The fabled Secret Lounges of Epcot have long held my interest. OK, maybe they're not so secret, but I like to think of them that way because it adds to their mystique. Anything out-of-the-ordinary and not open regularly to the general public is bound to pique my interest. I wrote about the Secret World of Disney's Corporate Lounges last year, and ever since, I've been trying to figure out ways to get a glimpse inside each one.
I had my first opportunity during the 2013 Food & Wine festival, when the American Adventure played host to the Chase Lounge, a stop at the festival reserved for Chase cardholders. My Disney Visa was the ticket I needed to enter.
The lounge- consisting of two main rooms, joined by a long hallway- might best be described as...underwhelming. Located in the upstairs area of the American Adventure pavilion, the lounge is meant to provide an area for cardholders to take a break from the heat and crowds. Beverages, bathrooms, and a seating area were provided. I'm not sure when this area saw its heyday, but the space feels very dated. Old style furnishings, draped fabric, and things behind glass all lend a stale feel to the area. Like the other lounge areas in Epcot, the space is not open on a regular basis, but is used occasionally for private functions.
The big draw on the hot and crowded day of my visit was the fancy Coca Cola beverage machine that lets guests choose from a wide variety of options. Free soda, in full size servings and familiar flavors? This was not Club Cool, and the line was long!
The main lounge area contained tables and chairs, with an interesting but obstructed view looking out onto World Showcase.
There were a few nice features added for the weary visitor. Two amenitities that stood out for me were charging stations with a variety of adapters, as well as board games for children and adults.
Happy 50th Anniversary "it's a small world"! It was 50 years ago when the attraction made its debut at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City. In the years since, the "happiest cruise that ever sailed" has been an attraction mainstay (not to mention the crowned champion of all earworms).
One of my favorite parts of this attraction has always been the intricate costumes on every doll.
Did you know there's an Audio- Animatronic Costume Workroom? The short video below gives a glimpse into this specialized area of the costuming department. Original Kodak snapshots of each doll's costume are used for reference, to maintain the original detail of each part of the costuming. Every doll (all 289 of them!) in the attraction has two costumes- the one they're currently wearing, and a back-up in case of an unexpected fashion emergency.
Fascinating! The next time you visit this iconic attraction, make sure to pay special attention to these tiny, beautiful costumes.
What are your thoughts on the classic it's a small world attraction? Share them with us in the comments!
On days when I'm really missing the parks, these tilt-shift videos never fail to put a smile on my face. "A Model Day at Epcot" and "A Model Day at Magic Kingdom" do a great job of capturing the spirit of the parks and evoking just a little bit of that sense of magic I'm longing for today.
Can you pick a favorite? Tell us about it in the comments.