Here Are My Favorite World Showcase Pavilions

Every Disney theme park in the world comes with staggering amenities.

EPCOT has a secret weapon that none of the rest can match, though.

Walt Disney himself coveted a daily World’s Fair site and dreamt of such a place anchoring his Florida Project.

After Disney’s death, his disciples spent the next 15 years bringing that fantasy into reality.

When they did, the World Showcase demonstrated that Walt Disney always knew what the average theme park fan wanted.

Here are my seven favorite World Showcase pavilions, along with what I love about each one.

China

I’m listing these alphabetically rather than ranking them. I mention this because some selections were no-brainers, while others required a choice.

Choosing the final two or three pavilions proved challenging, as I genuinely love all of them.

China narrowly made the cut even though I pretty much never eat here…and the cuisine is an integral part of World Showcase evaluations.

Still, I won’t allow that one nitpick to distract me from the remarkable positives at this pavilion.

The Temple of Heaven embodies Disney’s dedication to authentic World Showcase experiences.

This replica of a very real temple is the best recreation in the world. The fact that you’ll find it at a theme park boggles the mind.

Also, the store closest to this building, The House of Good Fortune, is among my go-to Disney spots for unique trinkets.

Finally, the Mulan character greeting here is one of my favorites.

Pro tip: ask her to tell a joke! It…won’t be good.

France

A few years ago, I’m honestly unsure whether France would have made my list.

I’m not much for French food and once had a nightmarish experience at Chefs de France.

However, I adore all the shopping options at this pavilion, especially the boutique at Les Halles.

My wife and I have legitimately decorated our guest bedroom with many items we’ve purchased here.

Still, the real reason I favor France has nothing to do with its Eiffel Tower, remarkable though it is.

No, I’m all about Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, the brilliant ride Disney opened during the pandemic.

For whatever reason, this attraction has slipped beneath the radar a bit.

Although comparing the two is impossible, I happen to prefer Ratatouille to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind…and I really like that roller coaster!

Germany

Sometimes, Disney rankings center on memories more than anything else.

I have one of my fondest ones from Karamell-Küche, where I spent some time shopping during a frenzied park day.

One of the cast members recognized my stress level and did what these magic-makers do. She handed me some free caramel popcorn.

The woman couldn’t possibly have known that I used to love caramel popcorn as a kid, which made her gift that much better.

Now, whenever I walk past Karamell-Küche, I cannot help but smile. That’s something I love about Disney.

You never know when or where a magical moment will occur.

For most people, the Germany pavilion gets a nod for different reasons, though. It’s the unofficial tubed meat capital of Orlando.

Also, I hear the beer is pretty good, which makes sense. After all, the concept of the theme here is that it’s always Oktoberfest. Who wouldn’t love that?

Japan

I won’t pretend to hide the truth here. Japan is my favorite pavilion…by a LOT.

This place has everything straight down to one of the best photo ops at Walt Disney World.

You can stand under the arch here, and the natural backdrop adds a lovely shot of Spaceship Earth.

Somehow, that majestic shot, something you’ll relish for years, reflects but a small part of what you’ll find at the Japan pavilion.

The snacks here are so good that people sell loot crates of them! When you visit Mitsukoshi Department Store, you’ll find an entire wall of rare Japanese snacks.

You won’t even believe how many different KitKats are available!

Still, that’s only a small part of Mitsukoshi, the only store of its kind in North America.

Japan authorized an American version of Mitsukoshi, an almost incomprehensible achievement for Disney.

The original Mitsukoshi store turns 350 (!!!) in 2023. Disney appreciates the honor, which is why Mitsukoshi is unquestionably THE best store at EPCOT.

You can find anything here, from pearls to figurines to stuffed animals.

The merchandise includes countless Japanese brands taken from anime, video games, and movies. And it’s why every wall of my house is overflowing with knickknacks.

My bank account lives in fear of Mitsukoshi.

PS: the teppanyaki experience at Teppan Edo is also amazing!

Mexico

When I enter the Mexico pavilion, I feel a sense of escapism unlike anything else at Disney.

The otherworldly glow of this place forcibly reminds me of the Land of the Dead in Coco, which is remarkable since the film debuted 35 years after the pavilion.

The other unique aspect of this place is that you’ll spend nearly all the time indoors, save for a meal/drink or two.

Once you walk inside the Mesoamerican pyramid, you’ll discover a whole other world of shopping kiosks. It’s more of a bazaar, and trinkets abound.

Meanwhile, your eyes cannot help but be drawn to the interior pyramid that works as the weenie here.

Disney encourages that fixation, as the ride and the restaurant here reside by the pyramid’s moat of water.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros is one of only three rides at the World Showcase. While it’s easily the worst of them, I still adore it.

Disney created an It’s a Small World knockoff and threw in Donald Duck for good measure. The entire experience is adorable.

Plus, the boat ride drifts by San Angel Inn Restaurante, a restaurant beneath the pyramid.

I can also describe the trifecta as…very blue. That illuminated glow warms me when I dine here – which I do a lot – or ride Gran Fiesta Tour.

Norway

When I list my favorite things at the World Showcase – and that’s an upcoming article! – you’ll find two of them at the Norway pavilion.

Even though I loved Maelstrom, I happily welcomed the arrival of Frozen Ever After, one of Disney’s best boat rides ever.

Maelstrom takes the style of Norse mythology and then adds an Arendelle overlay.

The results are sublime, which is why I’ve recently ridden Frozen Ever After five times in one day. I’m addicted.

Plus, Disney did something smart here by adding a Norse mythology exhibit at the Stave Church. So, Maelstrom’s story (kind of) remains in a new form.

Alas, something I haven’t done in a while due to the pandemic is to visit Akershus.

Back when Disney used this restaurant as a Relaxation Station, I remember sitting at a table and wishing that the salad bar was open.

The buffet service at Akershus is among my favorites at Walt Disney World, and I hated every second it wasn’t available.

Disney taunted me by opening Akershus less than a week after my most recent trip ended. But that merely provides me with another excuse to visit soon!

United Kingdom

There are three places at the World Showcase where shopping surpasses everything else.

Those pavilions are Japan, France, and the United Kingdom, with China just missing the cut.

I’m most likely to purchase merchandise at the other locations, but I go to the United Kingdom pavilion to buy clothes.

I’m a tee-shirt guy, and the band apparel for The Rolling Stones, the Who, and the like warms my heart.

Also, I’ve got a soft spot for Doctor Who and can never say no to a good sci-fi shirt.

Then, there’s the dining experience. I’ve previously mentioned two of my other favorites at the World Showcase. Those are San Angel Inn and Akershus.

Well, my absolute favorite is Rose & Crown Dining Room, home of the legendary Fish and Chips…which I don’t order. Similarly, I’m not an ale guy.

Without those two staples of dining at Rose & Crown, you may wonder why I dine her frequently…or maybe not. It depends on how familiar you are with the place.

At night, Rose & Crown’s ideal view of the World Showcase Lagoon makes it arguably the best place to eat during a nightly fireworks presentation.

I’ve enjoyed so many unforgettable moments here with family and friends. When I anticipate Disney vacations, a dinner at Rose & Crown is among the highlights.

 

Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon!

Feature Photo: Disneyfanatic.com