We recently spent few days out of the snow and ice in north Florida. We enjoyed balmy days in the 60º’s, a few rain showers (at least we didn’t have to shovel it!), some impressive thundershowers and 4 great days in Walt Disney World.
A highlight of our trip was Walt Disney World’s Epcot. This is the largest of the four Disney theme parks and is split into 2 “Worlds”. Future World is full of attractions that appeal to all ages and is dominated by the iconic Spaceship Earth. World Showcase is a collection of pavilions that celebrate the culture and cuisine of 11 countries from all over the world.
Night time view of Spaceship Earth, Epcot
We had loads of fun in Future World. My favorite was Mission Space which is a simulation of a trip to Mars. Another favorite, and worth the wait, was Soarin’. It combines film and motion to take you on a fantastic glider journey all over California.
World Showcase captures the essence of each of the 11 nations represented. Enjoy lunch in Morocco accompanied by live music and belly dancing. Join the crowd in Italy and enjoy The Ziti Sisters as they entertain with music and comedy. We watched child jugglers and tumblers in China and then had a lovely dinner there. The cast members in World Showcase come from the countries they represent. Their city of origin appears on their name tags. Among the guests, you’ll hear languages from all over the world. There are many places to stop, sit and people-watch. The frantic pace you find in other Disney parks doesn’t have a place here.
By far a highlight of our Disney World trip was buffet dinner at Oktoberfest in Germany. As we walked through the entrance we felt as though we’d been transported to a Bavarian village square during an evening Oktoberfest celebration.
Oktoberfest Buffet, Germany, Epcot
Seating is at family style tables, 8 to a table. The sky was dark and star-filled overhead. The moon was setting over the roof-tops surrounding the large square. There was German music playing as dirndl skirted servers carried large tankards of German bier at once to tables all around.
Our waiter, Sven from Heidelberg, was friendly and attentive. We enjoyed getting acquainted with our table-mates from Canada and North Carolina.
The buffet itself fantastic and well worth the price of $35 per person. All of our Bavarian favorites were there in abundance. Roast pork loin, spaetzl, German potato salad, wurst, yummy sauerkraut and apfelrotkraut, jaegerschnitzel and beef rouladen. Everything we tried was tasty.
Pumpernickel bread, pretzel rolls, sausage, pickles
There was salad with tomato and cucumber among others, cheese samplers and then the desserts. We selected from studel, bavarian cheesecake, and fruit with cream sauce.
Sauerkraut, German potato salad, apfelrotkraut
Once we were seated with our first plates we could sit back and enjoy the live oom-pah band playing polkas, folk songs and leading the crowd in the Beer Barrel Polka. Children from all over the Biergarten came down to the dance floor. It was a delight to watch little Disney princesses and their princes dance and laugh with joy to the live music.
If you’re in Florida and a bit homesick for our favorite Bavarian village or for Bavaria itself, stop for an evening at Oktoberfest in Germany at Epcot.
