Disney has always been known for having charming shows starring casts of Audio-Animatronics. EPCOT Center's equivalents to the Magic Kingdom's Tropical Serenade and Country Bear Jamboree are Kitchen Kabaret, featured in The Land pavilion, and Forecast Follies, featured in The World Above pavilion. Imagineers working on the pavilion were especially excited to design Forecast Follies, as it gave them the opportunity to create lovable new characters matched up with a lovely seleciton of music. They hoped that the characters featured in the show would grow to become the next Tiki Room, Country Bears, or even Carousel of Progress!

The show's marquee is shaped like a cloud with its name lit up in blue neon. Stepping under the marquee, guests find themselves in the queue, where large screens show weather maps from all over the world. The doors swing open, and into the theater guests go. The theater resembles a college classroom, with a large chalkboard and desk at the front.

Cast

  • Professor Sunny Showers: The host of the attraction. A brown-haired man in glasses and a lab coat, Professor Sunny Showers knew all that there was to know about meteorology and hoped to inspire park guests to go into the field as well. Unfortunately, he didn't count on the other characters - simply referred to as "the weather" - getting in the way. His voice was provided by Gregg Berger.

  • Mr. Sun: A big, yellow, cartoony sun a la the mascot of Raisin Bran, donning a pair of sunglasses. Mr. Sun was laid back, a bit of a wisecracker, and sort of like a surfer dude personality-wise. He sang a catchy Beach Boys-esque song, "Hotter Than Hot", about the sun. His voice was provided by Frank Welker.

  • Rain: This was the physical representation of rain, a shower of raindrops with a face. Rain was melancholy, a dour type, and thought of herself as the most important weather because so many animals and plants depend on water to survive. She sang a blues number, "Rainy Day Blues", about why it rains. Her voice was provided by BJ Ward.

  • Snow: The air in the theater chilled as Snow, taking the form of an anthropomorphic snowflake, entered the theater. Snow was always in a good mood, loving to brighten the days of boys and girls everywhere by coming to town (and cancelling school in the process). She claimed to be good friends with Jack Frost and Frosty the Snowman and sang a Christmas-y jingle called "White Stuff". Her voice was provided by Katie Leigh.

  • Cloudy: Cloudy was, fittingly, a large blueish grey cloud. He was an excitable fellow, able to shapeshift, and loved a good joke. Of the weather, he was the most humble, believing that all types of weather are of equal importance and happy to take the day off and let Mr. Sun or Rain do their thing. He sang the jazzy "Sky High" and was voiced by Lennie Weinrib.

  • Wind: A gust of wind signaled the announcement of, obviously, Wind. Wind usually took the form of a few curved lines (wind is usually represented by that), but could turn into a tornado if she got angry... which she did. Often. She was good friends with Rain, and performed the Latin-inspired "Blow You Away". Her voice was provided by Susan Blu.

Mr. Sun

Cloudy

Plot

The show begins as Professor Showers attempts to give a lesson on the wether cycle. However, things go awry when the weather bicker with each other and try to upstage each other. They compete for the attention of the audience, each one singing their own song as the frazzled Professor Sunny Showers tries to regain control and direct attention back to his lecture. Finally, Cloudy convinces the others to cooperate, pointing out to them that when you combine different types of weather, you can make great things (for example, Mr. Sun and Rain created a rainbow that spread across the theater). The six characters perform one last song, "Wonderful, Wonderful Weather," composed by the Sherman brothers, before bidding the audience farewell.

Wonderful, Wonderful Weather

By Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman

We are your friends, we are the weather.

Working together we do wonderful things.

Sun, Rain, and Snow; along with Cloudy and Wind

We make wonderful, wonderful weather.

Reception

Despite being a minor attraction at EPCOT Center, Forecast Follies quickly became a fan favorite; especially amongst younger visitors. Plush toys, t-shirts, and merchandise of the characters was quickly produced and flooded not only the pavilion's gift shop but other stores throughout the park as well. Its wait times rivaled that of Take Flight, making The World Above a very popular pavilion.