Is the “Behind the Seeds Tour” Really Worth It?

Every time I board the boats of Living with the Land in Epcot, I am struck with the overwhelming urge to step into the lovely scenes of farms and nature shown before me. Now getting out of ride vehicles is strictly prohibited and an act like that would surely get me banned from the beloved Walt Disney World resort.

If you've been the Land pavilion and ridden Living with the Land, we may share the same sentiments. You may have even noticed on your most recent voyage that those lovely scenes can also be viewed from the roaring restaurant name Garden Grill located one floor above the ride. Unfortunately, that's the closest you'll get to relaxing on the porch of the farmer's house.

The next best thing is the Behind the Seeds Tour that allows guests behind the scenes access to the many greenhouses your boat floats through on the ride. But instead of a quick trip down the middle of it, you are able to enjoy a 30-45 minute walking tour that puts you just a few feet away from the action.

Behind the Seeds Tour Sign

The tour begins in a room with bugs. Bugs! But that is just a cool presentation about the many programs Epcot is involved with doing good to help prevent pests and aid farmers in growing their crops more efficiently. This is the most boring part of the tour and do not get discouraged. The best is yet to come! It continues with a close up look at the real laboratory that you see at the end of the ride. I always imagined this was a "show" and that no one actually worked here. I was wrong! Scientists are working in collaboration with NASA on experiments that include growing apple trees in space! How cool!

Living with the Land Laboratory

The tour continues and there are a few hands on experiences where you can touch a plant that moves its leaves! You may also be lucky enough to get a taste of Epcot-grown cucumbers (without having to book a table at the aforementioned garden grill).

The rest of the tour winds its way through the multiple greenhouses on property with a stop in the room with all the fish. Did you know that the large vegetables you see hanging from the various "trees" are actually very bland and tasteless? Because of this, they're usually fed to the sweet residents of the Animal Kingdom! Elephants, hippos, and even a giraffe or two benefit from the goods grown in the Land.

Eggplant Trees

The grand finale concludes the tour in the "globe" greenhouse your boat first enters on the ride. With a mickey shaped tree as your backdrop, you learn more about the spices grown in the very room. You can take pictures to prove to your family where you were.

Globe Greenhouse

Is the tour worth the price? That's up to your dedication to the ride! When you suggest Living with the Land, is your request met with sighs and groans or instead is their joyous applause? This tour requires you to be on your feet and in warm greenhouses. During the summer, it can be a bit intense. If you have a Gardner or an herbologist in your family, this may just be the tour for you! Prep ahead of time and eat lunch and use the restroom.

I heartily endorse the Behind the Seeds tour and encourage anyone who would enjoy it to take the leap and book it. Who knows? Only then you will truly be living with the land.