The Complete Guide to EPCOT

EPCOT (originally known as EPCOT Center) was the second theme park to open at Walt Disney World. Opening its gates for the first time in 1982, EPCOT was the first Disney park in the world to not be the conventional “castle style” park (after all, the Magic Kingdom was part of the same resort). Instead, the original incarnation of the park aimed to provide an educational (but fun!) experience for guests, focuses on the two broad themes of technology and culture (each embodied by a separate section of the park). EPCOT has certainly evolved in the decades since, and its currently the site of major construction work at Walt Disney World. Despite the front part of the park being midway through an overhaul on my recent trip to Disney World, EPCOT remains my favourite Disney park in Florida. In this guide, I hope to convey why that is.

• If its your first time planning a trip to Walt Disney World, make sure you read my post that covers the basics HERE.

EPCOT – The Basics

• Where? 200 Epcot Center Drive, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
• When? EPCOT is open daily, however hours differ by season and day of the week. Disney Resort guests can get into the park 30 minutes before regular park guests. On certain days, resort guests are also eligible for extended park hours in the evening.
• How much? Basic park tickets start at $109.00 USD per day for one park. Park Hopper passes cost more, and you can also pay to add on the Genie+ feature, which lets you make Lightning Lane (skip the line) reservations for certain attractions. When staying on Disney property, I purchase my tickets with my resort package.
• How to get there: Most Disney resorts connect to EPCOT by Shuttle Service, however if you’re at a resort on the monorail, you might need to get on board and swap trains at the Transportation & Ticket Centre to travel onwards to EPCOT. A variety of resorts including Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach and Riviera Resorts are linked to EPCOT’s International Gateway entrance by the Skyliner, while a few others (along the Boardwalk) are in walking distance.
• Website: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/epcot/

Things to Know Before Visiting EPCOT

EPCOT is a really huge theme park. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be doing countless laps around the park (especially in the rear section), so wear some good shoes on the day of your visit. I do a lot of walking every day that I’m at Disney, but I find my EPCOT days are usually the most arduous when it comes to the step count! Despite covering such a large area, as a first time visitor to EPCOT, you can do the park in one day, especially as the front part is currently undergoing a major refurbishment. I actually spent two days at EPCOT on my recent trip to Walt Disney World, but that’s because its my favourite theme park and I always spend a huge amount of time soaking up each of the pavilions in the World Showcase (more on that later).

If you’re an experienced Disney traveller that knows all about the old Fastpass+, you’ll be interested to learn about the Genie+ service. Unlike its predecessor, Genie+ is a paid service, but if you include it with your ticket, you’ll be able to make Lightning Lane (skip the line) reservations throughout the day. You make your first reservation at 7.00am (if you’re a resort guest), and can make a new reservation every two hours from park opening onwards. Note unlike Fastpass+, you can’t book the same ride more than once each day. At present, I think EPCOT is probably the park at which Genie+ is the least useful (though I used it on my trip).

EPCOT is also home to the newest ride in Walt Disney World – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Unlike the other attractions in the park, you can only make an Individual Lightning Lane Reservation (for a separate cost) to avoid the regular standby queue.

When visiting EPCOT, you should get to the park at least 30 minutes before opening (an hour at busy times of year). You’ll beat the line to your first attraction.

• If you’re planning a day at EPCOT, check out my recommended one day itinerary HERE.

Layout of EPCOT

The front part of EPCOT was formerly known as Future World and is where you’ll find most of the park’s rides and larger scale attractions. Today its superficially divided into World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature regions, a distinction that should become more clear when construction wraps up in this area of the park. Highlighted by the geosphere (golf ball) that houses Spaceship Earth, this opening area is filled with pavilions that span across themes of technology, exploration, sustainability and imagination. Most guests start in this region of the park before moving into the World Showcase, which contains pavilions dedicated to 11 countries in a permanent world fair surrounding a large lagoon. Its my favourite part of a trip to Walt Disney World.

World Celebration in EPCOT

If you enter EPCOT from its main entrance, you’ll be in the World Celebration area of the park. In general terms, this is basically the central and northern part of the old Future World, though it does branch out to include the Imagination Pavilion. When the park’s renovations are complete, World Celebration will be filled with lush gardens, fountains and trees, as well as a new Disney statue. It will apparently even include an elevated area that will offer prime views of the nighttime fireworks show over the park’s lagoon. When I visited EPCOT back in July, it was basically a construction site between the two halves of the front of EPCOT – though its attractions were open.

Spaceship Earth

Located right at the park’s entrance, Spaceship Earth is one of the most well known attractions at EPCOT. Its also the ride most guests rush to first thing in the morning, since its literally there when you enter the park. For that reason, you’re better off experiencing other rides before getting on this one. Spaceship Earth is an educational dark ride that takes you on a journey looking at the evolution of human communication and technological development.

The ride lasts around 15 minutes and makes impressive use of the interior of the giant golf ball you’ll see from around the park, with numerous audio-animatronic displays dating back from caveman times to the relatively modern world. Technology has obviously changed at a far faster pace than the ride expected, and prior to the pandemic, Spaceship Earth was set to undergo a major renovation, presumably to bring its sets up to speed. That was put on the back burner, but if its back on the cards, I’m glad I was able to ride this version again for the sake of nostalgia.

Journey Into Imagination with Figment

Found in the Imagination Pavilion towards the rear of the park’s front section, Journey into Imagination is a classic Disney dark ride. After boarding your vehicle for a tour of the Imagination Institute, the friendly dragon Figment takes over and subjects you to a variety of optical illusions and other phenomena, putting your imagination to the test. While great for kids, you can skip Figment if you’re rushed for time. I do wonder how much longer this ride will exist at EPCOT though, as it seems a little outdated compared to the rest of the park. Journey Into Imagination’s theming feels much more in line with the old EPCOT. It was basically a walk on during my last visit.

World Discovery in EPCOT

World Discovery is essentially the old Future World East, and comprises some of the main thrills rides in the park across three main pavilions. The over-encompassing theme are those of science, technology and adventure…or you know, discovery. It also contains one of the most unique restaurants in all of Walt Disney World at Space 220. Located right next to Mission Space, you board an elevator to be transported to a virtual space station – projection screens display the earth’s globe and stars around you as you eat your meal. I haven’t dined in Space 220, but it looks amazing. Naturally, reservations are in high demand. Also coming soon to World Discovery is the interactive Play Pavilion, designed for younger explorers. But for now, lets dive into the main attractions across this part of the park.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

As the newest ride in EPCOT, the Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster is amazing. Its currently the only attraction at EPCOT that requires an Individual Lightning Lane reservation to skip the long standby line (at the time of writing, you can also make a reservation under a virtual queue system from 7.00am the day of your visit for free). I’m sure this will change in the future, but at the time of my visit, there was no standby line. After learning about the planet of our favourite Marvel Guardians through the queuing area, you’ll meet up with our heroes when chaos breaks out, and board a transport to escape. That transport happens to be a rotating rollercoaster cart on an indoor track which even includes a reverse launch. Naturally, this is the most thrilling ride in EPCOT.

I was blown away by this one. I honestly wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was. Its definitely not the snooze fest the old Ellen’s Energy Adventure used to be! If you’re only doing one ride at EPCOT, it has to be Cosmic Rewind.

Mission: Space

Mission: Space is a motion simulator thrill ride that utilises g-forces to simulate lift off and weightlessness on a journey by rocket to Mars. You board a (slightly claustrophobic) ride vehicle and are strapped in for your virtual mission. Along the way, each rider is designated a specific task, meaning they’ll have to press a certain button when told to do so to ensure the mission in a success (though I don’t think they really impact the mission in any way). I love the weightless feeling you get during this ride, but its definitely something that those with motion sickness will struggle with to the point of nausea. Those worried about this should opt for the “Green” version of the ride which doesn’t subject riders to g-forces. Unless you know you’ll throw up, I think the full “Orange” option is the way to properly experience Mission: Space.

Test Track

One of the most popular rides in EPCOT, Test Track is tons of fun. During the queue for this ride, you’ll design a virtual car, with the idea being you’re about to put it to the test in a number of key testing areas. When you board your ride vehicle, you’ll be taken through a variety of simulations before being unleashed on the high speed outdoor section of the track, where you’ll accelerate at over 100 kilometres an hour, racing another vehicle in the process. If you’ve been on the Cars ride at Disney’s California Adventure, its a less fancy version of that. Test Track gets more popular as the day goes on. While you can use the Lightning Lane with Genie+, the ride also offers probably the best single rider queue in all of Walt Disney World.

World Nature at EPCOT

The final section making up the front part of EPCOT is World Nature, which is basically the old Future World West (excluding the Imagination Pavilion). Comprised of the Land and Sea pavilions, this section of the park showcases the natural beauty and balance of our natural world through a variety of attractions. In addition to the rides that I’ll cover below, there’s a number of dining options here. Within the Land Pavilion, you’ve got the counter service Sunshine Seasons and the more formal rotating restaurant in the Garden Grill (character meet and greets included). There’s also the really cool Coral Reef Restaurant which serves seafood while being surrounded by a vibrant aquarium. I haven’t dined at any of these (I’m normally eating out at the World Showcase), but I’ve generally heard favourable reviews. World Nature is also scheduled to introduce a Moana themed nature trail – Journey of Water.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends

The Seas with Nemo & Friends is both an immersive dark ride taking guests through the story of Finding Nemo, and a larger pavilion housing several aquarium exhibits (often referred to as the SeaBase). The actual ride utilises impressive technology to project the characters from Finding Nemo amongst live fish swimming in the huge tanks beyond and is a great hit for younger visitors. The SeaBase aquarium contains various reef species, dolphins, sea turtles and manatees. Its well worth spending some time here after the ride to observe the various forms of aquatic life. Younger guests will also enjoy Turtle Talk with Crush, an interactive show where they can converse with on screen versions of Crush and other Finding Nemo characters.

Living with the Land

This slow moving boat ride is one of two major attractions housed within the Land Pavilion in Future World West. Its another educational ride that showcases agricultural development over the years. The ride starts by taking you past beautiful sets of the various climate regions on earth before sending you out into a series of futuristic greenhouses. The produce grown here is used at many restaurants throughout Walt Disney World. Many consider Living with the Land to be a boring experience, but I think its an underrated attraction that reminds you of what the original EPCOT concept was all about.

Soarin’ Around the World

The other attraction in the Land Pavilion, Soarin’ is another immensely popular ride at EPCOT. Here you board a hang-gliding simulator by being elevated in front of a giant IMAX screen. You’ll be taken on an aerial tour of the world’s most famous landmarks, ranging from the Great Wall of China to the Matterhorn in the Alps. Its a gentle and relaxing experience, so unless you’re terrified of heights, you’ll be fine here – and likely love it. Soarin’ is a must do attraction, and you’re going to want to get here first thing or secure a Lightning Lane through Genie+ to avoid a long time spent in line for this one.

Awesome Planet

A new addition to the Land Pavilion, this film is narrated by Ty Burrell who plays the role of a realtor pitching Earth and all its natural beauty and diversity. Its a good way to spend 15 minutes out of the sun, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to see this one.

World Showcase at EPCOT

I love the World Showcase. Its probably my favourite place in all of Walt Disney World. Consisting of 11 pavilions around a central lagoon, this is a permanent World Fair, with various countries around the world being represented. While there are comparatively few rides compared to Future World (though there’s two major attractions that I’ll get to, plus other things to do), the World Showcase is full of culture – you can shop, watch performances, and eat and drink at each pavilion to experience the essence of that particular country. I love the World Showcase so much that its actually inspired my original travel bucket list. To give an overview of what you can do in the World Showcase, I’ll take you on a clockwise tour of the country pavilions.

Mexico Pavilion

The main area of the Mexico pavilion is housed inside a replica Mayan pyramid, making it the only pavilion in the World Showcase that is mostly indoors (although there’s markets and few dining options outside by the lagoon as well). Inside the pyramid, the pavilion is spectacularly themed to make you feel as though you’ve stepped into a nighttime village market in Mexico. There’s lots of authentic artefacts for sale which makes browsing the stalls an enjoyable experience. Mexico also houses the Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros, a boat ride that can easily be walked onto at any time for what is essentially a Mexican version of Its a Small World.

In terms of dining, Mexico offers two full service restaurants. The San Angel Inn is housed inside the pyramid and offers riverside dining as the Fiesta Tour passes by. Meanwhile, outside you can dine at La Hacienda de San Angel. Both offer great Mexican cuisine. If you’re after something to drink, head to La Cava del Tequila for a choice of over 200 tequilas and cocktails.

Other entertainment in Mexico include performances by the Mariachi Cobre Band, exhibits on Mexican culture (such as the Day of the Dead) and meet and greets with Donald Duck in his Caballero attire.

Norway Pavilion

The Norway pavilion has somewhat been taken over by Frozen over the past few years, despite the iconic replicas of Norwegian buildings such as Akershus Castle and a Stave Church. The success of the animated feature has turned the pavilion into an Arendelle hybrid, with most guests coming to this section of the park to experience the Frozen Ever After boat ride. This extremely popular attraction is great for Frozen fans, but I’d highly recommend using a Lightning Lane reservation to avoid the queues here. After experiencing the attraction, you can go on to meet Anna and Elsa at the Royal Sommerhus if you still haven’t got your Frozen fix.

Putting the Frozen stuff aside, the rest of the pavilion contains numerous stores filled with authentic Norwegian merchandise (don’t miss the giant troll statue inside the shops). The Stave Church contains an educational exhibit about the various Norse Gods and other aspects of Scandinavian culture. If you’re up for a snack, head to the Kringla Bakeri og Kafe for some sweet Norwegian treats and beverages. If you instead fancy a sit down meal in Norway, venture over to Akershus Royal Banquet Hall for a Norwegian feast (but you should make reservations in advance – the addition of Disney princesses at this venue makes it popular with young guests).

China Pavilion

Up next is the China pavilion, an elaborately decorated area centred around a half sized replica of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The Temple building houses a circle-vision film about Chinese people and culture known as Wondrous China which is well worth checking out. The rest of the pavilion consists of beautifully styled buildings, lotus ponds and an art gallery housing rotating exhibits on various aspects of Chinese history and traditions.

The China pavilion contains one proper dining venue, the Nine Dragons Restaurant, which serves an abundance of Chinese favourites from all across the nation. Meanwhile, the Lotus Blossom Cafe is quick service option serving basic Chinese takeaway. On top of the massive store space packed with Chinese goods at this pavilion, you can also meet characters from Mulan at the pavilion. The Jeweled Dragon Acrobats also put on impressive performances throughout the day in China.

Germany Pavilion

The Germany pavilion is themed around a small German town, with various stylised buildings surrounding the main square. These buildings contain a number of shops so you can continue browsing merchandise around the World Showcase. With that in mind, the main draw in Germany is the Biergarten Restaurant, a massive dining hall that makes you feel like you’re outside at night in a village square while enjoying a buffet with German favourites such as kransky and bratwurst (and lots of beer). If you’re after something sweeter, Karamell-Kuche is your best choice as there’s all kinds of treats available for purchase here.

While there’s no major attractions in Germany, you can meet Snow White throughout the day while exploring the pavilion. While in Germany, you should also spend some time checking out the nearby Miniature Train Village by the exit (there’s even a shop in the pavilion that stocks miniature train toys).

Italy Pavilion

The Italian pavilion is themed in a way to replicate Saint Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy. The outer edge of the pavilion even has a few gondolas on docked against the edge of the lagoon. Landmarks such as the Campanile and Doge’s Palace are present in the main square of the pavilion, which contains your usual shopping opportunities. While there’s not a huge amount to do in the Italian pavilion, its one of the best designed in the park architecturally.

There’s plenty of food in Italy, with the pavilion housing two full service restaurants. Tutto Italia offers authentic Italian cuisine such as a range of pasta dishes, while Via Napoli serves some of the best pizza in all of Walt Disney World. If you’re looking for some entertainment while exploring the Italian pavilion, keep an eye out for Sergio, who performs a popular juggling act regularly throughout the day.

The American Adventure

Marking the halfway point around the World Showcase lagoon, the United States pavilion offers EPCOT a slice of Americana. The main draw here is the American Adventure audio-animatronic show. This large scale performance runs for about half an hour and consists of a retelling of American history, narrated by highly detailed robots of Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin. Its a can’t miss performance that runs multiple times throughout the day. Arrive prior to show time to watch the amazing Voices of Liberty singing performance outside the main theatre.

The United States pavilion also houses the American Heritage Gallery, a detailed exhibit that highlights significant artworks and displays focusing on American history. I’ve never dined at the U.S pavilion (I figure the idea of the World Showcase is to experience different cuisines) but there is also a counter-service restaurant here – The Regal Eagle Smokehouse – which serves BBQ ribs and craft beers.

Japan Pavilion

The Japanese pavilion is one of the most beautiful in all the World Showcase. Centred around a traditional Japanese Pagoda, the pavilion includes a number of gardens, pools, bridges and a replica of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. While this is another pavilion without any major attractions, its one that I can definitely spend lots of time getting immersed in. The Palace building contains an actual branch of the Japanese department store Mitsukoshi, which contains a huge amount of Japanese merchandise, including all your pop culture collectibles. Also inside the same building, the Bijutsu-kan Gallery houses exhibits on facets of Japanese culture, such as ‘kawaii’ (cute culture).

In terms of entertainment, you can catch the Taiko Drummers and various Japanese storytellers throughout the day around the main pagoda. The pavilion is also a culinary delight with three major restaurants. The newest addition, Takumi-Tei, is a high end restaurant offering signature dining. For those on a lower budget, Tokyo Dining serves traditional sushi and sashimi dishes, while Teppan Edo is Hibachi grill dining.

Morocco Pavilion

Wandering into the Moroccan pavilion is like taking a stroll into the streets of Marrakesh. The winding streets, surrounded by stylised buildings and minarets truly are some of the most photogenic spots in all of EPCOT. The Moroccan pavilion doesn’t contain any major rides or attractions, but there is a tucked away gallery that highlights aspects of Moorish art and Moroccan culture. You can also wander amongst the outdoor shopping markets for goods to feel like you’re exploring an Arabian souk. While you’re exploring, take the opportunity to meet Princess Jasmine.

Moroccan dining comes in the form of two table service restaurants. Restaurant Marrakesh serves authentic cuisine alongside belly dancer entertainment, while the Spice Road Table offers wonderful views of the World Showcase lagoon in addition to your Moroccan delicacies. On top of all this, the Tangierine Cafe quick service venue is one of the best quick service restaurants in Walt Disney World (I ate their on my recent trip for the first time).

France Pavilion

Underneath a replica Eiffel Tower, the France pavilion is an elegantly styled Parisienne neighbourhood, once again made up of various shops selling French goods and souvenirs. In one of the main buildings is a theatre that houses the Impressions de France film, a beautiful cinematic experience that provides a virtual tour of France and all of its highlights. This movie plays at various times throughout the day, alternating with renditions of the Beauty and the Beast Singalong, which is housed in the same building (speaking of which, you can also meet Belle in France at various times throughout the day).

Don’t miss Serveur Amusant, an acrobatic comedy group that draws consistently large crowds to watch their hilarious act multiple times throughout the day. France also has you covered with two proper restaurants – Monsieur Paul being the fine dining option, while Chefs de France is an authentic French bistro. If you’re not looking for a full meal, make sure you at least stop by Les Halles Boulangerie Pattiserie, a charming French bakery with an assortment of delectable treats.

The major attraction in France is the fairly new Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. This is one of the first trackless dark rides at a Disney park in the United States and is lots of fun for all ages. Its also not a bad choice to rope drop if you’ll be entering the park from the International Gateway (otherwise look into making a Lightning Lane reservation).

United Kingdom Pavilion

The United Kingdom pavilion is made up of a miniature British village, consisting of various architecture styles, gardens, a hedge maze and more. As usual, there’s plenty of shopping on offer here, with Beatles merchandise and other British pop culture icons lining the shelves, along with other souvenirs. If you’re a rock music fan, stop by and watch the British Revolution cover band perform classic UK hits from the 1960-80s. For those more interested in meeting Disney characters, Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland all meet guests at the UK pavilion.

If you’re craving a pub feed, the UK pavilion is the place to be. Stop by the Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room for all your British favourites and an assortment of pints of beer on tap. If fish and chips is more your style, Yorkshire County Fish Shop is where you want to be. The UK pavilion is always a great place to stop by and relax while exploring the World Showcase with a good brew.

Canada Pavilion

The last of EPCOT’s World Showcase pavilions, the Canada pavilion pays tribute to the natural beauty of the Great White North. While the centrepiece is a replica of the Chateau Frontenac from Quebec City, the pavilion also includes totem poles, beautiful gardens and even an actual waterfall. Its another one of those pavilions that you need to venture deep into to fully appreciate the level of detail on display. Near the aforementioned waterfall, the Canada pavilion which normally houses a circle-vision film on the country, though it was closed when I visited, as it was in the process of being updated.

A number of Canadian rock bands perform throughout the day at the Canada pavilion stage, so check them out while exploring the sights of the pavilion and looking at the goods on offer in the stores. While Canada doesn’t have any counter service restaurants, it is home to the Le Cellier Steakhouse, one of EPCOT’s most premium dining venues.

EPCOT is completely different to any other theme park at Walt Disney World. Sure, there’s been more thrill rides added over time in an attempt to make it more like the others, but I still feel like a day at this park is different to the rest. I always look forward to spending time at EPCOT when I visit Disney World. If you haven’t been, hopefully this post has helped you understand everything you can do and see. What’s your favourite EPCOT attraction? What do you enjoy doing the most in the World Showcase? Let me know!