From the day it opened, EPCOT’s World Showcase has been one of the most popular parts of Walt Disney World. Over the last 40+ years, guests have made the most of traveling – and drinking – around the world. Pavilions like the eternally twilight Mexico and its evolving boat ride, the gorgeous Norway and its own attraction (the dearly departed Maelstrom and its modern Disney replacement Frozen Ever After), and the intricately detailed France, complete with the mega-popular Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure draw crowds. However, some of the other pavilions tend to be overshadowed in the minds of many guests.
Take the park’s representation of the United States’ neighbor to the Great White North, the Canada Pavilion. Since this pavilion doesn’t have a flashy, IP-infused attraction or instantly recognizable recreation of a worldwide landmark, the most thought that many guests give to Canada is whether to start their trip around World Showcase there or in Mexico. However, if one digs a little bit deeper, there’s a lot to love about the Canada, from one of the park’s most popular restaurants Le Cellier and recreations of some of North America’s most beautiful natural wonders to an under-radar hoot of film in “Oh, Canada” that harkens back to the EPCOT of old.
The gardens are inspired by real gardens
When you walk into the Canada Pavilion, you’ll want to head straight for the Victoria Gardens, which are inspired by the Butchart Gardens near Victoria, British Columbia.
Did you know the gardens in the Canada Pavilion are the biggest you’ll find in EPCOT?
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The scenery
You’ll want to continue walking through the gardens towards the back of the pavilion on the right side. You’ll see a 30-foot waterfall and mountains inspired by Canada’s Rocky Mountains.
Take a moment to sit here and unwind in this cool quiet place that almost no one seems to know about.
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Le Cellier’s building is based on a real building
Like many other buildings you’ll find in EPCOT, the Hotel du Canada, the building you’ll find Le Cellier in is based on a real building, the Château Laurier hotel in Ottawa. The original Château Laurier dates back to the early 1900s.
Le Cellier Restaurant
Services: Table Service
Although the building in EPCOT seems to be six stories in height, it’s only three stories: Disney used forced perspective to make it look taller.
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You can get ice wine chocolates in the gift shop
You’ll also want to visit the Canada Pavilion’s gift shop where you’ll find one of our favorite snacks, the Coffee Crisp candy bar, along with Canadian beer and spirits. However, the most unique thing you’ll find here are ice wine chocolates.
Ice wine is a dessert wine produced from grapes that were picked after they were frozen on the vine. Canada is the world’s largest producer of ice wine.
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The totem poles are real-ish
The totem poles you see in the Canada Pavilion are made up of a variety of symbols representing real Indigenous tribes. The idea is to capture the spirit of Canada’s Indigenous peoples.
One totem pole tells the story of the Raven tricking the Sky Chief into the release of the sun, moon, and stars from a chest.
The more you know, right? So don’t skip out on the Canada Pavilion the next time you visit EPCOT — it could just surprise you. Check back with AllEars again soon for more.
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What’s your favorite detail in the Canada Pavilion? Share with us in the comments!
I love walking past the gardens and waterfall to enter the movie theater.
I wish they still played the original 360 degree movie. Neither of the subsequent iterations are as good. As a matter of fact, the current movie is uninspired.