Epcot World Showcase - United States
American Adventure Pavilion
The American Adventure Pavilion at EPCOT is located in the center of World Showcase between the Italy and Japan pavilions. This patriotic pavilion celebrates the history, culture, music, food, art, and ideals of the United States through a grand colonial-style building, the American Adventure stage show, live entertainment, museum-style exhibits, quick-service dining, and the America Gardens Theatre.
The American Adventure building is a colonial-style mansion whose architectural roots are found in Independence Hall, Boston’s Old State House, Monticello, and Colonial Williamsburg. The building was constructed with approximately 110,000 handmade bricks from Georgia clay, which were tinted and aged to add authenticity. Inside, the floors are made from marble and copper, and the rotunda and galleries create one of the most impressive interiors in World Showcase.
The lobby and halls are lined with quotations from notable Americans, including Walt Disney, Althea Gibson, Charles A. Lindbergh, Ayn Rand, Thomas Wolfe, Wendell Willkie, and Jane Addams. Artwork throughout the pavilion depicts the development of the United States, while the building’s scale, symmetry, and detail help create the feeling of a historic civic landmark.
Across the World Showcase promenade on the lagoon is the outdoor stage and amphitheater known as America Gardens Theatre. This venue hosts major EPCOT festival entertainment, including the Candlelight Processional, the Garden Rocks concert series, and the Eat to the Beat concert series.
The American Adventure Pavilion is designed around patriotism and American storytelling. The gardens are planted with red, white, and blue colors, and many of the roses are varieties named for U.S. Presidents.
- Location: World Showcase at EPCOT, between Italy and Japan.
- Opening date: October 1, 1982, with the opening of EPCOT Center.
- Main attraction: The American Adventure.
- Main entertainment: Voices of Liberty and America Gardens Theatre performances.
- Main quick-service dining: Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue.
- Additional dining: Fife & Drum Tavern, Funnel Cake Stand, and Block & Hans.
- Gallery space: American Heritage Gallery.
- Best for: American history, patriotic music, barbecue, festival concerts, indoor air conditioning, museum exhibits, and classic EPCOT storytelling.
While there is no table-service restaurant in The American Adventure Pavilion, guests will find several quick-service dining and snack options. The pavilion is a good stop for American barbecue, craft beer, turkey legs, pretzels, funnel cakes, and festival food nearby.
Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue is the main quick-service restaurant in the pavilion. Hosted by Sam Eagle from The Muppets, this restaurant serves American barbecue, burgers, sandwiches, salads, sides, desserts, craft beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages. It is a solid choice for guests looking for a casual meal in World Showcase.
Fife & Drum Tavern serves classic American theme park snacks and drinks, including turkey legs, hot dogs, popcorn, soft drinks, frozen beverages, and seasonal items.
Funnel Cake Stand is a free-standing booth near The American Adventure Pavilion offering funnel cakes with toppings. It is a popular dessert stop for guests walking around World Showcase.
Block & Hans serves American craft beers, Mickey pretzels, and other beverages along the World Showcase promenade.
The American Adventure is the main attraction inside the pavilion and one of EPCOT’s classic Audio-Animatronics stage shows. Hosted by Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain, the show presents a patriotic look at American history, ideals, challenges, and progress through music, projected images, theatrical effects, and Audio-Animatronics figures.
Before entering the theater, guests can explore a collection of flags that have represented the United States throughout its history. The show itself blends Audio-Animatronics figures with images shown on a 72-foot rear-projection screen, music, narration, and historic scenes.
There are six statues on each side of the theater representing American ideals: Individualism, Innovation, Tomorrow, Independence, Compassion, Discovery, Freedom, Heritage, Pioneering, Knowledge, Self-Reliance, and Adventure.
The show uses 35 Audio-Animatronics figures in scenes depicting moments such as the Pilgrims’ arrival, the Boston Tea Party, George Washington at Valley Forge, the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the Civil War, slavery, westward expansion, innovation, and modern America.
Disney’s attention to detail is evident in the speeches, broadcasts, and historical references used throughout the show. In many cases, the production uses original text and, where available, actual recordings.
For hearing impaired guests, assistive listening devices are available at Guest Relations. Deaf guests may use reflective captioning stands; ask a Cast Member at the entrance for assistance. The theater is wheelchair accessible, and all areas of The American Adventure Pavilion are wheelchair accessible.
Voices of Liberty is an a cappella singing group that performs patriotic songs, American folk music, and classic arrangements in the rotunda of The American Adventure Pavilion. The acoustics of the rotunda make this one of the best live entertainment experiences in EPCOT. Disney lists the performance as approximately 15 minutes.
America Gardens Theatre, located across the promenade from the main pavilion building, hosts major EPCOT festival concerts and seasonal entertainment. This outdoor venue is used for Candlelight Processional during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, Garden Rocks during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, and Eat to the Beat during the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.
Entertainment schedules can change, so guests should check the My Disney Experience app or the daily EPCOT entertainment schedule for current performance times.
Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors is a special exhibit from the George W. Bush Institute featured inside The American Adventure Pavilion. The collection includes paintings by President George W. Bush honoring post-9/11 military veterans and sharing the stories of service members who have served the United States.
The image above features President George W. Bush working on his painting collection, known as Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors.
American Heritage Gallery is located inside The American Adventure Pavilion and features museum-style exhibits focused on American art, history, and culture. One featured exhibit, Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian Art, showcases historic Native artifacts alongside contemporary works by American Indian artists.
The exhibit demonstrates how ancestral craftsmanship, regional traditions, and cultural expression continue to influence modern generations of Native artists. It includes pieces representing different tribes, regions, materials, and artistic traditions from across the United States.
Highlights from the collection include work inspired by pottery, basketry, textiles, glass, fashion, and other art forms. Contemporary pieces are displayed alongside historical objects to show the connection between past and present.
Shopping inside The American Adventure Pavilion often focuses on Disney artwork, patriotic merchandise, American-themed gifts, prints, gallery wraps, framed artwork, and collectibles. Guests familiar with other Art of Disney locations at Walt Disney World will recognize the type of artwork and collectibles available here.
A number of prints, gallery wraps, matted pieces, framed artwork, and items created by Disney artists can be found inside the pavilion’s shop area. Merchandise selection can change throughout the year.
- The American Adventure Pavilion opened with EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982.
- The pavilion is located near the center of World Showcase.
- The building was inspired by colonial American architecture, including Independence Hall, Boston’s Old State House, Monticello, and Colonial Williamsburg.
- Approximately 110,000 handmade bricks from Georgia clay were used on the building.
- The American Adventure show is hosted by Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain.
- The production uses 35 Audio-Animatronics figures and a 72-foot rear-projection screen.
- The rotunda is known for its acoustics, which help make Voices of Liberty performances especially powerful.
- America Gardens Theatre hosts many of EPCOT’s biggest festival concerts and seasonal performances.
- The American Heritage Gallery features rotating or long-running exhibits tied to American history, culture, and art.
- Regal Eagle Smokehouse is hosted by Sam Eagle from The Muppets.
FUN FACT: Although The American Adventure building is actually five stories high, forced perspective makes it appear closer to two stories high so it better reflects colonial architecture.
HIDDEN MICKEYS: In the foyer of The American Adventure, look for three holes on a girder. During the show, when the Statue of Liberty torch set rises, the cloud of smoke behind the torch can form a Mickey shape.
All areas of The American Adventure Pavilion are wheelchair accessible.
