3 Reasons I Avoid This EPCOT Pavilion Like the Plague

With 11 different pavilions, the World Showcase in EPCOT at Disney World, there’s a pavilion for everyone. Everyone seems to have a top pavilion, but with favorites, that means there is also a least favorite.

For me, I avoid the France pavilion like no one’s business. While I do believe that entering EPCOT through the International Gateway, which is right next to the France and the United Kingdom pavilions. This entrance will have you start at the back of the park, rather than near the entrance by Spaceship Earth, and is a great way to manage EPCOT crowds a little differently. What about the France pavilion gives me the ick? Let me tell you.

My number one reason for avoiding France? The CROWDS!

There aren’t too many attractions inside the World Showcase, and France is home to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, a ride that seems to be on everyone’s bucket list.

The design of the pavilion is very narrow, so it always feels like you’re walking through a large group. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is always packed, too. It’s a popular destination to rope drop, and if you enter the World Showcase from either side, stopping at each one, you’ll likely end up in France in the middle of the day, which brings even more crowds.

Certain pavilions always feel crowded, and others always feel empty, but France is at the top of my crowded list.

My second reason for skipping the pavilion is the smells.

France is home to a few perfume shops and a bakery filled with fresh bread. While I love the smell of fresh bread, adding that to the smell of tons of different types of perfume, it can get to be too much.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure also adds scents while you ride, so you’re adding even more to the mix. While I can appreciate the added theming of scents, it always seems to be a little too much since all the shops are close together.

My last reason I don’t love the France pavilion is that the lines for food are always so long.

The pavilion has Le Creperie de Paris, L’Artisan des Glaces, and Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie (the bakery), as quick service spots, and while I’ve tried and loved them all, the lines are always out the door. You won’t be able to sneak in and grab a crepe before heading to your attraction because even though it’s a window meant to be grab-and-go, it always ends up taking a long time.

If you’re planning on stopping there during an EPCOT festival, like the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, Flower & Garden Festival, or any of the others, they usually have fantastic food that we love to try. Unforently, once again, the lines are going to be long.

Their two sit-down, table service restaurants, Monsieur Paul and Chefs de France, are also fantastic. These will require dining reservations, which can fill up rather quickly, but if you keep checking back, you can usually find one. They’re both on the expensive side, but some of our favorites here at AllEars.

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

What’s your least favorite pavilion? Tell us in the comments, and make sure you keep following AllEars for more!

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