5. Very, Very Likely: Brazil
Rumors have increased heavily in recent years that at any moment, Disney is announcing the arrival of a Brazil pavilion to the World Showcase. This rumor crops up a lot on Disney news websites. At the time of this writing, fans are particularly intrigued by shrubs set up along the pathway between the Germany and Italy pavilions. What is Disney building behind those shrubs? Is it the Brazil pavilion?
Disney has long teased hints that a new World Showcase pavilion is on the way, and many experts think Brazil is the most likely candidate. For one thing, South America is long overdue some sort of representation at Walt Disney World. While a rainforest addition to Disney’s Animal Kingdom would be great, a Brazil pavilion at Epcot is really the ideal choice. Not only is Rio de Janeiro one of the top tourist spots on the planet, but Walt Disney World draws a huge number of Brazilian tourists every year. The pavilion is likely to be a hit with all parkgoers, but the addition would be very well-received Disney’s steadfast Brazilian guests.
What the pavilion could contain is anyone’s guess—a Brazilian steakhouse is a strong possibility, along with striking landscape elements like mountains, waterfalls, and a replica of neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro. Disney has remained silent on the subject, but this is one rumor that may have some real traction.
6. Not Likely: Turkey
This one may seem like another far left-field choice, but the idea has actually been considered: representatives of the Turkish government did have some conversations with Disney over the possibility of a Turkish pavilion in Epcot.
A Turkish pavilion is definitely an intriguing possibility—it’s a beautiful country with a lot of history. At this time, there aren’t any Middle Eastern nations represented in World Showcase (Morocco comes close, but that’s North Africa). There are some good arguments that could be made for a Turkish pavilion, largely due to the country’s openness to tourists and the draw of historical sites like Istanbul.
While a representation of Turkey’s rich culture (and especially their incredible food) would be a welcomed addition to World Showcase, this is another case where controversy has proven too much of a factor for Disney. According to reports, they gently declined the Turkish representatives regarding the possibility of a pavilion, and it’s unlikely the idea will be revisited any time soon.
7. Likely: Spain
This is another possibility that has gained a lot of traction over the years, to the point that many fans expected Disney to announce a Spain pavilion alongside Brazil at D23 in 2019 (which didn’t happen).
Spain is one of the original nations that was considered for World Showcase’s phase II. Contracts were actually signed to make it happen. These plans fell apart over the course of the ’90s, along with other phase II possibilities. While the country has been highlighted yearly in Epcot’s annual festivals, there’s no question that a Spain pavilion would be a huge addition to World Showcase.
Spain sometimes gets unfairly overshadowed by other nearby nations. France is often known as the culinary capital of the world, but a strong argument could be made that Spain holds equal ground in this category—the country is filled with bold expressions of food that are often highlighted as some of the best and most innovative in the world. Like Italy, Spain sits on the Mediterranean Sea, but the cultures of both are very different, particularly considering Spain’s intertwined history with Morocco as well as their influence on North and South American exploration. Spain is also a much larger country than most people realize, with a wide range of historical and cultural sites, as well as rich traditions in art, architecture, music, literature, and dance.
We have no doubt that if Disney finally does move forward on a Spain pavilion, it will be spectacular in beauty and full of delicious food (particularly tapas!). Similar to Brazil, this is one that we know Disney has explored to some extent.
8. Not Likely: Israel
Rounding off our dive into possibilities for World Showcase, there’s a final pavilion that many fans have hoped for--one that almost happened but sadly never came to be: Israel.
Israel was another nation that Disney signed contracts with for phase II of World Showcase (only Norway was ever built). Designs for the pavilion included a replica of the Lion's Gate of Jerusalem, courtyards based on Jerusalem landmarks, streets inspired by modern Israel, and a recreation of King Solomon’s palace as described in the Bible. It would have been a beautiful celebration of one of the most unique nations on the planet, one that has had an incalculable effect on the history of the world.
Sadly, controversy once again sank plans for the pavilion. As tensions in the Middle East increased, Disney executives grew concerned that the pavilion might prove all-too-tempting a target for terrorism. Disney revisited some of the ideas for the Israel pavilion during the Millennium Celebration in 2000, when Israel was included amidst Scotland, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Chile and Brazil as part of the year’s Millennium Village, but controversy stirred almost immediately over elements of the exhibit pertaining to Jerusalem. While Disney did end up proceeding with including the Israel exhibit, including a short virtual trip through 3000 years of Israeli history, the company faced a great deal of blowback that likely soured any possibility of the Israel pavilion becoming a reality.
What pavilions and international lands do you hope to see eventually added to Walt Disney World? Let us know on Facebook or in the comments. Thanks for reading!
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