THE LAND

The Land is dedicated to agriculture, farming and food. Built in what looks like an immense, futuristic greenhouse, the Land is Futureworld’s largest pavilion. As part of ongoing agriculture and hydroponic experiments conducted in the pavilion, The Land grows the produce served in it’s Sunshine Season Food Fair. There are numerous vendors here that offer some good selections for lunch, including plenty of healthy options.

Ironically, the main attraction of The Land is the Living with the Land boat ride. It is the quintessential "make learning fun" attraction, so parents will definitely want to ham it up about how much fun they’re having on this ride. It takes you through three biomes that each represents a different climate; the rainforest, desert and prairie. An over-all clad guide explains how food is grown in these environs and how we may be able to grow food in the future (including in outer space!). Visitors glide by the areas where Disney has collaborated with the Department of Agriculture to conduct experiments that are on the cutting edge of agricultural science. You may even wind up eating some of the specimens that are harvested regularly and served in Disney restaurants. The ride is 14 minutes long.

Food Rocks is a section of The Land where your favorite foods sing the praises of good nutrition. You can see Chubby Cheddar or Pita Gabriel sing lively and entertaining songs about eating well or check out the jam from the Peach Boys. Food Rocks is educational and worth a couple of chuckles. The twenty-minute show is a good place to wait out the long lines for Living with the Land.

The Harvest Theater presents the 70-mm film, The Circle of Life starring Simba, Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King. Narrated by James Earl Jones, the film includes live footage in a documentary that addresses man’s tenuous relationship with the environment. The twenty-minute film is educational and will get young minds thinking about the environment. It will also get you humming that darn Elton John song all day long.