Epcot Center, Orlando Florida

Here we are in Orlando Florida and one has to go to Disney, don't they?

  

In the past, we went to Epcot Center over 20 years ago and we felt at the time it was more suited for adults.  We chose to go to Epcot Center again to check it out 20 years later.  Honestly, it hasn't changed much.  One new addition that just has opened up is Guardians of the Galaxy.  To get into Guardians of the Galaxy you had to download the Disney app which took some time and some process and some brains and we still couldn't get it, we had to ask for Disney assistance from one of the agents, and I have a tech-savvy husband.  It turns out we had accidentally switched each other's cards, dah!!!  We had to enter a virtual queue and that was the only way that you could get to see Guardians of the Galaxy.  Let me tell you the ride was worth all the work and effort it took. It actually was a roller coaster ride, which I'm actually not fond of but once I was locked in I didn't have much of a choice and I rode the roller coaster.  I screamed NON-Stop, but it was very exciting and thrilling and all in close to darkness.  There is a lead-up to get to the ride that you go through which are several rooms where the actors from the movie Guardians of the Galaxy speak with you and get you engaged.  It was mucho fun and totally worth it.

  The rest of Epcot Center wasn't really worth it to us.  The world area we have visited most of these countries and it's really unfortunate that each of the countries that are represented don't take a chance to showcase and celebrate their culture.  We found that the pavilions for the different countries were just a chance to sell some of their cheap souvenirs. This was a shame because there's lots of coolness in Morocco and it wasn't showcased very well. The only thing I would say that is showcased very well in the world pavilions is the architecture of each country. 

The Canadian Pavilion 20 years ago was a hit with us and maybe because we were proud Canadians back then.  Now it was a bit shameful.  There was a hokie Quebecua band playing which really cheapened the whole feel of the Canadian Pavilion, we felt.  The architecture was good but not much else, and maybe we felt this way because we are no longer proud Canadians with our shameful, corrupt government and embarrassing PM.  The hope is that our pride returns soon.

It is 25 US dollars to park at Epcot.  And it's a bit of a walk which I don't mind but to get into the place it cost $296 US dollars for two adults.  How do people afford these Disney parks?  We didn't buy anything in Disney except lunch and every second person is walking around with Mickey's ears and a Mickey balloon and a Mickey mouse hat or Mickey mouse this or a Mickey mouse that. Once again how do people afford this stuff?  

You get a nice credit card-shaped card with a Disney character on it and this then gets you into the park and into rides etc. But not before you have to surrender your fingerprint. You are required to put your index finger down on a pad that lights up.  It all happened so fast, I thought WTF just happened? I temporarily felt like a criminal and then got angry because what did they need that for?? Still angry......

Halfway through the day, we stopped at the Mexican pavilion for lunch and the meal was excellent.  I had three shrimp tacos with Spanish rice and beans for only $14.95 which I thought at Disney was actually quite an acceptable price.  I also had a delicious signature Margarita there as well which was 17 US dollars.  (I can buy a whole 40 of tequila for less than that in Orlando.)

I suck at taking selfies obviously.  I should have used the time at Epcot to practice.  We could have waited for the light show on the lake but it was at 9 pm and we felt we were done at 7 pm.  We did not want to endure the crowds for 2 more hours.  We have seen Disney light shows in the past and they are spectacular.

There was one other ride called Mission Space-Orange Mission (which was the more intense one).  I thought this was a lot of fun and it really gave you the feeling of being an astronaut with liftoff, takeoff, landings etc.  You could even feel the g-force pull on your body but with post-covid- lungs I could barely take it and I had a little 5-second panic attack because  I couldn't breathe.  It felt like a piano was on my chest.  Darren got motion sick from it and did not feel well the rest of the day.  I still loved it, minus the 5 seconds of lost air.

The crowds at Epcot were unbelievably high.  We went on a Wednesday so mid-week we stayed away from the weekend and we were not there on a holiday or during a holiday, I can't imagine what the crowds are like on the weekends or on a holiday.  

One big thing we noticed right away is there were more people riding around on those little scooters for people who need assistance.  Honestly what a joke,  there were so many people that I watched stop their scooters get off walk around go to the washroom do whatever they needed to do just because they didn't feel like walking around and what a shame and shame on you. Disney needs to place some gatekeeping in the way to get rid of the fakers who actually need the walking and exercise.  The people who genuinely need the assistance are few but this practice is grossly taken advantage of.  The scooters are everywhere and always in the way of the walkers.  

On my world travel blog when we were last at Orlando Disney I had commented on how big and unhealthy people were in the States and that was when I was skinny. Now, I am very conscious of it, due to my own weight. For every 10 people at Disney, 7 were very overweight and 2 were morbidly obese and one was normal or skinny.  Now, being in the overweight category, I'm even more conscious of how big people are in the United States and Canada.  I would say we're in a bit of an unhealthy weight crisis that should not be ignored.

In my opinion, 296 USD is way too high for Epcot.  If I had paid under 100 USD then maybe it was worth it???  Sorry to those people who are Disney freaks, I just don't get it.