Canada Pavilion at Epcot

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Canada Pavilion
Epcot Canada logo.svg
CanadaEpcot.JPG
Epcot
Area World Showcase
Status Operating
Opening date October 1, 1982
General statistics
Attraction type Themed Pavilion
Theme Canadian countryside
File:EpcotCanadaTotem.JPG
Totem pole by the Northwest Mercantile store

The Canada Pavilion is part of World Showcase within Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Its location is next to the British pavilion.

Layout

The Canada Pavilion is designed to remind guests of the Canadian outdoors. It includes a canyon, a waterfall, gardens, a pool with fountains, and totem poles. The main attraction is O Canada!, a Circle-Vision 360° movie of Canada's cities, scenery and people. The pavilion also includes Le Cellier Steakhouse and the semi-permanent home of the Celtic rock band Off Kilter. Characters from the animated films Brother Bear (Koda, Rutt and Tuke) and Pocahontas (Meeko and Flit) can sometimes be seen.

Attraction history

Prior to the construction of the pavilion, the Walt Disney Company sought financial support for the attraction from the Canadian government. The company wanted the federal government to fund the cost of building the attraction; in return the government would have input into the design and layout. The Canadian government was concerned about the stereotype of Canada that Disney wanted (i.e., lumberjacks). Funding was refused, and Disney threatened to pull the exhibit, but ultimately did not.

At one time during the planning, the pavilion was to have been divided by a main street of shops and restaurants, with one side representing French Canada and the other English Canada.

At the opening in 1982, the original musical talent for the Canadian pavilion was a trio called the "Caledonian Pipe Band", consisting of two pipers and one drummer. The performers were Robert (Bob) Proctor (lead, drummer), Kenneth Mauchin (piper) and Robert Mauchin (piper). They were recruited by Ron Rodriguez (talent co-ordinator for Walt Disney World) from the Rosie O'Grady's Pipe Band of Orlando. Because all three had ties to Scotland, they also performed in the British pavilion at various times.

In 2007, Disney updated the movie O Canada!, filmed in 1979. For several years, the Canadian Tourism Commission lobbied to have the movie updated, partly to remove outdated stereotypes of Canadian life. On August 31, 2007, the updated edition opened with a new host, Canadian actor Martin Short, and Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila reprising the original film's theme song, "Canada (You're a Lifetime Journey)".[1]

Attractions and services

Attraction

Dining

  • Le Cellier Steakhouse provides sit down restaurant service. The interior is to give the impression of a wine cellar as its name suggests. Food offerings include seafood and steaks, along with popular Canadian wines and beer. It is located in the main building of the pavilion, Hotel du Canada modeled after the Château Laurier hotel in Ottawa. The building is presented (with the aid of forced perspective) to look as if it is six stories in height, but is really three. The restaurant was originally a cafeteria-style dining hall. It actually is a cellar, located underneath the chateau; it was designed to appear as a wine cellar, with simulated stone arches and dark ambient lighting.
  • Popcorn Cart sells popcorn, soda, Moosehead Lager, Moosehead Light and Labatt's Blue On Draft

Shopping

  • Northwest Mercantile sells wilderness themed Christmas ornaments, NHL jerseys and accessories for Canada's seven teams, a variety of animal plush, maple syrup, and a selection of Canadian wines and ice wines. It is located in the trading post building, which is designed to look like a traditional West coast native longhouse.
  • The Wood Cart (located on the promenade) sells a variety of wine-themed merchandise, animal plush, flags and other assorted goods. The Cart also features an engraving stand, where guests can have their names engraved onto genuine leather bracelets, cuffs, cell phone strap charms, and Disney character keychains.

Entertainment

  • Canadian Holiday Voyagers Began December 1, 2015 [2]

Former Entertainment

  • Off Kilter is a Celtic rock band which debuted at the Canada pavilion July 1, 1997, and closed in 2014.[3]
  • Canadian Lumberjacks debuted in Fall 2014 - Ended November 30, 2015 [4]

Totem poles

The pavilion has three native totem poles, up to 30' (9 metres) in height. Two are made of fibreglass, and one is carved out of wood. The wooden totem pole depicts three stories of the "Raven" tricking the "Sky Chief" into the release of sun, moon and stars from a chest. It was carved by the Alaskan artist David A. Boxley, and was officially put on display in April 1998.

Gardens

File:Epcotcanada.jpg
Gardens at the Canada Pavilion

The Victoria Gardens which are adjacent to the Hotel du Canada are inspired by the Butchart Gardens near Victoria, British Columbia. The gardens are the largest (and most labour-intensive) of all the national pavilions.

Hidden Mickeys

The Canada Pavilion contains three Hidden Mickeys:

1. Just outside Northwest Mercantile, there is the largest totem pole in the Canada pavilion. The Mickey is just underneath the elbow of a set of arms near the top of the pole.

2. Inside the Northwest Mercantile shop is a roughly foot-long fish hanging from a crate. The Mickey is painted on the fish itself.

3. Just inside Le Cellier steakhouse there is the counter where you would check in for your meal. Behind that counter is a small wine storage room. In the very top center of the rack are three bottles of wine, a large one with two small ones on top of it forming a familiar shape.

Former attractions and services

Dining

  • Le Cellier Steakhouse (formerly Le Cellier Cafeteria until 1997)
  • La Boutique des Provinces (located in Hotel du Canada) sells Anne of Green Gables gifts, Blue Mountain pottery, along with various handcrafted souvenirs.
  • Beaver Tails kiosk cart, which sold Beaver tail goods. (Closed in 2005 and cart removed in late 2006).

Films

  • Circle-Vision 360°:
    • Portraits of Canada / Images du Canada - played for a short period after its debut at the Telecom Canada pavilion at Expo 86 in Vancouver.
    • Canada 67

References

  1. ↑ Epcot Center's O Canada! film gets an update
  2. ↑ http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-disney-canadian-lumberjacks-epcot-20151124-post.html
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-disney-canadian-lumberjacks-epcot-20151124-post.html

External links

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