©Disney

When most people think of the future, they think of advances in technology, space exploration, communication, transportation and even recreation. But while people are busy doing all those futuristic activities, they still have to eat.

The Land at EPCOT Center looked at new ways of growing crops, making once harsh environments able to produce food for the ever expanding world population. Not always the most glamorous aspect of the future, but still a vital one. And The Land handled this topic in interesting and informative ways.

The Land contained three attractions in one pavilion, along with a table service restaurant and a food court. Because of all these different offerings, this was the largest of the Future World pavilions.

One attraction found here was Listen to the Land, a boat ride looking at different ways to grow crops. The vehicles were actually two boats in tandem that traveled through a water-filled trough; each set of boats had a live narrator. The boats would first pass through different harsh environments, such as a rainforest, a desert, and an American prairie; in each of these it was once difficult for man to survive because of the difficulty of producing food. But the boats then passed by an American farm house, showing that man was able to tame the prairie to make farm land.

The boats then passed by film projections of different farming techniques before entering the futuristic growing areas. In these large greenhouses, guests saw new ways to grow crops, such as hydroponics, using water instead of soil, and aeroponics, with plant roots exposed to the air. Guests were often amazed at the large fruits and vegetables found in the greenhouses. The song "Listen to the Land" was heard in a couple of different versions in the attraction and appeared on The Official Album of EPCOT Center.

Experimental methods of growing plants seen on Listen to the Land

Another popular attraction found in The Land was the Kitchen Kabaret. This Audio-Animatronic show was largely modeled after the Country Bear Jamboree, with different acts appearing on the main stage while the host (or in the Kitchen Kabaret, hostess Bonnie Apetit) appeared in various costumes on smaller side stages.

Curtain call at the Kitchen Kabaret

The main purpose of the Kitchen Kabaret was to educate about good nutrition in meals. Each of the four food groups was represented by a different act. Mr. Dairy Goods and his Stars of the Milky Way (Miss Ice Cream, Miss Yogurt and Miss Cheese) told all about the dairy group. Hamm and Eggz had a Vaudeville-style routine about the meat group. The Cereal Sisters sang about a trupmet-playing loaf of bread who became the Toast of the Town. And the Fiesta Fruit and the Colander Combo sang a memorable song about fruits and vegetables. Particularly popular in this group was Broccoli, who wore flip-up sunglasses and what appeared to be something of a punk hairdo; Broccoli souvenirs could be found in the gift shop, named Broccoli & Co. Many of the performers looked very much like different Kraft food products, especially members of the house band, the Kitchen Krackpots. Kraft was the sponsor of the pavilion.

Symbiosis was a film about how man worked in cooperation with the environment to produce crops used for food. The film discussed how man's efforts at times have harmed the land instead of helped. Man has to work together with the land, in symbiosis, to achieve the best results for the long term.

The center of the pavilion was a large open area under the uniquely-shaped dome roof, allowing for much natural light to enter the building. Three stylistic ballons hung from the ceiling over a large fountain. Tables surrounding the fountain were for seating from the nearby food court, the Farmers Market. A rooster stood over the large clock above the seating area and would crow on the hour.

An unusual restaurant was the Good Turn Restaurant. This table-service eatery slowly rotated, so that guests would make a complete circle during their meal. As they rotated, guests had a unique look at some of the areas seen in the Listen to the Land ride, including being able to see into the farm house, a view not seen from the ride.

©Disney
The seating lobby

Many times people take food production for granted. But as The Land reminds us, as the population expands and technology advances, we can continue to find new ways to provide enough food to meet the needs of the world.

- Story and Photos by Steve Burns
Posted

Steve is a three-time Disney Store National Trivia finalist and webmaster of BurnsLand, home of Steve's Disney Railroad Adventures.

E-mail Steve at steve@startedbyamouse.com, discuss this article in the StartedByAMouse.com Disney Discussion Forums or use the Talkback feature below.

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