Speaking for myself, I was pretty exhausted by the time we arrived at Epcot Center via bus from the Disney-MGM Studios at about 1:30pm on Tuesday, September 25. It wasn’t long before I was trying to figure out how to conserve my failing energy sources by finding the routes whereby we could take the least amount of steps. And besides, I have to say, Epcot just isn’t the same as it used to be. In fact, Epcot most certainly is the park that least resembles itself in its grand opening stage. Gone now are the bulk of the animatronic rides, the ones that really defined Epcot in my mind. I guess I’m just a sentimental old sap.
Granted they’ve added a few cool thrill rides that definitely merit repeated ridings, but I ache for the rides I adored that once occupied these buildings. It was a very telling sign to enter the park and not be able to ride Spaceship Earth (the big golf ball, as so many call it). This too is under refurbishment and I would imagine that it is being as violently gutted as the former World of Motion and Horizons were. But in all fairness, I think the continual development and alterations were probably what Walt Disney would have envisioned for this park.
So since our traditional first stop was closed for business, our first ride ended up being Living with the Land. The truth is that we only went into The Land Pavillion in order to get a FastPass for the new Soarin’ ride. Even this old boat ride – which has always been lame – now had a canned voice-over rather than a live tour guide. Other than that it was the same…a peaceful voyage through the exciting world of agriculture.
Although I always rather enjoyed the pre-show movie to The Living Seas, I must admit that its replacement The Seas Starring Nemo and Friends adds some further entertainment value over the original ride. Still not a great attraction, this one had the longest queuing area in the history of man…but once we weaved through the turnstiles, it was a walk-on.
Aaron and Denise in the shell of the new ride The Seas
Ashleigh and I…as happy as clams
We next attempted to watch the 3-D attraction Honey I Shrunk the Audience – which I adore – but due to mechanical difficulties, they were forced to abort the showing. It was while waiting for this ride that we first spotted the fat version of my cousin Zac. We would see more of him before the day was through. We then went on the walk-on Imagination ride, which replaced what was once Journey Into Imagination.
Fat Zac waiting in vain for Honey I Shrunk the Audience
Despite Denise’s queasiness and uneasiness, we all boarded Mission:Space. This was Aaron and Denise’s first time on the ride. I will have to admit that this is an amazing experience. What can you say about a ride that simulates taking off into space and engulfs you with the feeling that you are traveling faster than the speed of sound? Simply amazing. If only they hadn’t completely demolished my favorite ride Horizons to put it there.
Ready to take on this monster Mission: Space
Aaron, Ashleigh, and Denise excitedly (in some cases) show their Mission: Space boarding passes
Because it was a trade-off for the brilliant animatronic odyssey World of Motion, I have always had bad feelings toward Test Track. In fact we were even going to pass it up and head for the countries, when a couple gave us two FastPass tickets. Denise and Ashleigh used those, and Aaron and I entered the single-rider line, almost enabling the four of us to ride together. As it was Aaron and I boarded the car right after the gals. After it was over, Aaron and I agreed: the ride was better than we had remembered.
Ash and Denise in the car before ours on Test Track
We bypassed riding Ellen’s Energy Adventure (okay I’ll give you that one – the new version is far superior to the original Universe of Energy) and the Wonders of Life Pavillion was also closed for refurbishment, so we headed to the other side of the park to redeem our FastPass tickets for the new Soarin’ attraction. I had already twice rode the Disneyland version of this ride Soarin’ Over California, which is exactly the same. On the way we stopped at Fountainview Ice Cream for cones and malts and the ever-attractive option of sitting down.
By this time it was 5:00pm. Aaron had plans to drink his way around the world in Epcot…so I embarked on a new adventure unlike any I had ever experienced at Disney World before – as we headed into the World Showcase.
You know I have to ask, did fat Zac make any lewd gestures?
Darlene
November 7th, 2007
He didn’t Darlene, but Brad and I made lewd gestures at him when we encountered him later…
Aaron
November 7th, 2007
Fat Zac was a perfect gentleman. Skinny, lewd Zac might do well to follow his example.
Brad
November 7th, 2007
Poor Zac, what has he ever done (except make lewd gestures) to deserve all the battering????
Barb/Mom
November 7th, 2007