As the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays and general seasonal celebrations near at EPCOT, the Living with the Land attraction in the World Nature neighborhood of the park is preparing for its festive overlay. Holiday decorations have recently been installed throughout the attraction as it prepares its temporary transformation into Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses, which, according to the official Walt Disney World Resort website, will be available from November 24 through December 30.
Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses Decorations Installed at EPCOT
Living with the Land was an opening day attraction at EPCOT Center, debuting alongside the park on October 1, 1982. The second half of the boat ride allows guests to traverse through several functioning greenhouses and a section focused on aquaculture; it’s this portion of the attraction that receives some festive touch-ups during the holiday season.
Living with the Land has long received a holiday overlay, of sorts, with Walt Disney World Resort first starting to market it as a substantial festive offering in 2019. The holiday refresh was dubbed “Merry and Bright Nights” that year, holding onto that moniker until it adopted the “Glimmering Greenhouses” name last year.
Decorations first become visible in the tunnel through which guests exit into the first greenhouse. Festive lights have been wrapped around several trees and plants in the greenhouses, including the breadfruit tree that guests encounter shortly after exiting the tunnel. Some holiday lights were first added to the attraction in late October.
Multi-colored lights have also been embedded in the sand along both sides of the track.
Guests come across another holiday display shortly after passing the breadfruit.
Two tables sit underneath black rings that have lights hanging from them. Several festive treats, such as cookies, hot chocolate, and a yule log, sit on the tables. A fruit-adorned wreath hangs in the background.
The nearly trestle-like structures from which the fluted pumpkins grow have been wrapped with festive lights.
Guests then enter the ‘aquacell,’ getting a closer look at two fruit wreaths before going through the entry tunnel.
The wreaths flank the tunnel entrance. They contain bananas, lemons, and limes, among several other fruits.
The fish tanks inside the aquaculture portion of the attraction have been lined with holiday lights.
A wreath has also been added to the side of the freshwater shrimp tank; it’s adorned with yellow lights.
One of several Hidden Mickeys in the attraction has been made a bit more noticeable, as the coiled hose easter egg in the aquacell has been surrounded by a Mickey-shaped light that changes colors. It’s also surrounded by wrapped holiday gifts.
Guests are greeted by a Mickey topiary after exiting the aquaculture portion of the attraction. Additional decorations have been added to the plant, with the large gold ornament in the middle of his face and the antlers between his ears giving Mickey the appearance of a reindeer.
A string of blue lights is wrapped around the border of the topiary. The same lights are wrapped around some of the posts in this section of the greenhouse.
Additional wreaths are scattered throughout the attraction, with some featuring their corresponding plants or flowers.
Though not necessarily a ‘holiday’ display, a table with several cooking ingredients has been placed underneath the pumpkins in one of the attraction’s final greenhouses.
There are tomatoes, red onions, and several types of garlic; a Mickey-shaped pumpkin is sitting on a table behind the display.
This greenhouse also contains a stack of holiday gifts surrounded by boxes with “The Land” branding. Ingredients harvested in the Living with the Land attraction are used at Sunshine Seasons and the Garden Grill Restaurant, both of which are located inside The Land Pavilion.
Speaking of cooking ingredients, a wreath has been added alongside other festive decorations, including a snowflake-like plate and peppermint candies, to a display near the culinary herbs.
There also appears to be some holly, which, while a beautiful festive decoration, is an odd choice for the “culinary herb” display, as holly berries are poisonous.
Bow-adorned garlands and more holiday lights have been added throughout the final greenhouse.
Multi-colored ornaments hang from the basil.
Decorations have also been added to the window that allows guests to look into the Biotechnology Lab.
Large ornaments and garland sit in front of the window that’s now lined with festive stockings across its top.
Names are written on the stockings.
Blue-and-green holiday lights have been installed in the tunnel through which guests exit the greenhouses.
We were also able to check out Living with the Land at night, giving us a deeper appreciation for the impending overlay.
The larger displays take on a more festive appearance when viewed under the night sky.
Watch our full ride-through of last year’s version of Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses here:
Do you plan to ride Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses this holiday season? Let us know in the comments.
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