How realistic are the representations of each country in EPCOT?

T

ToyStorygirl

Active Member
Original Poster
I don't know how many nationalities post here but be interesting to see their take.

I'm British and England is done well enough be it two extremes (East End London and very quaint gardens next to each other but that's for space reasons I know)

The merch is fine - are we known for much else outside of The Beatles? I can live with that accolade :)

The pub bothers me as makes us look like drunks but the fish and chips stand makes up for it.

The red pillar box and telephone boxes are a nice touch.

What amuses me are the staff. Someone actually said to my Dad "hello bloke". Very funny and not intentional. I don't know if they were covering there as everyone else is usually British I believe but he was American. The rest are very "Queens English" which is what I'd expect (even if I do sound like a female Dick Van in comparison!)

One American lady got very excited when she heard me speak in the shop and asked me to do some Cockney rhyming slang to her. She then asked me about Simon Cowell and the Royal baby as if England is so small I must know them :D

Anyway back to the question - how authentic are the rest of them? I'm not looking to pick holes, just a bit of fun :)
 
IWantMyMagicBand

IWantMyMagicBand

Well-Known Member
I'm British too - Cambridge. I think it's olde worlde England that has been recreated, I'm not that keen on it really. But my goodness could you imagine if they updated it? Chavs dressed with their underwear on show, drinking alcopops and having a curry lol. I would like to see a Wimbledon food stand, and a sweet shop. And rain. Lots of rain. And maybe add 1D to the merch?
 
Voxel

Voxel

President of Progress City
IWantMyMagicBand said:
I'm British too - Cambridge. I think it's olde worlde England that has been recreated, I'm not that keen on it really. But my goodness could you imagine if they updated it? Chavs dressed with their underwear on show, drinking alcopops and having a curry lol. I would like to see a Wimbledon food stand, and a sweet shop. And rain. Lots of rain. And maybe add 1D to the merch?
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I can see it now! Florida high of 93 and sunny, Except for England.
 
Lucky

Lucky

Well-Known Member
I'm American but have visited most of the Epcot countries, including Morocco. I think they're all just trying to depict a very particular time and place, in a very simplified way, for each country. With the space they're given I don't think it's realistic to do much more than that. The films provide a somewhat broader view of Canada, France, China and Norway. I wish more of them had films.
 
Mousey21

Mousey21

Member
IWantMyMagicBand said:
I'm British too - Cambridge. I think it's olde worlde England that has been recreated, I'm not that keen on it really. But my goodness could you imagine if they updated it? Chavs dressed with their underwear on show, drinking alcopops and having a curry lol. I would like to see a Wimbledon food stand, and a sweet shop. And rain. Lots of rain. And maybe add 1D to the merch?
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See enough of that at home! nevermind in Florida,
I liked it, but we didn't spend that much time there, so I didn't see a lot of it.
I like the idea of having an 'old fashioned' sweet shop.
the pubs near me are nothing like the one that's there, haha, but that might just be West Yorkshire!
 
The Mighty Tim

The Mighty Tim

Well-Known Member
IWantMyMagicBand said:
I'm British too - Cambridge. I think it's olde worlde England that has been recreated, I'm not that keen on it really. But my goodness could you imagine if they updated it? Chavs dressed with their underwear on show, drinking alcopops and having a curry lol. I would like to see a Wimbledon food stand, and a sweet shop. And rain. Lots of rain. And maybe add 1D to the merch?
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Hello, fellow Cambridge person!

I used to see University of Cambridge stuff in the shops, which always amused me.
 
hellowonderland

hellowonderland

Well-Known Member
I'm Canadian... let's just move past those hideous costumes for one moment...

They do try to hit on the highlights - hockey, Roots merchandise, ice wine, the lovely scenery. But I still think it's a sad state of affairs. Not to mention the neglected area up top with the fake shopfronts that used to be Kidcot and a gift store... when I was a CM, there was constantly talk about things going in there, but the stairs were always used as an excuse not to do it.

The Canadian pavilion just isn't living up to its full potential. Whether it's representative of our country or not... hmmm, well it's a snapshot of stereotypes, so I guess it works on one level.
 
Mukta

Mukta

Well-Known Member
Lucky said:
I'm American but have visited most of the Epcot countries, including Morocco. I think they're all just trying to depict a very particular time and place, in a very simplified way, for each country. With the space they're given I don't think it's realistic to do much more than that. The films provide a somewhat broader view of Canada, France, China and Norway. I wish more of them had films.
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I agree. I have been to most of the countries featured in the WS and they are a fine summary of a particular time or landmark.
 
Lucky

Lucky

Well-Known Member
hellowonderland said:
I'm Canadian... let's just move past those hideous costumes for one moment...

They do try to hit on the highlights - hockey, Roots merchandise, ice wine, the lovely scenery. But I still think it's a sad state of affairs. Not to mention the neglected area up top with the fake shopfronts that used to be Kidcot and a gift store... when I was a CM, there was constantly talk about things going in there, but the stairs were always used as an excuse not to do it.

The Canadian pavilion just isn't living up to its full potential. Whether it's representative of our country or not... hmmm, well it's a snapshot of stereotypes, so I guess it works on one level.
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That sums them all up pretty well. Maybe Germany most of all.
 
BoarderPhreak

BoarderPhreak

Well-Known Member
The countries are all based off of 80's notions and perhaps stereotypes, so take them with a grain of salt. The architecture is generally based on actual locations, though some liberties were taken where necessary for a variety of reasons (space allocated, forced perspective, best "look" in pictures, etc.).
 
Cmdr_Crimson

Cmdr_Crimson

Well-Known Member
Texas84 said:
I'm from Texas. The new restrooms at USA are very authentic.
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T

ToyStorygirl

Active Member
Original Poster
Andys2992 said:
I'm also British and think the UK is a poor stereotypical representation. The fish n chips don't even taste like the fish and chips you would get here. Plus all the merch is football, Dr Who and The Beatles, and I don't like any of those things lol
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I don't mind the stereotype to be honest. I think it's fair. I don't like football or Dr Who either but hey ho.

I agree the fish and chips aren't as good as here but at least they've tried :)
 
T

ToyStorygirl

Active Member
Original Poster
I must add I always fall on the chocolate when I get there too. No offence to America but the chocolate doesn't cut it for me for I always end up forking out nearly $4 for a Flake or Ripple!

(Sweet Shop would be an awesome idea - love that suggestion)
 
R

Ralphlaw

Well-Known Member
I've been to about half of the countries, and my take is that they are kind of what you would expect to see as a tourist to a smaller town or a big city suburban neighborhood, only without the Americanization. Italy is an exception because they are really trying to look like the Doge's Palace in Venice, and Canada has the big Ottawa building (yet surrounded by Rocky Mountain type terrain), but the rest are sort of quaint representations of what you'd expect off the beaten path.

UK, for example, looks very much to me like a nice neighborhood in the suburbs of London, or maybe a village somewhere. I spent 6 months in Winchester in 1985, and the feel is actually similar in many ways. What's missing is the Marks & Spencer's, the tobacconists, the posters for everything slapped all over, the diesel smell, the squeals of taxi brakes, the busses, and (yeah) the weather. There's also not a "We'll make do" attitude with worn countertops, noisy radiator heating, leftover paint on the walls, and old flooring that actually give things a real personal touch. I love England, but greater authenticity would probably mean some stuff that's not very pleasant, or completely undoable. Like well dressed people going to shops with undisguised recently butchered meat in the windows, or standing politely in long lines, or kids in school uniforms.

They call Disney Studios a representation of a Hollywood "that never was but always shall be." Showcase seems to be the same sort of thing. The countries are without the bad parts, and without some of the true character. Venice without slime and mold. Morocco without loud hawkers in every store front. Japan less crowded and without earthquakes. Mexico without poverty and touristy kitsch. Norway without super long days or nights or interesting sunbathing (or is that Sweden?). France without cigarette smoke and men in way too small swim trunks. And Germany without that touch of arrogance. To make it more authentic, you almost have to bring in the unpleasant parts, and I don't think anyone really wants that on vacation, especially a 50-something French man in a tiny swim outfit smoking something smelly.
 

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