Anthony12345
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2010
- Messages
- 50
The topic is pretty much as it sounds. What parts of the World Showcase should be changed, and why.
As someone who worked in the UK pavilion, i suppose i have most experience there. I have to say the UK pavilion is woefully underused.
When you think about the sheer level of British presence in the world of culture, leisure, art, literature etc, and more specifically in this context, the sheer amount of UK content Disney puts into its work-Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, and thats just the classics, its insane how little attention there is given to it at this pavilion.
Its especially striking when you consider that what is there is, is always busy-this is by no means an unpopular part of the park, in swome ways quite surprisingly given the neglect it suffers, which in some ways suggests the investment required would be very likely to be recouped
Lets think about what does the UK Pavilion actually has?
A pub, which is admittedly unique in being one of only a few full service bars in the park,
an indifferent restaurant that fails to fully demonstrate the wide range of British food, but instead chooses to live up to the long outdated stereotype of British food being bland or fried, possibly both, instead relying only on its popularity for waterfront dining,
and a few shops selling imported tat, for extortionately inflated prices.
To my mind the place would be improved immeasurably by
1-a major revamp of the Rose and Crown Restaurant (the Pub is fine-perhaps make it bigger so it isnt as cramped as it can often get) menu.
2-Additional unique food offerings-what about somewhere selling artisanal British alcoholic drinks-Whiskey, Gin, Ciders, perhaps even English wine-would it surprise a lot of people to know that English Sparkling Wines now regularly beat Champagne and Cava at prestigious international wine awards? The South of England is pretty good wine growing country these days-add it to the wine tour, replace and relocate the Beer Cart next to the Rose and Crown check in
3-Bring back what apparently did briefly exist in the early 90s, which was a sitting for Afternoon Tea, i think in or near what is now the Tea Caddy. Also what about Character Dining? Open the Rose and Crown for (a full English) breakfast, have the classic British Disney Characters present.
4-Fully revamp the shopping offer. Why not go the route of Mitsukoshi in the Japanese pavilion and sign up as an operating participant, one of the prestigeous British department stores, or the niche but famous shops, familiar to most tourists who ever visit London-Liberty of London, Selfridges, Harrods etc?
5-An Attraction. Good God, if one place has the cultural heft to warrant even a basic Impressions de France type attracting, if not something more quirky like a London Bus, or Hackney Cab ride through the sites of the country, its the UK.
Of course, this is very much an `if money was no object` list.
Thoughts? Suggestions of your own?
As someone who worked in the UK pavilion, i suppose i have most experience there. I have to say the UK pavilion is woefully underused.
When you think about the sheer level of British presence in the world of culture, leisure, art, literature etc, and more specifically in this context, the sheer amount of UK content Disney puts into its work-Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, and thats just the classics, its insane how little attention there is given to it at this pavilion.
Its especially striking when you consider that what is there is, is always busy-this is by no means an unpopular part of the park, in swome ways quite surprisingly given the neglect it suffers, which in some ways suggests the investment required would be very likely to be recouped
Lets think about what does the UK Pavilion actually has?
A pub, which is admittedly unique in being one of only a few full service bars in the park,
an indifferent restaurant that fails to fully demonstrate the wide range of British food, but instead chooses to live up to the long outdated stereotype of British food being bland or fried, possibly both, instead relying only on its popularity for waterfront dining,
and a few shops selling imported tat, for extortionately inflated prices.
To my mind the place would be improved immeasurably by
1-a major revamp of the Rose and Crown Restaurant (the Pub is fine-perhaps make it bigger so it isnt as cramped as it can often get) menu.
2-Additional unique food offerings-what about somewhere selling artisanal British alcoholic drinks-Whiskey, Gin, Ciders, perhaps even English wine-would it surprise a lot of people to know that English Sparkling Wines now regularly beat Champagne and Cava at prestigious international wine awards? The South of England is pretty good wine growing country these days-add it to the wine tour, replace and relocate the Beer Cart next to the Rose and Crown check in
3-Bring back what apparently did briefly exist in the early 90s, which was a sitting for Afternoon Tea, i think in or near what is now the Tea Caddy. Also what about Character Dining? Open the Rose and Crown for (a full English) breakfast, have the classic British Disney Characters present.
4-Fully revamp the shopping offer. Why not go the route of Mitsukoshi in the Japanese pavilion and sign up as an operating participant, one of the prestigeous British department stores, or the niche but famous shops, familiar to most tourists who ever visit London-Liberty of London, Selfridges, Harrods etc?
5-An Attraction. Good God, if one place has the cultural heft to warrant even a basic Impressions de France type attracting, if not something more quirky like a London Bus, or Hackney Cab ride through the sites of the country, its the UK.
Of course, this is very much an `if money was no object` list.
Thoughts? Suggestions of your own?
