Participants:
Me - Stacey, 31, veteran WDW visitor (thanks, Mom!)
Scott, 34, 2 WDW trips since our 8/98 honeymoon
About three weeks before our July vacation, we received a brochure
in the mail detailing the tours offered on various Disney topics.
Salivating over the selections, Scott decided he wanted to take
the "Hidden Treasures East and West" 3-hour tour. (OK, he really
wanted the all-day tour, but I wasn't sure if I was up to that!).
We registered for Tuesday, July 20, with an American Express discount
of about 20% ($49 reduced to $38.20 each).
We met our tour guide, Jim, and the rest of the tour participants
just to the side of Spaceship Earth. Jim also teaches animation
at the Disney Institute, and I'll bet he is great there, too!
He promised that the tour would be full of "I didn't know that's,"
AND HE WAS RIGHT!
Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD!!
At the beginning of the World Showcase, Jim began his introduction.
He explained that in the original plans, the American pavilion
was planned to be right at the main entrance to WS, with the Canada
on one side and the Mexican pavilion on the other side. This initial
plan was scrapped when the Imagineers realized that the large
glass monstrosity originally planned for the American pavilion
would completely block the initial view of the lagoon and the
WS panorama that is currently spread out at the beginning of WS.
Then the plans were changed from a large glass building to a Colonial-type
mansion, which would not make a good transition from Future World,
so the American pavilion was re-located.
As we started towards Mexico, Scott and I walked in wonder, since
World Showcase was completely empty other than our tour group
and the maintenance people. We took lots of pictures of scenery
that would have NO PEOPLE in them. It was soooo cool! A note about
maintenance; Jim told us that Epcot is working 24 hours a day.
Any scenery changes like changing a tree that has grown too tall
or transplanting flowers, was done with no guests present - again,
to preserve the magic.
As we were walking, Jim stated that the Disney philosophy was
to engage companies native to the various countries to sponsor
the pavilions. It was important to avoid working with the actual
governments, since certain "agendas" might be furthered at the
cost of true history, architecture, etc. So all the pavilions
except one are completely sponsored by private companies. He challenged
us to guess, and said we would eventually learn which pavilion
was government-funded.
Jim told us that when the Mexican pavilion was planned, the Imagineers
wanted a hacienda-type structure, but soon realized that whole
portions of Mexican history would be missing. Thus the three structures:
the pyramid, the mission-type fast food area, and the open market
between Mexico and Norway. Upon walking inside the pyramid, we
immediately felt the cool and dark atmosphere, as planned by the
Imagineers. We walked to the pottery display, where Jim instructed
us to stand and watch. We stood for about a minute when the bland
background magically changed to a Mexican scenery shot, showing
the pottery in use. This display is on a 90-second timer, and
most people walk right by without ever seeing the scenery change.
We proceeded into the evening market, where Jim explained that
the running water sound was a "teaser" to bring people further
into the pavilion. He told us to try to be aware of the "teasers"
as we walked through WS. He then explained that the marketplace
is set in the evening not only to "tease" people into walking
in to see the lights, but also for reality purposes -- in the
middle of the afternoon, the market would be empty due to siestas,
but in the evening, it would be bustling.
Next was Norway, where we climbed over the Viking ship, and walked
through the Stave Church. I never knew we could walk through there!!
As we looked around, Jim explained that all the pavilions took
into consideration the variety of areas of each country, and the
different buildings of Norway were of different architectural
styles to represent the different areas. He pointed out the turf
roof of one of the buildings, which I had (again) never noticed
before. Again, the rushing waters of the Maelstrom acted as a
"teaser" pulling people into the pavilion. At this point, Jim
asked us to try to find Future World. As we looked around, he
explained that the pavilions were constructed to keep visitors
in the mood of the country and of World Showcase. Jim also explained
that in order to keep propriety, all the pavilions had exactly
the same amount of square footage to be used. This is to avoid
finger-pointing between pavilions/countries. In fact, the highest
point of every pavilion is no higher than five stories off the
ground (including the Eiffel Tower and the Japanese temple).
We walked over to China, where we learned about the use of gold
in royal settings only, and the royal five-toed dragon. We walked
through the garden, where Jim told us the differences between
Chinese and Japanese gardens. Chinese gardens are a tribute to
nature, very rough where necessary without much planning or ongoing
motion. Japanese gardens are more planned, with moving water and
fish, and much more color.
As we walked from China around the African marketplace, Jim explained
that originally the area had been planned for an African pavilion,
representative of the whole continent, but in-fighting among the
sponsoring countries and wars between the various nations prevented
the pavilion from actually happening. When the African pavilion
was cancelled, the current king of Morocco (recently deceased)
decided that the entire continent could not go unrepresented,
so he opened his royal treasury and sent his royal artisans to
assist in building the pavilion. (More later on Morocco).
In Germany, Jim showed us how the stores were actually different
rooms in a house according to merchandise sold (wine sold in the
rocky floored wine cellar, food sold in the heavy wooden floored
kitchen, works of art sold in the well-lit attic, Christmas decorations
in the heavily carpeted living room). As we walked towards Italy,
we walked through the miniature train area.
We stopped in Italy to sit for a while. By now, we could point
out the fountain at the back of the pavilion acting as a "teaser"
to attract visitors into the pavilion. Jim told us the story of
how Alfredo sauce was introduced to the United States and how
famous actors (I can't remember who)brought back stories of the
cream sauce and Hollywood started a trend. Apparently Alfredo's
was the only restaurant in Italy to serve an alternative to tomato
sauce, and the actors ate there every night of the vacation before
singing its praises back in the States.
We sat down again at the American Adventure, where Jim pointed
out how forced perspective made things look different than they
really were. In this Colonial structure, large doors and windows,
turned a five story colonial structure into a two-story building.
In Japan, we again contrasted Chinese and Japanese gardens, and
walked through the carefully tended active Japanese garden. We
sat down (can you see the emerging pattern?) on the benches outside
the fast-food restaurant, where Jim pointed out the barnacles
on the bottom of the sculpture in the water. But there is no high
or low tide in the World Showcase lagoon! Another example of forced
reality.
We walked into one of the stores in Morocco and (again) sat down
while Jim told us about Moroccan artisans. The designs on the
walls have no pictures of plants, people, or animals, since only
Allah can make a perfect creation of life, and to recreate one
would be an affront to Allah. Also, there are minute imperfections
in the designs throughout the pavilion, again because only Allah
is perfect. As we walked into the open area with the balconies
above, Jim explained that in Morocco, it is expected that extended
families live in close quarters, so periodically during the day,
visitors can hear arguments wafting down from the living quarters
above. As we walked past the restaurant, Jim explained that Morocco
was the first country to formally recognize the United States
as an independent country, and told us that there are letters
from George Washington to the King framed inside the restaurant.
(We never did get back to check this out!)
As we were walking towards France, we looked across the lagoon,
and saw a WALL of people walking towards Canada. Sadly, our private
time in Epcot was coming to an end.
We proceeded to France, where we went backstage for the first
time. Warning: No pictures here. We walked around the back, where
Jim explained that the false storefronts around the Eiffel Tower
go all the way around France to keep the perspective for the Epcot
resort guests. Guests don't ever just see the back of a building
-- anything that can be seen by a guest must be themed. He then
went on to explain that part of the "magic" for cast members was
the transition to on-stage. As he talked, he talked about the
mud and fumes and heat, and as we walked through the cast member
entrance into the store in France, we came into air conditioning,
and the faint smell of citrus. Very invigorating! (And we had
never noticed the aroma before.)
As we crossed the channel towards the UK (English channel -- get
it?), Jim commented on a little-known Epcot treasure. He told
how some people rent pontoon boats and come into the lagoon for
a private showing of Illuminations. As the rest of the tour oohed
and aahed, Scott nonchalantly commented that we had reserved it
for that evening -- WAY COOL! The group was VERY impressed!
As we progressed into the UK, Jim pointed out how the shops reflected
the architectures through different periods, from Ann Hathaway's
thatched roof cottage to modern times, including block of buildings
from Mary Poppins. Originally, the group of buildings to be Mockingbird
Lane were pristine, until someone pointed out the problem -- the
chimneys had to be dirty! They are -- take a look next time you're
back there. Then we walked out through the wildflower garden past
the 3-foot tall maze.
In Canada, we again went backstage. This time, we exited at the
bottom of the stairs to decide if the Canadian Rockies were real.
I had guessed right -- the trees were real but the rocks were
not. We saw the intricate piping throughout to keep the trees
irrigated.
From backstage Canada, we could see the Millennium Village construction.
There is a small permanent building in the far back area of the
Village, and the rest is a temporary dwelling. Jim alluded to
the bickering that has been going on ("they are closer to the
electricity!" "they are closer to the food court", etc.) that
has been going on, and also said that construction was going to
be tight to meet the October 1 deadline. He wouldn't say what
countries would be present, except to say "many people have asked
why we don't have an Australian pavilion," and "I've been asked
why there is not an Spanish pavilion," which we took to be strong
hints as to at least two of the members of the Millennium Village.
We walked out of Canada and towards some benches to rest our aching
feet. I'm not sure why our feet were so sore, since we have definitely
walked for longer periods of time. We said our good-byes, and
Scott and I headed off towards the International Gateway and our
Beach Club pool.
Final
impressions:
Obviously, this tour report is condensed. 11 pavilions in 3 hours
is a lot of details. Jim taught us so much that I know I have
forgotten a lot already and could not include every tidbit.
Scott cannot say enough wonderful things about this tour. He thinks
it was just phenomenal (he also thinks that Epcot was created
just for him). The look of wonder on his face several times throughout
this tour was payment enough for me. I enjoy Epcot (but not to
the same degree as Scott), and I thought the tour was pretty amazing
too! We learned SO MUCH.
We will definitely do another tour next time we are at WDW. However,
one of Scott's questions did leave me thinking. "What else do
you think they learn at the all-day World Showcase tour?"
Stacey
Trip
report reprinted here with kind permission from Stacey Fox
