In this next post in our series about the Epcot theme park at Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort, we are taking a look at the final two pavilions in the Future World section of the park.

The Land Pavilion

The Land Pavilion is home to several attractions, the most popular of which is Soarin’. Queues for this ride are usually very long, so it’s a good idea to get there as early in the day as possible and, if necessary, get a FastPass.

Soarin’ is a motion simulator ride with a difference. You’ll be seated in a large vehicle which, when the ride begins, will lift up into the air. The movie screen in front of you will show scenes from various areas of California and you’ll feel as if you are flying over the different places, as the vehicle twists and turns, and the wind blows in your hair.

The other ride housed in the Land Pavilion is the Living with the Land Boat Ride. In the first section of this 14 minute long tour, you’ll pass by a series of displays which will tell you about some of the challenges faced by farmers acrosss the world as a result of Mother Nature. On the second part, you’ll travel through Epcot’s greenhouse area, where you can see various plants and fish, and see where the fruit and vegetables used in the Disney resort restaurants are grown.

The other main attraction in the Land Pavilion is Circle of Life, a 20 minute film featuring characters from Disney’s The Lion King. It takes place in the pavilion’s Harvest Theatre and is based on the theme of environmental responsibility.

You can stop off for something to eat at the Sunshine Seasons food court, where you can choose from a range of dishes, including noodle bowls, salads, sandwiches, soups and rotisserie chicken, or enjoy a character meal at the rotating Garden Grill Restaurant. There is also a shop in the Land Pavilion, where you can buy garden-related gifts.

Image: UpstateNYer

The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion

Originally called The Living Seas, this pavillion was re-themed in 2006 to incorporate some of the characters from the Disney Pixar film “Finding Nemo”.

The only ride in the pavillion is The Seas with Nemo and Friends. On this ride, you’ll travel in a giant clam shell and join Marlin and Dory as they try to find Nemo. This is a great ride and young children will love it.

The pavillion also houses The Sea Base and Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium, which includes a huge central salt-water tank which is home to more than 6,000 fish and marine creatures. If you contact Epcot in advance, you can also book a place on one of its special snorkelling programmes and explore beneath the surface. Epcot also offers scuba diving experiences for certified scuba divers. The Sea Base and Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium also includes a themed activity area for younger children, Bruce’s SharkWorld.

The other main attraction in this pavillion is Turtle Talk with Crush, an interactive show featuring Crush the Turtle and other characters from “Finding Nemo”.

You can stop off for something to eat in the Coral Reef Restaurant, where you can enjoy dishes such as grilled chicken, lobster salad and grilled mahi-mahi whilst  enjoying underwater views of the aquarium. There is also a gift shop stocking sea-themed souvenirs.

Once you’ve explored the Future World area of Epcot, you can either return to your hotel or hire car, or continue into the World Showcase section of the park. In the next post in this series, we’ll take a look at some of the attractions in the World Showcase area of Epcot.

Image: Deror avi