How authentic is World Showcase?

[RedxPanda]

For me the world showcase doesn't feel "real". Having been to Mexico and France.. it certainly isn't the same feel. You're visiting Disney-ized versions. What is real are the CMs, the food (yummmy), and most importantly the shopping! Even though the prices seem high when you first see them, you have to reason that given the current exchange rates and possible postage fees, you are getting foriegn goods for a good price (if you're from the US anyways )

I especially like the department store in Japan., I'd buy everything in their if I could.

 

[Tinkerbell424]

I heard that Disney worked with the ambassador of Morrocco to make the building's be as authentic as possible.

IMHO, I think it's very authentic and as close as I may come to visiting some of these countries.

 

[lorraine31]

I know that is not really related, but I the signature of the post above with the picture of beauty and the beast made out of hedges. Is that still at Disney and if so where????

Having been to Germany, France, Italy and obviously the UK, obviously nothing compares to the real country, but I think that they do a good job with the space that they have. All countries have regional differences, so it can be hard to do a fair representation of a whole country.

 

[epcot.girl]

I have to agree with the other Brits. And speaking for the people from NI, Scotland and Wales (including myself), we get constantly referred to as 'English' by foreigners. It's comparable to calling a Canadian 'American', a Portuguese 'Spanish', an Austrian 'German', a Japanese 'Chinese', etc.

I can tell you from experience that I have met people who actually think Wales is 'in England' - and have argued with me over it!

I mean, the love spoons in the UK pavilion are Welsh in origin, and there's plenty of obviously Scottish tartan in one of the shops, so when people refer to the entire pavilion and its contents as England, it's pretty insulting and can get really annoying after one too many times.

OK, I rambled on for far longer than I intended to! LOL

(FTR - I have nothing against my fellow Brits in England, just pointing out something that seems to happen to all British people, regardless of origin!)

 

[snickerboo]

Absolutely does not make you feel like you are there. To me, it's a very stereotypical view of each country. Canada is not totem poles and Old Quebec. LOL Between dh and I, we've been to almost all of the countries IRL and we found WS to be very kitschy (read: excuse for visitors to part with their cash at food stalls and stores). It's alright if you've never been to those countries but I sure wouldn't want anyone to take away that it's what those countries are really like. It's just a snapshot of what those countries are already known for.

We will not be doing WS this trip.

 

[CarolA]

No, it doesn't feel as if you're in the country because you're surrounded by tourists not locals and you can see other things from each country (ie, you can see the next country over, or across the lagoon).

It's not cheesy though and is well done. There is a lot of culture and info if you look for it. The persons working in each country are really from that country. The food USED to be more authentic but that is going by the wayside, but still tasty.

If you go expecting a taste of those countries, you won't be disappointed.

Been to Paris or London lately? You are surrouned by other tourists. So in that respect it's not too bad LOL! (The tourists are dressed a little more casually, but they are tourists everywhere now!)


Morrocco is the country I feel MOST immersed in. When you get back in that courtyard it is unique. The Pavilion was built by the King's own craftsman and is really unique.

Japan does the least for me... Maybe ALL of Japan is a shopping mall, but I kind of doubt it!

Having traveled to several other countries represented in the showcase I will say that they "evoke" the countries and remind me of things I saw there (including the tourists)

 

[larryz]

They have done some great work with the architecture, but I can't say I actually feel like I am in that particular country.

Ask for "American coffee" in France's Boulangerie Pátisserie. You'll get it served with an authentic Parisienne sneer.

It sure felt like France to me!

 

[lorraine31]

I have to agree with the other Brits. And speaking for the people from NI, Scotland and Wales (including myself), we get constantly referred to as 'English' by foreigners. It's comparable to calling a Canadian 'American', a Portuguese 'Spanish', an Austrian 'German', a Japanese 'Chinese', etc.

I can tell you from experience that I have met people who actually think Wales is 'in England' - and have argued with me over it!

I mean, the love spoons in the UK pavilion are Welsh in origin, and there's plenty of obviously Scottish tartan in one of the shops, so when people refer to the entire pavilion and its contents as England, it's pretty insulting and can get really annoying after one too many times.

OK, I rambled on for far longer than I intended to! LOL

As I have already stated in this thread, I have the same opinion. It is annoying and at times insulting, although some people think that we are just being oversensitive and complaining over nothing. It gets a little annoying of saying it 5 times a day, every day for a week.

Especially in Disney, where people actually care enough to ask where your from you have to go into the whole explanation of where Scotland is and no it not England. People think Scotland is not part of the UK, or just part of England.

 

[ntsammy5]

All I can say is The beer tastes authentic!

 

[ntsammy5]

Japan does the least for me... Maybe ALL of Japan is a shopping mall, but I kind of doubt it!

I always thought it was a bunch of people banging on huge drums!

 

[Handbag Lady]

Ask for "American coffee" in France's Boulangerie Pátisserie. You'll get it served with an authentic Parisienne sneer.

It sure felt like France to me!

Hahahahaha!!!! (Did they surrender?)

 

[declansdad]

Sure. As a Canadian living in the US, most people seem to think that Quebec is the only province we have! The restaurant they chose was French. The pavilion itself is modeled after a hotel in Quebec. It seems that most of the CMs I have encountered are French-Canadian. To me, they are not representative of "most" of Canada.

I do like the representation of the First Nations, however, but I think it could be more.

Until recently, the tallest freestanding building in the world was the CN tower in Toronto - and I wish that was the "icon" that represented the country.

I understand that Disney probably reached out to the governments of different countries, and they probably get what was given to them. It just seems to me that there could be a whole lot more shown of such a beautiful country than just Quebec.

I have never seen it as being mostly Quebec. In fact there is at least two other hotels that have the same style, in Ottawa and Lake Louise. Also the reastaurant may have a French name but that doesn't make it French restaurant. Would you go to a restaurant called "The Basement". Also Quebec isn't the only part of Canada that is French.

 

[stemikger]

I've seen London and I've seen France and I saw Micky's underpants.

It's the underpants that gives WS away. Behind the facade there is nothing, but Mickey's underpants.

The secret is to look with naive eyes and you'll be fine. Or just get drunk and forget about it.

 

[bavaria]

Over the years, I have become less of a WS fan, as I have found that the merchandise has become more kitschy, less unique, and the food more homogenized to the North American palate.

If I take Germany as an example, the architecture is a melding of a variety of styles, and not overly offensive. Some of the items sold are things that we would buy, like some of the trendy housewares, the Bahlsen cookies, Reber chocolate, Milka chocolate, Steiff toys, etc. Much of the food is Americanized versions of German food; the pretzels lately have been stale and hard. The candy that they sell is American candy found all over WDW - chocolate dipped pretzels for instance. They no longer sell 'German' postcards like in past

But the cuckoo clock area is the type of shop I avoid at all costs in Germany; it reminds me of the shops at overly tourstic places like the village at the base of the castle Neuschwanstein, for instance.

I enjoy speaking with the CMs in various countries, and finding the little unique touches, but they are becoming more rare. As an example, Norway used to have a hand carved wedding procession with Fjord ponies. That is now gone. There was also representations of local handiwork, that is now gone. The interior of the church became a Viking exhibit, and the information above stave churches is lost. The unique meals at Akershus became all princess, all the time.

I understand change, but these are negative changes which are resulting in homogenization of World Showcase.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Canada you will see all of the Cast Members are from Canada. It's really cool to hear their different accents!!

Hey we don't have any accents ehhhhhh. Aboot time people realized they it's everyone else that has accents ehhhh not us Canadians.
Kidding aside I agree. That's one of the best things about world showcase. Talking to the people from there native country. Ohhhhh to the original poster. The rocky hills in Canada are suppose to be the rockies. Only 1/64 the actual size lol. Fist time we went we didn't enjoy world showcase now we love it so do our kids. They do need new countries added though. If they wanted Canada to be more authentic all they need is a Tim Horton's coffee shop. That would do it.

 

[lucysdad]

We love WS! It takes some very authentic features of each region and condenses them into a small area for you to sample. When you actually visit other countries, you can see a certain world-wide homogenization of sorts in the cities. After a while, the cities have many of the same characteristics--freeways, box stores, McDonalds, smog, skyscrapers, etc. After all, real people have to live and work in those real cities. But at WS, you get a WDW handpicked representation, more of a postcard experience of that country. It's fun, and you don't have to get shots or worry about the water (well, maybe the water part is a problem, but that's another thread!)! Go and enjoy! You're at WDW!
Lucy's Mom

 

[Abharmagic]

In the 1990s we took my grandfather- a world traveler via both the army and then later in retirement too. He loved World Showcase- said it was "charming". When probed further he said it was as authentic as a theme park is gonna get Enjoy!

 

[kaffinito]

If they wanted Canada to be more authentic all they need is a Tim Horton's coffee shop. That would do it.

From a 1st generation American with relatives all over Canada, all I can say to this is -

 

[PrincessAli]

I've seen London and I've seen France and I saw Micky's underpants.

It's the underpants that gives WS away. Behind the facade there is nothing, but Mickey's underpants.

The secret is to look with naive eyes and you'll be fine. Or just get drunk and forget about it.

I LOVE World Showcase--its my favorite part of EPCOT---but honestly I couldn't have described it better. PERFECT!!!!!!

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

we found WS to be very kitschy (read: excuse for visitors to part with their cash at food stalls and stores).

I disagree completely.

First off, all places where you buy food, drink, or anything else for that matter are designed for people to part with their cash. It's called commerce. It's what keeps our economy going. So unless you are living entirely off the land somewhere, you're probably going to places designed to make you part with cash every day.

But moving on to the subject...

I LOVE the food & drink stands, restaurants and stores in the WS. I've gotten to try alot of food and wine I might otherwise never have tried, candy bars I might never known existed , and seen items for sale that I've never seen elsewhere, except maybe online in recent years.

I am really saddened that the food has gotten somewhat less exotic. I know what the previous poster meant about that. They have made it a bit more vanilla but not entirely and I still love eating there.

I discovered my love of middle eastern food at Marrakesh. (actually my entire fascination with the middle eastern culture, music, arts etc. and lol the movie Casablanca came from the Morocco pavillion...) I probably never would have tried middle eastern food were it not for the fact that one rainy afternoon it happened to be the closest restaurant to where I was standing.

The stands & counter service places in the WS are a great way to sample food and beverages for less $$ than a sit down restaurant. I'd encourage all over 21 fans of Epcot to do the drinking around the world and get a taste for beers and wines from everywhere. And everyone should sample, at the very least, desserts and candies.

Yes. There are a lot of shops in the WS: The WS was designed before the advent of online shopping. Remember, it was not exactly easy to locate a samurai sword or a kimono, or really unusual french perfumes, or Japanese candies or Mexican handicrafts or Moroccan prayer rugs in your local mall when WS was first opened. I think some people may be somewhat jaded because you can now get those items easily online. But I still prefer browsing through well themed shops and talking to people from other parts of the world while looking for them.

That store in Japan is amazing. I have a friend who is obsessed with Japanese culture and I'm sure I will be bringing him back something from there. Also, the stores in the UK are something my boyfriend is really looking forward to. He's really looking forward to the place that does the coats of arms and he's a big soccer fan and the Sportsman shoppe (or whatever it's called) had quite a few soccer items the last time I was there.

For myself, I am looking forward to the stores in Morocco. I love the instruments they sell. I also can't wait for Mexico because I collect Dia De Los Muertos items (I found out about Dia De Los Muertos, actually, as a child at WS. It's fascinated me since.).

I also don't mind the Disney tie-ins to the countries. I don't mind them because I think they actually do a great job of teaching the kids. A little girl who learns that Belle is from France might take more of an interest in learning a new language or learning about French history etc. because her favorite character is from there. The characters just make the countries more accesible to kids. And who is going to complain about smarter, more well rounded kids? Hey, I'm an adult now and when Hunchback of Notre Dame came out I was 18 or so, and I actually spent an insane amount of time learning about the cathedral, and French history in general (and Esmeralda being this "girls" favorite, I bought no fewer than 3 books on gypsies and learned some basic phrases in Romani).

These kinds of "tie-ins" also might encourage people to visit these countries "for real". I would if I could afford it. I spent a good hour once talking to the guy in one of the Morocco shops about tourism in his country. I also remember being 17 and psyched to talk to the people at the Mexican place in Spanish which I was learning in school.

If you walk around the pavillions and talk to the people who work there, you will learn a lot. Also, the shows are really fun. I consider Off Kilter to be one of my favorite bands. I usually see the WS Players twice a day when I can. The acrobats in China are amazing to watch. And the exhibits are great. Did anyone else see Tomb Warriors in China? I really hope that is still there when I go.

Yes, the show in the America pavillion is condensed US history. It has to be. They have limited time. Otherwise it would be a looooong show. Again, it might spark someone's curiosity.

I just find it really hard to believe that anyone could call the WS cheesy or kitschy. Is it like being in those countries? No, of course not. But to call it a place that serves no purpose other than to make people spend tons of money (which is silly anyway) means some people are just missing the point of what the WS was designed for: To inspire, teach, and broaden horizons.

~~~
To the OP:

It's all how you look at it. Go in thinking it's an international mall & food court and that's what you will get out of it. Go in thinking of it as an interactive museum of world history, culture and cuisine and you will enjoy it and probably want at least two days to explore it and see all the shows.

Helpful tip: Go early. As soon as WS opens, head on that way. Leave the rides (save for maybe Soarin that you'll need a FP for) for later when FW clears out.