wwb@ihuxn.UUCP (Walt Barnes) (05/05/84)
This following information about EPCOT consists of my own suggestions/impressions and a collection of comments I received before my trip there. The information dates from October 1983. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: EPCOT center is a Disneyland for adults as well as kids. The entertainment is sophisticated enough to be interesting to all ages. Although there are no traditional amusement park rides at EPCOT, it is located with Disney World, in central Florida. You can't do EPCOT in less that 1 day, don't even try. The best deal is the three day pass, good for any three days in a one year period. The pass gets you into both EPCOT and MK as well as providing free transportation between them via monorail. EPCOT is divided into two main areas: Future World has pavilions sponsored by large corporations. Although the corporations footed the bill and continue to underwrite their operation, Disney had full say about the content and design of the pavilions. World Showcase is the other major attractions. It includes pavilions displaying the culture of different nations. The pavilions are run by exchange students from the host country. Entertainment includes traditional, cultural stuff like Chinese folk dancing and British street theater. Another part of World Showcase are the really great restaurants, don't expect fast food like a normal amusement park, these are really very good restaurant. You MUST have reservations to eat at the good restaurants. Dinner reservations are made through the World Key computer terminals located in the Earth Station (behind and below the 180' geosphere) and throughout the park. Lunch reservations are made at the restaurant. MAKE THESE RESERVATIONS EARLY. If your there during prime time, split up and make the reservations simultaneously. MUST SEE OR DO: - FUTURE WORLD: - SPACESHIP EARTH: This ride through the geosphere shows the history of communications. - JOURNEY INTO IMAGINATION: This ride is very visual, very good for children of all ages. Also in the same pavilion, MAGIC JOURNEYS, a 3D movie that you must see to appreciate. Also in the same pavilion, THE IMAGE WORKS, a participative experience, play games that stimulate the imagination, some are video, some are audio, etc. After you come out, spend some time watching the fountains. - THE LAND: The boat ride visits many climates to see various types of agriculture. If you are interested in gardening, don't miss the walking tour. This one hour tour is conducted by one of the horticulture exchange students that is working/studying at the pavilion. You get to see close-up the alternative agricultural techniques being used. This was a personal favorite of mine. - WORLD SHOWCASE: - THE AMERICAN ADVENTURE: A patriotic review of USA history by animated "mannequins." - MEXICO: The shopping plaza has a real Mexican feel, although the prices aren't as cheap. The restaurant is excellent. - CHINA: Don't miss the circle-vision movie of China. The Chinese art is also very fascinating. If you are outside the pavilion at the right time you can see Chinese folk dancing. When we were there they performed the dance with the dragon, traditional at New Years. - JAPAN: The oriental art is very beautiful, there are several restaurants, the dining room is excellent, the fast food is OK. - FRANCE: The French restaurant is supposed to be one of the best in Florida. - UNITED KINGDOM: Be sure to be there during one of the street shows. It gives a very good feeling for what you always thought England must be like. While your there, be sure to stop at the Pub, where you can get Bass Ale and Guinnes stout. SUMMARY OF REPLIES: SUMMARY OF GENERAL INFO ABOUT EPCOT: Allow a minimum of one day for Epcot alone. If you are interested in Disney World also, the three day pass is well worth while since it includes monorail transport between the two. Head for the international exhibition area at the back of Epcot first. It is a bit of a walk and is slower to fill up in the morning. You can make it through some exhibits there in 1/4 of the time later in the day. Besides, the main rides up front are always busy. Also, if you want to eat lunch at one of the international restaurants you need to head to it immediately to make a reservation as they fill fast. It takes about 3 evenings to do the whole thing. I went over about 4 each day and there were no lines. Days were reported to be very busy. I liked Futureworld best, but World Showcase is a nice gallery of Nations. When empty, it takes about 10-12 hours to see everything if you literally mean just Epcot. But there is a lot more to Walt Disney World, of course. Within Epcot, if you run into any lines, the supposed best thing is to see World Showcase in the morning and then Future World in the afternoon. (Oh, I just forgot, in about a month an additional building in Future World will open (I forget which one) so add about an hour or so to the 10-12 hour estimate.) As far as what is the best, I think that if you have time, it is best if you discover it yourself (through I am sure other people will no doubt tell you anyway!). But do make sure you spend some time playing with the WorldKey information terminals clustered at various places on the walks and at Earth Station. Contrary to what has been said on Usenet, they make an excellent example of a menu system that can be used both by a total novice and by someone experienced in using it. But, if you are not patient you won't see the "expert mode". I don't want to spoil it by saying anything more. The best deal by far is to buy the three day pass for $35. This gives you unlimited access to either Epcot or MK in the same day for three days (about 9am to 9pm). Not to mention unlimited access to all rides including the Monorail. Go on a weekday, otherwise you'll spend the majority of your time in line. I don't think you'll want to do more than three days. Unless you really low key it two is plenty to strain both your nerves and your body. The ticket is good for ANY three days for a year, so you might want to do a day or two, do the rest of Fla. and come back. I hear Sea World is pretty nice. We really enjoyed Epcot, there weren't the crowds of MK, the entertainment was mellow, and the activities were a bit more adult. Epcot has two sections: a futuristic section and an international section. The future section is similar to the '64 New York Worlds Fair. It's mildly amusing, but anyone involved in high tech won't be too impressed. Each space age looking building is 'brought to you' by some major conglomerate or other (EXXON, Kraft, Bell, General Motors, etc...) We went to the EXXON ride which promised of taking a boat 'ride through time' with dinosaurs etc... After waiting in line 45 minutes (a relatively short wait at Epcot and MK, we were given 15 minutes of propaganda (and I mean INTENSE propaganda) and about 5 minutes of dinosaurs. We were so turned off we went straight to the international section and didn't come back. We did enjoy the Spaceship Earth (Bell), however, and my parents liked the Kraft exhibit. I suggest waiting till after 6pm to do the Spaceship Earth. Both Epcot and MK seem to loose about 3/4 of the people after 5pm. The international section was pretty neat. Each country has a set of buildings modeled after something typical in that country. I understand that it is the countries themselves that were responsible for the design of their exhibit. They are quite authentic. We suggest the Mexican, Chinese, American, and above all the Great Britain exhibits. Also make sure and eat lunch by 11:30 otherwise you'll waist all your time waiting to eat. The best time we had there was the evenings. One evening we strolled around the lake to the Great Britain exhibit and sat in the pub for an hour or two. There was some really great street entertainment right outside. Afterward, we walked over to 'France' and caught the last boat back to the other side of the lake. If you want, I can tell you about MK another time, although MK is really primarily for kids (thousands of screaming kids!) Oh, one more thing, there is something called River Country which cost $9 more unless you camp there (yes camping!) They are suppose to have some really fun water rides (logging, rafting, etc.) We kind of regretted not getting over there. It fills up fast and is limited in the number of people. Oh well, another time. This is of course only my opinion, but I (and the others with me) liked the "World Showcase" much better than the "FutureWorld" part. EPCOT is very much like a world's fair, it has a number of "pavilions" sponsored by various countries, and a number sponsored by various companies. The first is the "World Showcase", the second is the "FutureWorld". They have done a fantastic job in the World Showcase of invoking the feeling of the countries. If you have visited any of them, you really feel like you are back in (Paris, London, Venice, etc.). There is also a lot to see there without standing in any lines. This is a definite plus. Bring suntan lotion (unless you already have a fantastic tan, you will want some blockout for later in the day), comfortable shoes, LOTS of film, and more money than you think you will need. Get there EARLY, if you arrive much after 8:30, you will probably get caught in the traffic jam and lose a half hour or hour getting in. (We went at Easter and got in a traffic jam (for several miles) at 8:00.) ABOUT EATING AT EPCOT: Suggest you get there early and as soon as you get in the gate go to the 'Earth Station' (underneath the big dome that everyone associates with Epcot) and get in line (or should I say liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine) to make reservations for dinner. (You make dinner reservations using the computer terminals and the World Key system.) Reservations close up real quick (like 10 or 10:30). There are plenty of places to eat. We ate at the Mexican restaurant and it was fantastic. My parents think it's the best there, particularly for atmosphere (mariachi bands, etc...). They say the French restaurant is pretty nice, too. Make lunch reservations at the restaurant itself. Eating at EPCOT is a joy - if you do it right. You should plan to arrive as soon as it opens, and the FIRST(!!!) thing to do is make dinner reservations. This is done in the pavilion behind the big ball. Then run, don't walk, to the place you want to eat lunch and make a reservation there. Dinner usually fills up by about 10am, at least when its busy. Don't eat in the Future World section, the restaurants there are basically fast food. I can personally recommend the French restaurant (we ate lunch there - easier on the budget) and the Japanese "steak house". Canada has a very good cafeteria (no reservations, first come, ...) where we got an afternoon snack. I would imagine that the rest are up to the same standards. Plan to eat lunch early and dinner late. This allows you to stand in some lines while others are eating and the lines are shorter. This is especially true at dinner time. Make dinner reservations for 9:30 or 10:00 and have a snack at 4.