The Canadian Pavilion is very difficult to photograph because of the sheer size of the totem and the very fact that the pavilion is in a somewhat elevated location up a flight of stairs. View from the Italian Pavilion unto World Showcase Lagoon Also try the waterfront view with the gondolas. The best shots are when there are no guests around – but when does that ever happen? My advice is to go there as soon the park opens.

New and not to be missed is the energetic flag throwing group Sbandieratori Di Sansepolcro. Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria serves the best pizza in entire Kingdom of the Mouse. Italy seen from across the bridge leading to World Showcase Lagoon Mark’s bell tower are replicas of iconic buildings of Venice and the Neptune Fountain reminiscent of Rome’s Trevi Fountain.

The Italian Pavilion has a lot of great possibilities for photographers as the architecture is among the most realistic in all of World Showcase. Also, don’t miss Matsuriza, the traditional Taiko drummers performing daily at the pagoda. It is home to Teppan Edo, a teppanyaki restaurant where chefs prepare stir-fried foods at the guests tables. The Japan Pavilion is one of the original Epcot Pavilions and opened in October of 1982. Torii Gate seen from across the World Showcase Lagoon Epcot’s Torii Gate is said to be based upon the Torri Gate found in the Hiroshima Bay at Itsukushima where it stands in the sea about 500 feet from the shrine. The Torii gate symbolizes the transition from the profane to the sacred. Night photography is tricky and I prefer the sunset when there is just the right mixture of sunlight and clouds over World Showcase Lagoon.Ī Torii gate is a traditional Japanese gate commonly found at the entrance of a Shinto shrine. The Torii Gate at the Japan Pavilion is beautiful from sunrise till dusk and a fabulous background during IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. The Temple of Heaven is surrounded by beautiful ponds Throughout the day Mulan is available for a meet and greet. Stylish gardens and ponds surround the building. The acoustics inside the dome are incredible and guests can hear whispering from all around the room. In addition to Reflections of China, it hosts changing exhibits on Chinese culture. Temple of Heaven at night – China PavilionĮpcot’s Temple of Heaven is a beautifully executed replica and opened in October of 1982. Built in 1420, the Temple of Heaven was a sacred place where emperors held religious ceremonies. The original Temple of Heaven is in Beijing and together with the Forbidden City, an amazing example of the architecture of the Ming Dynasty. It is home to Reflections of China, a 14 minute film about the history and people of China. The half-sized replica of the Temple of Heaven at the China Pavilion is one of my favorite photo ops. For years the Norwegian government sponsored the pavilion but it currently no longer does so. The ceremony was broadcast live to Norway. The Norway pavilion opened in 1988 and was dedicated by King Harald V of Norway (then Crown Prince). The Stave Church at Epcot now has an exhibit called “Creating the World of Frozen,” much of it however is about Norway itself, and shows side-by-side comparisons with film concept art.Īs Maelstrom is being replaced by a Frozen ride there are good chances that Disney will also add a meet and greet for Anna and Elsa in the future. The Stave Churches and the natural beauty of Norway inspired the production team of Disney’s blockbuster Frozen and translated in the imaginary Kingdom of Arendelle, the home of Anna and Elsa. This allowed the structures to endure over 800 years. Stave churches were built in Norway upon a stone foundation so that wooden posts would never come in contact with the ground and therefore not rot. The Stave Church is the main landmark at the Norway pavilion.

Photographing illuminations epcot