Welcome to Morocco. Epcot-style.

I watched Casablanca again this week. It’s not a Disney movie, but it reminded me of Hollywood Studios anyway. The famous scene of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman standing in front of the plane bound for Lisbon was once featured within the park’s Great Movie Ride. Although you can no longer experience this classic scene at Disney World, you can still explore the unique setting of Casablanca at the Moroccan Pavilion in Epcot. Today’s post takes a peek at this exquisite Epcot gem.

Did I mention Ingrid Bergman’s character in the film was named Ilsa (pronounced Elsa) from Norway?

The Disney tie-in to Casablanca is stronger than you might think.

Before I get into the details though, I can’t help but wonder what happened to all the props when The Great Movie Ride closed in 2017. Disney tends to reuse items from closed attractions when they can, so perhaps some of these items will resurface someday. Now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure I read the back half of the plane above is currently used as a prop for Jungle Cruise.

Morocco at World Showplace

Moving on to Morroco, it’s easy to see how the Epcot version mimics the one in the classic film.

Disney opened the Moroccan Pavilion in 1984. It was the first “new” country after the initial set opened with the rest of the park in 1982. The space includes several shops, restaurants and quiet spaces to explore. Similar to all of the countries at Epcot, the Moroccan Pavilion also offers recreations of landmarks from its native land.

The entrance to the pavilion, for example, resembles the minaret (or prayer tower) of the 800 year old Koutoubia Mosque in the city of Marrakesh. The stately design and pink plaster facade of the minaret also influenced the Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios nearly ten years later. At the time, the Tower of Terror was clearly visible from Epcot’s World Showplace. Disney Imagineers made the tower pink to blend with the rest of the sight lines in Morocco.

So I guess you could say there’s still a little bit of Casablanca at the Studios?

Adjacent to the tower you’ll find another impressive landmark, the beautiful Bab Boujloud. Built by the French in the early 1900s, the original Bab Boujloud in Morocco still serves as the western entrance to the old city of Fez. The Disney version captures the grandeur of the structure and welcomes Epcot guests into a beautifully themed space.

The architecture is beyond impressive. There are so many details it’s difficult to absorb them all. I love the hand-painted tile, the soaring archways and the dark wood carvings throughout. Even the plant life in the space is native to the Moroccan climate.

Once inside the gate, you can explore a traditional Moroccan home, peruse a small museum or just soak up the tranquility of this often overlooked space. The fact that you don’t have to stand in line for any of it is also clearly a bonus.

Disney partnered with the Moroccan government to bring the Moroccan Pavilion to life. It was the only foreign government among the countries of World Showplace to do so. According to Disney, King Hussein II sent scores of artisans from Morocco to assist in the design and overall construction. The Moroccan government still sponsors the space today.

Of course it is still Disney World after all, so there’s also a chance to meet Jasmine from the fictional city of Agrabah while wondering through the buildings.

There are also numerous opportunities to sample local cuisine. The Moroccan Pavilion features three restaurants. Tangierine Cafe is a quick-service restaurant serving shawarma platters (chicken, lamb, veggies) and pastries (baklava!).

Restaurant Marrakesh is a table service restaurant featuring kebabs, couscous salads and other native delicacies. Designed to look like a sultan’s palace inside, the restaurant also offers live music and entertainment (belly dancing!). It’s hidden location behind the gate in Morocco makes it a little less popular among World Showplace offerings. That means you can usually score a reservation fairly close to your dining date.

The third dining option is Spice Road Table, a tapas restaurant with an extensive bar menu that offers views of the water. Spice Road Table sits right next to Morocco’s boat service too, which makes it an easy trip from the opposite end of the park.

If you’re not too stuffed from the dining options, there are also numerous shops to explore. Most offer Moroccan-inspired wares that vary from the typical Disney World gift shop items.

Why you should visit

If you haven’t guessed, I’m a fan of the Moroccan Pavilion. It’s a beautiful, peaceful space that captures the spirit of this fascinating country in an unexpected setting.

I suspect many people visiting Disney World skip the details of Morocco and many of the other countries in Epcot’s World Showplace. It’s easy to do. We missed it our first few visits too. The countries don’t offer the adrenaline rush of Test Track or the fairy tale escape of Frozen Ever After. Most don’t even offer rides, at least for now.

Still there’s a lot to enjoy about World Showplace and Morocco specifically. It’s a chance to visit other cultures, learn a little history and dream about exploring the far away lands that inspired these impressive pavilions.

It may even get you caught up in the romance of Casablanca too.

Add a little (Moroccan) magic to your world!