Visitors strolling World Showcase at EPCOT are getting an unexpected peek behind the curtain right now. Crews have stripped large sections of the roof from Das Kaufhaus, one of the Germany Pavilion's most recognizable buildings, exposing underlayment, taped seams, and fasteners on what is normally a storybook-perfect roofline of steep slopes and dormer windows.
The eastern side of the building has seen the most dramatic change, with most of its patterned shingles removed across the main roof slope and dormers. The western side, which faces the Italy Pavilion, still holds some of its red and burgundy finish in spots, giving the building a visibly split appearance between its familiar Bavarian look and the working structure beneath. A small patch of new dark shingles has already appeared on one dormer, suggesting replacement work is underway.
Despite the scale of the project, Das Kaufhaus remains open for shopping. Disney has not announced a completion date for the exterior work. The building traces its design to the Historisches Kaufhaus in Freiburg, Germany, a landmark with commercial roots dating to the 14th century. At EPCOT, it originally opened as the Gild Hall before being renamed Das Kaufhaus in 1999.
The roof work is part of a broader stretch of recent maintenance across the Germany Pavilion. Der Teddybär reopened in July after a short refurbishment, and the pavilion's restrooms, Volkskunst shop, and Stein Haus were also temporarily affected by projects in mid-July. The pavilion's central plaza, Biergarten Restaurant, and Karamell-Küche remain fully operational throughout.
This kind of roof maintenance isn't new to World Showcase — EPCOT's Norway Pavilion went through a similar project at the Stave Church Gallery in 2024. Once Das Kaufhaus gets its patterned finish back, the work will likely fade quickly from memory. This story was first reported by Disney Fanatic.
