Orlando: EPCOT Center

Future World Central
A1. Spaceship Earth
A2. Earth Station
A3. CommuniCore East
A4. The Fountain of Nations
A5. CommuniCore West
Future World East
B1. The Universe of Energy
B2. Goofy About the Internet
B3. TRON's Game Grid
B4. Computer Command
B5. New Horizons
B6. The Advanced Training Lab
B7. Test Track
B8. TransCenter
Future World West
C1. Inventor of the Year
C2. ImageWorks: The "What If?" Zone
C3. Journey Into Imagination
C4. Kitchen Kabaret
C5. Soarin' Around the World
C6. Living with the Land
C7. Great Moments with the Seasons
C8. Cloud 9
C9. StormRider
C10. The Caribbean Coral Reef Ride
C11. Turtle Talk with Crush
World Showcase East
D1. Las Tres Culturas de Mexico
D2. The Land Down Under
D3. Vikings of the Maelstrom
D4. Reflections of China
D5. The Bells of Change
D6. Homer's Odyssey
World Showcase Central
E1. The Rhine River Cruise
E2. Don Quixote's First Sally
E3. Escape From Pompeii
E4. The American Adventure
E5. Meet the World
E6. Ireland Rediscovered
E7. The Heartbeat of Jamaica
World Showcase West
F1. Legends of the Taj Mahal
F2. Impressions de France
F3. Amazon Mountain
F4. The Worlds of Charles Dickens
F5. The Pharaoh's Rage
F6. O Canada!

To all who come to this place of joy, hope, and friendship: welcome! EPCOT is inspired by Walt Disney's creative vision. Here human achievements are celebrated through imagination, wonders of enterprise, and concepts of a future the promises new and exciting benefits for all. May EPCOT Center entertain, inform, and inspire, and, above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man's ability to shape a future that offers hope to people everywhere in the world.

This is probably the park on which I spent the most time planning ideas. In the early stages (circa January 2010), I considered reverting back to the system in which the park's name would change every year, in the fashion of EPCOT 2010, EPCOT 2011, EPCOT 2012, etc. But that didn't work out well, as I would have to change the name of the park's entry every year on my blog. Back then, I didn't know a whole lot about the park's history. So, therefore, I kept about three quarters of the park exactly as it was. But, when I probed deeper into the park's history, I found a plethora of material with which I could work. After quite a few modifications over those two and a half years, I present to you my ultimate vision for EPCOT Center.

All the changes start right when you first enter EPCOT Center. The entrance area loop has been changed to a medley of synthesizer/8-bit renditions of songs heard throughout the park like "Tomorrow's Child," "One Little Spark," "Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit," "Golden Dreams," "Meet the World," etc. From the last time you visited the park, you seem to think something is also different, but you can't put your mind on exactly what it is. Oh yeah; the Leave a Legacy "tombstones" have been removed in favor of the 1982 flowerbeds. In the central flowerbed is a display of topiaries depicting characters from a Disney film. I envision this to be the equivalent of the Emporium displays in Magic Kingdom Park. Also present is the large crystal sculpture in front of Spaceship Earth that has been gone since the start of the Millennium Celebration in 1999. For its revival, it's also joined by similar sculptures depicting the iconography of all the Future World pavilions.

The first pavilion we visit is the Verizon-sponsored Spaceship Earth. Gone is the horrible Judy Dench narration.

Designer's Note: Don't get me wrong; Judy Dench is a great actress. She was awesome in Skyfall. It's jsut that her narration of Spaceship Earth is very far from her best work.

A new narration takes elements from all four previous versions of the attraction and puts them into one script. The small tribute to humble inventors near the end of the attraction get replaced with a tribute to former Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak as they build the Apple II in Wozniak's garage. The finale will be a hybrid of the first three versions and the current touch-screen video version. After the main bulk of the ride is through, we enter the top of the geosphere as "Tomorrow's Child" begins to play. The main theme of the finale reverts back to the "how the world has shrunk" finale from 1994. The descent down will be completed as screens displaying clips from news networks around the world are installed on the walls. The touch screens will be used to test the guests' memory of the trip through time, similar to what was done during the soft-opening phase of the current Judy Dench version. After unloading, we come across a new version of Earth Station, where one can preview the park ahead, make dining reservations, or discover the lastest innovations in communications. Games and activities include an illuminated globe featuring an ever-changing collage of inspirational images of tomorrow, Power City, a large, digital shuffleboard-style game that has you racing around the board to power a bustling metropolis, and The EPCOT Center Universal Library, where guests can catch a glimpse of every book, film, television program, song, video game, and website ever made, seeing how they all have helped to unite our world through communication and cooperation.

Exiting Earth Station, you enter Starlight Plaza, gateway to CommuniCore, presented in part by Siemens. Short for “Community Core,” CommuniCore is the part of EPCOT Center in which all of its themes are brought together under one roof: communication, energy, computers, progress, transportation, imagination, agriculture, meteorology, and marine biology. As you walk through Starlight Plaza, you begin to notice that the ponds and canals from the Classic Era (1982-1994) have returned to bring CommuniCore and Starlight Plaza back to their former glory. In the center of Starlight Plaza lies a fountain that exemplifies EPCOT Center's main message: The Fountain of Nations. Dedicated by Lillian Disney, this magnificent fountain contains water from 19 rivers, lakes, and oceans around the world, representing all 19 nations in the World Showcase. This was done to build the fountain’s foundation as a meeting place for all the world’s people. I envision the original fountain to be expanded in order for it to be similar to the "Focus Fountain" seen in Peter Schaab's redesign of EPCOT Center.

The two sides of CommuniCore, East and West, contain exhibits by many of Disney’s corporate partners. Nintendo, who also sponsors the Japanese pavilion in the World Showcase, hosts The Game Grid, an exciting adventure into the history of video games and what awaits in the industry’s distant future. The Sum of All Thrills, presented by Raytheon, explains how math and science are used to build rollercoasters and other theme park attractions. Nearby are The Walt Disney Imagineering Labs, where park guests can preview Disney attractions being built around the world. Time Magazine presents The Electronic Forum, where you can voice your opinion on current events, vote for the “Person of the Year,” or pick up the latest issue of Time. Hasbro presents an exhibit inspired by the books of Mary Pope Osborne: The Magic Treehouse Tour. Located in CommuniCore West near the Journey Into Imagination pavilion, this attractions features the Dreamfinder’s lovable creation, Figment, taking Magic Treehouse characters Jack and Annie on various adventures around the world and through time to demonstrate the potential of the human mind and what it can do with just one little spark of imagination.  In CommuniCore East is The Energy Exchange. Guests can take a look at tomorrow’s energy options and generate their own energetic opinions at this exhibit presented by Hess. They can also take a look at the history of Hess's legendary toy trucks. Kitty corner to The Energy Exchange is Apple’s Information Superhighway. Trace the origins of Apple Computer back to 1976 as you discover how the company's products have changed the social and technological worlds forever. Blu-Ray presents The Ultimate Home Theatre Experience, introducing new technologies to improve entertainment systems in homes across America and around then world. Visa’s TravelPort lets visitors “dial-in” their travel interests and other itinerary requirements and watch an “instant preview” of their upcoming vacation. At Toys of Tomorrow, presented by LEGO, “Minifigures” give you a first look at what the LEGO Company has in store for the near and distant future.  Ford, who also sponsors The World of Motion pavilion, hosts The Speed Zone, in which guests can design automobiles and see how they do on one of Ford’s test tracks across America. One World; One Sky, presented by General Electric, feature Big Bird and Elmo in an out-of-this-world adventure with Samson and Tiffy, characters from the German co-production of Sesame Street (Sesamstraße), to discover what it truly means to reach for the stars. Presented by Google, Frontiers in Medicine follows the evolution of medicine from the medicine chests of prehistoric times to the vaccinations of today. Bill Nye the Science Guy, host of the popular television show on the Disney Channel has his own exhibit here in CommuniCore, as well. Evaluate the tests done on the show and see if you can replicate them. You can also buy one of Bill Nye’s books or DVDs here. These are only just a few of the marvelous wonders you’ll find in CommuniCore.

Also in CommuniCore are Ice Station Cool, where you can try sodas from every corner of the world with Coke Freestyle machines, CommuniStore, EPCOT Center’s primary gift shop, and The Starlight Plaza Restaurant, serving breakfast omelettes, pancakes, Mickey waffles, French toast hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, and salads. For a quick pick-me-up or to satisfy you sweet tooth, The Beverage Base and The Fountainview Café offer popcorn, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, dessert cups, fried seafood, chicken, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, coffee, and salads.

You explore Future World East first. To your far left as you walk through CommuniCore East is The Universe of Energy. Given that you know that it had been refurbished since Meg Crofton was ousted, you decide to go check it out. Now sponsored by Hess, this attraction now gives each of its guests a lasting reminder of how we should use our energy wisely, not wastefully, just like it did in 1982. From the multimedia introduction to the breathtaking finale, The Universe of Energy explores the forces that fuel our lives-and the universe itself. You’ll “ride on sunshine” as “traveling theatre cars” powered by a rooftop array of solar panels take you on an energy odyssey-from the Earth’s beginnings to the formation of fossil fuels to the energy alternatives of tomorrow. Along the way, discover a primeval forest complete with battling dinosaurs, earthquakes, and an erupting volcano. Then, travel onto the Energy Research Center, where current emerging energy sources are revealed on a Circle-Vision 360 screen. Finally, the “Universe of Energy” itself comes to life in an “electrifying” presentation on energy’s impact on today's society. Also featured are the two original songs "You Make the World Go 'Round" and "The Universe of Energy."

Designer's Note: As much as I like Ellen's Energy Adventure, I feel as if it has overstayed its welcome. Therefore, the only elements from this version left are Bruce Broughton's "Crisis Overture" and the updated Audio-Animatronics.

 

Replacing The Wonders of Life is The Marvels of Computing, using the same gold dome from 1989. Presented by Apple, the entrance area for this pavilion has been drastically changed, as 1964 World's Fair-esque observation towers and a pond-like feature have been added since your last visit, when it was the Festival Center. The pavilion starts with Goofy About the Internet, a show similar to Goofy About Health, only this time, the cartoons are about how to be safe on the Internet, not how to exercise. In the Body Wars section of the pavilion is TRON's Game Grid. Using LPS technology similar to that of Pooh's Hunny Hunt, this attraction lets you enter the world of computers as you help TRON battle Sark and the Master Computer Program. Rounding out the pavilion is Computer Command, featuring Captain Buzzy Cortex in a humorous adventure through the bowels of an Apple Macintosh.

Gone is the god-awful Mission: SPACE (except for its song "Destiny;" I'll elaborate on that later) and in its place is New Horizons, presented by General Electric. Taking guests even further back than 1983's Jules Verne introduction, we start our journey in Ancient Egypt, where we see how the pyramids influenced architecture throughout the world. Then, its onto Ancient Greece, where the Spartans introduced innovative weapons and we discover how their lasting affect on the battlefield. Fast forward 1,000 years later to the era of Jules Verne and HG Wells, where fanciful inventions like the space cannon and the time machine captured the imaginations of millions of people. At the dawn of the 20th Century, a technological revolution starts to emerge as gadgets like the telephone, the television, and the personal computer become commonplace. Finally, in the distant future, we visit three very distinct habitats. Under the sea is Sea Castle, the newest and most exciting floating city in the Pacific. Thousands of miles above Sea Castle is Brava Centauri, the first colony on Mars with rewarding opportunities for Earth support vocations. Back on the Earth's surface, Mesa Verde is the most advanced desert reclamation complex in the western hemisphere. At the end of our adventure, we get to choose the ending. We can pick from a space flight to Brava Centauri, a submarine voyage to Sea Castle, or a Maglev train journey to Mesa Verde. The postshow, The Advanced Training Lab, invites guests to see what it would be like to live in one or more of the communities seen in the attraction.  Every guest leaves with their sights strictly set on "New Horizons" for the future.

Designer's Note: The future scenes in this new version aren't like the 1950s-esque scenes from 1983, but more like the future seen in Back to the Future: Part II.

Moving the current concept of "design-your-own-car-and-test-it" to CommuniCore (the Ford-sponsored Speed Zone), the new Test Track looks even more like The World of Motion. So much, in fact, that it was even renamed The World of Motion and made a deal with Ford to sponsor the pavilion. Ford executives want to test the first automobile with time-travel capabilities with us as the "dummies." Sending us through a time vortex similar to that of Countdown to Extinction, we come across some cavemen blowing of their hot feet. Then, we go to a dock at which a sea monster is attacking one of Christopher Columbus's ships. Across the way is a "dead tired" caravan with an angry king. Next is a "used chariot" sale where chariots are being sold at ridiculously high prices because the were allegedly owned by the Roman gods. After that is Leonardo da Vinci trying to paint the Mona Lisa and invent the helicopter at the same time. Fast forward 300 years to a Wild West train robbery to show how trains bring continents together. Another man crashed his bicycle into a pile of mud filled with pigs. At Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, we see the Wright Brothers' plane bouncing up and down in a grave effort to take off. In 1950s southern California, we drive by a girl in her pink car as Rascall Flatts' "Life Is A Highway" plays in the background. Going through a cave in the Californian desert, we finally come upon the city of the future, in which we see the Ford executives again as they challenge us to a race. When they do, we zoom to 95 miles per hour (just like in the original plans for Test Track) to discover exactly why "It's Fun To Be Free." In The TransCenter, we discover the inner-workings of Ford 3000 as they develop new and exciting concepts for transportation in the near and distant future.

In Future World West, the first pavilion we encounter is the Journey Into Imagination pavilion, presented by Hasbro. Seeing that the pavilion's exterior has been resorted to its 1983 glory, you hope for the best. The star attraction's, Journey Into Imagination, original queue has been restored. The ride vehicles have been repainted in many colors; one color per train. Once you board one of the cars, your Journey into Imagination begins. First, you meet Dreamfinder, a Santa Claus-like figure that travels the universe in search of new creations, and his latest creation, Figment (now voiced either by Nancy Cartwright or Tom Kenny). They then take you to the DreamPort, in which the clean the Idea Bag and recombine ideas to use later. 

Designer's Note: We enter the DreamPort through the right side of the brain, the side of the brain that contains our imaginations. Dreamfinder explains this as we pass through.

Next is the realm of art, where famous paintings like the Mona Lisa, the Scream, and Starry Night come to life before your eyes. The literature section looks much like a library, but with the same wackiness of the art section. Instead of paintings, literary characters like Tom Sawyer, Ebeneezer Scrooge, and Willy Wonka come to life as Dreamfinder and Figment explain how literature is one of the most diverse forms of imagination. 

Designer's Note: The literature section of this version of Journey Into Imagination resembles the Illusion section from Journey Into YOUR Imagination.

Next, the Broadway section has Figment getting ready for his stage debut on opening night. There is just a tiny bit of the curtain open in this scene, but open enough to see that the audience is filled with Disney characters dressed to the nines; white tie and evening gowns. After that entertaining performance, we see Dreamfinder as a mad scientist performing a very deadly scientific experiment. Every few riders get to experience a pyrotechnic effect, representing and explosion in his lab. In the conclusion, we see Figment situated in a movie theatre seat as Circle-Vision 360 screens depict the lovable dragon as a pirate, a cowboy, a football player, an astronaut, a superhero, a tap dancer, a chef, a firefighter, and a knight while we discover that "One Little Spark" dwells inside each of us. On the second floor, in the glass pyramids, is ImageWorks: The "What If?" Zone. Exhibits features in this "Creative Playground of the Future" include Dreamfinder's School of Drama. Using a green-screen, guests put themselves into a movie under the direction of Dreamfinder. Inspired by three Hasbro games and toys, choices are a western (The Legend of Buckaroo), a mystery film (Clue: The Case of Mystery Manor), or a science fiction film (Mission to Marshed Potato). The Pin Screens are massive pin tables. At Stepping Tones, guests create music from stepping on picture panels depicting animals, instruments, and whatnot. Create A Figment lets guests mix and match different body parts to create their own, one-of-a-kind Figment of their imagination. The Rainbow Corridor is a large tunnel that features colored lights that follow the guests as they go through, each guest getting a different color. Mickey's Musical Revue is a sound booth in which guests choose ten out of hundreds of Disney songs to make a CD, similar to the Radio Disney SongMaker at DisneyQuest. Krazy Kaleidoscopes are very large kaleidoscopes that can be controlled by the guest. The Vibrating Mirrors are an effect that made the guests reflection warp like a funhouse mirror. The Hall of Imaginations is a museum of creations from the greatest imaginations of all time. Thomas Edison is represented by the lightbulb, Henry Ford by the car, Walt Disney by Mickey Mouse, Jim Henson by Kermit the Frog, etc. The Wondercycles, recycled from The Wonders of Life, allow Guests to ride through worlds that were, that could be, and those of fantasy, and reality. Going down the escalator in the back of the area, you enter the Magic Eye Theatre, home of Inventor of the Year. Using the "True Colors" preshow from Honey, I Shrunk the Audience!, this is a new 4D show based on the 2014 hit movie Big Hero 6. The San Fransokyo Institute of Technology has set up shot at EPCOT Center to present its annual "Inventor of the Year" award to Hiro Hamada. However, things go horribly wrong when Professor Callaghan crashes the ceremony to enact revenge on Big Hero 6. The show will emphasize how imagination can help create tomorrow's great innovations. Added in the current location of The ImageWorks: The Kodak "What If?" Labs is Figment's Espresso & Bakery. Making up for the loss of Fountainview Espresso & Bakery, this quick service location serves as the primary Starbucks location in EPCOT Center.

Next door is The Land. Presented by Nestle, this pavilion hosts three attractions. First is Living with the Land, where guests can "set sail for tomorrow's harvest." We start this voyage with the "Symphony of the Seed," in which we examine the life of a rose, from seed to wilting. Then, its onto three habitats. The rainforest proves to be filled with rich nutrients for its colorful residents. Next is the Arctic, where just searching for food is a matter of life or death for the polar bear. On the American farm, we see that it is one of the best representations of the relationship between humans and nature. The farm's barn serves as a transition to the greenhouses as agricultural techniques from around the world are displayed on several movie screens. The greenhouses remain the same, but the finale remixes the current instrumental music with 1982's "Listen to the Land" song, now called "Living with the Land." Soarin' Around the World has been given the Star Tours treatment and can now select random destinations to fly over on each ride, increasing re-rideability even more than it already is. The version of the attraction here is themed to a barn, similar to that of the transition from dark ride to greenhouse in Living with the Land. The new on-screen games are "Spot the Country" (find the country in a world map) and "Pest Patrol" (kill pests with bug spray guns in this interactive TSMM-style game). The preshow still features Patrick Warburton as our chief flight attendant during the flight. He will go through the usual safety spiel after he explains that "The locations we'll be flying over will disappear off the map if we keep polluting the Earth at today's rate." The final attraction in The Land is Kitchen Kabaret. Using elements from Food Rocks!, this version of the show uses a parody of "Hey Jude" called "Hey Food" as its introduction instead of "Mealtime Blues."

Between The Land and The Mysterious Seas is The Wonders of Weather. Its entrance designed to look like a tornado or a hurricane, this pavilion is most comparable to The Land; an E-Ticket, an animatronic show, any other type of attraction, a gift shop, and a central cafeteria. The main draw here is StormRider. Although this isn't a carbon copy of the one in Tokyo DisneySea, it's pretty close. The only difference is the backstory, as you enter the Center for Weather Control as they prepare to research a hurricane headed right for Walt Disney World. Next is Great Moments with the Seasons. This Kitchen Kabaret-like revue combines the four seasons with the magic of Broadway in a show sure to put a smile on your face. Songs featured are "Auld Lang Syne," "Spring has Sprung," "Summer Fun in the Sun," "Autumn Awe," "Winter Wonderland," and "Weather Forever." The final attraction is one similar to Jumping Jellyfish at Disney's California Adventure and Tokyo DisneySea. Called Cloud 9, the board a cloud as you bounce up and down as General Condensation teaches you about his namesake. The gift shop here is Skywatcher Souvenirs while the food court is The WeatherWorks Cafeteria.

The final pavilion in Future World is The Mysterious Seas, presented by National Geographic. Replacing The Seas with Nemo & Friends, this version of the pavilion is largely based on the "hybrid" version that briefly existed in 1980, combining the dark ride from the 1978 Poseidon plans with the SeaBase Alpha aesthetics from 1986. Your journey under the sea begins with a preshow narrated by Judi Dench, after which a SeaBase Scientist (Cast Member) directs you to the SeaCabs. You then go on the fanciful dark ride from the 1978 plans, minus Poseidon (more on him later). At the end of the ride is a finale featuring "In the Big Blue World." Yes, it's the same melody from Nemo, but the lyrics are changed to make the song much more serious and on par with the other RetroCOT songs. When the ride is done, you can visit SeaBase Alpha. On the Lower Level are Ocean Ecosystems, Undersea Exploration, Earth Systems, Marine Mammals (viewing), and the Diver Lockout Chamber. On the Upper Level are Ocean Resources, Marine Mammals (research), the Underwater Viewing Module, and the VIP lounge for employees of National Geographic. The only element from Nemo left in the pavilion is Turtle Talk with Crush, which is themed to a lab in which a technology that makes marine life "talk" is being tested.

On the main bridge towards World Showcase from Future World are the headquarters for Agent P's World Showcase Adventure. While the interactive game has already attracted the children's attention with its familiar faces, additional clips throughout the mission outline the culture and history behind each stop. This allows the experience to inform as well as entertain. World Showcase sees the addition of 8 pavilions and one replacement, making a total of 19 pavilions. Each pavilion gets a flagpole with its flag on it in Showcase Plaza, as well as in their individual pavilions. The two stores in Showcase Plaza are razed with both of their merchandise options going into one giant store called Disney Traders (currently the name of the store closer to Mexico). My goal in this half of EPCOT Center was to combine the experience you would have gotten at the 1964 New York World's Fair's international pavilions with the immersion for which Disney parks are known the world over.

The first pavilion we come across in World Showcase as we walk the promenade is Mexico. The Grand Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros becomes Las Tres Culturas de México. Using the working title for El Rio del Tiempo, the attraction takes guests on a journey through the history of Mexico, from the era of the Aztec Empire to today. The voyage is narrated by none other than the Three Caballeros themselves. In place of the 35-mm films used in 1982, animated films starring Donald, Panchito, and Jose will be used to represent the Aztec gods, the Spanish invasions, the Mexican Revolution, etc. The attraction's middle and conclusion sections will revive the "Fiestas en Mexico" song written for it in 1982 while keeping "The Three Caballeros" for the finale.

The first new pavilion we see in World Showcase is Australia. Situated between Mexico and Norway, the Circle-Vision 360 presentation The Land Down Under is housed inside a replica of the Sydney Opera House. The film features such locales as Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, the Dingo Fence, the Gold Coast, and the Disneyland Resort Australia. The Disneyland Australia Gallery features a detailed model of the Disneyland Resort Australia (located on the Gold Coast; more on it later) direct from Walt Disney Imagineering. The shops in the pavilion sell kangaroo skin goods, boomerangs, canteens, and typical Australian souvenirs. The table-service restaurant here is The Eight-Kilometer Creek, serving Australian cuisine with fantastic view of "Sydney Harbor" (World Showcase Lagoon).  Not as upscale as The Eight-Kilometer Creek is The Outback (not to be confused with the popular restaurant chain), serving meat pies with an array of fillings. If anyone has been to the Tuck Shop in New York City, you know what the menu will look like.

Norway receives no changes, except for a major overhaul to Maelstrom and its postshow film. Renamed Vikings of the Maelstrom, this thrilling flume adventure is now the Pirates of the Caribbean of EPCOT Center, if you will. Featuring a song with the same spirit as "Yo-Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me)," you sail through a port sabotaged by Lief Eriksson instead of Captain Jack Sparrow. The attraction's canal will also be rerouted so it passes through Akershus, much like Pirates of the Caribbean does in The Blue Bayou at Disneyland Park. After the voyage, you have the option of staying for a recently updated short film on the people and folklore of Norway. The film shows how Norway's people have stayed true to their heritage in good times (Norwegian independence on 7 June 1905) and bad (2011 Oslo bombings).

China sees the addition of the Great Wall, similar to the flats seen in Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland Park. But unlike those flats, this one will be built in 3D. Also added are The Hong Kong Disneyland Gallery and The Shanghai Disneyland Gallery. These galleries display the best features of the two Chinese Disney resorts. Similar galleries are also in other pavilions whose countries have Disney resorts in them.

Across the service canal from China is the pavilion for the largest country in the world by area: Russia. Housed in a replica of the Red Square in Moscow, this is one of the most detailed pavilions in World Showcase. The main draw here is The Bells of Change. Hosted by Ivan and the Magic Pike, this technologically innovative attraction mixes film, live action, Audio-Animatronics, and special effects to take guests through the amazing history of Russia, from the rise of the Czars to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Think of it as The Hall of Presidents on steroids. The two shops in the pavilion, Stekla i Farfora and Shchedrye Podraki, sell glass products and Russian souvenirs respectively. Requiring 2 table service meals on the Disney Dining Plan, Vkusnye Naslazhdeniĭ serves up the best Russian cuisine in the Orlando area. The restaurant also provides views of Red Square.

Up next is Greece. Heavily influenced by the ancient architecture of Athens and Sparta, the pavilion's weenie are replicas of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Guests who enter the Parthenon are treated to an attraction called Homer's Odyssey. Using the same ride system as Peter Pan's Flight, the attraction takes guests on a journey through the classic Greek epic of the same name. Also featured are characters from the Disney films Hercules. The postshow, The Myths of Olympus, displays art and artifacts from the ancient era of Greek history. Meros Apo Synathorisi, the pavilion's main shop, is designed to look like a forum that may have been seen in an ancient Greek city. It sells Greek masks, carvings, pottery, stories on scrolls, cookbooks, magnets, and film. Bagoni Meros serves food from all seven regions of Greece, from gyros to gourmet pizza. Grigoros Pavo Bagoni offers a similar menu at a lower price.

From the serene countryside of Greece we go to the quaint villages of Germany. From your last visit to EPCOT Center, you seem to think something is very different about the pavilion. Or should you say somethings? First, The Rhine River Cruise has risen from development hell and taken guests on a voyage through the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm and through the countryside to see some of the greatest German landmarks. Second, an enormous recreation of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria has been built on top of The Rhine River Cruise's facade. Although another new pavilion lies next door, the miniature railroad diorama is moved to within the courtyard of the German showcase.

Between Germany and Italy is Spain. Modeled after the Plaza Mayor in Madrid and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona,  the pavilion is one of the liveliest in World Showcase. Housed in the Sagrada Família is Don Quixote's First Sally, a Fantasyland-style dark ride based on the Don Quixote stories by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Las Obras de Espana, the attraction's postshow, displays some of the most expensive and famous works by such legendary painters as Pablo Picasso, Francisco Goya, Salvador Dalí, and Diego Velázquez. Rápido y Fácil is a quick service location serving enchiladas, tapas, and paella while Exquisita Excelencia lets you enjoy Spanish favorites as you look over Don Quixote Plaza. The shop, Placeres Dotados, sells traditional Spanish souvenirs.

Up ahead is Italy. Beyond the main courtyard is Escape From Pompeii, Not to be confused with the shoot-the-chutes attraction at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, this groundbreaking attraction features the first KUKA robotic arm in a Disney park. Using a similar ride system as Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey at Universal's Islands of Adventure, this FASTPASS attraction takes use through ancient Roman times on chariots as we suddenly feel the terrible tremble of Mount Vesuvius. We speed up to joint the fleeing crowd as the village of Pompeii is flooded with boiling lava. Then, a giant fire monster rises from the ashes of the village and attacks us. We luckily escape, but we are in hot pursuit of the monster. A noble Roman gladiator soon comes in to kill the monster and save the day. Think of this as "Journey to the Center of the Earth meets Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey." Although the lasagna at Tutto Italia is insanely good, L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante is resorted to its former glory. Yes, you can once again order the world-famous "Fettuccine all'Alfredo." Although Via Napoli's outdoor annex was razed to make room for Escape From Pompeii's queue, the menu will remain the same. There are three shops in the Italian showcase. II Bel Cristallo sells inlaid music boxes, alabasted figurines, and Capodimonte florals. La Cucina Italiana offers Italian cookbooks, film, and sundries while Delizie Italiane has straw hats, cookies, candies, and Italian souvenirs.

At the McDonald's-sponsored American pavilion, The American Adventure's finale combines the 1982 and the 1993 versions together. The bulk of it is from 1993 while the tail end of it is from 1982 (after the final conversation work Franklin and Twain). Added to the finale are Michael Jackson, Michael Phelps, Michael Jordan, Vince Lombardi, Sir Tim-Berners Lee, Babe Ruth, and Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, while Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong are removed. While National Treasures is renamed We the People, The Heritage Manor doesn't receive any changes. The same can't be said about the dining options. The Liberty Inn is now a buffeteria featuring sections that serve different cuisine from around the U.S., including New England seafood, Southern comfort food, and Hawaiian favorites. The America Gardens Theatre reverts to its 1982 outdoor form.

Presented by Nintendo, the Japan pavilion finally receives a legit attraction. Joining all the exhibits and Mitsukoshi is an updated version of Meet the World. Every times we rotate in the carousel theatre, the title song's genre changes with it, not unlike what happens to "There's A Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow" in Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress. For example, the verses you hear in the finale would be done in a J-pop style, signifying the most recent era of Japanese history. The Tokyo Disneyland Gallery shows what Tokyo Disney Resort has to offer. Teppan Edo and The Katsura Grill get the boot in favor of the original 1982 dining options.

In great contrast to Japan is Ireland. Anchored by a replica of King John's Castle in Limerick, the pavilion features Ireland Rediscovered, a grand-circle dark ride tour of the Emerald Isle hosted by a group of leprechauns. Just as large and extravagant as Yong Feng Shangdian and Mitsukoshi is The Dublin Gem, selling fine jewelry and gems, as wells as Irish wool sweaters, shortbread cookies, musical instruments, apparel, and lots more. For dining, what's an Irish experience without a pub? Cead Mile Failte answers that question with traditional pub fare and authentic Irish cuisine. For a lighter, less expensive meal is The Limerick Bakery, featuring Irish soda bread, pastries, cakes, pies, and coffee with Bailey's Irish cream.

Although Morocco is a beautifully executed pavilion, there's really nothing of importance unless you have a reservation for Restaurant Marrakesh. That is why I'm replacing Morocco with the only pavilion in World Showcase to represent the Caribbean: Jamaica. Don't worry, another African/Arabian nation will have a pavilion built between the United Kingdom and Canada (more on that later). As you approach a replica of Lover's Leap Lighthouse southeast of Mandeville, you see that there are five minutes until the next showing of The Heartbeat of Jamaica, showcasing the history and culture of this vibrant island nation.

Designer's Note: As I'm typing this, I just realized that adding Jamaica would make it the third island nation in a row after Japan and Ireland.

The main exhibit in the pavilion is The Taino Spirit House, featuring traditional and contemporary art forms from around the Caribbean. The bazaar leftover from Morocco remains intact, only with new names and merchandise for each store. Casablanca Carpets becomes Clarendon Carpets; Medina Arts turns into Jewels of Jamaica; The Outdoor Bazaar is now Portmore Provisions; The Brass Bazaar transforms into The Limestone Bazaar; Souk-Al-Magreb gives way for The Mandeville Marketplace; and finally, Tangier Traders is reincarnated as Trelawny Traders. Restaurant Marrakesh becomes Restaurant Royale, serving Jamaican patties, chicken, and seafood, while The Tangerine Café becomes The Banana Boat Café, serving Jamaican jerk chicken, beef, lamb sandwiches, salads, and desserts.

Between Jamaica and France is a pavilion in which I see great potential: India. Perhaps the most striking feature of the pavilion is an incredibly detailed recreation of the Taj Mahal in Agra. Inside the magnificent building is a boat ride appropriately called Legends of the Taj Mahal. This is probably best described as the Indian counterpart to The Rhine River Cruise, Las Tres Culturas de Mexico, Vikings of the Maelstrom, etc. The attraction's gift shop is Cancala Ioga, selling Indian toys, books, games, film, and sundries. Another store is present: Faridabad Fashions. This one sells Indian clothing, shoes, and perfumes. In a similar style to Casbah at Tokyo DisneySea, Golkonda is modeled after the fortress of the same name in Hyderabad. Curry, chicken, pork, hummus, and other Indian delicacies are served here.

The only change France receives is the addition of The Disneyland Paris Gallery. Serving the same purpose as its counterparts in Australia, China, The American Adventure, and Japan, the exhibit shows us the best of the Disneyland Resort Paris.

With no changes coming to the International Gateway, we cross the bridge to Brazil, the only South American country to be represented in World Showcase. Largely based on Rio de Janeiro, the pavilion has one of only two rollercoasters in EPCOT Center. Amazon Mountain has an identical track layout to The Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland Park. The attraction starts off in a Brazilian tour guide's office, on a replica of Sugarloaf Mountain in the pavilion's foreground. This is where we board our trains for our climb to the top of the mountain. All goes as planned until we come into the first dark area in the attraction. In fact, the majority of what we see afterwards is in the dark. As both a nod to and a parody of The Matterhorn Bobsleds, we splash down into a miniature Amazon River at the end of the attraction. The only store here is Delícia das Crianças. Portuguese for "The Children's Delight," it sells Brazilian toys, games, books, CDs, and DVDs. The Brazilian pavilion has one quick service and once table service restaurant. The quick service, A Cozinha Deliciosa e Baratos de São Paulo, serves cheese buns, coffee, and desserts while the table service, O Restaurante Elegante e Emocionante do Rio serves authentic Brazilian cuisine including Feijoada, Vatapá, and Tacacá. Every day at around dusk, a miniature version of Carnival makes its way through the pavilion.

The United Kingdom pavilion holds The Worlds of Charles Dickens. This theatre-in-the-round presentation lets you relive the most iconic moments in Charles Dickens’s novels, such as the Ebeneezer Scrooge's encounter with the Ghosts of Christmas or Oliver Twist audaciously asking for more soup. The attraction would also cater towards little kids, who most likely can't go on the attractions in Brazil and Egypt. For the older crowd, The British Invasion returns to entertain guests whose other party members may be on the attraction.

Between the United Kingdom and Canada, making up for the loss of Morocco, is Egypt. This pavilion holds EPCOT Center's other rollercoaster: The Pharaoh's Rage. All the aesthetic issues are gone because I removed Revenge of the Mummy in my refurbishment of Universal Studios Florida and replaced it with another attraction (more on that later). Housed inside one of the Great Pyramids of Giza, the track layout is identical to Rock & Roller Coaster, only with a traditional chain-lift hill instead of a high-speed launch. I chose this track layout to cater to the older crowd, who might be bored by Amazon Mountain in the Brazilian pavilion. The Sands of Time, the attraction's postshow, holds one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian art and artifacts in the world. The Egyptian Scarab sells souvenirs, gifts, and mementos from around the Middle East while Asmak Taama serves traditional Egyptian fare, featuring a build-you-own-kebab bar, for which Egypt is well known.

The final World Showcase pavilion is Canada. There's not much I'd do here, except bring back the Beaver Tail stand and combine the "buffeteria" and "steakhouse" versions of Le Cellier into one restaurant. No changes are made to O Canada!.

Walt Disney's Tapestry of Nations is the first parade at EPCOT Center since the Tapestry of Dreams parade ended on March 1, 2003. Using the Sherman Brothers' "World Showcase March" as its theme, the parade has a float or two for all 19 World Showcase pavilions. IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth receives no changes. "Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand" from the Millennium Celebration would play alongside the current "Promise" song as EPCOT center's exit music.

So that's the way it is until next time!