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“Tell me something you like about Disney World that everyone needs to know about.”
“Hmmm… I think I need a Girl Scout cookie to think. Hmmm….. I think I need a few more…ummmm…. Epcot.”
“What exactly about Epcot should they know about?”
“They should know about the countries.”
“The Countries” are the Pavilions in the World Showcase, that represent 11 different countries form around the world.
“Ok, why should they know about the countries?”
“You can experience many different cultures and their food!”
“What do you mean?”
“Each country has something new to try or learn about.”
“Can you give me an example?”
“You can go from sushi in Japan to a log ride in Sweden (Norway) to hearing a Mariachi Band in Mexico.”
At Teppan Edo in Japan, we had sushi one night and John really liked it. In the Norway Pavilion, as the Disney website says, the “Maelstrom is a family-friendly adventure on a troll-tormented Viking ship from modern-day to historic Norway”. Out Front of the Mexico Pavilion the Mariachi Cobre is a 12 piece Mariachi band that performs throughout the day.
“Which one is your favorite pavilion?”
“I think, China”
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| John, His Mom and a friend, outside Yong Feng Shangdian Department Store |
“So, tell me about the China Pavilion.”
“Well, it’s like China”
As I was laughing he added,
“I’m kidding. They have a shop where you can buy a lot of neat things and teas.”
“Like what kind of things?”
“Hand painted china,”
Once again as I laughed he changed his answer,
“That’s not what I ment, hand painted glassware.”
“Anything else?”
“Little statuettes and fountains and Buddhas. And who doesn’t like Buddha? I was tempted to get a little Buddha?”
The shop he is talking about is called Yong Feng Shangdian Department Store. It sells authentic Chinese goods, such as Silk Robes, Furniture, Parasols and Statues and Fountains.
“What else should people know about the World Showcase?”
“The Nine Dragons is the Best Chinese food outside of China, itself.” (Not that he has ever been to China.)
The Nine Dragons is the Restaurant located in the China Pavilion. I wrote about it in an article last month called “It’s Not the Chop Suey Palace.”
“Is there any place else in the World Showcase that people should know about?”
“The place where the guy sells the African carvings.”
Out past China as you are walking toward Germany there is a nice place to sit and relax and get a drink from the Coke Stand. Alongside this place, there is a small stand that sells African Masks and handmade items. This is where we John got a South African t-shirt for the World Cup. He enjoyed looking at the merchandise in this shop.“When you first enter the World Showcase, Which way should you go?”
“Go left, unless you want to go right.”
He was cracking me up,
“Why go left?”
“Two lefts make a right. No, there are more things to see if you go left.”
After talking about this, we decided that there was one extra pavilion before you have to cross a bridge to get toward another pavilion. Going to the right takes you to Canada, England and then a bridge where going left takes you through Mexico, Norway and China, before a bridge.
“What else should people know about or view in The World Showcase?”
“The different little shows, that pop up, the Mime in Italy, the Drummers in Japan and there was a great one outside the French Restaurant. And the Firework Show is kind of cool.”
Throughout the World Showcase, there are “street Performers” that appear at different times during the day and put on small shows for the guests that are roaming around the different Pavilions.
The Fireworks show in Epcot is called Illuminations.
“Where would you recommend seeing Illuminations?”
“The Boardwalk Bridge.”
“Where?”
“The Bridge over at the Boardwalk as you are walking toward the back entrance of Epcot.”
“Not even in Epcot?”
“No, it is too crowded.”
“Thanks John. Is there anything else you want to say about the World Showcase?”
“It is a really fun and relaxed way to spend the day.”
My Tips from a Teenager Tuesday, co-author is my son John. For those of you that have a 15 year old, you will understand some of the answers, those of you that don’t; I will say these were his real answers. He showed his sense of humor today, and we had some good laughs as we were writing this article. I hope you enjoyed it.
unknownmagicwithinwaltdisneyworld 