EPCOT -Part 2

The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT) was a concept developed by Walt Disney near the end of his lifetime. It was his intended purpose for the property purchased near Orlando, Florida that eventually became the Walt Disney World Resort, including Epcot (formerly known as EPCOT Center), to be a “community of the future” designed to stimulate American corporations to come up with new ideas for urban living. Of EPCOT, Walt Disney is quoted as saying, “EPCOT will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are emerging from the forefront of American industry. It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed. It will always be showcasing and testing and demonstrating new materials and new systems.”

We have visited Future World many times but what draws us more is a collective of Pavilions that wrap around the World Showcase Lagoon. Inside the Pavilions are shops, attractions and restaurants that represent the culture and cuisine of 11 countries, of which we will visit Mexico, Norway, China, Germany and Italy today.

What is more “Mexican’ than a piñata? Hanging from the tree in front of the Mexican landmark, a towering pyramid modeled after an actual Aztec Temple of Quetzalcoatl at Teotihuacan, Mexico.

It’s always twilight inside the Mexico pavilion, where you enter a colonial plaza with festive music and savory dining in a bustling marketplace.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros is a gentle boat ride through the pyramid-shaped Mexico Pavilion

Leaving the boat tour you walk past a shop filled with delicate glass art and you can watch the glass blowing artist while he creates another art piece, as if by magic. This is WDW after all, where magic reigns supreme!

Dancing dolphins…

From Mexico it is a short hop over to Norway and then to China. Paper lanterns festoon a tree and the view toward Italy across the lagoon is eye catching.

The Temple of Heaven

Paifang gate to China in front of the temple and stores

Detail of the Temple of Heaven

A Little Bue Heron on the hunt in the pond fronting the Temple.

A small corner between China and Germany is dedicated to Africa. Here, a Kamba carver from Kenya is hard at work liberating the subject from within the baulk of the timber as his tribal traditions dictate.

And just next door, “Helga” tells people about German Christmas Traditions in Epcot. She’s holding an Advent Calendar.

Can you think of anything more ‘German’ than pretzels and beer? Something to satisfy your lunchtime cravings…

Die Weihnachts Ecke is one of my favourite shops in all of EPCOT. It sells German Christmas items, specifically handblown glass tree ornaments that remind me of my childhood in Hungary. Especially the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs figurines that have special meaning to me as they were my 1st birthday gifts from my Godmother.

I bought ‘Happy’ as a souvenir of this year’s trip, and to my great surprise and delight, Marlene gave me ‘Bashful’ as a Christmas gift. This is ‘Happy’.

And this is ‘Bashful’…

Marlene resting weary feet in front of the Teddy Bear store… Yes, real Steiff teddies!

Then on to Italy, where Murano glassware was on offer.

I loved the door handle shaped like a dolphin.

Even out of the way corners offer a feast for the eyes and camera.

Sergio, the juggler and mime entertains in the square to the delight of young and old.

St. Mark’s Square in the late afternoon light as viewed from the bridge over the canal.

Dinner was at an indoor German “courtyard” featuring a German Oktoberfest buffet. Items on the menu include a variety of German sausages, sauerbraten, and red cabbage among others. And beer, of course!

A sample of the desserts on offer… and yes, I ate it all!

At mealtime, a traditional Oom Pah band played polkas, and later German Carols to entertain the diners.

After supper, Marlene and I continued our quest for more interesting images to commemorate our trip. I loved the warm glow coming through the window of the Die Weihnachts Ecke shop.

Don’t you just want to run in there and spend, spend, spend? The warm interior lights are sooooooooo inviting!

There is nothing quite like the view across the lagoon after sunset. St. Mark’s Square and The American Adventure Pavilion are reflected in the waters.

Meanwhile, ghostly visitors float past the Nine Dragons Restaurant in China.

Looking toward the Chateau Frontenac in ‘Canada’.

As always, Spaceship Earth, illuminated against the night sky, dominates the skyline at the entrance to EPCOT.

And another day is done… Next day, it’s Marlene’s birthday – 39 and holding! – and we are back at the Animal Kingdom and our first night at the Animal Kingdom Lodge!