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Morocco was one of the countries planned for World Showcase dating back to 1978 <ref> http://progresscityusa.com/2011/06/19/epcot-origins-a-model-future-1978/ </ref>. Although the pavilion was not an opening day pavilion, Moroccan themed bathrooms were operational on EPCOT Center’s opening day <ref name= "potties"> http://progresscityusa.com/2010/02/16/the-mystical-potties-of-morocco/ </ref>. Construction on the rest of the pavilion then began in late 1982, with the official groundbreaking taking place in 1983 <ref name= "potties"/>. Finally, on September 7, 1984 the Morocco pavilion officially opened <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/guide/430/Walt-Disney-World/Epcot/World-Showcase--Morocco/ </ref>. Since the pavilion opened it has seen a relatively few number of changes. Besides the changing of many of the shops located in the marketplace, the only major changes in Morocco have been the addition of the Tangerine Café on October 12, 1999 <ref> http://www.intercot.com/discussion/archive/index.php?t-195363.html </ref> (which replaced the tourism bureau) and the addition of Spice Road Table in January 2014 <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/spice-road-table/news/11jan2014-review---spice-road-table-at-epcot's-morocco-pavilion.htm </ref>.
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Unlike the other countries in World Showcase, the Morocco pavilion was directly sponsored by the country it represented. In fact, King Hassan II (the King of Morocco) sent craftsmen and artisans to help Disney design and create the pavilion. Since Islamic religion prohibits the artistic depiction of live objects, the decorations in the Morocco pavilion were all decorated with geometric patterns. Like many cities in Morocco, the pavilion is divided into ville nouvel (the “new city” which is located in the front of the pavilion) and medina (the “old city” which is located in the pavilion’s rear). The "Bab Boujouloud Gate", which was inspired by a similar structure found in Fez, separates the two areas.
Located in the ville nouvel is the pavilion’s gardens, which includes a working waterwheel (located on the lagoon) which brings the gardens water. The new city part of the pavilion is also home to the Koutoubia Minaret. The largest structure in the pavilion, the minaret is a replica of the Koutoubia Mosque Minaret found in the city of Marrakesh. At one time, guests could visit the Center of Tourism in the Moroccan pavilion where they could obtain vacation planning literature and even book flights on Royal Air Maroc. This area has since been replaced by the counter service restaurant Tangerine Café.
After passing through the Bab Boujouloud Gate, there is a noticeable change in the pavilion’s design. Instead of the broad streets and ordered building placement of the ville nouvel, the medina Medina is much more narrow and winding. The majority of the medina Medina is taken up by the pavilion’s marketplace where guests can purchase all sorts of authentic Moroccan merchandise. In the marketplace guests can also find the pavilion’s Kidcot station, where they can get their Epcot passports stamped. Although the marketplace is themed to look like it is outdoors, the entire area is covered by a well hidden roof. This was done to protect both guests and the merchandise from Florida’s elements.
Another point of interest in the Moroccan pavilion is the Fez house. Here, guests can tour an authentic Moroccan home. Nearby another minaret which is a replica of a minaret found in Chellah (a historic site near the city of Rabat) can be seen. Also located in the old town section of the Moroccan pavilion are an ancient water clock (which is a replica of a clock found in Fez) and a replica of the Nejjarine Fountain.
