Birt Family Focus

Epcot World Showcase, American Adventure -- 9/3/02

As promised, the focus is today and is on the American Adventure Pavilion.

Now maybe I'm a bit biased but I just love this place. There is more to see here than in the other pavilions, probably because of the outdoor theatre space that is located here. The American Gardens theater is host to a multitude of performances and one would be hard put to NOT be entertained by the offerings here. My favorites are always in the spring time during the Flower and Garden Festival. There is a concert series during this time featuring old bands from the 60's and early 70's called the Flower Power Concert Series. I have seen Davy Jones, Arlo Guthrie, and Paul Revere and the Raiders for the price of my Epcot admission! During Christmas the speakers at the Candlelight Processional perform here. For a schedule of who's playing when, check out Steve Soare's site at http:/pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/amgard.htm.

The American Adventure is in the center of World Showcase, anchoring the whole area. When looking across the lagoon from Future World, one can see a building that looks like Monticello, Independence Hall, and something from Colonial Williamsburg all rolled into one. This is, of course, on purpose. All the bricks used in this building are handmade from Goergian clay and dyed and aged to look authentic to the periods represented. The roof is actually the slate it appears to be and the floors are marble and copper. No faux finishes here!

Thoughout the downstairs area of the pavilion are portraits and framed quotations from such American notables and icons as Walt Disney, Althea Gibson, Herman Melville, Ayn Rand, and more. I spent over an hour just strolling about and reading these. While waiting for the show to begin, there is entertainment in the form of various singing groups in the lobby. The most famous is probably the "Voices of Liberty" which sing beautiful patriotic songs a cappela.

Once it is show time, one proceeds up a stair case or the escalators. There is an elevator for the wheelchair bound, but take the stairs or escalator if at all possible. Here one will see the Hall of Flags. There are 44 flags on display in all and each has flown over the Unitied States at one time or another. There are flags from the Revolutionary War, Colonial times and from various countries that had claims on our land at one time or another. Currently on display for a limited time is a flag that was flying at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. It is there for a limited time only, though.

Once in the theater, take any seat. They are all good because the stage and screen area in 72 feet wide. Notice the statuary on either side of the screen area? These are called the "Spirits of America". They are named Individualism, Innovation, Tomorrow, Independence, Compassion, Discovery, Freedom, Heritage, Pioneering, Knowledge, Self-reliance, and Adventure.

The show is 30 minutes long and has some of the best yet Disney Animatronics. Your hosts are Ben Franklin and Mark Twain. As it is impossible to tell the story of the United States in 30 minutes, only the highlights are hit. The very last segment is a film montage of notables from recent history. If it doesn't bring a tear to your eye, then you must have fallen asleep (as tiring as WDW can be on one, it IS easy to fall asleep during a 30 minute show, even a good one!).

Outside the is great streetmosphere in the form of a fife and drum corp. There is a turkey leg booth and a fast food establishment with burgers and such. My only complaint about this Pavilion is that it does not house a sit-down restaurant. It could have had one that showcased regional specialties from the USA and I think it would have been very popular with our foreign visitors as well as us Yanks. Every region has its own specialties- Salmon from the Pacific northwest, Creole dishes from New Orleans, Fried Chicken and corn bread from the South, Cheese Steaks from Philly, etc. I don't think it would have been difficult to develop a menu distinctly different enough from the other restaurants to be viable, but that's just one opinion, I suppose.

There is, of course, a small gift shop with every possible red, white and blue item imaginable available. Just because we are Americans, don't pass this by with the idea that they can't show you something you haven't already seen. Spend some time here and don't miss the show- and bring a hanky.

Next week we visit Italy-