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10 Tips for the Best Day Ever at Walt Disney World’s Epcot

Epcot is one of the four Disney Parks found in Walt Disney World and is filled with amazing experiences for guests to enjoy each and every day. Half of Epcot features Future World where guests can check out amazing technology and the beauty of nature brought together through attractions, dining, entertainment, and more. The other half of the Disney Park is home to World Showcase which features eleven separate pavilions that each celebrate a country from around the world and bring that location to life through attractions, dining, shopping, culture, architecture, and more. Since Epcot is home to so many amazing experiences for guests to enjoy, it might be hard to figure out exactly what the must dos are to ensure the best day ever. While some experiences might depend on guest preferences, there are some that are simply so wonderful that they cannot be skipped. Here are ten tips for having the best day ever at Epcot!

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1. Visit During A Festival

While Epcot is an amazing Disney Park no matter what time of year, there are several festivals that run seasonally which bring even more magic and amazing experiences to life. The beginning of the year features the Epcot Festival of the Arts where guests can celebrate visual and culinary arts through live artists, food booths, demonstrations and classes, and more. The spring months feature the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival where topiaries, play areas, a butterfly house, food booths, and special tours and demonstrations bring the beauty of nature and gardening to life throughout the park. The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is perhaps the most popular and each fall culinary experiences are brought to life through marketplace booths, culinary demonstrations, classes, and pairings, special events, and more.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival

2. Use the Single Rider Line at Test Track Presented by Chevrolet

Future World is home to several thrilling attractions in Epcot that always tend to have lengthy wait times. Test Track Presented by Chevrolet is one of those experiences and it invites guests into the design world of automobiles. Guests can design their very own cars to put to the test in a thrilling series of performance tests, and the whole experience ends with a high speed outdoor loop on an exterior piece of track. Since Test Track Presented by Chevrolet brings some big thrills, the standby line tends to be lengthy making the single rider line a great option for a shorter wait for the same experience.

3. FastPass Mission: SPACE

Also located in Future World is an attraction that offers two different experiences that vary in intensity. Mission: SPACE brings the world of the International Space Training Center to life and guests can opt to join the less intense Green Team or more intense Orange Team. Depending on guests’ choice, the missions bring them on an orbit of the Earth or a journey to Mars filled with lots of surprises. Since Mission: SPACE offers the unique opportunity to experience the thrill of space travel and several G forces, it tends to often have long wait times. Guests who want to skip the lengthy wait should opt to book a FastPass for the experience to save time.

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4. FastPass Frozen Ever After

Another great option to book a FastPass for in Epcot can be found in the Norway Pavilion in World Showcase. Frozen Ever After welcomes guests into the magical world from the popular hit Frozen and invites them to relive classic moments from the film and travel to Elsa’s ice palace. With favorite songs, characters, and more, Frozen Ever After is a favorite experience of guests of all ages and often is very popular on days in the park. Those who want to cut down on their wait time are smart to book a FastPass for the experience.

5. Bring Your Appetite

One reason why Epcot is so beloved with guests is the extensive amount of dining opportunities available throughout the entire park. There are literally dozens of quick service and full service dining options available to guests each day, with the highest concentration being found in World Showcase. Despite there being so many options, many of the restaurants in Epcot tend to be fully booked each day thanks to their popularity. Guests who are looking to enjoy a full service dining location definitely should plan on making Advanced Dining Reservations, especially for options such as Le Cellier Steakhouse, Garden Grill Restaurant, Rose & Crown Dining Room, San Angel Inn Restaurante, and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.

Fish and Chips – Epcot United Kingdom

6. Stop for the Attractions in World Showcase

While a highlight of World Showcase for many guests is sampling the delicious food and beverages offered in each pavilions, guests should also make sure to not miss out on some amazing attractions that offer unique experiences in several pavilions. In the Canada Pavilion, guests can enjoy the circle vision film O Canada! which is hosted by Martin Short and celebrates the diversity of the country. France is home to the film Impressions de France which combines beautiful footage of the country with classical French composers for an immersive experience. The America Pavilion features the American Adventure which tells the story of the American people using audio-animatronics and film. Reflections of China is another circle vision film in the China Pavilion which showcases some of the country’s most beautiful locations while the Norway Pavilion is home to Frozen Ever After. Finally, the Mexico Pavilion features the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros where guests can travel throughout Mexico in search of Donald.

8. Enjoy Live Entertainment

In addition to the attractions found throughout World Showcase, nearly every pavilion is also home to live entertainment throughout the day that brings aspects of each culture to life in amazing ways. Guests will be sure to love listening to live mariachi music in the Mexico Pavilion, watching gravity-defying acrobats in the China Pavilion, listening to traditional drumming musicians in the Japan Pavilion, watching flag twirlers in the Italy Pavilion, and so much more. No matter what time of day or pavilion, guests are sure to find some amazing live entertainment in World Showcase.

Epcot Mexico Entertainment

9. Ride Spaceship Earth Later in the Day

The majority of guests enter into Epcot through the main entrance located in the front of the park in Future World. By doing so, they are immediately greeted by Spaceship Earth, a popular attraction and icon of the park. Spaceship Earth brings guests on a journey through time to celebrate the history and advancement of communication and many guests consider it to be a must do while in Epcot. Since Spaceship Earth is a popular choice for many guests, it tends to back up in the earlier part of the day with those who simply hop on the standby line as they enter into the park. Those looking to save some time when riding should instead opt to revisit later in the day when less crowds are entering through the main gate.

10. Find the Perfect Spot for Illuminations: Reflections of Earth

Note: Illuminations’ last show will take place on September 30, 2019. “Epcot Forever”, a temporary fireworks spectacular, will begin on October 1.

The conclusion of each day in Epcot brings an amazing live show on World Showcase Lagoon that celebrates the unity of all people. Illuminations: Reflections of Earth uses a combination of pyrotechnics, fireworks, and special effects for an unforgettable experience that can be enjoyed from all around World Showcase Lagoon. Guests who want to enjoy the perfect view of the show should opt to find a spot at least an hour before it begins which also offers a great opportunity to sit back with a snack and beverage and enjoy the nighttime ambiance of World Showcase at the same time.

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.