The American Adventure

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The American Adventure is a World Showcase pavilion in the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, United States. The main feature is a stage show of the same name, which uses Audio-Animatronic figures rather than human actors.

[edit] Layout

The pavilion is in a building designed in the Colonial style. It contains the American Adventure show and the Hall of Flags exhibit, a display of the different flags throughout U.S. history. It also contains the Liberty Inn restaurant which serves American fare, such as cheeseburgers and hot dogs. There is a small gift shop, Heritage Manor Gifts, selling American items.

[edit] Attractions and services

[edit] The show

The American Adventure takes the visitor on a trip through America's rich 200+ year history. It is narrated by figures of Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain. The show is presented in a theater-like auditorium, with sets and characters rising out from the stage floor to represent scenes from different historical periods. The characters provide insight into American life of the past through conversations in which they discuss the current events of their time. Periods include the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876 (representing American industrialization), and the Great Depression. The presentation culminates with a musical film montage representing famous moments and people in American history from post-World War II to the present.

[edit] Changes

In 1993 the attraction was updated with all new animatronics and a new version of the theme song. In mid-2007, about 45 seconds of footage were added to the end of the Golden Dreams montage, the first updating of the montage since 1993. It will be going through a refurbishment from Janruary through February as says Epcots website.

[edit] Soundtrack

• "In the Days of '76" (traditional)
• "New World Bound" (lyrics by F. X. Atencio and Randy Bright^[1], music by Buddy Baker)
• "Two Brothers" (lyrics and music by Irving Gordon, vocals by Ali Olmo)
• "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" (lyrics by E. Y. Harburg, music by Jay Gorney)
• "Golden Dream" (lyrics by Randy Bright with additional lyrics by Lynn Hart, music by Robert Moline, vocals by Rick Pages and Siedah Garrett)

[edit] Theme song

The theme song for The American Adventure is "Golden Dream", it was written by Bob Moline in 1980. After the rehab in 1993, the song's vocals were sung by a different man and woman, the chorus after the quotes is longer, and the ending is different.

The original song can be found on these releases:

• The Official Album of Disneyland and Walt Disney World (1991)
• Walt Disney World Resort: The Official Album (1999)

The updated song can be found on these releases:

• Walt Disney World Resort: Official Album (2000)
• Official Album: Walt Disney World Resort Celebrating 100 Years of Magic (2001)

[edit] Trivia

• During the Benjamin Franklin/Thomas Jefferson interplay scene, the Benjamin Franklin AA appears to "walk" up a flight of stairs. To accomplish this, the Audio-Animatronic is attached to a cam system. One foot is stationary, a post, while the other moves. The entire figure glides along a track, giving the impression of climbing stairs. The "steps" themselves are hidden from view making the appearance of climbing stairs all the easier to create.
• The Statue of Liberty torch at the end of the performance has not been changed from its "patchwork" appearance, in spite of the fact that the actual torch of the statue was upgraded to a gold leaf finish in 1986.

[edit] America Gardens Theater

Across from the pavilion is the America Gardens Theatre, an outdoor amphitheater. The America Gardens Theatre hosts concerts, singers, and bands from around the world. Many entertainment acts from around the world perform on this stage.

The America Gardens Theatre has hosted numerous amount of shows since it was built. Over the years some of the more famous shows include Blast!, Barrage, and many 1960's bands (such as Davy Jones from The Monkees) who bring back the old days each year at the Flower Power concert series, a part of the Epcot Flower and Garden show (held each spring).

In 1999 The best of Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance performed in the theater over the summer. Even though dance master Michael Flatley did not perform in the show, it was still a summer hit in Epcot. In 2000 the show was brought back by popular demand for another summer run. Originally the theater did not have a covered stage but was open air the stage cover (and backstage dressing and show equipment areas) were added during a refurbishment that was completed before the inception of the "Magical World of Barbie" stage show.

Characters from recent Disney films such as Pocahontas, Lilo and Stitch, and Toy Story 2 drop by to greet guests.

[edit] Candlelight Processional

During the holiday season, the theater hosts what is arguably its most popular show, the Candlelight Processional. This show follows in the footsteps of the show first performed in Disneyland in 1958, in 1971 a Florida version began, and it moved to the America Gardens Theater in Epcot in 1994. The show includes an orchestra and large choral group that perform traditional holiday songs while a guest celebrity retells the biblical story of Christmas. In 2005, some of the celebrities included John Stamos, Marlee Matlin, Corbin Bleu ,Haley Joel Osment and Jim Caviezel. The Candlelight Processional is usually performed three times daily between Thanksgiving and Christmas week.

[edit] References

• Behind the Scenes at The American Adventure">Behind the Scenes at The American Adventure
• Alcorn, Steve and David Green. Building a Better Mouse: The Story of the Electronic Imagineers Who Designed Epcot. Themeperks Press, 2007, ISBN 0-9729777-3-2.

[edit] See also

• Epcot attraction and entertainment history
• Steve Alcorn, show control engineer

[edit] External links

• The official Disney World American Adventure page.
• All Ears Net American Adventure - A comprehensive description of The United States pavilion, including the American Adventure attraction.
• WDWMAGIC American Adventure - The United States Pavilion, including a detailed history of the attraction.

• The American Adventure is at coordinates 28°22′03″N 81°32′58″W / 28.367462, -81.549454Coordinates: 28°22′03″N 81°32′58″W / 28.367462, -81.549454fr:The American Adventure