Fun Facts About EPCOT’s Living with the Land
In 2016, I was a Plant Science Intern at Walt Disney World. I learned so many fun facts about EPCOT’s Living with the Land attraction, so I had to share!
Let’s hop on our boat and take you on a tour of the wonders of this unique ride.
Yes, The Plants Are Real
You would honestly be surprised how many times I was asked if the fruits and vegetables grown on this ride were real. Yes, they are very real and very tasty.
From the fish to the fruit, the plants are used across many areas of Disney World property. We have harvested anything from sugar cane for the gorillas at Animal Kingdom to microgreens for restaurants.
Sometimes, the chefs will ask us to research how to grow a specific type of food for one of their dishes. Or, we would grow crops specific to festivals like Food & Wine.
Why You Can’t Touch The Sand
You might find that some of the plants are grown in sand. This is because all plants are hydroponically grown and show that they can survive in a variety of conditions.
But, there are reasons why you cannot touch the sand. One, you would be taking your hands outside of the ride vehicle, which is a big Disney no-no.
Second, touching the sand can release nasty diseases and bacteria to very sensitive plants. When we would head into the greenhouse, we had to wear blue booties over our shoes to not track in anything!
There Are Five-Pound Lemons
Have you ever seen a lemon as big as your head? You can at Disney World!
What do you do when you have a massive lemon? Make lemonade! When squeezed, the lemon would make over a gallon of juice for lemonade.
You Can Go Behind The Scenes
One of the most affordable tours at Disney World is the Behinds the Seeds Tour. This hour-long tour takes you backstage and up close to the plants and technology behind the ride. It’s a casual, unique way to spend your day at EPCOT.
The tour took a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was announced that it is returning in October. So, you can now book your own tour!
The Plants Change All The Time
There are many reasons why plants rotate in and out of the greenhouse. At Disney World, the show is one of the pillars of its success. We may pull plants if they need extra attention or if they are no longer “show-quality”.
There is also a dedicated research greenhouse backstage, so some of the testing crops may be planted on stage after approval. This goes to show that Disney cares a lot about what they show off. Try to see what plants changed from your last visit the next time you’re on EPCOT’s Living with the Land!
Have you ridden Living With The Land? Let us know in the comments!
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Platinum level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!