The Germany Pavilion is a cultural area within Epcot theme park where Guests of all ages can experience the lively charm of a quaint German village. Enter a charming cobblestone plaza designed after a 16th-century German town. A variety of shops, a clock tower and a fountain with a statue of St. George slaying a dragon lie within the castle walls. The oom-pah band music and elaborate German architecture make you feel like you've stepped right into the pages of folklore.
The Germany Pavilion is designed to look like a German town, but with architecture from different eras and regions. The Platz (square) is decorated with a statue of St. George and the Dragon and a clock tower. The Biergarten, at the rear of the courtyard, sells traditional German food. The pavilion also has numerous small shops selling German goods, including dolls and cuckoo clocks. The area near the pavilion is decorated by an extensive model village with working model trains.
A fountain with a statue of St. George slaying a dragon, is the centerpiece of the cobblestoned German platz (plaza) in the World Showcase's Germany. The architecture reflects a diverse cross section of German regions, from the replica of the medieval castle to the fairy tale Bavarian style buildings. The clock tower features a glockenspiel that chimes a special melody on the hour. A miniature German village houses three model trains much to the guests' delight.
While there is no ride or attraction in the Germany pavilion, shoppers will enjoy the wide variety of quaint shops. Der Teddy bar is a toy shop with Steiff stuffed animals, Engel Puppen dolls, Medieval themed toys, finger puppet theaters, and of course, teddy bears. In the Volkskunst, you'll find beer steins of all sizes, including an Epcot limited edition stein. This shop is also where you will find felt hats, cow bells, original Black Forest Cuckoo clocks, and hand painted eggs. Grimm's Fairy Tales, Berlin Then and Now, and A 400 Year History of the Stein are just a few of the books you will encounter.
Touring Tips
- Don't miss the Oktoberfest Musikanten show, a 6-person musical group that performs traditional Bavarian music with singing, dancing, yodeling and more at the Biergarten Restaurant. Plus, Disney Characters from Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs often make appearances in and around the Germany Pavilion.
- Characters from the Walt Disney animated feature "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", which was inspired by the version of the tale attributed to the Brothers Grimm, make appearances in and around the pavilion.
- 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.
- 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).
- There is a 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.
Dining
Biergarten Restaurant - Authentic German cuisine is served for lunch and dinner buffets. Lively costumed musicians provide traditional Oktoberfest entertainment throughout lunch and dinner. Music and merriment resound as diners are encouraged to dance and be part of the boisterous merrymaking-or simply relax in the twilight atmosphere in this magnificent German hall. A buffet restaurant designed to look as though Oktoberfest is being celebrated there. Schnitzel, strudel and beer offer a taste of Bavaria at the Biergarten Restaurant. It features live entertainment and beer served in one liter steins. The dining hall is actually in the entrance area for the never built boat cruise down the Rhine. Open for lunch and dinner, the all-you-can-eat buffet contains assorted sausages, rotisserie chicken, child's Frankfurters, assorted salads, breads, red cabbage, wine kraut, potatoes and spatzle. Desserts include apple strudel and German-style cheesecake. The dinner buffet also includes smoked pork loin and sauerbraten, in addition to those items previously mentioned. Guests are seated at long communal tables and as they enjoy the hearty cuisine, are treated to traditional German entertainment. Folk dancing, yodelling and folk music amuse and delight visitors here.
Sommerfest - The Sommerfest is a counter service restaurant that serves bratwurst and frankfurter sandwiches, sauerkraut, soft pretzels and apple strudel.
Shopping
Der Bucherwurm - Steins, glassware, hand-painted eggs, and sundries.
Der Teddybar - A toy store featuring German toys, dolls and bears.
Die Weihnachts Ecke - It is Christmas year round in die Weihnachtsecke where you'll find Christmas decorations of all kinds, plus the Christmas pickle.
Glaskunst - Outdoor shop which sells Arribas glassware and they offer engraving.
Karamell-Kuche - Features Disney cast members making fresh caramel corn, caramel apples, strawberries, marshmallows. The store will carries gourmet caramels, cookies, brownies, fudge and cupcakes.
Kunstarbeit In Kristall - The Kunstarbeit In Kristall offers crystal jewelry by Swarovski, Princessa Plata, and Brillanti by Crystal World. They also carry fine crystal pieces by Arribas, Arnstadt, Nachtmann, Anna Hutte and Swarovski.
Weinkeller - If you enjoy fine wines and spirits, you must visit the Weinkeller where you will also find German wine guides. Assorted German wines and accessories. Wine tasting, cost includes souvenir wine glass.
Sussigkeiten - The Sussigkeiten is the place to satisfy that sweet tooth with an assortment of homemade fudge and nut clusters, pretzels, chocolate, cookies and Haribo brand candies. Learn to cook authentic German recipes with one of the many German cookbooks found in this store.
Volkskunst - Hand-painted eggs, cuckoo clocks.
Facts
- A special Oktoberfest Celebration takes place each October in Epcot's Germany.
- Atmosphere entertainment is the German band, Oktoberfest Musikanten which plays in the Biergarten.
- Holidays from Around the World features storytellers in each country. In Germany, St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) makes appearances throughout the afternoon.
- The architecture was inspired by the buildings of Bavaria and the Rhine region of Germany. Other details come from communities of the German north. Statue in the center of the plaza is of St. George, the patron saint of soldiers. A glockenspiel chimes to a melody specially composed for Epcot.
- 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
- 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.
History
The original design of the pavilion called for a boat ride along the Rhine river. It was to have focused on German folklore, in a similar manner to the Mexico and Norway rides. According to the Walt Disney Company's 1976 annual report the ride was to be " ... a cruise down Germany's most famous rivers -- the Rhine, the Tauber, the Ruhr and the Isar. Detailed miniatures of famous landmarks will also be seen, including one of the Cologne Cathedral.
Though the building was built, Disney did not complete the ride construction by opening day. It was announced to be part of "phase two" of expansion. To avoid costs, Disney dropped all phase two attractions and decided that any expansion projects would only be allowed if a host country funded for it. Because of lack of funding, the ride building is now used as storage space. You can see the main entrance hall, as it's now the dining area for the Biergarten. The ride building is used for storage for floats, a workshop and cast member rehearsal space.
Hidden Mickey
- Facing Germany, look at the second floor of the building to the right where there are three suits of armor.The crown of the third one has a Hidden Mickey.