In this article, we’ll uncover 10 fascinating secrets about Disney World’s most underrated ride that will change how you see it forever. This ride may not offer the glitz or adrenaline rush you can find at many of Walt Disney World’s other attractions, but that’s exactly what makes it so special. The gentle boat ride offers a rare glimpse into the science and storytelling EPCOT is known for, creating great opportunities for “edutainment.”
Nestled into the first floor of The Land Pavilion at EPCOT, Living with the Land is a wonderful attraction. While most people rush to the big thrill rides, Living with the Land remains a hidden gem for many, just waiting to be discovered. At Mickey Visit, we bring you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including looks at current ride closures and changes to resort planning offerings.
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It Wasn’t Originally Named “Living with the Land”
The ride was an opening day attraction, but not as we know it today. It originally opened with the rest of EPCOT as “Listen to the Land,” and although not a lot was changed during the updates, there were a few aspects that are different now. Rather than opening with a rainforest storm, the ride showcased the growth stages of a plant, and there was a theme song that, while prominent in the beginning, is now featured as part of the background music loop.
Perhaps the biggest change from the original version of the attraction is that Cast Members used to accompany guests on each boat and provide narration, whereas now the ride uses an automated audio track.
It’s Won Multiple Guinness World Records
Credit: Walt Disney World.
To be clear, the Living with the Land attraction itself hasn’t actually won the Guinness World Records, but some plants that are housed inside of it have!
From May 2005 to April 2006, a tomato plant grown in the attraction yielded over 32,000 tomatoes, making it the “Most Productive Tomato Plant” of all time. And from March 2006 to July 2006, a cucumber plant won two records: “World’s Largest Cucumber Plant” and “Most Cucumbers Harvested from a Single Plant in One Year.”
It Contains Five Different Biomes
Credit: Walt Disney World.
The second part of Living with the Land is known as the “Living Laboratory,” which is actually made up of five separate areas, or “biomes.”
These include the Tropics Greenhouse (crops from tropical parts of the world), the Aquacell (fish farming, or “aquaculture”), the Temperate Greenhouse (crops from temperate climates), the String Greenhouse (crops grown through high-density and vertical growing techniques), and the Creative Greenhouse (crops grown through innovative, futuristic techniques).
There Are Several Hidden Mickeys
As with most Disney attractions, there are several Hidden Mickeys sprinkled throughout Living with the Land. It’s a great place to search for them because it’s slow-moving and you have lots of time to really take in your surroundings, so you have a better chance at spotting them than you would on a fast-moving ride.
A few of our favorites include the test tubes located in the Biotechnology Lab and the hose draped across the floor in the Aquacell. Can you find them all?
There’s A Hidden EPCOT Easter Egg
Credit: Walt Disney World.
You may already be familiar with the Hidden Mickeys in Living with the Land, but did you know that there’s a subtle nod to the park it’s housed in as well?
In the first part of the ride, when you’re floating past the different climate sections, take a look at the mailbox in the farmhouse scene. On it is written the number “82,” which is a shoutout to the year EPCOT-and the original version of the ride-opened, 1982!
Tons of Produce Are Harvested Every Year
Credit: Walt Disney World.
Over 30 tons, to be exact! Within the five biomes, there are so many interesting and unique plants being tended to and harvested each year, ranging from standard produce you can find at your local market to wild and wacky items used for special purposes. Some of our favorite plants grown in Living with the Land include the Atlantic Giant pumpkins and Nine-Pound lemons found in the Temperate Greenhouse, the Mickey Mouse-shaped pumpkins and cucumbers in the String Greenhouse, and the tasty fruits (dragonfruit, pineapple, and papaya, oh my!) in the Tropics Greenhouse.
There’s a Hidden Lab Inside
Credit: Walt Disney World.
As you float through the Creative Greenhouse, you can see the workings of the Biotechnology Lab, where research on crop improvement is performed. But did you know there is also another lab tucked away within the attraction?
The Integrated Pest Management Lab, which is not visible from the boat ride, is used for raising insects like stingless wasps and ladybugs that offer benefits within The Land pavilion itself and throughout Walt Disney World as a whole. The only way for guests to view this lab is by taking part in the Behind the Seeds backstage tour, which offers a deeper look into how everything functions within the attraction.
The Produce is Served Around Walt Disney World
While this isn’t exactly a secret (they do mention it in the narration on the attraction), we love that the plants end up being used productively.
For example, a lot of the produce that is grown in the String Greenhouse (think vegetables like tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and lettuce) is used in both of the restaurants located in The Land Pavilion, The Garden Grill, and Sunshine Seasons. You can also find fish from the Aquacell in dishes served at the Coral Reef Restaurant in The Seas Pavilion. And sometimes, the plants are even used as food for the animals across the way at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
The Ride Changes During the Holidays
As with many Walt Disney World attractions, Living with the Land gets a makeover each year during the holiday season.
The ride becomes “Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses” when the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays rolls around, and the greenhouses are updated to include holiday lights on the larger plants, cultural decorations scattered throughout the biomes, and a revised version of the narration which discusses how the foods grown in the ride are used in different types of celebrations around the world.
It Features a Popular Disney Narrator
As mentioned previously, Living with the Land used to be narrated by individual Cast Members. This was eventually changed to an automated narration track, which is voiced by Mike Brassell.
He is known for working on a few other projects with Disney a well, including voicing the Tomorrowland Transit Authority ride at one point, and composing the music for Space Mountain, both at Magic Kingdom. His soothing voiceover really helps make Living with the Land a relaxing retreat within the busy park!
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