A New World's Fair: Constructed Authenticity at Walt Disney World's EPCOT

Abstract

EPCOT is one of six theme parks located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Marketed as a permanent world’s fair, EPCOT has provided guests with unique experiences related to technological innovation and a celebration of human achievement. A major component of the park is the World Showcase, a collection of 11 international pavilions that represent a specific country. Each respective pavilion features iconic architecture, cuisine, music, and even employees from that represented country. Further, guests can enjoy attractions, shows, restaurants, and shopping that are typical of each culture. However, while these pavilions were certainly created without malice, they are inherently problematic. Each country is sanitized, allowing for the simplification and distortion of cultural elements in a way that caters to American preconceptions of international societies. As such, Walt Disney World’s EPCOT features a significant level of cultural misrepresentation that is clearly attributed to multifaceted factors related to economic forces, politics motives, and outdated designs.