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EPCOT currently hosts 11 different national pavilions in its World Showcase, and there is room for more.
Since the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow first opened its gates to Walt Disney World Resort Guests, people have been speculating–and outright requesting–a plethora of new countries be added to the current roster. And now, Josh Gad has Tweeted his pick. Inspired by Disney’s latest musical sensation, Encanto, the Frozen, and Beauty and the Beast(2017) star wants to see Colombia added as a permanent pavilion along the World Showcase Lagoon.
Gad made his sentiment clear when he tweeted the following (making sure to tag Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jared Bush, and Byron Howard in the process):
As we watch for the thousandth time, my kids and I decided we want a Columbia attraction at #Epcot with a full #Encanto ride through attraction. @Lin_Manuel @thejaredbush @ByronPHoward and @DisneyParks please make this happen. Sincerely, the Gads.
As we watch for the thousandth time, my kids and I decided we want a Columbia attraction at #Epcot with a full #Encanto ride through attraction. @Lin_Manuel @thejaredbush @ByronPHoward and @DisneyParks please make this happen. Sincerely, the Gads. pic.twitter.com/qHE0m8RUIY
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) January 22, 2022
It is doubtful that the man who brought Olaf to life, and his family, is alone on this opinion. Reports are coming out of the EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts that a temporary Encanto-themed kiosk is creating lines long enough to rival those formed for the infamous Figment Popcorn Bucket a few weeks ago.
But, there is arguably room for at least four new nation pavilions around the EPCOT lagoon, and the aerial map on the MyDisneyExperience App shows us how much space is left for such use:
Over the years, it was half-expected that nations like Spain and Israel would be added. Disney World even started sharing this advertisement at one point:
Credit: Disney
But these pavilions never came to be. Equatorial Africa was limited to the small trading post between China and Germany, most likely because its full potential was repurposed for the Africa area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.
South America and Australia are the last two human-populated continents without a permanent presence at EPCOT, although they have been constant participants of the International Food and Wine Festival since the 90s. The rumor that appears the most widely supported has been Brazil, followed by Greece.
However, with recent developments to existing pavilions such as the Frozen expansions to Norway, and the addition of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure to the France Pavilion, and the fact that no new nation addition was included in EPCOT’s major revamp announcement, the powers that be at Walt Disney World might have other worldly adventures in store for its Guests instead of the chance to visit a whole new nation.
Still, you never know what can happen…
The Madrigal family: Luisa (voiced by Jessica Darrow), Isabela (voiced by Diane Guerrero), the matriarch Abuela Alma (voiced by María Cecilia Botero), Felix (voiceded by Mauro Castillo), Julieta (voiced by Angie Cepeda), Pepa (voiced by Carolina Gaitán), Agustín (voiced by Wilmer Valderrama), Camilo (voiced by Rhenzy Feliz), Antonio (voiced by Ravi Cabot-Conyers), and Dolores (voiced by Adassa) and Mirabel Madrigal (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz). John Leguizamo voices Bruno (not pictured). Credit: movies.disney.com
Colombia has an incredible amount to offer. It’s the second most biodiverse Country in the world with vast and iconic cuisine and snacks from pandebonos to Colombian-style empanadas or Chuleta Valluna and Bandeja Paisa. Colombian’s fashion with their vueltiao and polleras! It’s known as The Capital of Salsa as well as The Land of A Thousand Rhythms for the amount of genres and dancing they’ve mastered throughout decades. And of course, the sights. From the Pacific coasts to the Caribbean to the Andes to the Eje Cafetero and even Caño Cristales! It’s never-ending really. I wanted Colombia to be more than an Encanto ride at Animal Kingdom since they deserve their own section but I’m thankful for what the Country is getting at the very least. Still.