There are two tanks to select from, and you can pick whichever oyster you like. Once you’ve made your choice, a cast member from Japan will open the oyster when it’s your turn. There can be a few minute wait. It was busy but not completely slammed when we were there and we waited maybe 10 minutes. It wasn’t a problem, though, because it was fun to see everyone else’s pearls.

My tween daughter and I each selected an oyster, and then the fun began. (Not that picking out the oyster wasn’t fun, but, well, closed oysters aren’t nearly as lovely as the pearls inside.)

The cast members are very animated when opening, and teach those watching how to count down 3-2-1 in Japanese. We still do the countdown around our house on occasion. They certainly know how to build the excitement and anticipation and create a festive, celebratory atmosphere.

The cast members are almost as excited as the guests when they reveal the pearl. I’m using singular here because the vast majority of oysters house just one pearl but it is possible, although rare, that an oyster will yield two pearls – twins! My daughter and I weren’t so fortunate, but we thought our pearls were simply lovely.

The cast members even beat a drum to announce the arrival of your pearl.

Once they have extricated the pearl from the oyster, they measure it using the metal piece, trying each premeasured hole until the pearl slips through. Some pearls are bigger than others, and no size is guaranteed, but the two that we purchased and the ones we saw opened before and after ours were approximately the same size, around 6 mm. If you get the biggest pearl of the day, the cast members make quite a fuss.

The cast members will then examine your pearl and tell you more about it, including the shape and color. One of ours had a pinkish cast, and the other was a little green.

So, what do you do with your pearl? There are settings available and cast members can make earrings, rings, necklaces, and other items. The cost was a little steep for us, so we headed to Etsy and found this charming necklace. It’s Cinderella’s carriage, and the pearl fits inside. So cute!

It’s among my favorite souvenirs from Disney World. I love to wear it with a light blue dress when Disneybounding as Cinderella.

The Pick-a-Pearl in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot is a fun experience for all ages that your family will remember for a long time to come and that gives you a treasure to cherish far into the future.

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