Birt Family Focus

EPCOT Future World -- 7/23/02

This is the last essay on the Future World segment of Epcot. There are 5 wonderful little things that I want to bring to your attention. I hope you will take the time to see them all.

1- the Jammitors. This is a "streetmosphere" group of musicians and dancers that make percussion music with all sorts of things while dancing to the beat, much like Stomp used to do (I guess they still do but I haven't seen much of them lately). They are high energy and great fun to watch. They dress like janitors and jam- Jammitors. I hope they are still there- they were the last time I was in Epcot.

2- the talking trash can at the Electric Umbrella. Unlike the one that walks around at MK, this one is stationary and says thankyou when you "feed" him. He also burps. He is cute and littles are fascinated by him. Try all the trash cans- they move him around from time to time.

3-Ice Station Cool- this is the place to go when you are hot and there are too many people hogging the misters! In the entrance tunnel you can throw actual snowballs (ok- more like slush balls) at each other! There is an excavation of an Ice Age man who just happens to be holding a Coke. This attraction is sponsored by- suprize! Coca Cola! Inside there are numerous drink machines with flavors of coca cola products sold all over the world. There are lots of interesting and unusual flavore- but nothing sold in America. My favorite is the watermelon flavored drink from Japan. Try the Beverly from Italy - it's um.....tasty....yeah, that's the ticket, TASTY! This is located between the fountain and the Fountain View Cafe'.

4-I was hard put to decide whether this or my next subject would be last. Since I do this mostly during the day, and my next subject can only be done at night, I chose to make this second to last- but it is just as great. We have all seen the big fountain in the Future World courtyard between the Innoventions west and east. But have you seen it dance? That's right- this fountain gives a choreographed performance several times a day. It is a thing of beauty to watch. The fountains are pretty enough by themselves, but set to music they are simply lovely. It is interesting to people watch during the performances- folks gather round the fountain and just look up- silently. It's quite tranquil. At night, the fountain is lighted and even more beautiful to watch. Once last week, I was watching the Travel channel and this woman was telling everyone how neat this dancing fountain was at this ritzy hotel in Las Vegas. It is brand new (well, not very old anyway). I just laughed, this fountain has danced since Epcot opened- Vegas has nothing on our WDW!

5- Last and best is the sidewalk outsite of Innoventions East. You will notice a smallish, square seating area just outside of the exit doors with concrete benches. At first it looks like any other place to sit and have a rest. But wait until night fall. In fact, get a cup of hot chocolate from the Fountain View and settle in to watch. During the day, that concrete walk looks like any old slab. It looks pockmarked and worn from the thousands upon thousands of feet walking across it daily. Yet as the sun sets, you will notice a small glow. As it gets darker, those pockmarks become little multicolored fairy lights that have a decided pattern. In fact, there are several patterns. The lights chase and blink on and off, then there are those that simply glow. The patterns are exquisite. The best part is yet to come. As parents with cranky toddlers come out that exit door, whining and crying turns immediatly into oohs and coos and the children become enchanted with the fairy's dancing on the ground. They MUST get down and touch them. They extend chubby little fingers to touch the places where the lights glow. They clap little hands in delight at the patterns. They laugh and run and try to capture the lights as they flash in their exotic, entrancing, electric dances. I sit here for hours sometimes when the park is closing and my family and I are waiting for the crowds to thin before we head to our car. It is almost as fun as the kiss goodnight. Almost. Don't miss it.

Next week we begin the World Showcase!