Random Thread & the *insert topic here*

[AmandaSparks730]

INTERESTING FACTS

Morocco is the only country in World Showcase sponsored by the government and not a corporation.

The Islamic religion prohibits artistic depiction of live objects; therefore, Moslem artists have developed a unique style of abstract design. Rather than plants, animals and people often found in Western art, Islamic decoration consists of detailed geometric patters represented in the tile walls and carved plaster of the buildings.

The prayer tower, at the entrance of the pavilion, is a detailed replica of the Katoubia Minaret that stands in Marrakesh.

The buildings have great religious significance and so lights from the IllumiNations celebration are not on the Moroccan pavilion buildings.


The Bab Boujouloud gate (see photo), which divides the ville nouvelle (new city) and Medina (old city) is modeled after a gateway in the city of Fez.

The King of Morocco sent his royal craftsmen to lay all the tile work, carvings and paintings in the pavilion.

There is an ancient working waterwheel that irrigates the gardens of the pavilion.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTRODUCTION

The history of the United Kingdom is depicted through the architectural styles ranging from 1500 to 1800. The buildings represented are Victorian, London, Yorkshire Manor, Tudor, Georgian, Hyde Park, Regency and even a Shakespearean cottage design.



ATTRACTIONS



The shops and pub are the featured attractions in the United Kingdom.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTERESTING FACTS

The crests of the United Kingdom's four major schools (Oxford, Cambridge, Eton, and Edinburgh) can be seen in the upstairs window of The Queen's Table.

Changes in garden style enhance the changes in architecture throughout the United Kingdom. Landscaping styles include rural England, an open square park reminiscent of Hyde Park, and a maze fashioned after the Somerleyton Hall Maze built in 1846 in England.

If you look up in some of the shops you'll get an extra treat. In the Crown & Crest shop, for instance, you'll note several suits of armor, as well as shields, swords and a huge wrought-iron chandelier. Some of the other shops have an upstairs with little historical vignettes set up that you can visit -- Just look for the staircase or ask a Cast Member!


The Tea Caddy structure is representative of the 1500's architecture style - Anne Hathaway cottage near the perennial and herb garden.

The Cantalier Buildings, next to the Toy Soldier, represent the 1600s. If you look at the second story of the building, you will see how it comes out over the street level. In the 1600s, taxes were based on ground floor space. Creative folks built structures with larger second floors that would not be taxed.

Mini Hyde Park - the 1700s buildings were more plaster and wood. In the 1800s the buildings became stone in the Georgian Style.

There are 2 replicas of Castles: King Henry's Court and Sir Walter Scott.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTRODUCTION

Experience the diverse culture and unspoiled wilderness of our neighbors to the north. Turning right as you exit Future World to begin your tour of World Showcase you will enter the Canada Pavilion which showcases the Rockies, Furriers and Trappers and Indians. The landmark you will see is Hotel du Canada, patterned after the French Gothic design of the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. Beautiful gardens, the Rocky Mountains, and a refreshing 30 foot waterfall are all part of the landscape of Canada!

The Canadian pavilion represents a variety of the cultures you would find when visiting, including Native Indian villages, a French-flavored chateau and the Scottish influence of the Maritimes.

There is a lot to enjoy at the Canada Pavilion including the beautiful Victoria Gardens, the Rocky Mountain Waterfalls and the Totem poles.

The landscaping also represents a variety of themes: evergreen and deciduous plants create a northern theme, elaborate floral displays are part of the Victoria Gardens and the plantings in the rock work form the backdrop for the area.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

ATTRACTIONS

An updated "O Canada!" film in the Canada pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase debuted in September 2007. The 14-minute motion picture, presented in CircleVision 360, includes new scenes highlighting Canada's natural beauty, cities and diverse populace, and is hosted by Canadian actor Martin Short.

Walt Disney Imagineers collaborated with the Canadian Tourism Commission to update the film, which now includes new orchestration and images, and Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila singing the music of "O Canada!" The film will include the nation's capital, Ottawa, with its Parliament buildings and Rideau Canal; Toronto, with its nightlife and film festivals; and Quebec City, the cradle of French civilization in Canada. Also mentioned: the not-so-famous but artfully named small towns of Moose Jaw and Medicine Hat. The people of Canada are featured in outdoor activities including skiing, whitewater rafting and hockey.

The movie opens in 360 degrees of swirling snow, with a voice over announcer stating "fact" about Canada, such as it snows 24/7, most Canadians live in Igloos, and things of that nature. Then through the swirling snow appears Martin Short, who sets the announcer straight about Canada. The film then moves to a daytime scene of Niagara Falls (the Canadian side, obviously). From there it moves westward, with stops at various cities, including Toronto, Vancouver, the Canadian Rockies, the Enchanted Forest, back towards Quebec, Montreal, and interspersed with scenes from the old O Canada movie. The new movie then segues into the theme song Canada (You're a Lifetime Journey), which is sung by Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila, and it features a montage of scenes from around Canada. After the theme song, the screen goes back to Short, who does a brief outro. The film seems much crisper than the previous edition, and was a pleasant way to learn about Canada. There are some very nice shots of the various locations, and the circlevision is very well done.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTERESTING FACTS

A crew of eight people spent more than two years researching, photographing, and editing the film, O Canada! The filming encompassed all the Canadian provinces during all four seasons of the year.

The Victoria gardens were inspired by the famous Butchart Gardens near Victoria, British Columbia. A stand of maple trees has been planted adjacent to the gardens in honor of the country's national symbol.

Many young people from Canada work in the pavilion and help to explain their country to the world. Those included are students participating in the World Fellowship Program who study management and the hospitality industry under the direction of Disney professionals. These and others brought to Walt Disney World Resort through a unique cultural program are replaced by a new group of "ambassadors" each year.

The filming device used to create that "you are there" feeling in the O Canada movie includes a special five foot tall, 400 pound camera rig, comprising 9 different 35mm cameras, arranged around a tubular shaft containing the motor that drives the mechanisms for all the cameras. It is also used in the Magic Kingdom's Time Keeper attraction.

The Rocky Mountains section was created using Forced Perspective. The plants at the bottom are much bigger than the ones at the top, in fact, the higher you go, the smaller the plants. This makes the Rockies look larger and taller than they really are.

How do you show a Canadian winter in Florida? Disney horticulturists plant all white flowers during winter months to give the appearance of snow on the ground. As spring approaches, white flowers remain in shaded areas (to look like lingering snow) and are replaced in the central areas with colors.

Originally a cafeteria style restaurant, Le Cellier became a Steakhouse in July of 1997.

"O Canada" was the 17-minute CircleVision 360 film that provides you with breathtaking views of the countryside. There are more than 50 scenes of people, places and events in the movie including: Gulf Island British Columbia, Calgary Stampede, a toboggan run in Quebec City, Changing of the Guard at Parliament, Fife and Drums in Ontario, the Vancouver harbor and much much more. While the film is outdated in places, it still makes for a wonderful show! Click here for a listing of all 56 scenes. Shows are approximately every 20 minutes. The movie was replaced in September 2007.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTRODUCTION
As you leave the United Kingdom, cross over the English Channel (known in Epcot as the International Gateway Bridge) into France. The Showcase reflects France from 1870-1910, a period known as La Belle Epoque, the beautiful time. Here you will find a book shop, art, a perfume shop, theater, a sidewalk cafe, restaurant, and the busy garden marketplace of Paris.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

ATTRACTIONS

Impressions de France - The Palais du Cinema is the home of the 200 degree airborne French travelogue set to classical music. The score of Impressions de France was recorded in London by the National Philharmonic. It was the first motion picture to have its soundtracks recorded digitally and then to be taken digitally through every step of editing, mixing and dubbing. The movie is approximately 18 minutes long.

Scenes from Impressions de France include Normandy, Loire Valley, Cognac, Cannes, Paris, and many more.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTERESTING FACTS

The park bordering the canal along the right side of the pavilion was inspired by the famous painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" by pointillist artist Georges Seurat.

The landscape here has a single objective: to reflect an urban ambiance, particularly springtime in Paris. Street trees along the central boulevard are positioned and pruned to enhance the illusion of distance. Planters in this area reveal pastel mixes of flowers, lending an impressionistic flavor and reinforcing the theme.

The Eiffel Tower is an example of Forced Perspective. The one-tenth replica of the Eiffel Tower was constructed using Gustav Eiffel's original blueprints. If you looked at the Eiffel Tower today as it stands in Paris, it would have similar coloring to the Statue of Liberty in New York. However, here in Epcot, the Eiffel Tower is more tan and pinkish. The reason is the France Pavilion here represents the late 1800s and the Eiffel Tower is the same color it would have been then.

Epcot's France pavilion celebrated the opening of its redesigned La Signature shop on July 26, 2007 with a ceremony attended by executives of the perfumer Guerlain, Inc. La Signature has been remodeled as a Haute Perfumery patterned after the original La Maison Guerlain flagship boutique on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. As a Haute Perfumery, La Signature carries exclusive and limited-edition specialty fragrances for men and women, including the new L'Art et la Matière collection and the vintage Les Parisiennes collection.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Introduction

Inspired by the Disney Channel's Emmy Award winning animated series, Kim Possible, a World Showcase Adventure awaits you!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

World Showcase Adventure

Follow the signs and meet Kim Possible agents who will explain your challenge. Once you are ready, swipe your park admissions ticket and receive a Kim Possible "Fast Pass"! This FastPass will tell you where and when to report for your mission!

Once at the designated location, you will receive your Kimmunicator, a GPS cell phone with special enhancements.

The Kimmunicator is a really neat device that speaks your instructions to you while displaying animated characters on the device screen. You’re instructed to go find clues in certain locations. Once your mission is completed, your Kimmunicator will tell you where to return your device.

Each mission lasts about half a hour.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Touring Tips

Designed for all ages -- kids, adults, and seniors! This is a great solo or group activity!

There are seven different adventures that can be started at any of five different locations in World Showcase. You will need to return your Kimmunicator after each adventure.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Kim Possible
World Showcase Adventure
Epcot

 

[AmandaSparks730]

"Good evening, and welcome.

We've gathered here tonight, around the fire,

as people of all lands have gathered for thousands and thousands
of years before us,

to share the light and to share a story

an amazing story, as old as time itself

but still being written.

And though we each of us have our own individual stories to tell

a true adventure emerges when we bring them all together as one.

I hope you enjoy our story tonight --

Reflections of Earth."

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Disney's Millennium Celebration debuted the evening show at Epcot called IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth. It was so popular, that it's been extended indefinitely.

Fast Facts

A 13-minute night-time spectacular on and above World Showcase Lagoon.

Earth Globe is the world's first spherical video display system, wrapped in 15,000 LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes).


1,105 shells are used for each show; 34 firing positions. Shells come from China, Italy, U.S. and Japan.

Shell types: comets, candles, mines, shells, tailed shells, crossettes, scattering bees, whistles, reports/salutes, ground effects, floaters.

Four fountain barges each pumping 4,000 gallons of water per minute.

A 150,000-pound inferno barge uses 37 nozzles to shoot propane flames skyward.

A full color spectrum of lasers, including four custom Disney colors (lagoon blue, mint green, pumpkin orange and lavender).


Walls of flames and a giant torch climb 40 feet above World Showcase Lagoon.

Managing producer John Haupt, show director Don Dorsey, symphonic score composed by Gavin Greenaway.

 

[DisneyRockstar]

I had four biscuts..

Then I ate one..

Then I only had three!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

The Disney Imagineers are masters -- taking a few simple elements such as light, water and sound and creating one of the most beautiful "attractions" -- the Innovention Fountains located in Innoventions Plaza in Epcot's Future World.

The elaborate display is based on a 180 x 120 foot oval. "Computer-controlled pumps send 30,000 gallons of water cascading down its tiered walls per minute." Over 108,000 gallons of water swirl throughout the fountain.

The magical fountains have been part of Epcot since opening day. In fact, as a symbolic gesture of international cooperation and understanding, representatives from 22 countries each poured a gallon of water from their homeland into the fountain.

Guests can often be found mesmerized by the dancing fountains and accompanying music, the combination of which can sooth frayed nerves especially after a long day at the park. One of the best places to enjoy the show is sitting in the outdoor cafe of the Fountainview Espresso Bar.

The original fountains were refurbished in 1993 -- with 304 nozzles and "shooter" that can propel water over 150 feet in the air. It took 3 months of computer programing to design the water ballets that run every 15 minutes. At night, the fountains take on another dimension as 1,068 colored lights focus on the streams of water.

To the delight of the young and young at heart, the combination of water and sunlight can provide a beautiful rainbow......

During the month of December, when all of the *World* has been transformed by thousands of holiday decorations, the fountain also take on a new dimension. The music changes to holiday music and the fountains are now in perfect harmony with the Lights of Winter Archway.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Innoventions Fountain Facts


212 Micro Shooters® located in the upper pool; each propels 2 gallons of water up to 80 feet in the air.

40 MiniShooters® located in the lower pool; each propels 5 gallons of water up to 100 feet in the air.

12 SuperShooters® located in the upper pool; each propels 50 gallons of water up to 150 feet in the air.

60 Spray nozzles

Air accumulators for the SuperShooters® activates with pressures of 30 PSI to 120 PSI.

190,000 feet (35 miles) of electrical wire and 22,000 feet (4 miles) of conduit.

If all of the shooters triggered simultaneously, there would be 2,000 gallons of water in the air.
Note that Shooter®, MicroShooter®, MiniShooter®, SuperShooter® are registered trademarks of WET Design.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Innovention Fountain Musical Selections

The selections played for the water ballets are rotated every quarter hour in no specific order. People always inquire about purchasing the sound track for the regular and holiday shows, but none have been produced. Music List for Innoventions Fountain Regular Season Shows:


Selection from Disney's animated feature "Rescuers Down Under" (Soundtrack not currently available for retail sale; although you may be able to find the cassette, 2/97; video off the market 4/93)

Instrumental from the "Air Battle" sequence from Surprise in the Skies, a former daytime lagoon show at Epcot (Soundtrack never produced for retail sale)

Selection for a proposed Epcot show "Around the World with Mickey Mouse" (Soundtrack never produced for retail sale)

Selection from the Disney live-action feature film The Rocketeer (Soundtrack may be available on CD - Try Best Buy, 2/97)

"Day One" by John Tesh (Song is available on the Tour de France and Live at Red Rock Albums)

"Standing in Motion" by Yanni (Song is available on the Out of Silence, In Celebration and Live at the Acropolis albums)

Selection from the Disney live-action feature film Iron Will (Soundtrack was never produced for retail sale.)
This information was obtained from the former Discovery Center at Epcot.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Entering the attraction's lobby area is like walking into a recruitment center. There are funny recruiting posters with slogans like "See the World" or "Learn the Latest Technology", each showing a different flip-top cranium. There's even George Washington's cranium, complete with pilot inside, on a poster that reads "Earn Good Pay" -- quite funny. There are also Brain Benders and Cranium Calisthenics to exercise YOUR cranium and help pass the time until the show. These are funny, but subtle, clues to what the show is all about -recruiting us as new Cranium Commandos.

Once you're allowed into the pre-show area, you'll be standing for a short film. Be forewarned, the film is loud and potentially annoying, but essential to understanding the show, so don't miss it. It also includes, in its own subtle way, some educational elements, for example:

1) "The brain is divided into two halves, the right and the left." (We all knew that, right?)
2) "The brain can process up to three million bytes of information per second!" (Wow! I learned something new there!)

You'll also hear some pretty funny puns and jokes. For example, near the end of the pre-show the character General Knowledge, who is the recruits' new commanding officer (a loud, demeaning drill-sergeant type), talks to us in the audience: "Hey, you goldbricks, this ain't a spectator sport! Where do you think you are? DISNEY WORLD?!?!! Get your strollers in line and hustle! On the double! Move it, move it, move it!" You'll definitely be taking his orders as you laugh your way into the theater.