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Germany
Epcot |
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EPCOT
Attraction Seating AT
A GLANCE... FUTURE
WORLD WORLD
SHOWCASE ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL
EVENTS HOLIDAYS TOURS SPECIAL
REPORTS ARCHIVES OTHER
THEME PARKS
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INTRODUCTION
ATTRACTIONS The shops and food areas are the featured attractions in Germany. DINING
Sommerfest - Counter service serving bratwurst, pretzels, beer, etc. Epcot Restaurants
At A Glance Atmosphere entertainment is the German band, Oktoberfest Musikanten which plays in the Biergarten. For more information on Epcot Live Entertainment, visit Steve Soares WDW Entertainment Website.  Be
sure to visit the shops full of Hummel and Goebel collectibles, as
well as Arribas Brothers crystal. You can sometimes find an
artisan working on Goebel or Hummel figures.
Wine tastings are available in Germany. Visit the shops to see German steins and cuckoo clocks.
Check out the Clock Tower on the hour. As the clock strikes the bell, two Hummel figurines come out (like the famous Glockenspiel in Munich). A special Oktoberfest Celebration takes place each October in Epcot's Germany.
Holidays from Around the World features storytellers in each country. In Germany, St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) makes appearances throughout the afternoon. Assistive Listening Devices from Guest Services can be used in the Biergarten.
There is an absolutely wonderful miniature German train and village scene just outside the building. There's a foot bridge that goes across it for those who want to view it from the middle. My older son and one of his cousins (both near 3 years old at the time) spent a full hour running from one side of the bridge to the other watching those trains. Even after all that time, my son was not pleased when we told him it was time to go. From an adult standpoint, the scene is quite detailed and beautiful to look at. They did a great job on all of the details. And, if you have a train loving young one with you, there's a bench right across from the footbridge where, unless it's particularly crowded, you can have a seat and rest while your child is in a reasonably confined area, totally fascinated. (Our best photos from the trip were at this location. We all ended up with various photos of the two boys with their synchronized head turning and totally rapt expressions.) (Jane O'Brien) Look for Snow White to sometimes make appearances. Each of the World Showcase countries has
a special "KIDCOT" area
that provides an opportunity for your child to interact with a native
of the country you are visiting. Epcot Characters
At A Glance
Der Bucherwurm - Steins,
glassware, hand-painted eggs, and sundries.
The special Goebel artist signing Mickey and Friends handcrafted figurines tempted the Shoppers, but knowing that those collectibles would exceed our price limit, they delved deeper into the store. The pick of most of the Shoppers was the green Pickle Ornament from the Die Weihnachts Ecke shop for $8.50. Pickle ornaments in Germany are considered very special and are generally the last item parents put on the tree on Christmas Eve. In fact, the pickle ornament is hidden from view amidst the tree branches, and as soon as the children are allowed to see the tree, the hunt begins. The lucky finder of the special pickle ornament receives an extra gift from St. Nicholas for being the most observant child. Other SouvenEARS that earned high marks: other handmade Christmas Ornaments like nutcracker characters and cuckoo clocks ($20); German Finger Puppets ($7-$10); Chocolate Stein ($8.95); Mini Steins ($13-$16); Clip-on Candle Ornaments ($8).
Rather than construct precise replicas of buildings found in Germany, the designers of the pavilion adapted German structures to fit the scale and needs of World Showcase. For example, the facade of Der Bucherwurm is modeled after the Kaufhaus, a medieval merchant's hall in Freiburg. However, there are 4 statues representing Hapsburg emperors in the hall in Freiburg, Der Bucherwurm, which is not large enough to support them all, has only three. The facade of the art and book shop was inspired by the Kaufhaus, a 16th century merchants hall in Freiburg in the Black Forest. Statues on the building recall the rule of the Hapsburg Emperors. An exterior facade was copied from a 400-year old town hall in Romsburg Square in Frankfurt. The high wall serving as the backdrop for the showcase was inspired by Eltz Castle on the Mosel River and Stahleck Castle on the Rhine. The landscaping within the village itself is minimal. Red flowers, particularly geraniums and begonias, dominate the floral displays in the area. Window boxes coordinate with the baskets and fountain planting to carry the color throughout the scene. Here roses are used for their sweet-smelling scent rather than for their showy blooms. |
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Epcot
International Flower and Garden Festival 
