Why I Love The World Showcase

Epcot has always been my favourite Disney park ever since I was little. I loved the ‘big golf ball’ (what I used to call it), the science and education in Future World and of course the World Showcase. This area of the park always provided me with such happiness because I loved seeing all the architecture, trying the food as well as doing way too much shopping. Unfortunately I’ve never been able to visit Epcot during a festival so this post is more about the World Showcase itself and all the amazing things you can do there all year round.

There’s a lot of debate within the Disney community on the correct way to tackle the World Showcase; I personally have always started at Mexico and worked my way around clockwise. In my opinion this is the best way to conquer the showcase as the other way just feels wrong to me! Obviously you can go whatever way you feel comfortable, but just know that I will silently judge you.

The shops and restaurants are an extremely poignant part of the World Showcase. Most of the shops around the lagoon hold merchandise specific to that pavilion meaning you won’t be able to find it elsewhere on Disney property. I love buying presents in the pavilion shops as you can buy things that are suitable for everyone and find some great souvenirs for yourself. The restaurants are also a big selling point of the showcase. I will talk about some of the ones that I have tried but I’d definitely suggest looking around at each pavilions’ choices. The food is based on each culture and so you might fancy UK food more than me, as I eat that food all the time! You also get the opportunity to meet characters who are based in that country such as Belle in France, Mulan in China, Jasmine in Morocco and Alice in the UK.

Mexico

I absolutely adored the Mexico Pavilion as a child and it is still one of my favourite places on Disney property. The majority of the pavilion is set inside the pyramid; which is a fantastic spot for photos. Once inside the pyramid you will see that the lighting is set to twilight, this is because families in Mexico meet at twilight so it feels as though you are with your family when stepping into the Mexican Pavilion. I love the feel inside this pavilion and it houses one of my favourite rides, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros. This is a slow boat ride that glides through beautiful scenes of Mexican culture with a little Disney flair, as we help Jose and Panchito find Donald for their concert. The Mexican Pavilion has a lot of options when it comes to food and drink and I have luckily had the opportunity to experience a couple of them. The San Angel Inn Restaurant is a fantastic restaurant and one of my favourites in the parks. I ate here on my last trip and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, as did my family. The food and service here is excellent and definitely worth a visit if you like authentic Mexican food. There’s also a Margarita bar outside the pyramid of the pavilion which is a fab visit for the adults. The Mexican Pavilion is also a great spot for entertainment; you can meet Donald here and watch the amazing Mariachi Cobre perform to guests the story of Coco alongside some amazing puppeteers.

Norway

In recent years the Norway Pavilion has become much more popular due to the opening of the ride Frozen Ever After. This ride is a real treat but high in demand, so make sure to book a fastpass for this one! There’s also a meet and greet of Anna and Elsa in their Royal Sommerhus where the characters are in their new Frozen 2 outfits. I’ve never personally been a big fan of the dining options in this pavilion, but the Akershus restaurant is perfect for little ones who love character dining and especially the Princes and Princesses. The Bakery is a good spot for a quick treat and the School Bread is the most popular item on the menu. I do love the architecture and ride within this pavilion but I wouldn’t choose it as my dining area.

China

The China Pavilion is much bigger and more beautiful than it seems from a quick glance. Towards the back of the pavilion there is a massive shopping area called The House of Good Fortune, which houses some amazing merchandise that I definitely suggest taking the time to look at. If you need a bit of downtime and air con then I’d suggest popping into the 360 circle vision screening Wondrous China but it’s definitely not a must do. If you’re in the mood for Chinese food there is a quick service and a table service within the pavilion but I don’t think they show the best food that the showcase has to offer; however the Joy of Tea stand at the front of the pavilion is a great place for a snack or refreshing drink. If you have the time, the China Pavilion has some of the most stunning architecture and agriculture of the showcase; you should take the time to walk around and get away from the crowds for some great photos.

Germany

The Germany Pavilion is full of surprises and is one of the most popular areas around the lagoon. The Biergarten restaurant has a traditional Oktoberfest atmosphere and is great for big groups and families who enjoy all you care to eat and amazing entertainment. Obviously the architecture is beautiful, especially the clock tower that chimes on the hour. The main attributes to this pavilion are the amazing shops and bakeries that are housed in each of the buildings. A lot of these shops do hold very expensive merchandise but they are certainly worth a look around, even just to see some of the amazing craftsmanship in the items. My favourite place in the pavilion is the Karamelle-Kuche bakery and shop where you can buy freshly made caramel goods made with Werther’s Original products. A big attraction of this pavilion is the model village, on the way out, holding working model trains which is a massive hit with children.

Italy

This pavilion can be crowded as it’s quite popular but in my opinion it’s not one of the best. The architecture is beautiful and I do love walking around the handmade Venetian mask store. There’s a few places to eat in this pavilion including a wine cellar, where you can drink as well as nibbling on small plates, Via Napoli, an authentic pizzeria, and a walk up window, where you can purchase pizza by the slice. I have heard good things about the food, especially from Via Napoli, however I think the world showcase has more to offer in other places.

USA

In a weird way I honestly believe that this is the worst pavilion around the world showcase. It’s not that this pavilion doesn’t have a few good highlights, I just perceive this area as more of a quick pit stop. I’ve heard very good things about the new Regal Eagle Smokehouse quick service restaurant which would most likely be a good place for picky eaters. There's also a little funnel cake stand which sells delicious classic and inventive funnel cakes, definitely a great treat to enjoy while watching the fireworks! If you get the time then I’d definitely suggest making a stop to watch the Voices of Liberty but do not waste your time watching the American Adventure, it will be a severely boring 30 mins in truth. My favourite part of this pavilion, however, is the Art of Disney store where you can browse some visually stunning Disney themed artwork.

Japan

This pavilion, by far, is my favourite. The entire area is picturesque and tranquil, from the koi ponds and foot bridges to the pagoda; but make sure to spend some time capturing photos as there are some stunning spots around the grounds. The Japan pavilion is also home to one of my favourite quick services across the entire Walt Disney Resort, Katsura Grill. This food outlet serves a fantastic Katsu curry as well as great shrimp, rice and noodle dishes; I would also suggest trying the iced green tea as it is so refreshing on a hot Florida day. There’s also 3 table service restaurants in this pavilion; these restaurants serve classic Japanese cuisine such as sushi, meats and rice. Teppan Edo is one restaurant where the chef prepares and cooks your food at the table, whereas the other two outlets serve similar food but at differing prices. I would hands down suggest eating in the Japan Pavilion as the food and ambience is fantastic. In addition, one of my favourite shops is in this pavilion and is called Mitsukoshi. This store holds some amazing pieces of merchandise, from unique souvenirs to food items and some amazing plushies and clothing based off of popular Japanese games and films. This pavilion is honestly so beautiful and definitely worth a good portion of your time to explore, I hope you guys enjoy this pavilion as much as I do.

Morocco

I’ve never really spent too much time in the Morocco Pavilion; I normally leisurely peruse the shops but that’s pretty much it. The clothing in the shops is stunning and a good portion of the items are hand made, making the merchandise even more special. There are actually quite a few food outlets dotted around this pavilion and on the lagoons edge, however I’ve never had the pleasure of dining at any of them. I have heard mixed reviews of the food in this pavilion so I’ll have to try it on my next trip and update my thoughts on it here. I would suggest a walk through to the back of the pavilion as there are a few lovely little quiet places to sit and just chill for a bit.

France

Me and my family used to love walking around the French Pavilion when I was younger. Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie is a lovely little place, which is open for a late breakfast/early lunch, where you can grab beautiful handmade pastries, sandwiches and desserts. I also dined at Les Chefs de France when I was younger and it is still to this day one of the best meals I’ve had on Disney property. There’s also a signature dining restaurant, ice cream shop and a new creperie coming soon to this pavilion. The service in both table service restaurants is known to be absolutely fantastic and you will definitely not be disappointed if you choose to dine here. If you fancy a bit of upmarket shopping then you should check out the parfumerie or the wine cellar, these are great for a little walk around. Also a very exciting new ride will be opening this year, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, which will be similar to the trackless ride in DLP. I can’t wait for this addition to the pavilion, as I hope it will bring more people to walk around and experience more of the France Pavilion.

United Kingdom

I don’t normally spend much time in this pavilion as I’m from the UK. I do like the pavilion and it’s fun to have a look around but I have never dined here as they serve the food that I eat all the time at home. I will spend more time in this pavilion once the revamp is completed, where the area will be transformed into Cherry Tree Lane (Mary Poppins) and an attraction will be added. I am extremely excited about this construction as I do believe it will engage in UK customs and traditions; the gardens, however, are beautiful and great for insta shots. The Rose and Crown Dining Room is a popular destination for guests who want to watch the fireworks, as you can sit outside with a beautiful view of the lagoon. I have heard that the food however is nicer at the Yorkshire County Fish Shop booth, situated next to the restaurant. The shops are fun to walk around as you can buy classic English sweets and tea sets and there is also a shop selling daggers, shields and family crests, which always seems to be a hit with younger boys.

Canada

This pavilion has one of the most beautiful man made landscapes I’ve ever seen. Not only are the buildings truly elegant but the Rockies and 30’ waterfall are picturesque. This is most definitely a fantastic area to walk around and the entire grounds are perfect to take some fabulous pictures. The Canada Pavilion also holds a 360 Circle Vision cinema where they show ‘Canada Far & Wide’ which is narrated by Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara; I’d suggest watching if you fancy some air con and are interested in Canada’s landscapes but it’s not a must do. There is also a signature dining restaurant, in this pavilion, called Le Cellier and is widely celebrated. I’ve personally never eaten here but I’ve heard that the cheddar cheese soup and the steak is fantastic; however if you do want to dine here then you need to make a reservation because it gets booked up pretty quickly.

And that is my quick look around the World Showcase. I have loved this area of Epcot ever since my first visit and I continue to find new things that I enjoy every time I go. One thing that I am going to try and do on my next visit is to drink my way around the showcase and then end at the Rose and Crown to watch the firework display, as this is a weird bucket list idea of mine. I really do hope that this has helped you and that you have a fantastic time walking around each pavilion yourself.

I love the different kinds of experiences you can have and new things you can encounter when visiting the World Showcase. Also Epcot holds many festivals throughout the year which add food and drink, merchandise, art and entertainment booths around the lagoon. These festivals are extremely popular and I can’t wait to experience them one day, and all the construction updates will make for a very exciting return.

I do believe that the World Showcase is a fabulous part of the Walt Disney World resort and perfect for every guest. The area is great for guests that love Disney and maybe other halves that have been dragged along! I really hope to be able to experience even more of this area when I get to visit with my boyfriend, and show him all the reasons as to why I adore the showcase. Have a magical time!