I (Heart) World Showcase

Welcome to those of you joining me from Focused on the Magic and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 2nd stop on our Magical Blogorail.

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This month’s theme is Favorite World Showcase Pavilion.  I love World Showcase in general, so it’s really hard to narrow it down to the pavilion I love the most.  Honestly, in all my treks around the World Showcase, I know there is still so, so much that I have yet to see.  I’d love nothing more than to devote a few whole days to just the World Showcase alone – and, even then, I doubt I’d see it all. 

I love different aspects of different pavilions.  For example, when I was 5 years old, we lived in Italy for 5 months.  I remember very little of that trip, but certain things in the Italy pavilion trigger my memories.  For example, the gondola reminds me of a certain (scary) visit to Venice.

My daughter Ashley has seen those red phone booths on various movies over the years and was thrilled with the opportunity to finally get her picture taken in one on our last trip.

I love the show in the American Adventure pavilion (though I confess I dozed off during our last visit!)

I love the gardens in China and Canada – so different, yet both so stunningly beautiful.

I love the attention to detail in each and every pavilion. 

But, alas, if I have to narrow it down to a favorite, it would be a toss-up between Mexico and Norway.  These are the two pavilions that carry the most memories for me – of past Disney visits – probably because they are the only two pavilions that contain rides.  And, while the rides are very different, they both include a boat ride – and I remember enjoying them both as a young adult.

Since I prefer the old  version of the ride in Mexico over the new one with the Three Caballeros, and since I shared that the Princess Breakfast in Norway is our absolute favorite character meal (to date), I guess I’ll pick Norway as my favorite pavilion (today – ask me tomorrow, or next week, and my answer may be different).

The girls, meeting Mary Poppins, after our lovely breakfast with the princesses
in AkershusJanuary 2009

Our family, in front of the waterfall in the Norway pavilionJanuary 2009

Gracie jousting with a friend in NorwayMay 2010

Ian as the Viking Juice Pouch DrinkerMay 2010

Ashley with the Giant TrollMay 2011

Ian tries jousting with a Cast MemberMay 2011

Yes, we’ve had a lot of fun visiting Norway over the years, and look forward to return visit in January 2012.  We’ve got ADR’s for another Princess Breakfast at Akershus, and maybe we’ll try to get another family picture with the waterfall in the background (if we can find a nice person to take it for us).  And I bet we’ll try more sword-fighting, and maybe even a pastry.

What is your favorite World Showcase Pavilion?Please leave me a comment and let me know!

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Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Disney on Wheels.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1^st Stop ~ Focused on the Magic
2^nd Stop ~ Ramblings, Reflections and Reviews (You are here!)
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4^th Stop ~ A Glass Slipper Vacation
Final Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky