Have you ever wanted to try something new at Disney World? There are so many things you can do and see but on a recent trip I tried something a little different. I love souvenirs and totally admit to being a dorky pin collector and admirer of Disney jewelry, so I was drawn naturally to the prospect of choosing my own oyster and harvesting the pearl at the Mitsukoshi department store in Japan at Epcot.
To participate you pay around $17.00 and you select an oyster from a tank. You do not actually handle the oyster, instead a very enthusiastic cast member fishes the oyster out and with a great ceremony that includes teaching you to count down from three in Japanese, cuts the oyster open revealing your treasure.
The cast member then measures your pearl and gives you a brief description of the bead. For example my pearl was 7 1/4 mm (which is larger than average, she explained to me) and of a pinkish hue. Once done measuring,the cast member plays you a brief congratulatory beat on the drums and sends you to select a setting for your pearl. Keep in mind you do not have to purchase a setting. You can simply have them box the pearl and that in itself can be your take away.
I chose to set my pearl in a Cinderella coach pendant. The pendant I selected was about $40 but it makes a lovely and very wearable souvenir. There were certainly more affordable settings, some for under $20 so do not let the price of my setting deter you from checking this activity out. When I wear it I can recall this experience at Disney vividly and I love how it looks!
This is a fun little experience that will take about 20 minutes from selecting an oyster to having your pearl set if you choose to do so. It gives you a neat glimpse into Japanese culture and you leave with a cool reminder of your vacation! If you are visiting the Boardwalk area there is another pick a pearl booth near the Beach Club resort.
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Enthusiastic is right. I was walking through the Japan pavilion when someone was choosing their pearl; apparently they got a rare color.