THE LIVING SEAS
DISC ONE — LINER NOTES
1. POSEIDON'S DOMAIN
Paying homage to the original Poseidon-centered storyline, this underscore excerpt from 1981’s “A Dream Called EPCOT” directly references Tony Baxter’s original concept for the pavilion of The Seas.
2. PAVILION ATMOSPHERE
Greeted by a marquee of volcanic rock intermittently bursting with crashing waves, The Living Seas theme is quite apparent with its wave-like architecture and magnificent mural beckoning us to enter its winding queue filled with artifacts of man’s earliest explorations into the deep.
3. WATER ROTUNDA
The narrow queue opens up into a large dark elliptical space where the preshow for The Sea is displayed in-the-round on a background of moving water caustics and projected stills that appear to ripple in and out of existence.
4. THE SEA
From the original introduction: “Ocean exploration has come a long way. We now have a better understanding of man's involvement with the sea. But when did the ocean form? How did it form? And what possibilities lie ahead? Answers to these and other questions are about to surface in a dramatic film simply titled The Sea” The beautifully austere and mysterious “tone poem” written and directed by Paul Gerber.
SEA BASE ALPHA
5. HYDROLATORS
The speculative “future of amazing technological creativity” is manifested in the first phase of the journey to Sea Base Alpha where hexagon-shaped hydrolators seemingly “descend” through 125 feet of water-filled fissures to the ocean floor.
6. SEACABS
From the Hydrolators to the Sea Base Alpha Visitor Center, the “Seacabs” travel directly into the center of the massive coral reef environment — all the while serenaded by the song of humpback whales.
7. VISITORS CENTER
The cavernous two-story atrium of Sea Base Alpha is dominated by a cylindrical Diver Lock-out Chamber flanked on each side by two circular modules that explore several topics of ocean exploration.
8. ANIMATED ATLAS OF THE WORLD
The featured presentation of the “Earth Systems” Module 1C, the Animated Atlas of the World serves as a primer to the many exhibits that depict the relationship between the fluid oceans and the not-so-rigid mantle of our planet.
9. OBSERVATION DECK
203 feet in diameter and 27 feet tall, the “Caribbean Coral Reef” tank was once touted to be “The World’s Sixth Largest Ocean” and in the absolute center; the circular Observation Deck surrounding visitors with panoramic views of the seawater environment.
10. CORAL REEF MEDLEY
Originally appointed with tranquil décor accents, the Coral Reef Restaurant provides a relaxing environment to dine on unique seafood creations while being serenaded by a medley of Transitional Jazz compositions.
11. UNDERSEA EXPLORATION
Representing the Jason and JIM exhibits, this medley simultaneously depicts man’s relationship and history with the sea.
ENTRANCE PLAZA
12. THE LIVING SEAS – MAIN THEME
Debuting in 2001 with the rest of the Steve Woods arrangements for Entrance Plaza, this uncharacteristically triumphant and exuberant version serves as a fitting finale to a visit to The Living Seas.
13. FWSS – MAIN THEME
Starting from the digital frontier of TRON then expanding into the entire Universe of Energy, the Future World Soundtrack Series theme encompasses some of the most iconic and impactful themes in the history of the park.
