Epcot's World Showcase- Left or Right?

You're visiting Epcot. You're done with Future World, and you head toward World Showcase. You find yourself standing at the X below, gazing out at the country pavilions surrounding World Showcase Lagoon.

Which way do you turn? Left or right?

                                           left                                                               right

There is a correct answer here!

(Just kidding. I suppose you could go either way- but I never do...)

So- left or right? Tell us in the comments!

EPCOT Center Logo pins

As a Disney pin collector, there's a satisfaction that comes with finding that last pin you need to complete a set. And as a finicky collector, the pins I'm drawn to are few and far between- so when I find a set I love, and I can complete it? That's cause for celebration. My favorite pin set probably doesn't come as a surprise to regular readers: the EPCOT Center Logo pins.

Released in April 2015 as part of the Hidden Mickey Cast Lanyard series, these vintage Epcot icons have everything I love in a pin design- clean crisp styling, bold color, classic graphic design, symbols or signage rather than characters, and of course- they're vintage Epcot. The icons represent the original Epcot Center logos, including Horizons, Journey Into Imagination, CommuniCore, The Land, and The Living Seas.

I collected this set over the course of several visits. Ironically, I had to go to the other side of the country- to Disneyland- in order to find the last remaining pin I needed to complete the set. As I was scurrying through Disney's California Adventure on my way back to the Disneyland Hotel, I spotted The Land pin on the lanyard of a custodial worker sweeping up near the gates. When I approached him to trade, he told me he had just received it about an hour before, and he had no idea what it was.

You never know when you'll come across that final pin to complete a set. 

What do you think of the Epcot icon pins? Are you into pin trading at the parks & resorts? 

Tell us about it in the comments...

Construction Wall Artwork

So, just what is going on behind those walls next to Epcot's Norway pavilion? Are they recreating Arendelle? Construction walls can really dampen the atmosphere in the parks, but there's usually an effort to create some visual appeal appropriate to the surroundings. Such is the case with the artwork gracing the construction walls near Norway. These banners have a really appealing style and color scheme. 

They're each unique, and I get a strong storytelling element from them. I'm really curious about that last one. It seems to depict some kind of vertical farming scene...

What do you think is happening behind the walls? And what do you think of these banners? Tell us about it in the comments... 

The Great Piggy Bank Adventure

The Great Piggy Bank Adventure inside Innoventions West was always one of those attractions that I noticed, but never made time for. I always wanted to do it, but it was one of those things that would inevitably get bumped down the list of must-dos.  During a recent visit, I decided to change that, and made sure I had it at the top of my list. In hindsight, I'm so glad I did- because alas, word recently broke that this experience will soon be retired.

The Great Piggy Bank Adventure, presented by T. Rowe Price, is an interactive experience designed to teach about finances, saving, and spending decisions. It also features the most adorable pig around.

Seriously, how cute is this little guy? 

At the start of your adventure, each participant is asked via touch screen to identify a goal they'd like to save toward. Choices include a dream vacation, college, a bedroom makeover, and retirement. Naturally, I chose the vacation.  I received my porcine companion, and headed into the gaming area. Here, you travel from station to station with your pig, playing money-related activities, sending the pig through conveyor belts, tubes, and all kinds of fun experiences. The screen-based games are designed to teach saving and spending lessons. You have a chance to earn and save money through each activity, working toward your goal. But beware! A wolf is following along, trying to thwart your efforts, with pesky real-life situations that often derail savings.

After you and your pig complete the activities, you take her to the weigh-in station and bid her farewell. She disappears inside the machine, and the total amount that you've earned toward your goal is calculated for you. The whole experience took about 15 minutes, and really was a lot of fun. Though geared toward children, it actively engaged and entertained this solo adult.

But you know what I really appreciated about this activity? The ending. Instead of being easily rewarded with a vacation upon completion- my results after weigh-in showed that I wasn't even close to what I needed. My screen gave me the sage reminder, "It takes time."  I think that's a good lesson, especially while standing in a vacation mecca in Central Florida!

Good advice...

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Have you played The Great Piggy Bank Adventure? Tell us about it in the comments...

My Second-Favorite Epcot Greenhouse...

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DIY: Plussing the ornaments...

My sister and I share a deep love of Epcot. She's my usual partner-in-crime for Disney getaways, and we've spent many a memorable trip strolling through World Showcase or racing around Future World together. She's also a tough person for whom to find just the right gift. She seems to have everything, and she isn't one for just having extra "stuff" around. A gift really needs to mean something. She's also a great lover of the Christmas season. This year, I had a DIY idea that was perfect for her:

Some Mod Podge, a Christmas ornament, and an Epcot map led to a fun little project that helped capture the spirit of some of our trip memories, while tying in her favorite time of year...

What do you think? Have you ever done any DIY Disney projects? Tell us about them in the comments...

Epcot Food & Wine Festival: My Must-Try List

Just ten days until I hit the Food & Wine Festival for the first time! I've been studying menus, reading reviews, and making a plan. I have a long list of things I want to try, and I've compiled a few of them here (with the help of some great photographers and bloggers- please check out the blog links in the photo credits!).

There are several things that I will certainly try- like most of the vegetarian offerings, including just about everything at the Terra kiosk. But as a "recovering vegetarian", there are many dishes- particularly seafood offerings- that I would not have tried before the change in my eating habits that has occurred over the past year or so. I'm looking forward to branching out.

I've included the dish, the country or kiosk where it can be found, and a small bit about why it's on my list.

I present, in no particular order- a few things that are on my must-try list at this year's Food & Wine Festival....

International Gateway

There's definitely something to be said for the excitement of walking up to the front gates of a park- the other guests, the energy brewing in the air, the anticipation of flooding in when that proverbial rope drops. There is, however, something really special about "sneaking in" through the International Gateway. It's not sneaking, of course- this is a valid, legitimate entrance that anyone can use. Still, there's something about it that makes it feel different- like you're slipping in through the backdoor. Just steps from the Epcot area resorts, I'm always floored by just how quickly I can be inside my favorite park via International Gateway. During low crowd periods, it's not uncommon to be one of only a handful of guests waiting at this back door to the world.

Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie- the bakery in the France pavilion- now opens early for breakfast. The next time you're staying at an Epcot area resort, there's no reason not to use the IG, hang a right at the bridge, then grab a coffee and a croissant or pastry before making your way to Future World for an exciting morning...

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Have you used the International Gateway? What do you think about entering through the "back door" of Epcot? Tell us in the comments...

Wordless Wednesday: The Disney Letter O

Okonomiyaki, from Katsura Grill

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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting 

the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and 
please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links by clicking below, 
and remember to share some comment love...

The Secret World of Disney's Corporate Lounges...

Sounds pretty mysterious, right? Perhaps not so mysterious, but definitely a little-viewed slice of semi-secret Epcot history...

 Nestled in under the great orb of Spaceship Earth, 

a special event inside the Siemens' lounge is visible from the plaza.  
Photo credit: Amy Simpson Swiss, August 2013

Tucked away off stage, mostly out of view from the casual guest, are a host of special VIP areas scattered throughout the pavilions of Epcot. They are not widely advertised, and they have subtle access points. You've probably passed by an entrance to one, completely unaware of what was beyond the door.

Each of the major pavilions in Epcot once had a private lounge. In the heyday of corporate sponsorship, these lounges served as VIP areas for hosting employees, entertaining guests, and holding special events. Some are active for current sponsors, while other lounges are no longer in regular use.

Siemens has a lounge inside Spaceship Earth. HP's private lounge inside Mission:Space overlooks the queue and the Advanced Training Lab post-show area. The Test Track building is home to GM's lounge- though this area was reported closed for quite some time after the Test Track overhaul. Kraft once had a lounge in The Land, back when they were the sponsor of that pavilion. The Imagination Pavilion was the home of Kodak's corporate lounge.

One of the most impressive of the corporate lounges was said to be found in The Seas pavilion. I once read that an entire wall of the lounge was floor to ceiling glass, looking into one of the huge aquarium tanks in the pavilion. A transparent acrylic grand piano helped entertain guests in this exclusive space. Grand, indeed! This pavilion no longer has corporate sponsorship, and the area now goes largely unused.

These special areas are the stuff of legend for many, probably because they are off limits to all but those with corporate connections or personal invitations. Most of the throngs who would clamor for new experiences never get access to these areas of respite in the park. That doesn't stop people from embellishing the lore, though, or even from videotaping attempts at unauthorized access (not that we condone that sort of thing here at Plus the Magic... but we did uncover some footage while doing research). The attraction to these exclusive areas is understandable, especially to people who have experienced all that Epcot has to offer to the general public. Who wouldn't want to get a chance to see something off the beaten path?

The lounges mentioned so far are all in Epcot's Future World.  What about the World Showcase?

American Express used to have a VIP lounge inside The American Adventure, but their sponsorship ended and the lounge is not regularly in use. This parlor space is now used for private functions.

Another "secret" area in in World Showcase is The Norway Loft. While not a corporate lounge, it's one of the little-seen spaces that's sometimes used for private functions. A search of the Disney Events site shows some of the other areas available for the discerning event host. And now that we're on the subject...what exactly is in that hotel structure in the Canadian pavilion? I'm curious.

A private lounge overlooking Norway, my favorite World showcase pavilion? Or a secret bird's-eye view of one of my favorite attractions? I think I may have a new entry on my Disney Bucket List. I'd love to get a peek inside any of these corporate lounges or special event locations one day. If any of you Plus the Magic readers are interested in hosting a private event, or if you are eligible for entry into a corporate lounge, please do get in touch! (Hey, it never hurts to ask, right?)

So, dear readers, do you know any details about any of these secret spaces? Have you even been fortunate enough to spend any time in one of these Epcot hidden gems? Please share your story with us in the comments!

Maelstrom Celebrates 25 Years at Epcot

Oh, Maelstrom. How I love you.

Maelstrom- the "High Seas Adventure" found in Epcot's Norway Pavilion - opened 25 years ago today.

I can't exactly put my finger on why, but this attraction has always been one of my absolute favorites in all of Walt Disney World. Let's see...

Is it the quaint entranceway? The maps overlooking the queue? The epic mural (including a favorite Hidden Mickey) in the loading area?

Could it be the excitement of climbing that first hill, bound for "adventure and peril", seeing the eye, and hearing "You are not the first to pass this way..."?

Perhaps it's the ancient Vikings...or the trolls...or the polar bears? How about that open precipice- that you approach backwards- visible through the outdoor rock face, just before Epcot's only flume drop?

Maybe it's the slightly bizarre notion of dropping down the falls and being deposited next to an oil rig. Yup- a theme park attraction that features an oil rig. Where else can you find yourself in a replica Viking ship, floating in a stormy sea, in the midst of an oil field? I'm guessing this is the only place.

We've heard rumblings about a possible refurb coming to Norway, which could spell the end for the oil rig scene. Rumor has it that the oil rigs no longer send the desired message. I really hope they stay. They add to the quirky charm for me.

After the oil rig, we disembark into a quiet Norwegian fishing village, which leads into... the movie.

(Side note: Does anyone remember when they used to hold you captive in the fishing village, until the movie cycled around to its next start? So glad they stopped that practice...)

Many people glide right through the movie room, not stopping to view this cinematic offering.

I actually like the Norway movie. There, I've said it.

Sure, the movie is a bit old and outdated. But...all of the Epcot movies eventually feel old and outdated- it's the nature of this type of attraction. It's short, and it grabs my attention right from the start. I like the child peacefully looking at Viking relics, interspersed with loud, quick cutaways to intense Viking days of yore. It catches you off guard (the first time, anyway), and I think it's exciting. Did I mention it was short?

Of course, it's not just one or two of these things that makes Maelstrom so special- it's a classic case of the sum being greater than its parts.

Disney Parks Blog featured a post today, highlighting Maelstrom's 25 Years of Sending Guests "Back, Over the Falls". It includes some fun facts about the attraction. Did you know the yellow-eyed river troll is called a "Nokken"? I didn't- but I'm going to try to remember that for my next visit.

Happy Birthday, Maelstrom.


Have you ridden Maelstrom? How do you feel about it? How about that movie? Let us know in the comments...

Favorites on Friday: The Epcot Glass

I first saw the glass a few years ago in MouseGear, the shopping mecca located in Epcot's Future World. This gorgeous cobalt blue pint glass, with retro logo and a mirror-finish inside- it was calling my name. There was a whole corner of the store displaying these beauties. I had to have one, despite not having any room for it in my suitcase. I ended up carrying it in my hand on the flight home.

I returned several months later, and much to my surprise- there were now matching shot glasses! How could I pass that up? I started chatting with a Cast Member stocking the shelf. He told me that there are technically no shot glasses at WDW- they're officially called "tiny glasses", a term which supposedly has a more family-friendly ring to it. True? I'm not sure...but I like that tiny glass moniker.

I considered buying more of the pint glasses- why not go for a whole set? I'm a firm believer in having back-ups of favorite items, especially when they're breakable items. But one thing led to another on that trip, and before I knew it, I was returning home- no pint glasses secured. At least I had my new tiny glass.

I then found myself in the unbelievably lucky position of having to attend a work conference in Orlando just a short time later. I extended the trip by a few days- of course- so I could return to the parks. This time I was prepared! I used a larger suitcase, and made sure I had plenty of room. I was on a mission! I headed straight to MouseGear. Straight to my cobalt corner.

But wait a minute- hang on- what were all those tropical colors I saw up ahead? What's with all the floral? Where's my cobalt??

A new design scheme had taken over. Reds, pinks, and oranges were everywhere. Characters had taken the place of Epcot logos on the merchandise. No, they didn't have them displayed elsewhere. No, they didn't have any remnants "in the back".

My retro Epcot cobalt ship had sailed.

Consider this a Public Service Announcement:

Do not wait to buy something you really want. It may not be there when you return! Take heed of the moral of this story: if you like it- get it! Don't wait! You never know when something might be gone for good...

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How about you? Have you ever waited too long for a special item, only to be disappointed later? Did you learn your lesson? Do you have a favorite glass from WDW? Tell us in the comments...

Wordless Wednesday: Disney Dads

This week's theme on the Wordless Wednesday Disney Blog Hop:
Disney Dads

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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting 
the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links, and remember to share some comment love...

Do I Hear runDisney Calling my Name?

I just completed my first race- not a runDisney race, but a local 5K with the Girls on the Run program. Ten weeks ago, I had never run so much as a city block. My daughter was in the GOTR program, and I found myself with some time on my hands and in need of a challenge. I hopped into a 10 week training schedule, and despite wanting to give up after the first week, I stuck it out. I'm thrilled to say I completed the race today, running along side two of my favorite people- my daughter and my best friend.

I had two little bits of Disney magic accompanying me for good luck:

The Hidden Mickey sneaker (for obvious reasons), along with one of my favorite pins: the Maelstrom FASTPASS. There were a few relevant reasons for the Maelstrom pin. First, the FASTPASS  reference- to help me go fast. Next, Maelstrom is in Norway, my favorite World Showcase pavilion. This pavilion is also home to the beautiful statue of Norwegian Grete Waitz, an Olympian and runner who won nine NYC marathons- more than any other runner in history. And finally, because...Maelstrom. Maelstrom just rocks.

Is there a runDisney race in my future? I think I might hear them calling my name....

Wordless Wednesday: The Letter K

Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop...

This week's theme: The Letter K

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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting 
the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links, and remember to share some comment love...

Wordless Wednesday: May Calendar Shot

Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop...

This week's theme: May Calendar Shot

May 2010...this is when she fell in love with WDW.

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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped  over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links, and remember to share some comment love...

Favorites on Friday: Souvenirs

From time to time on Fridays, we feature various favorites from Disney Parks- favorite foods, favorite attractions, favorite spots, and more. This time, we're talking souvenirs...

Do you have favorite souvenir, something you get each time you go on vacation? For some it's a t-shirt, or maybe a new set of Mickey ears. Others swear by the snow globe, or maybe a keychain.

For my favorite souvenir, we once again visit the Japanese pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase. This is the second visit back to Japan for Favorites on Friday, the first being the scrumptious Okonomiyaki.

Some of the best shopping in Epcot can be found in the Japanese pavilion. Mitsukoshi Department Store is home to one of the most varied arrays of souvenirs found anywhere. From Hello Kitty to traditional Japanese calligraphy brushes, fine jewelry to anime hair clips, authentic kimonos to books and toys- it can all be found in this spacious shop, stretching the length of the pavilion. A Pick-a-Pearl station is found near the front of the store, and the far end houses an assortment of packaged Japanese snacks and candy that I can only describe as... well, indescribable.

Just before you get to the snacks, you’ll find a room full of the souvenir I can never pass up: ceramic sushi bowls. Bowls and plates in all shapes and sizes, all colors and patterns, each one a beautiful piece of art. The bowls range in price, but most are from $4.00 to $9.00 each. At least a few of these come home with me, every time… 

Have you ever visited Mitsukoshi? Do you have a favorite WDW souvenir? 

Tell us about it in the comments...

Wordless Wednesday: The Letter J

Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop...

This week's theme: The letter J

Have you visited the Joy of Tea stand in Epcot's World Showcase? 
Have you sampled their signature drink, "Tipsy Ducks in Love"?

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Thanks to Deb @ Focused on the Magic  for hosting the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! 

If you hopped  over, I invite you to check out my other posts, and please consider joining the blog or following on twitter.

Check out all the other Wordless Wednesday links, and remember to share some comment love...

Hats, revisited...

The hats kept calling me back! I had to do a follow up on this recent Wordless Wednesday post on hats. I didn't want to let them remain wordless, because each of these has a special Disney memory to go along with it.

Starting clockwise from the upper left, that's me back in 1977. I first featured this, and two other of these old style beautiful hats here, for a Wordless Wednesday history theme. This shot was taken during my first trip to Disney World. Le Chapeau, the hat shop on Main Street, used to be filled with these fancy creations. I'm not sure if they always had them, or if it was just for a short period of time. Someone recently suggested they may have been there for a year or so after the bicentennial celebration, but that's just a theory. I haven't been able to find much info on these, so if you know anything, please share! I don't look very happy in this photo, because I found out just moments before the photo was taken that I was only modeling the hat, and I was not in fact getting this as a souvenir. In hindsight, I can understand how impractical (and expensive, no doubt) it would have been to purchase the hat- but at the time, I was crushed. It would be decades before I'd return to the Magic Kingdom, and Le Chapeau was my first stop when I finally made it back. I sunk a tiny bit when I strode inside, only to find baseball hats and Mickey ears- no fancy hats to be found anywhere.



The hat in the upper right is a cloche hat, which I got at Disneyland. I've always loved this style of hat, popular in the 1920s, and they were not yet back in style or readily available at the time I found this one. They've since become ubiquitous, and similar hats can easily be found in a variety of clothing stores and shopping mall accessory shops. This one, however, will always be special to me...because it came from Disneyland.








Next is a baseball hat, also from Disneyland. I was fortunate to visit Anaheim for a work conference several years back, and of course I extended my trip a bit so I could visit the parks. I forgot about the California sunshine when I packed my bag in the cold, gray north east, so I needed something to shade me from the sun. I've always loved that Disneyland font, so when I spotted this "D" on Main street, I scooped it up. This remains one of my favorite go-to hats; perfect size, perfect shape, perfect softness.





Ah, Epcot. My home away from home, my favorite place in all of WDW. I fell in love with the 30th anniversary logo and color scheme, and wanted to get my hands on anything I could when the merchandise was released in October 2012. I was not able to visit the parks at that time, and items went quickly! Thanks to a very special family member, I found this under the tree at Christmas a few months after the 30th celebration.







And that brings us to the hat in the middle of the collage- my daughter's first set of ears. We agreed to purchase whatever ears she wanted during her first visit. She had done some reading about Walt, and she was drawn to his famous quote that went something like, "I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing- it all started with a mouse..."

When she found a set featuring that quote, she knew she had found her ears!

Do you have a favorite Disney hat? Tell us about it in the comments...