Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
230
the Dragon. An adjacent clock tower is embellished with whimsical glockenspiel figures
that herald each hour with quaint melodies. The pavilion's
Biergarten
(p. 136) was
inspired by medieval Rothenberg and features a year-round Oktoberfest and its music.
And 16th-century facades replicate a merchant's hall in the Black Forest and the town
hall in Römerberg Square.
The shops here carry Hummel figurines, crystal, glassware, cookware, Anton Sch-
neider cuckoos, cowbells, Alpine hats, German wines (there's a tasting counter), specialty
foods, toys (German Disneyana, teddy bears, dolls, and puppets), and books. An artisan
demonstrates molding and painting Hummel figures; another paints detailed scenes on
eggs. Background music runs from oompah bands to Mozart symphonies.
Model train enthusiasts and kids enjoy the exquisitely detailed miniature version of a
small Bavarian town, complete with working train station.
Italy
Frommer's Rating:
B
Recommended Ages:
10-adult
One of the prettiest World Showcase pavilions, Italy lures visitors over an arched stone
footbridge to a replica of Venice's intricately ornamented pink-and-white Doge's Palace.
Other architectural highlights include the 83-foot Campanile (bell tower) of St. Mark's
Square, Venetian bridges, and a piazza enclosing a version of Bernini's Neptune Fountain.
A garden wall suggests a backdrop of provincial countryside, and citrus, cypress, pine,
and olive trees frame a formal garden. Gondolas are moored on the lagoon.
Shops carry cameo and filigree jewelry, Armani figurines, kitchenware, Italian wines
and foods, Murano and other Venetian glass, alabaster figurines, and inlaid wooden
music boxes.
In the street entertainment department, the World Showcase Players, a talented group
of actors, can often be seen performing skits in the pavilion's courtyard.
Japan
Frommer's Rating:
A
Recommended Ages:
8-adult
A flaming red
torii
(gate of honor) on the banks of the lagoon and the graceful blue-
roofed Goju No To pagoda, inspired by a shrine built at Nara in a.d. 700, welcome you
to this pavilion, which focuses on Japan's ancient culture. In a traditional Japanese gar-
den, cedars, yews, bamboo, “cloud-pruned” evergreens, willows, and flowering shrubs
frame a contemplative setting of pebbled footpaths, rustic bridges, waterfalls, exquisite
rock landscaping, and a pond of golden koi. It's a haven of tranquillity in a park that's
anything but. The
Yakitori House
is based on the renowned 16th-century Katsura
Imperial Villa in Kyoto, designed as a royal summer residence and considered by many
to be the crowning achievement of Japanese architecture. The moated
White Heron
Castle
is a replica of the Shirasagi-Jo, a 17th-century fortress overlooking the city of
Himeji. The
Bijutsu-kan Gallery
displays changing exhibits on various aspects of Japa-
nese culture (for example, a past exhibit focused on Japanese tin toys).
The
Mitsukoshi Department Store
(Japan's answer to Macy's) is housed in a replica
of the Shishinden (Hall of Ceremonies) of the Gosho Imperial Palace, built in Kyoto in
a.d. 794. It sells lacquerware, kimonos, kites, fans, dolls in traditional costumes, origami
books, samurai swords, Japanese Disneyana, bonsai trees, Japanese foods, netsuke carv-
ings, pottery, and modern electronics.
The drums of
Matsuriza
—one of the best performances in the World Showcase—
entertain guests daily.
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