Forward to the future at Disney’s Epcot Center

Spaceship Earth as the landmark of Epcot

Epcot is one of four amusement parks at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida near Orlando. It was the second park to open in 1982. The theme of the park is international culture and technological innovation.

Initially, Epcot was the largest amusement park in the Walt Disney World Resort until 1998, covering around 120 hectares, until it was replaced by “Disney’s Animal Kingdom”. With around 11.2 million visitors, the park was the fifth most visited theme park in the world in 2013. The park’s landmark is the Spaceship Earth attraction.

The experimental city of the future Epcot(Experimental Prototype City Of Tomorrow) takes visitors on a journey around the world through “Future World” and “World Showcase”. While Future World demonstrates the future high-tech world, numerous countries present themselves in the World Showcase by showcasing their architecture, lifestyle and, of course, their culinary specialties. A wonderful day full of illusion and inspiration concludes with an impressive fireworks display over the lagoon.

Fictional Future World at Epcot

The futuristic-looking silver sphere just behind the park entrance can already be seen outside the park. Spaceship Earth therefore deals with the topic of communication from prehistoric times to the present day. In the passing scenes, interactive touchscreens make you part of the journey, which is commented on by a narrator. On arrival, a film presents the results of the journey by animating the desired future in a funny way. The ride lasts approx. 13 minutes.

The Universe Of Energy features the themed ride “Ellen’s Energy Adventure” with the well-known US talk show host Ellen De Generes. In the story of Ellen’s Energy Adventure, the protagonist has a dream that transports her to a Jeopardy show. Her opponents are Albert Einstein and her school rival Judy Peterson, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. The quiz show is all about energy, Ellen has no idea and visitors are surprised in the following show. The attraction is also suitable for small children.

In Mission: Space, on the other hand, things are more turbulent. You are shot into space without having to leave the earth. In this spectacular simulation ride, amateur astronauts experience first-hand what a space flight feels like. For the more timid passengers, “Team Green” offers a less intense ride experience than “Team Orange”, which is literally shot into space. There is a briefing before the ride. Anyone suffering from claustrophobia should not go on the ride.

Another spectacular experience is driving on the simulated Test Track, where you drive the vehicle you have designed yourself. First, you create your own dream vehicle in the design room using touchscreens. Then, in vehicles with six people each, you take to a test track, which is transformed into a virtual reality look by laser and video projections. Screens along the track show how the previously designed car performed on this segment of the route. The highlight is the high-speed drive at around 100 km/h.

Innoventions are two pavilions in Epcot Center that provide an exhibition space for changing sponsors. In the learning-oriented environment, younger park visitors can playfully experience new developments and inventions in industry and society. In 2009, for example, a Kuka Robocoaster was integrated into the eastern pavilion. The ride is based on an industrial robot.

The Land pavilion features three attractions focusing on sustainable agriculture and new technologies in food production: “The Circle of Life” is an educational film featuring Disney characters Simba, Timon and Pumbaa from the movie “The Lion King”. The boat trip “Living with the Land” leads through greenhouses dedicated to the new possibilities of industrialized cultivation of plants and animals. It shows the history of agriculture and what the agriculture of the future could look like.

Last but not least, Soarin is an attraction of the same name at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim. A flight simulator simulates a gliding flight in a hang glider over California. Visitors are transported several meters above the ground directly in front of an IMAX dome screen, where they experience a perfect illusion. They glide over San Francisco Bay, over the vineyards and orange groves of Napa Valley and along the coast of Highway One. A flight over the Magic Kingdom’s Main Street, accompanied by fireworks, is the highlight. The feeling of sailing is further enhanced by a fan.

The insights into the land are followed by an insight into the underwater world. In The Seas with Nemo & Friends, the main attraction of the same name tells the story of “Finding Nemo” in a combination of themed ride, projection effects and real aquariums. In shell-shaped cars, the ride passes numerous scenes with projections and animatronics. As a highlight, the passengers end up in a gigantic aquarium, which forms the center of the attraction. At the exit, the aquarium can be viewed from a variety of perspectives. There you will also find the interactive show “Turtle Talk With Crush”, in which the turtle Crush from “Finding Nemo” talks to the visitors.

In the Imagination Pavilion, Michael Jackson as Captain EO, the little dragon Figment and another science center await visitors. This pavilion is dedicated to the power of imagination and the human senses in all their dimensions. Captain EO is a 4D film in which additional effects such as air currents and movement of the seats surprise the viewer in addition to the 3D film. “Journey into Imagination with Figment” is an attraction with the Disney character “Figment”, which is dedicated to the five human senses. The tour in the Imagination Institute goes through research laboratories and is repeatedly interrupted by the little dragon. He provides a fun introduction to the world of imagination.

Performance of the nations in the World Showcase

The largest part of Epcot is taken up by the World Showcase, which is made up of eleven pavilion nations. Here you can immerse yourself in the world of Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, USA, Japan, Morocco, France, Great Britain and Canada. In the middle of the park is the “World Showcase Lagoon”, an artificial lake with a circumference of almost 3.5 km.

Hola Mexico

The Mexican pavilion resembles an Aztec pyramid and welcomes you at the entrance with Mexican works of art from the Animales Fantasticos art collection. The main room is the marketplace at night, the “Plaza de los Amigos”. From the “San Angel Inn” restaurant at the end of the square, you can see a model of an active volcano over an artificial river. On the river “El Rio del Tiempo” (River of Time) you can sail around in small boats. The “Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros” tells the story of three caballeros.

Hey Norway

Welcome to the land of trolls. The Norwegian pavilion, modeled on a Norwegian village, shows the Gol stave church and has many stores decorated with large wooden trolls. Among other things, typical Norwegian clothing, sweets and small troll statues are sold here. In the inner courtyard is the entrance to the “Maelstrom” boat trip, which takes you through a mystical landscape with Vikings and trolls out to sea and through a violent storm.

Nǐ hǎo China

Entering through a large Chinese gate, China welcomes visitors with the “Temple of Heaven”. Inside, Reflections of China is a 360° film about the country’s history and landscape. Stores in the inner courtyard sell a range of Chinese goods. The romantic ponds spanned by bridges create a typically Chinese atmosphere. The Chinese “Nine Dragons Restaurant” serves authentic Chinese dishes.

Hello Germany

No American can think of Germany without bratwurst, sauerkraut and wheat beer, and unfortunately this is often the only thing that comes to mind when thinking of Germany. So it’s not surprising that there is also a beer garden in the pavilion, which is modeled on a small German town, where the national dish is served.

However, various architectural elements from the different regions of Germany have been deliberately incorporated, even if the overall visual impression is more reminiscent of Bavaria or Franconia. Small stores offer the second great synonym for Germany: the cuckoo clock and there are also dolls and wine from German wine-growing regions. There is a small model railway town near the pavilion.

Ciao Italy

The piazza in the Italian pavilion is framed by famous buildings from Venice and Rome, such as the Campanile bell tower on St. Mark’s Square and a replica of the Doge’s Palace in Venice. Statues, a Neptune fountain and lions adorn the square, where various street artists such as clowns and mimes entertain. You can buy Italian sweets and wine in the small stores.

Hi USA

The American pavilion was modeled on the American colonial style. Here, the stage show The American Adventure with automated actors brings visitors closer to American history. The show is very patriotic and perfectly staged in American style.

Numerous famous Americans are portrayed on a moving stage by animatronics, who tell us something about their era in US history. Video projections and a harmonious soundtrack round off the program. The Hall of Flags displays various flags from American history. Typical American dishes such as cheeseburgers and hot dogs are served in the Liberty Inn restaurant.

Konnichiwa Japan

Genuine Japanese architecture transports world travelers directly to the land of the setting sun. The entrance to the courtyard is decorated with a Japanese pagoda. A torii gate decorates the waterfront by the lagoon. Japanese pools and gardens lead directly into the Japanese castle, which is surrounded by a moat. There is an exhibition on Japanese culture here. In the “Mitsukoshi” store you can buy typical Japanese clothes, jewelry and toys. In the Teppanyaki Dining Room, the chef prepares the dishes right in front of the visitors.

Salem Morocco

The Koutoubia Minaret from Marrakech is located within the Moroccan city. The pavilion also houses an art gallery and a Fez house, an example of a typical Moroccan house. Numerous stores create a Moroccan market atmosphere surrounded by gardens and fountains, where carpets, leather goods and clothes are on sale. In the evening, belly dancers dance into the night with visitors to the park as part of a music show.

Salute France

You can catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower in the French pavilion. There are stores selling French goods such as perfumes in the themed area based on the Parisian district. The “Impressions de France” panorama cinema tells the story of France’s cities and history. Of course, our European neighbors also offer culinary delights in the “Bistro de Paris”.

Hello Great Britain

The buildings in the British Pavilion are modeled on various architectural periods of British architecture. The flair is underlined by a typical English garden maze. The stores sell British goods such as tea, toys, clothes and numerous Beatles merchandise.

The Beatles are of course also on site and play well-known songs in the form of “The British Invasion”. Music continues here with pianist and entertainer “Pam Brody”, who performs a selection of well-known British music in “The Rose & Crown Pub” at weekends. Fish and ships are a must here. You can get them at Harry Ramsden’s.

Hello and bonjour Canada

The castle in the Canadian pavilion is modeled on an old Canadian hotel. Behind it is a rocky landscape with waterfalls. The 360° film “O Canada!” shows the Canadian beauty of the city and country. Culinary specialties are available in the form of steaks and seafood at “Le Cellier Steakhouse”.

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