Epcot-World Showcase

Yesterday, we covered one half of Epcot, Future World. Today, we're going to break down the other side of Epcot's hour-glass layout, World Showcase.

World Showcase is a compilation of eleven permanent country pavilions plus a growing but not official pavilion area for Africa. Each of the country pavilions have shops and restaurants which are staffed with citizens from the respective pavilion countries. Some of the country pavilions also have rides or shows which depict the history, art and culture of the individual countries. Oftentimes families with small children have thought World Showcase wasn't an area for them. We disagree. In addition to fun activities for small kids like the kidcot craft stations in each pavilion and the "Epcot Passport" kids can get and have stamped in each country pavilion, the newest adventure for little ones who want to save the world is an adaption of the former KimPossible Adventure called Agent P's World Showcase Adventure. The interactive experience pairs kids (and their parents) with Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb via a high-tech secret agent device (read: cell phone) which will send clues for each "case." Solving the clues will send secret agents to different country pavilions in an attempt to defeat Dr Doofenschmirtz. Although we haven't done the Agent P Adventure (we surely will next month), we did the previous KimPossible Adventure and it was a blast for all of us. Some of the secret agent clues were amazing...in one country pavilion, our clues lead us to find a hidden water fall that we never would have known existed otherwise.

Below is a list of the eleven permanent country pavilions and a brief explanation of the shows or rides they each offer...

*tip: if visiting other cultures is your thing, consider a trip to Disney World during the Food and Wine Festival which takes place every fall and brings in world-renown chefs from all over and more than doubles the number of country pavilions in World Showcase...it's a great opportunity to eat and drink your way around the world.

Mexico

Attraction-

-Gran Fiesta Tour: A boat ride featuring a film with traditional

animation superimposed over live-action film clips starring The Three Caballeros including Donald Duck

Food-

Sit-down:

-La Hacienda De San Angel (overlooks the Lagoon)

-San Angel Inn

Counter service:

-Cantina De San Angel

Extras:

-Mariachi Cobre band performs seven 25-minute shows Tuesday-Saturday

Norway

Attraction-

-Maelstrom: A boat ride which takes you through the Viking history of Norway (spoiler: there are dark moments, a troll and even a slight

drop so if you have itty bitty babies, you may want to skip it or take

it in turns)

Food-

Sit-down:

-Akershus...a magical princess meal which is a great back-up option if you can't get into Cinderella's Royal Table

Counter service:

-Kringla Bakeri og Cafe...a pastry shop that will break any diet

China

Attractions-

-Reflections of China...a 360 CircleVision movie presentation

-Tomb Warriors...an amazing collection of ancient Chinese artifacts

Food-

Sit-down:

-Nine Dragons

Counter service:

-Lotus Blossom Cafe

Extras:

-The Jeweled Dragon Acrobats 20-minute performances daily (except Tuesday and Thursday)

-Mulan Meet and Greet

Germany

Food-

Sit-down:

-Biergarten...German restaurant complete with yodlers, dancers and lederhosen-clad musicians

Counter service:

-Sommerfest

Extras:

-Snow White Meet and Greet

Italy

Food-

Sit-down:

-Via Napoli...traditional table-service pizzaria

-Tutto Italia

Extras:

-Sergio: an interactive juggler who performs 20-minute shows Sunday-Thursday

-Ziti Sisters: 25-minute live comedy show daily

America

Attraction-

-The American Adventure...a 30-minute historical show on a 72-foot wide screen

Food-

Counter service:

-Liberty Inn...a huge indoor counter service restaurant

-Funnel Cake Kiosk...mouth-watering good

Extras:

-Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps...15 minute show

Tuesday-Saturday (must-see)

-Voices of Liberty...a cappella group which performs 15-minute shows daily

Japan

Attraction-

-Bijutsu-kan Gallery...an ever-changing with beautiful exhibits

reflecting the Japanese art culture

Food-

Sit-down:

-Teppan Edo...a favorite for our family...hibachi-style meals

-Tokyo Dining

Counter service:

-Katsura Grill

Extras:

-Matsuriza...traditional Japanese drummers perform 15-minute shows Mon, Tues, Thurs-Sat afternoons

-Miyuki...a Japanese candy artist creates beautiful and delicious

works of art Sun-Thurs afternoons

Morocco

Food-

Sit-down:

-Restaurant Marrakesh

Counter service:

-Tangierine Cafe

Extras:

-MoRockin...authentic Moroccan music performed daily

-Alladin and Jasmin Meet and Greet

-Fun fact: Morocco's Department of Tourism actually owns the Epcot Morocco Pavilion and the King of Morocco sent his own personal architect to Florida to help oversee it's construction (and the lamp at the sit-down restaurant is awesome)

France

Attraction-

-Impressions de France...an 18 minute show

Food:

Sit-down:

-Chefs de France

-Bistro de Paris...a gourmet restaurant/signature meal on the dining

plan WITH a dress code

Counter service:

-Boulangerie Patisserie...French pastries and desserts

Extras:

-Several character Meet and Greet options...Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Belle, Beast and Marie daily each afternoon

United Kingdom

Food-

Sit-down:

-Rose and Crown Pub & Dining Room

Counter service:

-Yorkshire Co Fish Shop...a great place to stop for a quick order of

fish and chips

Extras:

-World Showcase Player...an improv comedy troupe with daily afternoon performances

-Character Meet and Greets...Alice in Wonderland, Mary Poppins and Winnie the Pooh and Friends daily in the afternoon

-British Revolution...British rock-n-roll from the 60's-80's daily

starting mid-afternoon

Canada

Attraction-

-Oh Canada!...a 14-minute 360 CircleVision movie narrated by Martin Short

Food-

Sit down:

-Le Cellier...our favorite steak restuarant

Epcot With Kids General Tips

*Start walking before you even get to the parks. You'll average 10-15 miles a day at Disney World and Epcot tends to be on the long end of the scale.

*Keep kids interested in World Showcase by doing something special in each country...buy something or eat something (like a piece of candy) in each country or if you're wanting a free option or something for the tween crowd...take a funky picture in each country and you'll be able to make a funny photo album showing you going all around the world

*Pin trading is super popular in Epcot and kids love it!-just be sure to read our pin trading post so your little ones can trade without costing an arm and a leg

*Don't forget to catch the nightly laser/fireworks show IllumiNations

*Epcot is a particularly great park if it's raining...most of the attractions are indoors but check out our Disney In The Rain post for more rainy day ideas