How about an african pavillion update??????

4tinkerbe

DIS Veteran
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May 1, 2011
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SO I WAS THINKING---- HOW ABOUT A WELL-NEEDED UPDATE FOR THE AFRICAN PAVILLION???????:idea::idea: ALL THIS PLACE HAS IS A STRAW HUT WITH A MAN CARVING WOOD AND SOME PEOPLE PLAYING BONGOS:lmao: I THINK IT WOULD BE WELL WORTH THE CHANGE. ANY IDEAS FOR WHAT SHOULD BE ADDED?:confused3:grouphug:
 
Well, I personally think African countries are represented enough with AK, and the space in Epcot should be used for an entirely new country, no idea on which one though.
 
Got to agree with the PP. Africa has the major portion of a whole park. Why would there be a need to do something in Epcot? Its time to change this corner of World Showcase to something more useful.
 
There were once elaborate plans for an Equatorial Africa pavilion. It was designed along with the rest of the opening day pavilions at EPCOT Center, but was postponed -- and then never built at all. Of all the World Showcase pavilions that were planned but never built, Equatorial Africa came the closest to making it off the drawing boards.

The Outpost that's now in World Showcase should not be not considered the African pavilion. At best, it's a bit of filler to avoid having a long, empty stretch on the World Showcase Promenade.

Animal Kingdom is primarily about animals and World Showcase is primarily about people, so there would be nothing wrong with having Equatorial Africa represented both places. (Along the same lines, Australia could be represented both places.)

However, the Equatorial Africa pavilion at World Showcase is dead. The magnificent Walt Disney-Tishman African Art collection, which was supposed to be displayed at the Equatorial Africa pavilion, was donated to Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African Art instead.
 

The outpost hides what is probably the single largest pavilion space in the whole World Showcase. I figured they've been saving it for something big, but of course only if someone else paid for it. Would Brazil qualify for that space?

The Africa pavilion was almost a sure thing, to the point that during the WWOD special on the opening of EPCOT Center, they had Alex Haley talking about it. And as mentioned, it just never happened.
 
The outpost hides what is probably the single largest pavilion space in the whole World Showcase. I figured they've been saving it for something big, but of course only if someone else paid for it. Would Brazil qualify for that space?

The Africa pavilion was almost a sure thing, to the point that during the WWOD special on the opening of EPCOT Center, they had Alex Haley talking about it. And as mentioned, it just never happened.

And now that we have DAK Africa will never happen.
 
And now that we have DAK Africa will never happen.

I agree. DAK represents Africa well enough, performers, atmosphere and food...it even has a ride themed in Africa.. what more could they possibly do at Epcot?
 
I agree. DAK represents Africa well enough, performers, atmosphere and food...it even has a ride themed in Africa.. what more could they possibly do at Epcot?

Yup and there ate no South American countries so that is why im hoping Brazil really does come.
 
And now that we have DAK Africa will never happen.

I agree...a lot of the concepts later got absorbed by DAK Africa, and makes such a pavilion redundant unless they wanted a more focused pavilion for a particular country (none of the other pavilions are regional anyways). But no single African country has ever entered into the rumors as far as I've ever heard (other than Morocco obviously).
 
I agree...a lot of the concepts later got absorbed by DAK Africa, and makes such a pavilion redundant unless they wanted a more focused pavilion for a particular country (none of the other pavilions are regional anyways). But no single African country has ever entered into the rumors as far as I've ever heard (other than Morocco obviously).

The Equatorial Africa pavilion would have been completely different from the Africa section of Animal Kingdom.

Here are three sentences from "Africa: The Lost World Showcase Pavilion" at FutureProbe:

Perhaps the centerpiece of the Africa pavilion, though, would have been the show "Africa Rediscovered", hosted by Alex Haley. This fifteen-minute film was designed to teach EPCOT guests that Africa was more than a primitive continent, that it is a country [sic] with a rich history. The show would have highlighted Carthagian general Hannibal as well as the accomplishments of the ancient African kingdom of Kush.​

For the rest of the article, see http://futureprobe.blogspot.com/2008/11/africa-lost-world-showcase-pavilion.html

In contrast, Harambe was designed to represent a scruffy African village near an African wildlife preserve. It's well executed and, yes, it includes some African music and some African-inspired foods.

Again, Animal Kingdom is primarily about animals and World Showcase is primarily about people.

That doesn't mean I still expect to see the Equatorial Africa pavilion built. I'm just trying to make the point that, overall, the Africa section of Animal Kingdom has very little in common with what was planned for the early years of EPCOT Center.

If current Disney management wanted to fund such a pavilion, WDI could tell a great, eye-opening story about the people of Equatorial Africa, their history, their culture, the challenges they're dealing with. It would be something new, not just dusting off the plans they worked on 30 years ago.

It's just highly unlikely ever to happen.
 
^^
While it would be different I still think we need a South American Country first since we already have an African country in Morocco.
 
^^
While it would be different I still think we need a South American Country first since we already have an African country in Morocco.
I agree that a South American country would be the best choice if one more country were to be added to World Showcase. Brazil would be my first choice; Argentina my second; and Chile my third choice. (By the way, Argentina and Chile make some excellent wine.)

The Kingdom of Morocco, a country of Arab-Berber people speaking Arabic, is on the continent of Africa, so, yes, Morocco could be called "an African country." However, Morocco is very different from sub-Saharan Africa.

There are also significant difference between the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. It would be wonderful if Disney could give Epcot guests a better understanding of Africa, but unless Disney executives see a promising business case, that won't happen.
 
I agree that a South American country would be the best choice if one more country were to be added to World Showcase. Brazil would be my first choice; Argentina my second; and Chile my third choice. (By the way, Argentina and Chile make some excellent wine.)

The Kingdom of Morocco, a country of Arab-Berber people speaking Arabic, is on the continent of Africa, so, yes, Morocco could be called "an African country." However, Morocco is very different from sub-Saharan Africa.

There are also significant difference between the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. It would be wonderful if Disney could give Epcot guests a better understanding of Africa, but unless Disney executives see a promising business case, that won't happen.

Agreed as a culture it's closer to the Middle East.
 
Well, I personally think African countries are represented enough with AK, and the space in Epcot should be used for an entirely new country, no idea on which one though.

Agreed...and it's not just in AK, but AKL as well.
 
Space for more countries is not an issue. See http://www.yesterland.com/worldshowcase.html

Getting the perfect geographical or cultural balance is not the issue.

The real issue is how to make a business case for another country. What would it take to justify the upfront capital cost and the ongoing operating costs? Although we all want rides, there are several World Showcase pavilions that consist of only restaurants and shops.

What country has a cuisine that would allow a restaurant to "pay its own way," especially if an outside company such as Patina Group or Levy Restaurants builds and runs the restaurant?
 


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