Travel the EPCOT Countries on Opening Day Quiz

The first country you encounter as you head clockwise is the Mexico pavilion. Unlike most of the other countries' areas, the main part of this showcase is located entirely indoors. As you step inside, you see a large, pre-Columbian pyramid inspired by the Aztecs and Mayans. Then you pass through to find yourself in a dimly lit Plaza de los Amigos, a permanent nighttime marketplace designed to look like a colonial Mexican village under a night sky.

Beyond the marketplace, you jump on a slow moving boat ride called El Rio del Tiempo (The River of Time). Here you learn of Mexico's history, showcasing its ancient civilizations, traditional dances, and modern culture. You can also dine in at the San Angel Inn, a restaurant where you can watch the boats float past a smoking volcano and a distant pyramid, and truly feel you have stepped back in time.

You step away from the chaotic 1982 crowds at EPCOT and enter the next country's pavilion. It is that of China and you immediately appreciate the calm and beautiful gardens, featuring ponds, bridges, and traditional rock formations. The building dominating the area, however, is the replica of the Temple of Heaven that sits in Beijing.

Inside, you enter a grand lobby with a circular floor and domed ceiling, which were engineered to be an acoustic marvel. You find that if you stand directly in the center of the hall and speak, your voice will echo back. From the lobby, you go to the main attraction which is a 360-degree film called "Wonders of China". This movie uses a special Circle-Vision technology that surrounds you with screens, and you feel as if you are in the country of China. Although a full-scale restaurant is still years away, you can go grab some egg rolls or a meal at the small Lotus Blossom Cafe before journeying onward.

You walk on to the next country's pavilion and find yourself still in 1982, but now in the middle of a town square inspired by the medieval architecture of Bavaria. You are in the Germany area, of course. A tall clock tower with a glockenspiel features wooden figurines that emerge to chime the bells every hour. You take some time to browse through the specialized shops and look for cuckoo clocks, ceramics, and candy.

Speaking of food, you now head into the massive dining hall called the Biergarten Restaurant. This "celebration of Oktoberfest" place invites you to sit at long communal tables and enjoy traditional German food like bratwurst and schnitzel while watching live oompah bands perform. As you head out, you pass a large fountain topped with a statue of St. George slaying a dragon and truly feel you've been in a fairy tale.

You continue along the path and now find yourself in another town square but this time it looks and feels like Venice. That is because you are in the Italian pavilion now. There are waterways with gondolas (of course) and beautiful bridges and a scale replica of the Doge's Palace. A large central fountain features the Roman god Neptune. As you do some shopping, you are amazed at the high-end products for sale in the small shops and you purchase a Venetian mask.

You put the mask aside and head to a fine-dining restaurant called L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, famous here in 1982 for its "authentic" Fettuccine Alfredo. The restaurant is actually run by the descendants of Alfredo di Lelio, who is credited with creating the dish in Rome. Full from pasta, you pause to watch some street performers including the "I Madonnari" street painters and mimes.

If you were walking the face of a clock, you are now at high noon and are standing in front of The American Adventure. You see a huge Colonial-style mansion that looks like it is only three stories tall but actually houses a massive theater. To that point, you enter and watch a stage show featuring 35 Audio-Animatronics figures. Since this is 1982, you are very impressed as this is a technical marvel. You are amazed as Ben Franklin and Mark Twain guide you through America's history.

After the show, you stroll through the Hall of Flags where you see the different flags that have flown over the parts of the country through the years and you pop in to an exhibit of American art. If you like, you can grab a burger, hot dog, or a slice of "American-as" apple pie at Liberty Inn as you listen to a choir sing American ballads.

As you stroll to the next pavilion, you note the massive five story, blue roofed pagoda and know you are heading to Japan. This structure is modeled after the 7th-century Horyu-ji Temple and sits beside a beautiful landscape of rock gardens, footbridges, and koi ponds. A huge gate called a torii stands nearby, providing a perfect frame for your 35mm photos you are taking.

You head into the Mitsukoshi department store on site and are awed by the large retail space filled with kimonos, toys, and snacks. You also sit in a gallery space where historical artifacts are shown and traditional crafts are taught to you. You decide to have a Japanese meal at the Teppanyaki Dining Room where the chef prepares the meal right in front of you. It is practically a show combined with delicious food.

You stroll to the next pavilion and find yourself in the "Beautiful Age" of France. So it's not 1982 now but circa 1900. There is a one-tenth scale replica of the Eiffel Tower. Around it you stroll on cobblestone streets lined with small shops. The roads all lead to a large building inspired by the famous Paris Opera House.

You enter it to sit and watch a film called "Impressions de France". This movie uses a 200-degree wrap-around screen to showcase the beauty of the French countryside, from the cliffs of Normandy to the French Alps, all set to a classical score by French composers. You later partake of a delicious meal at Chefs de France, opened by three of France's most famous chefs: Paul Bocuse, Roger Verge, and Gaston Lenotre. You may have to grab a quick croissant before you hit the road.

You find yourself now in the United Kingdom pavilion. Instead of just one site from the country, you walk around a mix of different architectural historical styles like Tudor, Georgian, and Victorian as you stroll on cobblestone streets. You amble past a city square, peer at cottages, and enjoy gorgeous English gardens as musicians play tunes from the various periods.

Socializing seems to be the theme here as you sit at the Rose & Crown Dining Room and quaff a few ales while enjoying fish and chips. You may stop by later and buy some more English tea at the cute shops. In the meantime, you investigate a traditional hedge maze and hope you don't get lost in there before the day ends.

As you head toward the next pavilion, you encounter a massive rock mountain with a cascading waterfall and a giant totem pole. Yes, you are now in Canada. The architecture around it is dominated by the Hotel du Canada, a building inspired by the famous Chateau Frontenac in Quebec, with French Gothic details and a copper roof. You are excited that inside the mountain is a Circle-Vision 360 film called "O Canada!" that lets you stand and be surrounded by the pictoral vistas of the country.

Outside the theater, you wander through the flower-filled Victoria Gardens (based on those in British Columbia) and pop into the mercantile to buy some maple syrup. Finally, you head into the wine cellar of the hotel to discover that is actually a restaurant serving hearty fare like cheese soup and meat pies.

You are now back where you started at the 6 position of an analog clock. You have made the circuit of the worlds (1.2 miles or 1.9 km) and are in front of the World Showcase Lagoon. This beautiful blue lagoon covers 40 acres and goes down to a depth of 25 feet (7.6 m). It is not only pretty but is part of the water management system of the park.

Today, in 1982, water taxis zoom across the water to take guests from one side of the lagoon to the other if they do not want to walk the circuit. You settle down on a bench as the sun sets and wait for the Carnival de Lumiere. This show uses fountains, colored lights, and floating pyrotechnics to celebrate the world's festivals, followed by some amazing fireworks over the water and countries.