Changes

During the [[Germany ]] pavilion's initial development, the location that would eventually house Sommerfest was earmarked as the entrance for the pavilion's planned [[Rhine River Cruise]] attraction<ref name="imagineering">http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2012/2/17/rhine-river-cruise-mysteries.html</ref>. Originally planned foreseen as an opening day attraction, plans for the River Cruise were eventually pushed back to [[EPCOT Center]]'s Phase II. Despite this, a large show building which would have housed the attraction's queue and load area was constructed<ref name="imagineering"/>. The entrance to this building was to be through an archway next to the [[Biergarten]] entrance. When the first guests walked through the Germany pavilion on October 1, 1989, the archway simply housed a set of wooden doors that were inaccessible to guests<ref name="imagineering"/>.

By the late 1980s, it was clear that the Rhine River Cruise would not be forthcoming. Finally, in 1989 <ref> The Epcot Explorer's Encyclopedia: A Guide to Walt Disney World's Greatest Theme Park (this information has been crossed referenced with Epcot Center's 1988 and 1989 maps)</ref>, the counter service Sommerfest restaurant opened in the former location of the attraction's planned entrance. If guests look at the back of the restaurant, they can see a large mural of a German countryside. This wall and mural replaced the wooden doors that had been present on opening day<ref name="imagineering"/>.