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New Trains In The German Village Have A Sponsor Link

Friday, May 1st, 2009

You may not have noticed, but the trains in the outdoor mountainside village have been brought into the 21st century. The older model diesels and prams have been replaced by sleek high speed trains like those now seen in the European countryside.

Of course if you take a closer look you will see that EPCOT sponsor Siemans is the branded name on the models. If you are really quick (or take snapshot with your digital camera) you’ll see the web address www.dispolok.com. Visiting that site takes you to the source for renting that actual fleet of rail stock.

I don’t know if this is an official sponsorship or not. I also noticed a Lowenbrau beer boxcar. As we know, product placement can be very profitable and the subliminal message powerful. I just got thirsty for a trainload of beer.

Tags: EPCOT Sponsors, Things to look for at EPCOT, World Showcase
Posted in News, Observations | No Comments »

Look For Tammy The Broom Artist

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

I was surprised to see a small crowd gathering on the walkway to The Land the other day. (Where the fantastic Future Corps band used to play.) At first it appeared that a cast member was cleaning up the area. Then I noticed that the sweeper was actually dipping the broom in a dust pan that was filled with water. Then brusing the walkway. Rather than cleaning up, she was actually entertaining. (or both) “Tammy” was engaging visitirs with a guessing game as she drew a large image of what turned out to be Minnie Mouse. It was a nice interlude for many who would otherwise have just rushed on to the next ride que. It gave them something more to relate to friends when they went home.

With the staff cutbacks recently, I’ve noticed a bit less of the personal service that have made the Disney experience stand out in the world of theme parks… okay.. the world. This was a refreshing touch. I just hope Tammy isn’t doing this because she used to be an animator.

Tags: Cast Members, Disney employees, How they do it at EPCOT, The Land
Posted in Observations | No Comments »

Is Velcro Really an EPCOT Innovention?

Friday, January 30th, 2009

In the dumbing down of attractions at EPCOT to please what must be a pre-adolescent crowd, the low point might be the “Slap Stick Theatre”. The Velcro Corporation has paid what I’m sure is substantial sponsorship dollars to do an audience participation re-make of the Lucy and Ethel candy factory sketch. Now I’m a fan of Velcro. It’s one of the inventions from the “space race” that has become a part of everyday life. But putting diapers on dolls and sticking as many to your apron as possible is nothing new. And it just doesn’t seem like it will have any real impact on our “Future World”.

It’s sad that the only reference to anything that might expand the horizons of young minds is a spacesuit in the case where visitors can dress Velcro frogs. Frogs! Why not astronauts? Or hand out real Velcro sample kits rather than these pieces of frog clothes that are not good Velcro but are more like the Post It note equivalent.

It seems that when exhibits are being created by these outside sponsor companies, they ought to have some direction from the Disney Imagineers who should set a standard for excellence. It just just doesn’t seem like this is an attraction that will stick with people when they go home.

Tags: Innoventions
Posted in Attractions, Observations | 2 Comments »

EPCOT Dirty Jobs

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

Spaceship Earth Polishing in Progress

Back in 1986 when Disney World was celebrating the 15th anniversary I was fortunate enough to be in the media gathering broadcasting live from EPCOT. One of the employees I talked to was a painter who I met in the pre-dawn hours before the park opening. He was giving a restroom door in Communicore West a very thin coat of paint. He told me “we never stop painting”.

Well the one thing I never thought of was polishing the panels that cover the base of Spaceship Earth. Back in November it was suddenly dull. Since nobody was working on it at the time, I wasn’t sure if it was being changed to a less reflective surface. Well it’s done now and more lustrous than it has been in quite a while.

The mirror finish is now perfect. I have to admit that when it comes to jobs at EPCOT, the tedious polishing of Spaceship Earth might be close to the bottom of my list. So, good work guys!

Tags: Spaceship Earth
Posted in News, Observations | No Comments »