Difference between revisions of "The Land"

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The Land is a pavilion located in [[Epcot]].
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{{Template:Infobox Disney ride |
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{{Template:Infobox park land |
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| image=landpavilion.jpg
 
| image=landpavilion.jpg
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| caption='''The exterior of the Land pavilion.
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| caption='''The exterior of The Land pavilion.
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| theme=Earth's eviorment
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| theme=Earth's Environment
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| opened=October 1st, 1982
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| sponsor= Kraft (1982-1993)<br>Nestle (1993-2009)
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| number_of_attractions=Three
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| land=World Nature
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}}
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| park= Epcot
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| opened=October 1, 1982
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| custom_label_1    = Number of Attractions
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| custom_value_1    = 2
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| logo_row=TheLandLogo.png}}
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The Land is a pavilion located in World Nature within [[Epcot]].
 
==Pavilion History==
 
==Pavilion History==
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The Land pavilion is largest pavilion in Epcot at 6 acres. The front of the building featured two small glass greenhouses, with the smaller greenhouse located in the front. A diamond shaped sign invited guests the the pavilion, which was sponsered by Kraft. The Land with the rest of phase 1 of Epcot on October 1, 1982. The pavilion focused on man's interaction with the land, especially focusing on agriculture. Both the interior and exterior of the pavilion were given an earthy color scheme, and an eco-friendly look. The Land originally featured three attractions [[Kitchen Kabaret]], [[Symbiosis]] and [[Listen to the Land]]. Kitchen Kabaret was an Audio Anamatronic musical revue, that taught gets the value of healthy eating. Listen to the Land was a boat ride, that showed guests how humans both live off, and destroy the land. A working greenhouse was located at the end of the attraction, giving guests a glimpse of the future of agriculture. The final attraction that opened in the Land pavilion was Symbiosis, a film shown in the Land's Harvest Theater. Symbiosis focused on the balance that humans needed to achieve between technological advancements and maintaining the environmental. The Land also featured a shop, known as Broccoli & Co., and two restaurants (the Good Turn Restaurant and the Land Grille Room). A tour of the greenhouse, called Tomorrow's Harvest was also available to guests, for an additional charge.  
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===Development and Sponsorship by Kraft===
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The genesis of The Land pavilion dates back to the original concepts for EPCOT Center <ref name= "Martin"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?tag=the-land-pavilion </ref>. Initially, plans called for an Ecology and Mineral pavilion to be located in Future World; however the focus was eventually broadened to include all of the planet's environments in order to make the pavilion more appealing to potential sponsors <ref name= "Martin"/>. In Walt Disney Production's 1977 Annual Report, Disney stated that The Land pavilion would "illustrate man's role as the protector of the Earth and its environments" <ref name= "hill"/>.  
  
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The Land remained essentially the same until 1993. In 1993, a effort was made by Disney to modernize all of Future World, including the Land pavilion. Kraft, unwilling to finance the refurbishment, withdrew it's sponsorship on  September 26, 1993. One day later, Nestle assumed the sponsership, and the Land began undergoing a gradual makeover. The first of the Land's attractions to get updated was Listen to the Land. On November 10, 1993 the attraction reopened as Living with the Land. Living with the Land was almost identical to it's predecessor, however a storm scene was added as the attraction's opening scene. The biochemical lab which served as ''Listen to the Land's'' final scene was also relocated to the attractions greenhouse. Besides these changes the only noticeable difference between the attractions was the removal of the "Listen to the Land" song.
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The Land pavilion was originally going to be sponsored by a Georgia Pacific (a logging company) <ref name= "wedway"> Parish, Matt, Nate Parish, and Michael Crawford. "5:3 The Original Land Pavilion." Audio blog post. WedWay Radio. N.p., 20 May 2013. Web. </ref >and thus the first incarnation of the pavilion was created with a focus on natural habitats and the earth’s environments <ref name= "book"> Pedersen, R. A. The EPCOT Explorer's Encyclopedia:. United States: Epcyclopedia, 2011. Print.</ref>. This early version of The Land called for the pavilion to be made up of seven crystal structures that would have housed five different environments, plus an agricultural and an urban section <ref name= "hill"> http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2011/10/07/why-for-did-epcot-s-future-world-not-turn-out-as-wed-had-originally-planned.aspx </ref>. After entering this version of The Land, guests would have first watched a brief theater show set on an American farm <ref name= "wedway"/> . Taking place in a structure similar to the [[Carousel of Progress]], this Carousel Show would have introduced guests to the Landkeeper, who would serve as guest's guide throughout the pavilion <ref name= "wedway"/>. After watching the preshow, guests would enter the rest of The Land which would have been themed as the Future Fair <ref name= "wedway"/>. The feature attraction of this early version of the pavilion would have been Blueprints of Nature, an attraction where guests would board a "balloon" (using a track mechanism similar to [[Peter Pan's Flight]]) and follow the journey of snow as it melted into water and flowed through earth's various ecosystems <ref name= "baxter"> http://homepages.which.net/~ian/historybaxter.html </ref>. According to Imagineer Tony Baxter:
  
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In January 1994, Kitchen Kabaret was closed and updated. The attraction that replaced it was titled Food Rocks, (which was basically a modern version of Kitchen Kabaret). The show still focused on nutrition, but the musical numbers were updated to appeal to a younger audience. In 1995 Symbiosis, the only remaining opening day attraction in the Land, finally closed. A new film was made for the Harvest Theater, entitled the Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable. The new show featured characters from the 1994 Disney movie the Lion King, but still focused on the balance between technological advancement and the conservation of the land. The pavilion itself also received a new color scheme, and fabrics, which made the pavilion seem more vibrant and new.  
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{{Quotation|The blueprints unfolded in the snowflakes of winter, then the germinating seeds of springtime, the flowers of summer, and the leaves of the fall. As we observed this never-ending cycle, the balloon soared upward with the flying eagle. "For man alone can learn from nature and can soar with the birds". The ride concluded by flying through all the crystals. When you looked down, you got an overview of the area you would soon be visiting on foot, which was the third part of the show.|Tony Baxter <ref name= "baxter"/>}}
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[[Image:TonyBaxterLand.jpg|thumb|400px|Concept art for Tony Baxter's vision of The Land.]]
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Although fairly well developed, the direction of The Land pavilion changed in 1978 when Georgia Pacific dropped out and Kraft announced that it would be sponsoring the pavilion (for 30 million dollars) <ref>  Crump, Rolly, and Jeff Heimbuch. It's Kind of a Cute Story. N.p.: Bamboo Forest, 2012. Print. </ref>. Instead of focusing on the earth’s habitats, the focus of The Land now shifted towards agriculture, and how humans cultivate their food <ref name= "Martin"/>. With Kraft as its sponsor, the layout of the pavilion itself was also redesigned. Tony Baxter left the project to work on what would eventually be the [[Journey Into Imagination pavilion]] (where he would eventually rework the Landkeeper into Dreamfinder) and Imagineer Rolly Crump and his team were tasked with coming up with new plans for The Land<ref name= "wedway"/>. At this time, the pavilion was reshaped to look like a glass pyramid or mountain <ref name= "book"/>. Furthermore, the entrance was given murals to represent entering the earth’s core <ref name= "Martin"/>. The new plans also called for The Land to be made up of a boat ride, later named [[Listen to the Land]] and the "Harvest Theater" which would show [[Symbiosis]], an environmental film <ref name= "Martin"/>. Originally, The Land pavilion was also going to feature temporary greenhouses; however it was later decided to permanently incorporate them into Listen to the Land<ref name= "Martin"/>. The final addition to the pavilion came when sponsor Kraft decided that they wanted the pavilion to include an attraction that focused on nutritional information <ref name= "Martin"/>. With this in mind, Imagineers created [[Kitchen Kabaret]]- an Audio Animatronic musical revue which featured singing food characters.
  
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In 2003, Nestle decided to renew it's sponsorship of the Land. As part of their agreement with Disney, Nestle had to finance all renovations to the pavilion. After renewing their sponsorship Nestle gave the interior of the Land a complete makeover. A new color scheme was added, adding even more bright colors to the pavilion. Wider walkways, new signage, and new carpets were all added to the Land. This included a new trapezoid shaped entrance sign. At this time, the food court in the pavilion was completely redesigned.  
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Besides its three main attractions, the Land pavilion also included a large food court on the first level, called the Farmers Market, as well as a rotating restaurant on the second floor (a holdover from the pavilion’s original design) called the Good Turn Restaurant <ref name= "Martin"/>.  
  
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[[Image:greenhoue.jpg|thumb|A view of The Land's greenhouse, from Living with the Land.]]
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The Land pavilion opened with the rest of EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982 <Ref> http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/epcotgrandopening.html </ref>.
  
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The first major change to The Land came in December 1982 when the shop Broccoli & Co. opened <ref> http://kpolsson.com/wdworld/wdw1972.htm </ref>. This little store was themed as a tie in to Kitchen Kabaret and it sold plants, small souvenirs, and (obviously) Kitchen Kabaret merchandise. Besides the addition of Broccoli & Co., the only other significant change to The Land pavilion during the 1980s came in 1986 when the Good Turn restaurant was renamed The Land Grille Room <ref name= "widen"> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/ecindex.htm </ref>.
  
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After renewing their sponsorship, Nestle also wanted to add an E Ticket attraction for the pavilion. On January 3, 2004, Food Rocks was permanently closed. The attraction was replaced by Soarin', a motion simulator attraction that simulated the experience of hang gliding. Soarin' was originally designed for Disney's California Adventure, so it was added to Disney World as part of the Happiest Celebration on Earth promotion. In order to accommodate the construction of Soarin', the entire Land pavilion was closed. The pavilion officially re-opened on  May 5, 2005 to rave reviews. While the attraction closed for that addition of Soarin', other changes were also made. The small greenhouse located in the front of the pavilion was removed and the Green Thumb Emporium was closed.  
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===Sponsorship by Nestle and Renovations (1993-2004)===
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[[Image:1990sChanges.jpg|400px|thumb|When Nestle took over sponsorship, Symbosis was replaced with The Circle of Life, and Kitchen Kabaret was replaced by Food Rocks]]
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When Nestle assumed sponsorship of The Land in 1993, renovations on the pavilion began immediately. The first major update came to the aesthetics of the pavilion itself, when the original colors of brown and blue were replaced with a more vibrant color palette <ref name= "Martin"/>. At this time, the Farmer’s Market was rethemed as the Sunshine Season Food Fair, the Land Grille Room became the Garden Grill, and the Broccoli and Co. was renamed the Green Thumb Emporium <ref name= "Martin"/> <ref name= "widen"/>.  
  
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In 2009, Nestle decided to pull out of it's sponsorship of the Land pavilion. Two years later, On July 29, 2011, Disney announced that Chiquita (a produce company) agreed to sponsor the attraction, Living with the Land. Despite this, the rest of the Land pavilion remains sponsorless.
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As part of the Nestle refurbishments all three of The Land's attractions were also updated. First, on September 23, 1993, Listen to the Land closed <ref> http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/Sep27.html </ref>. The attraction later reopened as [[Living with the Land]] on December 10, 1993 <ref name= "Martin"/>. During the refurbishment, both the Symphony of the Seed scene and the attraction’s theme song "Listen to the Land" were removed. Further changes included the fact that a prerecorded narration was now used for the first half of the attraction, and the attraction's finale was changed<ref name= "Martin"/>.  
  
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==Attractions==
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The next attraction to be updated was Kitchen Kabaret. The show closed on January 3, 1994, before reopening on March 26 as “Food Rocks” <ref> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/kk.htm </ref>. Instead of focusing on nutrition as Kitchen Kabaret had, Food Rocks instead parodied the top musical acts of the time <ref> http://www.yesterland.com/foodrocks.html </ref>. The last of The Land's attractions to be renovated was Symbiosis, which was shown in the Harvest Theater. Symbiosis closed on January 1, 1995 in order to make room for a new for a new film: [[Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable]] <ref> https://d23.com/a-to-z/symbiosis-film/ </ref>. The new attraction featured the characters Timon, Pumbaa and Simba from the 1994 Disney movie The Lion King. Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable opened on January 21, 1999 <ref> http://www.disney-pal.com/Epcot/circle_of_life.htm </ref>.
  
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'''Living with the Land'''- This narrated boat tour, takes guests through both a dark ride, and a greenhouse tour. Along the way, guests will learn the history of "the land" and humans effect on it. The attraction focuses on agriculture and how new technology effects it.
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Other minor changes to come to The Land pavilion during the mid-1990s refurbishment included:
  
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'''Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable'''- This 70 mm film teaches guests about their responsibility towards the environment. The film uses characters from the Lion King including, Simba, Timon and Pumbaa to show how all of our actions effect the land in some way. The Circle of Life movie is housed in the Harvest Theater.  
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* The seating in the atrium received new umbrellas <ref name= "Martin"/>.
  
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'''Soarin'''- This motion simulator attraction, allows guests to feel as if they are hang gliding over California. Along the way, guests will "fly" over California landmarks including: the Golden Gate Bridge, the Redwood Forests, and Disneyland.
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* Carpet was added to the atrium <ref name= "Martin"/>.
  
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'''Behind the Seeds Tour'''- For an additional cost, guests can experience the Behind the Seeds Tour. The tour takes them on a one hour walkthrough tour, of the greenhouse that guests can see on Living with the Land. As of March 2012, the tour cost 18 dollars per adult, and 14 dollars per child.
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* The ceiling mural was painted over <ref name= "book"/>.
  
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==Former Attractions==
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* Banners were hung from the roof in order to help with the pavilion's acoustics <ref name= "book"/>.
  
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'''Listen to the Land'''- This boat tour was nearly identical to the current Living with the Land. Originally opening in 1982, Listen to the Land was updated and renamed Living with the Land in 1993. Listen to the Land did not include the storm scene that guests see on the current attraction, however it did feature a theme song which is no longer used.  
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* The three floating balloons, which represented food groups, were replaced with five new ones which represented the different types of seasonal weather <ref name= "book"/>.
  
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'''Kitchen Kabaret'''- Opening in 1982, Kitchen Kabaret was a 13 minute Audio Anamatronic show. Hosted by Bonnie Appetite, the show was a musical revue which focused on healthy nutrition. Kitchen Kabaret closed in 1994, and was replaced by Food Rocks.
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===Recent History (2005-Present)===
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Following the mid-1990s refurbishments, The Land pavilion remained essentially unchanged for eight years. This ended however in 2003, when Disney decided to bring [[Soarin’]] (a very popular motion simulator attraction in Disney’s California Adventure) to Epcot. Initially, Disney planned on adding Soarin' to one of the World Showcase pavilions<ref name= "press"> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/soarin/news/03oct2004-disney-soarin-press-release.htm </ref>, however when a proper location could not be agreed upon, it was decided to house the attraction inside The Land <ref name= "press"/>. Although the attraction itself would take place in an expansion building, the queue for Soarin' was designed to go through the area that housed Food Rocks <ref name= "Martin"/>. Quietly, construction on Soarin' began in August of 2003, before the attraction was officially announced on October 10th<ref name= "press"/>. Despite the fact that its days were numbered, Food Rocks remained open until January 3, 2004<ref name= "Martin"/>.  The Land pavilion itself remained open for part of Soarin's construction. On January 2, 2005 however, the entire pavilion closed for a three month refurbishment <Ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/soarin/news/05nov2004-land-pavilion-closing-for-soarin-work.htm </ref>. During the renovation, Soarin' was integrated into the main atrium and changes were made to Living with the Land <ref name= "Martin"/>. Also at this time, Sunshine Seasons was redesigned and the pavilion's central fountain was removed in order to add more seating <ref name= "book"/>. Other changes that happened to the pavilion during the 2005 refurbishment included:[[Image:Soarin3.jpg|400px|thumb|Soarin' opened in The Land in 2005]]
  
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'''Food Rocks'''- Food Rocks was an Audio Anamatronic show that replaced in Kitchen Kabaret in 1994. The attraction was themed to be a musical fundraiser to promote healthy eating. Allthough the premise changed slightly, the show was basically just an updated version of Kitchen Kabaret. Food Rocks closed on January 13, 2004. Food Rocks was located in the current location of Soarin'
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* A remodeling and repaving of the entrance <ref name= "book"/>.
  
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'''Symbiosis'''- Symbiosis  was a 70 mm film shown in the Harvest Theater. The film focused on human's destruction of the land, and balance they needed to strike between  technological advancement and protecting the environment. Symbiosis opened on October 1, 1982 and closed in January of 2005. It was replaced by the Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable, another environment film which features characters from the Lion King.
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* The entire pavilion was given a new color scheme of green, light blue, light tan and golden yellow<ref name= "book"/>.
  
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==Restaurants==
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* The pavilion received new carpets, as well as new lighting <ref name= "Martin"/>.
  
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'''Garden Grill'''- The Garden Grill is located on the second floor of the pavilion, overlooking Living with the Land. The restaurant is open for dinner usually beginning right around four in the afternoon. The time of closing varies, depending on park hours. The Garden Grill allows guests to get a "Family Style Dinner" while allowing them to meet Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale. Also of note, is the fact that the Garden Grill actually rotates, giving guests a variety of different views.  
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* New ceiling banners replaced those added during the 1990s refurbishment<ref name= "Martin"/>.
  
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'''Sunshine Seasons'''- This food court allows guests to choose food from six different shops. The Sunshine Seasons consists of: a sandwich shop, an Asian shop, a soup and salad shop, a grill, a bakery, and a breakfast shop. The food court is located on the first level of the pavilion, across from Soarin'.
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* The balloons were repainted, so that they now signified the earth and the four seasons <ref name= "book"/>.  
  
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===Former Restaurants===
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* In order to help with the predicted increase in traffic flow, the pavilion's escalators were reversed<ref name= "book"/>.
  
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Although they have gone by three different names, the Land has always included a food court and a rotating restaurant.
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Despite the significant changes being made the pavilion, the construction only took two weeks longer than expected <ref name= "book"/>, and by April 29, 2005 the entire pavilion was fully operational <ref name= "Martin"/>. Since the 2005 renovation, The Land has only experienced some minor changes. In 2006, the skippers were removed from Living with the Land <ref name= "Jack"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/08/living_with_the_land_1.html </ref> and in 2007 interactive games were added to Soarin's queue <ref> http://allears.net/tp/ep/e_soar.htm </ref>. Subsequently, on February 13, 2009, Nestlé's sponsorship of The Land ended <ref name= "Jack"/>. Since that date, the Land has remained sponsorless (although Chiquita Brands International has sponsored the Living with the Land attraction since 2011 <ref> http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chiquita-and-walt-disney-world-resort-announce-multi-year-alliance-to-offer-fresh-healthy-chiquita-and-fresh-express-products-to-disney-guests-126408463.html </ref>).
  
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From 1982 until 1993 the food court in the Land was known as the [[Farmers Market Food Court]]. The food court specialized in Kraft products. In 1993, Nestle renamed it the "Sunshine Food Fair". During the 2004 refurbishment of the pavilion the name was changed a final time, to Sunshine Seasons.  
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On June 17, 2016, the new attraction [[Soarin' Around the World]] replaced the original Soarin' Over California attraction <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/soarin/news/15jun2016-soarin-to-close-early-to-prepare-for-new-soarin-around-the-world.htm </ref>. The new motion simulator attraction allows guests to hang glide over various world landmarks.
  
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The rotating restaurant located on the second floor of the pavilion was  known as the Good Turn Restaurant from 1982 until 1986, when the name was changed to the Land Grille Room. Following Nestles sponsorship of the pavilion in 1993, the restaurant was renamed again to it's current name, the Garden Grill.
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On February 3, 2018, Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable closed <ref> https://blog.touringplans.com/2018/01/10/circle-of-life-close-epcot/ </ref>. Subsequently, on March 19, 2019, Disney announced that a new film titled "Awesome Planet" would open in The Land pavilion's Harvest Theater <ref> https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/awesome-planet-coming-to-the-land-pavilion.953799/ </ref>.
  
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==Shopping==
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==Attractions==
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'''[[Awesome Planet]]'''- This 10 minute film showcases the many wonders and environments that the planet Earth has to offer.
  
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'''Soarin' Tour Desk'''- Located on the left hand side of Soarin',  the Soarin' Tour Desk allows guests to book spots on the Behind the Seeds Tour. Guests can also purchase small plants known as Mickey's Mini Gardens.  
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'''[[Living with the Land]]'''- This narrated boat tour teaches guests about the history of "the land" and the effect that humans have on it. The second half of the attraction takes guests through a working greenhouse where futuristic growing techniques are showcased.
  
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'''Green Thumb Emporium'''- Located across from the Soarin' Tour Desk, the Green Thumb Emporium sells Soarin' merchandise as well as Mickey's Mini Gardens. The store takes it's name from a much larger shop that was formally located in the Land.
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'''[[Soarin' Around the World]]'''- This motion simulator attraction allows to hang glide over various world landmarks. Destinations on Soarin' Around the World include, the Great Wall of China, the Matterhorn, the Eiffel Tower and many more.
  
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From 1982 until 1993, their was a large shop called Broccoli & Co. Located inside the Land pavilion near Kitchen Kabaret. The store sold Kitchen Kabaret merchandise, as well as various seeds. In 1993, the store became the Green Thumb Emporium, which sold Land and Epcot merchandise in addition to seeds. During the 2004 refurbishment, the store was demolished and was not replaced. A small store also named the Green Thumb Emporium did open, but it is nowhere near as large as it's namesake.
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'''Behind the Seeds Tour'''- For an additional cost, guests can experience the Behind the Seeds Tour. This tour takes guests on a one hour walkthrough  of the greenhouses that are seen on Living with the Land. The Behind the Seeds Tour was known as Tomorrow's Harvest from 1982 until 1993, and the Greenhouse Tours from 1993 until 1996.
  
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==Characters==
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==Former Attractions==
  
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'''Chip'''- Chip can always be found inside of the Garden Grill. However, guests must have reservations at the grill in order to meet him.
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'''[[Listen to the Land]]'''- The first incarnation of Living with the Land, Listen to the Land ran from 1982 until 1993.  
  
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'''Dale'''- Along with Chip, Dale can always be found inside of the Garden Grill. However, guests must have reservations at the grill in order to meet him.
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'''Kitchen Kabaret'''- Kitchen Kabaret was a 13 minute Audio Animatronic musical revue that focused on promoting healthy nutrition. Kitchen Kabaret ran from October 1, 1982 until January 1, 1994, when it was replaced by Food Rocks.  
  
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'''Mickey Mouse'''- Mickey can usually be found inside the Garden Grill with Chip and Dale. However, guests must have reservations at the grill in order to meet him.  
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'''Food Rocks'''- Food Rocks was an Audio Animatronic show that was themed to be a musical fundraiser to promote healthy eating. Parodying many of the top musical acts of the time, Food Rocks ran from 1994 until 2004 when it was closed in order to make room for Soarin'.
  
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'''Pluto'''- Pluto can usually be found inside the Garden Grill with Chip and Dale. However, guests must have reservations at the grill in order to meet him.  
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'''Symbiosis'''- Symbiosis was a 70mm film shown in the Harvest Theater. The film focused on human's destruction of the land, and the balance they needed to strike between technological advancement and protecting the environment. Symbiosis opened on October 1, 1982 and closed on January  1, 1995, when it was replaced by Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable.
  
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==Trivia==
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'''[[Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable]]'''- Housed in the Harvest Theater, this 70mm film taught guests about their responsibility towards the environment. Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable featured Simba, Timon and Pumbaa from the 1994 Disney Movie "The Lion King". Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable operated from 1995 until 2017.
  
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* Almost all of the fresh food used by the Garden Grill and Sunshine Seasons, is grown inside the Land pavilion itself.  
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'''[[Soarin' Over California]]'''- The original incarnation of Soarin' allowed guests to hang glide over various California landmarks, ending with a visit to Disneyland. The original Soarin' opened on May 5, 2005 and closed on June 16, 2016.
  
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* Solar panels line the roof of the Land pavilion.  
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==Restaurants==
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[[Image:Thelandkrafts.jpg|400px|thumb|The Land as it appeared during Kraft's sponsorship (1982-1993)]]
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'''[[The Garden Grill Restaurant]]'''- The Garden Grill is located on the second floor of the pavilion, overlooking Living with the Land. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it gives guests an opportunity to meet Chip, Dale, Mickey and Pluto. Also of note is the fact that the Garden Grill rotates, giving guests a variety of different views of Living with the Land.  
  
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* There is a VIP room at the top of the Pavilion accessible by pressing the elevator buttons in a certain sequence. The room looks down on parts of the Living with the Land attraction
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'''[[Sunshine Seasons]]'''- This food court allows guests to choose food from four different locations: the Soup & Salad Shop, the Asian Wok shop, the Sandwich Shop & Bakery, and Wood-Fired Grill Shop. The Sunshine Seasons is located on the first level of the pavilion, across from Soarin'.
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===Former Restaurants===
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Although they have gone by different names, The Land has always included a food court and a rotating restaurant. The former names of the restaurants are:
  
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* The Land pavilion is so big, that all of Fantasyland could fit inside it.  
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'''[[Farmers Market]]'''- The original food court in The Land pavilion. This restaurant featured Kraft products, and was open from 1982 until 1993 when Nestle assumed sponsorship of the pavilion.  
  
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* Although the Land is best known for it's entertainment, the pavilion is also a working  demonstration, production, and research facility.
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'''[[Sunshine Season Food Fair]]'''- The second incarnation of The Land's food court opened in 1994, following a lengthy refurbishment. The food court was once again renovated in 2004 and renamed simply Sunshine Seasons.
  
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==References==
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'''[[The Good Turn Restaurant]]'''- The original rotating restaurant was open from 1982 until 1986 when it was renamed the Land Grille Room. The Good Turn Restaurant offered American cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  
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http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tours-and-experiences/behind-the-seeds/
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'''[[The Land Grille Room]]'''- the second incarnation of the rotating restaurant, the Land Grille Room was open from 1986 until 1993 when it closed as part of the pavilion wide renovations. Following Nestle's sponsorship of The Land pavilion, the Land Grille Room was renamed the Garden Grill.
  
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http://allears.net/tp/ep/e_land.htm
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==Shopping==
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'''Soarin' Tour Desk'''- Located to the left of Soarin's entrance, the Soarin' Tour Desk allows guests to book spots on the Behind the Seeds Tour, as well as purchase small plants known as Mickey's Mini Gardens and seeds.  
  
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http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id240.htm
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'''Green Thumb Emporium'''- Located across from the Soarin' Tour Desk, the Green Thumb Emporium sells Soarin' merchandise, Mickey's Mini Gardens, and seeds. The shop takes its name from a much larger store that was formerly located in The Land from 1994-2005.
  
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http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id243.htm
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===Former Shopping===
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'''Broccoli & Co.'''- Located near the exit to Kitchen Kabaret, Broccoli & Co. sold Kitchen Kabaret merchandise, small plants, and seeds. Broccoli and Co. opened in December of 1982 and closed in 1993.  
  
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http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/attractions/the-land-pavilion/
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'''Green Thumb Emporium (1994-2005)'''- The original Green Thumb Emporium was located in the former location of Broccoli & Co.. The store sold Food Rocks merchandise, as well as other plant related merchandise and seeds. The Green Thumb Emporium opened in 1994 and was closed in 2005 in order to make room for Soarin', however a small shop near that location continues to use the Green Thumb Emporium name.
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==Fun Facts and Trivia==
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* Potential names for what would eventually be The Land pavilion included: Avant-Gardens, Harvest Tomorrow, Terrarama, Land Alive!, Naturescope, or Terra of Tomorrow <ref> http://www.disneybythenumbers.com/blog/blog_files/D23s%20Epcot%2030th%20Anniversary%20Celebration.html#sthash.5ybn2VDD.dpbs </ref>.
 +
 
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* The original plans for The Land pavilion called for an “Artic zone” part of the pavilion <ref name= "baxter"/>.
 +
 
 +
* The design of The Land pavilion inspired the architecture of the [[Journey Into Imagination Pavilion]] <ref name= "Martin"/>.
 +
 
 +
* Consultants on the pavilion included: Dr. Carl Hodges (University of Arizona), Dr. Bill Knott (NASA), the University of Minnesota, the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, and the Soil Science Department of the University of Florida.
 +
 
 +
* Construction on The Land started in February 1981 <ref name= "book"/>.
 +
 
 +
*  Almost all of the fresh food used by the Garden Grill and Sunshine Seasons are grown inside The Land pavilion itself <ref> This information comes from the Behind the Seeds Tour </ref>.
 +
 
 +
* Although The Land is best known for its entertainment, the pavilion is also a working demonstration, production, and research facility.
 +
 
 +
* There are two nearly identical mosaics located on either side of the entry ramp to The Land pavilion. The mosaics were designed by Hanns and Monika Scharf, with the only difference between the two being a single dark green tile, located on the right mosaic <ref name= "Martin"/>.
 +
 
 +
* The three original hot air balloons located in The Land pavilion were designed by Walt Peregoy <ref name= "book"/>.
 +
 
 +
* The large fountain originally found in The Land's atrium was sculpted Jim Sarno <ref name= "book"/>.
 +
 
 +
==References==

Latest revision as of 14:21, 8 October 2021

The Land
Landpavilion.jpg
The exterior of The Land pavilion.
Epcot
Land World Nature
Theme Earth's Environment
Opening date October 1, 1982
Number of Attractions 2
Sponsored by Kraft (1982-1993)
Nestle (1993-2009)
Logo TheLandLogo.png

The Land is a pavilion located in World Nature within Epcot.

Pavilion History

Development and Sponsorship by Kraft

The genesis of The Land pavilion dates back to the original concepts for EPCOT Center [1]. Initially, plans called for an Ecology and Mineral pavilion to be located in Future World; however the focus was eventually broadened to include all of the planet's environments in order to make the pavilion more appealing to potential sponsors [1]. In Walt Disney Production's 1977 Annual Report, Disney stated that The Land pavilion would "illustrate man's role as the protector of the Earth and its environments" [2].

The Land pavilion was originally going to be sponsored by a Georgia Pacific (a logging company) [3]and thus the first incarnation of the pavilion was created with a focus on natural habitats and the earth’s environments [4]. This early version of The Land called for the pavilion to be made up of seven crystal structures that would have housed five different environments, plus an agricultural and an urban section [2]. After entering this version of The Land, guests would have first watched a brief theater show set on an American farm [3] . Taking place in a structure similar to the Carousel of Progress, this Carousel Show would have introduced guests to the Landkeeper, who would serve as guest's guide throughout the pavilion [3]. After watching the preshow, guests would enter the rest of The Land which would have been themed as the Future Fair [3]. The feature attraction of this early version of the pavilion would have been Blueprints of Nature, an attraction where guests would board a "balloon" (using a track mechanism similar to Peter Pan's Flight) and follow the journey of snow as it melted into water and flowed through earth's various ecosystems [5]. According to Imagineer Tony Baxter:

The blueprints unfolded in the snowflakes of winter, then the germinating seeds of springtime, the flowers of summer, and the leaves of the fall. As we observed this never-ending cycle, the balloon soared upward with the flying eagle. "For man alone can learn from nature and can soar with the birds". The ride concluded by flying through all the crystals. When you looked down, you got an overview of the area you would soon be visiting on foot, which was the third part of the show.

— Tony Baxter [5]

Concept art for Tony Baxter's vision of The Land.

Although fairly well developed, the direction of The Land pavilion changed in 1978 when Georgia Pacific dropped out and Kraft announced that it would be sponsoring the pavilion (for 30 million dollars) [6]. Instead of focusing on the earth’s habitats, the focus of The Land now shifted towards agriculture, and how humans cultivate their food [1]. With Kraft as its sponsor, the layout of the pavilion itself was also redesigned. Tony Baxter left the project to work on what would eventually be the Journey Into Imagination pavilion (where he would eventually rework the Landkeeper into Dreamfinder) and Imagineer Rolly Crump and his team were tasked with coming up with new plans for The Land[3]. At this time, the pavilion was reshaped to look like a glass pyramid or mountain [4]. Furthermore, the entrance was given murals to represent entering the earth’s core [1]. The new plans also called for The Land to be made up of a boat ride, later named Listen to the Land and the "Harvest Theater" which would show Symbiosis, an environmental film [1]. Originally, The Land pavilion was also going to feature temporary greenhouses; however it was later decided to permanently incorporate them into Listen to the Land[1]. The final addition to the pavilion came when sponsor Kraft decided that they wanted the pavilion to include an attraction that focused on nutritional information [1]. With this in mind, Imagineers created Kitchen Kabaret- an Audio Animatronic musical revue which featured singing food characters.

Besides its three main attractions, the Land pavilion also included a large food court on the first level, called the Farmers Market, as well as a rotating restaurant on the second floor (a holdover from the pavilion’s original design) called the Good Turn Restaurant [1].

The Land pavilion opened with the rest of EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982 [7].

The first major change to The Land came in December 1982 when the shop Broccoli & Co. opened [8]. This little store was themed as a tie in to Kitchen Kabaret and it sold plants, small souvenirs, and (obviously) Kitchen Kabaret merchandise. Besides the addition of Broccoli & Co., the only other significant change to The Land pavilion during the 1980s came in 1986 when the Good Turn restaurant was renamed The Land Grille Room [9].

Sponsorship by Nestle and Renovations (1993-2004)

When Nestle took over sponsorship, Symbosis was replaced with The Circle of Life, and Kitchen Kabaret was replaced by Food Rocks

When Nestle assumed sponsorship of The Land in 1993, renovations on the pavilion began immediately. The first major update came to the aesthetics of the pavilion itself, when the original colors of brown and blue were replaced with a more vibrant color palette [1]. At this time, the Farmer’s Market was rethemed as the Sunshine Season Food Fair, the Land Grille Room became the Garden Grill, and the Broccoli and Co. was renamed the Green Thumb Emporium [1] [9].

As part of the Nestle refurbishments all three of The Land's attractions were also updated. First, on September 23, 1993, Listen to the Land closed [10]. The attraction later reopened as Living with the Land on December 10, 1993 [1]. During the refurbishment, both the Symphony of the Seed scene and the attraction’s theme song "Listen to the Land" were removed. Further changes included the fact that a prerecorded narration was now used for the first half of the attraction, and the attraction's finale was changed[1].

The next attraction to be updated was Kitchen Kabaret. The show closed on January 3, 1994, before reopening on March 26 as “Food Rocks” [11]. Instead of focusing on nutrition as Kitchen Kabaret had, Food Rocks instead parodied the top musical acts of the time [12]. The last of The Land's attractions to be renovated was Symbiosis, which was shown in the Harvest Theater. Symbiosis closed on January 1, 1995 in order to make room for a new for a new film: Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable [13]. The new attraction featured the characters Timon, Pumbaa and Simba from the 1994 Disney movie The Lion King. Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable opened on January 21, 1999 [14].

Other minor changes to come to The Land pavilion during the mid-1990s refurbishment included:

  • The seating in the atrium received new umbrellas [1].
  • Carpet was added to the atrium [1].
  • The ceiling mural was painted over [4].
  • Banners were hung from the roof in order to help with the pavilion's acoustics [4].
  • The three floating balloons, which represented food groups, were replaced with five new ones which represented the different types of seasonal weather [4].

Recent History (2005-Present)

Following the mid-1990s refurbishments, The Land pavilion remained essentially unchanged for eight years. This ended however in 2003, when Disney decided to bring Soarin’ (a very popular motion simulator attraction in Disney’s California Adventure) to Epcot. Initially, Disney planned on adding Soarin' to one of the World Showcase pavilions[15], however when a proper location could not be agreed upon, it was decided to house the attraction inside The Land [15]. Although the attraction itself would take place in an expansion building, the queue for Soarin' was designed to go through the area that housed Food Rocks [1]. Quietly, construction on Soarin' began in August of 2003, before the attraction was officially announced on October 10th[15]. Despite the fact that its days were numbered, Food Rocks remained open until January 3, 2004[1]. The Land pavilion itself remained open for part of Soarin's construction. On January 2, 2005 however, the entire pavilion closed for a three month refurbishment [16]. During the renovation, Soarin' was integrated into the main atrium and changes were made to Living with the Land [1]. Also at this time, Sunshine Seasons was redesigned and the pavilion's central fountain was removed in order to add more seating [4]. Other changes that happened to the pavilion during the 2005 refurbishment included:
Soarin' opened in The Land in 2005
  • A remodeling and repaving of the entrance [4].
  • The entire pavilion was given a new color scheme of green, light blue, light tan and golden yellow[4].
  • The pavilion received new carpets, as well as new lighting [1].
  • New ceiling banners replaced those added during the 1990s refurbishment[1].
  • The balloons were repainted, so that they now signified the earth and the four seasons [4].
  • In order to help with the predicted increase in traffic flow, the pavilion's escalators were reversed[4].

Despite the significant changes being made the pavilion, the construction only took two weeks longer than expected [4], and by April 29, 2005 the entire pavilion was fully operational [1]. Since the 2005 renovation, The Land has only experienced some minor changes. In 2006, the skippers were removed from Living with the Land [17] and in 2007 interactive games were added to Soarin's queue [18]. Subsequently, on February 13, 2009, Nestlé's sponsorship of The Land ended [17]. Since that date, the Land has remained sponsorless (although Chiquita Brands International has sponsored the Living with the Land attraction since 2011 [19]).

On June 17, 2016, the new attraction Soarin' Around the World replaced the original Soarin' Over California attraction [20]. The new motion simulator attraction allows guests to hang glide over various world landmarks.

On February 3, 2018, Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable closed [21]. Subsequently, on March 19, 2019, Disney announced that a new film titled "Awesome Planet" would open in The Land pavilion's Harvest Theater [22].

Attractions

Awesome Planet- This 10 minute film showcases the many wonders and environments that the planet Earth has to offer.

Living with the Land- This narrated boat tour teaches guests about the history of "the land" and the effect that humans have on it. The second half of the attraction takes guests through a working greenhouse where futuristic growing techniques are showcased.

Soarin' Around the World- This motion simulator attraction allows to hang glide over various world landmarks. Destinations on Soarin' Around the World include, the Great Wall of China, the Matterhorn, the Eiffel Tower and many more.

Behind the Seeds Tour- For an additional cost, guests can experience the Behind the Seeds Tour. This tour takes guests on a one hour walkthrough of the greenhouses that are seen on Living with the Land. The Behind the Seeds Tour was known as Tomorrow's Harvest from 1982 until 1993, and the Greenhouse Tours from 1993 until 1996.

Former Attractions

Listen to the Land- The first incarnation of Living with the Land, Listen to the Land ran from 1982 until 1993.

Kitchen Kabaret- Kitchen Kabaret was a 13 minute Audio Animatronic musical revue that focused on promoting healthy nutrition. Kitchen Kabaret ran from October 1, 1982 until January 1, 1994, when it was replaced by Food Rocks.

Food Rocks- Food Rocks was an Audio Animatronic show that was themed to be a musical fundraiser to promote healthy eating. Parodying many of the top musical acts of the time, Food Rocks ran from 1994 until 2004 when it was closed in order to make room for Soarin'.

Symbiosis- Symbiosis was a 70mm film shown in the Harvest Theater. The film focused on human's destruction of the land, and the balance they needed to strike between technological advancement and protecting the environment. Symbiosis opened on October 1, 1982 and closed on January 1, 1995, when it was replaced by Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable.

Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable- Housed in the Harvest Theater, this 70mm film taught guests about their responsibility towards the environment. Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable featured Simba, Timon and Pumbaa from the 1994 Disney Movie "The Lion King". Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable operated from 1995 until 2017.

Soarin' Over California- The original incarnation of Soarin' allowed guests to hang glide over various California landmarks, ending with a visit to Disneyland. The original Soarin' opened on May 5, 2005 and closed on June 16, 2016.

Restaurants

The Land as it appeared during Kraft's sponsorship (1982-1993)

The Garden Grill Restaurant- The Garden Grill is located on the second floor of the pavilion, overlooking Living with the Land. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it gives guests an opportunity to meet Chip, Dale, Mickey and Pluto. Also of note is the fact that the Garden Grill rotates, giving guests a variety of different views of Living with the Land.

Sunshine Seasons- This food court allows guests to choose food from four different locations: the Soup & Salad Shop, the Asian Wok shop, the Sandwich Shop & Bakery, and Wood-Fired Grill Shop. The Sunshine Seasons is located on the first level of the pavilion, across from Soarin'.

Former Restaurants

Although they have gone by different names, The Land has always included a food court and a rotating restaurant. The former names of the restaurants are:

Farmers Market- The original food court in The Land pavilion. This restaurant featured Kraft products, and was open from 1982 until 1993 when Nestle assumed sponsorship of the pavilion.

Sunshine Season Food Fair- The second incarnation of The Land's food court opened in 1994, following a lengthy refurbishment. The food court was once again renovated in 2004 and renamed simply Sunshine Seasons.

The Good Turn Restaurant- The original rotating restaurant was open from 1982 until 1986 when it was renamed the Land Grille Room. The Good Turn Restaurant offered American cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Land Grille Room- the second incarnation of the rotating restaurant, the Land Grille Room was open from 1986 until 1993 when it closed as part of the pavilion wide renovations. Following Nestle's sponsorship of The Land pavilion, the Land Grille Room was renamed the Garden Grill.

Shopping

Soarin' Tour Desk- Located to the left of Soarin's entrance, the Soarin' Tour Desk allows guests to book spots on the Behind the Seeds Tour, as well as purchase small plants known as Mickey's Mini Gardens and seeds.

Green Thumb Emporium- Located across from the Soarin' Tour Desk, the Green Thumb Emporium sells Soarin' merchandise, Mickey's Mini Gardens, and seeds. The shop takes its name from a much larger store that was formerly located in The Land from 1994-2005.

Former Shopping

Broccoli & Co.- Located near the exit to Kitchen Kabaret, Broccoli & Co. sold Kitchen Kabaret merchandise, small plants, and seeds. Broccoli and Co. opened in December of 1982 and closed in 1993.

Green Thumb Emporium (1994-2005)- The original Green Thumb Emporium was located in the former location of Broccoli & Co.. The store sold Food Rocks merchandise, as well as other plant related merchandise and seeds. The Green Thumb Emporium opened in 1994 and was closed in 2005 in order to make room for Soarin', however a small shop near that location continues to use the Green Thumb Emporium name.

Fun Facts and Trivia

  • Potential names for what would eventually be The Land pavilion included: Avant-Gardens, Harvest Tomorrow, Terrarama, Land Alive!, Naturescope, or Terra of Tomorrow [23].
  • The original plans for The Land pavilion called for an “Artic zone” part of the pavilion [5].
  • Consultants on the pavilion included: Dr. Carl Hodges (University of Arizona), Dr. Bill Knott (NASA), the University of Minnesota, the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, and the Soil Science Department of the University of Florida.
  • Construction on The Land started in February 1981 [4].
  • Almost all of the fresh food used by the Garden Grill and Sunshine Seasons are grown inside The Land pavilion itself [24].
  • Although The Land is best known for its entertainment, the pavilion is also a working demonstration, production, and research facility.
  • There are two nearly identical mosaics located on either side of the entry ramp to The Land pavilion. The mosaics were designed by Hanns and Monika Scharf, with the only difference between the two being a single dark green tile, located on the right mosaic [1].
  • The three original hot air balloons located in The Land pavilion were designed by Walt Peregoy [4].
  • The large fountain originally found in The Land's atrium was sculpted Jim Sarno [4].

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 http://www.martinsvids.net/?tag=the-land-pavilion
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2011/10/07/why-for-did-epcot-s-future-world-not-turn-out-as-wed-had-originally-planned.aspx
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Parish, Matt, Nate Parish, and Michael Crawford. "5:3 The Original Land Pavilion." Audio blog post. WedWay Radio. N.p., 20 May 2013. Web.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 Pedersen, R. A. The EPCOT Explorer's Encyclopedia:. United States: Epcyclopedia, 2011. Print.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 http://homepages.which.net/~ian/historybaxter.html
  6. ↑ Crump, Rolly, and Jeff Heimbuch. It's Kind of a Cute Story. N.p.: Bamboo Forest, 2012. Print.
  7. ↑ http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/epcotgrandopening.html
  8. ↑ http://kpolsson.com/wdworld/wdw1972.htm
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/ecindex.htm
  10. ↑ http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/Sep27.html
  11. ↑ http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/kk.htm
  12. ↑ http://www.yesterland.com/foodrocks.html
  13. ↑ https://d23.com/a-to-z/symbiosis-film/
  14. ↑ http://www.disney-pal.com/Epcot/circle_of_life.htm
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/soarin/news/03oct2004-disney-soarin-press-release.htm
  16. ↑ http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/soarin/news/05nov2004-land-pavilion-closing-for-soarin-work.htm
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/08/living_with_the_land_1.html
  18. ↑ http://allears.net/tp/ep/e_soar.htm
  19. ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chiquita-and-walt-disney-world-resort-announce-multi-year-alliance-to-offer-fresh-healthy-chiquita-and-fresh-express-products-to-disney-guests-126408463.html
  20. ↑ http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/soarin/news/15jun2016-soarin-to-close-early-to-prepare-for-new-soarin-around-the-world.htm
  21. ↑ https://blog.touringplans.com/2018/01/10/circle-of-life-close-epcot/
  22. ↑ https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/awesome-planet-coming-to-the-land-pavilion.953799/
  23. ↑ http://www.disneybythenumbers.com/blog/blog_files/D23s%20Epcot%2030th%20Anniversary%20Celebration.html#sthash.5ybn2VDD.dpbs
  24. ↑ This information comes from the Behind the Seeds Tour
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