Changes
In order to show guests as much of the United Kingdom as possible, Imagineers made sure that each structure in the United Kingdom pavilion represents a different era. The center of the pavilion is known as Britania Square. Modeled after the various town squares found in the UK, Britania Square is where guests can find various shops and dining establishments. In fact, the pavilion’s original restaurant, the Rose & Crown can be found within the square. The Rose & Crown serves as both a restaurant and a pub, where guests can get a tradional British meal. Inside the pub part of the establishment, guests can see the “hat lady”, as she plays her piano and invites guests to sing various English songs. Outside of the Rose and Crown, guests find a recreation of a lock found on the Grand Union Canal. A nearby sign notes that Thomas Dudley is the lockkeeper at the Rose & Crown Lock. Dudley, was the governor of the English, Massachusetts Bay Colony in the mid-1600’s.
Across from the Rose & Crown, guests can visit The Tea Caddy. This shop was inspired by the childhood home of Anne Hathaway (William Shakespeare’s wife). Inside, guests can purchase teas, coffees, and hot chocolates made by Twinnings. Across from the Tea Caddy, guests can find another shop, The Queen’s Table. The store features Elizabethan architecture, from the 1600s, and inside guests can buy tea, tea sets, and dinnerware. Behind the Queen’s Table, is a typical English garden. The various “homes” that look out into the garden, were inspired by the houses in Disney’s Marry Poppins. Guests can often find meet and greet characters such as Alice (from Alice in Wonderland) and Marry Poppins here.
The back of the United Kingdom pavilion is themed to look like the residential section, of a town set in the 1800s. The area, which is known as Tudor Land, is home to the Lords and Ladies shop. This boutique sells clothes and fragrances for both men and women. Another section of the town, Upper Regency, is home of various houses with late Georgian architecture. These houses are home to the pavilion’s Kidcot station, and Winnie the Pooh sometimes makes appearances inside. The houses themselves look out into a replica of Hyde Park where guests can watch the British Revolution, perform various rock songs. Also located in the park is a hedge maze based on the Somerleyton Hall Maze.
The final section of the United Kingdom pavilion features a city gate, inspired by the gates built during the middle ages. After passing through, guests can enter the Toy Soldiers shop. As its name would suggest, the store specializes in English games and toys. Another store, The Crown and Crest can be found nearby. The Crown and Crest is based on Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford Manor. Inside, besides just purchasing British merchandise, guests can also look up their families’ coat of arms. Another castle, the Hampton Court Palace, is also located within the United Kingdom pavilion. The palace is typical of one built during the late dark ages, and inside guests can visit the Sportsman’s Shoppe. The store sells various British sports merchandise, including football (soccer) jerseys.
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
* Originally, Imagineers wanted to put a statue in the center of the square, and while many different famous Brits were considered, (including kings, queens, Lord Nelson, Lord Byron, Robert Burns and William Shakespeare), Imagineers eventually decided to place a sundial there.
* The music played in the United Kingdom pavilion includes selections from Gilbert and Sullivan and Greensleeves.
Imagineers tinted the top of the UK pavilion's chimneys to make it look like they are in use.
* The United Kingdom pavilion features three classic, red phone booths.
* The lock located outside of the Crown and Rose, was at one time surrounded by gates. The gates however, have since been removed.
* In the windows of the Hampton Court Palace, guests can see the crosses of St. Andrew, St. George and St. Patrick, the patron saints of Scotland, England, and Ireland respectively.
