Five Things to Know About the Canada Pavilion in EPCOT

One of the original nine pavilions in EPCOT, the Canada pavilion is at the mid-park end of the World Showcase. If you’re entering from World Nature, it’s the first pavilion you’ll encounter; from the International Gateway, it’s just past the UK Pavilion. Canada (the real-life country!) is large, and you’ll find plenty to represent the variety of cultures in its World Showcase sampler. Let’s take a look!

1. It’s like taking a road trip in Canada.

As with other World Showcase representations, the Canada Pavilion is a romanticized version of Canada’s wilderness and architecture, mixing the rugged landscapes of British Columbia and the refined atmosphere of more urban French Canada. It’s a blend of different styles of architecture, landscaping, and even climate zones, with the use of vertical space making this compact area feel larger than its actual footprint.

Along the northern side of the pavilion are the Victoria Gardens, inspired by Butchart Gardens in British Columbia. Absolutely beautiful, they require constant care and attention to maintain their refined appearance. On your left is the market, built in a more rustic style of the Canadian frontier.

Dominating your view is the Hotel du Canada. It’s modeled after the Château Laurier in Ottawa, one of the best-known Canadian Pacific Railway hotels. You can’t book a hotel room here, but you can buy one … after a fashion. The hotel houses a Disney Vacation Club sales center, complete with tours of a model room.

Toward the rear of the pavilion is the canyon pathway, where winding paths and a wooden bridge take you down and past the waterfalls. We always make time to stop and admire this area. It’s easy to rush through this Pavilion and miss this homage to the peace and beauty of Canada’s natural spaces, but I advise you not to make this mistake!

An eye-catching feature of the Canada Pavilion is the three Totem Poles. The poles are carved in the traditional style by a member of one of Canada’s indigenous peoples. For more details about the individual stories of the poles, see Totem Pole Tales: Silent Teachers of the Canada Pavilion.

2. A brief lesson in Canadian (Pavilion) history.

At one point in the planning stages, Imagineers thought about designing the Canada Pavilion around a “Main Street” with shops and eateries on either side. One side would represent British Canada, the other French Canada. Today, all that remains of this thought is the short thoroughfare in the pavilion with the Hotel du France on one side and English-style cottages on the left.

As is true for many of the pavilions, Disney wanted the country represented to offer financial support in return for input into the design. The rub here was that Canada was concerned about the story that Disney was hoping to present: lumberjacks and plaid, with a stereotypical vision of when the Royal Canadian Mounties brought law and order to the wild frontier. While the Canadian government didn’t provide dollars, eventually Disney relented and allowed them input into the design of the pavilion anyway.

That input continued over the years. The original Circle-Vision 360 movie O Canada! was filmed in 1979. After several years of pressure from the Canadian Tourism Board, it was updated in 2007 with more modern representations of Canadian landscapes and urban centers. O Canada! was later retired and replaced by a new update, Canada Far and Wide, that premiered in 2020.

3. Dining options are limited, but one is much sought after.

The Table Service restaurant in Canada is Le Cellier Steakhouse. Located in the Hotel du Canada, it’s designed to give you the impression that you’re dining in a wine cellar (hence the name!). And it actually is a cellar, located underneath the chateau. On the menu is the famous cheddar cheese soup as well as filet mignon and bison strip loin. And yes, if you’ve never tried Poutine, here’s your chance. Reservations can be hard to come by at times, so if this is on your list, make yours as soon as you can.

The Canadian popcorn cart is the only place in the (Disney) World to get Maple Popcorn. If you haven’t had it, we highly recommend it. You can also get Canadian Beer and soft drinks here. You’ll find a Joffrey’s coffee cart nearby, offering coffee (surprise!) along with a few pastries. And the nearby Refreshment Port Quick Service isn’t truly part of the Canada dining lineup. But it does offer poutine, so it’s kind of like an honorary member?

4. Shopping in Canada is compact and connected

The Northwest Mercantile and Trading Post shops are contiguous. The cozy little Trading Post offers a selection of souvenirs with a Canadian theme. But it also has a bar which offers Canadian beers, making it a great spot to sample some brews on a hot day. Northwest Mercantile has a greater variety of merchandise, including mugs, Christmas ornaments, plushies, shirts, and some Disney-themed items. And there’s a kiosk just outside the pavilion that also sells a selection of flags, plushies, and other goods.

Merchandise in the Canada Pavilion suffers a bit from the same problem as the American Adventure. Unless it has a Canadian flag or symbols on it, much of it isn’t exotic if you live in the U.S. But of course, you can buy maple syrup here, in bottles shaped like a maple leaf, and there are a few other distinctly Canadian items.

5. No thrill ride here, but plenty to see and do.

The main attraction here is the film Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360. For 12 minutes, you’ll find yourself literally surrounded by panoramic views of Canada. To say it’s immersive falls short of the actual experience!

For live entertainment, head to the Mill Stage between the Canada and UK Pavilions. The current mainstay is Alberta Bound, a folk and rock band that performs Canadian tunes.

The previously mentioned Victoria Gardens are worth your while to take a stroll and linger. Frankly, I can’t think of a prettier place in all of the World Showcase. And as mentioned, if you bypass the canyon stroll past the waterfalls, you’re missing out.

Like all other pavilions, Canada has a Kidcot Fun Stop where the littles can collect a card and do a little activity. And just north of the pavilion off the main walkway is Critter Crossing. Kids can look for animal tracks and see representations Canadian wildlife as little figures reminiscent of totems, including a wolf and a bear.

If you’re looking for Hidden Mickeys, there are at least two to be found in the pavilion. One is in the large totem pole outside the Northwest Mercantile. Look under the elbow of the arms near the top, Mickey’s just underneath. Another is inside Le Cellier in the tiny wine storage area behind the check in counter. At the top of the wine rack are three bottles, one large and two small, stacked to suggest Mickey.

The Bottom Line.

While not showy or ostentatious, the quiet beauty of the Canada Pavilion should make it a must-see on your visit to the World Showcase. It provides a nice retreat from the crowds and offers a chance to enjoy a moment with nature in its gardens and water features. It’s just the right place to take a break, catch your breath, and relax before you start a tour around the Showcase – or at the end of your visit if you started in Mexico.

Have you been to the Canada Pavilion in EPCOT? What’s your favorite thing about it? Let us know in the comments!