Disney’s FUTURE WORLD
As you enter the turnstiles, dominated visually by the giant geodesic dome that is home to the Spaceship Earth ride, you’ll notice a new feature: Leave a Legacy, which offers guests a chance to have an image of themselves engraved in metal and attached to a series of modern stone structures. Future World itself comprises a series of huge, modernistic buildings around the outside, the access to which is through Innoventions East and West. Some buildings house a single ride attraction while others afford the opportunity to browse various exhibits – usually hands-on – and enjoy smaller rides within the main pavilion. Most attractions here are sponsored by major corporations, which will be evident from the signs.
Spaceship Earth
Housed in a massive, 7,500- ton geodesic sphere, this continuously loading ride conveys you gently past superbly crafted tableaux and animatronic scenes portraying mankind’s progress in technology. Almost as interesting as the ride is the dome which cunningly recirculates rainwater into the World Showcase Lagoon.
Innoventions
Both buildings, East and West, form a hands-on exhibition of products of the near future which, through ties to consumer electronics manufacturers, is constantly updated.
Its structure – small, selfcontained demonstration or game bays – make Innoventions an excellent “quick visit” you can return to throughout the day as you wait for your Fastpass time window or for lines to shorten. Though some of the original games have moved to Downtown Disney, there’s still plenty for kids to do, while parents take in the “live infomercials” that show off, and soft-sell, the latest gadgets.
TOP TIPS
• Test Track is exceptionally popular but unreliable. To avoid the long lines, try to ride this first. On leaving, take a Fastpass ticket for another ride later.
• If a breakdown occurs during your ride, after disembarking ask the cast member if you can ride again, immediately.
• Because Test Track runs continuously – even when the park is closed – you can jump back on it for a repeat ride in the last minutes before park closing.
• Ellen’s Energy Adventure show is exceptionally long (45 minutes). Take it in for a break from the heat or while you wait for a Fastpass ride window to become available.
• Although the lines for Ellen’s Energy Adventure are long, it takes 600 guests every 17 minutes, so you won’t have long to wait.
• The Land, with its giant produce, is an agriculturist’s dream pavilion. It contains the new thrill ride Soarin, which appeals to all except the very young. Probably a better bet for them is The Seas with Nemo & Friends, which has recently been modified to take advantage of Disney’s monster hit Finding Nemo.
