Leave A Legacy at Epcot

Preserved for Posterity

Have you ever noticed all those plaques in front of Epcot.  This is the Leave a Legacy program that was part of the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration.  From the Fall of 1999 to about 2007, guests were able to leave their "likeness" etched on stainless steel tiles to commemorate their visit.

There are 30 granite megaliths in Leave a Legacy Plaza ranging from 3 to 19 feet and the heaviest one weighing 50,000 pounds.  Over 550,000 tiles were sold as part of the program and remain on display at Epcot in Leave a Legacy Plaza.  My wife and I have a tile there.

Rivers of America in the Magic Kingdom

Three Themes, One Shot

Rivers of America is the name of the artificial river that encircles Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.  In the Magic Kingdom, Rivers of America passes by both Frontierland as well as Liberty Square.

Did you know that there were actually two riverboats sailing in Rivers of America.  In the late 1970s, one of them got damaged during a storm.  Did you also know that the Liberty Belle runs on a track.  I guess that's why sometimes they let guests steer the boat from the wheelhouse.

Be Our Guest in HDR

Another Perspective

In my last few posts, I wrote about the Enchanted Forest and shared a view of the bridge to Beast's Castle at night.  Before you enter the bridge, you pass through a partial arch that marks the entrance to the Be Our Guest restaurant.  For those not following my blog, this is a shot of the entrance to Be Our Guest restaurant in Fantasyland, in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

Be Our Guest at Beast's Castle

Disney at Night

In my last post, I talked about passing through the new castle walls to enter The Enchanted Forest.  Once inside the Enchanted Forest, there are so many trees that you might not even notice Maurice's Cottage on the left.  As you continue on, you come to the bridge that is the entrance to Beast's Castle where "Be Our Guest" restaurant it located.

This is where you get fully immersed in the Enchanted Forest experience.  Even at night, you'll notice the abundance of trees in this area. There is also a waterfall to the left of the bridge and a small river that runs under the bridge.  To get you fully immersed in the Enchanted Forest, Disney imagineers even play recorded bird song at the appropriate time of the day.  

Fantasyland - Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

Fun With A Fisheye - Disney At Night

While not so new anymore, the New Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World officially debuted in December, 2012.  As part of the expansion to Fantasyland, New Fantasyland include an area called The Enchanted Forest.

To help you to get immersed in the Enchanted Forest, you pass through the 'new' castle walls.  These walls form the boundary between Cinderella Castle courtyard and the Enchanted Forest area.