Hey, friends! It’s another week, and another Disney Debate here at the DIS. This time around, we are asking our community to share their opinions on EPCOT’s World Showcase. It’s an incredible place to be where guests can wander in and out of some of the most interesting countries around the world, all without leaving the Disney Parks. Music, architecture, food, and experiences all soothe the senses as you take a little bite of each destination. Some pavilions have rides or shows, others have full table service restaurants and character experiences. Every stop is unique and special, but does the area represent enough diversity in the modern world?
Yes, I know. I used the “D” word without offering a trigger warning, but I think we can all handle it in this context. When you look at a world map and compare it to Disney’s World Showcase, we can see that a fair few of the countries represented are located in Europe and the UK areas of the globe. Think Norway, Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, which are 5 out of the 11 pavilions. North America is represented by Canada, the United States, and Mexico pavilions, while China and Japan are carrying the torch for Asia, along with Morocco, which is technically considered part of North Africa. However, it feels like the world is so much bigger than this, and the showcase might be lacking some diversity.
For a few years now, I’ve been trying to encourage Australia into the mix somehow. I have a convincing argument if you have time to hear it. Qantas is a sponsor, as are Koala Toys, Bluey Character, Lammingtons, and Vegemite tasting. It’s a thing. However, that isn’t the direction this one is going in. I’m just looking for some feedback on what you think about the collection of countries and whether there is a gaping hole that we are missing.
Whenever the idea of a twelfth pavilion is mentioned, I see many great suggestions, even outside of Australia: Brazil, Thailand, regions of Indonesia, India, and Greece. There really aren’t any bad suggestions for me, as someone who immediately thinks of all the incredible food these countries offer, and I am instantly on board. A new Disney Park just announced for the United Arab Emirates has reinvigorated the burning question about World Showcase and whether it truly represents the world, as the name suggests.
What would you replace to give EPCOT’s key attraction a more diverse representation of our world?
