The second park added to Disney World was Epcot. Opened on October 1, 1982, it was a vision of Walt’s dream whereby a community could be built where people could live, work, and play, all while having the latest technology available. The most well-known sight here is the geodesic sphere known as Spaceship Earth, which is 180 feet high and 165 feet around.

On one side you will find the Spaceship Earth. Here you will find a variety of science demonstrations. The Test Track ride can be found here, as well as Body Wars. There is also The Land and The Living Seas. In The Land, you can find the Circle of Life attraction. In The Living Seas, be amazed at the incredible 35,000-gallon tank, where you will find an abundant variety of sea life. Certified scuba divers may dive the tank with advance reservations. You can also find a wonderful collection of loveable manatees. This is by far one of my favorite displays.

Over at the World Showcase, you can visit Norway, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada, as well have a delightful adventure in the American Adventure. Here you will find stores and restaurants featuring each countries specialty. Throughout the day you will find a variety of performers, ranging from acrobats in China to mariachi bands in Mexico to Matsurize-traditional Japanese drumming in Japan to The Living Statues in France. Take the time to enjoy a cruise along the World Showcase Lagoon.

This is probably one of the best parks if rides aren’t your thing in a theme park. There is so much to do here. I just loved Epcot. Everything here is so beautiful. I just loved The Living Seas and the World Showcase. Wee ones in tow will get a kick out of all the hands-on science displays through the Spaceship Earth side. Everyone will oooh and ahh at the tanks in The Living Seas. Adults will love the artistry and displays that can be found through the World Showcase. At Christmastime, you will see each country’s version of Santa and will find incredible storytellers throughout the park teaching young ones about their Christmas traditions and the story of their Santa. You will also find Christmas trees decorated how you would find them in each native country.

Again, this is a rather large park, so I would suggest 2 to 3 days in order to see everything without feeling rushed. There are a number of parades and shows throughout the day. Again, make sure you pick up a guide when you first arrive so you know the times of the shows, parades, and character meetings. You can get here by car, bus, or monorail. For more information, please go to www.waltdisneyworld.com or www.disney.com.

Fast Pass rides: Honey I Shrank the Audience, Test Track, Living With The Land, Maelstrom, and Mission Space

We started our second day of the International Food and Wine Festival after spending the day at Animal Kingdom, which closes earlier than the other parks.

When we left off yesterday, we were halfway through the World Showcase, at the United States. So today, we wanted to start at the other end.

We will rate items we sampled as follows:
(* = didn’t like) (** = was ok) (*** = really liked)

(1)"Peru" offered papas rellenas, a beef-stuffed potato ball, and Tabernero Cabernet Sauvignon, both of which we passed up.

(2)"New Zealand" featured Brancott Sauvignon Blanc and Villa Maria Cabernet-Merlot**($3.25).

(3)"Mexico" offered quesadillas con pollo y chorizo - chorizo and chicken quesadillas**($3.50) and Dos Equis lager***($4.00 glass)

(4)"Ireland" was serving whiskey flan with granola topping, and you can’t stop by Ireland without a Guinness***($4.25 Glass).

(5)In "Scandinavia", we had a tasting of Glass Mountain Chardonnay**($2.50) and Blackstone Merlot**($3.25).

(6)"China" had a delicious chicken sha cha with peanut sauce***($3.50) and Akadama plum wine**($2).

(7)"Southeast Asia" presented us with two white wines: Chateau Ste. Michelle Johannisberg Riesling***($2.75) and Beringer Gewurztraminer***($2.50).

(8)"South Africa" featured durban-spiced chicken on a sugar cane stick and goats do roam white, but unfortunately, we passed them up.

(9)"Australia" had a fantastic Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz/Cabernet***($3.50), Rosemount Estate Traminer Riesling**($2.75), and I wanted to try the shrimp on the barbie with bushdamper bread, but I couldn’t spend the $4 for three small shrimp.

(10)"Oktoberfest" gave us more white wine, with Dr. L. Mosel Riesling***($3) and Graf Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese.

(11)"Italy" is one of the world's finest wine producers; however, we walked by without trying Tiziano Chianti or Placido Pinto Grigio.

(12)"Champagne and Sparkling Wine" had some expensive samples of Champagne Pommery Brut, Banfi Rosa Regale, and Piper Heidsieck Brut, all in the $6 to $7 range. We are not huge champagne fans, so we passed it by.

(13)"Piedmont" had some taste treats like chocolate gianduja torte, flourless chocolate hazelnut cake and Banfi rosa regale. However, I wanted to get a couple things from the next stop.

(14)"Specialty Beer Garden" had a plethora of brews from around the world in 6-oz. and 12-oz. portions. There was Grolsch***($2.50/$4.25), Samuel Adams Oktoberfest***($2.50/$4.25), and Red Stripe*($4.25).

In all, we tried to partake in all that the Food & Wine Festival had to offer in the marketplaces, missing only a few stands and all of the exhibits, seminars, and demonstrations, 16 in all. Next time, we are hoping to travel to the festival by ourselves so we can attend seminars like "The History of Beer in America", hosted by Samuel Adams, and "The Terrace", where you can meet the winemakers. Or we would attend the "Oktoberfest" exhibit by joining a traditional keg-tapping ceremony. There is plenty more that we hope to do in ’05.

Please review our Walt Disney World journals: MAGIC KINGDOM , EPCOT CENTER , ANIMAL KINDGOM, and MGM STUDIOS.