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10 Do’s And Don’ts For Walt Disney World’s EPCOT

Of the four theme parks in Walt Disney World, many guests love to spend a ton of time exploring and enjoying EPCOT. The park opened in 1982 and has a unique theme which has guests celebrating many different aspects of life. The front half of EPCOT is home to Future World. It is currently under massive renovation all to make the space even better! The back half of EPCOT features World Showcase which is home to eleven different pavilions each celebrating a country from around the world with cuisine, attractions, entertainment, architecture, history, and more. With so much to do and see on a day in EPCOT, guests definitely want to make the most of each moment in order to enjoy as much as possible. There are some definite do’s and don’ts for EPCOT which help guests save time, avoid frustration, and enjoy their time in the park as much as possible.

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1. Do Arrive For Rope Drop

The best way to kick off an amazing day in EPCOT is by arriving for rope drop. This entails getting to the park before it officially opens and waiting at the gates to be let inside. While waiting, guests are treated to wonderful background music and a welcome speech telling them all about the amazing experiences waiting inside. Once the gates are officially open, guests who arrived early for rope drop are some of the first inside where they can enjoy few crowds and low wait times.

2. Don’t Do Spaceship Earth First

Many guests who enter through the main gate of EPCOT automatically head straight for Spaceship Earth since it is the first attraction that they encounter. This is a rookie mistake as Spaceship Earth then becomes bottlenecked and experiences much longer lines than at other points throughout the day. Guests should instead opt to skip Spaceship Earth first thing in the morning and instead enjoy a ride on it later in the day.

NOTE: Spaceship Earth will close May 26, 2020 for re-imagining. 

3. Do Head Straight To Soarin’ Around The World

Instead of stopping at Spaceship Earth, guests should instead head over to Future World West to The Land Pavilion. On the lower level of the pavilion is one of the most popular attractions in Epcot which brings guests on a breathtaking journey. Soarin’ Around the World invites guests to go hang gliding over some of the most beautiful locations in the world including the Great Wall of China, Sydney Harbor, the Great Pyramid, and Mount Kilimanjaro. Since Soarin’ Around the World is so popular with guests, one of the best times to visit is first thing in the morning before the attraction has a lengthy wait time.

4. Do Single Rider Test Track Presented By Chevrolet

Another very popular and thrilling attraction can also be found in EPCOT’s Future World. Test Track Presented by Chevrolet can be found in Future World East and invites guests to step into the creative element of the automotive world and design their very own SIM cars to test on the track. Guests can design a model based upon Efficiency, Power, Capability, and Responsiveness and see how their designs hold up compared to others. Since Test Track Presented by Chevrolet is popular with guests, it tends to have long wait times. Guess who would like to enjoy the experience without the long wait should opt to use the Single Rider line which typically has a much shorter wait time for the same experience so long as guests don’t mind being split up at the loading platform.

5. Don’t Skip The Underrated

While EPCOT is home to plenty of popular attractions, it also features a number of other attractions which often ten to be overlooked by guests making them underrated. These underrated attractions might not be as popular as others, but definitely should not be skipped on a day in EPCOT. Some of the best underrated attractions to enjoy include Living with the Land, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Journey into Imagination with Figment, the American Adventure, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Impressions de France, Canada Far & Wide, and Reflections of Chinda (soon to be replaced by Wondrous China).

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6. Do Leave Plenty Of Time For World Showcase

World Showcase in EPCOT is truly massive and features so many amazing details in each pavilion that guests will absolutely love exploring every corner. Many guests don’t leave enough time for themselves to properly explore World Showcase, making them miss some amazing details and experiences. Guests who want to spend time in EPCOT should be sure to leave plenty of time to enjoy World Showcase without feeling rushed or missing things.

7. Do FastPass Frozen Ever After

One of the most popular attractions in EPCOT can be found in World Showcase in the Norway Pavilion. Frozen Ever After invites guests into the kingdom of Arendelle from the mega popular film Frozen. There Anna and Elsa are hosting a summer celebration including familiar friends like Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven. Guests who enjoyed the movie definitely need to enjoy a ride on Frozen Ever After, however the wait times can easily be several hours long on busy days in EPCOT. The best way to enjoy Frozen Ever After without losing a ton of time spent waiting in line is by booking a FastPass for the experience.

8. Don’t Skip A Meal In World Showcase

Each pavilion in World Showcase is home to at least one full service and one quick service dining location which highlights the flavors and cuisine from that country. Guests who spend time in World Showcase should be sure to at least enjoy one meal there which they are guaranteed to love. Some of the most popular dining locations in World Showcase include Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Norway, Nine Dragons Restaurant in China, Le Cellier Steakhouse in Canada, Teppan Edo in Japan, and La Cantina de San Angel in Mexico.

9. Do Line Up Early For EPCOT Forever

Each day in EPCOT comes to a close with a showing fireworks. The current show is EPCOT Forever, a temporary fireworks spectacular. The show takes place on World Showcase Lagoon and combines a beautiful score with fireworks, pyrotechnics, special effects, and laser lights, Since these fireworks are so popular, viewing places around World Showcase Lagoon tend to start filling up at least an hour before show time. Guests who want to enjoy the show with a great view should definitely plan on finding a spot early on.

10. Don’t Leave Right Away

Once EPCOT Forever is over, guests are smart to stay put and enjoy the ambiance of EPCOT while the rest of the crowds head towards the front of the park. By waiting a little while and enjoying the atmosphere, guests get to spend a little more time in EPCOT while also waiting for the crowds to dissipate a little making for an easier exit.

About Caitlin Kane

Caitlin Kane first started visiting Walt Disney World when she was two years old, and despite spending most of that trip quarantined with the chicken pox she managed to fall in love with the place. Visiting WDW every year since, she especially loves learning all about the history and small details of the parks and eating/drinking her way through the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival each fall. When she's not in Disney, Caitlin lives in New York and spends her time counting down the days to her next trip.