Walkabout The World - A Disney Podcast - A Walkabout into Season 2 at Epcot

Episode Date: January 9, 2022

Hello Travelers! Welcome to the first episode of season 2 of Walkabout the World, and we're back in Epcot here at Walt Disney World. Journey along with us as we retrace our steps from episode 1 in March of last year when we launched the podcast. Hear the Beacon of Magic ceremony from the fountain area in front of Spaceship Earth, holiday music (why...), the fountain (because obviously), the area around and in The Seas With Nemo, and finally we end up as we did in episode 1 - at The Land pavilion and a ride through Living with the Land. Since it's still the holidays at Epcot apparently, you get to to hear the Land holiday version!   As always, use good listening devices as we always record in 4 channel surround sound. We hope you enjoy the episode and thanks so much for following along!   Look us up at @WalkaboutWDW on Instagram and drop us a note to say hi! Find our producer Josh also on Instagram at @TheSteele. Say hi to our west coast correspondent Ric at @KiltedJediRic.    You can now also drop us at line at [e-mail]. Say hi, give us some suggestions on things you'd love to hear, or even send us a show open - record your own 'Hello Traveler' show open when you are out and about, and we'll work it into a future show!

Hello travelers, welcome back to Walk About the World, your weekly audio expedition through one of the parks or resorts of Walt Disney World here in Orlando, Florida. and I didn't know it was still the holidays, but this evening we are in Epcot, and it still is. I'm not sure when the holiday stuff will go away. I remember last year it took forever. It seemed like until late January some of this stuff was around. Maybe I'm remembering

it being a little further along than it was. But we are back in Epcot tonight for a special reason. First off, welcome to season two. I bet you didn't know we had seasons.

We didn't. But now we do, because we have another one. So we have season two. We are right at golden hour. I see a lot of fancy cameras around taking photos of Spaceship Earth, and why not? Gold and purple and blue. Looking gorgeous. We're going to take a walk around the fountain in front of the Spaceship Earth building and capture some of the just general ambience of this area in front of Spaceship Earth.

But I'm here tonight because for those of you that have been with us since the beginning, which can't be more than like three of you, because we had no listeners at the beginning, but we started here. The very first episode of Walk About the World was here at Epcot, and we are going to retrace our steps tonight. We're going to take a leisurely stroll from here over past the C's in C Base Alpha. For those of you who are retro Epcot fans, we may even pop in. I'm not sure.

I recently visited the Seas building. Okay, it was probably October, but I recently visited, and there is very little audio in there, very, very little ambience in there. But just for the heck of it, we may pop in. Don't hold it against me if we don't. But we're going to end up in the land pavilion because again, we're retracing our steps from episode one and we're going to ride the land together. I know we just released a bonus episode of the land recently, but can you have too much of living with the land? And the answer is no, no, you can't. And if anybody says, yes, you can, you don't need that type of negativity distance yourselves you have to protect yourselves from toxicity

oh wait a second did we time this right? we did good evening friends look around you Good evening, friends. Look around you. There is a special magic that flows through this place. The magic of possibilities. Expanding with stardust made more brilliant by the light that lives within you.

It inspires us to lead with curiosity, unlock our imagination, and explore new horizons. Tonight, as we gather together under the glow of Spaceship Earth, our sparks ignite the magic to create a beacon, shining out and celebrating 50 years of the most magical place on earth. The most magical place on earth. It's my camera, sorry. It's my camera. And then silence. That was the lighting of the beacon of magic. Wait a minute, here comes Rudolph again.

Rudolph again. So weird, because it's January 3rd. I don't know about you guys, but you know how excited I was for the holidays and couldn't wait to have holiday season and we put our tree up in November and all of that. You remember that? Well, that's done. I don't know about you guys, but when it hits January 1, I'm out. Holidays, it was nice to have you. See you next year. I'm done.

Oh, man. Spaceship Earth, if you have not seen the new lighting features of Spaceship Earth, I kid you not, it's the best thing that they've done to the parks in years. Wait a minute, here we go. For the safety and health of everyone, masks fully covering your mouth and nose are required when indoors. Wash your hands often and cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Thank you for your cooperation. Do you know the rules by now? Can you guys hear my camera going off, by the way?

If you can, sorry. I'm not a professional. I should have silenced that. I'm trying to do so now. But what I was saying, it is stunning. Spaceship Earth has always been beautiful, but this truly is next level.

They can do so much with the lights on these geodesic tiles. From effects to different shadowing layers that they do, absolutely gorgeous. Okay, let's take a walk around the fountain. We haven't done that in a while. Currently the edges of the fountain glowing deep azul blue. The prisms are a peach. Fading slightly to like a wine color. With the blue of Spaceship Earth behind earth behind them ah wish you were here you are you're with me with any luck we can photobomb some people taking some photos here thank you I love the new flags too.

They had flags and then they changed them. And I think I like the ones they changed into even better Epcot and water feature it is deep dusk. Man, it looks amazing right now. Currently looking through what our family calls the wind tunnel. Right underneath Spaceship Earth. Camera store to the right. And just a very slight glow of orange on the horizon, the sun is almost down. It's almost difficult to take a bad picture right now. Something I noticed on the way in, by the way, is that the ticket booths, before you get to the tap styles,

the ticket booths have brand new coats of paint, and they match all of the new Epcot color scheme. And they look great. Like, say what you want about... By the way, we are slowly walking our way over towards the land. But say what you want about what's being done to the park itself. You know, the attractions. If you're like, hey, does, you know, Guardians of the Galaxy actually belong in Epcot? Yeah, whatever, we can have that. We can have that discussion.

The answer is no, but still, I'm excited to have it here. But the crew that does the art, the iconography, is nailing it. Whatever part of Imagineering or Yellow Shoes or whatever that is, they're nailing it because the colors look great. We are now on the backside of Spaceship Earth. Is that a thing? It is now.

Imagination Pavilion in the distance. A sizable crowd with us here tonight. I thought, you know, maybe, after the first, the crowds would be dying down. Am I correct? No.

No. There is a load of people here. Also, it is Florida cold. It's about 59. also it is florida cold it's about 59 i know you're gonna laugh but so many phones and uh and cameras out right now it is beautiful traveler like i it's so funny for me walking here and every single other person is facing the opposite way towards Spaceship Earth

because they're looking at the new lighting features oh the monorail is about to pass over the monorails the monorails now have an LED lighting package underneath, so they look extra cool when they go by. Yeah, it's about 59, so for usidians, it's shorts and a hoodie. It's the uniform.

Just as we did with episode one, retracing our steps. You know where we are. The Seas with Nemo and Friends, otherwise known as the Living Seas. Come on, birds. There you go. There you go. Let's walk over towards the entrance where you can come in to the store. And we will, maybe we'll pop in. We will have to mask up though.

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5.07 5.07 5.07 5.07 5.07 5.07 5.07 5.07 from Nemo. Okay, so you hang on just a second. I'm going to mask up because that's what we do. And I'll be right back with you. Okay. Once again, it is me.

Behind the mask. And behind the mic. I'm sure you can tell. And if you would have told me that in early 2022, I would still be, well, behind the mic or the mask, I probably would have been surprised. But I definitely would have been surprised about the mask part. So where are you? You're currently in the Living Seas gift shop. And this isn't the cynical Disney podcast, as you know, but this shop always bums me out. Because, yeah, they got your, I mean, I'm just looking around here, you got your Mickey hats, you got your beach towels, you got your mine, mine, mine shirt, and your, uh, it's very generic. And I know know supply chain's rough but way before before the

supply chain stuff this store was very generic and boring and i will tell you that they could have so much like just producer josh alone i set producer josh down for an afternoon and said can you come up with some really cool vintage Living Seas Epcot stuff? I bet you he could knock it out of the park, pun intended. Come on, Disney. Okay, here we go. We're now right in the middle of the Seas Pavilion building. Really cool sign now that they have.

Not a lot of ambience, as I was saying. Aquariums all around you. The diver lockout chamber right in front of us. And what is that weird show that they had with Hulk Hogan back in the day? I'm blanking. All of you are probably yelling at your mic right now. But some really, really crappy TV show that they actually filmed here.

And Hulk Hogan and some other wrestler guy were filmed floating down through this lockout chamber and they had a fight and a tussle and did what they do in their little bikini briefs. Very, very weird show. I watched a few episodes and I just couldn't believe it. Here's Module 1C, Ocean Life.

Reef Ecosystems. These are the cool little aquariums in here. This area is actually kind of nice. Eels, seahorses, whatnot. Let's take a quick walk through Here's an aquarium with the little dories in them. What are dories called? Is it a... What are they?

Is it a blue tang or something? What are they? Yes, regal blue tang. Well, there you go. It's been a while since I've done massed recording, so I hope you can hear me. And other than describing what you can see in aquariums, which is not exciting, there's not a whole lot for you to hear. So we're going to head out. There is a sign here as we exit that I took a photo of prior.

It says, Exit to Future World. Have we talked about this? I hope it doesn't get noticed. Kind of feel like I've mentioned it. I'm not sure. All right. back through the lackluster gift shop. And out.

Into the quote chilly evening. Here we go. Alright. Unmasked. All right. Unmasked. I don't mind obeying the rules, but... From my lips to God's ears, may this thing soon pass. Also, it makes my nose run.

Is that weird? Okay. Kind of looks like I could take a right over through the stroller parking, but I don't want to get caught in a stroller corral. Okay, taking a right over towards the land. Statues of Dorian friends to the right. There we go. Poor little thing. There's always at least one.

This is a strange area. Very dark. Like, pitch dark over here. Hardly any lights by the stroll of the corrals. See, I cut a lot of this out last time. Not doing that today. Okay, headed up the hill. Wow.

Absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite signs. Okay, we've got to come over here because because i got to take a picture of it the land sign with the water running down it literally every single guest completely ignoring it but me that's okay. I got you. Living with the land. Love it. Okay, going up the hill.

The other one. Right there. Yeah, I got to make sure we're... Mosaic tiles to the right and left. Come on. mosaic tiles to the right and left wow this is really interesting here nearly got ran over like twice and one person was annoyed that they almost ran over me sorry to interrupt them ok I'm going to mask up here we go And one person was annoyed that they almost ran over me.

Sorry to interrupt them. Okay, I'm going to mask up. Here we go. All right, here you are. In a land pavilion, and we're masked up. Did I mention there's a lot of people here? Here's Awesome Planet. Literally never seen it.

But it does have the awesome old school wall carpet. You know what I'm talking about, right? Carpet with all the designs on it in there. Here's our garden grill. Let's go down the escalator. Don't fall. Okay, what do we see? Wait time of 15 minutes.

I'm going to put you guys on pause until we actually get there because it'll be really boring otherwise. See you in a second. For your safety, please remain behind the yellow line until the boat comes to a great stop. Welcome to a voyage of discovery and the rich story of the rich story of the diverse self-surprising nature of living with plants. The rich folk of the diverse, often surprising nature, are living in a landscape. Our journey begins as dirt matters and sudden changes are sweeping open the land. The approaching storm may seem violent and destructive to us, but to nature, it's a new beginning in the cycle of life and life. R1 When you go down the land, moves from trap water from the flowing mud, extracting precious nutrients and minerals.

These elements, when combined with sunlight, create the diverse living systems is the rainforest, home to the most amazing concentration of life on our planet. These dense and beautiful forests cover only a tiny portion of the Earth's surface, but they contain more than half of its plant and animal species. Rainforests are also extremely rich in productive living systems, providing us with oxygen, food, medicines, and other elements essential to our lives. In the desert, nature has created a very different, but no less beautiful, living system. And while this arid landscape may seem lifeless, it is very much alive. The plants and animals that have learned to survive in these harsh conditions make use of what little water they can find and avoid the scorching rays of the relentless sun. The American prairie once appeared as desolate as the desert, but over time rainwater and

nutrients gradually penetrated the hard surface of this land. Even the hooves of the mighty buffalo helped create the rich soil that would one day become home to the American farm. Of all the forces at work on the land, humans have had one of the most profound effects. The need to produce food for a growing world led to the enormous use and sometimes overuse of the most profound effects. The need to produce food for a growing world led to the enormous use and sometimes overuse of the land. In our search for more efficient ways to grow food, we often fail to realize with the wind, discovering better ways to grow food that will assure both human and environmental well-being. Namo Amitabha In the fall, we're learning that plant-based vegetation,

bacteria, and microorganisms can enrich the soil without the use of chemicals. In arid regions, we're learning to produce food on desert sea coasts by developing and planting crops that thrive on saltwater. In Japan we're learning that by mixing leaves and other living materials into our soil, we can make farmland more fertile without the different chemicals. Here at Epcot, we're learning to reduce the need for chemical pesticides by breeding and using natural predators, like ladybugs and wasps, to control them. How will we meet tomorrow's growing needs for food production, yet still respect the needs of the land? Some of the answers are being discovered just ahead. To help us maintain these carefully controlled ecosystems, and for your safety, please remain seated in your boat at all times. Welcome to our glimmering greenhouses, where scientists from Epcot and the U.S. Department of Agriculture illuminate the wondrous gifts we receive from the land.

Join us as we rig in the and snow, but one of the most important holiday crops actually grows in the tropics. For centuries, farmers in Central America have cultivated cacao to make chocolate. In fact, cacao is chocolate's main ingredient. Today, people around the world are able to enjoy a variety of sweets and keep warm with a cup of hot cocoa, thanks to this tropical plant. Norske Råd Stortinget er en avdel av de større styrningstakene som styrer styrningstakene. Styrningstakene er styrtet på styrningstakene, som styrer styrningstakene. When you think of holidays, you might not think of fish, but seafood is an essential part of many festive meals.

In parts of southern Italy, family and friends gather once a year to celebrate Lava Giulia with a seven- course seafood dinner. Tilapia, bass and shrimp, like the ones raised here, using our sustainable water systems, make up just some of the dishes served during this grand reunion. Today, in the United States, the tradition is known at 777 conditions. Sintra, Citrus, like the oranges grown here, are common in Florida, but in Northern Europe, where fresh fruit is greater in winter, they're much harder to find, making them an extra special stocking stuffer. During Chinese New Year, these vibrant fruits are given as gifts of good fortune. They say it's better to give than to receive, and in this greenhouse, we're celebrating

the holidays by giving back to the land using innovative farming techniques. By recycling water, we can give plants rich nutrients. By giving plants ladybugs, we're able to control pests and reduce the need for pesticides. And by growing ground plants vertically, we give them better protection from disease. With these gifts, our plants can grow an abundance of festive vegetables. This greenhouse alone grows a bountiful 15 tons of produce each year. When we give more, we receive more, making the most of the land you see here help spice up the holiday. The bark of cinnamon trees, like the one growing beside you, is used to make cinnamon sticks. Do you like eggnog? You can thank nutmeg for its signature taste.

Other spices, like ginger and vanilla, add flavor to a variety of holiday cookies, cakes, and other delights. By cultivating these festive plants with care and good cheer, Epcot scientists are able to celebrate the holidays with the land's many gifts. These greenhouses represent just a fraction of the work being done worldwide to produce bountiful harvests for our growing population. Scientists, farmers, and even backyard gardeners are doing their part to improve the quantity and quality of foods that we all rely upon. Together, we can continue to find more ways to increase food production and protect our precious natural environment. Only then will we truly be living with the land. On behalf of Walt Disney World, we hope you've enjoyed this unique journey through our living laboratories.

If you'd like a closer look, then check out the Behind the Seas Walking Tour. It's a chance for the whole family to get out close and personal with the plants and growing techniques in our laboratories. Please keep your hands and feet inside the boat and remain seated until the boat comes to a complete stop. Thank you. Well, that was fun. And we are back near Spaceship Earth and by the fountain. And the cool thing is, because it's still the holidays, we actually got to experience together the holiday overlay of the land. And one thing I noticed, I do like it, but one of the things I noticed was that there's a lot more silence in this narration than the normal one. The spot where

they're like, hey, and there are bananas growing on each side of the boat. It was just, though. So with that, I want to wrap up our expedition for today. I had an enjoyable time retracing our steps from episode one. Hey, there goes monorail yellow. To your left. And a cool announcement for season two is that we're going to have three people contributing audio. Not only myself, but also producer Josh.

And new to the team, providing audio you recently heard from Disneyland, is Rick Peralta, a really good friend, an optician of merit, and famous for being on a Super Bowl commercial for Dexcom. Rick, if I got that wrong, tell me. But both of these guys now have the same microphone that I use, and how much will they be contributing? I'm not sure. Will they be doing walk-arounds, just capturing ambience and rides? Or will they be doing walk-and-talks? I don't know.

If there's one thing you should know about our podcast by now is that we don't have a plan. We figure this stuff out as we go, but it's gonna be fun. And we'll be getting some audio occasionally from the West Coast, which will be nice. And with that, thank you guys as always for listening.

Hope you had a great holiday. Holiday's still going on here apparently. And I hope your new year is good. I hope you are healthy and well. Look us up on Instagram as always at, at WalkaboutWDW. Drop us a note. Tell us when and where and how you listen. Whether it's jogging or doing the dishes or falling asleep because that would make total sense.

That's absolutely fine. Also brand new is an e-mail address. I know. I know, right? We have an email address now. Contact at walkabouttheworld.com Contact at walkabouttheworld.com Give us a note. Oh, here we go.

We're about to experience the spaceship Earth lighting. What park is my favorite? I don't know. Normally it's whichever one I'm in at the moment. But I really love Epcot. Thank you. Thank you.... Clapping indeed. I'm not alone you know, talk to us. Blah blah blah. Look up our producer Josh on Instagram at thesteel with an E. Look up our West Coast correspondent Rick Peralta at kiltedjedirick.

And with that, even from Epcot, there is a great big beautiful tomorrow and a new year ahead of us. See you in one of those tomorrows. That's where we went for real. Holiday music. see you in one of those tomorrows holiday music see everybody