Apologies if this isn’t the right forum for this. It seemed like an arts-related idea.
At Epcot in Disneyworld, the World Showcase pavilion features a number of fascinating looks into different countries. The big draws, I think, are the food and the shows more than the two low-intensity rides, although the merchandising and pleasant atmosphere are both fun. I think they need to update and add to some of their shows, but that’s beside the immediate point.
Currently, we have Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, USA, Japan, Morocco, France, England**, and Canada. but they might have room for two or three more.
*I have no idea how Morocco got in. Not much goes on there. Thre’s no restaurant and a couple of mediocre shops.
**They call it U.K., but I didn’t see so much as a smidgeon of Wales, Scotland, or Ireland.
So, what countries would you put in had you all the cash in the world?
My picks are Spain, Russia, and Greece. Spain could bring some unique dining opportunities and excellent musical shows. Russia would add a dash of oddity and rarity to the collection, since it’s a European culture (kinda) but one we’re not very familiar with over here. Greece just plain speaks for itself. I can think of dozens of cool attractions they could put in with it.
…women have to wear burquahs to get in! The show will feature a mock execution…and authentic (mandatory) 5 times/day prayer. Along with that, will be :
-a visit to a harem
-a fiery sermon by a crazed imam
-an arab banquet, complete with sheep eyes (for the guest of honor)
I think I’d take Canada out (what’s the point?) and add Australia, either Brazil or Argentina, and India, because really, if having a billion people doesn’t qualify you for a section of Epcot, what does?
As an aside, do they ever update or do anything to Epcot anymore? You never hear anything about it. I went when I was a kid in 1987 and even back then it looked like it could use some new stuff.
Canad is actualy pretty cool, but there is a lot of overlap with Britain and France and they really need to bring in some shows or entertainment. The circle-vision movie is nice, though.
I considered Brazil, but perhaps we could do a combined Hispania-themed pavilion with cooperation from Spain, Brazil, Coloumbia, etc. or would that horn in on Mexico too much?
World Showcase has not been changed in a while, but the Future Showcase is virtually all-new. Mission to Mars, Test Track, Energy, Imagination, The Living Seas, and The Land much upgraded. Horizons and World of Motion are no more, however. They wanted to make Epcot a little more exciting, and course science marches on. They may be planning to start work on World Showcase in the future; I don’t know.
Disneyland’s proposed WestCOT would’ve had regions instead of specific countries (eg Latin American, Western Europe, etc). The entire concept was scratched and Disney’s California Adventure came to be.
They should add Poland, just because I’m always in the mood for some good Polish food.
For South America, Peru would be a nice choice simply because there’s still so much indigenous culture there to add into the section. Plus they could serve alpaca burgers and guinea pig for the kids. You wouldn’t want to miss that!
I bet they did it mostly by food. Canada and Norway don’t really belong in then, and Greece certainly does, but it seems like each of the current ones has a distinct cuisine.
So 11-14. Hm.
Why restrict ourselves to countries? In no particular order:
India and sub-Saharan Africa, if added to Epcot, would be overlaps with the similarly-themed “lands” in the Animal Kingdom park, which, really, have more going for both of them in terms of attractions than an Epcot pavilion probably would. I’m happy with the AK versions, personally (and the African restaurant in AK Lodge is also quite good).
As has been brought up on this thread, any new pavilions added would do well not to be redundant with any others in the WS, in terms of culture. There’s already France, Great Britain, and Canada (the latter of which has substantial nods to the cultures of the first two, in real life). Spain would perhaps appear to some as Mexico + Morocco, depending on how they built it. Greece and Russia would be two great choices, as both are culturally distinct enough from the others that a unique pavilion could be built (there was actually a Russia/USSR pavilion on the drawing board for years that was never built).
I don’t think any of the existing countries would ever be completely ripped out (and Canada has one of the best WS attractions, IMO), but that doesn’t mean new ones couldn’t be added. For example, they could just rip out the lame “outpost” (translation: gift shop) just across the canal from China and put an actual new pavilion there. Additionally, some new rides or attractions in the other pavilions would be very nice. IIRC, the Maelstrom is the only FastPass ride in the World Showcase and that’s a little sad.
They could add Korea…but because of a horrible miscommunication, make it North Korea.
Actually, that could work out well…“see? Look how lucky you are not to live in an Orwellian commie nightmare. Now suck it up and go buy an overpriced snack and some mickey ears.”
‘Might have some trouble with getting Bosintang for the pavilion restaurants, tho’…
FTR, there is, in fact, a restaurant in Morocco. It’s a pretty big one, too, though the entrance is tucked back within the shops. I had dinner there last year; chicken couscous, mint tea, and bastilla for dessert. I think it’s called Marrakesh.
Oddly, I can remember all of the countries except for Italy, of which I have absolutely no recollection. Was it extremely forgettable? I’d love it if they had Greece represented.
