"Living with the Land" Lab Research?

[klj27]

I really enjoy "Living with the Land". My first trip to Epcot was in about 1984 and I have been oodles of time since. To this day, they still make it sound like they do all kinds of plant research that is for the betterment of the human race. However, not once have I actually seen anyone in the lab at the end or anywhere in between doing what appears to be anything other than routine maintenence. I want to think that they are doing cutting edge research, but I am admittedly doubtful.

Do the researchers go into hiding when they hear I am coming - or are the labs just there for appearance?

Either way, I'm still going to love the ride!

 

[deej696]

While I am sure that there is some sort of "research" going on at the Land, I have always assumed that the labs that we see in the ride are basically just part of the show, and arent really used. I have never taken the behind the scenes tour to see what else there is besides what we see on the ride, but my guess is that if there is any research going on, its probably more behind the scenes....

 

[Haley]

Yes, they do research. If you take the Behind the Seeds tour you go backstage and see some of what they are working on. I know they work on using natural ways of controlling pests in the parks (like ladybugs). I think they also do research with NASA with plants that grow without soil/hydroponics.

On Behind the Seeds they did introduce us to a scientist who was working backstage.

 

[SammieG]

i have seen people working in there in white coats

 

[chief19spixi]

I just love living with the land!! It is just amazing!!

 

[Mariposa]

I have seen people in there working with the plants while on the ride, as well as on the tour. Very cool stuff!

 

[Schminston-Mo]

We took the Behind the Seeds tour on our last trip and our guide did indicate that she had been involved in research as part of her internship (How cutting edge, I don't know). I do recall asking her if they had any "miserable failure" projects and she mentioned that she thought that they had tried to start a vinyard of sorts and just couldn't get it to work.

BTW I also loved The Land ride and even the kids enjoyed the tour.

 

[klj27]

Thanks for the info! It's good to know that they really are doing "real" work, as oppossed to just entertainment.

 

[firecracker]

...if some of their work is more off-site. When we were travelling on the Western Way this week, we saw alot of banana trees and other vegetation growing near Disney greenhouses, etc. ???

 

[deej696]

...if some of their work is more off-site. When we were travelling on the Western Way this week, we saw alot of banana trees and other vegetation growing near Disney greenhouses, etc. ???

I think a lot of that area is used a) as a staging area for vegetation in the actual parks, and b) to disguise the waste treatment plant that is located off of Western Way. I've been curious how they are supposedly going to transform this area into a resort area in the near future....