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INDIA

India BGM - Various Artists
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India is a nation full of mystery, charm, and wonder. There are few pavilions at EPCOT Center that will truly possess the same special connection that we tried to create from the country's magnificent culture to the curious guests in the park. Between several attractions, shopping, and dining, it will be a wonderful addition to the World Showcase lineup, as well as its own adventure in itself to explore.

Tall Tales

India is a country rich in folklore, from epic poems to religious icons to morality fables that would make the Twilight Zone blush. For this pavilion we didn't want to do anything too unaccesible to the average guest, and that's where the book of Hitopadesha comes into play. Hitopadesha is a series of ancient Indian texts designed as common fables for both children and adults alike to gleam meaning from. The fables are sepperated into different themes such as loosing and gaining friends, war, and peace.

Two scenes each will represent these main four ideas in the ride. Importantly, these fables are a part of Indian culture that used anthropomorphic animals to tell their stories. With that in mind Marc Davis fresh off his impressive work on Disneyland's America Sings has agreed to make this his next Imagineering project so the charm and humor and character design that has popularized Disney parks through Mr. Davis's work can be brought over and transfered. And with that we welcome you to "Tall Tales", the headline attraction of the India pavilion.

After briefly winding through an outdoor overflow queue, guests find themselves in the middle of a simple, understated bath house for the majority of their wait in line. Weaving through the three main rooms of the queue, guests see large scrolls that act as tableaux illustrating the style of story we'll be encountering along the way. Because there are 9-13 different stories in each "book" of the Hitopadesha and only two scenes in the ride per book, the rest will be illustrated through these scrolls to give guests an insight into the grander spectrum of these fables.

TThe illustrations will be done in a style similar to Mary Blair's iconic "little golden book" series where the paintings will be on golden scrolls and the animals represented in the paintings will be done up in the traditional Blair style using her classic eye popping primary colors. As we wind through the queue traditional Indian meditation music will play throughout to further draw guests into the mood of the attractions.

The load will be a very simple dock located on the back patio of the queue building where we take a quick turn around to enter the main showbuilding which is not attached to the queue. The boats will be very simple Small World style boats for increased capacity and reliability. The first of four books in the ride we travel through is "How to Gain a Friend" with the two fables being encountered here clear parallels for the power of friendship.

The first scene depicts a snow storm and an anthropomorphic tiger and lion making their way up the side of a mountain. The lion is the "Traveler" in this story, unaccustomed to the harsh terrains of the snowy mountain that the tiger has lived in his whole life. We see the comradery between traveler and native as Tiger assists the lion up the mountain.

The next scene depicts a clearly blind and injured jackal being helped up the same mountain by a cat and a flock of birds. The birds are chirping in unison so the jackal can follow a clear path with their sounds, while the cat nurses the jackal's wounds. Another clear scene of animals of different species working together towards a common goal. Things get a bit more ominous as we enter the heart of the snowstorm and the second book of fables, "How to Loose a Friend".

We see the animalistic instincts of our colorful cast of characters come into play within one large room more at the base of the Himilayas (where most of the attraction takes place). There are two scenes of would-be animal friends turning on each other due to the predator/pray cycle of nature. These include a lion, cat, and mouse locking eyes with each other tensely scoping out who will get the first kill as well as a rabbit hiding helplessly from a ferocious lion. If we don't see past our natural urges then "friendship" will be a concept lost to us as a species, the narrator preaches.

Following that we enter the next book, "War". A dark "starry sky" backdrop has overtaken us. The Himalayas are now but a forced perspective effect in the distance as we enter a snowy forest overtaken by a blizzard. We see a lone elephant stomping around a warren of rabbit holes. He's not intentionally stepping on the rabbits and their home, but his mere presence has caused a war-like chaos to break out for the rabbits.

The next scene we see is a family of monkeys fighting for control of the forest trees with a group of birds. The birds flying rapidly on strings overhead while the monkeys hoot and holler from the tree branches. The entire scene will be framed so that guests will have to look up at it, a contrast to the chaos going on at ground level with the elephant rabbits. Following this we enter one more transitional tunnel into the final section of the ride, "Peace".

This time the Himalayas are in the distance and we are on the outskirts of a village. We pass by a small wooden shack and see the tiger who had helped the lion at the beginning of the ride. The tiger looks very lonely until he sees the rabbits who were being attacked by the elephant pop up from his floorboards as he gets a delighted look on his face that he's no longer alone. Finally heading into the village we see all the animals we've met along the way and then some singing a traditional Hindi poem in its native langauge as the sun rises over a glimpse of the mountains. A hopeful note to go out on.

After unloading and walking down a walkway, we see one last poem that cements the tone of everything we've seen up until this point and hopefully lets the lessons of the ride sink in.

May peace forever yield happiness to all the victorious possessors of the earth,
May just men forever be free from adversity, and the fame of those who do good long flourish,
May prudence, like a glorious sun shine continually on your *******,
May the earth, with all her vast possessions, long remain for your enjoyment.

Bay of Bengal Trading Co., Ltd.
Bay of Bengal is an indoor shop selling all sorts of things native to India: clothing, jewelry, shoes, sundries, toys, games, you name it. The interior is distinctly British Colonial. That's because this shop is designed to look like a storehouse from back when India was part of the British Empire. There are old boxes and crates strewn about, and a ratty old British flag hangs in the corner. There are various shelves of old trinkets, available for purchase. The wooden tables and shelves are very worn-out and old, adding to the old-time feeling of the shop.  
 


Maharajah's Palace
Inside this opulent restaurant, you can dine like Indian royalty. The restaurant is designed gloriously, like the inside of an actual Indian palace. Large windows provide breathtaking views of the World Showcase Lagoon. Ancient Indian riches are prominently displayed. All in all, it's a breathtaking place to be inside. But what of the menu? Here at the Maharajah's Palace, you can feast on the finest Indian delicacies imaginable: Curry, chicken, pork, hummus, and all other sorts of Indian food await your taste buds.
 


Indian Coffee House
Essentially, this restaurant will go on to inspire the likes of the restaurants at Tokyo DisneySea's Arabian Coast. Tan walls, dim lighting, lanterns, the works. There's an air of relaxation here, inspired by Hinduist and Buddhist ways of life. The menu offers the finest of Indian coffee and all sorts of Indian desserts.

Utsav Theatre (Celebration Theatre) 
Festival of Wonder​

 

Each theater will hold 360 (more rows and intricacies than shown in art) and shows will begin every 20 min (25 min show and 15 min reset period per theater) on normal days, 30 min on slow days (just one theater running with a 5 min reset) or 15 on super busy days (two theaters, same time schedule as the slow days. Each theater uses a cast of five, along with 7 projection screens, lasers, and fog effects.

All seating on first floor with a slight angle forward (only a 5 foot difference between back of seating and front), with Screens/stage elevated at about a Hall of presidents height.

Queue


Guests will enter a gorgeous hall made of “marble” (painted from a distance), as well as tile pedestals. Here, on the tile pedestals, guests will find authentic pieces of Indian art, and sculptures, each with an adjoining placard to explain the cultural significance in English and Hindi. When only 3 minutes remain until the next show, guests will be invited by a Cast Member to congregate in the far end of the Hall, where a curtain has revealed a separate hallway. After 340 guests are counted, Cast will begin stopping guests and instructing them to wait for the next show. If the show becomes an unexpected hit, the main hall was made to be used as a queue area, but guests would still be free to roam the Utsav Gallery through designated non-queue areas.

As guests enter one of two magnificent theaters, they will notice a large, purple velvet curtain flanking their semi-circular view, even going beyond some guests’ seats.
Each theater will hold 360 (more rows and intricacies than shown in art) and shows will begin every 20 min (25 min show and 15 min reset period per theater) on normal days, 30 min on slow days (just one theater running with a 5 min reset) or 15 on super busy days (two theaters, same time schedule as the slow days. Each theater uses a cast of five, along with 7 projection screens, lasers, and fog effects.

All seating on first floor with a slight angle forward (only a 5 foot difference between back of seating and front), with Screens/stage elevated at about a Hall of presidents height.

Upon the show beginning, an Indian cultural representative will stand on a raised elevated platforms, and greet guests with a simple greeting, “Hello, and welcome to Festival of Wonders, A Celebration of Indian Culture as told through dance, light, and 180 degree imagery. We ask that for your safety, and the safety of the performers, we ask that you please refrain from using flash photography or any other external video lighting. And now, EPCOT Center proudly presents: Festival of Wonders!”
As guests politely clap the representative off stage, the theater falls dark as a sole female voice is heard, “India. A land of many Wonders. These Wonders permeate throughout our land to bring to life a culture like no other, full of spirit, life, and... light!”
As the narrarator speaks her final word, the curtain has lifted to reveal 180 degrees of screens, which are projecting a sea of light, all made my candles.

“Diwali,” the narrator continues, “Is a celebration unlike any other. The wondrous celebration of lights permeates through our culture, as seen through festivals, fireworks, and dance!” Suddenly, the three center scenes lift to reveal a stage, backed and surrounded by mirrors to give the effect of the light multiplying. A series of five dancers (two male, three female) hold candles and dance to the music, eventually spreading out into the audience, before returning to the stage, as the screen returns over them.
The narrarator resumes “Diwali happens only once a year, but much of India lasts for centuries on end.” As dramatic sitar music begins playing, we soar, through the Semi-Circle Vision, over some of India’s most renowned landmarks, like the Taj Mahal. Finally, we land near a large soundstage. “While some Wonders were made years ago, some continue to be made, through the bustling Bollywood industry, from movies, to songs, to iconic dances, Bollywood has transformed Indian culture.”

The screens lift again to reveal three dancers, now clad in Bollywood attire, who begin to dance to a medley of Bollywood songs of the time (updated every 5 years,) as colorful lasers and lights dance overhead, making a canopy. Suddenly a glass wall comes down like a curtain in front of the stage, as large fog cannons cover the glass. 
“Bollywood is not the most colorful thing in India, however, as that Title belongs to Holi, the Festival of Color.” 

In the climax of the performance, two dancers appear behind the glass, throwing colored powder in a colorful finale that doesn’t even get to guests! To join in on the fun, guests will be sprinkled with water while fog cannons in the audience will be illuminated to look like colored powder. Suddenly, everything falls still as our narrarator returns for one final saying “India truly is a Festival of Wonders, isn’t it?” Before one final color/fog burst covers the audience as the curtain falls, signifying the end of our program.

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