If you’ve ever reviewed a list of dining options in Epcot’s World Showcase at Walt Disney World, you may have noticed that some pavilions have more eateries than others. France and Japan, in particular, not only have several restaurants each, they’re both in the process of adding new restaurants as well, which will bring the restaurant total in France to five and in Japan to four.
So why do Epcot’s France and Japan have so many restaurants each while Canada can’t even get a quick service spot?
World Showcase
The answer to this question is a little complicated. You may think that the inequality is due to French and Japanese cuisine being more celebrated in the real world, and thus restaurants in these pavilions are naturally more popular. (Of course, Le Cellier in Canada is popular in its own right, but Canadian cuisine isn’t exactly lauded in general.) But this answer is the simplest part of the explanation.
Le Cellier Steakhouse
That’s because Epcot’s World Showcase pavilions have a bit of politics and economics going on behind the scenes. All of the original pavilions that opened in 1982 were financially backed by private companies hailing from those countries — with the exceptions of Canada and China. Morocco was added in 1984, and, as many fans know, the pavilion was sponsored by the government of Morocco (although a third party runs their restaurants). And in 1988, Norway opened with a small investment from the nation of Norway but a much larger contribution from a business consortium. (See Yesterland’s comprehensive look at World Showcase history here).
Morocco Pavilion Waterfront
Today, businesses are the name of the game in most pavilions, including Japan, were the Mitsukoshi department store owns the dining establishments in the pavilion (as well as the popular store). Mitsukoshi is also the group behind Japan’s new signature restaurant, Takumi-Tei, currently under construction and set to open in summer 2019.
Japan Signature Restaurant Construction
In France, the Bocuse family — headed now by Chef Jerome Bocuse who took over for his father, world-renowned Chef Paul Bocuse — operates all the eateries in the pavilion (including the forthcoming Creperie).
Creperie Concept Art ©Disney
So behind these popular restaurants are powerful people and organizations which have established relationships with Disney and are willing to invest money, time, knowledge, and effort in creating more experiences for guests.
Meanwhile the Canada pavilion was fraught with tension from the start. The Walt Disney Company sought funding for the pavilion from the Canadian government, but Canada rejected the plans Disney had for the pavilion, saying that the designs were too stereotypical. Disney proceeded without the blessing of (or funding from) the Canadian government.
Canada Design
So does this old feud prevent Canada from expanding, or is it simpler than that: people just aren’t familiar with Canada’s cuisine and so multiple restaurants aren’t necessary? And if that’s so, how does this explain the prevalence of poutine — Canada’s loaded French fry export — all over Walt Disney World? (The Daily Poutine in Disney Springs is, you know, an entire restaurant serving just poutine!)
Daily Poutine Oktoberfest Poutine
So clearly there’s a desire for the Canadian French fry specialty, as well as the Cheddar Cheese Soup made popular by Le Cellier that’s been sought-after as a snack at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival and that appeared at Refreshment Port for a time as well (see that here!). Would additional specialty items like maple butter, beavertails, and tourtiere also be popular if they were introduced to Epcot guests? BeaverTails, in fact, had a bit of a moment in the Canada Pavilion in a food stall run by the Montreal-based BeaverTails company that’s popular in Canada proper. These fan-favorite fried dough treats were available for years before the kiosk disappeared in 2004. So we have to think there’s a market for all of Canada’s unique eats.
Beavertails from Disney Cruise Line’s Canada Itinerary
As Canada continues to operate only one restaurant while France and Japan continue to expand, we’ve come to the conclusion that the lack of financial backing — from the Canadian government or from corporations — has resulted in the meagre offerings in the pavilion. We hope that as Epcot’s growth manifests over the next few years, the lovely Canada pavilion will get a little more love — that is, if politics and history can get out of the way of some great eats.
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They just need to add a Tim Horton’s to Canada at Epcot. It would be a great success.
BRING BACK BEAVERTAILS!
I still mourn the loss of the BeaverTails – my absolute favorite snack at Epcot. There used to be a food truck in the area that served them, for a while it was located at the Premium Outlets, but I think they’re looking for new owners. (Hint, hint Disney!)
I’m actually glad that someone addressed this. It sounds ridiculous but it’s challenging being from Canada and seeing your pavilion getting no love. While it is a stereotypical pavilion, it would be nice to have someone take responsibility to make the land into more than a steakhouse and hidden rest or photo spot. Also props for knowing what tortiere is!
I don’t remember the Beavertails.
But they look right up my alley.
I’d be all over them now.
@DebC – I’d love to see a Timmy Ho’s there.. maybe throw in a Pizza Pizza, as well…
I join in solidarity with my Beavertail brothers and sisters. They were SOOOO good! And I miss them dearly. They are still the stuff of legend in our family!!!
BRING BACK BEAVERTAILS!!!!
I miss the Beavertails!! Always had to get one when we went.
So two things are beaver tails like elephant ears? I love those we have them at our fairs and I’ve made them few times too.
And is this why the African pavilion is so sad, I love the art they have and the drums but I always thought it was wrong to have a stand with hotdogs. I have always wished they had actual African food in the pavillion.
Laura, my background is French-Canadian, so you know I had to make sure that was in there!
Very interesting article. I wonder why if Canada was so concerned about the pavilion being too sterotypical, didn’t they really work with Imagineers to make a pavilion they felt would be better? I mean if you’re so bothered by it that you refuse to back it, why not work it out so you get what you want that will also work with what Disney was offering? To me the most disappointing restaurant is the American Pavilion. Come on, we are the host nation and we have a quick service place with subpar food? I’d much rather see a table service restaurant with a menu that offers diners tastes of popular regional cuisine from around our nation.
As I live within 69 miles of Quebec and a few hundred miles from the Maritimes, I think it’s very unfortunate that the cuisine of Canada is not showcased better! My Goodness, , they could do a whole quick service spot centered around Msple Syrup alone! Canada is the largest producer of syrup and here in northern New England we eat a lot of it! Everyone raves about southern BBQ but there is nothing like Msple BBQ! And the Maritimes have some of the best seafood anywhere! Never been to western Canada but I bet their cuisine is just as great!
Vicki, great points!
Oh, I’m so glad you mentioned tourtiere! How amazing would it be to have this available at Disney?! Also, how about some Montreal Bagles ,and while you mentioned maple butter there are SO MANY maple treats they could feature! How about some JackWax (warm maple syrup drizzled over snow to make one amazing treat!)
I miss the Beavertails as they were excellent!
Erik’s, I grew up with What we called Maple Sugar on Snow! Can you imagine the lines if they served that in Epcot? Especially on hot summer days? And Maple Sugar Cotton Candy! One of the favorites around her are Venison or Moose ribs cooked in a Maple Sugar BBQ sauce! Yummy! And then of course there are Maple Creme Pie and yellow cake with Maple Sugar Frosting! My mom grew up
On a farm and they had a barrel the size of a wine barrel full of Maple Sugar and several milk cans of Syrup which they got from her grandmother’s farm! I have to buy mine now but I buy 10 pounds of Sugar and 2 gallons of dark syrup every year! At least a quart of that syrup goes to baked ham! Darn, it’s late and now I want baked ham…..
I would also add that on a trip to Yarmouth NS I had the most wonderful Halibut! It was lightly breaded, grilled, and served with a wonderful creme sauce! They should add more Maritime seafood to the restaurant too!
Being from Canada I’ve always been disappointed by the pavillion. It makes sense to me now that we had nothing to do with it. Oh, and yes Beavertails with melted chocolate, peanut butter, and Reese’s pieces are delicious
I sooo miss the Beavertails! My daughter’s are grown, but still remember them as being their favorite part of Epcot.
I also miss the kiosk (mainly during winter months) where we could buy cheese soup.
I’m not Canadian, but Nanaimo Bars would be nice.
As a Western New York native living close to the Canadian border we have a lot of Tim Hortons locations in Buffalo and beyond so why not add a Tim Hortons as a quick service restaurant at the Canada Pavilion.
As a Canadian who does not like maple syrup or Tim Hortons, I would say the one dessert that would be nice to include somewhere as a snack credit would be butter tarts.
I really can’t imagine enough of main dish ideas that would be appealing enough for a quick serve restaurant unless you were just going to do a poutine place.