Jeff Moeller, Local Columnist
Want to have a short, but entertaining trip around Europe and parts of Asia? Try Disney World’s EPCOT.
Opened in 1982, EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) can provide a tourist with a trip through Canada, England (United Kingdom), France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Norway, and the ‘American Adventure’.
Hop in your car, and it is an approximate 260-mile, four-hour-and-20 minute ride from the Richmond Hill area. If you are an early riser and ambitious, you can do the trip in a day.
In terms of crowds, March and September are your ideal months to make the trip. During the day is the best time to visit, as you will have a tighter walking space in the evening.
Granted, Disney World isn’t an inexpensive option, but it always is worth it. Disney usually provides its share of memorable experiences and fantastic meals. Before you begin, make sure you have a good pair of running shoes, as you register anywhere from five to 10 miles in a day.
My wife and I recently did a four-day junket of relaxation without the hustle and bustle of Magic Kingdom. We stayed at the Beach Club (featured in the March 5th issue), which is a leisurely walk from EPCOT’s main entrance. There also is the Yacht Club, The Swan, The Dolphin, both just a bit longer jaunt from the Beach and Yacht Clubs.
The cost of an EPCOT ticket is $119 dollars (prices will vary), but you might be able to get a better deal if you shop around. If you’re not a Disney guest (parking is free), there is a $35 fee.
EPCOT is not only for its unique and genuine encounters in each country, but also for their distinctive festivals. Throughout the year, there is the Festival of the Arts (winter), Flower & Garden Festival (spring), Food & Wine Festival (late summer/fall), and Festival of the Holidays (late fall/ winter).
Currently through June 1, EPCOT is featuring its legendary International Flower and Garden Festival. With the typical mild Florida temperatures before the summer sizzle, an abundance of flower gardens can be found in EPCOT, creating a picturesque kaleidoscope of colors. The way the flower beds miraculously kept and apparently maintained can make any flower lover jealous.
Along with the cavalcade of colors, there also are the mini-outdoor kitchens that feature a food favorite from each of the countries as well as a selection of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.
You really don’t have to have a sit-down meal at a restaurant - even though it’s worth it - as there are ample small samples that can provide you breakfast through dinner and dessert.
If you love to eat, this is a can’t miss.
Each of the samples from each country will be anywhere from three to eight dollars. Alcoholic drinks will usually run you over eight dollars, but you pick up a bottle of water for four dollars.
Some of our favorites were Canada’s beef tenderloin tips prepared well with sides of mashed potatoes and green beans, and seared scallops with the same sides. We also thoroughly enjoyed China’s cheesy crab wontons and pan-fried vegetable dumplings.
With my background, Germany was my favorite stop.
On our festival food day, my wife and I indulged ourselves with an order of potato pancakes and a cheese strudel.
On another day, we dined at the stoic Biergarten for the always scrumptious buffet of Deutschland delicacies. Once again, I needed some Rolaids afterwards because I always get my share and then some.
On our food tour, we ended our mega-meal with a Bananas Foster funnel cake, which was packed with banana-chocolate chip ice cream and sprinkled with a banana-cinnamon sugar dusting. Needless to say, it was a heavenly treat for a banana lover like myself.
Still, there is more to EPCOT than just food. However, there are a series of cafeteria stops dotted along the countries in case you want to grab a quick burger, salad, or sandwich or even sit down for a cup of coffee.
It is always enchanting beginning your trek in the United Kingdom and ending in France on the twomile plus world walkway. Disney provides an impeccable and authentic representation of each country. It is hard to find any litter on the grounds.
Several countries will have outdoor bands that tend to create a good feeling inside you from the country whether it be a mariachi band or master juggler Sergio in Italy.
Canada and Japan both have 360 circle-vision film presentations that are worth taking a look.
Yet, EPCOT is a place to indulge in store browsing. We usually buy a trinket along the way as you never know what you can find, and Disney does a good job at enticing you to buy.
I would be remiss without mentioning the ride “Soarin’ Around the World,” which takes you on a simulated Peter Pan -type flight over global landmarks. We make a concerted effort to try it on every trip. “Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure” is also a good stop, taking you on a 4D adventure track ride through a French kitchen from the view of Disney’s prize rat.
EPCOT has 12 rides, highlighted by its Test Track and the Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster. Plan to wait to get on both of them.
Before we departed, we enjoyed a reasonable brunch at the Yacht Club’s Ale and Compass, where you have an entree and a complimentary breakfast buffet for just $27.
It proved to be a short adventure full of flowers, food, and fun that took us out of our element and rekindled plenty of family memories.
Disney’s EPCOT festivals and the park itself can prove to be a rewarding journey.
Jeff Moeller is a sports correspondent for the Bryan County News. Reach him at phillyjets.jm@gmail.com
