The Train Garden in Germany--From A Different Perspective

I have written about the Germany Pavilion in EPCOT previously—click here to read more—but I couldn’t resist highlighting this gem again when I found the video below.  The shows the train garden from another perspective.  Enjoy!

Did you notice the miniature topiaries? Me, too! During EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival, the train garden is decorated to match the theme of the park. The garden is also decorated for various holidays.

Most guests at EPCOT stroll right by the train garden in Germany, but not us. As I have written before, a stop here is a “must do” on our list as the boy is enthralled with trains. A visit to the train garden in Germany is a lengthy affair—45 to 90 minutes. The husband and I find a bench, let the boy know where we are, sit back and enjoy watching the people, and maybe have a snack.



It’s fun to watch the boy, too, as he talks to people about the trains. Most of the time, the other guests will enter into a conversation with him about the trains, as will the other children. Sometimes the guest he is talking to will have a look of concern—“he’s by himself”—and begin to look around for an adult that might be with him. When they look harder they notice us—in the matching shirts—sitting not so far away and their look of concern goes away and turns into a smile about this boy who wants to talk to everyone about trains. Again, great people watching!

The boy uses the Germany Pavilion as his sort of compass for EPCOT. We were in France waiting to see characters when some older boys were trying to find something and the boy chimed in for them to “go that way” towards Germany and they would find it. I recall that he was correct and had to chuckle at his knowledge of the park. How long will it be before he is touring on his own?



If you would like to read more about what the Germany Pavilion has to offer—click here.

We hope that the next time you are in EPCOT, you take a moment to view the train garden!



The Train Garden in the Germany Pavilion at EPCOT--A Story

 I was once again reminded of the boy’s love for trains and I remembered what happened in the Germany Pavilion at EPCOT in the train garden.




You see, there is a lovely train garden in the Germany Pavilion at EPCOT. Various G-gauge trains traverse the rails, go through the tunnels that are under the sidewalk, and in general, delight the guests that take a moment to find out what is “over there.”

For us, a trip to EPCOT is not complete without a visit to Germany and the train garden.  In fact, the boy’s day is calculated by how long until we get to Germany or when are we going to Germany.  The timing is crucial, as if we go to Germany in the middle of a rushing part of our touring schedule, we are sunk.  A visit to Germany is a 45 minute to 90 minute affair.

The husband and I know to look for a bench.  We know which ones have the bathrooms and drinking fountains nearby.  We often use the stop in Germany for snack, bringing turkey legs or funnel cake from the nearby American Adventure Pavilion.  Sometimes we separate for a while—leaving one of us with the boy while the other browses in the nearby shops.  We just know that our stop in Germany will be leisurely.

On our last visit to EPCOT and the train garden, the boy was somewhat distressed as the trolley just wasn’t running right.  The wheels were turning, but it would inch forward in a jerking motion.  The boy immediately began to keep an eye out for a Cast Member.  In the meantime, he would visit with the guests who were stopping to look at the trains, and point out that the little trolley needed help.

In a while, a Cast Member did appear and the boy approached to inform of the train trouble.  The Cast Member opened the gate to enter the train garden and did her best to fix the trolley.  No luck. 

Now, this is where it got interesting.  I could tell from watching the exchange the boy was just itching to make his way behind the gate and into the garden to fix that trolley himself.  He was talking to and convincing the Cast Member that he could help—he could fix the trolley.  The Cast Member, knowing that going into the garden would break policy, brought the trolley to him.  They visited for some time about what might be wrong with the trolley.

In the end, neither of them could fix the trolley.  But the boy was satisfied knowing he did everything he could do to help and left Germany happier for the experience and happier that he had had time to visit the train garden. 

****Rumor on the web indicates that someone is chosen each day near Germany, at the time World Showcase opens, to turn on the train garden.  We haven't been in that area of the park when World Showcase opens to be sure, but it is something in the memory banks in case we are ever in that area at that time.  And, it never hurts to ask.

Germany Pavilion At EPCOT

After 6 trips to the Walt Disney World Resort, the boy still says that Germany is his favorite thing in all of the resort. What makes Germany his favorite? The train garden. Pictured below, is the expansive and multi-leveled train garden that has bridges, tunnels, and towns for the trains to run through and a landscape that gets redecorated as often as the rest of the park. For example, EPCOT was celebrating the International Flower and Garden Festival, so small topiaries of Disney characters were placed in the town in the train garden. Only at Disney!

In the photo above, the boy is pointing out details that

can be found in the train garden.

We know each time we visit Germany it will be 45 minutes or more

before we can move on. We grab a bench and take turns

strolling the shops.

Disney characters can also be found in the Germany Pavilion. Snow White has her own meet and greet location. Singing bird sounds are piped into the area for the meet and greet. Only at Disney!

OK, I must confess that it took us 6 trips to Walt Disney World before we ate at the Biergarten restaurant in Germany. We had made 1-2 trips to EPCOT during each visit, but on our last trip, we made and ADR for the Biergarten. We were impressed!

The Biergarten serves lunch and dinner daily via buffet. The restaurant has large stone arches, multiple levels, and is painted to look like evening in an outside German garden complete with twinkling stars on the ceiling. The food is a combination of German favorites and German delicacies for the more adventurous diners. Know that the tables are large so you may be dining with others or another family. We were sitting with another family with young children. I didn't know that it was a shared dining experience until we checked in for our ADR. While we didn't mind, it could come as a surprise to some.

As you can tell from the photo above, beer is sold by the liter. The husband reported that it was very good.

The Octoberfest Musikanten show is performed during dinner. I understand that this 6 person musical group performs Bavarian music every hour or so for about 25 minutes. Again, we were pleasantly surprised.

Dancing and audience participation is encouraged. While the photo above is a bit blurry, you can see the archways that lead to the buffet area.

Bells and horns were a part of the performance from the musical group. I can say that I had never seen or heard live Bavarian music and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Biergarten in Germany has made it to the top of our list. If a taste of Germany is all you want, try Sommerfest, a counter service dining location right next door to the Biergarten.

The Germany Pavilion is about to get a new sweet treat shop. Also know that at one time a river attraction was planned for Germany, but never came to fruition. When you go to the Germany Pavilion, see if you can find St. George slaying a dragon.

To read about the American Adventure Pavilion click here.

For more about the United Kingdom Pavilion click here.