Finally got a number of pictures loaded up so it's time to continue the review of last month's trip. I've gotten through all the pictures but still have a number to upload. Anyway, this is what we did in our two trips to EPCOT.
Spaceship Earth - Three Times. The linchpin of the park still holds an appeal for me. Many long-term fans will argue that the current version of this ride pales in comparison to some of it's previous versions but I still love this ride and it's edutainment qualities.
Test Track - Test Track is an attempt to marry education (how cars are tested before they are mass produced) with a thrill ride (doing about 65 in a NASCAR like turn). In principal, this is the right way to approach the concept at EPCOT. You can't just fling a coaster in EPCOT and have it fit the theming. Test Track makes you the test 'dummy' in a car. You ride around in the main building going through rough road tests, heat tests, cold tests, brake tests, etc. The final test tries to trick you into thinking you're going to crash but the wall opens and you're outside the main building, whipping through a mighty curve at a high rate of speed. It's like riding in a full sized slot car. It's fun but there's no real adventure to be found. We walked through the queue and immediately got on the ride. Once we'd finished the ride, there was a slight queue. That was enough to keep us from riding again. It's just not that fun. Besides, we were going faster during the car ride to and from Orlando. There are rumors that a couple of the not in use pavilions will be removed in order to put up a thrill ride at EPCOT. If they can marry education and thrill ride more successfully than this, it may be the greatest thing ever. Otherwise, blah.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends - Twice. It's not that long, it's fun, and there was no line for it. Win - win.
Turtle Talk with Crush - a show where the computer animated Crush interacts with the audience. The interaction is impressive. It's a fun show. Kids ask questions of the figure on the screen and he answers them. Recommended.
Soarin' - Once. Hang glide over bits of country. Very nice.
Living with the Land - Once. Boat ride through a number of experimental greenhouses. More interesting than it sounds. Seeing things grow without being planted in dirt and receiving no water is impressive.
The Circle of Life - Once. Short movie about ecology with the main characters from The Lion King. A bit dated but nice.
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros - Twice. Boat ride. Jose Carioca and Panchito are to appear with Donald Duck but, where is Donald? The birds search Mexico to find their friend, always being one step behind the famous Duck until the end. It's an entertaining way to 'tour' Mexico while still having a story to follow as well as using some lesser known Disney characters. Brief and fun.
Maelstrom - Twice. Boat ride. You float through Norway's history and myth. This is brief but fun as all heck. You see some vikings and such before approaching a troll who casts a spell on you and flings your boat away from him, backwards! You rocket past polar bears and things, your boat almost 'falls' from the building (there's a hole in the front of the building where your boat readjusts back to traveling forward), you go down a waterfall, and float past a oil platform in the North Sea. You finally dock in the middle of a normal looking town in wherever Norway. There's a lot going on in this ride. Lots of fun to be had in its way. As much as I enjoyed the ride in Mexico, the going backwards and the drop make this much more fun. Most of the other countries in the World Showcase have a film to watch about the country, which is fine, but if they all had a ride like this, it would be so much more awesome in general.
The UK area has a Pub and a Fish n Chip shop. They warm the heart to think of them. I don't care much for seafood but I can do the occasional fish n chips drown in malt vinegar, especially with a pint of lager to go with it. Mmmm...
Pictures on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2044181&id=1353274305&l=fd4714be13
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