A Detailed Look at Epcot’s Norway Pavilion
Walt Disney World’s theme park Epcot has two parts, Future World and World Showcase. Future World makes up the northern part of the park. It’s here that you’ll find The Land, The Sea, Test Track and Mission Space. World Showcase makes up the southern part of the park. It is here that you find 11 pavilions representing 11 different countries from around the world. Each one has it’s one table service restaurant, if not two. Each of these pavilions has so much to do, but many can be over looked. Today’s post is going to focus on the Norway pavilion and go into detail to make sure you don’t miss anything you may want to include in your Itinerary.
The Norway Pavilion in Epcot received a large face lift back in 2016, after the release of the ever popular film Frozen. Frozen is set in Norway and this pavilion became the perfect place to host the beloved princesses and an attraction about their adventures. The Norway pavilion is the only pavilion open from park open until park close, due to the popularity of the ride and the character meet and greet. You’ll find the Norway pavilion immediately after the Mexico pavilion, so the second pavilion when travelling east to west through World Showcase. Let’s break down the pavilion into a couple of sections: characters, attraction, dining and shopping.
Characters
The Norway pavilion is the only place you can have a meet and greet with Anna and Elsa. You can see Anna and Elsa in different stage shows at the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios but the only place you can meet them (get a picture with them and get their autographs) is here at the Norway Pavilion. Guests will walk through a Norway home, with many pieces of art decorating the walls featuring Anna and Elsa. Guests will meet Anna first and then Elsa. You won’t be able to see them until you’re led into their greeting area, which has a closed door. Elsa is dressed in her most famous gown, and Anna is dressed in her gown from travelling through the land of Arendelle. Exactly what you’d expect them to be wearing. This is a very popular character meet and greet so I’d suggest getting a FastPass for this one, if it’s a priority on your list, or getting there as soon as the park opens.
Attraction
Frozen Ever After
This flume ride will take guests through different scenes of Anna and Elsa’s story. Including Elsa’s ice castle, an encounter with Marshmallow, and of course Olaf. It’s a very popular ride, because it’s one of the few attractions that are for the whole family: 32″ and smaller. I would strongly recommend grabbing a FastPass for this ride. Frozen Ever After is located at the back of this pavilion. You won’t be able to miss it.
Dining
There are three places to dine or grab a snack in the Norway Pavilion. One is a character dining experience and the other two are great places to grab a beer, helping you get all those drinks for drinking around the world.
The table service restaurant at the Norway pavilion features Disney princesses and Norwegian food. Serving breakfast, lunch and supper, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is open before park open, giving you early access to this popular pavilion. Advanced reservations are recommended.
Midnattssoi Bakeri
Located on the water side of this pavilion, Midnattssoi Bakeri serves a Norwegian beer, along with many Norwegian baked goods. Among them are Anna’s Birthday Cake, School Bread, and Lefse. Stop here to try some genuine Norwegian delicacies. Open from park open to park close.
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
This cafe serves coffee, sandwiches, and many pastries. You can try School Bread, a Troll Horn, or Viking Chocolate Mousse. Among the coffees offered are a Viking Coffee (which is made up of coffee Kamora coffee liqueur and Bailey’s) and a Bailey’s and Coffee. The Cafe is located in the large shop at the exit of Frozen Ever After. You can also access the cafe from the courtyard.
Shopping
Wandering Reindeer
Here is where you will find everything Frozen. Frozen stuffed animals, frozen clothing, frozen toys. You have a Frozen fan? You’ll find the perfect souvenir here. With snowshoes, pic axes and rope on the wall, you’ll feel you’re at Oaken’s Trading Post. Wandering Reindeer is open from park open to park close. You can find it between the Norway Pavilion and the Mexico Pavilion. You’ll also exit here from you meet and greet with Elsa. It’s here where our daughter chose one of her purchases on our last trip, a Animators Collection Littles Frozen Micro Doll Play Set, which is now sold out on Disney Store’s website.
The Puffin’s Roost
To my great dismay, this store has also been overtaken by Frozen items. You can still find a small selection of items from Norway. Beautiful sweaters and exquisite fragrances. We’ve made some great purchases here in the past. The products are unique and high quality and pricey. It’s worth combing through especially if you live somewhere cooler like us.
Entertainment
Norway Vikings
In front of The Wandering Reindeer you’ll find a couple of Vikings recruiting. Sporadically from noon until evening these two humorous locals will give you a chuckle and may ask you to join in on their crew. But you’ll have to do a little training first.
I really love the Norway pavilion. It’s beautiful to walk around, there’s plenty to do, plenty to eat, lots to shop. Definitely take time to walk through this pavilion, carve out time to explore all the knocks and crannies of this fantastic spot.
