Disney World - DisneywithIzzy

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

United Kingdom is full of cobble-stoned streets that makes you feel like you’re in the United Kingdom.

Food: On my last trip to Disney World I went to Rose & Crown Dining Room. We always sit outside which has a ceiling. I recommend siting outside because you get a great view of the World Showcase Lagoon. I had the English Trifle. It has layers of strawberries, vanilla custard, graham crackers, and whipped cream with Mickey Mouse sprinkles. Yum!!

Shopping: In the Toy Soldier shop you will be able to buy basically anything that has to do with a soldier. Such as swords, shields, real feather quills, children books and movies from the UK. Hint! The Toy Solider store has the Kidcot Fun Stop. The Queen’s Table has books and music from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. If you like books like me, you will be interested in this store. Calling all soccer fans! The Sportsmans’ Shop has everything to please soccer and rugby fans with jerseys, balls, books, and hats. My brother who is a big soccer fan loves this store! If you love tea, biscuits, and candy The Tea Caddy is for you!

Entertainment: The UK pavilion does have a band called British Revolution that draws crowds with their great songs. They also have a four-person group called Quicksteps that plays the fiddle, flute, highland bagpipes and an Irish frame drum. You can also take a picture with Alice from Alice in Wonderland or with Mary Poppins.

Don’t forget to get your passport stamped!

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

A replica Eifel Tower is in the background.

The France Pavilion is a great place to relax. It is a great pavilion to visit because there is so much to do.

Chefs de France is behind the acrobat show.

Food: Chefs de France is one of the first restaurants you spot in the France Pavilion. The other restaurant is called Monsieur Paul. It is only open for dinner. Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie has croissants, mouthwatering eclairs, mousse, and much more! When I went there I tried the macaroons. They are outstanding! L’Artisan des Glaces is an ice cream shop. It is very popular. Update: La Crêperie de Paris is a restaurant that serves sweet and savory crepes.

Shopping: Souvenirs de France has many classic French souvenirs, such as berets, t-shirts, mini Eiffel Towers and many books about cities, the language, and French artists. This is a store worth checking out.

Entertainment: The France Pavilion does have a show called Impressions de France. Unlike the shows in the China and Canada, you get to sit and watch it like at a movie theater. The show is a little outdated but it’s still a great show. Update: Impressions de France has been replaced with Beauty and the Beast Sing Along. Belle from Beauty and the Beast is available in France for autographs and photos. There is also an acrobat (Serveur Amusant) that performs most of the afternoon. It is a fun and exciting show! France is also getting some new attractions. Ratatouille: The Adventure will be similar to the ride in Disneyland Paris. Chef Skinner will chase guests through Gusteau’s Parisian restaurant on a trackless ride. Can’t wait! Update: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opened on October 1, 2021.

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

The Germany Pavilion has a small village area with shops and restaurants. In the middle of the plaza, a statue of St. George slaying a dragon is shown (look at the picture above). Don’t forget to check out the model train! It’s really cool!

Food: The Germany Pavilion has two restaurants called Biergarten and Sommerfest. At Biergarten, you sit with another family. It feels like you’re outside because of the black ceiling. Biergarten is a buffet with potatoes, breads, chicken, sausages, German Cheesecake, and much much more! I had lots of different foods that tasted delicious! While you eat, a live band plays as well. Sommerfest is a quick service restaurant.

Shopping: Germany has lots of places to shop. Der Teddybar is a toy shop with finger puppets and, you guessed it, teddy bears. Volkskunst has felt hats, famous books, cukoo clocks, and awesome hand painted eggs. Das Kaufhas is full of soccer balls and jerseys that are perfect for soccer fans. Karamelle-Kuche sure has a lot of food! This store has caramel apples, caramel corn, fresh caramel, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, fudge, and marshmallows.

Entertainment: Marget Almer and The Bavarian Band perform 5 days per week outside at the pavilion. You can also meet Snow White in Germany.

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 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!