I’m not trying to get all aggressive here, but some Disney World opinions are just wrong. “But Sam,” you say, “Doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of an opinion?” And to that I say, hush.
Living with the Land
Yes, every Disney World fan has their favorite ride and, yes, they are well within their right to believe whatever they want. Just as I am well within my right to believe that there is only ONE Disney World attraction that stands out above the rest. Living with the Land at EPCOT is the greatest Disney World attraction of all time, and I will not be taking any questions at this time.
Don’t get me wrong — I’m sure your favorite ride is great too, but Living with the Land is probably (definitely) way better. Here’s why.
It’s relaxing and air-conditioned
This slow-moving boat ride in EPCOT’s Land Pavilion is part dark ride and part greenhouse tour — and you probably know what that means. It’s both relaxing and air-conditioned, which is extremely welcome on a hot and chaotic Disney World day. You’ll start out in the dark ride portion, learning about “the land” and different climates…
Living with the Land
…and then you’ll head into the bright greenhouses, filled with all sorts of plants (and even some aquatic life!).
It combines two of my favorite things
It’s rare that two of my favorite things are combined into one ride, but that’s exactly the case here. Ya girl loves a good dark ride (lookin’ at you, Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean), but I’m also a self-proclaimed plant lady. You’ll find all sorts of tropical and other plants scattered around my house and yard, so being able to observe these gorgeous greenhouses with the thousands of plant species inside is a real treat.
Scenery change!
Even if you’re not a plant person, it’s hard not to be amazed and impressed by what the Cast Members who work in these greenhouses can grow and do.
You can do a backstage tour
You can’t get a behind-the-scenes tour of just any Disney World ride! The Behind the Seeds Tour takes you backstage through the ride, where you’ll visit four greenhouses (plus a fish farm), encountering insects, fish, and plants along the way. Plant-growing techniques — including hydroponic soil-free gardening — are shared, making this a great opportunity for at-home gardening hobbyists.
A cucumber grown on the ride!
I booked the Behind the Seeds Tour for my birthday one year, and it was SO fun. It’s also one of the cheapest backstage tours you can do at Disney World — which is another win in my book.
It gets a holiday overlay
Several Disney World rides get all decked out for the Christmas season, and Living with the Land is one of them! The ride is transformed into Living with the Land — Glimmering Greenhouses during the holidays, and it makes this already incredible ride even more impressive.
Living With The Land Holiday Edition: Glimmering Greenhouses
Living with the Land gets decorated with loads of Christmas lights throughout the greenhouses, along with special holiday decorations. It’s definitely worth the 20-minute ride! My best tip is to ride it at night once the lights are all aglow.
It often has a short wait
Sometimes you just need a reliable ride that isn’t going to require a long wait — and Living with the Land usually fits that bill. During extremely busy times of year — like holidays, school breaks, and during cooler months — there can still be some waits, but nothing like what you’d expect from a more popular ride. And, even if you do have to wait a bit, the entire line is located inside where it’s air-conditioned — it’s hard to beat that!
Short waits galore!
We’ll be on the lookout for additional updates from Disney World and more. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and beyond!
We’re Spilling BACKSTAGE SECRETS of a Popular EPCOT Ride 😱
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I live here and I am at WDW all the time. I thought I was one of very few who thought this is a must do ride each trip. See how things have come along since the last trip. When my sons were little they loved it too. It’s educational and fascinating. They wanted to try their own hydroponic garden.