If/Then World Showcase

[Tampa Girl]

1. lets say you could only pick 1 country to visit at Epcot and it was your most favorite country in World ShowCase which one would it be and why?

2. If there was a lot more to the countries in Epcot and in your very favorite country in Epcot would you spend more of your day/time at World Showcase learning more about your favorite country just taking it all in and absorbing it all in?

3. Would you rather just go to the country itself and do a whole learning trip taking it all in and absorbing it all?

4. How would you get your family into staying longer in World ShowCase longer than you do to just learn more just taking it all in and absorbing it all and then going back to your hotel st night maybe having a family discussion about what you learned at that country that day?

5. How could you convince your family to stay longer in World ShowCase longer than you do normally because you love World ShowCase and want them to see and experience everything you are and just taking it all in and learning it all without hearing I'm bored....how would you change your families perception of World ShowCase of things you remember and like to do because you love/like World ShowCase?

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

1. lets say you could only pick 1 country to visit at Epcot and it was your most favorite country in World ShowCase which one would it be and why?

2. If there was a lot more to the countries in Epcot and in your very favorite country in Epcot would you spend more of your day/time at World Showcase learning more about your favorite country just taking it all in and absorbing it all in?

3. Would you rather just go to the country itself and do a whole learning trip taking it all in and absorbing it all?

4. How would you get your family into staying longer in World ShowCase longer than you do to just learn more just taking it all in and absorbing it all and then going back to your hotel st night maybe having a family discussion about what you learned at that country that day?

5. How could you convince your family to stay longer in World ShowCase longer than you do normally because you love World ShowCase and want them to see and experience everything you are and just taking it all in and learning it all without hearing I'm bored....how would you change your families perception of World ShowCase of things you remember and like to do because you love/like World ShowCase?

Personally, I don’t really get WS. I’m not a big shopper and it seems there is not much to do there other than shop and eat. We spend an afternoon in WS. I haven’t been to all of the countries yet and I don’t have a favorite. Well, ok, that’s not true - Mexico is my favorite because it’s a big cool pyramid with a ride in it.

Yes, I would rather learn about a country by going there or by researching at home. I don’t think a Disney-fied representation of a country is really the best source. That said, I’ve never watched any of the movies because I assume (probably wrongly) that they are going to be like the boring 90’s era travelogues we watched in high school.

Honestly, I don’t go to Disney to learn. I go there to be entertained. So for me, more things like the Chinese acrocats and the guy balancing the chairs in France would be what would get me to spend more time there and make it feel less ‘boring’. Although I wouldn’t really say it’s boring, it’s just trying to appeal to things I don’t really care to spend a lot of vacation time doing (shopping). I do like to eat there though and it’s definitely worth a stroll to see the sites.

This year the kids are bringing passports to get stamped which I’m sure will force us to hit most if not all countries and meet some of the CMs which might change my opinion of things.

 

[Tomh]

1. lets say you could only pick 1 country to visit at Epcot and it was your most favorite country in World ShowCase which one would it be and why?

2. If there was a lot more to the countries in Epcot and in your very favorite country in Epcot would you spend more of your day/time at World Showcase learning more about your favorite country just taking it all in and absorbing it all in?

3. Would you rather just go to the country itself and do a whole learning trip taking it all in and absorbing it all?

4. How would you get your family into staying longer in World ShowCase longer than you do to just learn more just taking it all in and absorbing it all and then going back to your hotel st night maybe having a family discussion about what you learned at that country that day?

5. How could you convince your family to stay longer in World ShowCase longer than you do normally because you love World ShowCase and want them to see and experience everything you are and just taking it all in and learning it all without hearing I'm bored....how would you change your families perception of World ShowCase of things you remember and like to do because you love/like World ShowCase?

1. UK. I love the landscaping and architecture. The British Revolution is quite entertaining. I absolutely love the Twinings Tea shop. Yorkshire County Fish Shop provides a perfect lunch, and I love eating a late dinner at The Rose and Crown, especially if I can get a seat on the outside patio, and watch Illuminations from my table. No better way to end a day at Epcot!

2. We typically spend 4 days of our trip in Epcot. Generally, we make our way from Future World to World Showcase around noon, and spend the balance of our day in World Showcase. While I would love bigger country pavilions with more to see and do, I'm not sure that would entice me to spend more time than I already do in World Showcase.

3. While I wouldn't mind traveling to other countries, I'm not sure that I would want to do that in place of visiting Disney World, and going to Epcot / World Showcase. What you see and do in World Showcase is an Americanized depiction of the actual countries. If you go and visit those countries, while you will be getting a real, authentic experience, which can not be compared to World Showcase, you will also be seeing the bad and ugly along with the good. In Epcot, you get a Disneyfied park like version showing only the good. The two, in my opinion, can not be compared, they are completely different experiences.

4. lol, good luck with that. Honestly, if my family didn't enjoy World Showcase as much as I do, I wouldn't try to push them into it. Instead, I might compromise, and let them have extra time in Future World, or at another park, or maybe let them go explore the Boardwalk while I had my time in World Showcase. When my son was little, he didn't like World Showcase, but he was the only one, and well, as a little one, he kind of lost lol. I simply explained to him that he couldn't have his way 100% of the time, we did the things he wanted to do, but in trade, he had to suffer through what we wanted to do. I also let him play the Kim Possible missions, and later the Phineas and Ferb missions, I got him passports, and let him collect and color the masks. Plenty of time was spent at the kidcot stations, with him coloring, and me enjoying a cold drink (non alcoholic, he wasn't that difficult that I had to drink lol). I got him to sample different foods in many of the countries. Now, at 14, he enjoys World Showcase nearly as much as I do, though it is sometimes a journey in search of the next tasty morsel for him hahaha.

5. Pretty much the same question as 4 . . . same answer. Really, if it is the whole family, just figure out a way to let them do something they enjoy while you have your time in World Showcase. If it is just a kid, or two, try distraction, or try telling them this is the way it is, you want me to do x with you, then you have to do y with me. I am absolutely terrified of Splash Mountain . . I ride it, but it scares the pooh out of me. I rode that every year with my son. That was my payment in full for him suffering through World Showcase with me. At times, I've done Splash 3 or 4 times in a row with him. Pretty fair trade in my book.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

1. lets say you could only pick 1 country to visit at Epcot and it was your most favorite country in World ShowCase which one would it be and why?

2. If there was a lot more to the countries in Epcot and in your very favorite country in Epcot would you spend more of your day/time at World Showcase learning more about your favorite country just taking it all in and absorbing it all in?

3. Would you rather just go to the country itself and do a whole learning trip taking it all in and absorbing it all?

4. How would you get your family into staying longer in World ShowCase longer than you do to just learn more just taking it all in and absorbing it all and then going back to your hotel st night maybe having a family discussion about what you learned at that country that day?

5. How could you convince your family to stay longer in World ShowCase longer than you do normally because you love World ShowCase and want them to see and experience everything you are and just taking it all in and learning it all without hearing I'm bored....how would you change your families perception of World ShowCase of things you remember and like to do because you love/like World ShowCase?

1. It's hard to pick just one because I love many of them for different reasons. If I could only do one, it would probably be Mexico. I think the interior theming is some of the best in all of WDW.

2. Hard to answer. We walk all the way around WS on every trip and pick and choose what we would like to do (one day it might be the Chinese acrobats, another day the Moroccan band, or one of the exhibits, movies, etc.) We almost always do Gran Fiesta, but we never do it all. So I guess we are more of the "focus on one or two things absorb the rest" type of people.

3. It depends on the type of trip we want. We go to WDW at least once a year so I do get to see WS, but WS also inspired us to go to Norway (which was spectacular). If you have one particular country that you love in WS, I would definitely encourage you to go there. The WS pavilions are lovely, but they are not substitutes for the real thing.

4. and 5. We play "my turn, your turn". DS10 and DH don't mind walking around WS, but they certainly don't love it the way I do, so we each get to pick (pretty much on a daily basis) things we each specifically want to do. I, personally, wouldn't have a family discussion about it if people are already saying they are bored. There are things my DH enjoys that I certainly don't want to delve into in some long drawn out conversation, but I'll still do the actual activity with him because I know he enjoys it. I also don't think you can change anyone's perception of things. Perhaps just tell you family you love WS and you'd like to spend some more time there on your trip? I've even gone on my own for a few hours while DH and DS10 were at the pool or DS was in the kids club (which, unfortunately, are closing). If you can all give each other some leeway to enjoy specific things you each like, it may be a more enjoyable trip all around?

 

[slpeters]

1) I don't think I really have a favorite. It's sort of one experience for me. Mexico and "Norway" have rides so maybe one of them. But to be honest it sort of seems like a really big, really pretty outdoor mall to me. I mean I enjoy it especially the performances (and the movies in China and France) but I don't really consider it a representation of the countries involved.

2) Probably not. I think the only thing that would get me to spend more time there would be more performers.

3) Absolutely. I've been to several of the countries represented in World Showcase but not all of them. I think the idea that you could really experience another culture in a theme park seems like a peculiarly American idea.

4) I wouldn't--good luck!

5) We're pretty much on the same page but if I was willing to shell out even more on food and booze I could probably get my husband to stay at World Showcase for any amount of time I wanted.

 

[Mome Rath]

1. lets say you could only pick 1 country to visit at Epcot and it was your most favorite country in World ShowCase which one would it be and why?

Japan. I love the shops there, and so do my nieces and nephew, as well as my parents. There are several places to eat, all with good food, and the garden outside of the QS. They drum show is one that I try to catch every trip, and then there is the museum. There are also several ledges to sit on that are never crowded or busy...

2. If there was a lot more to the countries in Epcot and in your very favorite country in Epcot would you spend more of your day/time at World Showcase learning more about your favorite country just taking it all in and absorbing it all in?

Honestly, no. I think that the balance they have in the countries right now is well done; food, entertainment, shopping, interaction.

3. Would you rather just go to the country itself and do a whole learning trip taking it all in and absorbing it all?

Would I rather go to Japan itself? Yes, I hope to some day. However, I don't think the two trips can or should be compared. One is a trip to a foreign country, one is a trip to Florida to a theme park that has a specific entertainment value.

4. How would you get your family into staying longer in World ShowCase longer than you do to just learn more just taking it all in and absorbing it all and then going back to your hotel st night maybe having a family discussion about what you learned at that country that day?

I would incorporate it into their homeschool routine. Short of that, if the child/tween journals or draws, I would include that into the discussion. Also, look up a few words in whatever language is spoken in that country and interact with several of the cast members. I would also encourage photography in whatever country I was in and then review the pictures at the hotel and write a journal entry on the experience. Before going to EPCOT look up the country online and learn either current news or a bit of history.

5. How could you convince your family to stay longer in World ShowCase longer than you do normally because you love World ShowCase and want them to see and experience everything you are and just taking it all in and learning it all without hearing I'm bored....how would you change your families perception of World ShowCase of things you remember and like to do because you love/like World ShowCase?

You have to figure out what the other family members are interested in and incorporate their likes into the experience. You also can't make someone like something they flat out don't like. If the family members are older, share with them what the experience means to you before you go (and don't expect them to feel the same as you). Ask them to experience it with you. If it is a younger child, bribery (or whatever else you want to call it, reinforcement sounds more pleasant) is always a good bet. Do they want a snack? Do they want a toy? Do they like interaction with other people? Do they like to draw? Take pictures? etc... Also, going into an experience, make sure you don't over do it, and make sure they are going into it fresh, and not worn down.

If this is a real scenario, then I would make sure whatever we did next was exactly what everyone else wanted to do, perhaps the next day, and not what I wanted.

 

[Fern]

1. I don't particularly have a favorite, there are certain things we like to do in each (see the belly dancer in Morocco, acrobats in Chins, etc)

2. Probably not. I don't think you particularly learn a ton in each country, but I do like to have my kids talk to the CMs that work there. I find that they are usually excited to talk about their home country with someone who is truly interested. We like to poke around and look at the details that went into creating each land as well.

3. Obviously, Disney is not the same as travel abroad. It is a watered down, Disney version, but still fun. Pirates of the Caribbean is not exactly representative of life on the high seas either.

4. I wouldn't even attempt such a thing!

5. This really depends on the kid(s) and your family's touring style. If your family is into thrill rides and non-stop action, it's hard to see WS as anything but boring. When my kids were really young, we made a point of going to the coloring stations and getting the stick thing stamped in country (at the time, it was the masks with the dangling things from each country). One parent would do that, while the other poked around. Slightly older and we did Agent P/passport/scavenger hunts. Disney is aware that many/most kids need something to keep them interest in this area. Now that kids are 10/12 they are interested in the countries for what they are. They talk to the CMs- prepped with questions to ask (A great subject for kids is to talk about school and how its the same/different. What do they miss about home? Etc). We don't shop much as the store are kinds silly and overpriced. Notable exception is they love the store in Japan and are allowed to pick a fun candy/treat there. My daughter also goes to a French immersion school, so we spend a lot of time in France and she practices her French with the CMs. It's also fun for them to look at the details and films and recognize things from our own travels or school. We'll often see places represented and we can say, "Doesn't that look like the Chateau Laurier? We were there!" or I'll tell them that the twisty halls in Morocco are constructed to look like a real bazaar. Stuff like that. They love to point out things they learned about in school (what the totem represents, why it's different from a real one). We look for Hidden Mickeys. I also make sure we see some of the performances- there's some really great ones. When my daughter was 9ish we did the pearl at the department store in Japan- it was a really fun experience for her and worth the $17. When we got home we got an inexpensive pendant to hold it on a necklace, and it's still one her favorite souvenirs. Basically, I work at keeping it entertaining for everyone- snacks for the kids, beer for the husband We all immediately head for the Karamel place in Germany, and the caramel apple (sliced in pieces) and caramel popcorn for a snack credit are musts every trip!

 

[loves to dive]

Favorite country - hard to say, I really do find something to enjoy in all of them but maybe Great Britian.
Why - again there really isn't a favorite but GB has a little more diversity since it has England, Scotland and Ireland represented.


Would I spend more time - we go to Epcot just about every day of our trip and most of that time is spent in WS so I don't think we could spend any more time than we do.

Would I rather go to the country itself - well duh, of course I would but I can't afford it. I live within driving distance of WDW, have an AP so my expenses are the cost of the resort and food. To go to the country itself, we are talking air fare, hotel, food, some way to get around, paying to visit places. I've been lucky in that I have been able to travel some - have been to England, Scotland, Italy, Switzerland (has French, German and Italian sections) Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Palau, too many places in the Carrabean to even name, Mexico, Canada. I would love to visit them all again but alas I don't see that happening.

I never had any problem getting my son to spend time in WS, Epcot was always his favorite park from when he was a toddler to now as an adult. He loved going to the countries in WS and talking to the CMs about their countries and eating the different food. We didn't go back to the room and discuss it because well why? He has always had a healthy curiosity about other cultures and history so I've never had to encourage or discourage it. He will graduate this spring (he took time off to go to the Navy) with a degree in Anthropology and a minor in geology so the interest was always there.

If my son had not enjoyed WS, I don't think I would have tried to make him enjoy it any more than he did. Since I was a single Mom and I love going places and learning things, I took him everywhere I went. I love books and read to him from birth, which gave him a love of books and he reads as much as I do now. Since I took him everywhere, he has climbed around old forts, walked through ruins, gone into more historical houses that he can name, hiked through woods and mountains, he learned to scuba dive and has been to different countries with us diving (his specialty will be underwater archeology). Had he not been interested in all that, I still would have taken him with me since I had no choice but I would have also tried to figure out what he was interested in and done that as well. WDW is a vacation, it's supposed to be fun. If some learning happens to slip into it, well that's good but it's vacation not school.

 

[poohfriend77]

Japan and Morocco are my family’s favorites.

What is the makeup of your family (spouse? ages of kids?) That would affect my advice.

We don’t focus on the educational aspect of it. Of course we all have learned things, but if I made that the main goal, I’m guessing my kids would resist. And really, it’s a theme park. I don’t expect it to be just like visiting the actual country.

You can’t force someone else to “take it all in,” but you might be able to help them find things to enjoy, or at least keep them busy. Depending on the age of the kids, you could make a scavenger hunt:

*Visit every Kidcot station (and maybe you could wander around a bit if you’re traveling with another adult who can stay with the kids).
*Ask a CM in China to write your name in Chinese characters.
*Ask other CMs how to say hello in their language.
*Take a picture holding a “magic lamp”/in front of Eiffel Tower/of a pretty fountain/the trains in Germany/in the red phone booth/etc.
*Buy a couple pieces of candy (chocolates in Italy are inexpensive and delicious, lots of fun choices in Japan too!)
*My daughter loves horses, so on one trip, we took pics of every horse (statue, painting, toy, etc) she spotted in WS and shared them with her riding instructor. I was amazed how many she found when she was specifically looking for them.
*Lots of character meets in WS too.

I’m sure other posters would have more ideas too!