Disney Fan Recreates His Favorite EPCOT Attraction on ‘Tiny’ Balcony — Catching the Attention of the Ride’s Original Narrator (Exclusive)

Colson ThayerWed, July 8, 2026 at 9:41 PM UTC

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Brandon “‘Naynay” Shahniani poses in front of his “Expoterrace” displayCredit: Brandon "'Naynay" Shahniani -

Brandon Shahniani recreated Epcot’s Living with the Land ride on his Los Angeles condo balcony, naming it “Expoterrace”

The project features green turf, a rock fountain, fake plants, and custom audio from the ride’s original narrator Mike Brassell

Shahniani says he hopes his viral TikTok showcasing the space inspires fans to embrace creativity and add joy to their everyday lives

May 4 was a big day at Brandon “‘Naynay” Shahniani’s Los Angeles condo. Loved ones gathered around to witness the grand opening and ribbon cutting of “Expoterrace,” the self-described Disney adult’s custom recreation of EPCOT’s beloved Living with the Land attraction.

When the 29-year-old moved to his current residence a couple years ago, he knew he wanted “a bunch of themed spaces” within his condo. Some take inspiration from the Disney Parks, others pay homage to his favorite decades like the 1950s and ‘80s. But when it came to his “tiny balcony,” he didn’t have an immediate idea.

“I knew that I wanted an outdoor meditation corner, but didn’t really know how to do it and what to do it with,” Shahniani tells PEOPLE. “And after a couple years, or honestly, a couple months, I was like, ‘Wait, I’m always meditating on Living with the Land and I’m looking for a mediation corner in my home that’s outdoors. Why don’t I theme it to Living with the Land?’”

The vintage soda fountain owner wasn’t always a fan of the EPCOT attraction, which sends guests on a gentle boat tour through greenhouses and past Walt Disney World horticulturists in action. Shahniani, who now takes about four to five trips to Disney World each year, “did not love EPCOT as a child.” Instead, it wasn’t until he got older that he started to appreciate it.

“When you’re a kid, you want the most stimulating and the most crazy and the most colorful and the most Disney,” he says. “But then as we grow up, we want something that’s a little calmer and a little nicer and a little more open and spacious.”

Brandon “‘Naynay” Shahniani enjoys the Behind the Seeds tour of EPCOT’s Living with the LandCredit: Brandon "'Naynay" Shahniani

Today, he finds the ride to be a perfect example of “edutainment” — a theme park term describing the combination of education and entertainment. During his frequent Disney World visits, Shahniani tries to fit about four rides on Living with the Land. He’s also taken part in Behind the Seeds, the up-close and personal backstage walking tour of the Land Pavilion, at least four times.

“It’s becoming a meditative space for me,” he says. “I just sit and meditate in the first row. It’s so fun.”

Crates feature Brandon Shahniani’s custom “Expoterrace” logoCredit: Brandon "'Naynay" Shahniani

Shahniani first started working on the project about a year and a half ago when he came up with a name and created a custom logo. But the actual installation and design started about four months before the grand opening.

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He started by laying down some green turf to create the cozy outdoor vibe. From there, he installed running water that connects to a large rock fountain. The space also features an abundance of fake plants, vegetables and crates adorned with his custom logo. Shahniani even crafted miniature boats that resemble the ride vehicles from Living with the Land.

Miniature boats on Shahniani’s balcony resemble Living with the Land’s ride vehicles.Credit: Brandon "'Naynay" Shahniani

But as Shahniani stood in his finished space, he realized he was missing one big element: audio. He thought back to one time on the attraction where the narration wasn’t working, and feeling like the ride was off. He felt similarly standing on his balcony.

After extensive research online, Shahniani stumbled upon a voice acting profile for Mike Brassell, the ride’s original narrator. He then hired the actor and sent over a script.

Brandon “‘Nannay” Shahniani’s custom “Expoterrace” balcony displayCredit: Brandon "'Naynay" Shahniani

“He was so sweet and got back to me way faster than I thought he would,” the Disney fan says. “He sent a really cute note that was basically like, ‘Love this idea.’”

Once he had the files, Shahniani cut a multi-hour-long audio track that plays Brassell’s voice through a Bluetooth speaker every other song.

Brandon “‘Naynay” Shahniani hosts a grand opening for “Expoterrace” on May 4.Credit: Brandon "'Naynay" Shahniani (2)

To mark Expoterrace’s public debut, Shahniani invited his friends over for breakfast for the highly themed opening. The spread included dishes with Living with the Land-themed names, Disney World’s famous POG juice, and even cucumber samples similar to those served on the Behind the Seeds tour.

Shahniani has since shared his project online, with a viral TikTok post on June 27. “I didn’t know this was an option. I haven’t been living with my land to its fullest potential,” one commenter wrote.

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“All I’m doing is just creating joy in creating a space that makes me feel the best every single day,” Shahniani says. “All I want to do is show people that you can very easily add so much more joy and whimsy into your everyday life.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”