Top 8 Q&A About Epcot

Give “Alexa” a break, put “Siri” down, and let’s chat Disney fan to Disney fan! You’ve got Epcot questions? We’ll do our best to give you the answers! Check out our top eight questions and answers for none other than our favorite Walt Disney World park – Epcot.

8 – What are the “Must-Do’s”?

We count “must-do’s” as experiences that would be unfortunate to leave the park without enjoying. They make up what we feel Epcot is all about and for sure need to be on your must-do list! Of course, with any must-do list, we encourage you to do your research and see what appeals most to you and your traveling party. Here are our top Epcot must-do’s:

• Save the Galaxy: Don’t miss Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, EPCOT’s newest attraction that has guests raving. This thrilling coaster features a reverse launch and new technology that Imagineers have dubbed the Omni-coaster, keeping guests focused on the action.
• Stroll the World Showcase: Hands down THE best part of visiting Epcot, in our opinion. There are eleven different Pavilions (aka Countries) to experience around a beautiful lagoon.
• Scurry around with Remy: While in World Showcase, be sure to ride the newest attraction in EPCOT, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Guests scurry around with Remy as they get chased through a restaurant. It’s a lot of fun for the whole family.
• Take a flight on Soarin’ Around the World: Experience a hang-gliding feeling above beautiful scenes from around the world.
• Make them test a car in Test Track: This attraction allows guests to not only put their engineering skills to the test but also have a seat for one thrilling ride as your car design competes against others.
• Hear Voices of Liberty: Located in the American Adventure Pavilion of the World Showcase, Voices of Liberty is an acapella group that gives our goosebumps goosebumps with their outstanding sound and patriotic notes.
• Travel through Spaceship Earth: Take a slow-moving ride through the iconic Spaceship Earth (aka the huge, white golf ball). People know its Epcot with one glimpse at this masterpiece, so what better must-do than to experience being inside it.

7 – How do I access the Lightning Lane at attractions at EPCOT?

If you plan to use the new paid Lightning Lane service at EPCOT, understand and be prepared so you know how and what attractions you want to book for the day. There are three different paid options that you can choose (along with different attractions) to access it. The first option is to purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a day or each day of your visit. It costs each person anywhere from $15-$39 per day. With Multi Pass, you can pre-book up to three initial attractions and access the Lightning Lane attractions at each park. Once you’ve visited the first attraction, you can book another attraction, based on availability. The second option is to purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass for individual attractions. These are a select group of top attractions at each park that are NOT included with your Multi Pass purchase. They must be purchased separately, and pricing ranges from $7-$25 per attraction, per person.

The updated service allows you to book these selections seven days ahead of time (plus the length of stay) for Disney Resort guests or three days ahead for date-based tickets or annual passholders. You can now see what’s available, see exact pricing, and make selections before you make your purchase. This allows you to see if booking Lightning Lanes will be worth it for your trip.

Disney Genie+ Attractions:

1. 1. Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
   2. Frozen Ever After
   3. Journey Into Imagination with Figment
   4. Living with the Land
   5. Mission Space – Green and Orange
   6. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
   7. Soarin’ Around the World
   8. Spaceship Earth
   9. Test Track
   10. The Seas with Nemo & Friends
   11. Turtle Talk with Crush

A second option for purchasing Lightning Lane is the a la carte method. The attraction below is NOT included with your Multi Pass purchase and must be purchased separately. Lightning Lane selections for the top-tier individual attractions will also be made on the same day of your visit and can be made across multiple theme parks (great for those who have the Park Hopper Option). Access to purchase Lightning Lane for the individual top-tier attractions will be available to all guests when the park that attraction opens. Guests staying on Disney World property will receive the benefit of early access to top-tier reservations and can make their purchases at 7:00 am on the day of their visit. Prices will vary by date, attraction, and park.

Individual A la Carte Lightning Lane Attractions:

1. 1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

A third option, only available to Disney Deluxe Resort guests, is the new Premier Pass option. Guests who purchase the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will give guests one entry to each available Lightning Lane attraction at any time in the theme park they are visiting that day. This includes attractions included in both Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, but with Lightning Lane Premier Pass, guests do not need to select an entrance time. Lightning Lane Premier Pass will be a “premium offering,” and prices will vary based on the date and theme park guests are visiting. Guests can expect to pay anywhere from $129 to $449 (per pass, plus tax) for the new offering.

Keep in mind that you do not have to purchase any of these options to enjoy these attractions. The standby queue is available for all but Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which still offers a (free) virtual queue.

6 – What’s the best place to eat?

Tough choice! Wow, the food at Epcot is outstanding! It’s our favorite theme park for food simply because the variety is spectacular. As you stroll around the World Showcase, you can taste just about any cuisine you desire! Our favorites include Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya in the Japan pavilion, Biergarten Restaurant in Germany, Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria in Italy, and Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in France. Outside of the World Showcase, we enjoy Garden Grill Restaurant, which rotates above the Living with the Land attraction. Finally, if you can snag a reservation to the new Space 220, you won’t regret it! In other words, you can’t go wrong!

5 – What is there for my kids at Epcot?

First things first, Epcot is not Magic Kingdom. At Magic Kingdom, your children will be bouncing from one attraction to the next with no end in sight. But don’t count out Epcot! A few highlights our kids love at Epcot include Frozen Ever After, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush, Living with the Land, Journey into Imagination with Figment, and Spaceship Earth. The kids will love exploring the World Showcase with Kidcot, collecting stamps and info cards from each pavilion. Kids also love the scavenger hunts that are offered regularly, as well as those special to the Epcot festivals. Characters are abundant, and there is entertainment galore! Want a Disney parent tip? If this is your first time to Disney and you’re planning on doing all four parks…do Epcot first. Your kids will LOVE it as they don’t have Magic Kingdom to compare it to just yet!

4 – What characters are at Epcot?

If you’re looking for characters – Epcot is the place to be! You’ll find your classic favorites: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Daisy. But you’ll also find Donald Duck in his Mexican sombrero, Anna and Elsa offering warm hugs in Norway, Mulan dropping by in China, Snow White by the wishing well in Germany, Jasmine in the Morocco marketplace, and Belle and Aurora greeting friends in France. Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way in the United Kingdom…and so much more. Newer characters like Joy from Inside Out and even Figment are also popular in Epcot. And if you’re looking for character dining experiences, you can find several Princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and Chip, Dale, Mickey, and Pluto in Garden Grill Restaurant.

3 – Can you explain the Epcot Festivals?

The festivals at Epcot are amazing! There are four festivals – each with a different twist. The festivals are included with your Epcot admission, but you can expect to pay extra if you plan to join in any of the extra seminars or purchase specialty food and beverages.

• Festival of the Arts: This festival takes place in mid-January through late February. It’s a great time to visit Epcot as there are typically lower crowd levels. It’s a celebration of “art, entertainment, and food”!
• Flower & Garden Festival: Our favorite festival is from early March through early July. Spring weather in Orlando is wonderful as Epcot pops with colorful flowers and stunning topiaries. Come celebrate “gardens, fresh flavors, and rockin’ entertainment.”
• International Food & Wine Festival: Taking place from mid-July through late November, this festival is the most popular Epcot festival. People come out in droves to celebrate international food and beverages to strolll around the World Showcase.
• Festival of the Holidays: Held late November through December, this is a festive time and a perfect holiday tradition. International holiday treats, beverages, storytelling, and more!

2 – When is the best time to visit?

Such a common question! Of course, our answer is any time at Epcot is a good time! With that being said, if you’re looking to enjoy Epcot without the crowds, you’ll want to schedule visits for the “lull” times in Epcot, usually when no festival occurs. You’ll find holidays and weekends during the festivals to be the busiest.

1 – What’s NEW?

We thought you’d never ask! We’re incredibly excited about all the “newness” at Epcot.  Epcot now has four neighborhoods: World Celebration, World Nature, World Discovery, and World Showcase. Each neighborhood is themed with immersive attractions, entertainment, and experiences to engage Epcot goers. A few of the new offerings in Epcot include:

• Takumi-Tei Restaurant: A signature dining experience in the Japan Pavilion.
• Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya: Enjoy the ambiance of scenes from Japan’s seasons and festivals while enjoying a fantastic array of Japanese foods.
• Three New Films: Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along in France, Canada Far and Wide, and Awesome Planet in the Land Pavilion.
• Space 220 Restaurant: “out of this world” restaurant that has us dining in “space”!
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – a new family-friendly attraction in France.
• La Crêperie de Paris: Right along with the Remy above, we’re also getting a new restaurant in the France Pavilion.
• Connections Cafe
• Creations Shop
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind rollercoaster is a must-do!
• World Celebrations Gardens, including Dreamer’s Point.
• Journey of Water Inspired by Moana.
• “Luminous the Symphony of Us” nighttime spectacular.