Gaining Jewish perspective at Epcot

Grandson snaps a selfie at the Epcot theme building representing spaceship Earth
Grandson snaps a selfie at the Epcot theme building representing spaceship Earth

Story by Donald H. Harrison; photos by Shor Masori

Donald H. Harrison
Donald H. Harrison

ORLANDO, Florida — Sometimes it is good to go to a place like Epcot at Disney World  to regain a sense of perspective about our fellow Jews and Israel. We may feel,  sometimes, that our narrative provides the text, or at least a major sub-text, for world history, but at Epcot we are forced to conclude that we are not the center of everyone’s universe.  We may, in fact, be no more than a footnote in other people’s narratives.

Egyptians with papyrus scroll at Epcot ride featuring the history of communication
Egyptians with papyrus scroll at Epcot ride featuring the history of communication

For example, in one of the featured rides, “Spaceship Earth,” which deals with the  history of communications, we see ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, but no mention is made either of the ancient Hebrews, nor of their Christian offspring — until, that is, we learn that although some of the great ancient Roman libraries were destroyed by fire and warfare, many of the works had been saved by Jewish and Arab copyists.

Later the ride passes  a diorama showing Johannes Guttenberg with his new printing press, but no mention is made of the fact that the Bible — including both Hebrew and Christian Scripture — was the book the press chiefly was designed to reproduce.

In the ‘World Showcase” in which 11 nations have pavilions introducing visitors to their cuisines and cultures, the nation that seems to be constantly in the world  headlines — Israel — is among the missing.  Instead visitors are treated to the pavilions of the United States, as well as those of Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

Epcot is an acronym for “Experimental, Prototype Community Of Tomorrow,” and in this
environment my grandson Shor, our host Amnon Markusfeld, and I were enticed to forget our relatively small Jewish corner of the larger world, and to instead enjoy the technology and showmanship of Disney World.

Because rain had been correctly forecast the day that we went to the park, crowds were smaller than usual — bad news for Disney, but good news for us.  Except for the hour and 15 minute long line at the “Soarin'” exhibit, which features Patrick Warburton of television’s Family Guy prepping us for a simulated  glider ride over some of California’s best-known sites, we generally experienced  tolerable waiting times for some of the other featured rides, including “Ellen’s Energy Adventure”; “Mission Space” and “Living With the Land.”

The “Ellen” who has the energy adventure is TV personality Ellen DeGeneres who has a
nightmare that she is competing on the Jeopardy television show against one of her arch rivals from school days, played by actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who in real life is of Hungarian Jewish descent on the side of her father, actor Tony Curtis.

The Jeopardy subject is “energy,” about which she knows practically nothing.  But then her imagination conjures up television’s Bill Nye, “the science guy,” a nerdy professor who takes her on a ride through time, during which she experiences major developments in the production of energy.  Naturally, she comes back able to effectively compete against her nasty ex-school mate in the contest emceed by Jeopardy host Alex Trebek.

An Einstein character is flanked by Jamie Lee Curtis, left, and Ellen DeGeneres right in Epcot presentation on development of energy
An Einstein character is flanked by Jamie Lee Curtis, left, and Ellen DeGeneres right in Epcot presentation on development of energy

And guess who the third contestant is, who does nothing more than raise his eye brows quizzically and suck on his pipe  enigmatically? It is none other than Albert Einstein, who amazingly is eliminated without a single point before Final Jeopardy.  See what I mean about being footnotes?

“Mission Space,” another simulated ride, but this one with far more G-force and spinning, is moderated by Gary Sinise, whom I remember for his role as Detective Mac Taylor in CSI New York and Amnon recalled as Lieutenant Dan in the movie Forrest Gump. There are two versions of this ride, the “green one” for those wanting a gentler ride to Mars, and an “orange one’ for those willing to withstand a bit more turbulence.  Visitors are divided into four-member crews, with each crew member having buttons to push at critical times during the flight.  (Don’t worry if you miss pushing the button, the system will override you and steer itself.)

“Living With the Land,” is a good contrast with “Mission Space,” because it takes you on a gentle boat ride through the development of agriculture.  It concludes with a ride through a real life garden in which high-tech growing techniques are utilized to increase food yield while reducing use of harmful pesticides.

Eating at Epcot can be its own expensive adventure — the prices, like “Space Mission,” being out of this world.  Amnon, Shor and I tried the giant turkey legs, although in retrospect Shor and I would have preferred overpriced hamburgers.

Epcot is but one of the parks within the Disney World complex, and to see the major attractions at all of them, a family would need to spend at least five days to a full week, and expend well over a thousand dollars, possibly even two thousand dollars.

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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  You may comment to him at donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com, or post your comment on this website provided the comment is civil and that you identify yourself by full name and your city and state of residence.