Adding to the other good answers you have received, I would say that WC is an extension of Walt Disney's fascination with (and participation in) World Fairs. That, and Walt's understanding of the power of storytelling, and many of the international setting for those stories, makes WC like a combination of
a permanent World Fair with storytelling sprinkled throughout.
The first time I visited Epcot was in 1984, just a few short weeks after our beloved World's Fair in New Orleans had closed. It amazed me even then how much WS was similar to a WF. It still does, and one of the reasons I love it so.
We haven't spent much time in the WS because the kids don't like it. Those of you who love it, do your kids love it too (or do you go without kids)? I'm trying to figure out how to get them to enjoy it because I want to go! But I can't stand the whining from the kids, it ruins it for me.
There are many things to do in WS for kids. First, there are characters to meet with, and this is the ONLY place you will meet Mulan, unless you happen to get her as a substitute in CRT or Akershus. But then, Akershus is IN WS, so there ya go. If your kids like princesses, Akershus is a TS meal in Norway, and includes 5 princesses.
There's the Kidcot stations. You start at the first and decorate a cardboard mask on a stick. In each WS pavilion, there is a station where you can do something to the mask, add to it, etc. They will stamp it in each station as well.
There are also the Agent P's missions for the kids who are a little older.
There are passports that you can buy at the shops in Epcot. You have each country stamp the passport, and the CM will write something to your child in their native language. You can also make your own passports. See my answer below.
We haven't been to WS, so I am not sure if DD will like it or not, but I found a printable passport online, that I've put together for DD in the hopes that it will help with WS, and help to make it more kid-friendly. She can get her passport stamped at each country, and it will give her a chance to talk to the CM's from each country as well. I think they sell passports at Epcot as well, I might be wrong here, maybe someone else can clarify?
They do sell the passports at Epcot, but being a DIY'er, I find them to be a bit bland and boring. (Not so for the one that I had from 1984, though. I cherish that one! LOL) There is a wonderful forum here called Creative DISigns, and there are several awesome graphics folks who have made their own passport graphics and share them with others. I have downloaded several of these, and made them into books. I have a different one ready for myself and each of my kids for our next trip!
I admit reading your posts, my mind is going a mile a minute. We homeschool, and just started a world geography unit. Oh my could we have fun with this! What better way to experience what they're learning! I love the passport idea!
If we were to walk around the WS and let's say explore maybe three or four countries, how long should we plan? Could we do it in 3 hours?
This is one of the very BEST things about Disney as far as homeschooling goes, in my opinion. We spent a whole day on the WS for this reason. There is also the Y.E.S. program that Disney does, and one of the workshops, (basically a class) is on World Geography and takes place in the WS. I think we will be working on that one really soon, now that my kids are the right age.
