Showing posts with label
Special Events: Sounds Like Summer.
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Showing posts with label
Special Events: Sounds Like Summer.
Show all posts
We saw our last Epcot concert of the summer, 2U - A Tribute to U2.
I really like the band and think that they do a great job. I especially enjoy the performance by "Bono". He plays up the hand gestures and, of course, sports the eye wear synonymous with U2's lead singer (click the photo below to enlarge for a closer look).
One of the reasons I enjoy this band is their enthusiasm, but more importantly their appreciation. They truly appreciate the opportunity to perform at Epcot and say so, taking time to thank all the cast members and the audience. 2U was celebrating their 4th season at the Epcot Sounds Like Summer concert series and was looking forward to the opportunity to perform a fifth time.
Unfortunately, for the band, the sound engineers had the volume entirely too loud. We experience this from time to time with different bands. I often wonder if the sound engineers have suffered hearing loss and cannot tell exactly how excruciatingly loud they are playing the music.
It is loud to the point of not being able to hear the performance. You can't understand the lyrics and the music itself is puncturing ear drums. The picture above is from the first minute of the opening song. Soon afterwards, children are crying (and being carried out by parents). Many people are holding their ears and making painful faces. The more prepared in the crowd (usually seniors) are wearing ear plugs. I've been known to make ear plugs from crumpled napkins. I'm sad to say that even ear plugs could not save today's performance.
We got up and walked out of the American Gardens Theater as the third song began. As we reached Japan, the music sounded perfect. Still very loud, but you could finally hear the words and enjoy the music. Although we could no longer see the band, we could better appreciate their talent from this distance.
I'm just not sure why some Epcot concerts are appropriately loud and others are unbearably painful. Hopefully, next year will have better adjusted sound.
We love the Sounds Like Summer concert series at Epcot and make notes to return each summer to see our favorite performers. One of those favorites is Karin Lawson: a Tribute to Janet Jackson.
Talk about giving a performance. Wow. This is the second year we've seen this group and we must say that they are one of the most hard-working groups of people we've seen on stage at the American Gardens Theater.
It was a super hot afternoon, but that didn't slow down "Janet" or the back-up dancers. You could literally see the sweat pouring off these folks - and I mean pouring. When the guys did a hard-stomping move, you could see a small rain shower fall from their bodies.
Through all that body-beating hard work, they never stopped smiling. And even though only about 100 or so people showed up for the performance (it was even a little too hot just to sit in the audience) this group performed as if tens of thousands screaming fans were rocking a sold-out stadium. Yes, "Janet" and her team have that much enthusiasm. Totally worth seeing!
After the concert, we dropped by the Italy Pavilion because so many people want to know, "is Via Napoli still serving pizza by the slice?" At this time, no. Disney has been testing pizza by the slice at Epcot Italy on and off. The pizza window doors are currently closed:
If you want pizza, you'll need to visit Via Napoli's full-service sit-down restaurant. Here's a snashot of the pizza menu (click to enlarge):
Note: the pizza you will get inside is NOT the same as the pizza that was temporarily served by the slice. Stay tuned and I'll let you know if/when pizza by the slice returns to Epcot Italy.
In the meantime, I have reviewed many many of the options for individual pizzas at Disney. Some good, others not so good. Enjoy...
As we walked across the Epcot parking lot today a man exiting with his sun asked my husband and I if we'd like two Fast Passes for Soarin' later that evening. We actually had plans to leave the park prior to the 8:15 PM time stamped on the pass, but said we would gladly pay it forward to another group of two.
We did exactly that. First, we headed straight to the American Gardens Theater to see
Little Queen - The Music of Heart as part of the Epcot Sounds Like Summer series. A good show although I only recognized a few of the songs.
Next, we were starving so we popped into the American pavilion's Liberty Inn. What a mess that was. First the cashier did not follow line protocol (by alternating order to his left and right). 5 people were let to order ahead of that should not have.
Next, our order was "lost". It took FOREVER. I blame it on the servers. Instead of calling out order numbers (which would eliminate any confusion) they simply yelled out "chili cheese dog" or "chicken nuggets" and people in line would simply grab one and take off. People didn't even care that they were getting the wrong sides (apples vs fries) or sometimes servers were throwing both on the tray because of the mass confusion.
It was impossible to get anyone's attention. We had a large drink with our order, but none of the trays were coming out that way. Finally, I was able to convince one of the servers that our order was lost (our large drink had been sitting on the counter melting). A male server snorted that it was probably the one he already called out 10 minutes ago that no one claimed (it wasn't). After realizing we were wronged, she at least offered to give us a fresh drink since the one on the counter had obviously been there a very long time.
After we cooled off (literally and figuratively), we sat for a few minutes and took in the collection of flags that hang at Liberty Inn.
Last, but not least, we headed over to The Land in search of couple disappointed that the Soarin' Fast Passes had all been distributed for the day and the stand-by line was way too log. We found such a couple who were very happy to have the tickets. The experience of making someone's day made up for the less-than-Disney experience we had at Liberty Inn.
Lightning... why did it have to be lightning? Let's just say I'm very respectful of lightening - especially in central Florida. I have good reason too. Did you know that Florida is the lightning capital of the US?
Today we experienced lightning at Epcot while attending a performance at the Sounds Like Summer concert series at the American Gardens Theater. It sounded like summer alright - as I looked up in the sky and saw a bolt of lightning, the crackle of it traveled right through the band's speakers.
While the band made jokes and everyone else nervously laughed about it, I made my husband exit the outdoor theater and take me over to the Liberty Inn quick-service restaurant at America for cover. (We got a burger and fries - cold and not their best work.) Even though the performance was almost over, I promised I take my husband back to see Stayin' Alive a Tribute to the Bee Gees before they left in a couple of days. The band was really good and worth a second visit.
Lightning is serious business in Florida. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to get struck by lightning. Will you? Probably not. But I say, why take chances? You're also supposed to stay in a safe place for at least 30 minutes after the storm before heading back outdoors.
I don't always heed my own lightning storm warning at Disney World, but today we were sitting under a tree, surrounded by water and the storm interfered with electrical equipment. That's more than enough reason for me to quickly move to a safer place.
It was still rumbling outside when we decided to walk back to our car, which we had parked at Disney's Boardwalk. I kept a watchful eye on the skies as we walked back to where we had spent our afternoon. I was nervous the entire time. I dont' know if anyone has ever been struck by lightening at Disney (they have safety precautions in place for lightning), but I do know that a giraffe suffered a fatal strike in 2003 on the grounds at Animal Kingdom.
Just before we left the Boardwalk to watch the concert at Epcot, we were sitting at the Belle Vue Lounge. It was 4:45 pm and the antique phone on the bar was ringning... and ringing and ringing.
My husband nudged me to answer it - thinking perhaps that it was a surprise. No one else was nearby (the bar didn't open until 5pm). It must have rang about 30 times and just as I was about to finally walk over and answer, the phone stopped ringing. Oh well, maybe next time.
