Walt Disney World‘s EPCOT has always stood apart from its sister parks for its bold ambition: a celebration of human achievement, global culture, and imaginative possibility. But while recent additions have injected new life into parts of the park, there’s still a glaring shortfall… particularly in World Showcase, where the need for more attractions is apparent.
World Showcase, the cultural heart of EPCOT, spans 11 pavilions representing countries from around the globe. It was originally envisioned as a place where guests could not only dine and shop but also explore educational and entertaining attractions unique to each nation’s heritage and storytelling traditions. Originally planned attractions never materialized, and decades later, World Showcase still remains light on attractions, offering more atmosphere than adventure.
While the most recent addition of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure added a boost of family-friendly capacity and injected more intellectual property into EPCOT, it also highlighted the imbalance across World Showcase. France now enjoys the kind of interactive storytelling experience guests crave, but other pavilions still rely mostly on dining and shops, with only a few featuring short films…
So, What’s Missing? Quite a Bit.
Imagine a Coco-themed boat ride or theater-style show in Mexico. With its vibrant visuals and emotional core, Coco would fit seamlessly into the pavilion’s aesthetic and offer a culturally rich, music-filled journey through the Land of the Dead. Word is Disney will have to rethink how Gran Fiesta Tour’s queue space works, as the indoor pavilion couldn’t support the demand a Coco attraction would bring. Here’s hoping something is still in the works…
Italy, long considered one of the most underutilized pavilions, could benefit immensely from a Luca-inspired water ride. The film’s Italian Riviera setting, themes of friendship and exploration, and sea monster transformations practically beg for an attraction; perhaps a whimsical boat ride or water coaster that captures the charm of Portorosso?
Over in China, a country with deep mythology and storytelling traditions, the possibilities are vast. If Disney wanted to go the IP route, a dark ride featuring Mulan – beyond just the movie’s characters – could bring something both authentic and engaging to the pavilion.
And what about Japan? I love walking through Mitsukoshi (bonus AC break), but can’t help but feel this giant pavilion is missing something more experiential other than dining and shopping. Once upon a time, a Mount Fuji coaster and bullet train simulator were once planned for the pavilion. Disney has shown a renewed interest in thrill rides in other parks, and now that intellectual property is more freely used throughout EPCOT, perhaps a tie-in with something like Big Hero 6, Kingdom Hearts, or an original Japanese myth-based coaster could finally revive the idea.
World Showcase is the scenic route through EPCOT, but to better serve today’s guests—many of whom are families seeking experiences to share across generations—it needs more rides. Attractions enhance capacity, distribute crowds more evenly, and keep EPCOT feeling like an imaginative, evolving park. The more reasons guests have to explore every pavilion, the more the “World’s Fair” concept behind EPCOT comes to life.
Of course, inserting IP into World Showcase is a controversial topic for purists. But if done with cultural respect and creative storytelling, these attractions can deepen visitors’ emotional connection to the places and traditions represented.
What do you think? What would you like to see next at EPCOT? While we’re at it, which country would you choose to be added to the World Showcase?
