The American Adventure in EPCOT: The Greatest History 101 Crash Course
“America, spread your golden wings
-Golden Dream, song from The American Adventure
Sail on freedom’s wind, across the sky…”
Stirring and patriotic, The American Adventure in EPCOT is one of Disney World’s most ambitious attractions. Not only are the audio-animatronics and hydraulic staging technological marvels, but the show also manages to compress 350 years of history into half an hour.
Sandwiched between Japan and Italy, you’ll find The American Adventure pavilion nestled within a colonial-style building. Inspired by the likes of Independence Hall and Monticello, each brick practically screams “American history housed here!” (The colorful banner with the name of the attraction is a bit of a giveaway, too.)
Chock full of historically accurate details for keen eyes to catch, it’s obvious how much care went into Imagineering. The American Adventure, ensuring guests will thoroughly enjoy this rousing retelling of our nation’s past.
Making A Golden Dream Come True
Although EPCOT’s purpose was to be an eternal World’s Fair, ever progressing and showcasing the best of new tech and new times, it was also always part of the plan to imbue the park with some history, too.1 Show writer and producer Randy Bright explained, “The American Adventure was a show that was conceived from the earliest phases of EPCOT Center as a mainstay in the project.”2
However, the project was more easily dreamed up than carried out. It took five years to create The American Adventure; bricks for the pavilion were hand-made from Georgian clay, new hydraulic mechanics were implemented for the stage show, and meticulous historical consultation was sought for every detail—from the probable sound of Alexander Graham Bell’s voice to the price of gasoline in the 1930s.3
The show opened to the public in 1982, and unlike other parts of EPCOT, remains relatively unchanged. Of course, that’s sort of the nature of history—what happened, happened. The only thing that changes is our perception of the past. Nevertheless, this attraction has stood strong over the years and continues to be a worthy stop within the World Showcase.
From the moment you enter the pavilion, you are immersed in the America of yesterday. Majestic paintings and poignant quotes adorn the walls, capturing the spirit of America’s “Golden Dream.” Colorful flags—44 in all—hang above your head as you make your way to the theatre. Each one was flown by our country at different points in time, denoting quite a few eras for a relatively young nation! And it all started when…
Well, I guess you’ll see that in the show!
Mark, Ben, and Walt
As you step into the theatre, you’ll be struck by the enormity of the place.
Behind the stage rests a 72-foot-long screen, and before it stretches an auditorium that seats over 1,000 people (in comfortably cushioned chairs!). With such extensive seating, it’s practically a guarantee your wait time will never be longer than a single show. So, no worries about trying to get here first thing in the morning or waiting until the end of the day! In fact, as it’s housed indoors, this attraction is a great one to hit in the heat of the day (though a lot of folks tend to get the same idea right around 1:30 to 3:30 pm).
The theatre is guarded by twelve statues, each one representing a “spirit” of America, like the Spirit of Tomorrow, who takes the form of a mother and child. Each one, from Resilience to Discovery, is a key to achieving America’s “Golden Dream.”
The pursuit of this dream is the subject of the show, and Imagineers have masterfully condensed American history into a few key moments from the Mayflower to modern-day; moments of heartache and triumph on the road to “sailing on freedom’s wings.” And who better to narrate this story than renowned author Mark Twain and the prolific Benjamin Franklin?
Though there isn’t much time to spare for the witty banter you know these two would have, the lifelike animatronics comment upon each other’s eras and marvel together at what they see in modern America. They’re a dynamic duo to be sure! But they aren’t alone—animatronics of Frederick Douglas, Chief Joseph, and Theodore Roosevelt are just a few of a wonderfully large cast.
It’s more than just cameos though! Each character speaks words they truly uttered in life (or faithful paraphrases for time’s sake), illuminating the issues they faced, such as slavery and conservation concerns, as well as victories like new inventions and peacetime after war.4 Oftentimes, their words still strike a chord, so relevant it seems they could have been penned just the other week.
These animatronic displays are integrated with beautiful backdrops on the enormous screen and accompanied by a gorgeous score of stringed instruments and hearty harmonies, and of course, the theme song, “Golden Dream.”
The show concludes with an on-screen montage of modern events, bringing the show within a decade or so of the present day. Mark and Ben take to the stage one last time to administer promising remarks about the nation’s future and to remind us that the American Adventure is just getting started! You’re sure to walk away from the show feeling inspired and proud.
Although not directly involved in the project, as it was after his time, The American Adventure is just the sort of attraction Walt Disney himself would have championed. He loved history and innovation, which are perfectly blended in this attraction as technology is used to disseminate the past. He loved Mark Twain and his book, Tom Sawyer.
But above all, Walt loved his country.
Upon receiving the George Washington medal for his patriotism and good citizenship in 1963, Walt said,
“[A]ctually, if you could see close in my eyes, the American flag is waving in both of them, and up my spine is growing this red, white and blue stripe.”5
Beyond the Show
If 350 years of history wasn’t enough, there’s more to see in EPCOT’s slice of America!
You should definitely try to catch Voices of Liberty, an acapella group that dresses in period clothing and performs throughout the day in the pavilion. This incredibly talented group is well worth seeing! You can also explore the American Heritage Gallery which hosts rotating exhibits (currently “Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian Art”).
If you start to feel a bit munchy (time traveling can have that kind of effect), then you can grab some delicious, quick service barbeque at the Regal Eagle Smokehouse, a turkey leg from the Fife and Drum Tavern, or hit up the funnel cake stand for a sweet treat! You can also squeeze in a spot of shopping at the Art of Disney store (very similar to its Disney Springs counterpart).
Just like it’s impossible to truly cover all of America’s history in 30 minutes, it’s impossible to highlight everything about The American Adventure experience. There’s so much to take in—including hidden Mickeys!—that you could watch the show several times and still spot something new!
Patriotic and uplifting, The American Adventure is a wonderfully engaging crash course in the birth and growth of our nation. Where will the adventure go from here? That part is up to us.
Cover Image
Photo: Unsplash
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