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From Berber Oasis to Restaurant Marrakesh, the Morocco
showcase at Walt Disney World Epcot captures the mystery and excitement
of the exotic North African kingdom.
For World Showcase guests, the first glimpse of Morocco will likely
be the Koutoubia Minaret, the famous prayer tower in Marrakesh which
stands guard over the entrance.
Located just across the promenade from the tower is Berber Oasis.
A sampling of the handicrafts for which Morocco is famous is on
display in this tent near World Showcase Lagoon.
In the same area, an ancient waterwheel lifts water from the lagoon
to a formal garden. It's a relaxing, shady spot with colorful floral
beds and the soothing sounds of splashing water flowing down wooden
troughs. The scene re-creates a typical Moroccan desert garden.
The Medina, or old city, portion of the pavilion allows guests
to experience the feeling of a bustling Moroccan marketplace. Shoppers
browsing among the thousands of authentic Moroccan crafts will find
straw baskets, woodcarvings, custom jewelry, leather goods, brass
pots and much more.
Moroccan cultural ambassadors conduct tours of the pavilion three
times a day and share their culture, lifestyles and country pride
with guests.
A source of pride with designers of the showcase is the architecture.
King Hassan II took a personal interest in the pavilion and, prior
to actual construction, studied a scale model for authenticity and
artistic effect.
Moroccan art is featured throughout the showcase and the Moroccan
government helped arrange for master artisans to create the detailed
geometric patterns in the buildings characteristic of Islamic style
and color. These artisans also supervised installation of the ornate
woodcarvings and roofing tiles created in Morocco especially for
the showcase.
A traditional fountain, inspired by the Najjarine Fountain in Fez,
is a centerpiece in the showcase courtyard.
Morocco showcase boasts one of Epcot's most interesting dining
experiences. The Tangierine Cafe, housed in the Koutoubia Minaret,
serves a variety of Moroccan sandwiches and specialty pastries.
Inside the arched columns, beamed ceilings and massive carved wooden
doors of Restaurant Marrakesh, the guest dining experience is transformed
into a setting typical of an elaborate Southern Moroccan fortress.
Its rich tones and textures compliment the aroma and taste of Moroccan
foods such as couscous (a coarse wheat, steamed and served with
lamb or chicken), bastila (a flaky chicken pie) and tangine djaj
belhamed (stewed chicken in preserved lemons and olives). Sweetened
tea or a steaming cup of Moroccan coffee rounds out the meal.
Adding authentic charm to the Restaurant Marrakesh experience,
belly dancers accompanied by a Moroccan musician perform daily.
Dining
Tangierine Café, located on the right side at the
entrance of the village-like showcase, specializes in quick-service
specialties such as shawarma, sandwiches made from shaved chicken,
beef or lamb that is slow-roasted on a rotisserie, served with hummus
and taziki.
Also in Morocco, the Restaurant
Marrakesh serves flavorful specialties, using a long list of
herbs and spices including saffron, a key ingredient in many Moroccan
dishes. The menu features couscous with chicken, lamb or a variety
of garden vegetables. A favorite appetizer is bastilla, or fried
pastry, that combines layers of the pastry with chicken strips seasoned
with almonds, powdered sugar and cinnamon. The dessert menu includes
bastilla au lait etamandes, with cream and toasted almonds.
Type - pavilion
Facts/History
The Chella Minaret is a Muslim prayer tower, and the keyhole windows
signify that worship can open up the door to the heavens.
Reproductions of the Bab Boujouloud gate in Fez, and the bells of
the Madrassa can also be seen.
The King of Morocco was so enthused about having his nation represented
at Epcot that he sent his own artisans over to create carvings and
tilework.
Nineteen maalems (Moroccan artisans) worked on the extensive mosaic
art throughout the pavilion.
You won't find any patterns containing people, animals, or plants,
due to the tenet that only Allah can create life.
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