The "Other" Attraction at the Land Pavilion

The "Other" Attraction at the Land Pavilion

Soarin' is one of the most popular, if not the most popular, attractions at Epcot, and it's not hard to see why. The unique experience of flying over the California landscape is something you will never forget (watch out for that golf ball!). But once upon a time the main attraction at the Land pavilion didn't involve breathtaking flights over snow-capped mountains and sweet-smelling orange groves. That attraction, Living With the Land, offered a more leisurely tour of varying landscapes, and before the arrival of Soarin' was in of itself one of the most popular destinations at Epcot.

Today, Living With the Land is often regarded as the "other" attraction at the Land pavilion, with most visitors opting to take a thrilling hang gliding tour instead. Make no mistake, Soarin' is not to be missed and is definitely a "must-do" on anyone's list. But don't let that stop you from enjoying Living With the Land. The pace is much more relaxed (you'll be trading in your hang glider for a slow moving boat), but you may be surprised at how much you learn, and how much you'll enjoy it.

Living With the Land is a fascinating tour that showcases the vast variety of climates and environments to be found throughout the world. As you make your way through the queue, take a moment to read the quotes that are on the wall. They set the mood for your upcoming journey perfectly as they reflect on the relationship between man and the environment. Some of the quotes are by famous individuals, while others are from everyday people, including many children. Once you board your boat, you'll begin a leisurely cruise that takes you on a tour of the varied environments found throughout the world. You'll experience a tropical storm, visit a lush rain forest, glide through an arid desert, and tour the windswept plains of the midwest.

After visiting a farm (complete with all sorts of barnyard critters), it's time for the second part of your journey—a tour of an actual working greenhouse. At this point you will learn about the innovative ideas and experiments taking place here. Because this is a working greenhouse, what you'll see will depend on the activities that are currently happening. Expect to see giant variations of familiar fruits and vegetables (lemons and pumpkins are usually abundant), unusual ways to grow plants, fish farms, and some out of this world experiments courtesy of NASA.

The Land Pavilion Through the Years

The boat tour was an opening day attraction when Epcot opened, though at the time it was called Listen to the Land (the attraction itself was similar to the current Living With the Land). Additionally, the pavilion featured Kitchen Kabaret, an Audio-Animatronics presentation about the four food groups, and the Harvest Theater played host to the film Symbiosis. In December 1993, Listen to the Land was updated and given its current name, Living With the Land. Additions included the opening storm sequence. A new presentation, Food Rocks, replaced Kitchen Kabaret on March 26, 1994 (the concept of the four food groups was outdated by then, having been replaced by the nutritional pyramid). Food Rocks itself closed on January 3, 2004 to make way for the new attraction in the Land pavilion, Soarin'. Symbiosis closed on January 21, 1995. Its place was taken by a new, fun-filled film starring Timon and Pumba from The Lion King entitled Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable.

Living With the Land went through a rehab in 2009, increasing the capacity of the boats. Another significant change was the addition of a prerecorded narration and the removal of a Cast Member as your onboard tour guide.

Magical Moments, Hidden Mickeys and Other Secrets

There's no doubt that Soarin' is the main attraction at the Land Pavilion, but don't overlook some of the other treasures you'll find there. If you like slow moving, relaxing rides, you'll enjoy Living With the Land. The greenhouse portion of the tour is very interesting and filled with plenty of curiosities. And who doesn't love prairie dogs?

I found a strange imprint in the sidewalks at Sunset Boulevard in Disney's Hollywood Studios. What does it mean?
Andrew, Philadelphia

Wow, great eye! For those who don't know what we're talking about, it you look very carefully at the sidewalks as you approach the end of Sunset Boulevard, you'll find several imprints in the concrete that say “Mortimer & Co, 1928 Contractors.” That's a clever nod to some important Disney history. Mortimer was Mickey Mouse’s original (and very short-lived!) name, and 1928 was the year Mickey was "born"!

Is that the actual Presidential Seal on the floor in the Hall of Presidents?
Jacob, Boston

No. Many people think that's what it is, but it's actually the Great Seal of the United States. Curiously, other than the White House in Washington, D.C. and Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia, the Hall of Presidents is the only place in the world that is allowed to use the Seal, which is located in the carpet in the rotunda.

Spaceship Earth

Don't forget to look at the giant globe at the end of the ride, you'll see your picture! It will appear somewhere on the globe and then zoom to your hometown (if you've ridden before, it's sometimes fun to pick an exotic location as your home as you start your tour). I hope you remembered to smile!

Can you figure out where this picture was taken?
HINT: Feel free to take your time with this one!