Fans of Epcot American Adventure attraction?

[gk90]

DH was just reading James Loewen's book on American history, Lies My Teacher Told Me, and found these lines:
"Disney World presents an exhibit called "American Adventure," a twenty-nine-minute history of the United States. The exhibit completely leaves out the Vietnam War, the ghetto riots of the 1960's and 1990's, and anything else troubling about the recent past." (p. 247)

I can see the Imagineers not wanting to include the ghetto riots (no-brainer there) but I could swear I saw as part of the photo montage a shot of 60s kids with peace signs and/or anti-war signs? Anyone remember it?

I looked up the description of the attraction on the Allears site http://allearsnet.com/tp/ep/e_adv.htm and it says that Bob Dylan is included in the photo montage at the end of the show--maybe that's what I was thinking of?

On a funny note, DS7 told me a few days ago that Albert Einstein didn't agree with Susan B. ANthony. After trying to figure out what he meant it turned out that he thought that Mark Twain in American Adventure was Einstein!

 

[ricktib]

There is definitely a reference to the Vietnam era, but ghetto riots?!?

 

[Prissymouse]

The only thing I remember about it was the fact that my ds and dh said it was the most boring thing they had ever seen...

And they like history...Sad so sad...

 

[bigbandsound]

See the current finale montage for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3802ZBOAKb4

It's a dimly lit recording, but I can make out these: At +1:30, there is a speech by Martin Luther King and images of a civil rights march. Then at 2:18 there are images of soldiers in Vietnam followed by an image of the Vietnam War Memorial.

There may have been additional images before the 2007 update of the finale.

 

[DznyDreams]

The only thing I remember about it was the fact that my ds and dh said it was the most boring thing they had ever seen...

And they like history...Sad so sad...

My DH and DD refer to this as their "napping place."

I, of course, always act offended by this since I LOVE AA!! I don't really know why I love it so much, but I'm sure it has something to do with singing the theme in a HS choir concert in 1986 in rural east Texas. My choir teacher was so passionate about her EPCOT visit in 1985, and her viewing of the AA, that she hunted down the choral arrangement immediately upon her return home. I was hooked after hearing her describe what it meant to her.

 

[Tomh]

^ It's amazing sometimes the impact that teachers have on us!

 

[RMulieri]

I love this attraction.Does it Disney-fi history ...yes , Does it gloss over darker aspects of history...yes.But is Disney really where we need to bring it all up? Every country on the planet has a dark history.History is what happens when human nature takes over.It is not always pretty and often dirty.I think what the attraction does a good job at portraying is the American Spirit..If I wanted a true History lesson, I would crack open a book.Just my opinion though

 

[kaybird]

Most all of Epcot was designed to look pre-WW2. Classic buildings, etc. The idea that a comprehensive history of the US could be given in 29 minutes is pretty amusing. Apparently the textbook author was shooting for a cliffnotes version, something less moving but not to leave anything out?

 

[Disneyonmymind]

I love this attraction.Does it Disney-fi history ...yes , Does it gloss over darker aspects of history...yes.But is Disney really where we need to bring it all up? Every country on the planet has a dark history.History is what happens when human nature takes over.It is not always pretty and often dirty.I think what the attraction does a good job at portraying is the American Spirit..If I wanted a true History lesson, I would crack open a book.Just my opinion though

I can't even imagine going from country to country around the WS, and reviewing the "dark history" details from all around the world. Wouldn't that be a fun experience?

 

[madthemouse]

What should they have at the American Pavilion? Another ride? IMO, I don't believe so. There is enough of that in the place called WDW.

If I'm not mistaken, this (WDW) is the place to check reality at the door. Which for me it means to have fun, and I do.

Do I like the American Adventure? You bet I do. It teaches us, a little bit of our past. With the emphasis on (LIttle Bit). This is Disney World. Do you think that Mark Twain and Ben Franklin got together to shoot the breeze?

Diney does it's best to offer us a little something of our past. And for some, they find this boring. Just keep in mind, that you're suppose to have fun at WDW. As said in an ealier post, if you want to learn about our history, and I think every American should, ther are many books one could read.

If someone find's the American Adventure to be, boring, inaccurate, not thrilling or just not their cup of tea. I'm very certain that they would be able to find something at WDW that is of interest, thrilling, exciting and fun for them and their family.

 

[Jalva22]

I can't even imagine going from country to country around the WS, and reviewing the "dark history" details from all around the world. Wouldn't that be a fun experience?

I agree!

I love AA! It, like the rest of Epcot, is meant to be inspiring about human achievements and the possibilities of the future. As such, it does indeed portray achievements toward greater social justice. Note that present in it are Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King Jr. But its goal is to inspire us, not to trouble us. There is a role for both approaches, but also a time and place. A family vacation in Disney World and Epcot is the time and place to inspire, not to trouble. Note some of my favorite quotes in my signature. This is Disney's vision. They have nothing to apologize for if it doesn't square with the vision of a particular popular historian.

 

[kaytieeldr]

This is Disney World. Do you think that Mark Twain and Ben Franklin got together to shoot the breeze?

It depends - did either or both believe in ghosts?

Interesting, isn't it - that the author of the book in the original post has issues with the lack of current history at the American Adventure, but has no trouble believing that two men whose lives didn't overlap, and who were not alive when much of what's presented in AA happened, can [audioanimatronically] host and discuss a presentation of the country's history...

 

[Robo]

No need to EXPLAIN or justify anything.

There's a way to silence most critics.

How?

You simply invoke the magical phrase that always gives carte blanche
to the presentation of illogical situations and factual inaccuracies
(and even material that many would find distasteful or offensive.)








"It's ART."




(And, BTW, I personally love the AA show. Always have.)

 

[paladin]

American Adventure is one of my favorite attractions. Of course it doesn't include everything in our history - this is Disney World, after all.

 

[paladin]

oops! duplicate post, sorry about that

 

[TikiGoddess]

Love AA!! I always get goosebumps during the finale song. I personally believe it did a great job in giving a slice of America down through the years. Yes it is whitewashed...I don't really understand why everyone thinks that's so dishonest. In Hall of Presidents you don't see an animatronic Monica Lewinsky all snuggled up to Bill and W doesn't fumble his words.

Epcot also shows a film about environmentalism in the Land building, however, you don't see them questioning the audience as to whether or not they use paper or plastic at the grocery store.

At AK they serve meat....guess what.. It's DISNEY!

I actually learned a few things at AA and frankly I'm proud of America, yeah we screw up now and then, but to me it beats the alternative.

 

[sunny04]

It does include several "dark" periods in American history, but no not all. Have you seen the videos in the other countries? They only tell the beautful wonderful things that make you want to visit. Ours at least has some historical basis to it. I don't think the civil war is a nice, happy part of our history, nor race issues, or the Revolutionary War, or the people dying in the winter when they first arrived in America....I mean, I would say it's filled with quite a lot of negative aspects of our country. The point to it, IMO, is that we overcome those things, and use them to improve our country. The entire show shows the progress of our country as we learned from these events. You cannot include an entire history of a country in one 30 minute show. They recently updated it to include more recent events, such as 911 that were not in it originally.

 

[gk90]

See the current finale montage for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3802ZBOAKb4

It's a dimly lit recording, but I can make out these: At +1:30, there is a speech by Martin Luther King and images of a civil rights march. Then at 2:18 there are images of soldiers in Vietnam followed by an image of the Vietnam War Memorial.

There may have been additional images before the 2007 update of the finale.

Thanks! It was great to hear that song again--it got me all teary-eyed. I knew that I'd seen references to Vietnam in "American Adventure."
I'm not sure whether everyone got my original post right. I wasn't agreeing with Loewen's views in any way, in fact I'm glad to see that he was wrong! He has some interesting ideas but tends to exaggerate for effect, as he obviously did in his description of "American Adventure".

 

[OKW Lover]

Well apparently the book's author didn't bother to actually experience AA. It covers the challenges that the country faced throughout its life. There are lots of scenes about things like slavery, war, depression and oppression. The point is how the country met and dealt with adversity.

 

[ChrisFL]

Well apparently the book's author didn't bother to actually experience AA. It covers the challenges that the country faced throughout its life. There are lots of scenes about things like slavery, war, depression and oppression. The point is how the country met and dealt with adversity.

Agreed, I fail to see how the "2 brothers" scene could be considered "Disney-fied" or lacking "darkness" in the least....

Actually, every time I see it, I'm still surprised that Disney even decided to show it, but it is historical and does paint a picture of the turmoil of that era.

I've always been a fan of AA, these days I think it's one of the overlooked, yet still one of the top quality shows that Disney has ever produced.