Cant remember World Showcase very well...

[kittykitty87]

Last time I went to the World was in 2000 when I was 13 (with my parents) now DBF and I are going in 3 weeks (and a few days but we will ignore those ) and I wondered, is there lots of things to look out for in World Showcase? I mean is there lots of places to explore within the countries themselves?

I dont want to miss anything and from the pictures I have seen on here, I missed LOADS of stuff when I went last time all those years ago...!

 

[KellyNY]

There is a lot to do and see.

Each country has shops.
China, Canada, France and Norway has a short movie about country.
Mexico and Norway have rides.
England and Canada have singers.
There are some performers in some countries, China, Japan, Moroco, England, Italy, France, I maybe missing someone, others will add.
There are characters all over.
Japan has "pick a pearl" inside the shop and also candy lady(I think she still makes sugar candies).

Grab schedule of performers so you would not miss them.

EDIT: There is also Phineas and Ferb game, sign up at one of the stations before you enter WS and play missions in different countries, it is fun and free. And do not miss bakery at the back of the France, nice way to have a snack and not expensive.

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

There is just so much to see and do in the WS... it can be over whelming

One of the things I enjoyed doing on our visits to WS is to begin by really exploring the pavilions that related to our family history.

Having never been to Norway though born into a Norwegian heritage, our 2005 dinner at Akershus was a real treat.
I got to taste some foods on the buffet I had not been exposed to before,
and discovered a new love of Norwegian cheese.

The next trip in 2009 we had done more family research and discovered my husband's family has deep roots in Norway,
and had to take a goofy picture of DH in the Stavkirke next to the red-headed wax figure of his great.g.g.g.g (add 30 more gs) grandfather, lol.
Nevermind he was never exposed to Norwegian culture until he met ME

Seriously, it's a fun way to learn more, just know it's a highly Americanized version of those lovely countries,
and Akershus has become a infested shadow of its former self- food wise

I think the food is better if you get an ADR for the opening of dinner than later on...

We are some of the few that actually watch the movie at the end of Maelstrom...
and have a deep longing to go to Norge (but WDW trips keep cutting into that Norway travel fund )
DH always buys me something special (of my choice) in the Norway shops-
I've gotten Christmas ornaments, cookbooks, and I am still drooling over the traditional Norwegian brooches and earrings
- I cannot decide and pick just one - maybe next trip

So we love the German pavilion and enjoy the Oktoberfest buffet there as well.
It's fun to look in the shops at all the merchandise from those countries, just be aware,
some stuff from every pavilion is imported- not from the country you would think- but made elsewhere.
I do not pay for "German" or "Norwegian" stuff made in china (but you might not mind...)

So I would suggest starting with what interests you and branching out from there.

It took me something like 15 Epcot visit days over 4 different visits to finally go into France-
which just really does not interest me at all even still after exploring the pavilion...

There's just so much to see it really is impossible to see it all in one visit.
I hope you have a blast exploring!!!

 

[kittykitty87]

There is a lot to do and see.

Each country has shops.
China, Canada, France and Norway has a short movie about country.
Mexico and Norway have rides.
England and Canada have singers.
There are some performers in some countries, China, Japan, Moroco, England, Italy, France, I maybe missing someone, others will add.
There are characters all over.
Japan has "pick a pearl" inside the shop and also candy lady(I think she still makes sugar candies).

Grab schedule of performers so you would not miss them.

EDIT: There is also Phineas and Ferb game, sign up at one of the stations before you enter WS and play missions in different countries, it is fun and free. And do not miss bakery at the back of the France, nice way to have a snack and not expensive.

Wow cool! I really did not know any of this last time I went. I knew about the shops but thats about it!

We will have to make sure we do all these!

 

[reiella]

It's mostly an opportunity to look at the themed shops. There are a lot of cultural education opportunities, but it's all largely tied to the shops.

 

[kittykitty87]

There is just so much to see and do in the WS... it can be over whelming

One of the things I enjoyed doing on our visits to WS is to begin by really exploring the pavilions that related to our family history.

Having never been to Norway though born into a Norwegian heritage, our 2005 dinner at Akershus was a real treat.
I got to taste some foods on the buffet I had not been exposed to before,
and discovered a new love of Norwegian cheese.

The next trip in 2009 we had done more family research and discovered my husband's family has deep roots in Norway,
and had to take a goofy picture of DH in the Stavkirke next to the red-headed wax figure of his great.g.g.g.g (add 30 more gs) grandfather, lol.
Nevermind he was never exposed to Norwegian culture until he met ME

Seriously, it's a fun way to learn more, just know it's a highly Americanized version of those lovely countries,
and Akershus has become a infested shadow of its former self- food wise

I think the food is better if you get an ADR for the opening of dinner than later on...

We are some of the few that actually watch the movie at the end of Maelstrom...
and have a deep longing to go to Norge (but WDW trips keep cutting into that Norway travel fund )
DH always buys me something special (of my choice) in the Norway shops-
I've gotten Christmas ornaments, cookbooks, and I am still drooling over the traditional Norwegian brooches and earrings
- I cannot decide and pick just one - maybe next trip

So we love the German pavilion and enjoy the Oktoberfest buffet there as well.
It's fun to look in the shops at all the merchandise from those countries, just be aware,
some stuff from every pavilion is imported- not from the country you would think- but made elsewhere.
I do not pay for "German" or "Norwegian" stuff made in china (but you might not mind...)

So I would suggest starting with what interests you and branching out from there.

It took me something like 15 Epcot visit days over 4 different visits to finally go into France-
which just really does not interest me at all even still after exploring the pavilion...

There's just so much to see it really is impossible to see it all in one visit.
I hope you have a blast exploring!!!

Wow thanks!!

That is a lot of cool information

We have only planned 2 days there so will have to cram in as much as possible!!!

 

[archdandy]

Don't forget to check out the goodies in some of the bakeries. Karamel Kuche is an awesome spot to find some caramel treats and the bakery in the France pavilion has a lot of good stuff as well. Also the bakery in Norway has schoolbread which is a very popular treat!

 

[gpeters93]

It's fun to look in the shops at all the merchandise from those countries, just be aware,
some stuff from every pavilion is imported- not from the country you would think- but made elsewhere.
I do not pay for "German" or "Norwegian" stuff made in china (but you might not mind...)

Years ago we were the host family for a foreign exchange student from Sweden. We took him to WDW and the WS in particular. When he toured the Norway pavilion with us, he pointed out several things that he contended were actually Swedish rather than Norwegian.

 

[sharonabe]

Not sure how long your trip is, but the Food & Wine Festival starts on Sept 28. Lots of little food kiosks set up with even more food and drink options from around the world.

 

[kittykitty87]

Thanks everyone

Is there any thinks we CANNOT miss?

 

[kittykitty87]

Not sure how long your trip is, but the Food & Wine Festival starts on Sept 28. Lots of little food kiosks set up with even more food and drink options from around the world.

Yeah, we are there for that so we will be checking that out

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

Years ago we were the host family for a foreign exchange student from Sweden. We took him to WDW and the WS in particular. When he toured the Norway pavilion with us, he pointed out several things that he contended were actually Swedish rather than Norwegian.

That actually should not surprise anyone considering the fact that today they are next door neighbors,
they share a cultural heritage going back far more than a millenia, long before borders were set.
Vikings were not just Norwegian but Swedish, Danish and Finnish as well.

Up until the year 1060, much of what is modern Sweden today was Norway or ruled by Norway.
There was a period of time in the later middle ages when both Norway and what later became Sweden were ruled by the Danes.
Modern Sweden emerged around the year 1523, becoming independent from the Danes at that time.

Later, in 1814, due to the outcome of the Napoleonic Wars, the newly independent Norwegian parliament
elected the king of Sweden as the king of Norway
(though they kept their brand new constitution which was a huge victory)
so Sweden actually ruled Norway for almost a hundred years, from 1814 to 1905.

Given the circumstances, it's hard to imagine how anyone can be certain "which country" originated the food cultures, patterns of sweaters, jewelry, art, music, clothing styles, etc ...
Who can say?

Today, I believe both countries, while sharing their common history,
have a great sense of nationalism and patriotism, hence, the attitude you experienced,
which under the circumstances is quite understandable.

Actually, my comment was referring to some items for sale in the Norway pavilion that appeared to be "scandinavian" made but were in fact made in China.
I want the real deal....
Let's keep the Chinese made stuff in the China pavilion...

 

[disnut8]

Last time I went to the World was in 2000 when I was 13 (with my parents) now DBF and I are going in 3 weeks (and a few days but we will ignore those ) and I wondered, is there lots of things to look out for in World Showcase? I mean is there lots of places to explore within the countries themselves?

I dont want to miss anything and from the pictures I have seen on here, I missed LOADS of stuff when I went last time all those years ago...!

Check out this site - http://wdwent.com/ - click on Epcot and you will get descriptions of all the entertainment in World Showcase (the site is also very nice for the other parks and Future World). Look over the acts and enjoy whatever interests you. The shows are set up so you can walk up, watch for a while and if you like, you stay. If you don't, you just leave. You will get varying opinions on what is good and what isn't. You are in your mid-20's if I did the calculations correctly so I would suggest British Revolution and Off Kilter at least.

And since you will be there during the Food and Wine Festival, there will be concerts in America (the site I mentioned above has that info). Those are more formal in that there are three set times and you will be seated in an open aired theatre. Depending on the act, you might have to line up before the concert but if you don't enjoy it, you can always leave.

 

[101disneyfan]

I would like to add that I've always told people.
You can do the World Showcase in a day.
Get your times guide at the park entrance, and look at when the characters are appearing, when there will be street entertainment in each country, and set aside one hour for two or three countries depending on how much there is to do. If you start at noon, you will be done by 5 or 6p.

Don't forget to buy an EPCOT Center World Showcase Passport to get stamped at each pavilion!

 

[kittykitty87]

Thanks for all the advise everyone

Its very much appreciated