Only in Epcot you can walk around the world in a single day
Yes, I know. This isn’t exactly a ride, but Famvia’s rulebook doesn’t say that we can’t review things that aren’t roller coasters, dark rides or motion simulators! Yes, today we review the World Showcase. Tomorrow, we might review Mickey earbands or the Mickey Ice Cream Bar (hot take: the cookie ice cream is better than the classic Mickey bar).
The World Showcase is a staple in Epcot, right next to the giant white ball known as Spaceship Earth. So, what exactly is this? Well, the World Showcase is a massive, 115 acres area located inside Epcot and built around a lake, which consists of 11 pavilions, with each one representing one country in our beautiful planet Earth. Each country has its own stores, restaurants and sometimes even rides for you and your entire family! Some of the most popular rides in Epcot are actually located in the World Showcase. You can find Frozen Ever After in Norway and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in France, for example.
So, which countries are represented in the World Showcase? Here they are:
- Mexico
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Norway
- China
- Germany
- Italy
- United States
- France
- Morocco
- Japan
There is a lot to see and do in the World Showcase, and you can easily spend a whole day here. As I told you before, you can find different stores and restaurants, but you can also find a bunch of characters for meet & greets in different countries. You can come face to face with Aladdin and Jasmine in Morocco, or say hi to Alice in the United Kingdom. There is always something new to see here, and the World Showcase also changes seasonally as Epcot throws different festivals. During the Wine and Food Festival, you will often see new food kiosks scattered around around this area offering new snacks and treats just for you.
The stores are probably the star of the show here. You can find items that you would only find in those specific countries being sold right there, at Epcot! You can find hand made carpets and beautiful sculptures in Morocco, and several different and unique candies, sake and Pokemon plush toys in Japan. In the United Kingdom, you can buy jerseys from Premier League teams and find a lot of stuff related to The Beatles. In Norway, you can find some of the best perfumes in the world, while Canada might be selling hockey t-shirts. There’s something for everyone and it’s always cool to see what you can find in each country.
It’s not only about the shops. Each country has buildings and special touches that make it feel like you are right there. There is an English pub in the United Kingdom, and street markets in Morocco. France has a great store that sells some of the best desserts in Disney World, while Germany has kiosks selling some of their best beer.
It’s great, and we are not even talking about the restaurants! Some of the best food in Disney World is in the World Showcase, so make sure to make a reservation in advance in case you wanna try some of the table service restaurants there. Want a good steak? Go to Le Celier in Canada. Want a delicious burrito? Mexico has you covered. What about sushi? I don’t even need to say, huh? What adds to the immersion is that the park operators are actually natives of the countries they represent. So, when dining in a restaurant set in Japan, you'll be served by a Japanese person, and in Germany, you'll find a German serving you beer. This attention to detail enhances the authenticity of the experience, making it even more enjoyable and immersive.
So, what are the problems with the World Showcase? Not many, honestly. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes when you come here, since you will be walking a lot. It’s also not a cheap place at all, which is expected when you are buying stuff from all over the world while in Disney World. I also don’t think that many kids appreciate the World Showcase, especially younglings. They might find it boring, unless they are moving from place to place to find and take pictures with some of their favorite characters.
Will Kids enjoy it?
Honestly, there is a chance your kids might get a bit bored here. Before anything else, I would definitely recommend you bring a stroller to your young children, even the ones that aren’t used to it. You will be walking a lot in the World Showcase and there is a good chance they will get tired pretty early in the day.
The World Showcase does have some of the best, most popular attractions for kids in Epcot, like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Frozen Ever After, so you will probably come here sooner or later, even if it's just for the rides. You can also walk around to take pictures with Disney princesses and some characters like Alice and the Mad Hatter, which can be a fun experience for our young ones.
Shopping isn’t something that kids are usually very excited about, so there is a high chance they will get bored if you are browsing perfumes in Norway or hand made totems in Mexico. They can get some enjoyment from the stores in Japan, though, since the shops there sells a lot of stuff from Pokemon and Nintendo properties like Mario and Zelda.
