When you enter a Disney park, you often have an agenda that requires pretty much all your time. You have Fastpasses that took you several months to reserve, or you have dinner reservations that also took several months to make. Or maybe you're like most people and you simply have a very limited amount of time to get as much done as possible. After all, it might be another two years or longer before you make it back to Walt Disney World.
One little bit of Disney entertainment that might get overlooked is the street performers. All the parks have them. They're even at Disney Springs in the evenings and on weekends. You might not think much about it, but they're really a lot of fun, and we think they significantly enhance your visits when you encounter them.
This month, we try to cover a bit of the entertainment that's offered at Epcot. We say that we try simply because it proved to be very, very difficult to keep up with all that's going on, and to figure out which performers would still be there by the time this article was published. As it is, we think we managed to capture a small representation of the Disney performers that you can expect when you spend a day at Epcot. We do recommend that when you encounter a performance at Epcot—or any other park—you take a moment to stop and enjoy it. You'll not regret it.
The JAMMitors waltz out from who knows where with a bunch of garbage cans, and it only takes a few seconds to realize that they've got some serious talent. If you happen to be in Future World East when they perform, don't miss it. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
One of the time honored performances at Epcot is Mariachi Cobre, performing at the Mexico pavilion. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
The performers that make up Mariachi Cobre come from all over Mexico and the American southwest. Israel, on the left, along with Rodolfo are from Tucson, Arizona. Other members of this performance are from Mexico City, Mexico. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
The mariachis are a versatile group of musicians. We've seen their performance many times over the years and have noticed that they perform many different arrangements. Individual members also seem to play different instruments, depending on the performance of the day. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
The Acrobatic antics at China are not just about jumping and tumbling. Here, a performer changes masks in an instant, which surprisingly delights the audience. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
If you think this is easy, just try it at home. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Wies N Baum is a German group playing in the Germany pavilion. They bring traditional Bavarian folk music to the stage several days a week, several times a day. They're listed as being here for a limited time, so see them while you can. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
There are two accordions in the band with Wies N Baum. They lend themselves well to the Bavarian style of music. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
In Italy, you can find Sergio, an Italian mime, clown, and juggler. He appears several times a week to put on a juggling act with lots of audience interaction. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
A favorite of ours—and many other people—are The Voices of Liberty. They perform daily at the American Pavilion. Clearly, there are enough folks in this group to make up more than one troupe since they perform seven days a week. Photo by Donald Fink.
We made more than one visit to watch The Voices of Liberty for this article, and noticed that the people changed out frequently. Their performances changed too; this rotation makes sense since they perform every day at the American pavilion, and usually give fourteen performances a day. They also appear at each performance of the popular Christmas presentation, Candlelight Processional. At the Candlelight Processional, some might argue that they rival the guest celebrity narrator in terms of popularity.
Here is a performance of the Voices of Liberty during one of their Christmas performances this past holiday season. Video by Donald Fink.
Another of our favorite presentations featuring the Voices of Liberty was an article recently submitted my Mike Morizio, in his Grumpy Old Fool series. His video is here.
Matsuriza is a Japanese taiko drum group that performs daily at the Japan Pavilion. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
The tradition of taiko drums goes deep into the past in Japanese culture, and the performances at Epcot are a real treat if you happen to catch one. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
The Matsuriza Taiko Drummers are a Japanese drumming troupe that performs every day at Epcot. In visiting their web site, we found that they engage in many other performances outside of Epcot every year, and have been doing so for some time. We remember covering the opening of Morimoto Asia, an Asian inspired restaurant that opened in Disney Springs not long ago. The Matsuriza Taiko Drummers were there for the celebrations and were quite a treat.
Matsuriza means “festival” in Japanese. This taiko drum troupe has been performing at Epcot for some time. They have several different people and many different presentations, performing daily. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
There's a new group in Morocco called Matboukha Groove. This band is an interesting fusion of Moroccan, Mediterranean, and Latin music. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
The new Moroccan and Latin infused band at Morocco is guaranteed to lift your spirit. You may have trouble placing the source of their style but it doesn't really matter. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
The wine steward from the acrobatic act, Server Amusant, at the France pavilion is the straight man while the server performs an acrobatic act. Their show has changed a bit over the years, but they're always worth a look. They don't perform every day, so check your Times Guide when you enter the park and be sure to stop by if you haven't seen this show. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
Quickstep is billed as a Scottish, English, and Irish traditional music group. They're an acoustic band, meaning that they're not using any electronics for their performances, so stand close when they come out to perform in the United Kingdom Pavilion. Photo by Donald Fink.
If you're a Boomer, the band British Revolution will take you back. As their name implies, they perform some of the best classics from across the pond. Beatles, Stones, and more. They appear five days a week at the United Kingdom pavilion, just behind the shops in the English Garden. Don't worry. If you have trouble finding them, you can hear them when they start their performance. Photo by Bonnie Fink.
We’ve showcased three of our favorites: Mariachi Cobre at the Mexico pavilion; the JAMMitors, who perform in Future World East; and British Revolution, performing in the United Kingdom pavilion. Video by Donald and Bonnie Fink.
The performers we’ve highlighted here in no way represent all the performers that appear at Epcot. Disney changes the entertainment on a regular basis. Some, like Mariachi Cobre and the Matsuriza Drummers, have been at Epcot for years and continue to be popular. Others, like Wies N Baum in Germany, are only there for a specific period. Others come and go based on the holidays and special events. We would love to hear what your favorite entertainers are at Epcot, or any of the other parks.
