So we were super overdue. But it’s to the point where I feel a little obnoxious doing this series because you either hardcore if you’re doing a trip… or you’re all, “Booooo get off the stage – DIE THH!”
I probably took that too far because I tend to overanalyze everything.
So far, we’ve had our trip recap {if you’d like to be humored by endless exhaustion in the form of Disney fun-which was really just a lame, self important opportunity to show off our photos} When + Where + How Long, Dining at Disney + What not to Miss at The Magic Kingdom. So without further ado, we thought we would continue this series.
Sometimes, Epcot gets a bad wrap, but you’ll see today that there’s a lot to do in this park… We’ve found that on super crazy days in other parks, Epcot is a great way to seek some refuge from the craziness that is people everywhere. If you’re planning a trip, it’s a great day to stick in the middle of the crazy busy ones. You’ll find that it’s a great place for slower paced fun with plenty to do for all ages… and if you’re not careful, Epcot will grow on ya.
So today, the fab Cristin is back breaking down the basics again {With a few incessant excerpts from us because we get really excited} + tips and tricks to boot at the end!
Epcot is broken down in to 2 sections: Future World and World Showcase.
Future world focuses on things like the technology, the environment, and even things such as space.
The World Showcase is literally that – mini replicas of countries around the world. One cool thing to know about the World Showcase is you can only work in a country if you are literally from that country. So expect tons of unique accents, different cultures, and some of the best food Disney world has to offer!
Also, in order to keep the kids excited about touring each country, there are several stations called Kidkot: Fun Stops set up throughout the World Showcase where kids can do different types of crafts for free!
There are even 2 entrances to this park. Since we stay at the Boardwalk Inn, we have the opportunity to either walk over to the back entrance, or ride a short boat ride across the way. The back entrance takes you right into the midst of World Showcase while the front entrance will lead you to Future World. So, let’s start at the front of the park in Future World, shall we? And just as I did with the Magic Kingdom post, I’ll break it down attraction by attraction.
• Innoventions : the two Innoventions centers are kind of like large science/discovery centers that have hands on displays. Each display is focused on some type of technological or scientific invention. If it’s raining or hot, this is a place to get some quick shelter while looking around. You can walk through each one fairly quickly if you aren’t interested once inside. Side note: if you have an older kid (maybe age 6 and up), look for the Kim Possible recruitment centers. A cast member will explain what your mission is, but this is a fun activity to help kids get excited about going through the World Showcase.
• Captain EO : seems to have replaced Honey I Shrunk the Audience for the time being. This is a show starring Michael Jackson and used to be a staple in the park before it was replaced by Honey I Shrunk the Audience. All I can say about this one is that it’s straight from the 80’s, and pretty out there. It is also a bit intense and scary. Not for the younger kids. I’d say if you aren’t a pretty big Michael Jackson fan, skip it.
• Journey into Imagination with Figment : Journey Into the Imagination with Figment is a ride that explores the 5 different senses and is lead by a charming little purple dragon named Figment. This tame ride is loved by kids of all ages, but beware that there are loud noises and a few moments of pitch black in this one.
• Spaceship Earth : Actually located inside the large “golf ball,” it’s the icon for Epcot. It’s a slow moving ride that tells the history of communication. Sound boring? It’s actually pretty cool! The kids in our family have always enjoyed this one and it is a great place for shelter when needed. –Our kids loved this one.
• Universe of Energy : Ok I have to admit it’s been YEARS since I have been on this attraction. So I guess that says something. This is a skip on our list each year due to how stinking long it is. It is a 45 minute show/ride all about energy. It’s only saving grace is that Ellen Degeneres hosts the entire ride making it bearable.
• Soarin : I don’t know if I should begin by saying just how much I LOVE this ride, or if I should start off by stressing how unbelievably long the wait time can be. First things first- as soon as you enter the park, GET A FAST PASS FOR THIS RIDE. If you don’t, chances are the fast passes will be completely distributed by early afternoon and you will be stuck waiting at least an hour to ride. And believe me, you don’t want to miss this one. By far the best ride in Epcot.
{Ashley + Jamin} – By far, the best ride in the park. And then wait to see if you can sit on the front. It doesn’t really matter… but just take our word for it… sit on the front. Our kids {ages 4 + 6 + 8} loved this.
• Circle of Life : unless your kid is a huge Lion King fan, skip it. It’s a 20 minute film about the environment, where they incorporate Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa.
• Living with the Land Boat Ride– I don’t know why, but there is something rather relaxing about this ride. Maybe it’s because my family usually eats in the food court, located directly beside this attraction, so I’m usually riding on a full stomach? Anyway, this boat ride takes you through different types of “lands” such as a tropical rain forest or an African desert. It’s a slow easy-going ride, but yet again the kids in our family always seem entertained enough.
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends : Don’t miss this precious, more than kid friendly ride based on the movie Finding Nemo. Even waiting to ride is cool and entertaining. And don’t miss the neat attractions at the end of the ride. Especially Turtle Talk with Crush! He literally interacts with the audience members- too cool!!
• Mission: Space : An intense thrill ride that is made to simulate blasting off in to space. There are 2 ways to ride- one is supposed to be a less intense experience while the other is supposed to be pretty hard core. I’ve ridden it once, and due to major motion sickness afterward will not be returning to it. While it is super cool to feel as though you are in the drivers seat blasting off in to space, it wasn’t worth the sick feeling I had to fight off for the rest of the day. If you aren’t prone to motion sickness, give it a try. But be warned- the reason you feel the intense G-force sensation is because the ride is actually spinning in circles (without you knowing it) while you stare at a screen simulating a launch.
Us, and the poor random kid who was stuck with us.
• Test Track : Test Track- this attraction has had a recent face lift in the past couple of years. It is still a fun experience that allows you to design your own car, and then “test it” through a series of tests while you ride along. The highlight of the ride is when your car speeds up to highway speeds while driving around a curve in the road. This one is super fun. But is also one of the longest waits in this park. So get a fast pass!!
World Showcase:
• Mexico : This is my personal favorite country to visit due to how cool the inside of the pyramid is! It looks just like a little marketplace right out of Mexico. If you’re craving Mexican food (either quick service or sit down), this is the place for you. There is a short very kid-friendly boat ride telling some of the history of Mexico inside the pavilion, so don’t miss it!
• Norway : Mealstrom is the name of the ride located inside this country, and it is kind of a fun one. If your kid doesn’t scare too easily and enjoys a little bit of a thrill, try this one out! But don’t let the trolls get you!
Don’t forget about the princess storybook dining located in the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. A must do for little girls with princesses on the brain.
{Ashley + Jamin} We feel like this may be a “duh” at this point for any of the hardcore Frozen fans out there, but you can catch Elsa and Anna here, as well. It’s to the left of Akershus when you’re facing Norway, and you’ll probably see the line. It’s outrageous, and I still can’t believe we waited over two hours, but it was also one of those once-in-a-lifetime things for a little girl who is head over heels for two of her heroes. There was a lot of be learned for patience, and waiting. We say, if you have a hardcore little one and the wait is three hours or under and you can swing it… {I know. we’re getting some eye rolls right now} Do it. I mean, look at her face.
• China : If you’re looking for Mulan, you might find her here. Also look for acrobats performing in front of this country throughout the day. There is also a film on the history/culture of China. We skip it.
• Germany : walking around this little country is quite charming. Look for the model trains. If you’re in to German food, this would be the place for you.
• Italy : It has a good restaurant with good Italian food. That’s about all I have to say about that :}
• United States : there is a 30 minute show here called the American Adventure. I always enjoy watching and remembering some of the history of our country, but if you have young ones they might not appreciate it as much. However, our youngest found this attraction to be perfect for her afternoon nap since it is in an air-conditioned theater!
• Japan : If you like Hello Kitty, you can find some merchandise here. The food is also really yummy here and served hibachi grill style.
• Morocco : If you’re strolling by, walk inside this country to find the marketplace/bazaar. Other than that, I don’t have much to say about this attraction.
• France : there is a yummy and popular restaurant here but don’t overlook the tasty French bakery as well! There are also acrobats that perform here periodically. If you’re lucky, you may spot Belle or her Beast while strolling around this country of love! There is also a quick film here about the history of France if you’re in to that.
• United Kingdom : this little area truly does look like it is straight from a street in London! You can also smell the Fish and Chips coming from a nearby Pub. Winnie the Pooh and Mary Poppins sometimes show their cute faces here. Look for different types of entertainers performing in the Gazebo.
• Canada : this country houses my favorite restaurant in all of Epcot – Le Cellier. But don’t forget, you must book your reservation out months in advance to confirm your spot here. And trust me, it’s totally worth it! There is a film here as well about the history of Canada.
• Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure: {Once the Kim Possible attraction throughout Epcot.} This is a “top secret mission” that uses a hand held device to lead you throughout the World Showcase with clues, surprises, etc. In order to participate and receive your assignment, visit a recruitment station at Odyssey Bridge, Norway Pavilion, Italiy Pavilion, or near the International Gateway.
• Illuminations: Reflections of Earth is the nighttime fireworks and water show. This is a classic nightly show that happens in the World Showcase area around a large lake. It is beautiful and one not to miss.
Tips + Tricks:
{Cristin} Now that there are magic bands for those staying inside the park, don’t forget that you can reserve a fast pass for up to 3 attractions before you ever enter the park! For this particular park, I would definitely reserve a fast pass for Soarin, Test Track, and to reserve a prime viewing spot for Illuminations: Reflection of Earth.
Hanna Jo says: Japan also features an AMAZING candy artist who creates the most beautiful candy sculptures on a stick and gives them to lucky audience members! you can find her booth in the square beside the front door of the Japanese market center. While you wait, they also feature incredible Japanese drum music in the same pavilion at certain times.
Carrie Says: Epcot is my favorite and also my children. They have grown up going to Disney at least 4 times a year. At 18 and 15, we learned a lot of valuable tips. For those who want a souvenir in any/all parks, take a roll of pennies and two rolls of quarters with you. Purchase the penny smashing book. The penny smashing machines are in every park (cost .51 each time) and almost every gift shop (which Disney has in excess). When our kids were little, we let them smash 5 a day and once they got their own money – as many as they wanted. It was a fairly inexpensive Disney momento and they still have them. Our other tip is to carry extra t-shirts for EVERY family member and flip flops in case your tennis shoes get wet. That way if you want to jump in a puddle in the rain (which I always do!) you can.
What are some of your very favorite tips + tricks for Epcot? Some of your best memories? We’d love to hear! Have an inspired day!
JT says
We’re planning a trip in the fall and this is fantastic! Thank you.
Anna @ A Good Home says
My kids definitely think I pronounce my name wrong ever since having seen Frozen (short “a” at the beginning rather than the long “a”). Some of our best friends have the FL resident mini annual pass and they LOVE the World Showcase. I think they go there more often than they do the Magic Kingdom, actually.
Jenna says
Two years ago when we were at Disney the week between Christmas and New Year’s, the posted wait for Soarin’ was 4 hours!! That was at the end of the day, right before the park closed. Luckily, we had gotten a FastPass first thing in the morning like we always do, but I was shocked that anyone would wait that long!
Maryann C says
We were just at Epcot 2 days ago! How funny. I agree with everything here. I would add 2 tips. The fast passes are no longer available at each ride. You go to a fast pass “stand,” marked with FP+. Skip the first one when you walk in because it has the longest line. They limit how many fast passes you can get by grouping rides into 2 categories. Soarin and Test Track are in group 1, and you’re allowed 3 passes from that group. If your kids are old enough to go on Test Track without sitting right next to you, the best secret is to get in the Single Rider line. I helped chaperone my daughter’s 5th grade class on Tuesday. They went on it 3 times. The longest wait was 20 minutes in the Single Rider line. The other 2 times were about 10 minute waits. This was when the main line was posting 55 and 65 minute wait times. Soarin doesn’t have a single rider line Second tip, if your group is more than 3-4 people, break yourselves into smaller groups to get earlier fast pass times. When we tried to get fast passes at about 10 am for a group of 10, there were either no passes or passes for 8 pm! We broke down into groups of five, and we got passes for earlier times that overlapped – for example, FPs for five from 1:55-2:55 and FPs for the other five from 2:15-3:15. We went when the times overlapped. Enjoy! It’s in the 90’s already here, so bring your sunscreen!
Daisy says
We are going next week!! I have chosen my FP+ online, but I was thinking you could only choose one from group a, so it was either soarin or fast track but not both? Am I wrong?
Maryann C says
I could totally be wrong about this, but in our experience, (showing up to the park with no FPs on May 6, 2014) you could get a total of 5 FPs, broken down into Tier 1 and Tier 2 rides. Soarin’ and Test Track are both in Tier 1. As I recall, we could get 3 FPs from Tier 1 and 2 FPs from Tier 2 (but it may have been vice versa on the 2 & 3 thing). I asked a local friend who goes to Disney a lot, and she thought if you got the FPs ahead of time (before you arrived at the park) you were limited to a total of 3. You had to use all 3 at the park, then you were allowed to get another one. Once you used that one, you could get another, and so on. Apparently Disney changes the rules with the FPs often. HTH
Dawn says
Epcot has easily become our 2nd favorite park, next to the Magic Kingdom of course. My kids love future world but I could spend a large chunk of the day just hanging out in World Showcase. One way to get kids interested in the World Showcase is to purchase an Epcot Passport at the gift shop (it comes w/a button and stickers) and they can get the passport stamped at each of the kidcot stations. The staff also write fun facts about the countries they are from and in China they will write the child’s name in Chinese. At Christmas, there are different storytellers posted throughout World Showcase and they tell stories from their respective countries. France was my favorite.
Torey says
My fav thing at Epcot a couple years back was definitely Soarin and Fast Track. Not sure if they still have it, but there was a neat hidden away “sodas from around the world” exhibit sponsored by Coke I think? It was free and you could try a whole bunch of different funky soda flavors. Not the healthiest thing ever, but certainly fun and free!!!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hurray for fun and free! There’s a rule that you don’t have to be healthy on vacay, anyway. ;}
Aimee says
Mission Space is also not for those who are very claustrophobic. I almost didn’t get in that tiny capsule but once the ride started I was ok. And be sure to tell your little riders that you are not actually going to Mars for real. Our 7-year-old freaked out and trying to convince her it was all pretend after the ride had started did not work very well. I also loved the drummers in Japan.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Great tip, Aimee! ;}
Angela says
Just an update for you, the Kim Possible is now called the Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure. It’s essentially the same thing, they just updated it to be more modern. You help Agent P (Perry the Platypus; off Phineas and Ferb) bring down Dr Doofenshmirtz’s evil plot.
Sarita says
As a former Cast Member who got to experience all the parks for free, EPCOT ranked on the top of my list for several reasons, all well covered here by Ashley and Jamin. With two exceptions:
1) International Food and Wine Festival. Every autumn for more than a month you can taste your way around the world for SO cheap! I paid $2.00 to sample a bowl of frog leg chowder in France with plenty to share. It’s a great way to share ethnic foods with family and friends, listen to live music from difference countries and really see EPCOT show her stuff!
And 2) Candlelight Processional during Holidays Around the World. THE place to go on a Disney Christmas; the folks who sing are all volunteers, I had a roommate who joined and went to many many practices. And getting to see how other countries celebrate the holidays is also quite magical!
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/#/holiday-events,special-events/
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you, Sarita! Great info!