Did you know that Living with the Land was originally named Listen to the Land? There's plenty of facts to be learned about this Epcot attraction! During this secret history of Living with the Land, we will, as my mom, Flora, likes to put it when she gardens, "Become one with the land." Get your green thumb ready and hop along with us!
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The Secret History of Living with the Land
Living with the Land resides in an area of Epcot called The Land. The Land opened its doors in 1982 along with the rest of Epcot. It was first hosted by Kraft until 1992. As I mentioned above, the boat ride first opened as Listen to the Land and debuted with Epcot! Narrated by a live Cast Member, Listen to the Land took guests on a tour, starting with the "Symphony of the Seed" section. (Of course, this is no longer the opening segment of the ride.)
Much like the current version, the boats then floated past the various climates and greenhouses of The Land. According to DisneyLists.com, the buffalo and prairie dogs used in the desert scene were actually originally planned to be placed in a Magic Kingdom attraction called Western River Expedition (that obviously was never created).
In 1993, the Epcot attraction was renamed Living with the Land and went through several other changes as well! Some of these changes included a new soundtrack, new beginning and end scenes and new narrations. Yet again, the boat ride was changed up in 2006 when the Cast Member narrations were thrown out! Instead, a pre-recorded narration by Mike Brassell was added.
Living with the Land Fun Facts
- Mike Brassell, the narrator of Living with the Land, also narrated the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover at one point.
- You can eat much of the produce grown at The Land pavilion at many restaurants around Walt Disney World!
- Know how I mentioned the Western River Expedition boat ride above (the one that never was)? Well, Pirates of the Caribbean actually opened in place of it!
- The original version, Listen to the Land, showed guests a large spinning drum inside the Creative House. The drum featured growing lettuce and spun to mimic Earth's gravity in space!
- Via The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World by Susan Veness, the house number on the mailbox during the farmhouse scene is #82, which is a nod to 1982—the year Epcot opened!
- The dog in the farmhouse scene is actually modeled after Walt Disney's own dog.
What's your favorite part of Living with the Land? Let us know in the comments below and don't forget to check out our Living with the Land wait times and more!
Stay cool!
