# What "nations" should be added to Epcot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207 "2008-04-13T21:26:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/61 "2008-04-15T00:54:42Z")
Amsterdam Red Light district, hash bars, it would be awesome! ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/62 "2008-04-15T01:02:04Z")
Some people said Norway wasn’t cool or important enough. It’s actually incredibly cool. It has one of the best pastry shops in the history of the world, a reasonably fun water ride to relax on, some neat buildings - definitely worth hanging around. I also dont’ think we should be looknga t it from a perspective of, “well, there are enough European nations.” If it’s a good addition, it’s a good addition. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/63 "2008-04-15T01:08:43Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Definitely Russia. Soviet Russia. [/QUOTE] Except in Soviet Russia, pavilion visit YOU. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/64 "2008-04-15T01:10:48Z")
I always loved the Norway exhibit. It’s badass, no question. No way should it be removed. (Is anyone even suggesting that it be?) Scandinavian culture is completely overshadowed by England, France, Germany and Italy in the American consciousness and few people seem to know anything about it in terms of food or crafts or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/65 "2008-04-15T02:03:18Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Well, there are five European countries, and six non-European ones, so I’m not sure if it’s really over-represented. [/QUOTE] And there are zero South American countries & one African country (zero sub-Sahara). But if it has to be another European country, Russia’s the most interesting choice. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/66 "2008-04-15T03:25:08Z")
Elbonia. They could sell mud sculptures and skin treatments made by adding water to the mud sculptures. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/67 "2008-04-15T03:27:42Z")
[QUOTE=Shirley Ujest] Frankly, now that **Argent Towers** has come up with a most excellent marketing plan for Epcot, (only adding in Thailand for sex club shows and child prostitution: lost children from Disney and Epcot are sent to Thailand to work until their parents find them! ) I only want to go there when he is at the helm. [/QUOTE] I know this was a joke, but I feel bound to point out once again that child prostitution has been significantly addressed in Thailand. These days, you’d have to set up a Cambodia pavilion to feature that. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/68 "2008-04-15T03:29:04Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Why don’t they do the Philippines or a southeast Asian country like Thailand or Cambodia? [/QUOTE] BTW, the Philippines _is_ a southeast Asian nation. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/69 "2008-04-15T03:33:33Z")
I already addressed that on the last page. I wasn’t trying to imply that the Philippines is not a Southeast Asian country. I should have said “Why don’t they do the Philippines or _another_ Southeast Asian country like Thailand” but I said “Why don’t they do the Philippines or a Southeast Asian country like Thailand.” ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/70 "2008-04-15T03:37:18Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] I already addressed that on the last page. I wasn’t trying to imply that the Philippines is not a Southeast Asian country. I should have said “Why don’t they do the Philippines or _another_ Southeast Asian country like Thailand” but I said “Why don’t they do the Philippines or a Southeast Asian country like Thailand.” [/QUOTE] See? Make one little mistake and no one lets you forget it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/71 "2008-04-15T07:45:14Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Maybe so, but **Walt** woulda dug it! 😃 (Megalomaniac control freak that he was. Are you familiar with his [**original**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experimental_Prototype_Community_of_Tomorrow_%28concept%29) concept for EPCOT?) [/QUOTE] That’s… unsettling. It sounds like something dreamed up by the Reich Travel Ministry and Intourist, with help from Bell Labs and the RAND Corporation. :eek: I’m surprised the plans didn’t call for barbed wire-topped walls, guard-towers with machine-guns and search-lights, and the compulsory carrying of [del]Identity Papers[/del] Disney Fun Passes at all times… ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/72 "2008-04-15T09:39:07Z")
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield] That’s… unsettling. It sounds like something dreamed up by the Reich Travel Ministry and Intourist, with help from Bell Labs and the RAND Corporation. :eek: I’m surprised the plans didn’t call for barbed wire-topped walls, guard-towers with machine-guns and search-lights, and the compulsory carrying of [del]Identity Papers[/del] Disney Fun Passes at all times… [/QUOTE] Hell, from what I’ve heard, he’d even planned to be self sufficient in electricity production…courtesy of _their own nuclear reactor_ “Mickey’s words are backed with NUCLEAR WEAPONS! [sub]huh-HaH![/sub]” ---
**Author:** ![Einmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Einmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Einmon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/73 "2008-04-15T09:44:15Z")
Well, they might have gone off the notion of having a tourist [del]gulag[/del] village, but they did build [Celebration](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration,_Florida), which is vaguely creepy in a wholesome American / Stepford wives sort of way. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/74 "2008-04-15T11:09:27Z")
My wife and I were just talking about this… ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/75 "2008-04-15T12:53:50Z")
**Russia** seems like a given. There is a lot of Europe there already, but no eastern Europe, and while I would prefer to see something like Ukraine, you have to bow to the one that once ruled them all. **Peru** would be my pick for South America. I would normally choose Brazil, but there are already too many Brasilian tour groups of teenagers that wreak havoc throughout the parks, so why give them something else to raise holy hell over? **Kenya** would admittedly overlap with Animal Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom Lodge, but a better African representative is needed (and this comes from someone who LOVES Restaurant Marrakesh). Other good choices mentioned are Jamaica, Greece, and Australia, but do not expect them to ever get rid of any of the existing countries. Speaking of which, did you notice that the only place where you cannot get a sit down meal is in the USA AND if you visit the Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom, it is presented by Stouffer’s and nearly all of the foods consist of their drek? What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/76 "2008-04-15T13:14:33Z")
[QUOTE=smiling bandit] Some people said Norway wasn’t cool or important enough. It’s actually incredibly cool. It has one of the best pastry shops in the history of the world, a reasonably fun water ride to relax on, some neat buildings - definitely worth hanging around. I also dont’ think we should be looknga t it from a perspective of, “well, there are enough European nations.” If it’s a good addition, it’s a good addition. [/QUOTE] What I always wondered was, why **Norway?** It’s the least populous and least economically important of the Scandinavian countries. Why not Denmark or Sweden? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/77 "2008-04-15T14:01:45Z")
[QUOTE=Einmon] Well, they might have gone off the notion of having a tourist [del]gulag[/del] village, but they did build [Celebration](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration,_Florida), which is vaguely creepy in a wholesome American / Stepford wives sort of way. [/QUOTE] 😕 It sounds like dozens of other medium-to-small cities in the U.S. What is “creepy” or “Stepford Wives” about it? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/78 "2008-04-15T14:02:25Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] What I always wondered was, why **Norway?** It’s the least populous and least economically important of the Scandinavian countries. Why not Denmark or Sweden? [/QUOTE] All of the pavilions have corporate sponsors (excluding Morocco, which is backed by the Moroccan royal family (can’t provide a cite - I don’t remember where I read that)). So, when the pavilions were being built, whoever ponied up sponsorship money got first consideration. Apparently a Norwegian company was the highest bidder to represent Scandinavia. Which is funny, because their sponsor has pulled out. THAT may be where all the talk of removing Norway is coming from. BTW, Disney isn’t planning on removing Norway. They’re just looking for another Norwegian sponsor. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/79 "2008-04-15T14:03:46Z")
[QUOTE=TommyTutone] Speaking of which, did you notice that the only place where you cannot get a sit down meal is in the USA [/QUOTE] There was a rumor on WDW fansites a couple of years ago that a high-dollar, sit-down, upscale restaurant was headed for the USA pavilion. I don’t know if it’s still in development hell or if it has been scrapped, but there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Einmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Einmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Einmon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207/80 "2008-04-15T16:07:07Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] 😕 It sounds like dozens of other medium-to-small cities in the U.S. What is “creepy” or “Stepford Wives” about it? [/QUOTE] It might sound like it, but when you’re there the atmosphere is sort of unsettling. IIRC everything is measured to be just exactly the same, the houses have to be painted in a certain color scheme, the trashcans have to be at a certain location, inhabitants are vetted thoroughly (or at least they were in the beginning) … you walk through there and it just seems a bit too NICE. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-nations-should-be-added-to-epcot/445207.md?page=5)