Originally Posted By Elderp According to this article Epcot World Showcase is overated. Having never been there I can't say I agree or disagree. Interesting to me was it specifically sited World Showcase and not Futureworld. <a href="http://cityguides.msn.com/citylife/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4939978&page=4" target="_blank">http://cityguides.msn.com/city life/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4939978&page=4</a>
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Personally, I really enjoy World Showcase and after every visit I always regret not spending more time there. Would I rather go to France than the France pavilion? Of course. But for many, that dream will never happen. I don't consider World Showcase a substitute for world travel...but it is a nice taste of the world.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys The author of that review is being a little picky. Of course, there is no substitute for the real thing, but to get a flavor of the real deal, I think World showcase is just fine.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom The World Showcase is not over rated. Its incredible. Now that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to see it freshened up or perhaps some new countries with new rides/ attractions. Perhaps one of the best things about the World Showcase is how the place comes alive during certain "festivals" during the year. EPCOT certainly outdoes the Magic Kingdom at Christmas Time. Then we have the Food and Wine Festival, the Spring Flower Festival. Not to mention all the daily shows and activities that take place in all those pavallions. Its informative and easily the best variety of food at WDW can all be found at the World Showcase. For me the World Showcase is not just a group of authentic looking buildings. Its the mix of International cast members, foods, cultures, and festivities.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 How does a writer compare a theme park to actual travel ? Of course really going to the actual places and interacting with the cultures is the way to go -- so we have what 11 countries -- so 11 trips at say $5K- $10K each trip vs. $65 ticket -- one can't tell me people don't get that fraction of the saem interaction. Most people will never visit China - or Morocco for instance -- at EPCOT - a guest can interface with people from those countries and I have always found them to be extremely willing to interact. I always enjoy using my rudimentary German in talking with people in the Biergarten -- if this writer is critical of it not being the same as the actual experience , he must really hate the kennedy Space center tour - because that is nothing like actually travelling in Space -- geez
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well said Tom and exactly how I feel. WS is easily a highlight of Orlando for us.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Spot on VBDAD. I have had the pleasure of travelling to many of the countries in WS, but never in one day ;-). And I prefer the WDW version to the real thing in some instances (France)
Originally Posted By RoadTrip The author has an ax to grind. She writes articles for the Tampa Bay Business Journal. It is her job to make people think that Disney World isn't all that. I think World Showcase is fantastic. Is it like going to the real country? Duh... of course not. But it is one of the most relaxing theme park experiences you will find. Nothing beats taking your time in the showcase, enjoying the architecture, checking out the shops, enjoying the general ambiance and eating at some of the finest restaurants in WDW. Combine that with Illuminations at the end of the day and the Showcase is as good as it gets. We never try to see the Showcase on a day when we go to Future World. The Showcase is worth a day on it's on, as well as being where we finish almost every evening we are at WDW.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <The author has an ax to grind. She writes articles for the Tampa Bay Business Journal. It is her job to make people think that Disney World isn't all that.< How ironic that all she was able to show is that SHE isn't all that...
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl I love the WS! We spent at least one whole day just wandering in and out of all of the countries. We try to either eat or drink something from every country and the kids love the shows!
Originally Posted By WeirdJohn World Showcase is the best. I especially like the fact that you can sample foods from each country. That's my favorite part and will probably beat the lunch I have today in work.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Good point about Epcot (and World Showcase) at Christmas time. No park does it better. I wonder if she is going to pooh-pooh the new Shuttle attraction at NASA by saying it ain't better than taking off on the real thing from the Cape.
Originally Posted By juicer I laughed after I read that article Of course being able to go the actual countries that are represented at Epcot is better - I think that is one of the reasons why those countries wanted to be sponsored - To give a taste or general feeling of what it's like to go to those countries - Then to eventually GO to those countries
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 ^^Exactly! It's advertising for those countries. There's a reason why the CM's are from the countries they represent. It's like a mini-tourism brochure, but in 3-D! Of course it's not meant to supplant the real thing...jeez. I love World Showcase, and the only thing it needs is more! More attractions, countries, etc. It's one of the best areas of any theme park (well, the ones I've been to anyway).
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Our church group has taken trips to Italy several times. Refrigeration not good, food at markets left out for flies, restaurant bathrooms are "down 2 buildings to the right." No question the country is beautiful, and full of history, but I'll take the Disney version any day. And settle for the Travel Channel to watch the real thing.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Different strokes for different folks, as they say. No way would I substitute a day at an Epcot pavilion for the real thing. But there is no substitute for a day at Disney either. Really, they're different experiences, and you can't compare the two.
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror I love it, it's great. That said, it needs expanding and augmenting, as there's a staleness to a lot of it. Aside from modest detailed enhancements, WS has been neglected for far too long.
Originally Posted By LadyandtheTramp Have been to 10 of the 11 (No. 11, Morocco coming up in November), and comparing the World Showcase to the "real thing" is like comparing apples to trout - both may be present on earth, but are completely different "animals". Go to the real place, and you get totally immersed: WS gives you a taste, but a sanitized taste that is controlled and orchastrated. Real world is exciting, interesting, and, to put it mildly, scary, depending on where you go. Can't really call the WS scary - so long as you don't talk about the prices in the restaurants. But it is that absence that removes some of the excitement. I will admit, though, that seeing the "France movie" made me want to go to see the real thing. Same with the Norway movie, China and Italy.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I love World Showcase! It's one of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite, parts of WDW. I could walk around the countries all day long. There's so much to see. Even my 7 year old nephew loves it. He can't wait to get another passport in December and get it stamped "around the world" again.
Originally Posted By jkayjs To tell you the truth I can't believe her editor allowed such a mornic piece pass for journalism. She starts out comparing WS to actual international travel then with out skipping a beat talks about an artist colony as if this is all one cohesive thought. During my psych rotation we called this "flight of ideas". I sure hope they don't let this gal do any serious coverage, now that could be frightening.
