Upon EPCOT Center’s opening in October 1982, World Showcase quickly became one of the most beloved areas of Walt Disney World. Nearly 40 years later, the collection of heavily-themed international pavilions remains a crown jewel in the Florida resort’s crown, beloved by millions. However, that’s not to say that modern World Showcase is perfect.
World Showcase has seen numerous experiences come and go over the years, and these are five experiences in World Showcase that we wish Disney would bring back!
Maelstrom:
Let’s get this out of the way now: yes, it’s highly unlikely that Maelstrom ever returns as it’s IP-infused replacement, Frozen Ever After, is wildly popular and isn’t going anywhere. However, we still miss Maelstrom.
From its eccentric trolls to its iconic (in some circles) post-ride film, Maelstrom defined the Norway pavilion in a way the Frozen attraction simply doesn’t. Beyond that, the ride defined an earlier era of World Showcase when any attractions in the pavilions were directly tied to the real life country they represented, as opposed to intellectual properties that are tangentially related.
The Millennium Village
During the EPCOT Millennium Celebration, the large structure next to the Canada pavilion (which currently serves as the World Showplace during the annual Food and Wine Festival) was known as the Millennium Village.
The pavilion housed exhibits from numerous countries around the world that aren’t otherwise represented in World Showcase, offering games, food, and even some miniature rides. Now obviously if a version of this concept were to return the name would need to be different, but we’d love to see a permanent installation celebrating countries and cultures that have no other representation in the park. The pavilion could provide a way for the numerous countries we’d love to see in World Showcase to appear without constructing expensive pavilions for them, which often seems to be a dealbreaker.
A Parade
Much like the Millennium Village, the Tapestry of Nations parade was key part of the Millennium Celebration when it began in late 1999. The parade, made up of large marionettes, puppets, and rotating drum units, wound through World Showcase each day spreading a message of unity and world peace. The parade was tweaked to become the Tapestry of Dreams parade in 2001, removing some elements of the original and replacing them with original characters known as the Dreamseekers. The parade ended its run in 2003. Again, much like the aforementioned Millennium Village, we’re not calling for either Tapestry of Nations to Tapestry of Dreams to return as they were nearly 20 years ago. However, a new parade twisting through World Showcase daily would bring a sense of kinetic energy that the area is definitely lacking these days.
A Lagoon Show
Similar to the parade, we’d love to see a live show return to the World Showcase Lagoon. As we’ve written about previously, the precedent for this type of show was set decades ago with Skyleidoscope. What was Skyleidoscope you ask? Well it was a:
… gala extravaganza of sea and sky wrapped in a kaleidoscope of magical rainbows made from silk, smoke, and sparkle. Set to a marvelous musical symphony, the 15 minute extravaganza features 60 flying, whirling, sailing objects of imagination and 80 aero-mariners. Dreamfinder, the famous character from EPCOT Center’s Journey into Imagination, directs his whimsical navy and air force from an 85 foot airship. Together they try to build magical rainbows but are thwarted by the invasion of winged dragons in the lagoon below. Calling on an entire fleet of candy-striped parasails, speedy sea scooters, colorful sailboats and sea planes, Dreamfinder commands an exciting battle of fireworks and frenzy, until the monstrous dragons turn into harmless dragonflies. Only then can Dreamfinder create rainbows so breathtaking that only seeing is believing.
While the show shouldn’t be an exact recreation of the one from the 80s, a daily show in the Lagoon would be a great way to draw crowds to the back of the park early in the day, and, frankly, would be a perfect way to keep guests entertained during the major refurb EPCOT is currently going through. Plus, incorporating Dreamfinder and Figment into the new show would be a great way to include those massively popular characters in the park beyond the Imagination! pavilion.
Illuminations
Yes, EPCOT Forever was a solid nighttime show before it went away and was replaced by Harmonious, which hasn’t really struck a chord with EPCOT fans. So it doesn’t seem like a leap to say that neither of them will ever be as universally beloved as Illuminations and specifically Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. We wouldn’t mind seeing an updated and modernized take on Illuminations return as opposed to a new show altogether.
Would you like to see any of these elements return to World Showcase? Is there a major missing piece you think we missed, or do you like things just the way they are. Let us know in the comments below.
More frequent Friendship Boats
Even though it was seasonal and not permanent, The Lights of Winter were taken from us in 2009 and I’ve still not forgiven them for that. I have wonderful memories of “The Lights” and would give almost anything for their return.
Imagination needs to be restored to its original glory. It would bring joy and a wonderful sense of nostalgia to so many. It’s been a let down for all to see since it was changed.
You nailed it. Loved millennium village and tapestry of nations. Still have earrings I got from booth in millennium village. I so miss Maelstrom too. Just not same. Stores either in Norway.
Miss top section of Canada too. Used to have stores up by waterfall view.
Sounds !ike Summer cover bands were incredible! Most were better live than original group! I went every year and all three sets for Stayin Alive the Bee Gees cover band they were awesome. Bring back the upstairs portion of imagination pavilion. Oh and I vote for frozen to thaw out!
I know this wasn’t in world showcase, but my top five I would like to see returned, is Horizons, Horizons, Horizons, Horizons, oh and Horizons…Just sayin. 😉
I miss the World Showcase Players! Rubbish, you say??? Always caught at least one show in Italy and UK whenever we were in EPCOT. Talented improv actors, loved their energy and creativity.
Yes! I remember the improve players in UK and Italy as well. They chose several guests to take part in their recreation of a short Commedia skit, fairy tale or “Mini-Shakespeare” play, and the results were hysterical!
Captain EO!
Millennium Village & Tapestry of Nations!
Bring them back!!
Captain Eo… was amazing! And I demand they bring back impressions of France 🇫🇷
The “Impressions of France” film is still there! We saw it in December 2020. I believe they are alternating it with a Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along in the France theatre now.
Maelstrom sorely missed. Frozen is fine but surely better at HS really? Illuminations – wow, what a show, the soundtrack still gets played at volume in my car. British Invasion in the rose garden.
I think it would be great to bring back the original Imagination pavilion with the original ride and playground. I also miss the original ride through the aquarium when you enter The Living Seas.
I would spend one day during every vacation, running back and forth, taking in every show Off Kilter had.
Same here! The timing of the shows between British Invasion and Off Kilter was perfect with a little time to stop for an adult beverage in between.
Off Kilter is truly missed! Disney has really goofed cutting corners on the musicians at all of the parks.
Love Off Kilter
Major fireworks at Epcot Center, maybe it was Illuminations, not sure because that was years ago that I was at Epcot and I loved all the different Countries and they had a wine festival at that time. Bring it back!!!!
Truly miss Maelstrom! I looked forward to that! Illuminations was a great show. That would be a hit to have return.
Tapestry of dreams and Illumination was great and would to see both again
OFF KILTER!!!! Number One on my list would be to bring back Off Kilter!
I’d like to see Illuminations return.
Bring back illuminations.?..was the beat!!! So romantically beautiful snout our earth and different countries all over the world…lighting up c ountries connected with lasers to spaceship earth.?having many memories seeing this always…I lived and worked at Disney having alot of memories there too..will bebs k living there soon again
reflections is the soul of Disney–nothing like it on this planet–wish would come back-I understand that time marches on, however, there are things that do remain in the hearts of Disney folks–reflections is one of those.
Off Kilter!