The Land Pavilion at Disney World's Epcot: How to Spend an Entire Afternoon in Air Conditioned Entertainment!

Walt Disney World is full of things to do, places to go and people to see. There is no lack of activities and attractions, and no two vacations are alike. Within each park are a myriad of rides, shows, restaurants and attractions to please all ages. This article will take a look at just one area in the innovative Epcot park, where you could literally spend all afternoon.

The Land pavilion is located on the west side of Future World in Epcot, near the Living Seas, Imagination and Innoventions West. It is an expansive building with two levels housing three attractions, a food court and a table service restaurant. Guests can race in, hit a few of the rides and breeze back out, but for those who have time to spare, The Land is the place to spend it.

Once you arrive at The Land, head immediately down the stairs to the lower level. Go directly to Soarin', the featured attraction and get a Fast Pass for every member of your party. This will enable you to go on the ride later, with a minimal wait.

Next, truly start your adventure with a delicious lunch at Sunshine Seasons Food Court. Also located on the lower level of The Land, Sunshine Seasons has ample seating and a high ceiling, reaching up to the top of the pavilion. The counters serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks and have a nice variety of Asian specialities, soups, salads, sandwiches and items from the grill. There is also a counter filled with pastries and other desserts. Guests can choose the items they want, place them on a tray, self serve their own beverages and pay for everything at once before selecting a table. Sunshine Seasons is a participating restaurant for the Disney Dining Plan, so if you have that as part of your trip package, make sure to choose one of the delicious desserts.

After lunch is over, you can meander up the stairs (or take the escalator) up to The Circle of Life. This attraction sports a wide screen movie theater where guests sit back, relax, and are taught a lesson about conservation as The Lion King's Simba, Timon and Pumba discuss the merits and drawbacks of destroying the environment to build Hakuna Matata Vacation Resort. In the end, it is a cute story about preserving the environment, delivered with stunning videography.

After The Circle of Life, the next attraction on the list is Living with the Land. The premise behind this boat trip is spending some time learning about agriculture past, present and future. While this may seem tame and even a bit boring, don't let that keep you from enjoying this 14 minute ride. Your boat starts out through a series of scenes displaying rainforest, prairies, and other climates. Next, you float past water farms featuring tilapia, eels, shrimp and alligators. Just past the animals, the boat cruises into the greenhouse, where examples of some spectacular plants are grown. Hydroponics, a tomato tree, giant lemons and more are shown in the stark white light of the greenhouse.

Once the ride is over, you have the option of taking the Behind the Seeds tour of Living with the Land. For a very minimal price, guests can walk back through the greenhouse and enjoy a 60 minute guided tour with one of The Land's cast members.

Once you have finished the Behind the Seeds tour, it should be time for your fast passes for Soarin'. This means it is time to get in the fast line for this headliner attraction. Note: if your fast pass time has come up before this time, ride it then and get another fast pass for later. This ride is more than worth it!

Soarin' is, simply put, incredible. Guests are seated in one of three rows, which rise up in an erector set fashion in front of an enormous wide screen. The seats dip and sway along with the vision in front of you as you "hang glide" gently over California. The sights, smells, and feelings are nothing short of amazing and this is a ride that is well worth the wait. All ages can enjoy this gentle thrill ride and it has quickly become a park favorite since its opening during the Happiest Celebration on Earth.

After you've finished your trip over the Golden State, head upstairs to the rotating restaurant the Garden Grill. Here you are seated where you can overlook Living with the Land, and are served a delicious and hearty meal in good company. Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale, to be exact! The meal is served family style and includes rolls with orange butter, turkey, flank steak, fried catfish, potatoes, vegetables and a dessert. It is all you can eat, and all the produce is grown and collected from just down the stairs in the greenhouse.

By the time you have finished dinner, be ready to head out back into the park...perhaps to swing past The Living Seas, watch the Illuminations fireworks presentation or maybe just tour World Showcase. Epcot has a lot to offer everyone and an afternoon spent in The Land will satisfy all members of your party.