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The Epcot Explorer's Encyclopedia

Monthly Archives: May 2012

Photos to Prove There Is Nothing To See Yet at Test Track

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We just want to prove we haven’t been entirely slacking off with the Epcot coverage and in particular our coverage of the Test Track 2.0 conversion. In fact, we were just there super-sleuthing, climbing up on things, darting behind other things, pretending to be stealthy, shining bright lights in cast member’s faces, asking difficult questions (what time IS the three o’clock parade?!?), and generally being obnoxious.

Sadly, there’s just nothing to report about right now. All the interesting work is being done far away from our prying eyes. Here’s out photographic evidence of just how boring looking it is. And for the record, there’s nothing to see behind the wall. We checked. It’s just empty and all the doors into the building are closed. Nothing to see – yet.

Brave Brings Free Wifi to Epcot June 1st to July 8th

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Disney tried to disguise its latest attempt to test out offering free Wifi in Epcot for a trial period as a movie tie-in at a children’s play area. But we’re on to you Disney – we’re watching.. always watching…

From June 1-July 8, Epcot will serve as the setting for the Brave – The Highland Games Tournament, a kid-focused offering that will include games like Mini Caber Toss, Cake Toss, Haggis Flip and archery. There will also be a kids’ playground with enhanced free wireless. The tournament will take place on the Rose Walk (right where Future World blends into World Showcase), from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Photos of New Blue Universe of Energy Vehicle

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So we heard the Universe of Energy got a brand new blue vehicle. We were suspicious, because Energy are pretty special. They can’t just be painted – as someone said “they painted it blue.”

They’re made out of heat formed plastic. Plastic which, when exposed to any sort of heat – or direct sunlight when they try to remove them from the building for painting for example – would result in the plastic attempting to return to its original flat sheet shape thanks to the properties of shape memory. Meaning, the vehicles would deform and pop off the metal bands that hold the formed seat pieces in place if they heat up. Yes, we recognize the irony of the vehicles that “ride on sunshine” not being able to be exposed to direct sunlight. They also have issues getting over the little lip of the maintenance bay roll-up door at the rear of the building too.

Well, we investigated in person. It’s a brand new blue heat formed vehicle with dark blue metal bands. This replaces the purple and mauve old vehicle. Apparently they’re going to swap them out one at a time. Energy has 13 vehicle. 12 to use in the show and 1 spare. This is apparently what happened to the spare chassis. Now the others will be converted to the new color scheme one at a time. And without further ado – glamor shots of the new vehicle. It was riding in the front right position, otherwise known as position five.

 

A Quick Tour of the Expanded Italy Pavilion at Epcot

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With the recent debut of Tutto Gusto wine cellar at the Italy pavilion at Epcot, there now are three delicious ways to enjoy the tastes of Italy: Tutto Gusto, Via Napoli and Tutto Italia.

Operated by the Patina Restaurant Group, Tutto Gusto joins the line-up in the pavilion’s expanded dining, offering 200 Italian wines, Italian beers, coffees and a selection of authentic Italian small plates.

“We are always looking at ways to keep Epcot fresh and vibrant for our guests,” says Erin Youngs, vice president of Epcot. “The new Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar and refreshed Tutto Italia are excellent enhancements to World Showcase. Both nicely complement Via Napoli and offer guests a chance to enjoy the richness of Italian culture as they savor the authentic flavors of Italy.”

The delectable small plates at Tutto Gusto, perfect for sharing, include simple, flavorful small plates such as bruschetta di Capri, pizze fritte, polenta funghi e taleggio. Artisanal Italian cheeses are offered, with everything from soft, creamy La Tur to salty-sweet aged Parmigiano Reggiano. Fresh hand-crafted mozzarella is made in bufala and fior di latte styles.  Also featured are cured, sliced meats, including prosciutto di Parma, mortadella, sopressata and more. The corkscrew-shaped cavatappi pasta is highlighted in its own section, with different preparations.

The rustic wine cellar is furnished with authentic design elements directly from Italy: chandeliers, marble and limestone floors, wall hangings and more.  A long bar is the centerpiece of the room, with a fireplace and other classic touches.

Newly Renovated Tutto Italia

The makeover gives Tutto Italia a more expansive feel, with covered outdoor seating  for 45 with ceiling fans and lighting, and pretty new carpet,  dark-wood booths and spacious banquettes replacing some of the tables in the dining room. The lovely wall murals and elegant chandeliers remain.

The menu is classic Italian, with starters such as lightly fried calamari fritti and minestrone with pancetta.  Pasta dishes range from spaghetti with veal and beef meatballs to a handmade pasta with zucchini, mint and burrata cheese. Entrées include beautiful grilled swordfish, braised lamb shank, and creamy polenta with braised beef short ribs.  For dessert, the cannoli with sweet ricotta or mocha tiramisu are the most requested.

A gluten-free menu shows it’s not just an afterthought, with entrées including rice pasta pomodoro, risotto, and a salmon filet with artichokes, potatoes and olives.

Chef Renzo Barcatta oversees both Tutto Gusto and Tutto Italia, with Benito Sevarin leading the front of the house. Barcatta grew up in Cavalese, Italy, and honed his skills in restaurants in Venice, Milan and Rome. He prepares authentic dishes with choices sourced across Italy, offering the best of each region. In addition to pairing well with wine, Chef Baracatta’s creations also match nicely with family-friendly agua frescas and other non-alcoholic beverages.

Via Napoli

The first authentic Italian pizzeria to ever open at Epcot, Via Napoli features a selection of classical Neapolitan pizzas, ranging from pizza bianca, quattro stagioni, piccante, ortolano and a traditional margherita. Chef Charlie Restivo, a pizza expert hailing from New York, is executive chef at Via Napoli, where he crafts the pies using simple and delicious Italian ingredients such as San Marzano tomatoes, Caputo flour, handmade fresh mozzarella, Parma Cotto, crumbled sausage and water calibrated specifically to the pH found in Naples.

A distinctive feature at Via Napoli is the wood-burning ovens, which are named after the three active volcanoes in Italy – Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius and Stromboli.  Each oven is sculpted with the “face of the volcano” — reflecting the gods whose mythology surrounds each volcano’s history.

For reservations at Tutto Italia or Via Napoli, call (407) WDW-DINE / (407) 939-3463; both are on the Disney Dining Plan. Tutto Gusto doesn’t take reservations and is not on the Disney Dining Plan.

High Resolution Test Track Concept Art Scrutiny

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We managed to get our paws on some high-resolution versions of the Test Track concept art.If you go give it to some other websites, we will cut you. These are giant files, so click embiggen.

Oo… aah… exciting, right? Well, let’s get down to nitty-gritty and start scoping them out with our peepers! Up first, the classic montage that first popped up on the Disney World website. This version actually has more to see – extra people, and in higher resolution the people look less like they’re wearing monkey face masks too. Perhaps we spoke too soon, those kids are a little creepy. Are they looking right at us?

But we do get a much better look at what we think is going to be the new marquee for the attraction. Notice how in the higher resolution you can actually see the lines that define the panels/ribs on the surface of the curved shape that mimic the metallic panels of the old World of Motion and Test Track building.

And we also get a much better look at the vignettes in the background, in particular the one the car seems to zooming toward in the distance behind the main focus vehicle. Lovely little people designing cars it seems.

And then there’s this.. Anyone know what “Electricification” would mean in this context? We’re baffled, but obviously it was important enough to include in the concept art.

We didn’t find anything terribly exciting in the middle image – we just thought it was nifty looking so we included it just incase you wanted to make it your desktop background or something. We will note once again something that has bugged us since these concept art pieces came out. Responsiveness is supposed to be blue and depicted by a little mountain.. It’s purple and has the time-clock icon – the characteristics of what should be “power” according to Disney’s own little promo pieces. That makes that art apparently wrong or fudged or something…

That said.. the third image. That’s where things got interesting. It’s a blatant overlay of the old Test Track ride.

Your eyes don’t deceive you, that is a sign that blatantly says “brake test” along with the old arrow signs, barrier railing, and even the ghost of an orange cone for good measure. You can even make out the remnants of a few barrier reflectors lights too. You know this new scene will be replacing the old ABS brake scene in the revamped attraction.The other scenes depicted are just kinda pretty and don’t seem to give up much detail, but there’s a few more tidbits to milk from this one.

There’s a really big structural grid up in the air. That lightning effect is coming from a serious bit of hardware. It’s big. Also, the whole section is sort of enclosed in its own sort of grid with walls and a ceiling of its own.

We jokingly suggested that the famed Tesla coil effect that WDI had developed for the Maelstrom attraction but never used was making a comeback when we first saw that lightning effect in the concept art. Maybe that’s closer to the truth than we really knew.

Regardless, the detailed images make this refurbishment look all the more exciting. Certainly more vibrant and colorful.. and if anything, more detailed, and large cloudy-rig-in-the-airy.