Tag Archives: Epcot

Epcot’s Test Track for the Technologically Impaired

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Epcot's Test TrackI drive a Toyota Prius and her odometer just rolled over 200,000 miles.  My car is 8 years old, has a few dings and scratches and still gets me from points A to B very well – I like it because its a pretty Disney-looking red and allows me to display my considerable number of Disney antenna toppers.  I’m not a car buff and I care not at all about the automotive technology involved in HOW I’m getting well over 40 miles to the gallon on every tank of gas.  I know to get the oil changed at regular intervals.  I could maybe change a flat if there were an extreme emergency, but I live in the South where a woman with a flat tire somehow magically sends out a “damsel in distress” beacon and the tire immediately gets changed by a stranger who calls you “Sweetheart”.  But ratherChevrolet Design Studios at Epcot than making you feel the pitiful, frail and helpless female, you somehow end up feeling like a cherished family member and wind up with a new friend – who you will very likely see again at the grocery store, ballpark, or local 5k race.

So…Epcot’s Test Track doesn’t seem much like something I’d like, does it?  Once again, I have to hand it to those Disney Imagineering geniuses – it’s actually fun!  Guests get the opportunity to design a virtual vehicle – based on a number of options like efficiency, power, aInside Epcot's Test Track Buildingppearance, and so on.  Then the designs are put through a series of tests as you ride along on the Test Track – which involves both indoor and outdoor simulated test situations.

On our last visit, Megan and I teamed up to design a car while Raymond and Joseph worked together on their own.  Megan and I were primarily concerned with our car’s appearance while our family’s other team was concerned strictly with their vehicle’s power.  Sure, their virtual ride outperformed ours in the tests, but we couldn’t have cared less – our car was adorable!Display Vehicle in Epcot's Test Track

And if, when I’m in Test Track and I see those shiny new display vehicles, I’m giving them mental make-overs involving Disney decals and antenna toppers, well…that’s just how I roll.

For a feel about what to expect on Test Track, watch my Test Track POV video on Living a Disney Life’s YouTube Channel.

What about YOU?  Do you like Test Track?  What makes it fun for you?

Who Goes to Walt Disney World to Shop? I DO!

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Olaf PinWho else is excited about the new Disney Market Place Co-Op in Downtown Disney?  I cannot wait to shop there – I’ve been browsing some of their merchandise on their online store and whoa!  Great stuff – especially the home goods in Disney Centerpiece!  I just missed being able to shop in the Co-Op by a couple of days – it opened at the beginning of this month, just a few days after our WDW vacation ended.  Well, I’ll be back in October and I’ll save some pennies between now and then just for that particular store – because one of the things I like to do at Walt Disney World is shop.

There are many stores and shops at Disney World that I love.  Many I just browse, but seldom buy make a purchase in – I just think the stuff is great, with no real need to have any of it for my own.  This would include the giftshops at many of the ride’s exits – like Expedition Everest and Tower of Terror – those giftshops are really neat and offer cute and clever attraction-related merchandise.  The one on the way out of Pirates of the Caribbean is a particular favorite as well.  I also love to browse the shops in Disney’s Hollywood Studios – I just seldom find anything there IMG_6606I can’t live without.

Now, let’s talk about where my money goes.  There are four places I go to shop (as in like-an-Olympic-sport shopping) – The Fam is used to this and they know they can either help or get out of the way – I’m good with either of those opptions as long as I have some completely uninterrupted time to carefully select what will be going home with me.

Disney Shoe Ornament - MaleficentMouse Gear in Epcot

I love Mouse Gear because of its size, but also the way the store is merchandised.  The place is always bright, clean, well organized and neat as a pin.  Part of what’s so great about it is how open it is – one huge room all on display for my shopping pleasure.  Most recently, Megan and I added to our Shoe Ornament collection with the purchase of three new shoes from Mouse Gear.  If you saw my post on another Epcot store (Mitsukoshi in the Japan Pavilion), it deserves a shout-out here, but unlike Mouse Gear, I don’t always buy something from there.

Haunted Mansion Mickey OrnamentDisney’s Days of Christmas (Downtown Disney)

Disney Christmas ornaments are a must-buy souvenir for me.  The nice folks at Disney’s Days of Christmas will carefully pack my ornament purchases and ship them straight to my house where they will arrive safely unbroken.  Yes, I pay about $25 extra for that, but it’s totally worth it to me not to have to fret over what may happen if I tried to carry all the ornaments with me on the plane home.  As long as there’s room on my 9-foot Disney Christmas tree, I’ll be buying ornaments at this happy holiday shop.

World of Disney (Downtown Disney)

This store is, with regard to presentation, the exact opposite of Mouse Gear.  It’s a little darkerHaunted Mansion Singing Busts Ornaments and messier inside and divided into many rooms and sections – you could look around in World of Disney for a couple of days, I think, and still not see it all.  Clothing, watches, and souvenirs are the kinds of things I buy here.  It can be really crowded, though, so if you’re serious about shopping here, a little patience and crowd tollerance helps.  Most recently, I bought a tee shirt (for our dog, Junior) from the boys’ section, some Haunted Mansion ornaments (the singing busts) that were not at the Christmas Store, and some small souvenirs for friends back home.  I also bought my new, one-and-only, perfect-for-me Earhat!  (See me wearing it on our Facebook Page – oh, and if you press “Like” while your there, I’d be ever so appreciative since I’m only 20 shy of 1000!)

The Main Street Emporium (Magic Kingdom)

All the stores on Main Street’s left side are connected.  So, you can enter the Emporium and shop your way (in cool comfort) down to Casey’s Corner!  It’s the atmosphere of The Main Street Emporium that draws me in.  It’s got great Victorian details and I can find camera batteries, gift cards, and one of my favorite things to buy there, Disney Pins (for collecting and trading).  Yeah, I know they sell pins literally everywhere, but it has become tradition for me to at least attempt to find a pin or two from the Emporium to take with me.

Now it’s your turn – which of Walt Disney World’s stores are your favorite?  What are your favorite souvenirs to buy on every visit?

Disney Christmas Ornaments

Personalized Disney Ornament Dumbo Christmas Ornament Disney Shoe Ornament - Ariel Disney Shoe Ornament - Anna Classic Earhat Ornament

 

 

Epcot’s Japan Pavilion – Mitsukoshi Department Store

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Epcot's Japan PavilionI’m planning to write an article about my favorite stores in Walt Disney World – so I started thinking about them – where they’re located, what type of merchandise they carry, and why I love them.  I’m still going to write that post, but in the middle of all that thinking….I couldn’t get my mind off the ONE most fantastic store in the World.  It really deserves its very own place in the limelight – without being grouped in with other great, but, let’s face it, lesser…or maybe I should say, more mainstream or ordinary stores.

If you’ve visited Walt Disney World but passed up the opportunity to visit the Mitsukoshi Plush Toys in Matsukoshi / Epcot's JapanDepartment Store in Epcot’s Japan Pavilion – I can understand how that could happen, but I need to…well…point out the error of your ways.  The store isn’t out there, up front with attractive window displays designed to draw you in.  The understated entrance gives no hint of the riches to be found inside – a treasure trove of unimaginable variety.  Do NOT pass through the World Showcase without taking at least a few minutes to look around at this huge and fascinating collection of Japanese goods!  I’ve been in Mitsukoshi many times, but every time feels like the first – and I always discover some new section I didn’t know existed.

Believe me, I’m not exaggerating or building this up for a good story.  Unless you’ve had the Shopping for Socks in Epcot's Japanchance to visit Japan (the actual country), I cannot believe you wouldn’t be impressed and, dare I say, enthralled by the enormous selection of unique merchandise within this building!  All the things you would expect to find are there – and so much more!!!  Traditional Japanese shoes and clothing?  Yes.  Incense, teas and teapots, chopsticks, swords, and fans?  Check!  Hello Kitty, Pokémon, Sanrio, Domo tees and collectibles – they’ll fix you up!  Tabi socks, books and jewelry – it’s all there!  But there’s also so much more!

The Pick a Pearl counter allows you to choose a live oyster from a tank for a Cast Member tBonsai Trees in Epcot's Japan Paviliono open for you…and retrieve your pearl!  You can have it made into a piece of jewelry right then and there or take it with you as is.  Ever wanted a Bonsai Tree of your very own?  The have a tiny forest from which to make your selection.  Too hard to take it home?  Buy a Bonsai seed kit instead!  Curious about Japanese food, candy and soft drinks?  Go wild in an entire room full of every imaginable snack, sweet, cracker – if you’re having a hankering for some shredded dry fish?  Not to worry!  They have that too (and it tastes better than you’d think)!

Mitsukoshi Department Store SnacksOne of Joseph’s favorite things to do at Walt Disney World is to take his time at Mitsukoshi and pick out a variety of Japanese packaged foods to try.  So much there is unlike anything we’ve ever had before!  At this point, he’s been to the store enough to have some favorites he’ll buy each time we visit.  Last week while we were there, he enlisted Megan’s assistance in picking out some new and different snacks (I even got to pick out something!).  Some of the candy looked so strange but was surprisingly tasty!  The descriptions on most packaging are completely in Japanese – so you’re pretty much guessing what you may be getting based on pictures and/or what the candy or snack looks like.  The mystery of it is what makes choosing treats so much fun!   Our Loot! Japanese Snacks from Mitsukoshi

There is literally something for everyone at Mitsukoshi and if it’s souvenirs you’re after – you’re guaranteed to find special and unique treasures for everyone on your list!

Have you been to Mitsukoshi?  What did you think?

Mitsukoshi Department Store in Epcot

Godzilla Tee at MitsukoshiAdorable Plush in Mitsukoshi

Epcot’s Manatees in The Seas with Nemo and Friends

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The Seas with Nemo & Friends I understand there are a lot of families who skip The Seas With Nemo and Friends when they visit Epcot.  The Finding Nemo-based ride through the oceans in a clammobile isn’t for everyone – I get that.  Turtle Talk with Crush is targeted at preschoolers and the general consensus seems to be that once the kids are a little older, there are more exciting things to see and do at Epcot.  I’m sad for the families who haven’t given The Seas pavilion another try.  There are some pretty amazing things to be found there and a couple of them are manatees.

I’m surprised by how many visitors completely miss Epcot’s manatees in The Seas with Nemo and Friends.  They’re pretty gigantic and absolutely amazing to watch – especially if you happen to time your visit around the manatees’ feeding schedule.  There are two viewing areas – upstairs (at the tank’s surface) Cast Members feed the manatees and make manatee presentations (check the schedule).  Downstairs is the underwater viewing area.Epcot manatee

Slow moving gentle giants, manatees are animals known as Sirenians – this group of aquatic mammals (related to elephants) can be found in many places around the world.  A subspecies of the West Indian manatees are the ones we can find in Florida.  There are also West African and Amazonian manatees and a close manatee relative called the Dugong (found in warm coastal waters from East Africa to Australia).

A quick peek over at Save The Manatee.org revealed some other interesting manatee tidbits:

  • Manatee in EpcotManatees are large and gray.  They have two flippers and a paddle-shaped tail.  Flippers have 3-4 nails on each.
  • Adult manatees reach about 10-feet in length and weigh 800-1200 lbs.
  • Manatees normally surface every 3-5 minutes to breathe, but can remain underwater for up to 20 minutes when resting.
  • Manatees spend most of their time eating (plants), resting, and traveling.
  • The reproduction rate for manatees is low.  Females produce a calf only once every 2-5 years.
  • Florida manatees are believed to normally live 60 years or more, but are currently an endangered species – recent studies predict the manatee population in Florida to be less than 5000 animals.

“Most human-related manatee fatalities occur from collisions with watercraft. Other causes of IMG_2791human-related manatee mortality include being crushed and/or drowned in canal locks and flood control structures; ingestion of fish hooks, litter, and monofilament line; and entanglement in crab trap lines. Ultimately, loss of habitat is the most serious threat facing manatees in the United States today.”  – Save the Manatee.org

Last time I visited Epcot, there were two manatees (Lou and Vail) who had both been victims of boat strikes in the wild – both were missing large sections of their tails.  The last news I’d heard about the pair was that, sadly, Vail had passed away last October (2013) and a new manatee had joined Lou named Lil’ Joe.  Lil’ Joe had been orphaned young and mostly raised in captivity.  I’m planning to stop by and see Lou and Lil’ Joe in a couple of weeks – if there’s any news, I’ll post an update.  Over the years, Epcot has rehabilitated sick and injured manatees who were able to be reintroduced into the wild.

The Manatees in EpcotSo, to end my manatee monologue, I’ll say this:  Go see them!  What a wonderful opportunity to teach every member of the family about animal conservation – right there in Epcot!  Not into educational opportunities while on vacation?  The manatees are still some of the coolest animals you’ll ever see!

When you go to Walt Disney World, do you take the time to visit the manatees?