The day-by-day play-by-playDay 1 - Block Party |
Sabbatical 1998 - Day 6What has Epp caught? Epcot!
One part amusement park and two parts science exhibit (and one part commercial for Coke-a-Cola, GE, Kodak and AT&T), Epcot took me by surprise. I knew that there weren't any big "thrill" rides here, but I did manage to find entertainment in with the educational exhibits. I was very careful not to accidentally learn anything new -- we wouldn't want that. The "people watching" was good as well... hundreds of Brazilian school children were at the park as part of a television program, all of them wearing matching red T-shirts. Scores of them would follow a designated tour guide assigned to a specific attraction-clogging group. The goal for survival was to get in line ahead of the guide by any means necessary. [GE, we bring good things to life.] I heard almost every imaginable language being spoken (not just the two you usually hear from 7-Eleven employees.)
The brain was also the subject of an exhibit called Cranium Command [Met Life, Get Met.] The audience helped a 12-year-old boy get through a school day from the point of view of his brain. We helped him through the morning breakfast ritual, a food fight, a run in with Principal Hardcase, and a flirtatious encounter with a blonde girl. Whew. All in a days' work for a brain commando. "Ellen's Energy Adventure" brought to you by Exxon [Exxon: Whenever Exxon calls, G.I. Joe is there.] combined alternative lifestyles with alternative energy sources. We learned that despite the fact that there's only about 50 years of natural gas left, Exxon will find more eventually. Also, for the first time in a program on energy, it was suggested that nuclear power was "controversial" and "expensive." We've come a long way, baby.
The American-Irish band, Off Kilter, played that one traditional Irish tune with a rock and roll beat. The guy in the center played lead bagpipes. Watch out U2. And Ewe Too! [Kodak - Take Pictures. Further. Back a Little. To the Left. Get in Closer to Your Mom. Okay Now, Smile.] In the French section we had the opportunity to be snubbed by shop keepers -- just like the real thing. Why travel thousands of miles when you can have it all right here? The sad news came when we discovered that the mime wouldn't be performing. I was looking forward to the "invisible wall" routine that mimes use to thrill audiences world 'round. Now, go away or I shall taunt you a second time. No one in the United Kingdom section could positively identify for us the ingredient in the so-called "brown sauce" that is usually served with "chips." [Mentos: the freshmaker!] I happen to think this is the stuff used to hold the rocks together in all of those old castles.
A good time was had by all. [AT&T - The Right Choice.] |
My lawyers and the Disney lawyers have finally worked out a deal whereby I can describe some parts of the park and use certain descriptive names without having to pay royalties. Good news. I can finally tell my parents where I am!
One attraction, Body Wars, pits the audience against a dangerous body-invading object. We were all shrunk down to the size of a blood cell and injected into the blood stream of a woman who had gotten a splinter and who, fortunately, had called the proper medical authorities. Richard Hatch (some of you might remember him from his role as "Apollo" in Battlestar Galactica [display technology by Tektronics]) led our rag-tag crew on a lonely quest for white corpuscles. Just a centon later we were navigating our way through the heart on our way to the brain.
The World Showcase Lagoon featured representations of over six countries. I think my favorite had to be the Canadian exhibit. We viewed a movie in Circle Vision (360 degree projection) about life up north and about how you shouldn't order a pizza with "Canadian Bacon" when you're visiting. The film even spoke favorably about the French Canadians even though they can't speak English like everyone else.
At the end of the day, Epcot was able to do its fireworks and laser display called "IllumiNations." Fantastic! This display had been put on hold because of the wild fires that have been raging across the state to the north. Folks, if I may be serious for a moment, this stuff is worth the price of admission. The beauty and splendor of lights, lasers, incendiaries all combined with fantastic music make for a wonderful end of the day.