France
France is a pavilion located within World Showcase in Epcot. It is located between the Morocco and The United Kingdom.
| France | |
| |
| The France pavilion at night. | |
| Epcot | |
| Land | World Showcase |
|---|---|
| Opening date | October 1, 1982 |
| Number of Attractions | 1 |
| Number of Restaurants | Three |
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Contents
Pavilion History and Layout
Original Designs and Changes
While the France pavilion was also going to be a part of World Showcase, the pavilion’s design and layout changed many times. When the pavilion opened in 1982, it featured the widescreen film, Impressions de France. Early deigns for the theater, show that at one time, the theater was going to be round. This means that Imagineers may have originally intended the film to be a CircleVision 360 film (although this in unconfirmed). According Richard Beard’s book, Walt Disney’s EPCOT: Creating the New World of Tomorrow, the pavilions layout changed drastically before the pavilion was built. Beard says:
“With the best will in the world, there was still not complete agreement among the EPCOT team during the planning of the France pavilion. One of the first concept sketches was of the Place du Tertre, the artists’ colony up near the cathedral of Sacré-Coeur. Then the Moulin Rouge and the Place Pigalle were considered, but the French advisers thought that was “tacky.” (It is; but tourists still love it.)Sacré-Coeur itself, when they tried to build it to scale, looked rather Muscovite to a lot of people, with its onion-type domes. But the Eiffel Tower is unmistakable; it is one of a kind”
— Walt Disney’s EPCOT: Creating the New World of Tomorrow
At one time, plans for the pavilion called for the creation of an animated map. Guests would be able to push a button on the map to learn about what was happening in the countries various regions. Regions included would have been the coasts of Normandy and Brittany, the skiing areas, the Riviera, and the wine country. Also planned but never built, was an exposition hall based on Paris' Les Halles. Originally the hall would have held displays of the different provincial regions and serve as an information center.
Layout and History Since Opening
The France pavilion opened with the rest of World Showcase on October 1, 1971. The pavilion is themed to look like Paris, between the years 1871–1914. In France this period is known as Belle Époque (beautiful age). The back of the pavilion incorporates the small towns and provinces in France, in the form of “Le Petite Rue” a small and quaint street. On way that guests can enter the pavilion is by crossing a metal bridge. The bridge is based on the Point des Arts, the first metal bridge in Paris and the waterway that it crosses over is meant to be the Seine River. The focal point of the pavilion is a recreation of the Eiffel Tower, which was built at approximately 1/10 scale of the original. Also of note is a park based on “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island La Grande Jatte” by the French artist Georges Seura. Although the park is pleasant to look at, it is not accessible to guests.
When the France pavilion originally opened, it featured two table service restaurants: Les Chefs de France, and Au Petit Café. Both restaurants proved to be extremely popular, and due to demand, the Bistro de Paris was built. The new table service restaurant was constructed on the second floor of the Les Chefs de France restaurant, replacing the office buildings that were previously housed there. Another change to France’s restaurants came in 1997, when Disney decided to merge Au Petite Café with Les Chefs de France. The restaurant reopened as an expanded version of Les Chefs de France later that year.
The French pavilion is also home to the Impressions De France movie. The attraction is held in the Palais du Cinema, which was based on a theater in Fontainebleau. Impression’s De France is a travelogue which tours various parts of France, while classical music arranged by Buddy Baker plays.
Attractions
Impressions de France- This movie shows guests various sights in France on a 180 degree screen. The scenes in the film are set to a score arranged by Buddy Baker.
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure- On this interactive adventure, guests can grab a communicator and travel around World Showcase to help Kim and Ron save the world! The Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure takes place in every one of the World Showcase countries.
Restaurants
Chefs De France- This table service restaurant features a menu created by the three famous chefs, Paul Bocuse, Gaston Lenotre and Roger Verge.
Bistro De Paris- This table service restaurant is located on the floor above Chefs de France. Bistro de Paris is a little pricier then Chefs de France.
Boulangerie Paitisserie- This counter service restaurant sells French pastries, sandwiches and snacks.
Shopping
Plume et Palette- This shop sells French fragrances, soaps and handbags. At one time guests could go to the second floor of the store and buy impressionist prints, however the floor is no longer open to guests.
Givenchy- This shop offers the entire line of Givenchy fragrances and cosmetics.
La Sinage- This shop carries Guerlain fragrances for men and women. The shop was redesigned in 2007 to resemble the original La Maison Guerlain boutique in Paris.
Les Vins de France- This shop offers various French wines. Wine tasting is also available.
L’Esprit de Provence- This store, located across from Les Vins de France sells kitchenware, silverware and cookbooks.
Souvenirs de France- This large store sells various French merchandise. Guests can also find France's Kidcot station here. The store was originally known as Galarie des Halles.
Live Entertainment
Serveur Amusant- This comical waiter performs a 20 minute juggling show, usually on Wednesday through Sunday.
Fun Facts and Trivia
- If guests look closely on the banks of Seine, they can see an easel and painting. The painting is of World Showcase.
- On the other side of the bridge, another painting can be found. This one is of the bridge itself.
- Large green boxes line the shore of the Seine. These are common in France, as many secondhand booksellers store their merchandise in similar structures.
- In the lobby outside Impressions de France, guests can see the Spitting Gargoyle. The statue is a replica of one of the gargoyles that guard the Cathedral of Notre Dame.
- The gargoyle was made from a cast of the original.
References
http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/09/epcots_france_pavilion_part_on.html
