By Oliver Radcliffe

Copyright manchestereveningnews

When you think of our nation, what springs to mind? A Victorian seaside resort, tucking into a Greggs sausage roll, or perhaps even a classic Toby Carvery. However, from an outsider’s perspective, much of the globe envisions Britain quite differently, picturing our communities as entirely comprised of ancient cobbled lanes like York’s shambles, work grinding to a halt at 3pm for a spot of afternoon tea, and supper consisting solely of fish, chips and mushy peas . Arguably nowhere showcases a location’s stereotypes more dramatically than at the World Showcase within Disney World EPCOT. As one of the most expansive parks at the Disney complex in Orlando, Florida , over half the attraction is crafted to allow visitors to journey across the globe without departing the sweltering Floridian climate. Featuring 11 distinct “pavilions” , each one is claimed to have been carefully constructed to capture the culture, architecture, and gastronomy of its respective nation. With nations such as France depicted through quintessential Parisian boulevards, Mexico via a recreated Mayan temple and Japan through a traditional pagoda, regarding the UK, the “imagineers” (Disney’s designers) appeared to have merged the historic structures of London and York to produce an amusing interpretation of Britain. Featuring the Rose and Crown pub, Yorkshire County Fish and Chips, miniature castles and thatched dwellings, the zone combines fragments from across the country to create something that appears lifted directly from an animated film. During a trip to the park, Callum Ryan expressed his surprise on TikTok at how Americans perceive the UK. Creating a video around the pavilion, he remarked: “Here is my honest opinion of the UK land at Disney World EPCOT. Now I know we have a reputation for drinking lots of tea, but I didn’t realise it was represented this much by having an entire garden dedicated to it. “Something that felt genuinely British was the Rose and Crown pub, which actually looked and smelled like a UK pub, and I feel like if you know, you know.” However, one aspect that particularly struck Callum was the attire the staff were required to wear. Amused, he said: “One thing that I wasn’t quite convinced by was the outfits that the staff were wearing. I think they were intended to be somewhat traditional, but they certainly didn’t look like that. “However, they would have been better off visiting the merchandise stand from areas around the UK.” In the comments section of the video, fans commented that just a few minor additions could make it feel much more homely. Even if it did send Americans into a frenzy! One viewer said: “Where’s the Tesco ?” While another suggested: “There should definitely be a Wetherspoons and a Greggs.” But another viewer, taken aback by how appealing they had made the UK appear, commented: “Now I understand why tourists are dissatisfied when they come to the UK.”