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/* Pavilion History */
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 platz, called St. Georgsplatz, 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 in 1982 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. In 1988 a small crystal cart was added to the pavilion<ref name="intercot"> http://www.intercot.com/edc/wsfoodshop.html#ger </ref>. The next year, in 1989, Porzellanhaus was renamed Die Weihnacts Ecke, which features predominantly Christmas decorations <ref name= "Epcot"> The Epcot Explorer's Encyclopedia: A Guide to Walt Disney World's Greatest Theme Park </ref>. Also in 1989, sign that the planned Rhine River Cruise was perhaps shelved further came when the counter service [[Sommerfest]] restaurant opened near the [[Biergarten]] <ref name= "Epcot"/>. Sommerfest opened in front of the planned location for the Rhine River Cruise's entrance. When the Germany pavilion originally opened, guests could see a large set of doors that led to the attraction's partially built show building. Today, If guests go to the back of [[Sommerfest]], they will find a large mural painted on the wall. This wall replaced the original Rhine River Cruise doors. In a similar fashion, in 1990, a new shop called Kunsterbeit in Kristall opened in the location formally earmarked for a German tourism office <ref name="progress"> http://progresscityusa.com/2011/05/09/examining-epcot-the-germany-showcase/ </ref>.
In 1995, to celebrate the International Flower and Garden festival<ref>AUTHORS NOTE: Some sources site the 1995 Food and Wine Festival as the debut of the railway</ref>, a miniature railroad display called the Garden Railroad was erected in the Germany pavilion <ref> http://www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com/Apr15.html </ref> . After being set up and torn down for a series of festivals, the display proved to be so popular that Disney decided to leave it up year round. Subsequently, in 1999 Der Bucherwurm was replaced by Das Kaufhaus, which sells various sportswear <ref name= "Epcot"/>. the next change came in 2002 when Glaskunst opened in 2002 in the Germany pavilion's former WorldKey location <ref name="intercot"/>. At this time, the crystal cart that had opened in 1988 closed.
On June 29, 2009, the Germany pavilion got a proper meet and greet area for the pavilion's popular Snow White meet and greet <ref> https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/germany/news/29jun2009-snow-white-meet-and-greet-construction-at-the-germany-pavilion-now-complete.htm </ref>. Another opening day shop, Glas und Porzellan was closed in 2010 (after sponsor Goebel did not renew their contract) and the location became Karamell-Kuche (a confectionery) <ref name= "Epcot"/>.
