Photos: Morning tour of an empty World Showcase at Epcot

A normal trip to the World Showcase at Epcot, for me and many, usually centers around food. After all, this section of the park is really a giant retail/restaurant mall with a few attractions thrown into the mix.

Walkways and sidewalks are usually jammed with people but the time most guests get to walk around this part of the park. But, there is a quiet time. In the mornings between 9 and 11 a.m., guests are able to go as far as France to the west (for breakfast) and Norway to the east (for Frozen Ever After).

Then at 11 a.m. the ropes drop for the remainder of the world. This is the time to take your leisurely stroll, get your selfies when no one is around and enjoy the scenery. Because it’s the scenery, architecture and detail which is a lot of fun.

So on with the tour.

The first stop is the Canada Pavilion where the large Hotel du Canada is based on the Chateau Laurier in Canada. The rock formation is of course reminiscent to the Rocky Mountains, complete with a 30-foot waterfall. And the gardens to the right is inspired by Victoria’s Butchart Gardens. (Photos by Steve Liebman)

The United Kingdom Pavilion shows off a numerous types of  British architecture over different time periods, including this lovely cottage from the front (above) and the read (below). This cottage is similar to the one where William Shakespeare courted his future wife, Anne Hathaway. (Photos by Steve Liebman)

The fountains at the France Pavilion are normally obscured by crowds. But in the morning, no one is around and you can finally take that photo of the fountains, the Palais du Cinema and the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel tower here stands 103 feet tall, which is one-tenth the size of the Paris tower. (Photo by Steve Liebman)

The Morocco Pavilion is really an immersive experience. This is a place where you should take your time walking around the alleys of the pavilion and through the marketplace. But first you come upon the Koutoubia Minaret, it is a replica of Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, the largest mosque in Morocco. (Photos by Steve Liebman)

The Japan Pavilion is another location that has a few walking paths that allow various views. One quiet area is to go to is the seating area behind the Pagoda. To the front is a small pond (below) with the familiar Hidden Mickey. (Photos by Steve Liebman)

Don’t forget to walk to the back where you find the entrance to the castle (the Mitsukoshi Department Store). Look around at the detail. (Photo by Steve Liebman)

The American Adventure building is a beautiful Georgian Style of architecture, but what’s really fun to look at is behind the American Gardens Theatre. There you will find the Golden Dream. A replica of a Virginia Here is the Golden Dream. The ship is named after the song in the American Adventure.

The Italy Pavilion represents a number of different types of architecture. This includes a large tower, which is a replica of St. Mark’s Campanile, or bell tower. The two columns are representations of the Columns of San Marco and San Teodoro. (Photos by Steve Liebman)

The Il Bel Cristallo shop is meant to resemble the exterior of the Sistine Chapel. (Photos by Steve Liebman)

The Germany Pavilion is designed to look like a classic German town. The Platz (square) is decorated with a statue of St. George and the Dragon inspired by the statue in the medieval Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. (Photos by Steve Liebman)

Near the Outpost area, take a look over the rocks at the water’s edge and you’ll find these canoes. (Photo by Steve Liebman)

As you enter the China Pavilion you head under Paifang gate as you cross toward the replica of the Temple of Heaven. The pavilion has a number of small walking paths around small ponds. It is very peaceful and is a great place for a break from the crowds. (Photo by Steve Liebman)

As you approach the Norway Pavilion from China, you see a replica of the Stave Church, which is used as a gallery. (Photo by Steve Liebman)

As you walk toward the Frozen Ever After attraction you will walk through a replica of a small communty with the The Fjording store. Now walk up with the chest and take a close look at the packages and letters. You can see they are actually addressed to people. (see below). (Photos by Steve Liebman)

The area also shows off the traditional Scandinavian style sod roof. Until the late 1800s, this type of roof was comon on rural log houses in Norway and large parts of Scandinavia.(Photo by Steve Liebman)

The last stop on the tour, or the first, if you decide to begin here, is the Mexico Pavilion. The 36-foot-tall Mesoamerican pyramid  houses the pavilion. Take a walk around the building and see the details on the structure.