If you’re planning a visit to Disney’s EPCOT, get ready to experience a fascinating mix of adventure, innovation, and international culture, designed to entertain guests of all ages.
Overview of EPCOT
EPCOT is the second theme park built at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, opening in 1982, envisioned by Walt Disney as a futuristic “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.” With a blend of futuristic attractions and technology, thrilling rides, interactive exhibits, cultural celebrations, and dining options from around the world, EPCOT is truly an amazing, action-packed experience.
EPCOT’s Layout
As you enter EPCOT, you’ll be greeted by the iconic Spaceship Earth, a sphere that serves as the symbol of the 305-acre theme park. EPCOT is quite different than the other Disney parks. It focuses less about thrilling rides, and more like a welcome blend of imagination, culture, and innovation.
EPCOT is divided into four areas:
:: World Celebration
:: World Discovery
:: World Nature
:: World Showcase
EPCOT offers a special array of attractions including some rides, family-friendly shows and activities, and educational experiences, offereing something for every visitor.
World Celebration and the Iconic Spaceship Earth Silver Sphere
The entrance area of EPCOT, called World Celebration, is home to Spaceship Earth, Dreamers Point, and interactive areas like CommuniCore Hall.
Spaceship Earth is EPCOT’s iconic symbol, the giant silver sphere often referred to as the “golf ball.” Inside that sphere is a slow-moving dark Spaceship Earth ride, a narrated journey through the history of human communication from the civilization age to modern times.
Dreamers Point features lush gardens and musical performances during various festivals throughout the year. There’s a special statue of Walt Disney sitting on a bench to remind visitors to dream big, just as he did.
CommuniCore Hall is an indoor space that hosts seasonal events, exhibits, and live performances that highlight the park’s spirit of creativity and ongoing innovation.
World Discovery
World Discovery is where you’ll most likely begin your Epcot experience, focused on science, space, and technology. This is where you’ll find the park’s few thrilling rides, including Test Track, Mission: SPACE, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. In this area, you will enjoy discovering interactive exhibits and seasonal festivals that transform EPCOT into a canvas of global celebration.
The Test Track ride is a high-speed ride that mimics the ride of a test dummy. Test Track allows you to first design a virtual concept car and then take it for a high-speed test drive. This attraction can reach speeds up to 65 miles per hour, making it one of the fastest Disney theme park attractions.
Mission: SPACE presents you with a simulation of what an astronaut might experience during space travel, complete with intense g-forces. Choose your level of intensity: Green color provides a mild ride while the orange color provides an intense, full experience.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a thrilling indoor roller coaster featuring Marvel characters, featuring a reverse launch that rotates 360 degrees so you can experience all the action, a unique thrill ride.
World Nature
This area is dedicated to the natural world and includes a massive aquarium and indoor pavilion. Attractions here include Soarin’, Living with the Land, Journey Into Imagination with Figment, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana.
Soarin’: Located at The Land Pavillion, allows riders to glide through the sky over global landmarks, where you literally feel the breeze. You basically sit in a seat that lifts up about 10 feet and doesn’t move, so your feet are dangling. The screen makes you feel like you’re moving through the air.
Living With The Land: This boat ride is calm, informative, and an interesting explanation about sustainability in addition to a glimpse into the future of agriculture and innovative farming methods. This ride provides a great place to take a rest from walking.
Journey Into Imagination with Figment: Stars multiple whimsical characters designed to spark imagination about innovation and creativity. Not the most exciting, so wait times are short.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends: Mellow ride aboard a “clam-mobile” that gently glides into the ocean with Nemo and friends. The ride ends in a massive aquarium just outside the ride’s exit, where you can explore the home to dolphins, sharks, and fish.
Turtle Talk with Crush is a show where guests can interact with the laid-back turtle from Finding Nemo, making it a unique, fun, and educational experience.
World Showcase – Eat, Drink, and Explore
The World Showcase features 11 different countries from around the globe, pavilions located in a one mile circle around a beautiful lagoon. While exploring the World Showcase, you can enjoy that country’s unique food and beverages, in addition to a cultural experience complete with entertainment and an atmosphere reflective of their respective countries.
World Showcase includes:
:: Mexico
:: Norway
:: China
:: Germany
:: Italy
:: American Adventure Pavillion
:: Japan
:: Morocco
:: France
:: United Kingdom
:: Canada
When you arrive at the entrance of the World Showcase, you can start on the left or the right, in Mexico or Canada. Rest assured, as you stroll around the circle, you’ll eventually visit all 11 countries. Stroll from nation to nation, enjoy live shows capturing the charm of each country.
Although EPCOT offers most theme park rides in the other areas of the park, there are a few less adventurous rides inside the pavilions of World Showcase.
World Showcase rides:
:: Frozen Ever After – Norway Pavillion
:: Gran Fiesta Tour – Mexico Pavillion
:: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – France Pavillion
Frozen Ever After: Boat ride with clever, state-of-the-art animatronics, a journey through the kingdom of Arendelle where you’ll see Elsa, Anna, and Olaf, and hear the popular songs from the Frozen movie.
Gran Fiesta Tour: Boat ride starring Donald Duck and The Three Caballeros on a whimsical journey through Mexico. It’s ideal for resting your aching feet, a low-key ride that typically does not have a long wait time.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure: A 4D dark ride where you can shrink down to the size of the movie’s rat, Chef Remy, with lots of amazing sights, sounds, and smells of Gusteau’s restaurant.
Epcot Dining
There are several EPCOT restaurants to choose from whether you’re seeking quick service American delights and snacks to sit down dining options that showcase flavors from around the globe.
World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature dining suggestions:
:: Sunshine Seasons – Quick-service food court with a variety of delicious options.
:: Space 220 – Enjoy a cosmic dining experience with views from space.
:: Coral Reef – Restaurant provides a unique underwater dining setting.
:: Garden Grill Restaurant – enjoy views of the Living with the Land attraction.
EPCOT’s World Showcase offers an international culinary and beverage journey through eleven country-themed pavilions. Experience traditional flavors from around the globe.
World Showcase dining suggestions:
:: Japan – Enjoy quick service sushi and sake or dine at the hibachi-style restaurant.
:: Canada – Enjoy poutine or steak at Le Cellier Steakhouse.
:: Norway – Delight in Scandinavian seafood and pastries.
:: Germany – The giant-size pretzel (for two people) is delicious along with the German beer.
:: United Kingdom – Enjoy hearty British pub fare.
:: Mexico – Experience traditional Mexican cuisine at San Angel Inn Restaurante or choose from 200+ tequilas at La Cava del Tequila.
:: France – Fresh-baked breads, pastries, and champagne.
:: Italy – Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria for pizza, pasta, and wine.
:: China Pavilion – Enjoy dumplings and cocktails with Asian spirits.
:: American Adventure Pavilion – classic American barbeque and craft beer.
:: Morocco – Traditional dishes featuring an array of spices.
Epcot Entertainment and Shows
EPCOT offers an array of live entertainment, exhibitions, and films with cultural themes.
Live entertainment includes:
:: Italy – Listen to Italian music or enjoy a master juggler, mime, or see a flag-throwing performance.
:: Mexico – Vibrant sounds of Mariachi Cobre, a traditional mariachi band.
:: Norway – Encounters with mischievous god Loki or the heroic Thor in a captivating display of Norse mythology.
:: American Adventure Pavilion – Enjoy Americana music in the rotunda.
Educational exhibitions and films include:
:: American Adventure Pavilion – Show features spectacular audio-animatronics, patriotic presentation narrated by Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin.
:: China – Reflections of China is a circle-vision, 360-degree film featuring iconic Chinese landscapes and historical locations.
EPCOT’s nighttime show at 9:30 p.m., Luminous The Symphony of Us, takes place over the World Showcase Lagoon and features fireworks, fountains, Disney music, and lights galore. There are plenty of spots for viewing around the lagoon.
EPCOT Shopping
Shopping at EPCOT, especially throughout each of the 11 countries in the World Showcase, offers a unique shopping experience and a diverse selection of items plus Disney’s traditional favorite souvenirs. Whether you’re looking for a kimono in Japan, a Viking hat in Norway, or leather goods in Italy, there’s something for everyone.
EPCOT Seasonal Festivals and Special Events
There are a few popular seasonal festivals and events at Epcot throughout the year.
Special Festivals include:
:: The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival in the spring features an array of gorgeous flowers, magnificent gardens, unique exhibits like butterflies, and living garden sculptures of Disney characters.
:: The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival in the fall transforms EPCOT into a food lover’s paradise offering food and beverage tastings from the various countries.
:: EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays celebrates winter holiday traditions from around the globe set. During a very special Candlelight Processional, a celebrity narrator tells the story of Christmas with a choir and orchestra, and a fireworks show.
:: EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, usually held at the beginning of the year, focuses on the creativity of vibrant artwork, delicious cuisines, fun activities, and live musical performances.
EPCOT: Incredible Mix of Adventure, Culture, and Education
Whether you’re “Soarin’” in the sky around the globe, tasting international cuisine, visiting the aquarium, learning about sustainable farming, or shopping in your favorite country, there’s something for everyone at EPCOT. Be sure to study the EPCOT map before you visit so you can plan ahead to make the most of your time and see it all. You’ll want to take a leisurely stroll around the World Showcase so you can take advantage of all the cultural offerings, in addition to enjoying the theme park rides. Epcot is the ideal way to experience the cultures of faraway countries without the hassles of traveling internationally.