Day 3: EPCOT
1) The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. In 1980, this was a great concept. Problem with building a futuristic anything is that eventually, the future arrives and passes you by. This is almost the case with EPCOT. Most of what used to be breathtakingly innovative seems quaint and old now. Even the stuff they're still hailing as futuristic is stuff we're either already doing or can easily see around the bend. Make a boat ride for "It's a Small World" or even "Pirates of the Caribbean," (before the grubby cancel-culture Libs got their hands on it) and that ride can last forever. Make a ride about the future and at some point, it's not longer relevant.
2) EPCOT, of course, is not a thrill park, but rather a futuristic community, or it once was. The only real "thrill" ride in the park is the Chevrolet Test Track. And while it's been upgraded since I was there almost 20 years ago, it's still the same basic concept, and not an edge-of-your-seat ride. Fun though.
3) In the interest of fairness, there's a HUGE area of walled off construction just on the other side of the big sphere. One can only guess they're making some of the needed upgrades to the park. Be interesting to see what they do there.
4) The World of Wonders trek around the main lake in the park is pretty much as it was 20 years ago. Hasn't updgraded much. But still nice to check out a small -- albeit, Disney-dumbed-down -- taste of other cultures. Long walk though.
4a) As an aside, we visited during their annual Food and Wine Festival. Won't bore you with all the details. Suffice to say, there was a lot more people hanging around to imbibe than probably would be otherwise. The prices and food selections at each of the various countries for the festival aren't really worth it, in my opinion, especially as a non-drinker.
5) As such, had a nice time in the Mexico pavilion, with a quaint little boat ride, and a very cool little glass shop where a couple nice glass dolphins for the Mrs. were procured.
6) And speaking of THAT... relatively speaking, the prices of the retail shopping in the park were not near as expensive as I expected them to be. I mean, "expensive" is relative to each independent person's taste, but I was pleasantly surprised at some prices I figured would be much higher.
7) Food is still too expensive though.
8) Dumb that you have to pay parking when you already have to pay a gazillion dollars for a ticket into the joint. Dumber still there is no parking pass deal available for multiple-day ticket holders.
All-in-all, not a bad day, but as I write this after Day 4 trip to Animal Kingdom, EPCOT has proven to be the least fun and least impressive of the four parks. If I still had kids, I'd probably buy tickets again for any future trip. What IS there is definitely aimed at children. But as an adult now, I'd be surprised if EPCOT as it is will be a part of our next visit, whenever that is.
Tomorrow: Animal Kingdom.
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