Originally Posted By hightp This may have already been covered, but I was just looking at some photos of the World Showcase pavilions and was wondering if any of the structures had upper floors. In Japan it would appear that the pagoda would have enough room for either storage or an office, the same with the buildings in Canada. I always thought the tower in Italy was wasted space since it was to thin to house anything. I was just curious to know if there is anything on the upper levels or if they're just empty space.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss France has the Bistro de Paris, one of the best restaurants in WDW. A lot of people are only familiar with Chefs de France. You can't see the Bistro because it is upstairs and has a rather hidden entrance.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Epcot originally had lots of second floors... Then.. well, stuff happened. Part of it ADA compliance and a alck of suitable space for elevators, and a lot of it was sheer apathy on the part of WDW management. There used to be shopping in the second floors of some areas - like in France and I think also in Italy but can't confirm it. In France it was above where the meet and greet currently is located. Work has been done in the last two years to convert the second floor of the temple complex in Japan into office space for the pavilion's store and sponsorship. That gateway you go through into the back of the store and the exhibit flanked with the statues is the area in question. Upstairs in Canada used to be a bevy of shops. Guests still go up to the second floor plaza on their way to O Canada but now all of the shops are shuttered. those were some of the last to close, likely because the of the guest flow to O Canada. Back in Future World there's the ever famous second floor of Imagination that was wildly popular - it closed during the first refurb of the ride. There was also two levels of Communicore with open walkways and such looking down into various area, not to mention the Astuter Computer show was entered on the second level. When it became Innoventions they filled in the first level, which originally was sunka few feet down into the ground, and eliminated the 2nd floor areas, leaving just a 1 and 3/4th sort of space. The second floor dining of Electric Umbrella, steps down into the Epcot 25 gallery, and 2nd floor office space with windows visible from the main plaza (Mousegear side) are all remnants of the old layout.
Originally Posted By jkayjs <<and 2nd floor office space with windows visible from the main plaza (Mousegear side) are all remnants of the old layout.>> I still have a sweatshirt I bought off a sell rack on that 2nd floor with the old logo. Thank for the memory.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 Years ago when I was in mgmt at EPCOT we were called in to a meeting. It seems some of the 3rd shift custodial staff had set up make shift beds in the upstairs areas of several of the WS countries. Security had staked out the ones that were known about and had caught some CM's sleeping and they were fired. I was put on a task force that spend 2 weeks going thru every inch of the WS pavillions looking for beds, etc and we found several. Back them most of the upstairs areas looked like your attic. They were unfinished, pipes, insulation, storage.
Originally Posted By hightp Thanks for the info. There are a lot of areas that the public will never have access to, and I wondered if there was actually any usable space there.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Security had staked out the ones that were known about and had caught some CM's sleeping and they were fired. I was put on a task force that spend 2 weeks going thru every inch of the WS pavillions looking for beds, etc and we found several. >>> It's amazing that there are so many hidden areas that it would take a task force 2 weeks to go through it all.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Japan has two floors that are active, no? Shopping downstairs and dining upstairs? I remember going "upstairs" for the Astuter Computer show.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Yes, but I think "everyone" knows there is an upstairs in Japan because of the large stairway leading up to it.
Originally Posted By dizneed Not to mention the second floor to the Garden Grill restaurant in the Land pavillion. I remember way back when we had our Annual passes we were allowed up there as a perk for refreshments, information or just to relax. I don't know if that is still available?
Originally Posted By sjhym33 No, the upstairs from the Garden Grill is now used as a training facility, houses an office for entertainment and a costume dressing area for the characters for the Garden Grill.
Originally Posted By mickeylovesgolf Norway had an upstairs office/conference area a few years ago. I was invited to participate in a screening of a television show for Animal Planet and to give feedback. Our group met in a conference room on the second floor in Norway. It was a fun experience, and we even got a small stipend for our time.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Years ago when I was in mgmt at EPCOT we were called in to a meeting. It seems some of the 3rd shift custodial staff had set up make shift beds in the upstairs areas of several of the WS countries. Security had staked out the ones that were known about and had caught some CM's sleeping and they were fired. I was put on a task force that spend 2 weeks going thru every inch of the WS pavillions looking for beds, etc and we found several. Back them most of the upstairs areas looked like your attic. They were unfinished, pipes, insulation, storage. << As well as they should have been fired. I have no respect for a person that sleeps or goofs-off on the job, and gets caught at it. Being a slacker at work takes years of dedicated practice. Only a very few are completely successful at it. All of you out there reading this while your boss thinks your working, remember, it takes practice, and stealth to become the office slug.
Originally Posted By danyoung > I have no respect for a person that sleeps or goofs-off on the job, and gets caught at it.< Operative words here are AND GETS CAUGHT AT IT. I'm VERY good at being the office slug, and am proud of my accomplishment!
Originally Posted By danyoung Believe it or not I miss TDLFAN. I always liked going toe to toe with him, but I don't think he enjoyed the process as much.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Maybe he could correct my grammar/typos too! << He was the only one worse than me on this board about that.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I saw TDLFAN just before the holidays and he looks great (I think he'd be OK with me saying so) and is ... just one helluva guy. I miss him here, but there's no doubt that his staying away from here (and other Disney sites too) is good for him ... and since he is a real friend, that's what's important to me. I doubt he could return here and half-ass it. And being as passionate as he is can burn you out ... I know about that first-hand. But with old man Pierce and old Disney gadfly Leemac back, I feel energized. I just wish WDW was too!
Originally Posted By danyoung Spirit, seriously, next time you see TDLFAN tell him his old nemesis from Dallas says hey, and I hope all is well with the ol' curmudgeon!
