Let's finish up our tour of EPCOT, shall we?
The Jamaican landscape soon gives way to the serene scene of France. The buildings here are reminiscent of a beautiful French city-scape during La Belle Époque ("The Beautiful Era"). A canal passes through France, much like the Seine. Upon entering into the pavilion, guests will come across a few carts, which sell delicious home-made French crepes, as well as some other delicious treats. The stone walls that barricade the World Showcase Lagoon showcase canvasses of French artistry and artwork. In this area, artists are located to draw portraits and silhouettes of guests. France features several kiosks that often punctuate the streets of Paris. The smell of a nearby bakery seems to run through the area. From behind the buildings at the back end of the courtyard, guests can see the grand Eiffel Tower, stretching high into the sky. The Eiffel Tower utilizes the technique of forced perspective to make it appear larger than it actually is.
To the left, the first building that guests will come across is the luxurious Les Chefs de France, which features some of the finest French cuisine that you could find in Florida. The restaurant establishes itself in a beautiful setting. Located above the restaurant is the even-more-luxurious Monsieur Paul. Named after one of the original chefs of Les Chefs de France, Paul Bocuse, the restaurant offers breathtaking French food, as crafted by Chef Bocuse himself. Entertainment is abound here at France. The famed Serveur Amusant balancing act continues to delight guests, while the World Showcase Players put on their own version of the classic French romance, Cyrano de Bergerac ... or should that be Cyra-nose de Bergerac?
Continuing up through the plaza towards the top of the pavilion, guests walk along a beauitful fountain, before arriving at the Arcade, a mall of different shops, including the Plume Et Palette, La Signature and L'Esprit de Provence. All of these shops offer wonderful French items that could only be found from within the country. At Plume Et Palette and La Signature, guests can be able to sample and purchase a display of numerous perfumes and colognes from the country. L'Esprit de Provence offers displays of dinnerware and kitchen accessories. On the opposite side of the string of shops is a small maze and a rose garden, a gazebo within being where the likes of Belle, Aurora and Cinderella -- all of whom have their tales rooted in French origins -- meet guests. If you wish to meet more Disney friends while in France, characters from The Hunchback of Notre Dame often meet along the riverbanks near the bridge leading towards the last half of World Showcase. Leading off from the plaza, there is a staircase descending down into a tiered landing--an ideal place to watch IllumiNations.
Back in the main courtyard of the pavilion, to the left, a small alleyway leads to the farthest back point of the pavilion. However, directly ahead, guests will find the Palais du Cinema, the home of two unique films. First is Impressions de France, an eighteen-minute film in which the guests can witness the beauty, landscape, foods and cultures of France. The film features beautiful estates, vineyards in harvest time, beautiful harbors, the French Alps and a view of the Eiffel Tower. The entire experience is enhanced by a wonderfully composed score of French classical music, as well as a 200 degree screen that wipes across the entire front and sides of the theater.
The Palais du Cinema is also home to the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along. Inspired by the 1991 animated classic, this thirteen-minute film offers a twice-told take on the tale as old as time (Don'cha just love alliteration?), as we follow Gaston's lackey, LeFou, through the story of how Belle and Beast fell in love. Apparently, he played a huge part in getting the two together! Along the way, we'll be able to sing-along to some of the film's iconic songs: "Belle", "Be Our Guest", "Something There", and of course, "Beauty and the Beast".
The theater exits out into the Souvenirs de France store, which features everything from Eiffel Tower statues and shirts to CDs and gifts themed to the artwork of several French artists. Just outside of the shop, to the right, guests will find the Boulangerie Patisserie, a wonderful bakery in the pavilion, located amongst the other themed buildings in the Paris city. The bakery features delectable treats, some of them include turnovers, parfaits, sandwiches and pot pies, amongst other things. There is a quaint small sitting area just outside of the bakery. Just across from the bakery is Les Vins de France, a wonderful wine shop, where guests can hold their own wine tasting. The alleyway proceeds to lead further down, back into the main plaza of France.
A pathway leads past the garden and towards a newly-discovered corner of France. It is here in this courtyard that we can see the sights, sounds and smells of Paris from a different point of view. Remy's Ratouille Adventure is a trackless LPS dark ride based upon the 2007 Pixar film. It's a wild adventure through the kitchens of Paris alongside Remy as he hunts for the perfect ingredients… and startles a few patrons along the way. The breathtaking dark ride -- based on the attraction at Walt Disney Studios in Paris -- is a new classic through-and-through, and a perfect ride for the whole family. Of course, once you’re through cooking with Remy, you might as well share the spoils! La Creperie de Paris, located just a few doors down, offers many varieties of the famous French pancake. Much like with the other major restaurants of the France pavilion, it is managed by Jerome Bocuse, son of the late great Paul. Remy and Emile themselves can be found in this new corner of France, eager to meet all culinary fans.
Continuing on from the France pavilion, guests cross a bridge, leading over World Showcase Lagoon and proceeding out of the France pavilion. Here, guests enter the International Gateway. While the International Gateway is not an actual "land" in the park, it still does serve some vital purpose. This serves as a "second entrance"--or a "back door", if you will--for EPCOT. The International Gateway is connected to the nearby EPCOT area resorts: the Boardwalk Inn, the Swan & Dolphin Resorts and the Yacht & Beach Club Resorts. This also serves as the entrance/exit point if you're coming to/from Disney's Hollywood Studios. FriendShip boat service is available for these locations, and this is also the place where the new Walt Disney World Skyliner drops you off. The Skyliner services Disney's Hollywood Studios, the Caribbean Beach Resort, the Riviera Resort, the Art of Animation Resort and the Pop Century Resort. Just like at the main entrance to EPCOT, admission tickets can be purchased at International Gateway from one of the two ticket booths. Lines are rarely long here.
Near the ticket booths are large, seldom crowded restrooms. Just beyond the ticket booths are bag check and then the turnstiles leading into World Showcase. The turnstile hours of operation at International Gateway are the same as those located at the main entrance. Once inside the park, strollers, wheelchairs, and a limited number of ECV's are available for rent. Guide maps and Times Guides are also found in this area. In addition, a small number of lockers can be rented here. To the left, guests will come across the World Traveler store, which feature EPCOT and World Showcase merchandise. Plus, for all you character-hunters out there, the International Gateway is a perfect place to see some rare Disney friends. Much like what occurs in Showcase Plaza, various Disney characters come out at certain times of the day for photos and autographs.
Moving on, guests will arrive at the entrance to the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom takes guests to the beautiful city-scape of a London square and then to the edge of a canal on a rural countryside, all within the realm of a contained bustling city street. The streets are framed by London buildings, which perfectly capture the elegance and charm of England. The buildings receive their architectural styles from English Tudor, Georgian and English Victorian style characteristics. As soon as you enter the pavilion, a thatched roof cottage will be just on the left, amidst the other English buildings in the area. Inside of the cottage which was inspired by the home of Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare's wife, guests will find The Tea Caddy. The cottage features a fireplace, amongst the beams. The shop stocks a wide variety of English teas, teapots, china and biscuits. Characters like Alice, Winnie the Pooh, Robin Hood and Peter Pan often meet guests in the gardens nearby. Just next to the Tea Caddy is The Queen's Table, which offers a wonderful display of perfumes, soaps and other fragrances.
The pathway then empties out into the Rose and Crown Pub, which is a fantastic restaurant that serves wonderful England-inspired dishes. The restaurant also operates at a basic pub, which serves some great alcoholic drinks. To the side of the restaurant, the Yorkshire Country Fish Shop quick-service location serves a limited list of items from the Rose and Crown. Just before the restaurant, guests will find a pair of faux telephone booths, identical to those that could be found around the United Kingdom. The main plaza is home to a series of great entertainment--the aforementioned World Showcase Players bring a twisted tale of Camelot to life in King Arthur and the Holy Grail and the musicians at the Rose & Crown always make "happy hour" even happier. Connecting back into the main plaza of the English town, guests will then come across The Crown and Crest. The exterior of the shop is beautiful, almost like something out of the days of King Arthur. The store is adorned with bright banners, a fireplace and gallant crossed swords, depicting a fanciful scene in the store. Here, guests can purchase mugs, limited chess sets, stamp sets and even their family coat of arms. Through a small passage, guests will come across the Sportsman Shoppe. This store features clothing wear and accessories that are centered around British local events, from Wimbledon tennis attire, to golfing accessories and Rugby shirts. At the back end of the pavilion, guests will find one last store, the Toy Soldier, which features a nice selection of British toys, as rather as an extensive gift selection from Winnie the Pooh and the gang from the Hundred Acre Wood.
Mary Poppins got its start as a series of children’s books written by English author P.L. Travers; and Walt Disney turned those stories into a movie in 1964. The movie to this day continues to be one of the most beloved of all Disney movies and features an assortment of memorable songs written by the venerable Sherman Brothers. Its combination of music, fantasy, and beautiful scenery make it the perfect candidate for a dark-ride style attraction, something that the United Kingdom pavilion desperately needs. And at the D23 Expo held last August, they announced that for the first time ever in Disney Parks history, the whimsical setting of Cherry Tree Lane will be brought to vivid life! At the rear of the pavilion, we'll be able to step foot onto Cherry Tree Lane and enter into the Banks' house at Number 17. Although we can take a look around, it is only the first stop on a journey unlike any other. No further news has been announced for what adventures will ensue, but when word finally comes out regarding what will happen here, I shall edit this post and tell you all about it.
However, regarding what I'd personally like to see, I think it boils down to character experiences. Borrowing a concept from @kap91's Jolly Holiday concept, I think this would be an excellent opportunity to add in Streetmosphere versions of the various characters from Mary Poppins and Mary Poppins Returns. Imagine meeting Constable Jones, or having "an ounce of conversation" with Mrs. Corry. You could even see Admiral Boom and Mr. Binnacle out and about, and of course, they'd fire that cannon twice daily--at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. By day, you could see Bert perform as a one-man band; and by night, you could see Jack lighting the lamps. I'm sure he'd love to hear a weep 'n' wail (to the rest of you, that means "tale") about your time at EPCOT. Of course, one could also meet Mary Poppins herself along Cherry Tree Lane, as well.
Now, heading over towards Canada, you'll notice the area formerly occupied by the Millennium Village has been razed for the sixteenth country -- and sixth and final new addition to World Showcase. We have arrived in the sand-swept ruins of the great deserts of Egypt. This new pavilion will be centered by a grand pyramid, which dominates over the rest of the pavilion. Sand floors are sketched into the pavement of the pavilion. A wooden bridge is suspended over the land, as a part of the World Showcase Lagoon runs throughout the Egyptian sands, simulating a serene Nile River, as tall strings of grass appear from the waterbeds of the river. In the center of the pavilion, guests will find the Egyptian Marketplace, which is a bustling metropolis of activity. The Marketplace features several stores and the Cairo Cafe quick-service restaurant, which offers a splendid selection of Egyptian-style foods. Egyptian cuisine is know for its kebabs, meat and vegetables that are grilled on skewers. The concept for this restaurant would be that diners walk through an area designed to look like a market and select different types of meat, vegetables, spices, and sauces they want on their kebabs. Diners then take their ingredients to a large open fire pit where a chef will place the ingredients they have chosen onto a skewer and they can watch as the kebabs are prepared over the open fire.
There's also the Market Bakery, featuring a large selection of breads, which form the backbone of Egyptian cuisine, as well as numerous Egyptian pastries. The bakery would offer a variety of different sandwiches and guests would have the opportunity to select which type of bread on which they would like to have their sandwich. Within the Marketplace, the Cairo Jewelers store is located, featuring a great supply of wonderful jewelry and fragrance items. Attached to Cairo Jewelers is the Ancient Artifacts store, which sells all different sorts of material and merchandise from Egypt, including clothing, wooden sculptures, ancient tablets and incenses.
From here, the guests are then led along a sand road, adorned with ancient columns, destroyed after years and years of decay. The stone columns line the way to an exact replica of the Great Sphinx; and the grand and recognizable shape of the Great Pyramid of Giza; where Secrets of the Pyramid is located. This is an EMV attraction that takes guests through the Pyramid of Giza to gather the knowledge of the facts and myths of the worlds of Egypt and more-so, what lies beneath the the deepest chambers of this sacred pyramid. While the promise of a pyramid-based E-ticket seems like the chance for horror to pop up, this is not a scary attraction. There are no zombies or demons chasing after the guests, much opposed to Universal's Revenge of the Mummy attraction. Instead, this adventure offers guests a once in a life-time journey to explore the secrets of a pyramid, lost to the world for hundreds of years. It's more like an Egyptian-based Indiana Jones. Although there are no zombies, our exit from the pyramid does set off a booby trap or two, so we must escape quickly! The inside of the pyramid also features King Tut's, a sit-down restaurant inside one of the lavish treasure chambers of the pyramid.
www.youtube.com
All right, folks, this is it. We have reached the final country in all of World Showcase, which connects back to the entry point to Future World. Welcome to Canada. This pavilion celebrates the United States' neighbor to the north. The country features a rocky landscape, leading past a set of totem poles. Arriving just beyond, at the top of a wooden staircase leading to the upper section of the pavilion, guests will be able to find Northwest Mercantile and La Boutique des Provinces. Northwest Mercantile features Canadian apparel, as well as plush toys, lanterns, maple syrup and other Canadian-themed collectibles. La Boutique des Provinces is located inside of Hotel du Canada, a large recreation of the Canadian hotel, and features items crafted by Canadian artists. Down the steps and leading to the right, guests will find a small pathway, wrapping down a lovely garden area, right beside a babbling brook and a cascading waterfall. Here, guests are then brought to Le Cellier Steakhouse, one of the finest steakhouses in Florida. The restaurant features great entrees, a relaxing atmosphere and a great selection of desserts. However, because this restaurant is one of the most popular in all of the resort, landing a specific reservation here can be somewhat tedious. As such, upon the grounds currently held by the Mill Stage, I'd build Le Café du Matin Soleil, a counter-service restaurant that would serve a couple of Le Cellier's most popular dishes--including the cheddar cheese soup--as well things like Newfoundland cold plates and various Canadian pastries. I would also re-open the Beaver Tail stand, bringing back a classic EPCOT snack.
www.youtube.com
Just north of Le Cellier Steakhouse, guests will walk along the rushing waterfalls of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The mountainous range stretch a vast way, leading guests to the farthest point of the pavilion, where they are then brought to Canada Far and Wide, an eighteen-minute seamless Circle-Vision presentation. Despite the new form of film, the basic plot remains the same as that of the old O'Canada!: a journey through the splendor that is Canada, from prairies and plains, shorelines and rivers and untouched snowfields. The film takes guests along a journey through many of Canada's cities, such as Montreal and Quebec, before ending the presentation with a trip by Niagara Falls and a song simply called "Canada (You're a Lifetime Journey)." As it stands now, when looking at the Canada pavilion from across the water, the view of the pavilion is dominated by the show building for Soarin' in the background. I'd build additional rockwork and trees to hide this intrusion. From here, the pathway connects back to the center point of World Showcase.
Well, that concludes our tour of World Showcase. We've added an attraction (or two) to the pavilions, and added six new ones to the roster. World Showcase is now home of 17 countries, filling in all the expansion pads. All of these changes that I have envisioned for World Showcase would help make this area of the park more than just a place for shopping and dining. Guests would now have an assortment of attractions to choose from, attractions that would range from mild to thrilling and offer something for everyone in the family. All the while, each of these attractions would still serve to present a view of the country it represents. Overall, my plan for World Showcase would help solidify its purpose of educating and informing guests about the various countries’ cultures, histories, traditions, and people.
When the afternoon comes, the streets of World Showcase come alive with the return of Tapestry of Nations. Tapestry of Nations, created for the Millennium Celebration, is a celebration of the human spirit in the form of a processional. It is a story of unity told and led by the Sage of Time, a wise grandfatherly figure. He reminds us that years ago, humans lived in peace and harmony with one another and with the Earth. But as time passed, humans strove to rule the Earth and to rule over each other. Today, while there are still disputes and power struggles, humans are realizing that life is not about what country you can conquer and which people you can persecute. We are realizing that it is acceptable to be different. We are learning from each other improving our lives and our societies. Each one of us is a single thread. As we realize we are all a part of one human family, we join together to celebrate our differences, our similarities, and our accomplishments hand in hand. Our threads weave themselves together forming a tapestry of one human family. We are many nations and we are many people, but within each one of us we all have the same threads of joy, kindness, compassion, and love which weave together to form our human spirit. Each of us and our ethnic, cultural differences are represented by the different groups of puppets. Within each group, each puppet is different. Tapestry of Nations shows us how we can embrace each other and celebrate life together as the puppets dance together along with us, the human audience, which is invited to interact with the puppets to the heartbeat of drums. The procession will be pretty much unchanged. The parade will make two runs throughout the day: one in the afternoon, and one in the evening, just before the nighttime spectacular.
When night falls, gather around the World Showcase Lagoon to take in the spectacle of HarmonioUS, a show which celebrates how Disney music inspires people around the world. I will admit, as soon as I heard this concept, my mind was reminded of Disney's International Songbook, a show that used to play at the America Gardens Theater. In that show, which you can see in the link, Mickey and the gang would visit characters from the various World Showcase pavilions, who would sing songs from their film in their country's respective language. For example, Belle sang in French, Pinocchio sang in Italian and Snow White sang in German. The only major English-speaking act -- apart from the wrap-around segments with Mickey and the gang -- was Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, who, of course, were based in England. I have no doubt that this show will follow a similar concept. From the concept art, I can imagine we'll hear songs from Coco being sung in Spanish, Hercules singing in Greek and Moana singing either in Hawaiian or in Tokelauan (the language primarily used in "We Know the Way"). In addition, the show features massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics and lasers.
And to perfectly book-end our time in EPCOT, I'd like to play for you the full version of what I believe should serve as the park's theme song:
www.youtube.com
~ ~ ~
And there we have my new take on EPCOT! It took me about five months to get through it all, but we've made it through! What did you guys think of this new EPCOT? Please let me know what you think; any and all feedback is very much appreciated!
Now, as the year comes to a close, I think I'd like to end 2019 on a high note for this thread. As we look back on the events of the past year--and of the past decade--I want to look back on my own nostalgia for my earliest days at Disney. I want to discuss an aspect that I'd like to bring back to the WDW experience. I hope you guys are ready, because come tomorrow, it's gonna be a "zip-a-dee-doo-dah day"! See ya then!
~ ~ ~
The Jamaican landscape soon gives way to the serene scene of France. The buildings here are reminiscent of a beautiful French city-scape during La Belle Époque ("The Beautiful Era"). A canal passes through France, much like the Seine. Upon entering into the pavilion, guests will come across a few carts, which sell delicious home-made French crepes, as well as some other delicious treats. The stone walls that barricade the World Showcase Lagoon showcase canvasses of French artistry and artwork. In this area, artists are located to draw portraits and silhouettes of guests. France features several kiosks that often punctuate the streets of Paris. The smell of a nearby bakery seems to run through the area. From behind the buildings at the back end of the courtyard, guests can see the grand Eiffel Tower, stretching high into the sky. The Eiffel Tower utilizes the technique of forced perspective to make it appear larger than it actually is.
To the left, the first building that guests will come across is the luxurious Les Chefs de France, which features some of the finest French cuisine that you could find in Florida. The restaurant establishes itself in a beautiful setting. Located above the restaurant is the even-more-luxurious Monsieur Paul. Named after one of the original chefs of Les Chefs de France, Paul Bocuse, the restaurant offers breathtaking French food, as crafted by Chef Bocuse himself. Entertainment is abound here at France. The famed Serveur Amusant balancing act continues to delight guests, while the World Showcase Players put on their own version of the classic French romance, Cyrano de Bergerac ... or should that be Cyra-nose de Bergerac?
Continuing up through the plaza towards the top of the pavilion, guests walk along a beauitful fountain, before arriving at the Arcade, a mall of different shops, including the Plume Et Palette, La Signature and L'Esprit de Provence. All of these shops offer wonderful French items that could only be found from within the country. At Plume Et Palette and La Signature, guests can be able to sample and purchase a display of numerous perfumes and colognes from the country. L'Esprit de Provence offers displays of dinnerware and kitchen accessories. On the opposite side of the string of shops is a small maze and a rose garden, a gazebo within being where the likes of Belle, Aurora and Cinderella -- all of whom have their tales rooted in French origins -- meet guests. If you wish to meet more Disney friends while in France, characters from The Hunchback of Notre Dame often meet along the riverbanks near the bridge leading towards the last half of World Showcase. Leading off from the plaza, there is a staircase descending down into a tiered landing--an ideal place to watch IllumiNations.
Back in the main courtyard of the pavilion, to the left, a small alleyway leads to the farthest back point of the pavilion. However, directly ahead, guests will find the Palais du Cinema, the home of two unique films. First is Impressions de France, an eighteen-minute film in which the guests can witness the beauty, landscape, foods and cultures of France. The film features beautiful estates, vineyards in harvest time, beautiful harbors, the French Alps and a view of the Eiffel Tower. The entire experience is enhanced by a wonderfully composed score of French classical music, as well as a 200 degree screen that wipes across the entire front and sides of the theater.
The Palais du Cinema is also home to the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along. Inspired by the 1991 animated classic, this thirteen-minute film offers a twice-told take on the tale as old as time (Don'cha just love alliteration?), as we follow Gaston's lackey, LeFou, through the story of how Belle and Beast fell in love. Apparently, he played a huge part in getting the two together! Along the way, we'll be able to sing-along to some of the film's iconic songs: "Belle", "Be Our Guest", "Something There", and of course, "Beauty and the Beast".
The theater exits out into the Souvenirs de France store, which features everything from Eiffel Tower statues and shirts to CDs and gifts themed to the artwork of several French artists. Just outside of the shop, to the right, guests will find the Boulangerie Patisserie, a wonderful bakery in the pavilion, located amongst the other themed buildings in the Paris city. The bakery features delectable treats, some of them include turnovers, parfaits, sandwiches and pot pies, amongst other things. There is a quaint small sitting area just outside of the bakery. Just across from the bakery is Les Vins de France, a wonderful wine shop, where guests can hold their own wine tasting. The alleyway proceeds to lead further down, back into the main plaza of France.
A pathway leads past the garden and towards a newly-discovered corner of France. It is here in this courtyard that we can see the sights, sounds and smells of Paris from a different point of view. Remy's Ratouille Adventure is a trackless LPS dark ride based upon the 2007 Pixar film. It's a wild adventure through the kitchens of Paris alongside Remy as he hunts for the perfect ingredients… and startles a few patrons along the way. The breathtaking dark ride -- based on the attraction at Walt Disney Studios in Paris -- is a new classic through-and-through, and a perfect ride for the whole family. Of course, once you’re through cooking with Remy, you might as well share the spoils! La Creperie de Paris, located just a few doors down, offers many varieties of the famous French pancake. Much like with the other major restaurants of the France pavilion, it is managed by Jerome Bocuse, son of the late great Paul. Remy and Emile themselves can be found in this new corner of France, eager to meet all culinary fans.
Continuing on from the France pavilion, guests cross a bridge, leading over World Showcase Lagoon and proceeding out of the France pavilion. Here, guests enter the International Gateway. While the International Gateway is not an actual "land" in the park, it still does serve some vital purpose. This serves as a "second entrance"--or a "back door", if you will--for EPCOT. The International Gateway is connected to the nearby EPCOT area resorts: the Boardwalk Inn, the Swan & Dolphin Resorts and the Yacht & Beach Club Resorts. This also serves as the entrance/exit point if you're coming to/from Disney's Hollywood Studios. FriendShip boat service is available for these locations, and this is also the place where the new Walt Disney World Skyliner drops you off. The Skyliner services Disney's Hollywood Studios, the Caribbean Beach Resort, the Riviera Resort, the Art of Animation Resort and the Pop Century Resort. Just like at the main entrance to EPCOT, admission tickets can be purchased at International Gateway from one of the two ticket booths. Lines are rarely long here.
Near the ticket booths are large, seldom crowded restrooms. Just beyond the ticket booths are bag check and then the turnstiles leading into World Showcase. The turnstile hours of operation at International Gateway are the same as those located at the main entrance. Once inside the park, strollers, wheelchairs, and a limited number of ECV's are available for rent. Guide maps and Times Guides are also found in this area. In addition, a small number of lockers can be rented here. To the left, guests will come across the World Traveler store, which feature EPCOT and World Showcase merchandise. Plus, for all you character-hunters out there, the International Gateway is a perfect place to see some rare Disney friends. Much like what occurs in Showcase Plaza, various Disney characters come out at certain times of the day for photos and autographs.
Moving on, guests will arrive at the entrance to the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom takes guests to the beautiful city-scape of a London square and then to the edge of a canal on a rural countryside, all within the realm of a contained bustling city street. The streets are framed by London buildings, which perfectly capture the elegance and charm of England. The buildings receive their architectural styles from English Tudor, Georgian and English Victorian style characteristics. As soon as you enter the pavilion, a thatched roof cottage will be just on the left, amidst the other English buildings in the area. Inside of the cottage which was inspired by the home of Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare's wife, guests will find The Tea Caddy. The cottage features a fireplace, amongst the beams. The shop stocks a wide variety of English teas, teapots, china and biscuits. Characters like Alice, Winnie the Pooh, Robin Hood and Peter Pan often meet guests in the gardens nearby. Just next to the Tea Caddy is The Queen's Table, which offers a wonderful display of perfumes, soaps and other fragrances.
The pathway then empties out into the Rose and Crown Pub, which is a fantastic restaurant that serves wonderful England-inspired dishes. The restaurant also operates at a basic pub, which serves some great alcoholic drinks. To the side of the restaurant, the Yorkshire Country Fish Shop quick-service location serves a limited list of items from the Rose and Crown. Just before the restaurant, guests will find a pair of faux telephone booths, identical to those that could be found around the United Kingdom. The main plaza is home to a series of great entertainment--the aforementioned World Showcase Players bring a twisted tale of Camelot to life in King Arthur and the Holy Grail and the musicians at the Rose & Crown always make "happy hour" even happier. Connecting back into the main plaza of the English town, guests will then come across The Crown and Crest. The exterior of the shop is beautiful, almost like something out of the days of King Arthur. The store is adorned with bright banners, a fireplace and gallant crossed swords, depicting a fanciful scene in the store. Here, guests can purchase mugs, limited chess sets, stamp sets and even their family coat of arms. Through a small passage, guests will come across the Sportsman Shoppe. This store features clothing wear and accessories that are centered around British local events, from Wimbledon tennis attire, to golfing accessories and Rugby shirts. At the back end of the pavilion, guests will find one last store, the Toy Soldier, which features a nice selection of British toys, as rather as an extensive gift selection from Winnie the Pooh and the gang from the Hundred Acre Wood.
Mary Poppins got its start as a series of children’s books written by English author P.L. Travers; and Walt Disney turned those stories into a movie in 1964. The movie to this day continues to be one of the most beloved of all Disney movies and features an assortment of memorable songs written by the venerable Sherman Brothers. Its combination of music, fantasy, and beautiful scenery make it the perfect candidate for a dark-ride style attraction, something that the United Kingdom pavilion desperately needs. And at the D23 Expo held last August, they announced that for the first time ever in Disney Parks history, the whimsical setting of Cherry Tree Lane will be brought to vivid life! At the rear of the pavilion, we'll be able to step foot onto Cherry Tree Lane and enter into the Banks' house at Number 17. Although we can take a look around, it is only the first stop on a journey unlike any other. No further news has been announced for what adventures will ensue, but when word finally comes out regarding what will happen here, I shall edit this post and tell you all about it.
However, regarding what I'd personally like to see, I think it boils down to character experiences. Borrowing a concept from @kap91's Jolly Holiday concept, I think this would be an excellent opportunity to add in Streetmosphere versions of the various characters from Mary Poppins and Mary Poppins Returns. Imagine meeting Constable Jones, or having "an ounce of conversation" with Mrs. Corry. You could even see Admiral Boom and Mr. Binnacle out and about, and of course, they'd fire that cannon twice daily--at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. By day, you could see Bert perform as a one-man band; and by night, you could see Jack lighting the lamps. I'm sure he'd love to hear a weep 'n' wail (to the rest of you, that means "tale") about your time at EPCOT. Of course, one could also meet Mary Poppins herself along Cherry Tree Lane, as well.
Now, heading over towards Canada, you'll notice the area formerly occupied by the Millennium Village has been razed for the sixteenth country -- and sixth and final new addition to World Showcase. We have arrived in the sand-swept ruins of the great deserts of Egypt. This new pavilion will be centered by a grand pyramid, which dominates over the rest of the pavilion. Sand floors are sketched into the pavement of the pavilion. A wooden bridge is suspended over the land, as a part of the World Showcase Lagoon runs throughout the Egyptian sands, simulating a serene Nile River, as tall strings of grass appear from the waterbeds of the river. In the center of the pavilion, guests will find the Egyptian Marketplace, which is a bustling metropolis of activity. The Marketplace features several stores and the Cairo Cafe quick-service restaurant, which offers a splendid selection of Egyptian-style foods. Egyptian cuisine is know for its kebabs, meat and vegetables that are grilled on skewers. The concept for this restaurant would be that diners walk through an area designed to look like a market and select different types of meat, vegetables, spices, and sauces they want on their kebabs. Diners then take their ingredients to a large open fire pit where a chef will place the ingredients they have chosen onto a skewer and they can watch as the kebabs are prepared over the open fire.
There's also the Market Bakery, featuring a large selection of breads, which form the backbone of Egyptian cuisine, as well as numerous Egyptian pastries. The bakery would offer a variety of different sandwiches and guests would have the opportunity to select which type of bread on which they would like to have their sandwich. Within the Marketplace, the Cairo Jewelers store is located, featuring a great supply of wonderful jewelry and fragrance items. Attached to Cairo Jewelers is the Ancient Artifacts store, which sells all different sorts of material and merchandise from Egypt, including clothing, wooden sculptures, ancient tablets and incenses.
From here, the guests are then led along a sand road, adorned with ancient columns, destroyed after years and years of decay. The stone columns line the way to an exact replica of the Great Sphinx; and the grand and recognizable shape of the Great Pyramid of Giza; where Secrets of the Pyramid is located. This is an EMV attraction that takes guests through the Pyramid of Giza to gather the knowledge of the facts and myths of the worlds of Egypt and more-so, what lies beneath the the deepest chambers of this sacred pyramid. While the promise of a pyramid-based E-ticket seems like the chance for horror to pop up, this is not a scary attraction. There are no zombies or demons chasing after the guests, much opposed to Universal's Revenge of the Mummy attraction. Instead, this adventure offers guests a once in a life-time journey to explore the secrets of a pyramid, lost to the world for hundreds of years. It's more like an Egyptian-based Indiana Jones. Although there are no zombies, our exit from the pyramid does set off a booby trap or two, so we must escape quickly! The inside of the pyramid also features King Tut's, a sit-down restaurant inside one of the lavish treasure chambers of the pyramid.
EPCOT - Canada Pavilion Area Music
Le Cellier Steakhouse Interior Area Music [1982 - circa. 1998] / La Boutique des Provinces [1982 - circa. 2001] 01. Until It's Time for You to Go 02. Ah! Si ...
www.youtube.com
All right, folks, this is it. We have reached the final country in all of World Showcase, which connects back to the entry point to Future World. Welcome to Canada. This pavilion celebrates the United States' neighbor to the north. The country features a rocky landscape, leading past a set of totem poles. Arriving just beyond, at the top of a wooden staircase leading to the upper section of the pavilion, guests will be able to find Northwest Mercantile and La Boutique des Provinces. Northwest Mercantile features Canadian apparel, as well as plush toys, lanterns, maple syrup and other Canadian-themed collectibles. La Boutique des Provinces is located inside of Hotel du Canada, a large recreation of the Canadian hotel, and features items crafted by Canadian artists. Down the steps and leading to the right, guests will find a small pathway, wrapping down a lovely garden area, right beside a babbling brook and a cascading waterfall. Here, guests are then brought to Le Cellier Steakhouse, one of the finest steakhouses in Florida. The restaurant features great entrees, a relaxing atmosphere and a great selection of desserts. However, because this restaurant is one of the most popular in all of the resort, landing a specific reservation here can be somewhat tedious. As such, upon the grounds currently held by the Mill Stage, I'd build Le Café du Matin Soleil, a counter-service restaurant that would serve a couple of Le Cellier's most popular dishes--including the cheddar cheese soup--as well things like Newfoundland cold plates and various Canadian pastries. I would also re-open the Beaver Tail stand, bringing back a classic EPCOT snack.
Canada (Original EPCOT song)
The original song from the Canada pavilion in EPCOT - Canada (You're a Lifetime Jouney)
www.youtube.com
Well, that concludes our tour of World Showcase. We've added an attraction (or two) to the pavilions, and added six new ones to the roster. World Showcase is now home of 17 countries, filling in all the expansion pads. All of these changes that I have envisioned for World Showcase would help make this area of the park more than just a place for shopping and dining. Guests would now have an assortment of attractions to choose from, attractions that would range from mild to thrilling and offer something for everyone in the family. All the while, each of these attractions would still serve to present a view of the country it represents. Overall, my plan for World Showcase would help solidify its purpose of educating and informing guests about the various countries’ cultures, histories, traditions, and people.
~ ~ ~
When the afternoon comes, the streets of World Showcase come alive with the return of Tapestry of Nations. Tapestry of Nations, created for the Millennium Celebration, is a celebration of the human spirit in the form of a processional. It is a story of unity told and led by the Sage of Time, a wise grandfatherly figure. He reminds us that years ago, humans lived in peace and harmony with one another and with the Earth. But as time passed, humans strove to rule the Earth and to rule over each other. Today, while there are still disputes and power struggles, humans are realizing that life is not about what country you can conquer and which people you can persecute. We are realizing that it is acceptable to be different. We are learning from each other improving our lives and our societies. Each one of us is a single thread. As we realize we are all a part of one human family, we join together to celebrate our differences, our similarities, and our accomplishments hand in hand. Our threads weave themselves together forming a tapestry of one human family. We are many nations and we are many people, but within each one of us we all have the same threads of joy, kindness, compassion, and love which weave together to form our human spirit. Each of us and our ethnic, cultural differences are represented by the different groups of puppets. Within each group, each puppet is different. Tapestry of Nations shows us how we can embrace each other and celebrate life together as the puppets dance together along with us, the human audience, which is invited to interact with the puppets to the heartbeat of drums. The procession will be pretty much unchanged. The parade will make two runs throughout the day: one in the afternoon, and one in the evening, just before the nighttime spectacular.
When night falls, gather around the World Showcase Lagoon to take in the spectacle of HarmonioUS, a show which celebrates how Disney music inspires people around the world. I will admit, as soon as I heard this concept, my mind was reminded of Disney's International Songbook, a show that used to play at the America Gardens Theater. In that show, which you can see in the link, Mickey and the gang would visit characters from the various World Showcase pavilions, who would sing songs from their film in their country's respective language. For example, Belle sang in French, Pinocchio sang in Italian and Snow White sang in German. The only major English-speaking act -- apart from the wrap-around segments with Mickey and the gang -- was Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, who, of course, were based in England. I have no doubt that this show will follow a similar concept. From the concept art, I can imagine we'll hear songs from Coco being sung in Spanish, Hercules singing in Greek and Moana singing either in Hawaiian or in Tokelauan (the language primarily used in "We Know the Way"). In addition, the show features massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics and lasers.
~ ~ ~
And that just about does it for my ideas for EPCOT. With a new entrance and central plaza, a complete renovation to the Journey Into Imagination pavilion, the returns of Horizons and The Living Seas, an all-new pavilion to complete the World Nature triptych, six new pavilions for World Showcase, and several other additions made to almost all of the other pavilions, I believe that these changes will help EPCOT become a much stronger park and has established itself as the way it was originally intended to be: a real-world experience where guests could learn about the beauty of our world, the amazing discoveries that are being made every day, the wonders of nature, and to unlock imagination. While the park had originally suffered for being an "educational" park, yes, education is intertwined with this park, but now, additions like Soarin', Test Track, Mission: SPACE, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, StormRider, Horizons, Journey Into Imagination, Mythica, Mt. Fuji, Sindbad's Storybook Voyage and Legend of Valhalla, among so many other things in the park, help repel against the idea of the park just being educational. This is the perfect mix of educational and entertainment without having to commercialize the park into being too "dumbed down" or "cartoonish". I believe that this park is strong now and has so much more to offer, but still reflects on all of the eras of EPCOT that we have come to know and love.
And to perfectly book-end our time in EPCOT, I'd like to play for you the full version of what I believe should serve as the park's theme song:
Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand - Millennium Celebration
No Copyright Infringement intended for educational purposes only
www.youtube.com
~ ~ ~
And there we have my new take on EPCOT! It took me about five months to get through it all, but we've made it through! What did you guys think of this new EPCOT? Please let me know what you think; any and all feedback is very much appreciated!
Now, as the year comes to a close, I think I'd like to end 2019 on a high note for this thread. As we look back on the events of the past year--and of the past decade--I want to look back on my own nostalgia for my earliest days at Disney. I want to discuss an aspect that I'd like to bring back to the WDW experience. I hope you guys are ready, because come tomorrow, it's gonna be a "zip-a-dee-doo-dah day"! See ya then!
