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/* Pavilion History */
{{Quotation|"The future River Ride promises to be as enjoyable as it is informative. An early concept has visitors boarding a "cruise boat" for a simulated ride down the Rhine and other rivers, the trip affording a visual impression in miniature of the cultural heritage of Germany's past and the highlights of its present. Among the detailed models envisioned are scenes in the Black Forest, the Oktoberfest, Heidelberg, the industrial Ruhr Valley . . . the possibilities are limited only by the planners' imaginations." <Ref> Beard, Richard R. Walt Disney's Epcot Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow. New York: Harry N. Abrams,, Publ., 1982. Print. </ref>)}}
[[Image:RhineRiverconcept.jpg|400px|thumb|Concept art for the unbuilt Rhine River Cruise attraction.]]
As previously mentioned, the Germany pavilion,sans the Rhine River cruise and the tourism area, opened with the rest of EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982. The pavilion is themed to look like a German plaza in Bavaria set in eternal Oktoberfest <ref name= "Spence"/>. The pavilion's plaza features a large clock tower, a central fountain which is guarded by a statue of St. George (the patron saint of soldiers) and a dragon, as well as various storefronts <ref name= "Spence" />. Shops that opened with the pavilion included: Glas und Porzellan (a ceramic and glassware shop), Porzellanhaus (a china shop), Süßigkeiten (a bakery), Weinkeller (a wine shop), Der Bucherwurm (a bookstore), Volkskunst, and Der Teddybär. The pavilion also included the Biergarten restaurant.
Since Germany opened in 1982, the pavilion has seen a substantial amount of changes. These changes include:
* In 1988 a small crystal cart was added to the pavilion. This cart was later replaced in 1989 by Kunsterbeit in Kristall (an Arribas Bros shop).
