We spend the entire day at Epcot, (which, I later discover, stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow). Epcot is a mix of rides, simulators and “experiences” with a science/futuristic theme. I love the futuristic feel of it. I like the scorching heat less.
We do as much as we can (impossible in a day). We start with “The Seas with Nemo and Friends” ride. Hub and I are surprised to hear Dame Judi Dench narrate on the Spaceship Earth ride (which is the ride that is inside the giant silver sphere that Epcot is known for – and is like a brief history of the world)
We have a go on the Mission Space ride (which is a simulator ride that spins very fast to get the G force effect. Although, at the time, it doesn’t feel like spinning, it just feels like G force)
We discover a “thrill” ride that all of us like: the Test Track (sponsored by Chevrolet – many of the areas in Epcot have a corporate sponsor. I don’t know what that is surprising to me, but it is). The first part of the attraction includes designing a prototype car. On the ride itself, 2 teams are pitched against eachother, as the ride scores various aspects.
The speed test is on a outside track that circles the building overhead.
“Soarin” is surprisingly good and soothes our aching feet because we’re suspended in the air as we fly over Californian scenery.
Squiggle and Tumble have their first experience of meeting a Disney Princess: Belle, in her blue dress (apparently, she normally has a yellow dress) and shortly afterwards, Alice (who has a upper-middle-class English accent… kind of). Pixie decides to also meet Alice, who asks Tumble if she has been putting jam in her big sister’s hair, because she is wearing Disney, Micky Mouse ears.
The “Living with the Land” is a surprisingly informative slow ride about agriculture! Only Disney could manage this.
Part of Epcot is the 11 countries around the lake. Each “country” has restaurants, shops and sometimes an attraction. The staff in each country are from that place (or able to authentically pretend that they are). We have lunch in the America and watch a show of acappella singing of Disney songs (this is better than it sounds, honestly)
We leave Epcot after nightfall, tired, hungry and with sore feet. It’s at this point, we realise that we really should have made a mental note of exactly where we left the car. Disney carparks are vast and full of uniform double rows of cars. We walk up and down pressing the remote for the central locking in the hope that we’ll hear the horn sound or see the lights flash. Eventually discover we’re not even in the right carpark. *Sigh*
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