Do You Hear What I Hear?

Yesterday I wrote that Marilyn, Will & Michelle were going to spend the day at EPCOT and take in the annual Candlelight Processional. As it turns out, not everyone is familiar with the Candlelight Processional. So think of today's post as a PSA to those who may not know the wonders of this event!

The Candlelight Processional, it is one of the most spectacular celebrations of the birth of Jesus you will find anywhere. A full orchestra, 400+ voices from local high school choirs, the Walt Disney World Choir, The Voices of Liberty (an amazing acapella group that performs regularly at the American Pavilion at EPCOT) and brilliant trumpeters present traditional faith-based Christmas music. Mixed in with the songs (Joy To the World, O Come All Ye Faithful, The Hallelujah Chorus and more) are readings from scripture, shared by a celebrity narrator. Yesterday my family got to hear Neil Patrick Harris (the 2nd time they have heard NPH) read from the Gospel of Luke. Over the years we have heard many different narrators, including Steven Curtis Chapman, the lat Dan Urich, Whoopi Goldberg and my personal favorite, Robert Guillaume (Benson & the voice of Rafiki). It has been a very important part of our Christmas tradition for many years now.

People (mostly inside the church) are often quick to divide the world into two parts:  secular and holy. The concept of secular does not exist in scripture. God created everything; it is only when His creations are misused that we get in to trouble. We are told that "all good and perfect gifts come from God." Secular certainly does not exist at the Candlelight Processional. The event takes place 3 times each day from Thanksgiving until the end of the year in a large outdoor amphitheater. Each performance is packed, with many turned away for lack of space. That means that during this holiday season over 300,000 people will hear the birth story of Jesus from the good people of Walt Disney World. It also takes place at Disneyland- so multiply that number! It's a truly amazing thing that has been going on for years. God is not and cannot be confined to the church. 

One of the songs they perform each year is the classic Do You Hear What I Hear? It is performed by the mass choir and orchestra of the Processional on one of several albums that are available. The one I have features narration by Lou Gossett (another favorite with an amazing voice). I have loved this song since hearing a church choir sing it when I was a little boy. For me, it captures the wonder of that holy night so many years ago. I hope it will inspire you as well. It's time to get ready- after all there's only 22 more sleeps 'til Christmas...

My Deliverer is Coming...

Reimagining EPCOT's World Showcase

Given my persona non grata status with Walt Disney World you may wonder why I care about it anymore. The truth is I care because with this, as with most things in my life, I am very protective of my favorite memories. So I felt a little bit of snark was justified...

It was big news on social media, in the press and here in central Florida last week when Disney made the formal and long-expected announcement that they were shutting down the Maelstrom ride in the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT to make way for an attraction based on the hit movie Frozen. Reaction has been loud and very mixed. I loved the movie, and understand why Disney execs have rushed to get something Frozen related in every park. However...I do have some questions. Although putting a ride in Norway is certainly the easy way out, it was not the only EPCOT option. The former Wonders of Life (long live Buzzy!) building still sits empty in Future World, begging for something new and exciting. And it seems to me that by making such a change at Norway, the company is throwing the the entire future of World Showcase up for grabs. And that scares me.

I have long loved World Showcase. My memory goes back to a time when everyone spelled EPCOT with all caps, there were no Disney characters there at all, dining reservations HAD to be made the day of and when IMAX movies were a technological marvel. I love the restaurants. I love the cultural aspects, the street performers and the fact that it is so different from the rest of WDW. There have already been changes over the years that no one bothered to run past me, such as changing the opening hours so we couldn't take a stroll in a nearly empty World Showcase early in the morning or changing the  menu at Alfredo's & The San Angel Inn. But change happens and you move on. But this feels much more significant. This feels like a real game changer. So today I have allowed my mind to wander. What if putting a Frozen attraction in Norway sets a precedent? What if every country in World Showcase were to become just another opportunity for Disney corporate synergy? There have long been crossover character events outside the Pavilions (think Mary Poppins at the UK, Beast at France)- but this seems different to me. In my nightmares, World Showcase would start to look like this...

• The China Pavilion - The movie on the cultural history of the country would be replaced with The Making of Mulan, narrated by Eddie Murphy. A simulator ride could take us through the battle to save the Emperor, as we fight side-by-side with Mulan, Cricky, Mushu and Captain Li Shang. And the Nine Dragons restaurant is replaced by Mulan's Delight, a counter-service place featuring chicken chow mien and other dishes USAmericans think are Chinese.
• The France Pavilion - So many movies to promote, so little time. The Boulangerie Pâtisserie would become Hunchback Croissants- because Quasimodo is shaped like one! The main restaurants would have a Ratatouille theme, with giant rat-costumed servers bringing you the daily specials and making jokes about how they are not Mickey. And instead of Impressions de France the movie theater is not showing a 10 minute blooper real from Beauty & the Beast. Just think of the merchandising possibilities with all of those movies to choose from! Oh...and the Eiffel Tower too...
• The Italy Pavilion - Lady & the Tramp once ate spaghetti. Therefore they must be Italian. I'll let you figure out the details!
• The Morocco Pavilion - There would be magical appearances by the Genie, and the flying carpet ride could be moved over from the MK. And a kissing booth with Jasmine. Actually, all of those things would be an improvement to this Pavilion. Never mind.
• The UK Pavilion - Again, there are so many movies to choose from, but I'm partial to Robin Hood. The Friar Tuck Pub could serve Long John Silver's fish and chips and really cheap beer. There could be live archery tournaments. Throw in the Spoonful of Sugar Bakery (Mary Poppins), the Winnie the Pooh petting zoo (with live hephalumps, woozles and Tiggers) and bring back Mr. Toad! Then you're all set for a big adventure!

There are many more possibilities (like Pinocchio in Germany or The Three Caballeros in Mexico), but I think I have made my point. Obviously my ranting is over-the-top and ridiculous...I hope. But the truth is that World Showcase was designed to be "a place apart" from the rest of WDW. In my humble (and totally unsolicited) opinion, adding a Frozen attraction is a step in a very dangerous direction. And a final warning: if anything ever happens to Voices of Liberty or The American Adventure over at the U.S. Pavilion, I cannot be held responsible for my actions. Just sayin'...

Because of Walt,

30 Years of EPCOT Center

EPCOT Center turns 30 years old today.  The Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow opened October 1st, 1982 with a promise that it would look to the future and bring the world together in new ways.  There have been many changes over the years; in fact, it is no longer called EPCOT Center. It is now simply Epcot.  

I first visited EPCOT Center as part of our honeymoon in 1986.  In 1987, 1990 and 1993 I brought youth groups from Springfield Friends Meeting to Walt Disney World.  Trying to explain Epcot was tricky.  The adults all joked about not using the E word.  The truth is, Epcot was and is a very educational place. That is NOT what you tell teenagers on summer vacation.  But the park was also great fun.  I have had many great experiences and adventures there over the years, and I thought today I would share a few of my favorite memories and places at Epcot.

* The San Angel Inn-  This restaurant inside the Mexico Pavilion has more memories for me than almost anyplace in all of WDW.  I went there with my wife, my parents, my youth groups and many old friends.  I am not much of a drinker, but I have had a margarita or two at the Inn.  I have introduced people to an amazing appetizer (queso fundido) and one of my favorite desserts ever- Chocolate Moose Kahlua Pie.  I also once ran from the restaurant with a stomach bug and threw up all over the bushes just outside the entrance.  I love this place.
* The Candlelight Processional- Every year since the mid 1990s The American Gardens Pavilion has hosted this Christmas spectacular, and we have attended many times.  A 400 voice choir, a full orchestra and a celebrity narrator reading the birth story of Jesus straight from scripture are the highlights of this incredible event.  And they do it from Thanksgiving to New Years, 3 shows a night- and all of them are full. It's free, but you'd better get there early. Last year Marilyn and Will stood in line for 2 hours to see guest narrator Neil Patrick Harris...
* Last Ones Out- Click this link to read this great story of the night in 1987 when we closed EPCOT.

* The Norway Conundrum- On our 1990 youth group trip, the Norway Pavilion was new to most all of our participants, having just opened in 1988.  I notice a large numbers of our students seemed to be spending a lot of time there. I assumed it was because the ride, The Maelstrom, was a lot of fun. It turns out it was that the Norwegians working the pavilion- both male and female- were just really attractive.  Go figure...
* Dining Reservations- In 1993 we had a large group staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort. We had dining tickets (this was way before any dining plans) and were going to use them one night at Epcot.  There was one problem. In those days, Epcot dining reservations could be made only at the park and only on the day you intended to eat there.  So at 8 AM one morning I went to the computers outside of Spaceship Earth and made reservations for nearly 50 people, split between 6 different restaurants.  The cast member who helped thought I was insane. And I probably was. But we got it done.  And the students all had amazing meals and an amazing night.

* Will's Playpen-  For the first 4+ years of my son's life we lived in Kissimmee.  During that time, my parent's would pick Will up around once a week and they would go to EPCOT Center.  They didn't do a whole lot- they were just there.  Will took naps in the countries, learned about the many characters and just generally grew up a Disney kid. When we moved to Chicago in 2000 we were nervous about how we were going to explain to him that a park was going to be something completely different now...
* The International Gateway- During the years that we lived in Kissimmee we would often park at the Yacht Club Resort and walk to Epcot, entering through the "back door"- the International Gateway.  There as never a line to get in, and we could walk into World Showcase early in the mornings and wander at our leisure, often eating breakfast at the bakery in France.  In those days the entire park opened at the same time, so we could often make our way through the countries while the masses stood in line in Future World.  We felt so smart.  Parking restrictions at the hotels and later opening hours for World Showcase has since ruined this wonderful little secret...

* Things I Miss- This list of things no longer there could go on and on, so I will just hit the high notes.  Horizons is still my single favorite pavilion that ever existed at the park. I miss Buzzy and Cranium Command.  I miss the Kitchen Kabaret at the Land Pavilion. I miss the majesty of Walter Cronkite's narration in Spaceship Earth. I miss the marching band. And I miss being able to watch Illuminations from the landing behind the Rose & Crown Pub at the UK Pavilion.  Best spot ever, but now reserved for the VIP crowd most nights.  Sigh...

* My Dad- Right up until his passing in 2006, no one loved EPCOT Center any more than my father. He loved having a beer at the pub. He loved the restaurants. He loved listening to live music and seeing the street performers anywhere he could find them. He loved The American Adventure, the movie in Canada and everything about Germany.  He took the picture you see at right of Marilyn and I with a Scottish-clad Goofy (dad's favorite character) at the park during WDW's 20th anniversary celebration.My dad loved Epcot.  And a part of him is still there, hanging out behind the pub.  Literally.  Just one more reason to love the place!

Those are a few of my memories of EPCOT Center. I'd love to hear some of yours!