"America did not exist. Four centuries of work, of bloodshed, of loneliness and fear created this land. We built America and the process made us Americans–a new breed, rooted in all races, stained and tinted with all colors, a seeming ethnic anarchy. Then in a little, little time, we became more alike than we were different–a new society; not great, but fitted by our very faults for greatness." ~John Steinbeck, E Pluribus Unum
All things in moderation.
To pretend there have not been significant missteps in the United States of America -- from its founding all the way to today -- is ignorant at best, and immorally arrogant at worst. Remembering that is super important, and working on it is absolutely necessary.
Just with all other walks of life, however, only existing to beat yourself up over the bad things isn't a very great way to live. Theme parks are escapism, and escapism into the parts of America and its history that are fun to revisit, and worth being proud of, is good escapism, and in no way means you have to forget the rest.
The American Adventure is just a little bit of candy-coated propaganda, but I argue as with candy that is not metaphorical, a little bit of national pride is fine in moderation.
And this show just does that so well. No fireworks show, no anthem, no skyscraper, no barbecue, no free election, and no documentary has ever made me as hype to be a part of the United States as this stage production in a theme park.
A blitz of US history's greatest hits -- and a little bit of service paid to some of its low lights -- with excellent scenery and music, set in a gigantic, beautiful theater, The American Adventure is the ultimate expression of the concept originated in Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at the 1964 World's Fair, furthered with The Hall of Presidents in the Magic Kingdom, and finally perfected here.
The national pride is only a small element of what makes the show work, though. Were it just a film, it would be alright, and mostly just feel like a moving text book. What sets Adventure apart is arguably the single greatest use of Audio Animatronic technology anywhere.
Lincoln gave us a lifelike recreation of an American icon as our host. Presidents gave us (at last count) 45 hosts in a presentation that deserves more respect for its technology than it gets, but it all still happened on just one stage. Adventure completely clears those bars with dozens of AA "actors" telling us about their moments in time.
The cast is enormous. Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin are the perfect choices for host. Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, Chief Joseph, Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, John Muir, Will Rogers, and more are fully animated with speaking parts, as well as a host of original characters.
They each have different routines, movements, and stances to give the show an incredible variety of ways to suspend our disbelief that what we are seeing is not an actual person. Franklin somehow walks up a staircase. A welder rises up from behind a battleship on a crane when you didn't even know she was there. Rogers spins a lasso. Douglass dips his paddle in the Mississippi to move his raft across the stage. These are things you just don't expect to see from a robot, especially in 1982.
I can confirm from personal experience that people ask nearly every show whether or not there are actors on stage at the Hall of Presidents -- convinced that there are -- and the effect here is even more successful.
TRIVIA INTERMISSION! Do you know who the voice actor is for Alexander Graham Bell? Answer here after you guess!
The scenes these "actors" perform in slide one after another off stage almost imperceptibly. Like a play where the background objects are swapped out between acts, but all done automatically, without a single stage hand, and without even the closing of curtains to hide the transition.
Some of the sets are gorgeous designs, as well. A depression-era rural gas station has so many details to sell its depth, including a bubbling gas pump and rain dripping down from the roof. Anthony and Twain rise up on platforms that seamlessly blend with a background to establish the 1876 World's Fair as the setting. The aforementioned battleship and crane is probably the most surprising, and ends up as a fitting last "wow" before the finale, and a close with Twain and Franklin standing on a recreation of the Statue of Liberty's torch.
The next time you sit through this show, not just focus on the narrative and don't just hear the (excellent) music and voice acting. Pay attention to what the show is accomplishing and how cool it is. It's functionally a series of elaborate, effective dark ride animatronic show scenes, except the scenes are what's moving, not you.
To flesh out the aesthetic, the Ken Burns Effect is applied to a series of gorgeous paintings created by WDI, and overlaid by one of the best soundtracks in the parks. The music here sticks with you, but it's the finale song -- which you were supposed to be listening to while you read this -- that has enjoyed icon status. And for good reason. Golden Dream is on the pantheon with some of the best songs ever put in a Disney attraction, is a staple of even the smallest playlist parks albums, and one of the four songs most associated with vintage Epcot.
As one final note, even the rotunda is part of what makes the experience excellent. The gorgeous room you wait in for the next showing is awe-inspiring, and perfect for listening to the Voices of Liberty. The walls are decorated with the aforementioned WDI art, including some not even used. A wing off to the west houses a museum of sorts, with rotating exhibits on American history. Museums are always cool, and the fact that a (small) one exists within an attraction is part of what made EPCOT Center so great.
It's optimistic, uplifting, and jaw-dropping. It was there on opening day, and -- with some changes -- can still be enjoyed now. It is the peak example of an entire genre of attraction, and an icon of Walt Disney World's history. We don't need our bifocals to be rose colored to still be able to enjoy it.
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