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This is part of an ongoing guest post series on Disney World Savings, written by a life long Disney lover.
EPCOT seems to get a bad wrap from some Disney goers, but I’ve always found it very entertaining. I think part of it is coming to EPCOT with the proper expectations for your experience there. Let’s look at what to do here to keep building value into your vacation.
EPCOT
Epcot is actually an acronym that stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. There are fewer rides, but it is a beautiful park and has incredible food. There are lots of interesting exhibits and interactive activities as well. Epcot also features several festivals throughout the year such as the International Food & Wine festival, International Flower & Garden festival, and more. Here’s the full list of Disney World special events.
Tips for Epcot
Like I said, Epcot has the best food. The world showcase offers a cornucopia of flavors from 11 different countries including: UK, France, Morocco, Japan, America, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, Mexico, and Canada. My favorite restaurant is Tutto Italia Ristorante, but there are SO many good options to choose from. The Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway is another favorite. This is a wonderful restaurant for kids and grown ups. You’ll get a picture with a princess and get a visit at your table from one as well. The food really makes this experience. Now, not all restaurants on the World Showcase are tasty. I’ve heard sub par reviews for America (just fast food stuff) and Germany (all you can eat buffet). I found China to be good, but not unique and France to be tasty, but very heavy. For quick service I highly recommend Mexico, The Land, Morocco, and Japan. The Land might be my all time favorite due to the variety, amount of food you get, and family tradition. My go-to is the sandwich shop. Take a look at all the Epcot dining options.
Entrances to the Park
Epcot is also a very large park. There are actually two entrances/exits, and walking from one to the other is pretty darn good exercise. The first entrance brings you right in front of Spaceship Earth (the big golf ball). The other entrance brings you in between France and England in the World Showcase. This second entrance/exit is what you’ll most likely use if you are staying at the Boardwalk, Swan & Dolphin, or Yacht Club resorts. You may also want to take advantage of this entrance/exit if you are going to or coming from Hollywood Studios. There is a ferry to take you to Hollywood Studios or you may walk (I recommend walking because the Boardwalk is beautiful).
Epcot Rides
There are certainly not as many rides in Epcot as the other parks, but they are still enjoyable. Soarin’ and Test Track are incredibly popular and have huge wait times even during value season. The cause for big lines at all times is that these are really the only two big rides in the park. I enjoy all the rides listed below as well, but these are by far the two most popular. I recommend grabbing a Fast Pass for both rides as soon as possible or riding it during Extra Magic Hours.
Most Popular Rides (longest wait):
Soarin’
Test Track
Mission to Mars
Other Good Rides to Do:
Maelstrom
Spaceship Earth
Universe of Energy
Living with the Land
You can take a look at the full list of Epcot attractions and choose your own favorites!
Fireworks Shows
“Illuminations” is the firework show that Epcot has every night at 9 pm. Naturally, it’s amazing and it’s a must see. You’ll want to arrive to the World Showcase Lagoon at least 30 minutes early to get really good seats. There are a number of great locations, but my favorite is watching it from France. You may ask how you can get good seats to a firework show, but there is also a massive LED lit globe that floats in the center of the lagoon. You’ll be able to see the fireworks from just about anywhere, but you’ll need a good seat to get a good view of the globe. You may ask which firework show is better, Illuminations or Wishes? My answer seems to change every time I seem them as they are both fantastic.
Epcot may not be as “flashy” as the other parks, but you really can have a lot of fun here.
What tips and tricks do you have for navigating EPCOT?
Tune in tomorrow for a guide to Hollywood Studios.
