The EPCOT Experience We Love to Participate In

It’s a well-known fact that a Disney vacation in Lake Buena Vista comes with a fairly large cost. Spending begins from the minute you decide that you want to book a visit to the Walt Disney World Resort. Usually, the largest costs are dealt with first when booking your accommodation and transport. Disney Parks tickets must be purchased unless you are an Annual Passholder. As your vacation approaches, you need to consider money for dining, merchandise, and other experiences that you wish to enjoy during your Disney vacation.

You’ll be pleased to know, though, that a Disney vacation is not all about spending money. Believe it or not, there are many fun things to earn in Walt Disney World that don’t require you to spend a penny. Whilst freebies may not be something you think of when it comes to the Disney Parks, you don’t have to purchase everything to have the full Disney experience.

Some of our favorite complimentary items and experiences available around the Walt Disney World Resort include:

• Celebration buttons
• Pixie dusting at Sir Mickey’s in Magic Kingdom
• Stickers such as those given to Guests who reach the level of Galactic Hero on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom
• Special cards such as those given to honorary Jungle Skipper on the Jungle Cruise
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Wilderness Explorers handbook and badges to earn
• Disney Transportation Collector Cards from Cast Members on the Disney Monorail, Seven Seas Lagoon ferry boat, and on the Walt Disney World Transportation System buses too
• Free concerts in EPCOT during the International Festivals

There is one other free activity that we love to take part in during a Walt Disney World Vacation, and you’ll find it in the EPCOT theme park.

EPCOT World Showcase

Located at the back of EPCOT, World Showcase offers Guests plenty of dining and shopping locations that reflect different countries and cultures from around the world. World Showcase is made up of 11 countries, and each includes quick-service and full-service dining locations to enjoy food and beverages from, as well as merchandise locations that sell goods from the respective country and unique Disney merchandise designed for each Pavilion.

Guests walking around World Showcase will cover at least 1.2 miles for every complete loop they travel. Walking around World Showcase Lagoon, Guests can visit the following 11 Pavilions: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, the American Adventure, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada. There are also three attractions that Guests can ride: Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros in the Mexico Pavilion; Frozen Ever After in the Norway Pavilion; and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France Pavilion, which is the newest ride to be added to World Showcase.

Many Guests may think that the EPCOT World Showcase is really for adults. Whilst there are plenty of alcoholic beverages on offer and cultural experiences to enjoy, all Guests have the opportunity to interact with Disney characters around World Showcase. There are also plenty of PhotoPass opportunities around World Showcase where Guests can not only have family photos taken but experience many magic shots too. Younger Guests may find the walk around the different countries a little tiring and feel like they’re missing out on the rest of the attractions to enjoy around the Disney Parks, but there is an interactive experience for Guests of all ages to enjoy in World Showcase.

Kidcot Fun Stops

Kidcot was an activity introduced to the EPCOT World Showcase by Disney Imagineers in 1996. It was an experience that was really successful with Disney Guests, and so it became a permanent experience offered around World Showcase in 1997 when it was given the name that it is known by now. 

Kidcot is a chance for Guests to interact with Cast Members, learn about the culture of the country’s Pavilion they are visiting, and most importantly, have fun whilst exploring the Disney Park. Whilst Kidcot was originally intended for the younger Guests who visit Walt Disney World, there is no age limit to the experience. This means that it is a fun activity for all Guests to enjoy, whether they are young or young at heart!

There is a Kidcot station located in each Pavilion around World Showcase. Here’s where to find each station:

• near the Mexico Folk Art Gallery in the Mexico Pavilion
• The Puffin’s Roost in the Norway Pavilion
• near the exit of Reflections of China in the China Pavilion
• Volkunst in the Germany Pavilion
• outside La Bottega Italiana in the Italy Pavilion
• near Art of Disney in the American Adventure Pavilion
• in the Bijutsu-kan Gallery in the Japan Pavilion
• at the Marketplace in the Median in the Morocco Pavilion
• at Souvenirs de France in the France Pavilion
• at The Toy Soldier in the United Kingdom Pavilion
• at the exit of Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 in the Canada Pavilion

Current Freebies offered at the Kidcot Fun Stops

Currently, the Kidcot Fun Stops are presented by Ziploc. It seems only right then that your Kidcot experience should involve a Ziploc bag of some sort! Guests taking part in the Kidcot experience receive a postcard and sticker from each Pavilion, as well as a Ziploc bag designed to be like a travel case on the first stop. 

Each postcard details information about cultural traditions and fun facts specific to the country it was received in. On the back is a picture that Guests can color in. The picture shows a Disney character enjoying an experience related to the information given on the front of the card. The collection is a pretty neat souvenir to take home from your Disney vacation!

The stickers given with the postcards have been a new addition to Kidcot since the pandemic. Before March 2020, Cast Members would personalize each postcard with a drawing of their country’s flag and maybe even a message in the language spoken in their country too.

Disney Kidcot Puzzle Hunt

Guests can also participate in the Disney Kidcot Puzzle Hunt whilst traveling around World Showcase. To do so, they’ll need to use the Play Disney Parks app. The app offers Guests an immersive experience throughout the four Disney Parks in Walt Disney World.

The Disney Kidcot Puzzle Hunt involves Guests searching for physical jigsaw pieces at each Pavilion in World Showcase. Once all of the pieces have been found, Guests can complete an expedition through the app. Upon completion of the expedition, Guests are rewarded with a digital puzzle piece and fun photo frames that are unique to each country. Make sure to download the Play Disney Parks app before your next Disney vacation, so you don’t miss out on any of the fun!

Disney’s Kidcot hasn’t always offered the free postcards and Ziploc bags to Guests, though. In fact, it has seen a fair few changes in its lifetime. Let’s see how it has changed over the years before its current experience.

Masks

In the early days of Kidcot, Guests initially collected a mask and designed the front of it using colored pens. Blank masks could be collected from every Kidcot station, where pens were available, and Guests could sit and chat with the Cast Members at the station whilst designing their masks. The masks were likely to be inspired by the puppets that were part of the Tapestry of Nations parade that took place around World Showcase Lagoon from 1999 to 2001.

Once Guests had designed their masks, they then visited each Kidcot Station and received a stamp on the handle of their mask and a card cutout that was attached to their mask. Stamps and card cutouts were specific to each country. Cast Members in Morocco, Japan, and China were also able to write Guests’ names onto their masks in the written language of their country. It was awesome to see what your name looked like when written in a different language.

Duffy Bear & Agent P.

The Kidcot masks were eventually replaced by Duffy Bear cutouts. Duffy Bear worked in a similar way to the masks, though, where Guests had the opportunity to color Duffy in the design of their choice before collecting stamps from each Kidcot Fun Stop, as well as having their name written in the native language in some Pavilions. Depending on the time of year, some Guests were even able to personalize an Agent P. from the Disney Channel Kim Possible series. 

Other EPCOT Experiences Similar to Kidcot

If you or the younger Guests in your family have enjoyed taking part in Kidcot during your last visit to EPCOT, then you may be interested in the other two scavenger hunts that take place in EPCOT throughout the year. Whilst these activities come with a small cost of around $9.99, Guests receive a prize of their choice once they have completed the hunt. Prizes are relevant to the hunt that Guests take part in. The two hunts available to take part in are:

• EPCOT Eggstravaganza – Guests hunt for character Easter Eggs hidden around EPCOT, and once found, place the corresponding sticker on the map. Guests can participate in the EPCOT Eggstravaganza in the weeks leading up to Easter each year.

• Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit – New this year, as part of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Guests taking part in the pursuit will search for Disney character-inspired pumpkins around the Disney Park. Once found, they will place the corresponding sticker on the map. Guests can participate in Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit from September 29 through October 31, 2022.

Guests can usually purchase maps for the EPCOT scavenger hunts from three locations:

• Creations Shop
• Port of Entry
• World Traveler at International Gateway

These stores are also where Guests can pick up their prize once they have completed their hunt. It’s a great way to add some additional fun to your time at Walt Disney World. 

Other Walt Disney World Scavenger Hunts

If you’re partial to a scavenger hunt, then you’ll want to take advantage of the many other scavenger hunts that are available for Guests to enjoy around the Walt Disney World Resort.

The scavenger hunts available in the Disney Parks include:

• Pascal hunt near the Tangled (2010) bathrooms in Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom. Whilst there isn’t a prize for finding all 10 of the Pascals hidden in Fantasyland, it’s free for all Guests to participate and enjoy.
• Wilderness Explorers in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Pick up your handbook from the Wilderness Explorers Headquarters near Discovery Island, as well as earn your first badge. From there, Guests can earn over 30 badges from different stations around Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Earn all of the badges, and you will be given the honorary title of Senior Wilderness Explorer. Don’t worry, you don’t have to collect all of the badges in one day; it’s a great thing to spread across your Disney vacation.

There are also plenty of scavenger hunts to take part in around the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. Try to make time for the following free activities when visiting the Disney hotels:

• 50th Anniversary Scavenger Hunt – available in select Disney Resorts, including Disney’s Polynesian Village and Disney’s Contemporary Resorts. Pick up a clue sheet from the gift stores in the Disney hotels, then find the attraction tickets that are hidden around the Disney Resort.
• Disney’s Riviera Resort Art Scavenger Hunt. Make sure to visit the Disney Vacation Club information desk in the Disney Resort to collect your scavenger hunt map and sticker pack. Once you have completed the hunt, be sure to stop by the desk to receive a fun prize!
• Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort – depending on the season you visit the Walt Disney World Resort, you’ll find a different scavenger hunt at Port Orleans French Quarter. Use the clues to find all of the hidden objects to receive a prize.
• Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort – do you enjoy taking a selfie? If so, then you’ll love the Sassagoula Selfies scavenger hunt at Port Orleans Riverside. There’s even a prize that allows you to enjoy some time in the Arcade at the Disney Resort.

Have you visited the Kidcot Fun Stops during a visit to EPCOT World Showcase? If not, we hope you feel inspired to visit them and join in the fun during your next Disney vacation!