More Mouse: My Disney Top 5 - Things to Love About Epcot

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My Disney Top 5 - Things to Love About Epcot by Chris Barry

Chris Barry returns with another Disney Top 5.

Read it here!

[mkelm44]

I agree- a little less specific than usual, but I think that there is nothing wrong with some broad strokes every once in a while. In no particular order, here is my top 5.

1. Spaceship Earth- I agree with you that the Geodesic Dome is an amazing first site. It screams "Future" and "Unique" as you don't say anything anywhere. If you look at the castles at the various theme parks, it's sometimes hard to tell the difference between the castles at the World, Disneyland, Euro Disney, etc. There is only one spaceship earth.

2. The place makes you think... While the Magic Kingdom is fantasy and wonder, and Animal Kingdom is wow! and the ex-MGM is thrills and excitement, EPCOT is the one park where you actually still think about it for days and weeks after. Yes there are some thrills at Test Track, Mission Space and Soarin, but you spend a lot of time after Spaceship Earth, the Land, the Seas, the showcase *thinking* about what you've just seen. You find yourself being impressed and amazed about where we've been as mankind and where we might be going.

3. The showcase. While I wish they had expanded the world showcase more to be more representative of the planet (Eastern EUrope, Africa, South America, the Middle East and India are all underrepresented or not at all) and I wonder if they could possibly use some of the underutilized space as a sort of short-term pavilion where you could bring countries in for smaller showcase-lite experiences. I feel the showcases themselves have gotten a lot better by being more engaging over the years, but it's also does a great job of making you want to go and experience the country. I honestly can tell you that everytime I leave Canada I'm ready to go hop a flight to our northern neighbor. I think there are still improvements to be made as some countries are more entertaining than others, but it's still pretty fun to do.

4. The shows. I miss the Tapestry parade as that was a lot of fun, but there is nothing better than Illuminations. Wishes is pretty good, but Illuminations is just overpowering and awe-inspiring. The Earth globe and inferno barge are so impressive (the fact that you feel the heat hundreds of feet away!) and the laser lights are extraordinary, and the fact that afterwards the lasers project onto Spaceship Earth is just icing on the cake. I dare anyone to watch illuminations in person and not be blown away.

5. The food. In park dining is always a little hit and miss, except in EPCOT. I honestly could eat every lunch and dinner in EPCOT for a week and not be let down. I love that you can get a taste of many different cultures in one area as well as just some phenomenal food. There is a list of places I love to go- the Coral Reef for lunch (around 1 PM they usually feed the fish with divers) just for the view and some great seafood, La Cellier for steak, China's 9 Dragons for the Peking Duck, Japan for the sushi and the teppankyaki dining, France for the pastries, Italy for the pasta, and Mexico for what I think is the best themed restaurant (love the volcano). The Sunshine Seasons food court is I think the best counter service lunch in any of the parks, and not just because you can get fresh baked cookies. And of course the fact that you could have a very, very fun time if you wished "drinking around the world" with great beers from the UK, Canada and Germany, wine from Italy and France, Sake from Japan, and of course the very potent, very wonderful margaritas from Mexico. And that's BEFORE you get to the Food and Wine Festival.

[DisneyGator]

When I saw SSE was your #5, I was scratching my head. What could be #1. And then you nailed. There is NOTHING like Epcot anywhere. It why's I fly my family from one ocean to the other instead of just driving down the freeway to Disneyland. I can't imagaine a Disney trip without Epcot. Is special in so many ways.

[cbarry]

When I saw SSE was your #5, I was scratching my head. What could be #1. And then you nailed. There is NOTHING like Epcot anywhere. It why's I fly my family from one ocean to the other instead of just driving down the freeway to Disneyland. I can't imagaine a Disney trip without Epcot. Is special in so many ways.

Glad I nailed it. Can't imagine a Disney trip with no Epcot either. This past summer, when we arrived at Caribbean Beach, it was around 4:00 PM or so. I had purchased an extra day of park tickets in case we wanted to head to a park on this arrival day. I asked the 10-year-olds what they wanted to do, fully expecting "Magic Kingdom." Much to my surprise and delight, they both said, "Epcot!" I guess I've rubbed off on them.

[cbarry]

I agree- a little less specific than usual, but I think that there is nothing wrong with some broad strokes every once in a while. In no particular order, here is my top 5...

Seems like we're pretty close on our Top 5's.

There's nothing quite like that blast of heat from Illuminations is there?