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A Beginner’s Guide to the World Showcase: Spotlight on Italy

The Italy Pavilion has a HUGE bell tower that is so tall you can see it from the other side of the pavilions. (Yes, that tall!) The Italy Pavilion feels and looks like your in Venice with bridges and gondolas that are beside the World Showcase lagoon.

The ovens are named after volcanoes that are found in Italy.

Food: The Italy Pavilion has two restaurants called Tutto Italia Ristorante and Via Napoli. Last time I went to Tutto Italia was when I was two so I do not remember the restaurant. I heard the food is good. The other restaurant, Via Napoli, I have been to as well. If you go there you can watch them cook the pizzas in huge stone ovens. I had the Pizza Margherita and the Ruota di Carretto on the kids menu when I was nine. The pizza was really good! The Ruota di Carretto is vanilla gelato (Italian for ice cream) cookie sandwich. Update: Gelateria Toscana is a stand that sells gelato. At Pizza al Taglio, you can order a slice of pizza, that is also served at Via Napoli, at a walk-up window.

It was AWESOME!!

Shopping: The shopping in the Italy Pavilion could be, in my opinion a little better. You can buy expensive Italian perfume, Venetian masks, and handbags. Not much for kids.

The Kidcot Fun Stop is next to this fountain.

Entertainment: Unfortunately, the Italy Pavilion does not have much entertainment. They do have Sergio the juggler and mime who performs juggling tricks with his soccer balls.

Don’t forget to get your passport stamped!

Haunted Mansion Review

What I Like About It

Haunted Mansion is located in Magic Kingdom and is my mom’s favorite ride. There is a short pre-show before the ride which can be a bit scary for little kids (because the lights go out). After that, you get on a buggy. The ghosts on the ride are looking for another ghost to join them. You get to explore the mansion and hopefully get out alive (I am kidding!) The ride takes you everywhere from the attic to the basement. At the end of the ride a creepy girl says “Hurry back, hurry back.” My mom has a Haunted Mansion mug with the same words on the bottom.

There are a lot of funny things to look at outside.

What I Don’t Like About it

If you’re like me, you get scared on the ride. It’s okay and you are not alone. If you get scared, here is an idea that can make you feel better. There are tons of hidden Mickey’s on the ride. Finding hidden Mickey’s will remind you that the ride is not real.

A Beginner’s Guide to the World Showcase: Spotlight on Canada

The Canada Pavilion is my brother, Al’s favorite pavilion. I will get to why it’s his favorite in a second.

Food: Canada does have one restaurant called Le Cellier Steakhouse. This restaurant is very crowded and hard to get a table. It is best known for its steaks. The kidcot station (where you can get your passport stamped) is near the entrance to Le Cellier.

Shopping: The Canada Pavilion has two shopping options, the Northwest Mercantile store and the Trading Post. In Northwest Mercantile they sell handmade ornaments that represent the four seasons. I also know that The Trading Post does sell handmade jewelry. (Pretty cool, right?) I hope the next time I go to Disney World I can visit these stores and then give you a better review.

Entertainment: Remember when I told you the Canada Pavilion is my brother Al’s favorite pavilion? Here is why. The Canada Pavilion has a 360 Circle-Vision show called O Canada! It is sort of like the show Reflections of China in the China Pavilion. Just like Reflections of China, O Canada! does not have seating but it does have a railing you can hold on to. The host is so funny! It shows footage from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Niagara Falls, and Calgary. You should definitely see this show! Update: O Canada! is no longer in the Canada pavilion. In January 2020 the show changed to Canada Far and Wide. It is still a 360 Circle Vision show that shows footage from Canada, but it now has different hosts.

A Beginner’s Guide to the World Showcase: Spotlight on China

China is a pavilion that looks amazing! China has footbridges, bamboo, small waterfalls, and ponds that can help you relax with calming music. Overall the China pavilion is one of the better looking pavilions.

Food: China has a restaurant and a cafe. The last time we ate in the China pavilion we went to Nine Dragons Restaurant. I had Salt and Pepper Shrimp and a strawberry smoothie. The food and the smoothie were both really good! The other restaurant is called The Lotus Blossom Cafe. This is a quick service restaurant, but I have never eaten there.

Shopping: Did you know House of Good Fortune is one of the biggest shopping stores in the pavilions? Inside the store are jade carvings, adorable stuffed animal pandas, Chinese lanterns, pieces of crystals, and much more! Hint! The kidcot for your World Showcase passport is in House of Good Fortune.

The Jeweled Dragon Acrobats are a lot of fun!

Entertainment: China has a show called Reflections of China. It is a 360 Circle-Vision show in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. The film shows images of many monuments in China. There is no seating but there is a railing for you to hang on to. You can also take a picture with Mulan during the day. The Jeweled Dragon Acrobats is a live show performed by kids. It is a must see!

A Beginner’s Guide to the World Showcase: Spotlight on Mexico

Mexico is a great pavilion to visit. It has great food, shopping, and entertainment. The first thing you see when you enter the Mexico Pavilion is a large pyramid! When you walk inside the pyramid it feels like it’s night time. Why? The ceiling is black, making it feel like it’s dark outside.

Food: The restaurant inside is called San Angel Inn Restaurante. THEY HAVE THE BEST CHEESE EVER! (Queso Fundido) Two trips ago we went to San Angel Inn Restaurante and I had Tacos de Carne from the adults menu – kids 10 and older have to order from the adults menu. When they gave me the steak tacos it was cool because they gave me all the food but I had to put it together as a taco. They also have another table service restaurant outside called La Hacienda de San Angel. You can sit outside by the water and at night you can see the fireworks from the restaurant.

Shopping: Next to the San Angel Inn Restaurante in the pyramid there is a shopping area. It has jewelry, small skeletons and much, much more. All the shopping items are FROM Mexico. Isn’t that so cool?

Entertainment: Mexico has a boat ride in the pyramid called Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros. Donald Duck is missing and his friends Jose`, Carioca, and Panchito are searching for him. Outside of the pyramid, a Mariachi band performs during the day and you can take pictures with Donald dressed in Mexican clothes.

The Mexico Pavilion is a great place for food, shopping, and entertainment.

A Beginner’s Guide to the World Showcase: Spotlight on Morocco

Morocco is another cool pavilion to visit. They have awesome food, shopping, and entertainment.

Chicken and Beef Skewers for me, chicken nuggets and fries for my brother.

Food: You can take a boat ride through the pavilions and one of the stops is in Morocco. Once you get out of the boat, on your left is the Spice Road Table restaurant. You can sit inside or outside. I prefer to sit outside because you can watch the boats coming in and going out. Last time we went to Spice Road Table I had the Chicken and Beef Skewers. They are delicious! My parents had the Lamb Sliders with Hummus Fries. They loved it! The other table service restaurant is called Restaurant Marrakesh. I don’t know the restaurant well since the last time I went I was two. My parents did tell me there was belly dancing and the food was good.

Shopping: Morocco has lots of jewelry and clothing from Morocco. There is also a shopping area called Marketplace in the Medina.

Entertainment: Morocco has a band called Musique Aramenco that performs. You can also take a picture with Jasmine and sometimes Aladdin. Don’t forget to be on the lookout! Morocco also has some hidden Mickeys lying around.

An Interview with a Five Year Old

Hello everyone! Today I thought it would be a great idea to interview my little five year old brother Al. Here is how it went:

Izzy: Hi Al, I hope it’s okay if I interview you for my blog?

Al: Okay.

Izzy: Which is your favorite park?

Al: You know it. Epcot because it has my two favorite rides, Test Track and Spaceship Earth.

Izzy: Why are Test Track and Spaceship Earth your favorite rides?

Al: Test Track because you get to design your own car and the ride goes really fast. Spaceship Earth because at the end you see the moon, you ride backwards and I like the music. That’s all.

Izzy: Do you have a favorite pavilion in Epcot?

Al: I like Canada because there is a show called “O Canada!” and at the end he says, “I have a fastpass for Soarin’. Hate to miss it.”

Izzy: Do you have a favorite snack at Disney World?

Al: The ice cream sandwich!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Macarons might be second.

Izzy: In Disney World the macarons are available in the France Pavilion. Do you have a favorite restaurant at Epcot?

Al: Garden Grill! I love that one!

Izzy: Who is your favorite Disney character?

Al: I don’t know.

Izzy: That is okay. Do you like when we stayed at Epcot until nine pm to watch Illuminations? (this is the light show)

Al: Yes I did.

Izzy: Al, do you know how many times you have gone to Disney World?

Al: Six times.

Izzy: Correct! Alright everyone, I think that’s all the questions I had for Al today. Thank you Al for letting me interview you.

Al: Okay, bye!

Izzy: If you wanted to know more on Test Track or Garden Grill, just click the search button on my blog and type the name in and an article about Test Track or Garden Grill will appear. Thanks for reading this article and bye!

A Beginner’s Guide to the World Showcase: Spotlight on Japan

The Japan Pavilion in the World Showcase at Epcot feels like you are in Japan! From the food to the shopping to the entertainment, Japan is definitely a pavilion to see.

At Teppan Edo, the chef cooks at the table!

Food: There are two table service restaurants in the Japan Pavilion: Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining. On my last trip we went to Teppan Edo. At Teppan Edo the chefs cook the food on the table in front of you! You also sit next to other families and share the table. The chefs also like to make a volcano out of onions. Update: Takumi-Tei is a restaurant that has 5 rooms inspired by a natural element. Takumi-Tei means “house of the artisan” in Japanese.

Shopping: Now let’s talk about the shopping. The Japan Pavilion has a huge store called Mitsukoshi. Everything in the store is from Japan. When I went to Mitsukoshi I bought a light purple fan and the cashier wrote my first name on it in Japanese! If you need a hand fan, go to the Japan Pavilion and you can get one in Mitsukoshi or at the Mitsukoshi kiosk outside of Teppan Edo.

Entertainment: Now let’s talk about the entertainment. Matsuriza performs Japanese Taiko Drumming several times a day. The drum performance is really interesting and after the performance the drummers introduce themselves to you.

If you’re going to Epcot to see the World Showcase Pavilions you might want to stop by Japan!

A Beginner’s Guide to Epcot Passports

At Epcot, in the World Showcase, they have many pavilions or countries you can visit to celebrate our diversity. A fun thing you can do is buy a passport in Epcot. The passport comes with stickers for each pavilion and a pin (not for pin trading, but it has a picture of Mickey and with all the flags for the countries in the World Showcase).

Cast Members add the stamp, date, time and a short message!

When you are in a pavilion, go to the Kidcot fun stop and a Disney Cast Member (that’s what they call everybody that works at Disney World) will stamp your passport, fill in the date and time and write something in their language.

Passports are fun because you might even learn a new language. Always be on the look out for the Kidcot fun stop! There is one in every country pavilion, even the United States pavilion. The passport at Epcot helps make going to the pavilions even more enjoyable. When you go to your hotel, you can put the stickers that come with the passport on it. After you have visited all the country pavilions every page of your passport will be full of pictures from the stickers and different languages.

Disney World Free Dining!

At Coral Reef Restaurant in Epcot you feel like you are underwater and you can watch fish swim by as you eat!

Disney World just announced a new offer for free dining! This offer is for stays between July 5, 2019 and September 30, 2019. You must sign up for the free dining offer and stay for a minimum of 4 nights. (That’s enough time to go to all 4 parks!). If you stay at a Disney Value or Moderate resort you get the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan for free. The resorts that qualify for this offer are:

Value Resorts: The Art of Animation suites, All-Star Music, Pop Century and All-Star Sports.

Moderate Resorts: Port Orleans Riverside, Caribbean Beach Resort, Ft. Wilderness Cabins and Coronado Springs.

If you stay at a Disney Deluxe resort, you get the Disney Regular Dining Plan for free. The resorts that qualify for this offer are:

Deluxe and Villas: Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Beach Club Resort and Villas, Yacht Club, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas, Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Saratoga Springs Resort.

This is the perfect time to go to Disney World since the dining is FREE!!! For more information, please visit Disney Free Dining Offer!