EPCOT’s World Showcase is arguably the most beloved area in Disney World, as millions of guests each year visit the recreations of countries from around the world, each of which offers authentic architecture, design, souvenirs, food, and drinks from the country represented. The only issue? It’s barely changed in the last 4 decades.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France Pavilion
I’ve been visiting EPCOT for over 30 years, and the World Showcase hasn’t added a single new country during that time. In fact, a new country hasn’t been added to the World Showcase since Norway in 1988. While that hasn’t necessarily hurt World Showcase’s popularity, there’s no denying the area could use some newness.
New Countries
As mentioned, EPCOT hasn’t added a new country since Norway in 1988. In fact, the park has only added two countries overall since the park opened in 1982, with the Kingdom of Morocco being the other in 1984. Now, that’s not to say Disney hasn’t tried. Over the years, several counties have been teased and announced, including:
Some of these scrapped nations include:
- A Costa Rica Pavilion featuring a large greenhouse filled with tropical plants and birds.
- The Equatorial Africa Pavilion, which would have been built around a 60-foot treehouse, and the “Heartbeat of Africa” live show. Remnants of this planned area can still be seen in the Outpost between China and Germany.
- An Iran Pavilion would have featured a dark ride exploring different parts of Persian history and a shopping area based on a bazaar. All Plans were scrapped after the Iranian Revolution.
- An Israel Pavilion was advertised on billboards when Epcot opened, and would have recreated ancient Jerusalem, featuring a courtyard stage and open-air restaurant. The concept was scrapped due to budget problems and security issues.
- A Puerto Rico Pavilion was once planned for EPCOT’s ill-fated “Phase II” expansion.
- A Soviet Union or Russian-themed pavilion was planned for the projected “Phase II.” It would have been based on the Moscow Kremlin and dominated by a replica of St. Basil’s Cathedral.
- A Spain Pavilion was advertised on billboards in the mid-1980s, with a design blending elements of Barcelona and Madrid. It was planned to feature a boat ride, a film on Spanish history, and a restaurant.
- A Switzerland Pavilion intended to bring a Matterhorn Bobsleds-style ride to EPCOT was slotted into plans at one point.
- A United Arab Emirates Pavilion was planned to feature a magic carpet ride attraction and a show detailing the cultural and scientific achievements of the Middle East.
- A planned Venezuela Pavilion would have replicated a waterfall, a high-rise built into a cliff, and an aerial tram ride.
While any of those counties — or other highly desired ones like Egypt, Greece, India, or Australia — would feel like a massive breath of fresh air for EPCOT, an addition of this scale seems unlikely. Disney is committed to almost exclusively basing new attractions and expansions on preexisting intellectual property. It seems unlikely that they would commit to a more traditional and “realistic” World Showcase pavilion any time soon.
Norway Pavilion
New Rides
Even if new countries are seemingly out of the question, World Showcase would also benefit from some new rides. Currently, there are only 3 across the 11 themed pavilions: Gran Fiesta Tour in Mexico, Frozen Ever After in Mexico, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in France. And when in reality, the only one of those rides that can truly be described as even close to “new” is Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, which opened in 2021. Gran Fiesta Tour and Frozen Ever After are rethemed versions of El Rio Del Tiempo (opened in 1982) and Maelstrom (which opened in 1989), respectively.
Frozen Ever After
Much like the aforementioned country pavilions, numerous rides have been planned for World Showcase over the years. These include the cut-so-late-in-construction that the show building was partially constructed Rhine River Cruise in Germany, a Mount Fuji roller coaster in Japan, and the announced-but-canceled-by-Covid -by-Covid Mary Poppins attraction in the U.K.
©Disney
Given the template set by Frozen Ever After and Remy’s, any new ride addition to World Showcase would likely be IP-based, but that still leaves Disney with many options, including potentially reviving the Poppins concept or Alice in Wonderland in the U.K., or a Mulan attraction in China, just to name a few.
©Disney
While the World Showcase is still beloved, there’s no denying that the iconic part of EPCOT could use some new blood. Stay tuned to DFB for more on Walt Disney World.
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Typical Disney being shortsighted.
How about an India pavilion with a Jungle Book ride? And I’d love to see a roller coaster in Japan maybe themed to Big Hero 6. And how about a Tangled ride similar to Tokyo DisneySea’s in Germany? And I’d love to see a carousel that becomes a steeple chase themed to Mary Poppins in the UK pavilion. I love Epcot but it needs more rides. And don’t forget to update or reimagine Figment’s ride!
Agreed though tradition (little or no change) is welcome right now! Perhaps they could do as they did for the Millennium? A huge tent with several countries visiting temporarily? It was great! I also wish they would bring back the Millennium parade which was fantastic! Shortening the Food and Wine Festival – which is way too long – or maybe the Flower and Garden Festival could make room for such an international visit!