, the fabulous aromas that you take in make you want to try the caramels even more.

There is a lot of variety to choose from including: Caramel Covered crisped rice treats, brownies, cookies, caramel covered apples, and unbelievable cupcakes.

Here is a close up look at the Yellow Caramel Cupcake. Of special note is that it is available on the Disney Dining Plan as a Snack Credit. There were also several other items that could be obtained for DDP Snack Credits.

Great Addition To Germany Pavilion

The Karamell-Küche Shop looks to be a great addition to Epcot Germany. The sweet treats provide yet another way to get some wonderful treats in the World Showcase. Make sure you stop by during your next visit to Epcot. Once you smell the wonderful aromas it will be difficult to leave without trying something!

Test Track - Disney World's Fastest Attraction

2010-09-16T22:05:00.000-04:00

On March 17th, 1999 Epcot officially welcomed its first thrill ride. Test Track thrills Disney World guests by achieving speeds up to 65 mph earning it the title of the "Fastest Disney Attraction in the World"!

Test Track
Epcot had been plagued since its opening by complaints that it was lacking any thrill rides. I am not going to argue whether philosophically Epcot needs any thrill rides, but the Disney Imagineers listened to its guests and decided that it would be a good idea to add thrill rides to Epcot.

The first thrill ride to be added would replace the World of Motion Attraction sponsored by General Motors. Disney Imagineers partnered with General Motors to come up with the concept and design of the new attraction. They decided upon a "Test Track" concept showing how a car was put through its paces during the design and testing process.

The resulting attraction is nothing short of amazing. Disney Imagineers developed a 6 person ride vehicle that would go through the testing that cars would to evaluate the critical systems. Each ride vehicle has more than enough computer processing power to run the Space Shuttle!

Disney Imagineers challenged themselves by creating a vehicle that performs at dramatically varying speeds including full stops, while maintaining proper spacing from other ride vehicles. Each "car" comes equipped with on board audio-visual systems. This was certainly one of WDI's most challenging achievements.

Test Track Facts
From the "Imagineering Field Guide To Epcot":

The chassis of each vehicle is made entirely of composite materials, meaning there is no steel between the front and rear wheels.
Each vehicle carries 3 on board computers to create the necessary Space Shuttle like computing power.
Each vehicle generates 250 horsepower, more than most passenger cars today.
Test Track is the fastest Disney attraction anywhere in the world, attaining a top speed of 65 miles per hour.

Test Track - The Attraction
Test Track starts with an expansive queue area that demonstrates a number of the tests that various components of the car goes through like: windshields, doors, seat belts, etc. The queue is actually quite interesting and worth your time to check out all there is to see. There is actually so much there, that you may have to force yourself to ride several times so that you can check out of the elements of the ride queue area.

The next stage of the ride is the Briefing Room. Once you are here you will see a short video that explains how GM tests cars and the experience that you are about to go through. This sets the storyline for the attraction.

Once you are released from the Briefing Room you enter one more land in preparation for boarding your ride vehicle. The vehicles each hold 6 passengers in two rows of 3. This is one of the few rides that has a single rider line in addition to the normal line and the FastPass line.

Note: This is the fastest moving single rider line since the ride vehicle has an odd number of seats (3) in each row. This is a great way to experience the attractions and cut down the extremely long waits.

Once you are loaded into the "test car" the excitement begins. The ride consists of climbs up steep grades, descents through cobblestone streets, and testing of anti-lock braking systems.

You will experience environmental chambers showing extreme heat and cold, whereby you will be exposed to a 100 F temperature difference, albeit for a short period of time.

Afterward it will be time for a series of acceleration and deceleration as you race around hairpin turns and switchbacks while narrowly avoiding a collision with an oncoming truck.

If you survive the "crash test" you will head outdoors to the circular proving grounds track where the speeds will get up to 65 mph and you experience turns on 50 degree banks.

Unfortunately the 5 minute long ride ultimately comes to an end as you are returned to the area where you first boarded your vehicle.

Test Track Is A Disney World MUST DO!
Test Track is an attraction that you can experience over and over and still be excited each time! It is one that should be on your list of MUST DO Disney World attractions for each visit. Using the FastPass and/or the Single Rider line is strongly encouraged unless you ride it close to park opening before the lines get long.

Ride Test Track for the thrills, but take the time to appreciate all of the technology that went into designing and building this incredible attraction.

Hapsburg Emperors Have Place At Disney World

2010-09-04T06:32:00.000-04:00

Disney World is not just a place for thrilling attractions and a chance to meet Disney Characters. You can also learn about World History during your Disney World Vacation. Epcot is a perfect place to learn more about cultures, history, and traditions of the 11 countries represented in the World Showcase.

Epcot Germany Pavilion
When you visit the Epcot Germany Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase you see a recreation of a Bavarian village platz (plaza.) Here you will see a mixture of architectural styles in the various buildings that range from those you would see in the 13th century to the 17th centuries.

The Disney Imagineers looked to create a classic image of Germany that combines pieces and aspects of many real buildings and structures from across the country. By combining certain features of many different cities and buildings they successfully create a perfect storybook image of Germany as you may imagine in the fairy tales.

Gild Hall - Kaufhaus
One interesting building is the Gild Hall which is a close facsimile of the Kaufhaus found in Freiburg, Germany (pictured below.) The Historic Merchants Hall was built in 1520 - 1521. The statues on the front of the building represent 4 of the Hapsburg Emperors and were sculpted between 1520 and 1531 by Sixt von Staufen.

The Epcot version of the building is pictured below. Although the color of the building has been altered to fit in with the other buildings in Epcot's German Village, the architecture is remarkably similar. Take some time comparing the two pictures and you will see the lengths that the Disney Imagineers went to reproduce the original Kaufhaus.

One notable different is that the original Kaufhaus has 4 statues of Hapsburg Emperors, while the Epcot version only has 3. This is due to the fact that in order to keep this building at the reduced scale that is consistent with the rest of the Germany Pavilion in Epcot, it was necessary to only have 4 windows and 3 statues. This led to the statue of Hapsburg Emperor Maximilian I being left out of the Disney World structure.

Hapsburg Emporers

The Hapsburg Royal Family ruled Austria-Hungary from 1273 - 1918 and also led over Germany for much of this time. You must also realize that the Hapsburg family was in power at the time the original Kaufhaus was built. The 4 Hapsburgs that were chosen were the 4 most noteworthy and powerful in recent times when the statues were created in 1520 - 1531.

The four Hapsburg emperors represented on the original Kaufhaus are: Maximilian I, Philip I, Charles V, & Ferdinand I.

King Philip I, also known as, King Phillip The Beautiful of Castile, lived from 1478 - 1506. Philip was the first Hapsburg King of Castile. He also inherited the greater part of Burgundy and the Netherlands, and also became the first Habsburg Monarch in Spain. Philip's father was Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor.

Emperor Charles V lived from 1500 - 1558. The was the son of Philip I and as such inherited his monrachy of Castile and Burgundy. When his paternal grandfather, Maximilian I, passed away he assumed his title as Holy Roman Emperor. He also inhereited Aragon from his maternal grandfather Ferdinand II.

Charles' realm was described as "the empire on which the sun never sets." spannning nearly 4 million sq kilometers across Europe, the Far East, and the Americas.

Emperor Ferdinand I was the younger brother of Charles V and lived from 1503 - 1564. Ferdinand I was a Central European Monarch from the House of Hapsburg. He also ruled much of Austria during the majority of his public life. Ferdinand I assumed the title of Holy Roman Emperor in 1558 from the passing of his brother Charles, although most of Charles' other titles were passed to his son, Philip.

Epcot Is Much More Than Great Food!

When people visit Epcot's World Showcase they automatically think of all of the great food (and they should!), but there is so much more to see and enjoy. Each pavilion in the World Showcase is filled with parts of that country's history that is waiting to be discovered. Much of the detail is very subtle with little attention drawn to it. Such is the case of the replica of the Kaufhaus in the Germany Pavilion and the statues of the Hapsburg Emperors.

The next time you are in Epcot, point out the statues of the Emperors to your family and earn bonus points by telling them that the "real" building in Germany actually has 4!

Epcot 15th Annual International Food & Wine Festival Special Events

2010-08-31T13:49:00.001-04:00

You can now sign up for the long list of special events available during the 15th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. By calling 407-WDW-Fest (939-3378) you can make reservations and secure your spot in some of these very popular events.

Epcot Food & Wine Festival Special Events
Each year the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is home to a number of special events that go above and beyond the normal activities. These include special parties, themed meals by expert chefs, Wine Tastings, Wine and Food Pairings, Dining Experiences, and other events.

Here is a list of the Special Events for this year's Festival which opens on October 1st and runs through November 14th, 2010:

First Bites Opening Reception at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

An opening reception in the Festival Welcome Center featuring epicurean samplings from the International Marketplaces, Wine Seminars, Culinary Demonstrations, merchandise locations, celebrities and entertainment. This is truly a sneak peek of the Festival before it is officially open to the public.

Location: Festival Welcome Center
Date: Thursday, September 30th, 2010, from 6:30 p.m.– 9:00 p.m.
Price: $195.00 USD per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

"3D" Disney's Dessert Discovery
Join us for a dessert lover's dream! During the Festival, select Thursday & Friday evenings become truly delicious with a variety of desserts and samplings of cordials certain to please any sweet tooth. Afterwards enjoy V.I.P. viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. World ShowPlace Pavilion

Dates: Select Thursdays & Fridays from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (10/8, 10/15, 10/21, 10/28, 11/5, 11/12)

Price: $45.00 USD per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

Taste, Shake, and Indulge Like the French

The "No. 1" French liqueur, Grand Marnier, family owned and operated since 1827, offers the unique experience to taste its range of exceptional Cognac-based liqueurs. Following the tasting, become your own mixologist and learn how to muddle and shake like a pro, and later indulge in the famous Crepês Suzette and Soufflés Glacés au Grand Marnier made by the chefs of Bistro de Paris. Bistro de Paris, France Pavilion

Dates: Select Saturdays from 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30 )

Price: $45.00 USD per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

Mexico Tequila Tastings

Come taste authentic Mexican tequila and learn about the history and traditions around its production from a true Tequila Master. This unique location offers appetizer samplings of ceviche and tostada as guests embark on their tequila flight. *Available dates are limited.

Location: La Cava del Tequila, Mexico Pavilion

Dates: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Price: $45.00 USD per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

Food & Wine Pairings

These late afternoon sessions are great opportunities to discover a marriage of 3 regional wines with 3 tasting-size portions of cuisines from select Epcot restaurants. A wine representative will host each session and the themes will vary according to location. Featured wineries and menu selections change daily.

Dates:
Saturdays, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. — Tutto Italia Ristorante
Mondays, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Tokyo Dining
Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Restaurant Marrakesh

Price: $65.00 USD per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

Cheese Seminars

Learn about cheese from expert "fromagers" from the Artisanal Premium Cheese Center in New York City and other cheese industry professionals. The featured cheese will be paired with selected wines–introduced by a knowledgeable wine representative.

Dates: Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. — 11:45 a.m. in the Festival Welcome Center

10/2 — French — Max McCalman, Artisanal Premium Cheese Center in New York City

10/9 — Italian — Erin Hendley, Artisanal Premium Cheese Center in New York City

10/16 — American — Max McCalman, Artisanal Premium Cheese Center in New York City

10/23 — Spanish — Waldemar Albrecht-Luna, Artisanal Premium Cheese Center in New York City

10/30 — France — Max McCalman, Artisanal Premium Cheese Center in New York City

11/6 — American — David Gremmels, Rogue Creamery, Central Point, OR

11/13 — Italy — Max McCalman, Artisanal Premium Cheese Center in New York City

Price: $75.00 USD per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

Epcot® Wine Schools

Enjoy this fabulous, comprehensive program facilitated by a prestigious wine authority. This afternoon session engages the flavors and traditions of distinctive wine cultures, teaches how to taste several regional wines, and concludes with a celebratory reception and certificate of completion.

Dates: Saturdays, 1:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. Class; 3:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. Light Reception at Wonders Retreat.

10/2 — Jon Bolta, Winemaker for Conundrum Wines "Conundrum Building Seminar, Conundrum Wines California"

10/9 — Robin Back, Proprietor of Fairview Wines "Variety is in our Nature South Africa's Unique Terroir"

10/16 — Andrea Robinson, Master Sommelier "Explore the Alluring and Mysterious Great Pinot Noir Regions"

10/23 — Sharron McCarthy, President of the Society of Wine Educators "Under the Tuscan Sun Tantalizing Tuscany"

11/13 — Evan Goldstein, Master Sommelier "Argentina 'en fuego'- Discover the Excitement Around this Amazing South American Jewel"

Price: $125.00 USD per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

Sweet Sundays — Hosted by MARTINI®

A highly-acclaimed pastry chef or baker demonstrates 3 signature desserts... and serves them! Each event includes a warm and intimate breakfast buffet complete with sparkling wines.

Dates: Sundays from 10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. in the Festival Welcome Center

10/3 — Matt Lewis & Renato Poliafito, Baked, Brooklyn, NY

10/10 — Warren Brown & Mary Meyers, CakeLove, Washington, DC

10/17 — Stanton Ho, Executive Chef, Chocolates á la Carte

10/24 — Gale Gand, Tru, Chicago, Ill

10/31 — Geraldine Randlesome, Creative Cutters, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

11/7 — Emily Luchetti, Waterbar Restaurant and Farallon Restaurant, San Francisco, CA

11/14 — Richard Ruskell, Montage Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, CA

Price: $85.00 USD per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

French Regional Lunches

Discover the cuisine and wine that characterizes a different region in France on selected Fridays and Sundays. Lunch will be prepared by chefs from the Bistro de Paris at the France Pavilion at Epcot. Wines will also be presented by a visiting winery principle.

Dates: Select Fridays & Sundays, 12:00 p.m. — 3:30 p.m. at the Bistro de Paris, France Pavilion at Epcot

10/1— Champagne— Pascal Boye representing Nicolas Feuillatte

10/3— Bordeaux— Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Adrien Laurent

10/8— Maconnais & Beaujolais— Georges Duboeuf, Jorge Hernandez

10/10— Rhone Valley— Maison Vidal-Fleury, Jorge Hernandez

10/15— Alsace— Trimbach, Alexandra Marshall

10/17— Alsace— Trimbach, Alexandra Marshall

10/22— Bordeaux— Barton & Guestier, Alexandra Marshall

10/24— Bordeaux— Barton & Guestier, Alexandra Marshall

10/29— Champagne— Champagne Pommery, Frederic Goossens

10/31— Champagne— Champagne Pommery, Frederic Goossens

11/5— Cotes du Rhone— Jean-Luc Colombo, Lydia Tremble

11/7— Cotes du Rhone— Jean-Luc Colombo, Lydia Tremble

11/12— Burgundy— Jean-Claude Boisset, Gregory Patriat

11/14— Burgundy— Jean-Claude Boisset, Gregory Patriat

Price: $95.00 USD per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

Celebrating Family & Friends in the Kitchen

This enchanting 3-course lunch celebrates the joys of preparing a meal with family and friends. The hosts will engage attendees and demonstrate how to prepare an appetizer, main course and dessert. A notable winery representative will also be on hand to pair each course with a selection from their premium wines.

Dates: Fridays from 10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. at the Festival Welcome Center

10/1 — Sondra Bernstein & John Best, the girl and the fig, Sonoma, CA

10/8 — Robin Miller, Host of Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller, Food Network

10/15 — Andrea Robinson, M.S., Everyday Dining with Wine

10/22 — Andrew Zimmern, Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods

10/29 — Cat Cora, Kouzzina by Cat Cora, Disney's BoardWalk Resort

11/5 — Art Smith, Personal Celebrity Chef, Chicago, IL

11/12 — Evan Goldstein, Master Sommelier

Price: $110.00 USD-140.00 USD per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

* Saturday program

Party for the Senses

The weekly Party For The Senses grand tasting event showcases tempting bites from eminent chefs from around the country as well as the finest Disney chefs.

Start your evening off with confirmed seating to the Eat To The Beat concert series at the America Gardens Theater. Then head over to World Showplace for this grand culinary event! Wander among tantalizing food and beverage in the midst of imaginative decor and awe-inspiring acts from La Nouba™ by Cirque du Soleil®.

Upgrade your experience with the Wine View Lounge. This is an exclusive area within Party for the Senses which includes a private reserved table, entrance into World ShowPlace 15 minutes before general admission, premium bar, an artisanal cheese station, and more. Limited Availability

Dates: Saturdays 6:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m. at the World ShowPlace Pavilion (Wine View Lounge: 6:15 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

Price: $135.00 USD per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is required.

Wine View Lounge access is $90.00 USD per person, plus tax (in addition to admission for Party for the Senses.). Gratuity included.

Culinary Adventure Signature Dining

A highly acclaimed chef collaborates with the resident chef of a top Disney restaurant to create a truly magical and memorable meal. A representative from one or more hosting wineries will present accompanying wines for each dinner. Select days at select venues at the Walt Disney World Resort (see below).

Dates:
10/5 6:30 p.m. Paradiso 37 at Downtown Disney Area — Jose Camay

10/7 6:30 p.m. Jiko- The Cooking Place at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge — Dennis Thompson

10/14 6:30 p.m. The Wave at Disney's Contemporary Resort — Frank Brough

10/19 6:30 p.m. Wolfgang Puck's at Downtown Disney Area — Sinclair Thorne

10/21 6:30 p.m. California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort — Brian Piasecki

10/22 6:30 p.m. Wonder's Retreat at Epcot — Jens Dahlmann*

*Theme park admission is required

10/24 6:30 p.m. Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa — Scott Hunnel

10/27 6:30 p.m. Portobello Italian Trattoria at Downtown Disney Area — Tony Mantuano

10/28 6:30 p.m. Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney's BoardWalk Resort — Cat Cora

11/3 6:30 p.m. Citricos at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa — Phillip Ponticelli

11/3 6:30 p.m. Raglan Road at Downtown Disney Area — Kevin Dundon

11/4 6:00 p.m. Flying Fish Café at Disney's BoardWalk Resort — Tim Keating

11/6 6:30 p.m. Todd English's bluezoo, Lake Buena Vista, Florida — Todd English

11/10 6:30 p.m. Bongo's Cuban Café at Downtown Disney Area — Edwin Almonte

11/11 6:30 p.m. Fulton's Crab House at Downtown Disney Area — Ron Cope

Price: $125.00 USD-$450.00 USD per person, plus tax. Gratuity included. Theme park admission is not required.

Disney World Presents: The American Adventure At Epcot

2010-08-24T12:20:00.007-04:00

The American Adventure at Epcot may be the Disney Imagineers' most successful effort in combining storytelling and advanced technology to create a fascinating show for their Disney World guests.

There are many design elements that are working together to make this a tremendous attraction. Starting with the building itself, this colonial style manor used English Georgian architecture. By utilizing architecture that draws upon America's Colonial times, it automatically draws the guests into one of the most definitive periods of America's history.

Once inside the building guests are often greeted in the rotunda by the Voices of Liberty, an a cappella musical group that sings well known American patriotic and folk songs. The acoustical properties of the dome in the rotunda are such that they enhance the clarity of their voices. They are extremely talented, and it is amazing that they are just a small part of The American Adventure experience.

If you have time to explore the pre-show area of the building there is much to see around the perimeter of the room. It engages the guests to start thinking about the history of America.

As you proceed from the Rotunda to the staging area to enter the theater, you pass through a large hallway with a large number of flags that flew over parts of American during its formative years. Some of these flags were State Flags while others were used to represent the country as a whole. This again prepares the guests for the story that is about to be told.

Audio-Animatronic versions of Ben Franklin and Samuel Clemens are the hosts and guide the telling of the story. The Imagineers used the fact that they lived approximately 100 years apart to tie the elements of the story together. It presents America as an evolving nation that continually makes strides and overcomes the obstacles presented to it.

This scene with Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin was a landmark for WDI Audio-Animatronics design as Ben Franklin actually walks up steps and then walks across the room to join Thomas Jefferson. This took a monumental engineering feat to successfully complete this effect.

Much of the show is presented from the point of view of the common man. This scene shows a Civil War era family that was divided by the war with one son fighting for the North and one fighting for the South.

In other scenes you will see the struggle of the Revolutionary War from the point of view from two freezing soldiers, hear a discussion at a small town gas station about life during the Great Depression, and a Rosie the Riveter World War II scene where two women are working to keep America’s Naval Fleet operational. Throughout the show you see examples of the power of the American People to persevere despite the challenges put before them.

America’s recovery during the Industrial Revolution and celebration of its Centennial is presented with Samuel Clemens, Alexander Graham Bell, Andrew Carnegie, and Susan B. Anthony.

Naturalist John Muir and President Theodore Roosevelt are shown here with Muir making a plea for Roosevelt to preserve the natural beauty of America for generations to come by creating more National Parks.

At the conclusion Ben Franklin and Samuel Clemens come together atop the Statue of Liberty to reflect upon where America has been and where it is going.

Technological Marvel
An unbelievable amount of technology went into creating this masterful show. In addition to the audio-animatronic figures that you see, there is a 175 ton, 65-foot by 35-foot scene changer that moves all of the show sets into place before they are elevated into view by telescoping hydraulic lifts. It takes a network of over two dozen computers to control all of the action that takes place during this show.

The many audio-animatronic figures used throughout the show have movements and a sense of realism not seen elsewhere. Next time you see the show pay close attention to George Washington's horse, it is hard to tell it is not real.

If you watch closely you will also see that any action that takes place in a time that predates the invention of the camera is only shown in artwork or scenes using audio-animatronics, but not in staged photography or film. This was done to give it a higher sense of integrity and consistency with WDI (Walt Disney Imagineering) Philiosophy.

See The American Adventure
Any trip to Epcot is not complete without seeing The American Adventure. There is so much to see and take in, that it takes many viewings to capture the multitude of details. The more times you see the show, the more you notice and appreciate.

See The American Adventure for the great storytelling, or see it for the impressive technology, but make sure you see The American Adventure.

Epcot Construction Update - La Hacienda de San Angel

2010-08-13T08:21:00.000-04:00

Opening soon in Epcot will be La Hacienda de San Angel and La Cantina de San Angel restaurants. They are being built in the Mexico Pavilion of the World Showcase in Epcot.

Previously there was a version of La Cantina de San Angel in that location, but it was totally torn down and the new construction has dramatically increased the size of the building, as well as, extended out over the water to gain additional space.

The newly constructed combination of La Cantina de San Angel and La Hacienda de San Angel will introduce a new concept to Disney World. During the day La Hacienda de San Angel will be a Quick Service Dining location to help serve the lunch crowds. Starting at 4:00 pm each day it becomes a full service Table Service Dining Restaurant.

This will be the first of several dual purpose restaurants that Disney World will be launching over the next couple of years. The next of which will be the Be Our Guest Restaurant as part of the new Fantasyland expansion at the Magic Kingdom in 2012.

The initial menu at the 250-seat La Hacienda de San Angel will offer Mexican specialties such as queso fundido (warm cheese with poblano pepper and chorizo); a taco trio with rib eye, roasted chicken and pork; and mixed grill for two with flank steak, chicken, chorizo and vegetables (a seafood version features grouper, shrimp and scallops)created by the talented culinary team at San Angel Inn, LLC., which has operated the food service at the Mexico pavilion for more than 25 years.

La Cantina de San Angel will offer Quick Service Dining from 11:00 AM until park closing each day for those that would still prefer the Quick Service Dining option.

The architecture of the new building is a vast upgrade to the previous building and will be very impressive when all of the construction walls have come down. In addition to adding exciting Dining Options to Epcot, the new expanded construction also creates great fireworks viewing locations right on the water.

The new restaurants should both be open for business this Fall at Epcot, supposedly in time for the start of Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival on Oct 1st. As soon as an official date is announced it will be posted on Only WDWorld.