We did the Behind the Seeds tour several years ago, our son, Jeremiah, was 4 (almost 5) and daughter, Abigail, was 8. I love the Living with the Land boat ride and was always intrigued by the guests I saw walking around inside the greenhouses. Plus my husband has a degree in biology, and is a big nerd (the well-respected, attractive kind), so he was interested for the science of it. Plus for less than $20 a person, it’s one of the least expensive “add-ons” to the normal Disney experience.

This tour usually has availability, even same day. We were able to call the morning of the day we wanted to go and get into a 12:30 tour. When the time arrived, we checked in at the desk, which is located inside the Land Pavillion, just outside of Soarin’. Our guide arrived promptly and were escorted thru a Cast Member only door to the backstage area. Jeremiah was still in a stroller and they offered to let us take it but we chose to park it backstage and let him walk for the tour. Our guide, Jen introduced herself and explained that each tour was a little different as each guide had a unique job in the greenhouses and being a marine biologist her primary duties were keeping the fish and alligators fed and healthy. She then had our group do a quick introduction. There were 12 of us, including my 2 kids and a boy about 10-11 years old.

We started out in the lab where Jen explained their ongoing research for safe pest control and showed us the insects they use in the greenhouses. She promised the kids later they could help with pest control duty that day by releasing some lady bugs. She gave each kid a vial of bugs to hold on to and made them promise to be careful with their bugs and not open the vial until she instructed them to. Our kids were excited to have their own special job and held onto their vials tightly. She then showed us how they are working to develop new plant species and hybrids in the lab and explained how that process worked.

Then we moved out into the greenhouse. It was a little warm but comfortable. Jen warned it could get warmer as the tour progressed and often took the group toward fans and out of the direct sunlight to do most of the presenting. She was friendly and knowledgeable and did a great job explaining things and answering questions along the way. She made the tour fun for adults and children but did not try to make the content on an elementary level that would bore adults.

 

It’s official!

As we went thru the greenhouses she explained hydroponics and its benefits.  She then showed us how Disney horticulturists have worked to produce plants that were more fruitful with techniques such as and different fertilization methods. To prove her point she showed us the certificate from Guiness World Records documenting the world’s most producing tomato plant. She let the kids release thier lady bugs into the second greenhouse and let the kids keep their vials. She stopped and picked a cucumber and a few herbs and offered them up for samples. Abigail declined as she usually does with anything green but Jeremiah did try a cucumber slice and Matthew and I both tried the basil and mint.

We spent more time than most in the fish hatchery room as this was Jen’s area of expertise and where she spent most of her time working. Jeremiah had a few questions about the fish and she was great to answer them. He asked her which gator was her favorite and if she knew them from one another. She did and explained how to tell the difference and that she knew each one individually. She also told us that this family of gators would be released into the wild soon and a new set of eggs would be hatching to replace them. She explained how the food was harvested in the greenhouses and served restaurants such as Garden Grill and Sunshine Seasons.

We finished our tour with a wrap up of the hidden Mickey’s in the greenhouses, while sometimes there are more there are always at least three in the greenhouses.

This is one of the best tour values at Walt Disney World. It is scheduled to last an hour but can go over (ours was closer to an hour and 45 minutes). We were engaged and happy with the tour and our kids, even though young, were not bored and had a great time. While I was not interested in gardening before (other than to ride Living with the Land), the tour helped inspire me to start a small herb garden in pots on our back porch. I recommend this tour to any Epcot visitor. From first-timer to veteran park goers, many will enjoy this regardless of level of interest in gardening. I will go on this tour again in the future to see what has changed and if I can pick up any more gardening tips.

Useful Tour Details:

• 1 hour tour at Epcot’s the Land Pavilion

• Tours daily, reserve by calling (407) WDW- TOUR or visit the welcome desk outside the Soarin’ entrance

• Cost: $18 adults, $14 children; Discounts available for DVC, AAA, Disney Visa, Annual Passholders

• Appropriate for all ages

• Park Admission Required