Ranking 20 All-Time World Showcase Attractions at EPCOT

Unlike the area formerly known as Future World, EPCOT’s World Showcase offers a different type of experience. Many pavilions don’t contain what you would normally consider a theme park attraction. Instead, they offer shops, restaurants, and live entertainment within a cool setting. I would need someone on the ground in Florida to cover all the options, especially within the annual festivals. Regardless, it’s still fun to take a shot at ranking 20 rides and theater shows across time.

For the purposes of these rankings, I split the versions of the movies into multiple slots. The changes in the China and Canada films are significant. I also decided to include the nighttime spectaculars because they occurred over the World Showcase Lagoon. I’ve ranked the four versions that I’ve seen for this list. Sorry, Holiday Illuminations. I must give a shout out to Martin Smith’s remarkable videos, which helped a lot in re-watching many of these. There are few better places for a Walt Disney World fan to spend hours on YouTube than watching his tribute videos.

20. Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along

It’s hard to separate my feelings about this film replacing the beautiful Impressions de France for most of the day from the actual attraction. The uneven split between the two films in the France pavilion is strange, and it seems even weirder after you see the actual movie. The 15-minute presentation opened in January 2020 and takes LeFou’s viewpoint to show his role in the events of the original 1991 film. It’s a head-scratching creative choice to redeem the supporting character and is an odd way to bring more IP to World Showcase. While I recognize that not everyone loves Impressions de France, this doesn’t feel like the right answer for a replacement.

19. O Canada! (Martin Short version)

It makes sense for Disney to update their Circle-Vision films periodically, especially when you consider the differences that can appear in 25 years. O Canada! was updated in 2007 with the new addition of Martin Short as an on-screen narrator. There are some issues with this version, however. The big drawback is the lack of actual nine-screen technology in the revised footage; Short mostly appears on a single screen. It has a lighter approach but is missing the grandeur of the best Circle-Vision films. One change that doesn’t bother me is the updated version of the title song, which still works with the older footage.

18. The Spirit of Norway

Also known as the film that many skipped, The Spirit of Norway completed the experience after riding Maelstrom. Running just shy of six minutes, it’s like a mini version of the other World Showcase films. It would have worked much better as a pre-show setting up the ride, and that was the original intent. The opening scenes are startling, especially for younger viewers. I have a soft spot for this Paul Gerber movie, which packs a lot into its running time. The skiing scene is a highlight, particularly during tense shots right on top of the skis. It’s too bad that Disney started leaving the doors open, which lessened the impact. Despite its low ranking on this list, I have fond memories of this film.

17. Meet Anna and Elsa at the Royal Sommerhus

This is the only character greeting that I’ve included on this list, and I believe it’s worth mentioning because of its excellent theming. When I ranked EPCOT’s best queues in 2017, the Royal Sommerhus shared the #2 spot with Frozen Ever After. The tapestries and other small details sell the idea that you’re visiting Anna and Elsa in their summer home. It’s a more interesting location than their previous spot in the Princess Fairytale Hall at The Magic Kingdom.

16. Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure

It was tricky to rank this interactive game because I like the idea of exploring rarely visited parts of World Showcase. There are some nice touches when you find the right spot, including fun and surprising effects. You do spend time viewing scenes from the Phineas and Ferb characters, so its success may vary based on how much you enjoy the show. Even so, it’s cool to have a different way to check out the pavilions.

15. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros

When I first rode this new overlay of El Rio Del Tiempo, I was crushed by how simple it felt. While the original was cool and clever, its replacement took an obvious approach. There were also too many screens, particularly in the finale. The saving grace was inserting animatronic versions of The Three Caballeros into the big concert. That move connected this ride with Disney’s past and fixed the conclusion. Even so, I’m still not convinced this overlay completely works. My daughters may enjoy seeing Donald, and there are some fun gags, but it misses the subtle grace of El Rio Del Tiempo.

14. Harmonius

We caught up with Disney’s latest nighttime show on our recent trip, and I enjoyed the spectacle. The technology from the barges is impressive, and there’s a lot to see on the lagoon. The music also connects well to the images, and I like the post-show dance party. On the other hand, using clips of Disney films at EPCOT feels strange and lacks the emotional connection. I appreciate what Harmonius accomplishes but would prefer something more original. The barges also provide an unfortunate view during the day of the lagoon. It’s definitely a mixed bag for this ambitious show.

13. Canada: Far and Wide

I wasn’t a big fan of the first update to the Circle-Vision film in Canada and did not expect a third film. This makes the success of Canada: Far and Wide surprising when you consider Disney’s approach to EPCOT. The narration from Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara doesn’t include the jokes you might expect, but it’s still a striking look at Canada today. I also enjoyed seeing a few clips from the original 1982 film here. The 12-minute running time flies by, but it feels like a film that could play for many years.

12. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

We visited Disneyland Paris back in 2006, so it was long before Disney opened Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy eight years later. One of my top goals of our recent trip to Walt Disney World was finally experiencing this trackless dark ride. It’s great that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure isn’t replacing anything at EPCOT and represents an expansion to the France pavilion. It also uses technology that only recently arrived at Walt Disney World. It’s a fun attraction with cute physical sets that surround us during the ride. On the other hand, it’s primarily a screen-based attraction with most of the action happening there. I like the addition to World Showcase and think it fits well there, but it falls a bit short.

11. Reflections of China

This 2003 update of Wonders of China moves faster than the original, and there is a good reason. The 13-minute Circle-Vision film directed by Jeff Blyth is six minutes shorter; it also presents a country on the move. The modern Shanghai that we see here is very different from the version shot in 1981. There is still a lot of original footage in Reflections of China, and it’s incorporated well. The changes aren’t obvious unless guests are regular visitors. A new actor portrays Li Bai in certain moments, and his voice is entirely different. It’s a close race, but I am still partial to the original because it’s less frenetic. I am glad that Disney invested the time and money to update it properly. Reflections of China does a good job showing modern China without losing the connection to its history.

10. Wonders of China

Wonders of China represented the first time Western film crews had set foot in certain parts of China. The opening day attraction was a must-see viewing for anyone interested in getting a close look at sites like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. The Circle-Vision 360 format is perfect for showing grand landmarks and scenic landscapes of China. Keye Luke portrays the famous Chinese poet Li Bai in this 19-minute film. It moves a little slower than the original version of O Canada, but there’s real serenity here. Quiet scenes like morning exercises on the water in Hangzhou help this film avoid being a greatest-hits overview. Director Jeff Blyth’s book Polishing the Dragons does a great job describing the experience making this film. It’s a sweet, respectful look at the people and places of China.

9. O Canada! (original)

There is something refreshing about how large O Canada! feels right from the start. When the Canadian Mounties spread out across the nine screens, it’s an indelible moment. It reflects the way the original EPCOT Center attractions used technology to enhance the experience. This film is far too big to capture on a YouTube video. A group of narrators describe famous locales and daily life in Canada. There is a real sense of movement that takes advantage of the Circle-Vision format. It works even better than Wonders of China at delivering a majestic show. I had forgotten just how stunning the original version was, and while the current version is good, it falls a bit short.

8. Laserphonic Fantasy

I wasn’t lucky enough to see the Carnival de Lumiere or A New World Fantasy, but we did visit EPCOT Center for the first time in June 1984 when I was eight. I still remember the bright green lasers of Laserphonic Fantasy from that trip. It was a cool precursor to Illuminations but didn’t have the same technical sophistication. The big difference was the use of synthesized music versus the full orchestration of Illuminations. Even so, Laserphonic Fantasy provided a stunning way to end the day. Disney added fireworks later in its run, but what really drove the show were the lasers.

7. El Rio Del Tiempo

Long after If You Had Wings had departed, its spirit remained in El Rio Del Tiempo (The River of Time). They were different rides but had a tonal similarity that drew me to this slow-moving boat ride. There was real mystery to the opening ride past the volcano and large pyramid. Unlike the loud blitzkrieg of sound that hits you in the Gran Fiesta Tour, this ride begins slowly and sets the mood perfectly. Some might call it boring, but the Mexico pavilion still fascinates me. The way this attraction connects to the San Angel Inn restaurant and the rest of the indoor structure is brilliant.

6. Frozen Ever After

It’s so hard to rank Frozen Ever After because it represents one of the few rides at World Showcase. Considered on its own, the boat ride offers a fun way to enjoy a few thrills and re-connect with Frozen and its characters. The “Let It Go” scene is powerful and includes a stunning Elsa animatronic. The challenge for me is viewing both this attraction’s place in Norway and as a replacement for Maelstrom. Despite excellent design work from Imagineering on this attraction, Arendelle feels out of place in World Showcase. I will admit that I enjoyed Frozen Ever After a lot more on our latest trip. All the effects were working, and I can better understand why it remains so popular.

5. Maelstrom

Many EPCOT Center fans have a soft spot in their hearts for Maelstrom, which represented a beachhead against Disney management’s push for IP in the park. Frozen Ever After is not as wonderfully goofy as Maelstrom. The mix of trolls, waterfalls, and oil rigs is an odd combo, but it was still good fun. The thrills were mild but felt greater in the context of World Showcase. There was a lot to see in the four-minute ride. I always wished it were longer, but it still felt right in the Norway pavilion. It also gave us this ridiculous sequence with Willard Scott. Maelstrom is a classic from a different era for World Showcase.

4. Illuminations: Reflections of Earth

While it ultimately closed in October 2019, Reflections of Earth remains one of Disney’s strongest nighttime spectaculars. Gavin Greenaway’s score perfectly interacts with the fireworks and other effects, and the giant globe is a grand spectacle. The only downside is the middle portion if you aren’t close to the globe. That’s the only reason that I rank this version below the original Illuminations. The “We Go On” finale is still one of the most powerful experiences you can have at a theme park. It’s the emotional connection that lifts this show above a more technologically advanced production like Harmonius.

3. Illuminations (1988)

It’s a tight contest, but I’m still partial to the first iteration of Illuminations. The main reason is how this show incorporated the countries into the experience. Projections on each pavilion and separate music turned the show into more than fireworks. The other factor is the classical music score, recorded by a full orchestra. The 14-minute presentation ran for eight years in its original form, and that time coincided with our regular family vacations when I was a kid. It’s not a surprise that I slightly prefer this version. It was a key part of trips to EPCOT when it was firing on all cylinders.

2. The American Adventure

One of my top bucket-list items is getting the chance to visit the “war wagon” that runs The American Adventure. The technical mastery required to build this attraction is even more impressive when you consider that it opened in 1982. The book Building a Better Mouse includes fascinating stories about the challenges in building this attraction from Steve Alcorn and David Green. It may offer a simplified look at U.S. history, but The American Adventure remains a marvel. It’s housed in a gigantic theater with a grand lobby and massive rear-projection screen. Thirty-five Audio-Animatronic characters tell an engaging story along with music and film. It makes an impact and connects to Walt’s interest in this country’s origins.

1. Impressions de France

I wrote about the greatness of Impressions de France here, so I won’t repeat all my praise in this smaller blurb. It’s cool to have an original EPCOT Center attraction still in place, even with limited screenings. The music and grand images combine to deliver an experience that rarely feels dated. Many favorites from the park’s early days are gone, so I appreciate the chance to catch this one. The French pavilion on the whole is one of EPCOT’s best due to its combination of excellent theming, fine dining, and attractive shops. Impressions de France brings it all together and remains a must-see attraction.

Note: This is an updated version of an article that was originally published on The Tomorrow Society on April 25, 2016. 

---

This post contains affiliate links. Making any purchase through those links supports this site. See full disclosure.