EPCOT WORLD SHOWCASE – 2ND PART

USA

This is one of the lager pavilions in the world showcase, lots going on inside and out.

One of the main attractions is the American Adventure Show, this is narrated by none other than Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin. You get a comprehensive history of the United States over 25 minutes, a very informative show that’s quite emotional at times. Facts from the First Nation to the first settlers, onto the expansion into the west and beyond. As ever with a Disney show its entertaining and informative well worth the visit (and stealing the A\C!).

While you wait for the show there are a group of singers called the Voices Of Liberty, the acoustics are mind blowing as are the songs. Please look for them, you will not be disappointed.

Take a walk around the building while waiting and look at all the exhibits. (You will find that each pavilion will have its own little exhibition somewhere, well worth a look.)

These show all the facets of Americana from First Nation to the wagons and the railroads.

While we were waking around on our “honeymoon” last year a cast member called us over and asked “ have you guys just gotten married?” Yes we replied ! “Well go to the corner of the room and there is a little box with a telephone inside, dial a secret number and someone wants to talk to you”…. we did this, and boy oh boy were we surprised! Such a lovely thing to happen, we won’t spoil the surprise but it really made our day!!

As you expect in this pavilion the food is gonna be good! The main restaurant here is now called the Regal Eagle Smokehouse, it’s BBQ food and craft beers and ice creams. (This is on the radar for Mr Oh Orlandos next visit!)

Now, the next building over has a little door with a ‘Magic Band’ door opener, this is for the secret club called Club 33. This was built by none other than Walt Disney himself to entertain guests and potential park sponsors for various lands. Rumour has it if your band opens the the door you are very very special indeed!!

The gift shop is called Heritage Manor, a large and American centric gift shop. If you want something with a flag on it or an Eagle on this is your place! Joking aside some really cool stuff. Now for one of our top tips! There is a large double doorway next to the American Adventure, this is where loads (and we mean loads) of characters come out for mass meet and greets. The reason this happens is that these are cast members that are nearly completing their training so they pop out and practice on you guys! There is no set time for this, but ask a nearby cast member and they should give you a heads up.

ITALY

Now although it says Italy it is mainly based on Venice in architecture, such as the Doge Palace and St Marks Square. This a really pleasing pavilion to visit, with a wide open walkways and lots Instagram worthy spots! A smaller version of the Trevi fountain is also here, people still throw coins into this so they will come back one day.

As you would expect being Italy food plays a large part of this pavilion and we mean a large part. Pizza, pasta wine, gelato. You name it you can get it here. The restaurants are quite popular as you would expect, the Pizza restaurant called Via Napoli sells pizza by the slice or by the whole pizza. These are absolutely amazing! Quite big slices for about $5-ish but well worth it. Tutto Italia Ristorante is the table service restaurant, this can be quite pricey but the food is all freshly made just like mama used to make!

The gift shops here are really good. From silk scarfs to Ferrari team sports wear, you can also buy an espresso maker if the mood takes you?? (Heaven only knows how you get that home??) La Gemma Elegante is a perfume shop that sells many well known brands and you can sometimes get the bottles engraved by the staff.

A very funny show that happens outside is Sergio the Italian mime artist and juggler, a slapstick and fun show that normally involves a member of the audience! (Stand at the back!!)

If you fancy a little tipple on the way past there is a wine shop called Enotela Castello, this sells wine by the glass or bottle along with Italian beers. There is a little seating area in here as well. Don’t forget to look out for Mickey Mouse or as he’s known as in Italy Topalino! There is some really cool Mickey merchandise here, you can see Toplalino on a Vespa or looking cool in some designer gear. Very funny.

GERMANY.

The Germany pavilion is based on Southern Germany as in its very Bavarian in looks. Tall peaked roofs and lots of carving.

Out here is a stage where 3 guys in lederhosen and little green hats sing and dance and do the classic beer hall dance of clapping and slapping. The Grooving Alps they are called, very very funny. Nearby is the Snow White meet and greet by the wishing well. (Normally a large queue for this.)

The Germany pavilion is a good place to while away the time and grab a sandwich as there are lots of tables next to the lagoon. A lovely view across to the other pavilion’s so sit and relax in the shade.

The shops here are really good, there are no rides in this pavilion (there was supposed to be one – a ride down the Danube but it never came to fruition.) The store that is always the most full is Karamel Kuche. Hand crafted caramel treats! The whole shop is a massive Werthers advert. But boy oh boy the smells literally drags you in by the nose! Everything here is caramel based. Covered apples, cookies and caramel popcorn. Oh, and about 20 different flavour Werther’s original’s. How much can you get in the case and hand luggage?…

The Kristal Store is a shop that makes parents VERY nervous. Lots of steins and crystal wine glasses. What’s the worst that could happen?! There is jewellery and diamanté covered souvenirs. Do you want a Swarovski Cinderella Castle?? A snip at only $37,500! Or a crystal Elsa for a snip at $8,500….yikes!!

The Christmas store is called Die Weihnacts Eche. This has some cracking gift ideas. Lots of unusual things from laser cut wood kits to national costume. They even sell football kits and boots. (Adidas naturally). The Christmas tree decorations are really fun here, from blown glass to ceramic. You MUST buy a ceramic pickle, this is a tradition in Germany where the first child to find the pickle on the tree gets an extra little gift on Christmas morning.

The Beer Hall restaurant is quite good fun, but loud, so don’t go in here if are expecting a little conversation while eating. Traditional food from sausages to salmon and any variety of pork dishes. Oh – and a litre of beer?? Sold!!

THE OUTPOST

This is not really a pavilion as such. Lots of African folk arts and crafts. You can make instruments here and play along with local musicians. Loads of meet and greets and a kid spot.

CHINA

This is without a doubt one of the most detailed pavilions on the world showcase. The buildings are bright red. The centrepiece of this pavilion is a massive 360 cinema called Reflections Of China. A 15 minute film in the round showing all the wonders from the Great Wall to the Forbidden City, it’s hard to keep track of what you are watching at times, so go a few times.

If you time it right it’s here you can meet Mulan, just to the right of the cinema. No Mushu I’m afraid.

One show you cannot afford to miss here is the Jewelled Dragon Acrobats. One of the best shows in the whole of the “worlds” – tumblers, balancing acts and acrobats, and the ferocious Chinese Dragon dance. A spectacle if ever there was one.

The main restaurant is called The 9 Dragons. It’s a sit down restaurant, middle ground in terms of price range and serving the sort of Chinese dishes you will know and love. There is also the Lotus Blossom Cafe which is a quick service restaurant.

The gift shop is called The House of Good Fortune, which is a very relaxing place indeed as it has piped birdsong playing as you walk in. There’s a lot of jewellery, clothing, and Jade gifts and jewellery- which is quite expensive but is meant to be lucky for the wearer and stop bad fortune. You can buy hand painted vases and paper lanterns – very pretty. There is a giant Buddha in the middle of the shop which is another favourite spot for people leaving coins.

There is a street called the Street ofGood Fortune, or Xing Fu Jie, which has a bar in it, serving Chinese beers, spirits and wines. As in every other pavilion there is a fabulous exhibition – and in China what else would it show case but the Terracotta Warriors and also a Shanghai Disney exhibition.

NORWAY

When you enter Norway you see the Royal Summer Hus – which is the meet and greet for Anna and Elsa – very busy as you can imagine. When you go inside check out the wood carvings to see if you can spot Anna and Elsa carved into the beams. There is also a nod to the former, and in our opinion fantastic and sadly missed, Maelstrom ride – you will see the three headed trolls.

Next to that is the gift shop – it’s called The Fording – it is a Frozen free for all! Everything you could want to buy Frozen themed is in here. There is also the Kringla Bakeri – selling Nordic treats and cakes and pastries. The school bread is apparently the best one.

The main exhibition here is The Gods of the Viking – it’s set in a faux church and focuses on Norse mythology – the real Thor etc (not the Marvel versions). There is also a wood carving and rune stones exhibition.

The ride here in Norway is of course Frozen Ever After – which is the repurposed Maelstrom ride. It is actually quite spectacular- even for non-Frozen fans, and you still get to ride in a boat. There are lots of Frozen “Easter eggs” dotted around and the queue is very nice indeed, with lots of little interactive scenes and lighting, which is a good thing because the queue is long – ALWAYS!

The restaurant is called Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus – it’s pricey but fun as you’re guaranteed to meet princesses and the odd prince too.

MEXICO

This is a very lush and tropical pavilion with an amazing Mayan pyramid. It’s visually quite spectacular.

Inside the pyramid is a night time fiesta/market. There are lots of stalls and shops selling souvenir hats, tambourines, tequila themed items and blown glass. It looks pretty cool in here too and there are lots of people making the gifts while you watch them.

The ride in here is the Grand Fiesta Tour, and features the three caballeros (one of whom is Donald Duck) and it takes a boat tour of Mexico and some of it’s iconic land marks. The music playing is quite infectious. There is a rumour that this ride may change to a Coco based ride in the future.

One of the busiest places in the pyramid is the tequila bar – it has over 300 tequilas to choose from. There are a couple of good restaurants- very atmospheric, being the quick service La Cantina de San Angel and the table service San Angel Inn Restaurant.

The exhibition spaces changes periodically in Mexico, but currently there’s an exhibition explaining day of the dead celebrations.

So that’s whizzed you round the rest of the world! All of the pavilions have something particular we really like about them, and we hope you’ll enjoy investigating and finding your own favourite spots around the world!