The Canadian Pavillion at Epcot

[SaraMc]

I just came back from Disney World 2 weeks ago and we did spend some time in the Canadian Pavillion at Epcot. I was very sad to see that half of it was closed. Also there was a lot of things that I thought perhaps need updating. So I thought what a perfect thread. What would you change or add to the Canadian Pavillion?

for me its simple

1. The Movie needs a desperate update, it doesnt even name the proviences in the praries other than the "prarie proviences"

2. Trapper Bobs!! Why..

The store that was on the upper level was closed which was not such a big deal but there are some things that are Canadian that we could have in there that would be cool

What about selling Trisha Romance art, or Group of Seven Prints.

How about a Tim Hortons? Or a Swiss Chalet for counter service? It would be also cool on the menu's for "Sodas" to put "Pop" instead. Or perhaps a Montreal Smoked Meat counter service place?


The addition of Roots was good and made a good update. They had Coffee Crisp chocolate bars in barrels all over the store ( who knew that was a Canadian thing?)

What do you think?

Sara

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I, too, would love to see a more Canadian feel to the Canada Pavilion at EPCOT. We were there in early January and barely spent 15 minutes there -- not much reason to spend more time. We found the Canada flag Mickey antenna toppers, chatted with a young lady from Chesley, Ontario and left. Everything else looked like every other gift shop I've ever seen in Niagara-on-the-Lake -- save for the lack of Trisha Romance prints.

While I'm definitely on the "pop" bandwagon -- I've since discovered that "pop" is not an exclusively Canadian term, nor is the term "soda" unheard of in Canada. Apparently, it's all rather regional with some parts of Canada referring to the carbonated beverage family as "pop" and others as "soda." I found a map online that showed an interesting coincidence between those US regions that voted Republican and the reference to "soda", while predominantly Democrat voting areas referred to "pop". Then there are those who simply call it all "Coke" -- regardless of flavour or brand.

I'm not sure if Cara Foods would be willing to franchise to WDW, nor am I sure WDW would care to pay the franchise fee for rotisserie cooked chicken and dipping sauce recipes.

As for Tim's -- they are slowly creeping their way south along I-75. The Tim Horton's Children's Foundation Camp is in Kentucky but the closest Tim's is somewhere in Ohio, or so I've been told. They might make their way to Florida, eventually.

 

[Tink42]

My DD and I were at WDW last week. We had lunch at Le Cellier and the waitress said that they were looking into putting Tim's in but the company that owns Coke...Nestle I believe....was not happy about letting Tim's come in. Also there are no Canadian wines on the menu apparently because it is hard to export Canadian wines to US, according to our waitress.

 

[dsneygirl]

Also there are no Canadian wines on the menu apparently because it is hard to export Canadian wines to US, according to our waitress.

I don't understand why there was no Canadian wines? I was a Canada pavillon CM, worked in Le Cellier for 7 months and we always had Canadian wines. Perhaps there was a temporary supply issue.

Also Tim Horton's is owned by Wendy's and Disney has a long standing relationship with McDonald's so that probably won't be happening anytime soon.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

My DD and I were at WDW last week. We had lunch at Le Cellier and the waitress said that they were looking into putting Tim's in but the company that owns Coke...Nestle I believe....was not happy about letting Tim's come in. Also there are no Canadian wines on the menu apparently because it is hard to export Canadian wines to US, according to our waitress.

The company that own Coca-Cola is, by gosh, Coca-Cola. As Tim Horton's is a Coca-Cola customer, I doubt it is Coke keepng them out. However, Nestle is probably the official supplier of coffee to WDW and wouldn't go for competition with Tim's coffee.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is some American protectionist legislation that keeps Canadian wines out in favour of the Californian "Plonk-de-Plonk".

 

[mom_rules]

We're still lamenting the loss of our beloved beavertails stand.

 

[maryliz]

Mmmmmm ... a Swiss Chalet counter service in WDW !!! I think Cara foods needs to get talking to Disney! Think of how busy THAT counter would be! Oh, I can SMELL it as I'm typing this! I guess I'm just hungry for lunch!

I think you might be right about the Wendy's/McDonalds thing, but as long as they weren't flipping burgers, what would it really hurt? Again, think of the BUSINESS !!!

MaryLiz

 

[cdnmickeylover]

If they put a Timmy's in at the Canadian pavilion (which I think is great) Jim would have to stop there a couple of times a day to get his coffee fix!

I was disappointed that the top part of the pavilion was closed and now there's almost nothing there. The movie desparately needs to be updated.

I was actually annoyed when we were there in February as the two CMs working the cart outside were too busy talking to each other about boys to serve us and talk to us. It was really slow when we were there and actually ran into this at several places.

 

[DisFan2]

A "Swiss" Chalet in the "Canadian" Pavillion?

Work with me people!

 

[Snowwark]

My DD and I were at WDW last week. Also there are no Canadian wines on the menu apparently because it is hard to export Canadian wines to US, according to our waitress.

I have Le Cellier's wine and brew menu from last Dec. Yes, I save the menus.

It has over a dozen Canadian wines listed. Wines from Chateau Des Charmes, Cave Spring Cellars, and Peller Estates, along with several Ice Wine offerings from Inniskillin. I can't remember which I ordered, although at $99 a bottle for Niagara Peninsula '01 Ice Wine, I'm pretty sure it wasn't that one.

I'll have to check this out, in 12 days.

 

[SaraMc]

I was actually annoyed when we were there in February as the two CMs working the cart outside were too busy talking to each other about boys to serve us and talk to us. It was really slow when we were there and actually ran into this at several places.

The same girls must have been working the popcorn cart when I was there too. DH asked why the upstairs was closed and they said that Canada was falling apart. Hence why I started this thread.

 

[Tink42]

This was the lunch menu I was looking at and it had about 5 wines listed in the bottom right corner, they were all California wines. A fellow at the table beside me asked why there were so few Canadian beers listed.....he had wanted an Alexander Keiths....and the waitress replied that there are so few beer and wines because they can't get them exported from Canada. I am just repeating what she said.

 

[dsneygirl]

and the waitress replied that there are so few beer and wines because they can't get them exported from Canada. I am just repeating what she said.

This is probably a line they have been told to say because it makes no sense. They used to say BeaverTails were held up by Customs but that wasn't true either.

And when you're on the International Program, believe me boys is a big topic of conversation (see my sig line)

 

[Muziqal]

And when you're on the International Program, believe me boys is a big topic of conversation (see my sig line)

Good 'ol Maple and Jam

Oh, the days of the commons...what a frickin' soap opera...haha! But how can you not miss it?

 

[dreamerAl]

Who actually is responsible for the updating of Canadian pavillon. The movie is way too old.But who updates it. The Canadian government or Disney. It would be nice to start a movement to have this movie updated. If anyone has seen
"Over Canada" I think the Royal Bank sponsered it, it would make an excellent replacement. It was one of the best national movies I have ever seen of our country

 

[dsneygirl]

Who actually is responsible for the updating of Canadian pavillon. The movie is way too old.But who updates it. The Canadian government or Disney. It would be nice to start a movement to have this movie updated. If anyone has seen
"Over Canada" I think the Royal Bank sponsered it, it would make an excellent replacement. It was one of the best national movies I have ever seen of our country

It's Disney. The Canadian gov't has no part of this whatsoever.

France still has their original 1982 movie, but China just got an update last year. So who knows when it will be Canada's turn.

 

[nerdy_grrl_t]

Well now that Martin said no to missile defence there's no chance of that!

No, seriously, we just returned from our first trip to WDW and we were really disappointed with the Canadian pavillion. First off what the heck happened to the beaver tails stand?? It's still listed on the Epcot map - and second why the heck was everything so kitschy?? Also the movie is definitely baaaaad - DH and I thought it made us look very redneck-ish. No wonder Americans know so little about Canada... considering the number of people who pass through Epcot every year!

The Tim's is a great idea - you can't get much more Canadian than that!


Nerdy_Grrl

 

[Mortlives]

We were just at Le Cellier 2 weeks ago, and there were Canadian wines and beers on the menus. The part I thought was really funny was the description of the bread sticks, "representing 3 regions of Canada: the Yukon, the Prairies, and Kitchener-Waterloo".

Kungaloosh!
Morticia.

 

[laura001]

In one of my first trips to Disney years ago I was so excited to see the Canadian Pavillion at Epcot....boy, was I disappointed!!!! For many trips afterward I wouldn't even go into the exhibit for fear of raising my blood pressure, it does not even come close to representing "Canada or Canadian's". I wouldn't even know where to start, but changing the Film would be a great asset, making sure that each Province has the appropriate representation would be a start!!!! Seemingly, I find it quite biased and not representational. What they need is to have a cross section of Canadian's without bias make the necessary changes. It would be wonderful to have an exhibit that makes us PROUD!!

As far as Tim's.....it would be so nice to have a decent cup of coffee and even donut there! I guess we have gone from beaver tails to donuts (not sure if that is a good thing) I am in for the TIm's!

 

[highland3]

When we were at the Canadian Pavillion last week we stood and enjoyed a performance by Off Kilter. They were great... with a mix of rock and the bagpipes. It made me proud to be a Canadian... UNTILLLLLLLLLLLL

I talked to the lead singer/piper and discovered the band is actually from North Carolina (or some outer southeastern state). I have to admit I was very disappointed and somewhat disturbed. Maybe it's just me????