January 1998 Epcot Center Infobits

At Epcot, Test Track was being tested, but a cast member said they still didn't have a posted date of opening. The merchandise was in full swing, featuring Crash Test Goofy, and water bottles and hats that looked like road pylons. There was also a "car wash" nearby that generated mist as a way to cool off on hot summer days, which this was not.

Check out this EXCELLENT UNOFFICIAL Test Track page , maintained by someone close to the real story.

In the Africa pavilion, the Refreshment Outpost is not a COOLpost with more tarps over the area, an old truck with lots of Coca Cola items around it, and a mist generator for folks to cool off in. This area was much improved in appearance. China was celebrating their New Year, and Norway has a mascot now called Gargy - a troll. The pastries, of course, are still one of the finest things in all of Epcot at Norway.

All attraction lines were very short, and I even got to eat at the Mexico restaurant without a reservation. Innoventions has quite a bit of remodelling going on, and the former entranceway under the large signs is now "Exit Only", but it was unclear if this was actually being used, or just a way to make folks use an alternate entrance while they did rennovations inside.

Illuminations 25 I found to be less than exciting. The former Illuminations was only somewhat exciting to me. I guess I'm just a big fan of the original 1982 presentation featuring synthesized classical music by, I believe, the same gentleman who did the music for the Main Street Electrical Parade.