Tuesday, March 6, 2012

World Showcase (Epcot) (Walt Disney World)

World Showcase contains pavilions representing eleven countries—click on the links below for more information about each. In clockwise order, the pavilions are:
             Mexico
The Mexico pavilion resembles a Mesoamerican pyramid. The nightly fireworks show "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" is controlled from a small office atop the building. The office's window is barely visible from street level, but can be seen at an angle. 
Visitors enter through a display of Mexican artwork, the "Animales Fantásticos" art collection. The main room is the home to a twilight-lit Mexican marketplace, Plaza de los Amigos. At the edge of the plaza, a restaurant, San Ángel Inn, overlooks an indoor lagoon. To the side of the plaza, a boarding area leads to a boat ride, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros.
     Attractions
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros (April 6, 2007 - present)
El Rio del Tiempo (The River of Time) (1982 - 2007), a slow boat ride through Mexico.
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure (January 28, 2009 - present)
     Dining
San Angel Inn is the sibling to Mexico City's restaurant of the same name, which dates back to 1692.
La Hacienda de San Ángel, a lakeside table-service restaurant, opened in September 2010.
Cantina de San Ángel is a lakeside counter-service location.
La Cava del Tequila is a tequila bar with a vast collection of tequilas, specialty margaritas and light Mexican appetizers, hosted by tequila "connoisseurs" that interact with park guests.
     Live entertainment
Mariachi Cobre
             Norway
The 58,000-square-foot (5,400 m2) Norway pavilion is designed to look like a Norwegian village. The village includes a detailed Stave church, and the exterior of its main table-service restaurant, Restaurant Akershus, resembles its namesake in Oslo. The exhibit showcases 4 styles of Norwegian architecture: Setesdal-style, Bergen-style, Oslo-style and Alesund-style.
Much of the pavilion is taken up by interconnected shops. These shops are decorated with large wooden trolls and sell assorted Norwegian goods, including clothing, candy, and statuettes of Norse gods and trolls. The courtyard of the pavilion contains the entrance to Maelstrom, a boat ride into Norway's past and present. Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe is a bakery, featuring assorted Norwegian pastries, such as cream horns and open-faced salmon sandwiches. The courtyard contains the entrance to Restaurant Akershus, featuring a hot and cold buffet and "Princess Storybook Dining."
One former exhibit was a full-scale Viking ship, inspired by the famous Oseberg ship. Formerly a children's play area, the structure was removed in December 2008.
     Attractions
Maelstrom (July 5, 1988 - present)
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure (January 28, 2009 - present)
     Dining
Restaurant Akershus
Kringla Bakeri og Kafe
     Shopping
The Puffin's Roost
     Entertainment
Stave Church (houses an exhibit on Vikings)
Spelmanns Gledje (no longer playing)
Princess Meet & Greet inside Akershus.
             China
Visitors enter the China Pavilion through a large Chinese gate. The courtyard is dominated by a replica of the Temple of Heaven, which contains the entrance to "Reflections of China", a Circle-Vision 360° movie exploring China's history and scenery, as well as a museum containing several ancient Chinese artifacts. The courtyard is bordered by shops selling Chinese merchandise, and two Chinese restaurants. The pavilion is decorated with ponds, crossed by bridges. Chinese acrobats also perform frequently in the pavilion. The pavilion served as the backdrop for a music video for one of the film's songs, "Reflection", performed by a then-unknown Christina Aguilera.
     Attractions
Reflections of China
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure (January 28, 2009 - present)
     Dining
Nine Dragons, a full-service gourmet Chinese restaurant featuring traditional Chinese fare, such as two-course Peking duck.
Lotus Blossom Cafe, a quick-service restaurant serving an assortment of Chinese dishes.
     Live entertainment
Dragon Legend Acrobats
     Meet Disney Characters from the films
Mulan and Mushu.
             Germany
The Germany Pavilion is designed to look like a German town, but with architecture from different eras and regions. The Platz (square) is decorated with a statue of St. George and the Dragon and a clock tower. The Biergarten, at the rear of the courtyard, sells traditional German food. The pavilion also has numerous small shops selling German goods, including dolls and cuckoo clocks. The area near the pavilion is decorated by an extensive model village with working model trains.
     Attraction
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure (January 28, 2009 - present)
     Dining
Biergarten Restaurant, a buffet restaurant designed to look as though Oktoberfest is being celebrated there. Schnitzel, strudel and beer offer a taste of Bavaria at the Biergarten Restaurant. It features live entertainment and beer served in one liter steins. The dining hall is actually in the entrance area for the never built boat cruise down the Rhine.
Sommerfest, a quick-service restaurant
     Shopping
Das Kaufhaus
Der Teddybär
Die Weihnachtsecke
Karamell-Küche
     Other
Miniature Train and Village: A small outdoor model garden railway. It was originally created for the Flower and Garden Festival, but was kept due to its popularity.The trains used in the exhibit are LGB.
Glockenspiel: The clock that overlooks St. Georges Platz.
St. George: A large statue of St. George slaying a dragon.
     Entertainment
Characters - Snow White
             Italy
The Italian Pavilion features a plaza surrounded by a collection of buildings evocative of Venetian, Florentine, and Roman architecture. Venetian architecture is represented by a re-creation of St. Mark's Campanline (bell tower) and a replica of the Doge's Palace. The pavilion's design is inspired by other hallmarks of Italian architecture, such as the Neptune Fountain (reminiscent of Rome's Trevi Fountain) and theIl Bel Cristallo shop (meant to resemble the exterior of the Sistine Chapel). Musicians, clowns and acting troupes often appear in the piazza throughout the day. There are also small shops selling Italian goods, such as candy and wine.
     Dining
Tutto Italia
Via Napoli Pizzeria E Ristorante
     Shopping
Il Bel Cristallo
La Bottega Italiana
     Entertainment
World Showcase Players
     Meet Disney Characters from the films
Pinocchio
             United States of America
The pavilion is a single large building designed in the Colonial style. It contains the American Adventure show and the Hall of Flags exhibit, a display of the different flags thoughtout U.S. history. It also contains the Liberty Inn restaurant which serves American fare, such as cheeseburgers and hot dogs. There is a small gift shop, Heritage Manor Gifts, selling American items.
             Japan
The Japan pavilion is made up of buildings surrounding a courtyard. The entrance to the courtyard features a Japanese Pagoda. A torii gate decorates the water in front of the pavilion. The area is filled with Japanese pools and gardens. At the end of the courtyard is the gate to a Japanese castle, including a moat, which leads into a display of Japanese culture.
     Attraction
Bijutsu-kan - A collection of Japanese arts. It is currently exhibiting "Spirited Beasts: From Ancient Stories to Anime Stars", a depiction of Japanese mythology's creatures being adapted into Japanese pop culture.
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure (January 28, 2009 - present)

     Dining
Teppan Edo: Formerly called "Teppanyaki Dining Room," chefs prepare stir-fried foods right in front of the guests, just like other teppanyaki restaurants.
Tokyo Dining: Originally occupied by two separate restaurants, Tempura Kiku and the Matsu No Ma lounge, Tokyo Dining is now a traditional sushi restaurant. They serve sushi, tempura and some other grilled items (such as steak, grilled chiken and so on).
Katsura Grill: A counter-service restaurant located on a hill adjacent to the pagoda.
     Shopping
Mitsukoshi department store: Sells many Japanese items, including clothing, jewelry, books, manga, anime items (such as posters), and toys. It has been expanded in recent years to include a far greater variety of items than before. More specifically, a greater portion of the store sells Japanese pop-culture related items, presumably to take advantage of the growing interest in these types of products in America.
     Entertainment
One of the unique offerings at this pavilion is live demonstrations by Miyuki, a candy artist. This art goes back over 250 years in Japan with artists creating animals or flowers from very hot, soft dough that hardens when it cools. Of the current 15 Japanese candy artists, Miyuki is the only woman.
             Morocco
The Moroccan Pavilion, designed to look like a Moroccan city with a realistic Minaret, features the only pavilion in which the country's government aided in the design. Guests to the pavilion gain insight on the lifestyle and culture of the Moroccan people through the Gallery of Arts and History. The Fes House shows guests the typical Moroccan house. Inside the pavilion, North African plants including citrus trees, date palms, and olive trees, and fountains. The courtyard plays hosts to entertainment, including a belly dancing show in the evening. Restaurant Marrakesh, along with the Tangierine Cafe, serve Moroccan fare, including roast lamb in Tajine, Couscous, and Harira soup. Six shops adorn the pavilion, selling patrons everything from rugs to leather goods, and traditional Moroccan clothing.
Some of the major defining structures of the pavilion include Chellah, a replication of the necropolis in Rabat, and the Koutoubia, a replica of the minaret of the same name in Marrakesch. A replica of Bab Boujeloud, the gateway to the Fez medina leads you to a Bazaar area.
King Hassan II actually sent Moroccan artisans to design and create the many mosaics. Due to Islamic religious beliefs on the content of art, the mosaics contain no representations of people. The government also sponsors the pavilion, while a corporation holds sponsoring rights on every other pavilion.
     Dining
Restaurant Marrakesh - Serves various types of Moroccan cuisine including: Harira soup, Pastilla Appetizers, couscous, various lamb dishes, and shisk kabob.
Tangerine Cafe - Serves hummus, various salads, rotisserie chicken, Baklava along with beverages including coffee, mint tea, slushies, beer, and carbonated beverages
     Shopping
Tangier Trades - Sells jewelry, Moroccan clothing and shoes, mirrors made from camel bones, and daggers
Brass Baazar - Mosaic and brass and silver plates and mirrors
Outdoor Baazar - extension of the Brass Baazar. Items include decorative ceramic tiles and vases, Moroccan instruments, and handmade baskets.
Medina Arts - More ceramics.
Casablanca Carpets - Offers Moroccan-made rugs, lanterns, and sconces.
Souk-Al-Magreb - Sells belly dancing how-to's, couscous and the cooking utensils to make couscous, fez hats, and rose water
     Entertainment
Mo'Rockin - Rock and roll music set to Arabian rhythms
     Meet Disney Characters from the films
Aladdin, Princess Jasmine & Genie.
           France
The France pavilion is themed to look like a Paris neighborhood with a pool and fountains and with a view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Most of the shops on the streets are actual shops selling French goods such as Guerlain perfume. France's cities and historical structures. It also includes two French restaurants, the Bistro de Paris and Les Chefs de France, and a bakery, the Boulangerie Patisserie.
     Attractions
As with many of the pavilions located within the World Showcase section of the Epcot park, a key aspect of the France pavilion is its attraction. In this case, the attraction is a panoramic film entitled "Impressions de France" The film, which has been playing since the opening day of the Epcot park in 1982, offers a visual tour of the nation, set against a musical score written by Buddy Baker (composer), encompassing the music of classical French composers such as Claude Debussy and Camille Saint-Saens. 
The film, itself, is the work of director Rick Harper and produced by two-time Academy Award nominee Bob Rogers (designer). The film’s visual tour includes some of the nation’s most stunning and romantic landmarks such as the cliffs of Etretat in the Haute-Normandie region, Mont St. Michel in Normandy, Chateau de Chambord in the Loire Valley, Notre Dame de Paris, and the Eiffel Tower.

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