Today we break the record for the longest standing in line for a single ride - over 2h for soarin' - a simulated hang-glider rider over selected parts of California. Pretty neat and impressive, but after standing in line for over 2h, anything is bound to be somewhat anti-climactic. Besides the line-up space is clearly one of the less elaborate ones of all Disney World...



Later, we head over to the World Showcase section of Epcot - the only place where Norway lies in between Mexico and China - and we have dinner in Mexico. The world showcase is a collection of architectural cliches commonly associated with a particular country, hosting gift-shops and restaurants representing what would be considered typical products and food for that country.

While creating a larger than life phantasy land is one thing, I am not sure if such trivialization of the real world is actually, however well it is done or intended is helpful or harmful. On one hand, it can help to wake curiosity and interest in other cultures on the other hand it helps to reinforce stereotypes even more. Why travel the real world, which is messy, unpredictable, frustrating and dangerous, if you can have it all nice, clean, friendly and safe at Disney World? Besides, not everybody has enough money to travel the world - or in the case of Americans, more likely not enough vacation time... and in all fairness most of the cultural stereotypes are no different from those which one would find offered by the local tourism industry where going to a particular tourist destination, escaping from which takes often some serious amount of effort and local knowledge.