Day 4 - Epcot again

Well, we love Epcot, what can I say. On our last day it looked cloudy out, so Tim checked the weather, with it saying it would be clear with a high of 80. So I decided to brave the misty weather in shorts, knowing it would warm up soon. Well, it never did! I was pretty chilly all day. Oh well, we mustered through:).

Since we spent our first day at Epcot at the World Showcase, for the most part, this time we explored all of the rides and other exhibits. We did the GM Test Track where we sit in a car and experience all of the road tests a new car goes through before it is put on the market. OK, so I think it was dumbed down quite a bit from the real thing, but it was still fun and educational. The last test we went through was a crash test, where they slam the car into a wall. They shot us off and just as we were about to hit the wall, it opened, and we shot out onto a test track instead. We flew around this track at over 60 mph... without a roof! It was pretty exhilarating, and well worth the wait just for the speed. What can I say, I like fast cars:) We also picked out our new vehicle... you like?:)

We also went on a "Living with the Land" tour where we learned about different initiatives to harness energy, grow food, and live well with the earth. It was pretty neat -- not too hippy:). We got to tour through some of the Disney vegetable gardens too where they use a lot of cool techniques to grow food. It made me want to have a greenhouse. I'll have to get one of those after I get my courtyard:)

We also went to a center where they have Segway demonstrations. The times I have seen Segways, my impression has been, "man those things look dorky". After the demonstration, I feel the same way, but am much more impressed with the technology. These scooter type machines are ultra sensitive to your movement, and the slightest pressure on your toes triggers it to go forward, and conversely, the slightest pressure on your heals causes it to stop. These things can also literally turn on a dime. They really are a great way to get places, travelling at 4 times the speed a human walks (12 mph). All in all, a cool thing, but I still think walking is the better option for me.

The last ride of our day was Soarin'. We had been a couple of years ago, and I didn't think I was too impressed, so I had low expectations going in. The ride was a very pleasant surprise.. I'm not sure why I didn't like it the first time. You sit in these gliders that have about 10 seats each, then when the ride begins, you are raised over a huge IMAX screen, slightly tilted forward. That way, when they rush you over mountain tops and through canyons, you really do feel like you're soaring. They even pump orange scent into the room as you fly over an orange grove.. oh Disney:) I have decided this is a pretty cool ride. It was my least favorite line to wait in though... man was it long!