Erik Johnson Posted April 22, 2007 Posted April 22, 2007 It has been a long time since either Leanne or I have spent a lot of time in Epcot's World Showcase. Some of you may already know that they have done an updating/referb to the old Mexico boat ride. Instead of Mexico 1982, its now based on the two animated movies/travelogues Disney produced back in the early 1940s, "Saludos Amigos" and "The Three Caballeros." The International Flower & Garden Festival is also going on, so I added a few photographs from that as well. Here is a link to the onride Gran Fiesta Tour: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34989 Mickey as a hippie. Hooray for IFAS and the University of Florida. They had a few booths this year. Look who showed up. Festival Center. Kids art tent. There seems to be a lot more activites/areas for kids this year. Butterflys are born here. Clive Barker presents, "The Butterfly Realm" They are found in this tent. Yeah, every year they have butterflies. They do sell a lot of garden items/artwork during this event. Looks like Dopey ended up with Snow White. Beauty and the Beast. Count Floyd would say, "Disney Pins in 3eeeeeeee.....Deeeeeeeeee." Cinderella. Ummm, I think the Mexico boat ride has changed its name. We ended up skipping the rest of Future World today. I wonder when it will be all finished. Itt sure looks like Mr. Garrison's "transportation" machine. The new post show area looks to be going well. Yeah we had to do this before the extensive referb, which is coming in a week or two. Pirate Stitch for you fans. Go Gators! You can not forget Tinkerbell. They had a loop of Peter Pan songs instead of the usual "Future World" music. Captain Hook's ship greets you at the entrance. Which happens to be the theme of this year's IF&GF. Its cool to see they are going to do the Pirate and Princess Party again. The International Flower & Garden Festival. It is also the very first time I have used the tram to get to the front gate. I have never parked this far out before. Ok, Epcot is uber-crowded today. I wonder if Yeti Ball ever gets homesick. The new back entrance into WDW. See any white mountains off in the distance? While it costs $1 more, using 429 saves us about 20 minutes of driving.
Erik Johnson Posted April 22, 2007 Author Posted April 22, 2007 Ok onto a few pictures of the Grand Fiesta Tour. Its pretty much the same old attraction, but they have replaced all the movie screen footage with new live action segments with animated characters (think Roger Rabbit). The ride no longer has narration or the old la la la la laaaaa music. I will post a full onride video tomorrow, once I finish with it. Anyways, onto more pictures: Ok, onto the rest of the World Showcase. This my be the first time I have seen Panchito. Again, where are your pistols? They already have items for sale. All the movie footage is new. So no more marketplace sequence. Its pretty much the same ride, with a few new things. They installed airgates in the loading area. Ummmm, Panchito? Where did your pistols go? Ummmm, Jose? Where did your cigar go? There they are. The last time I waited in line for this was 1983. See, a new name. The old sign, with a new title of the boat ride. We are.....THE THREE AMIG....oops.....The Three Caballeros!
Erik Johnson Posted April 22, 2007 Author Posted April 22, 2007 Pictures! All the Chinese Zodiac figures are made of food. Ja han nian (Year of the Jahan). Leanne had never seen this before. Female Lion...notice the lion cub. Male Lion...notice the ball. A closer look. Terra Cotta warriors. Zhu nian (Year of the Pig) Hi Grog! Yes, it was that crowded. Disappear, Disappear! It me with my namesake. Yeah, I think you do prefer coaster pictures...right? Pretty
Erik Johnson Posted April 22, 2007 Author Posted April 22, 2007 Pictures! Leanne agrees. The most popular attraction in France. Picture of the founatin in France in 2007. (With the same dork). Picture of the fountain in France in 1983. You better not dive into that. Taiko no Tatsujin. Just a few more months to go. I am still waiting for someone to build a Death Star. Leanne has never seen this. The Turtles were in town. What is that boat used for? Any ideas? This closes on Aug 31st. So if you want to eat there, you better go soon. If you look really close, you might see an animated character. A little extra theming on the German train set. These Dwarves are not as lucky as Dopey. Creepy. And another area sponsored by the University of Florida. Another kid playground. Its an ad for the new DVC wing over at the AK lodge.
Erik Johnson Posted April 22, 2007 Author Posted April 22, 2007 The last of the pictures. As well as Pirate Mickey. Pirate Goofy. Tigger in the UK. Hi there! Please do not eat me.
thefitness Posted April 22, 2007 Posted April 22, 2007 Nice Pictures! The Flower and Garden Festival looks pretty cool. What was that construction going on in Japan?
Erik Johnson Posted April 22, 2007 Author Posted April 22, 2007 They are referberishing the Miysukoshi Teppanyaki restaurant. I think it reopens in July.
haiderodes Posted April 22, 2007 Posted April 22, 2007 I gotta get me one of those Mexican Donald plushes! Great photo report. If the line is any indication, then the rehab of El Rio worked. I dont think in all my visits to Epcot have I ever seen more than a 2 boat wait for that ride, even when it was raining outside. As for that boat, its for decoration...its supposed to represent something for the American Adventure. Just what, I forget, but I do remember hearing something about it during my WDW college program.
crazydaveh Posted April 22, 2007 Posted April 22, 2007 Looks like it was a crowded day. You have to love to see them Gators showing off in front of the "World" again!
arrowfanman Posted April 22, 2007 Posted April 22, 2007 Great PTR Erik! I shall forever celebrate the year of the Jahan! As much as I hate the idea that they "Disneyfied" Mexico and that there is no more marketplace sequence, from what I hear about the upgrades, it ultimately is a change for the better. Thanks for the photos! -Jahan
Wes Posted April 22, 2007 Posted April 22, 2007 GROG!! I'm so sad they destroyed El Rio. I shall miss the 1970's Aztec dancing.
mmousefan Posted April 22, 2007 Posted April 22, 2007 I heard from some Mexican girls working at the Gran Fiesta Tour that the atracction has been very visited after its refubrishment, so yeah the changes where for the good. To bad I never had the chance to ride the original Rio del Tiempo. Great pics Erick, they maked me more exited that my arrival date to WDW is comming really soon.
Erik Johnson Posted April 24, 2007 Author Posted April 24, 2007 The video is finished for the Gran Fiesta Tour: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34989 Remember, you have to be a TPR member to see it.
bulldogmom Posted April 24, 2007 Posted April 24, 2007 Great TR and pics, as always! I especially like the one with you at the fountain in 1983 and in 2007. Those terra cotta warriors are really cool.
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