|
For some years now, the pattern at Epcot has been to run "normal" operations
only during summer and a few brief weeks in between its other events. The
holiday season has special fireworks and decorations, but that's almost to be
expected. The big events in other seasons are Food and Wine (F&W) in the fall,
which attracts hordes of visitors, and the Flower and Garden Festival (F&G) in
the spring.
Well, it's spring, and F&G has officially come back to Epcot. Overall
verdict: about the same as previous years. Which is to say, the event doesn't
really draw big crowds, or at least certainly nothing like the Food and Wine
event. The addition of character topiaries in various places is fun and welcome
and all that, but not really that different from previous years. The exhibits
move around (the big news is the addition of the Wonders of Life pavilion for a
festival home base, something we'll see with Food and Wine too). But on the
whole, there's nothing earth shattering or all that new.
The main entrance has a nifty new set of topiaries: Mickey, Minnie, and
Goofy. I love all the new palm trees! (they were added to other places around
the park too). Playing over the PA was a loop of Beach Boys songs. You know
these songs, all of them. It's amazing how many hits they had! And I have to
say, I just love the Beach Boys. It's hard not to sing along.
But that having been said, let me venture down the scathing critic path for
just one moment. The Beach Boys and surfing theme for this year's F&G Festival
would be just fine, peachy-keen, and most excellent if used in World Showcase.
But what in tarnation are they thinking by putting that music at the entrance to
Future World?
Epcot, lest we forget, derives its name from an acronym that laid emphasis on
futurism. The entire theme of the park is hopeful visions of the future.
Technology will improve our lives, we'll be in closer contact with Mother
Nature, and us humans will learn to coexist as nations. Pray tell, what does the
Beach Boys have to do with all this? I hate it being here. I love their music,
know all the words by heart, but abhor that the ticket booths and turnstiles are
overtaken by this nonsense. Have they no sense of theme, of mood setting?
Sigh, deep breath. There, I'm better now. Honestly, most of the event is
pretty harmless. And I like occasional change in the theme parks, as it keeps
things fresh.
The floral patterns are always pretty, especially when colors are bright
early on in the festival. The butterfly house, however, has fewer butterflies
yet hatched this early.
The topiaries move around each year. These caballeros were next to Mexico
last year, and now occupy this planter nearby. It's almost a game of "find the
topiary."
The F&G brings a few playgrounds to Epcot, which my five year old has always
appreciated. This one near Italy (in the area I think of as the Australia
Walkabout during Food and Wine) has a rock playset that always struck me as
pointless, and a touch dangerous. You can climb the rock, and then do nothing
(except climb back down).
There are bonsai displays at both China and Japan.
The area between Morocco and France is given over to "outdoor rooms" and
kitchens you can build.
Another playground here uses yet more of the plastic "shavings" on the
ground, and something that has always intrigued me, artificial grass. I'm just
itching to get rid of my St. Augustine lawn, since it's so thirsty!
|
