Your an Imagineer in charge of adding a New Country to Epcot

[samuraiblue]

For a lot of these other places, you'd first have to explain to Americans that these nations exist before you could suggest travel plans.

It's painfully unfortunate, but it's extremely true. (And, yes... before someone gets upset, I am American...) But World Showcase was built from the late 70s/early 80s American "World's Fair" Viewpoint. Things hadn't gotten as globally... tense, as they have been recently. It's kinda sad... I mean, there are still quite a few very largely known countries (which have been discussed in this thread) that haven't become pavilions unfortunately.

I just dont see how Disney continues to overlook these

I don't necessarily think that they are overlooked, I think that first off, they are content with the World Showcase as is, (for now...), but from a Management/Fiscal perspective, they want a pavilion that would create a large draw for the majority of the guests that visit their parks. Plus, if you look at it, every pavilion in the Showcase, is (or at least WAS, at the Showcases peak of popularity...) run by a large private company from that country. It's still true in many cases, with the exception of Morocco which was sponsored by the Moroccan Gov't, themselves for awhile.

And at least from a WDW Parks Management perspective, I'm sure Epcot is a difficult park to work with. The Future is always changing, and while I am a HUGE fan of the oldies like World of Motion, Horizons, and Wonders of Life, the truth is that Future World HAS to take attraction updating precedence over the countries. The O' Canada Film can be updated a MILLION Times, but if we're still viewing the "Future of Vehicles" as a bubble car at the World of Motion TransCenter, then somethings wrong...

[napastoy]

My first choice is a real African Pavilion...yes I know, Animal Kingdom, but again its' all about the animals and the culture aspects are very slighted. I remember my first visit to Epcot with daughter in tow and we passed the Outpost that is suppose to suffice for African culture, we as African-Americans were appalled! You throw some guy in there selling flea market stuff and this is Africa?

My second choice would be Australia/Oceania, because I could probably then get my Lord of the Rings fix while also enjoying the down under feeling.

And next would be Spain...how we have neglected this beautiful country and its people is beyond me. Unless of course Mexico was suppose to handle such yearnings. That wouldn't surprise me given the whole outpost fiasco.

[mdk010]

I think Egypt, Russia, or Argentina

I have been to Argentina and there is so much culture that could be displayed in a pavilion. For instance La Boca section of B.A. would be great!

[DaRkNeSs]

I think Egypt!

Wow Egypt is another great part of the World that could be very cool to add. No lack of history and culture there. Man thats an awesome idea!

[napastoy]

I know a lot of people diss on Canada (Which I think is wrong) but I think its one of the best areas in showcase when it comes to good feeling atmosphere. Really that whole area right there with Rose and Crown and the shops and Off Kilter rocks. Also, I shudder to think of WDW without Le Cellier, cause that would mean no marvelous cheddar cheese soup.

[DisBeamer]

For a lot of these other places, you'd first have to explain to Americans that these nations exist before you could suggest travel plans.

It's painfully unfortunate, but it's extremely true. (And, yes... before someone gets upset, I am American...) But World Showcase was built from the late 70s/early 80s American "World's Fair" Viewpoint. Things hadn't gotten as globally... tense, as they have been recently. It's kinda sad... I mean, there are still quite a few very largely known countries (which have been discussed in this thread) that haven't become pavilions unfortunately.

I'm not really a student of political history, but I'm not sure it's fair to say that the 70s/early 80s were politically less 'tense' than nowadays. That whole Cold War thing was tense, so I've heard.

I know what you're getting at, I think, re: American/Western xenophobia being on the rise, and I'm sure it'd preclude Disney from considering, like, the Syria pavilion and whatnot, but there are a lot of countries/regions that could still be investigated, many of which have come up in this thread already as you pointed out (Egypt & Australia for instance). Or, they could aim at one of the original points of the world's fair concept... to increase knowledge of other countries/cultures and break down the aforementioned barriers in the process.

Yes, I know they won't do that. But it'd be neat.

[keneka]

I love the idea of australia - you could have maybe another circle vision film that includes their varied landscape and people, plus a restaurant that is kind of like a new le cellier (as it's always full and booked) which sells steaks - a la BBQ style. The shop could sell boomerangs, aboriginal art, etc and I'm sure there would be room for finding nemo merchandise.

[DaRkNeSs]

I know a lot of people diss on Canada (Which I think is wrong) but I think its one of the best areas in showcase when it comes to good feeling atmosphere. Really that whole area right there with Rose and Crown and the shops and Off Kilter rocks. Also, I shudder to think of WDW without Le Cellier, cause that would mean no marvelous cheddar cheese soup.

I enjoy that row as well! Fits great together with just the atmosphere, Off kilter, british invasion and then the food yummy! Maybe a pint of half & half Bass and Harp! To enjoy while I listen to the music! Then off for a great steak and yes a big bowl of the great cheddar cheese soup! Yummy!

Australia would be a cool edition! I wouldnt mind that country either!
:donald:

[napastoy]

DisBeamer, what you said about the original World's Fair concept, got me thinking. If they can't decide on a country to add that would be politically acceptable to a majority, how about taking that original World's Fair concept and expanding it.

One of the sad things that the US has done is to let the history and importance of the World's Fairs be almost forgotten. Which is pretty darn sad when they are such a vibrant part of our history. I'm a big fan of the fairs' history so I've read as many books and watched or purchased as many DVD's as I could about the past fairs.

There really isn't any one place (except for a few internet sites that aren't ever really updated) that chronicles the history of the World's Fairs and all they helped achieved to shape our world.

Why not a World's Fair Pavilion that would showcase the history of these great events...that way we could get certain countries at least featured in some sort of way that they probably wouldn't be with a separate pavilion as things stand now.


I know economics is a big issue with getting a new pavilion built, because the host country has to be willing to fork over a certain amount of cash to get the pavilion built. Maybe more countries (and other sponsors) would be more willing to help fund a World's Fair Pavilion since it would involve number of different cultures.

[DisBeamer]

I know economics is a big issue with getting a new pavilion built, because the host country has to be willing to fork over a certain amount of cash to get the pavilion built. Maybe more countries (and other sponsors) would be more willing to help fund a World's Fair Pavilion since it would involve number of different cultures.

I like this idea; it's reminiscent of the Millennium Celebration, really. Which means they even have a place to put it already, assuming they wanted to give up the space in the Millennium pavilion since I know they use it for corporate and hard-ticketed events at the moment.

It'd be a good use of that space, though, and in keeping with the feel of World Showcase. It seemed pretty successful during 2000, and seeing as the exterior of the building wouldn't be themed to a particular country, countries could come and go on the inside so no one participate would have to pony up a lot of cash up front.

[ghost hostess]

I definitely think Egypt would be an amazing addition. They could have the main restaurant inside a pyramid replica or a sphinx. That would be really cool.

[HauntedMansion74]

Spain would be very neat to see! So would India! Alot of culture there!

[ronatie]

This may have already been posted but look what I found...

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id207.htm

[DisBeamer]

This may have already been posted but look what I found...

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id207.htm

Referencing that link ... I can't remember if the Israel argument was tanked by the database corruption (looks like it was), but of the other 'unrealized ideas' there, I always found it odd that they were lumping "Equatorial Africa" together in one clump. Why wouldn't they choose a specific African country to work with? Apart from Morocco, I mean.

[cousininmiami]

I would like to see a Caribbean area. I would locate it in the area before Germany. It would be a lot of fun, beach-y, tropical, and a lot of countries could be represented there. The food from those island nations are delicious! The music is fun too, lots of steel drums and reggae!