10 Disney Pro Tips for Epcot

by Brittany DiCologero

10. Arrive early

Arriving early, preferably right when the park opens can be especially helpful when spending a day in Epcot. While World Showcase does not open until 11 AM, it would be beneficial to have some time earlier in the morning to spring in Future World before the crowds are really able to set in. Disney’s Fastpass+ system is also tiered in Epcot, meaning that you cannot book a Fastpass for both Soarin and Test Track, which are the park’s two most popular attractions. An easy way to experience both Future World attractions with little to no wait is to arrive to the park early, and use a Fastpass for one, and wait in the standby line for the other before the park becomes crowded.

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9. Do World Showcase when it opens

My plan of action when I spend the day in Epcot is to do Future World from park opening until 11 AM, then I head over to World Showcase. Most guests put off visiting World Showcase until later in the day, which means there will be smaller crowds if you go right when the area opens. After spending some time in World Showcase, back track to Future World and hit up whatever attractions you missed, and you’ll be going opposite the crowds for much of the day.

8. Don’t overlook some attractions

Some guests tend to skip a couple of great Epcot attractions because they are films or “not thrilling enough.” Not every attraction needs to be a thrill ride to be enjoyable, in fact, some of my favorites are movies or slow moving dark rides. Many of these experiences are classic parts of a visit to Epcot and I believe that they should be experienced at least once.

7. Get the kids interested

One fairly common complaint about Epcot is that there is not enough to do for kids, especially in World Showcase. Conversely, there are actually plenty of activities that are geared for kids, as they can show their creative sides with the Kidcot Fun Stops, and work with Agent P on secret missions in each of the countries. In Future World, check out Club Cool, Innoventions, and Journey into Imagination with Figment.

6. Snack around the world

One of the best ways to experience World Showcase is through your stomach, especially if you happen to be visiting during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. Snacking in each country is a fun way to experience and learn about other cultures while trying some unique and delicious foods.

5. Don’t forget about Future World’s snacks

When we think about snacking in Epcot, we often immediately think of World Showcase. It’s important that we don’t leave out Future World though since some of the best snacks are actually located closer to the front of the park. Some Future World snacks include the complimentary sodas from around the world at Club Cool, flavored popcorn near the Imagination pavilion, and the specialty grilled cheese at Taste Track.

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4. Drink around the world, but do it safely

While drinking around the world has become a fun Epcot pastime, it is a family park after all, and it is therefore definitely not the place for obscene drunken behavior. In addition, you also do not want to make yourself sick on vacation of all places. If you do end up drinking around the world, be sure to stay hydrated, especially in Florida’s hot summer months. You should be drinking at least as much water as you are alcohol to stay adequately hydrated. It’s also important to eat a little bit while you’re drinking, which should not be difficult to do in World Showcase. I also suggest taking your time. It’s not a race to see who can drink around the world the fastest, and it’s a much more enjoyable experience when you can spend a day doing it, and actually be able to remember it when you go home!

3. Meet characters

Epcot is one of the best places to meet characters simply because so many of them can be found just by walking through World Showcase. This is especially helpful if you are looking to meet princesses without dealing with the heavier crowds in the Magic Kingdom. For non-princess characters, the United Kingdom is the place to be where you can meet characters like Alice in Wonderland and Mary Poppins, and Future World is also home to Pluto and Bay Max, just to name a few.

2. Have a table service meal

If there is any park where you really should make an effort to have a table service meal, I would suggest going with Epcot. With two character dining experiences, all of the restaurants in World Showcase, and other unique options like the Coral Reef Restaurant, Epcot gets my pick for the park with the best table service options, which is partially why I think my next tip is so important:

1. Make more than one visit per trip

If possible, I always suggest going to Epcot more than once per trip. It is one of the bigger parks walking distance wise, so by that logic it generally takes longer to complete. It can be done in a day depending on what you do, but I’d prefer to take my time wandering through World Showcase knowing that I can come back in the next day or so. Besides, there’s only some much you’re able to eat and drink in one day anyway!