Ten Fantastic World Showcase Stores You MUST Visit
The World Showcase at EPCOT sells a treasure trove of souvenirs. There’s something for sale here that will fit any budget.
Today, I want to highlight a few places to go when you’re in desperate need of some retail therapy.
Here are ten World Showcase shops you should visit during your next trip.
Canadian Trading Post
Do you like maple syrup, hockey merchandise, wood carvings, winter clothing, and moose stuffed animals?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Canadian Trading Post will delight you with its wares.
When you enter the Canada pavilion, look for the giant totem standing next to what looks like a wooden barn. That’s the Canadian Trading Post!
Inside this building, you’ll find authentic Canadian gear that checks off virtually every item on the list of Canadian stereotypes.
I mean that in the best possible way. The clothing here runs the gamut from hockey to lumberjacks to generic Canadian licensing, but it all feels right.
I especially adore the maple leaf pajamas and red flannel items, including hats that would please Elmer Fudd.
This store hasn’t reopened due to the pandemic, but it should return soon…hopefully with new, extremely warm clothing.
The Fjording Shop
You likely know this place as the Frozen gift shop, the place where you exit after your boat ride through Arendelle.
However, it has a name, The Fjording Shop, and some of the signs indicate what’s inside.
You’ll find “folkcrafts, knitwear, and collectibles” here, although we should admit the obvious.
Many of the collectibles involve Frozen in some way, which is fine by me.
I love departing from Frozen Ever After, only to watch children express glee as they carefully inspect the nearby toys.
Imagineers styled this building to look like a Norse house, and it does include some merchandise you’d expect to find in Norway’s countryside.
Winter sports fans will treasure the solid selection of ski clothing on display.
Don’t forget to try some of the Norway snacks available, either!
The House of Good Fortune
Some World Showcase stores sell better knickknacks than others.
The House of Good Fortune at the China pavilion is probably my favorite due to the nature of its items on sale.
Pandas, tigers, and dragons appear regularly on the merchandise here. These unique collectibles speak to the personality of the buyer, too.
The adorable, childlike nature of the styles shows that you never really grew up and still love toys and stuffed animals as an adult.
You’ll find some fascinating snack options here, too. I’m not really a pickle-flavored potato chips guy, but your mileage may vary.
You’ll find novel flavors like tempura in a bag and even some mochi custard!
As a fan of Hong Kong cinema, I also hang out in the sword era a ridiculous amount. My wife won’t let me visit here alone for fear of my buying one.
Also, while another pavilion receives more attention for its kimonos, the ones at The House of Good Fortune come with ultra-soft fabric.
Il Bel Cristallo
A couple of places on this list prove hard to differentiate. Disney has built some shops in a way where you’re not quite sure where you’re at.
The Italy pavilion definitely falls into this category, as the line blurs between designer handbags, makeup, wine, and kitschy merchandise.
Still, you should wander through Il Bel Cristallo and the adjoining stores to feel fashion-forward. Soccer fans will love some of the clothing, too.
For those of you seeking something stylish and unusual, check out the masks here.
No, I’m not talking about pandemic-related face coverings. I mean Eyes Wide Shut-style masks.
The only other time you’ll see these in the United States is at Mardi Gras.
Karamell-Kuche
I’ve got nothing against the gear at the Germany pavilion. However, I favor Karamell-Kuche when I visit here for two reasons.
First, I’m a sucker for caramels, and the ones here are legitimately world-class.
Seriously, we bring that stuff back from our Disney trip each time. Rarely does any of it last the week. We devour all things Karamell-Kuche.
The other reason involves cast member kindness. We were shopping in the store one day and started a casual conversation with a worker here.
Suddenly, she bagged up about $30 worth of snacks and handed them to us, insisting it was her bit of Pixie Dust for the week.
That’s been like five years, and I’m still blown away by the gesture. Cast members are spectacular!
Mitsukoshi Department Store
Okay, don’t tell the other nine stores on this list, but they’re complete garbage compared to this one.
At Mitsukoshi, Kawaii culture is on the menu, and you’ll want to order everything.
This department store sells kimonos and potted plants on one side. But the crowds tend toward the other end.
That’s where Japanese pop culture fans will discover their happy place.
Videogame characters, kaiju monsters, and Miyazaki characters appear on everything from clothing to figurines to backpacks.
I try not to think about how much money I’ve spent here, as I probably could have bought a BMW instead.
Oh, and I haven’t even touched on the other part. This store also sells Japanese snacks and drinks, the kind so popular that monthly crates exist.
So, you can cancel your Japan Crate order for the month when you visit Mitsukoshi at the Japan pavilion!
Seriously, this place would make the list of my top five overall stores at Walt Disney World. It’s spectacular!
Plaza de los Amigos
Here’s another multi-store shop. It mirrors the next entry in that they’re both bazaars inasmuch as anything else.
The line between shops is hard to identify. You roam from counter to counter, picking up whichever items appeal to you.
While the Mexico pavilion hosts guests indoors in an extremely dark setting, the shops feel like mall kiosks.
Coco and other Día de Muertos ítems remain plentiful during the pandemic. However, Disney has modified the stores to assure social distancing.
Guests walk one away around the Plaza de los Amigos, preventing less backtracking.
The vibrant colors of the goods here will entice even the most casual shoppers. Don’t overlook the musical instruments, either!
Souk-Al-Magreb
Okay, you’ll find something akin to a bazaar at the Mexico pavilion. The real deal resides at the Morocco pavilion, though.
Moroccan royalty got involved in the development of the shops here. They required even more authenticity than we’d expect from an EPCOT pavilion.
As such, the bazaar here feels like a trip to Fes. Open-air shops sell clothing that will keep you cool on even the hottest desert days.
While they’re technically definitely stores, you’ll find rugs, spices, and vases here, too.
As you impulse shop, remember that you must get this stuff home, though. So, think about luggage space or shipping as you pick.
Otherwise, you’ll wind up with a rug and no way to get it to your house…not that I’m speaking from experience here or anything.
Souvenirs de France
Do you love Marie from the Aristocats? And how do you feel about Eiffel Tower merchandise? What if we merged the two together?
I’m joking here…mostly. However, the France pavilion features several shops that will make you feel like you’re shopping at the Champs-Élysées.
Well, you’ll notice one slight difference. There’s a lot more Disney licensing here. Other than that, the experiences are eerily similar.
Disney has slotted several stores in the same area. This one resides in the same space as Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie.
You can grab a bite to eat before or after you shop for the perfect Minnie in Paris gear.
Disney will never admit it, but I strongly suspect that the popularity of some Parisian items here influenced the creation of Disney’s Riviera Resort.
Some t-shirts and handbags with Minnie and Marie have caused the occasional mad scramble to buy before they sell out.
The Toy Soldier
The United Kingdom pavilion also operates several shops that reside in close proximity. You’ll enter one door and not even realize you’ve switched stores.
Still, one place towers above the rest, at least for my family. I’m speaking of The Toy Soldier, a pop culture fanatic’s dream shop.
Here you’ll find heartwarming gear involving Mickey & Minnie Mouse in London.
Right beside it, Union Jack and phone booth t-shirts will remind you of English cliches.
More importantly, at least from my perspective, Doctor Who and British Invasion bands have licensed their merchandise.
The Toy Soldier sells some exclusive merchandise that will thrill fans of Blink and The Rolling Stones. Just to be clear, that’s a TV show episode and a band.
My family has ten-year-old tees from here that we still wear sometimes.
The clothing features high-quality, soft fabric, and it’ll make fans of The Doctor and David Bowie smile while wearing it.