I have loved Walt Disney World all my life, but as a child I always hated the World Showcase in Epcot. Ironically, it is now one of my favorite locations on Disney property, but as a youngster there isn’t much appeal to the World Showcase. Most children don’t appreciate the ability to experience different cultures from around the world. Additionally, children don’t typically enjoy the unique foods found at each of the pavilions, so what is there to do to make your children enjoy the second half of Epcot?
Kidcot Fun Stops
At each pavilion in the World Showcase there are Kidcot Fun Stops. These locations provide a special traveler’s card with information about each country and a drawing with Disney characters to color along with a complimentary Ziploc® bag that looks like luggage to keep the cards in. These areas give children the ability to be creative and have some fun, and it gives the ability to interact with cast members from around the world. Each pavilion has cast members from the native lands working at these Kidcot Fun Spots, so they may not even realize the cultural lessons they are getting just from interacting with someone from a foreign nation.
Character Meet-And-Greets
The character meet-and-greets offer a unique learning experience for young children in the World Showcase. Here you can teach your children about where their favorite fairytale characters live. For example, the World Showcase might be the first time your children have any reference for what it means for Mulan to live in China. Whether you are meeting Snow White in Germany or Belle in France, each of these meet-and-greets present a learning opportunity for children. Not only are these meet-and-greets a unique learning experience, but they are also obviously very fun. Some of these characters you can only meet in the World Showcase. Guests with children should be excited to check out Anna and Elsa’s new meet-and-greet at the Norway Pavilion, in their Royal Sommerhus.
Disney Phineas and Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure
If walking around the World Showcase isn’t high paced enough for your children, try enlisting in Agent P‘s World Showcase Adventure. This is a mission around the World Showcase with clues directed at your family via text message that allows you to try and solve a mission for Agent P himself. Directing your family through 7 of the World Showcase Pavilions gives everyone the fun experience of exploring many of the countries while solving clues. I will warn you that this is a long mission, and that each clue can take up to 30 minutes, so this might not be for all families.
Photo Credit: Disney
Stephen "Steve" Porter started going to the parks with his family in 1996. Since then he hasn't looked back! Steve was a cast member participating in the Disney College Program in 2013. Most recently he graduated from Penn State University!
