Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
231
An International Spy Ring of Sorts
Tips
Disney recently added a new interactive experience to Epcot aimed at entertain-
ing the kid set. Inspired by the Disney Channel's popular animated series,
Dis-
ney's Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure
allows guests the chance to
become super sleuth secret agents—albeit temporarily. Using a handheld device
aptly named a Kimunicator (obtained by swiping your park ticket at one of the
five designated Kim Possible locations marked on your Epcot guide map), guests
team up with Kim Possible characters to save the world (or in this case, the World
Showcase) in a high-tech 'round-the-world spy-venture. Mexico, China, Norway,
Germany, Japan, France, and the U.K. pavilions each feature a different mission
that takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Instructions and clues are tex-
ted to guests via the Kimunicator—simply follow them in order to complete your
mission.
Mexico
Frommer's Rating:
A
Recommended Ages:
8-adult
You'll hear the music of marimbas and mariachi bands as you approach the festive show-
case of Mexico, fronted by a towering Mayan pyramid modeled on the Aztec temple of
Quetzalcoatl (God of Life) and surrounded by dense Yucatán jungle landscaping. Upon
entering the pavilion, you'll be in a museum of pre-Columbian art and artifacts.
Down a ramp, a small lagoon is the setting for the
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the
Three Caballeros,
where visitors board boats for an 8-minute cruise through Mexico. A
new animated overlay (along with refurbished backdrops and sound) features José and
Panchito as they search the Mexican countryside for Donald Duck before finally reunit-
ing in Mexico City. Passengers get a close-up look at the Mayan pyramid.
Mariachi
Cobre,
a 12-piece band, plays Tuesday to Saturday.
Shops in and around the
Plaza de Los Amigos
(a “moonlit” Mexican
mercado
[mar-
ket] with a tiered fountain and street lamps) display an array of leather goods, baskets,
sombreros, piñatas, pottery, embroidered dresses and blouses, maracas, jewelry, serapes,
colorful papier-mâché birds, and blown-glass objects (an artisan occasionally gives dem-
onstrations). The Mexican Tourist Office also provides travel information.
Morocco
Frommer's Rating:
A
Recommended Ages:
10-adult
This exotic pavilion has architecture embellished with geometrically patterned tile work,
minarets, hand-painted wood ceilings, and brass lighting fixtures (the king of Morocco
sent his own royal artisans to work on the pavilion). It's headlined by a replica of the
Koutoubia Minaret, the prayer tower of a 12th-century mosque in Marrakesh. Note
the imperfections in each mosaic tile; they were put there on purpose in accordance with
the Muslim belief that only Allah is perfect. The Medina (old city), entered via a replica
of an arched gateway in Fez, leads to
Fez House
(a traditional Moroccan home) and the
narrow, winding streets of the
souk,
a bustling marketplace where all manner of authen-
tic handcrafted merchandise is on display. Here you can browse or purchase pottery,
brassware, hand-knotted Berber or colorful Rabat carpets, ornate silver and camel-bone
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