What Is an Epcot?

As the 30^th anniversary of Epcot approaches, I find myself feeling a certain sense of nostalgia for what was once called EPCOT Center.  If you watch the Epcot opening special with Danny Kaye, you are treated to an explanation of what EPCOT Center is.  He tells us that EPCOT Center is the center of EPCOT, which is made up of the 27000 acres that is WDW.  He goes on to say that all of WDW is considered EPCOT.  Now if you think about this claim, you can see his point to some extent, but does this definition of EPCOT truly fit the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow?  Well, if you refer back to the Florida Project video where Walt explains his plans for the Florida Park, I would say, “no.”  I don’t think that Walt meant theme park when he described his version of EPCOT.

            With all of this in mind, we can move past what Walt intended and remember what Epcot the theme park started out as and what it has become.  Epcot began as the home of edutainment, a term that means learning while being entertained.  It is as if you are learning, but you are having so much fun that the learning is not painful or boring.  This edutainment was achieved through attractions like the Land, World of Motion, Communicore, Spaceship Earth, Horizons, the Living Seas, and Journey Into Imagination, just to name a few.  These experiences represent the Epcot of my childhood.  There was no Nemo, no characters, no Dame Judi Dench, no Mission Space, and although these experiences are enjoyable, they just lack that certain intangible quality that was so palpable in the EPCOT Center of the mid 1980s.  Epcot as I remember it was a place filled with a hope for a future that could be brimming with endless possibility.

            Although I do have some fond memories of EPCOT Center, this particular park was never my favorite part of a trip to WDW.  I was always (and still am) a huge fan of the Magic Kingdom, but there are aspects of Epcot that I do enjoy.  For example, I was always thrilled to visit the Kitchen Kabaret as well as Horizons and Spaceship Earth.  I remember waiting for Kitchen Kabaret to start in that waiting area inside the Land, eagerly awaiting the catchy tunes that were a part of this memorable show.  In addition, I always liked choosing the ending of our Horizons ride before my brother could press the button.  The ominimax movies always scared me just a little.  Finally, the Sistine Chapel section of Spaceship Earth was also amazing to me.  Anything with audio animatronics fascinated me.  They just looked so real to my young eyes.  I wanted to believe that the future could be full of infinite possibility; we could go anywhere and do anything. 

            As the 30^th anniversary comes this year, I can only long for the EPCOT Center in my memories of the past and hope for the bright future of this park that started out as Walt’s greatest dream for a highly functioning city of the future.  Even though I won’t be at WDW for Epcot 30, I will be celebrating in spirit.  If you are lucky enough to visit the park on October 1^st, take a minute and remember that Danny Kaye opening special and ask yourself, “What is an Epcot?”.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

My brother and I are enjoying Dreamfinder and Figment.

The Things We Carry

So, it’s time for your Disney World vacation; what do you absolutely need to bring with you?  Well, when it comes to packing for any trip, I could do with an undetectable extension charm for my luggage. When it is time to tour the parks, my inability to pack light does not disappear.  On every trip, I always carry a backpack, my camera (a hefty DSLR with extra zoom lens), my small purse, and my pin strap.  That is a lot of gear, and I have tried many times to de-bulk, but it is impossible for me to do so.  I like to be prepared for whatever may befall my while I am exploring the World. 

In my backpack, I always bring some sort of rain gear, various medicines, trading pins, a hat, Band-Aids and blister pads, extra socks, Ziploc bags, and a carbineer.  This is the minimum that I can carry.  The heaviest item that I bring has to be my camera.  It is a DSLR, and I usually bring my zoom lens too.  Sometimes, I also bring my point and shoot camera.  Basically, I need a wagon to tote around all of the gear that I bring with me.  My husband always asks me why I need so much stuff, and my answer remains that I like to be prepared for whatever may befall us.  Now, Disney Parks are not some undiscovered wilderness, but I know that if I have to buy what I need, I will be spending some serious money.  For example, on one trip, I needed some Tylenol for a headache, and I had to spend $4.00 for two Tylenol pills.  That is pretty expensive, so I always make sure that I have my own. 

Is carrying all of this stuff annoying?  Yes, there are many times that I feel like chucking my backpack into the Seven Seas Lagoon and bidding it a fond farewell.  However, my desire to be prepared outweighs this momentary weakness.  With all of this in mind, what do you really need to bring with you into the park to have a smooth day of touring?  Well, this answer will widely vary with regard to the people in your traveling party.  If you have small children, your needs will be far greater than they would with a group of teens and adults.  Overall, there are some things that you should not be without.  For example, you should bring your own water from home.  Water in Disney Parks is very expensive, and it is easy to bring water from home.  You should definitely wear a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the harsh Florida sun.  You should also bring some sort of wallet, plastic bag, or carrying case for your park passes and Fastpasses.  You do not want these items to get wet in the frequent Florida rain showers.  Finally, you should have some sort of rain gear.  You could purchase a poncho from Disney or bring your own.  We opt to bring our own because we have serious rain gear that we purchased from a sporting goods store.

The bottom line is that there is no correct amount of stuff to carry.  It all depends on the needs of the group with whom you are traveling.  Here’s to happy travels and the invention of a backpack that can carry a ton but weigh just an ounce, or maybe I’ll use that undetectable extension charm if only I could get my wand to work.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

Are you a Disneyphile?

Are you the go-to person for Disney vacation questions?  Are you the resident expert on all things related to the Mouse?  Do you own several bags, articles of clothing, pens, pencils, etc. that have at least one mention of something Disney? If your answer to all of these questions is a resounding, “YES,” then you have a problem.  You are a Disney addict or more politely put, a Disneyphile. 

By definition, a Disneyphile is someone who has an extreme love of many aspects of the Disney Corporation.  Some Disneyphiles love the parks and resorts; some care more about movies or the Disney Channel.  Some have children and care about children’s programming and characters; some are adults who like to vent on Twitter about the way the parks used to be and how that is better than the way they are now.  Whatever type of Disneyphile you are, one common thread unites us all; you are addicted to Disney in some way.  You don’t have to be in love with the Disney Corporation as a whole, but you do have an affinity for something that Disney has created.  Because of the existence of a huge number of Disneyphiles in the world, the Internet has become a place for these fans to gather and discuss all things Disney.  I have learned so much from various websites and conversations online; I am far more knowledgeable now that I have started to interact with the online Disney community.

This online Disney community is so varied that any aspect of a Disney obsession can be explored. For me, I enjoy visiting sites that are devoted to the history of the Disney Parks and Resorts.   I love to visit a site called Yesterland.  This site discusses all of the rides and attractions that existed in the Disneyland of the past.  Werner Weiss, who runs the site, does an excellent job of describing and showing pictures of extinct rides when they were still in their prime.  If you are an East Coast fan, Walt Dated World (maintained by Mouseketeer Alison) is another site that discusses Walt Disney World’s history and rides that no longer exist in the parks.  Both of these sites will keep me occupied for hours because I enjoy learning about the past, especially the past of Disney Parks.  If you like podcasts, Wedway Radio is an excellent podcast that discusses many bits of history related to the Disney Parks.  Matt and Nate Parrish host this podcast, and both hosts definitely know their history as well as conduct interviews with living Disney Legends.  Overall, the Internet is teeming with Disney fans who want to share their knowledge with the rest of the world.

Becoming even a small part of the Disney online community has been so rewarding for me, and I have really increased my Disney knowledge. So, if you are interested in Disney history or Disney news or even Disney garbage cans (there’s a blog for that too), you should take the plunge into the Disney online community and start making connections with other Disneyphiles who are just as addicted to the Mouse as you are.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

The Importance of Rope Drop

Waking up really early is not something I enjoy, except if it is to wake up in order to begin the trek to Walt Disney World.  Going on vacation is exciting and merits an early wakeup call; however, many people do not like to wake up early on every day of their vacations.  That is completely understandable; it is supposed to be a vacation after all.  Although I do not relish being an early riser on vacation, the benefits outweigh my desire for my sleep. 

When you embark on a Disney World vacation, you should follow at least this piece of advice.   Wake up early!  If you wake up early, you will be present in one of the parks for rope drop, which is key if you want to accomplish everything in a particular park.  If you have never been to WDW before, rope drop is a term that refers to the time that the park officially opens to guests.  Often times, castmembers will escort guests into the park (depending on the park) to a certain location, and there will be a rope and various castmembers preventing guests from entering the park until the official opening time.  So, the rope literally drops for the guests to enter, hence the term rope drop.  Sometimes, castmembers give guests some pixie dust to sprinkle as the park opens, and some parks have full-blown welcome shows.  The Magic Kingdom welcome show is by far the best and most entertaining.  You will miss these types of shows if you arrive to the park too late.

 In addition, the earlier you arrive to a park, the more you will see and do throughout the rest of the day.  Attractions that have terribly long wait times later in the day are virtually walk-ons in the early morning with little or no wait.  If you have a desire to see and do everything in a particular park or you are limited on time, rising early is vital.  If you get to a park early in the day, you will not feel guilty going back to your hotel room for a mid-day break or a dip in the pool.  You can refresh yourself and your family, but you will still have the rest of the day to play in the parks.  Most parks stay open late, and it is a good idea to go back to you hotel room in the middle of the day, and then tackle the parks during these late operating hours.

Another benefit of waking up early involves extra magic hours.  If you are a Disney resort guest, you can enter certain parks on various days an hour before other park guests.  This extra hour will allow you to do so much more than if you were to arrive at the parks around mid-day.  Also, the weather in Florida is no secret.  It is hot most of the day, most of the year.  The earlier you arrive in the parks, the more of the heat you can avoid.  Most of the time, heavy rain showers occur in the afternoon, so if you return to your hotel for a few hours of recharging time, you will avoid being wet and miserable. 

I know that you want your vacation to be relaxing, but if you want to get the most out of your Disney World trip, you really should make an attempt at least for a few of your days to wake up early to experience all of the perks that a little less sleep will provide while you are visiting the World.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

Hunting for Disneyana

Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat?  Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?  Do these words from Ariel, the little mermaid, sound familiar?  Well, to me these words apply to my ever-growing Disneyana collection.  I love to purchase all things Disney, even if I am not in Disney World.  Some of my favorite purchases are vintage/antique items that I find in online auctions or flea markets.  I have found many treasures by hunting both the Internet and various stores for Disney merchandise that has long been retired.  Disney souvenirs of the past were so detailed and specific to the time period and parks from which they came.  Anything that is labeled as being produced by Walt Disney Productions is probably from the early 1980s or earlier.  Disney stopped printing this label on their current items.  Many items are now just marked Disney or Disney Parks.  You know that you have something a little vintage when you check out the year or date printed on the item as well as the manufacturer.  I love to collect anything that is from the days of Disney past.

Over the course of my hunting, I have purchased many pieces of jewelry that clearly come from a time when souvenirs were more than just t-shirts, plastic cups, and the like.  One of my most recent acquisitions has been a Disneyland locket bracelet.  This is no ordinary locket; it comes with miniature post cards from the days of Disneyland’s past.  The pictures are very detailed, and judging from the content, they seem to come from the late 1950s or early 1960s.  In addition, the locket has a small medallion on the front cover with an engraving of Sleeping Beauty Castle.  The locket resembles a small book, and it is one of my favorite pieces of Disneyana past. 

 

                                

I have also purchased a watch that is from the 1982 opening of EPCOT Center at Wald Disney World.  This watch is a gold and silver tone piece, and it is beautiful.  The attention to detail in the face of the watch shows the monorail circling Spaceship Earth, which is made of a shiny silver material.  The watch has a metal band, and is somewhat dressy.

Lastly, I have also purchased a heavy silver bracelet that is from Disneyland.  It includes pictures of the long-lost Skyway attraction as well as the Matterhorn and Sleeping Beauty Castle.  It is another piece of beautiful craftsmanship, and it is sterling silver.

                      

All of these items are some of my cherished souvenirs, and Disney needs to continue to make such beautiful pieces for guests to purchase and treasure.  Disney merchandising has recently returned to a more nostalgic and park specific line of merchandise, which is a welcome change for all of the visitors who do not want to purchase a generic t-shirt.  In the past year, I have purchased some of the retro t-shirts that have started popping up at the World as well as the well-made, but very expensive, Dooney and Bourke purses (I have 5 of them!).  Hopefully, Disney merchandising will continue to listen to the public and produce high quality items that people will be able to keep and continue to enjoy just as I am giving a second home to all of the treasures that I have found at flea markets and on the web.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

Are You a Disney Coffee Connoisseur?

Many people have tackled the subject of coffee in Disney World.  The general consensus among many blogs that I have read is that Nescafe is not a favorite among serious coffee drinkers.  Nescafe is a topic that comes up quite frequently with regard to Disney World beverages.  This type of coffee is basically instant coffee that is the staple of the food courts at Disney World as well as many counter services.  Despite the hate that Nescafe receives on a daily basis from Internet bloggers, I am here to say that I love Nescafe!  Yes, I do love it!  The smell of this instant coffee lets me know that I am in Disney World.  In addition to the scent, I even love the taste.  I know that this coffee is not that high of a quality, but I still love it anyway.  I will actually choose Nescafe over higher quality coffee if it is available.  Am I crazy?  Perhaps I am.

            Now, even though I am a fan of Nescafe, I have branched out when at the World to try other types of coffee both of the hot and cold variety.  Several restaurants offer coffee that has been brewed in a press pot.  This type of brewing process actually occurs when you combine the coffee grinds and boiling water in a glass carafe.  The boiling water and grinds brew for a while, and the process of “pressing” the water through the grinds creates the coffee.  Kona Café, The Wave, Narcoossee's, and Jiko all offer various types of coffee in a press pot.  Kona Café sells 100% Kona coffee from Hawaii, and this coffee is very smooth.  You can order the press pot and drink this coffee at your meal, but you can also buy the coffee to take home with you.  My husband purchases this coffee in whole beans, grinds it himself, and uses a press pot at home in order to recreate the coffee from Kona Café.  He really likes that coffee!  The Wave and Narcoossee's sell pretty standard coffee in their press pots, but it is of higher quality than Nescafe.  At Jiko, you can order a press pot of Kenyan coffee, which I found to be very strong.  I tend to like a weaker and smoother brew for my coffee.  All of these examples represent the many different types of hot coffee that we have sampled around the World.

             In addition to hot coffee, we have also tried varying flavors of frozen/iced coffees in WDW.  In the Magic Kingdom, my favorite iced coffee can be found at Sleepy Hollow refreshments in Liberty Square.  The French vanilla iced coffee is delicious, and you do not even need to add sweetener.  It is perfect just the way it is prepared.  I also enjoy the iced coffee float from the Sunshine Tree Terrace.  This beverage is more of a dessert because it combines iced coffee and ice cream into a tasty treat.  As for other cold varieties of coffee, we have tried iced lattes at the Writer’s Stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  This beverage was good, but not any different from any other iced latte I have had.  We have also tried the frozen coffee from the Animal Kingdom.  My husband really enjoyed this coffee, but it was too sweet for me.  That coffee is definitely more of a dessert item.

            After sampling many different types of coffee from around WDW, I can honestly say that I am not too serious or picky when it comes to my choice of coffee.  I will drink any kind of coffee, and I am perfectly fine drinking Nescafe.  If you enjoy a stronger brew, you may want to stick to Kona coffee or some of the other coffee that is served in press pots at finer dining establishments.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward! 

Here is my husband enjoying his pure Kona coffee at the Polynesian.

Required Disney Summer Reading

           

One of the books that I have been reading during my self-imposed Disney themed summer reading is Walt and the Promise of Progress City by Sam Gennawey.  This book offers an in-depth look at the urban planning aspects of Disneyland as well as what EPCOT was supposed to be before it was turned into a theme park.  Originally, EPCOT or Progress City was Walt Disney’s attempt to create a highly functioning, well-planned city in which people could live, work, and play.  The Epcot that we have today has a World Showcase and a Future World, but it is not the city that Walt had envisioned for his Florida Project.  Gennawey’s book provides an interesting look at the ways in which Walt Disney eventually came to the decision that he wanted to create his original idea for an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

            One aspect of the book that really impacted me is a section about the ways in which Disneyland is so successful because it provides visitors with “the architecture of reassurance.”  Gennawey writes that “by eliminating the visual contradictions [in Disneyland], Walt had created a world that existed within the earthen berm that surrounded the park that was safe and clean.  What he created was not a place about fantasy but a place about a sense of reassurance” (126).    This sense of reassurance is what makes Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom feel so much like home.  We feel safe there.  John Hench noted that “Disneyland offered an enriched version of the real world, but not an escapist or unreal version” (Gennawey 127).  Disneyland is a very real place, but it is better than our everyday reality because it is the best version of what reality can be.  There is no graffiti, no trash lining the streets because the Disney Imagineers have “program[med] out all the negative, unwanted elements” (Gennawey 127).  This is the kind of world in which I would rather live, hence my many trips to Disney World.

            Gennawey goes on to discuss the ways in which Walt responded to people criticizing his park as a place of fantasy, somewhere that is just so unreal or juvenile.  Walt felt that “You know the fantasy isn’t here [Disneyland].  This is very real . . . The Park is reality.  The people are natural here; they’re having a good time; they’re communicating.  This is what people really are.  The fantasy is out there, outside the gates of Disneyland, where people have hatreds and people have prejudices” (Gennawey 127).  I know this seems like an optimistic view of people, but perhaps that is the problem with the world in its current existence.  Too many people see other people as a threat or something to be feared and hated.  People lose those prejudices when they enter Disneyland.  They are there to have fun and spend time with family.  Maybe we all need to look harder to see the best in people. 

            Overall, Gennawey’s book is excellent, and it is easy to read.  There are some technical terms with regard to urban design, but he does a good job of defining these terms and making them relevant to his discussion of Disneyland and EPCOT.  This book is a combination of history and a very technical look at what led Walt to his desire for a Progress City, a place where everything could be clean and regulated as well as what influenced Walt in the creation of Disneyland.  There is also discussion about the many different World’s Fairs that impacted the Disney Company and led them to further develop their abilities to create theme park environments.  The book is well researched and includes an extensive bibliography that could also lead you to other history related Disney books.  Sam Gennawey’s book can be purchased on Amazon in paper or eBook version.  This is definitely a book to add to your Disney reading list.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!