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.

The acrobat show is awesome!

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 The show is a little outdated but it’s still a great show.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.

Don’t forget to get your passport stamped!

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!

Inside Biergarten.

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.

More fun inside Biergarten!
Don’t forget to get your passport stamped!

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!

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.

The entrance to Le Cellier.

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.

It was raining on us at the waterfall!
Don’t forget to get your passport stamped!

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

Welcome to 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!

Don’t forget to get your passport stamped!

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.

Donald Duck at the Mexico Pavilion.

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.

Don’t forget to get your passport stamped!

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.

Marketplace in the Medina.

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.

Don’t forget to get your passport stamped!

My Favorite Snacks

When you’re at Walt Disney World, they don’t just have good rides, they have good snacks too!  My favorite snack is the ice cream sandwich with Mickey’s face on it.  The Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich has two chocolate wafers and Cookies and Cream ice cream.  My second favorite snack is the Mickey Bar.  The Mickey Bar has frozen vanilla ice cream with a hard chocolate shell on the outside shaped like Mickey’s face and ears!  This is the most popular snack at Walt Disney World. 

The one and only MICKEY BAR!

My third favorite snack is the churro.  The churro comes warm and full of sugar and it comes with a chocolate dipping sauce.  THE CHOCOLATE SAUCE IS AMAZING!! I also like the Mickey pretzel.  It is warm, salty, and buttery.  It also has Mickey’s face. My brother’s favorite is the Minute Maid soft frozen lemonade (the yellow one, not the pink strawberry one).  It’s really good and feels refreshing after being in the Florida sun.  Which is your favorite?

Soft Mickey Pretzels are so delicious