EPCOT was the second theme park at Walt Disney World. It is loosely based on Walt Disney’s vision. Although it is not a living community as he envisioned, there is still much about the park that we think he would be proud of. Here are our top thirteen tips for having the perfect day at EPCOT. They start well before you step foot in the park.
1 – Visit During a Festival
There are four annual festivals at EPCOT, and you can’t go wrong with whichever you choose. EPCOT International Festival of the Arts celebrates the arts in different forms. EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is alive with color. EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival honors tastes from around the world. EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays would put a smile on even Scrooge’s face. All four festivals are different, but there are elements that are the same. You’ll always find food booths for just that festival, merchandise, and extra entertainment. There are more days with a festival than without, so it isn’t hard to plan a visit when something special is going on.
2 – Advanced Dining Reservations
If there is a full-service restaurant that you really want to try, make the reservation 60 days out. Some reservations, such as Space 220 Restaurant, will be full within minutes that day. If you can’t get the desired reservation, look over the menus at the restaurants that do have spaces open. There aren’t any bad full-service restaurants at EPCOT.
3 – Book a Dining Package
During the four festivals, there is extra entertainment in the America Gardens Theater. The line for these acts can start to form hours before the first show. Skip the line by booking a Dining Package. You will receive a delicious meal for a set price and then a voucher for the show. It must be a Dining Package that you book. Having a meal at a participating restaurant will not get you a voucher.
4 – Visit on a Weekday
If you have a bit of flexibility in your schedule, visit EPCOT on a weekday. Weekends are noticeably more crowded, especially during the four festivals. Consider visiting on a Monday if you can. Mondays are when many families have their first theme park day, and they want to spend it at the Magic Kingdom. That means that they won’t be at EPCOT.
5 – Skip Lightning Lane Multi Pass but Consider Lightning Lane Single Pass
You might want to skip buying Lightning Lane Multi Pass for EPCOT. There just aren’t that many EPCOT attractions included. Most of the ones that are part of Multi Pass are known for having short waits. Instead of spending money on the new service, consider buying Lightning Lane Single Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. It isn’t included with Disney Genie+ and is extremely popular.
6 – Join the Virtual Queue of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!
If you don’t want to pay to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind by purchasing access to the Lightning Lane, then you’ll want to join the Virtual Queue. My Disney Experience app to request to join the Virtual Queue and receive a boarding group. The Virtual Queue becomes available at 7:00 am each morning, and you can be anywhere to join in. You’ll want to join as soon as possible since, as expected, the queue will fill up in just seconds at the 7:00 am slot. If you miss out, you’ll have another chance to join at 1:00 pm, although, at that time, you’ll need to physically be in EPCOT to join the Virtual Queue. Do note that boarding groups for a virtual queue are limited, subject to availability, and are not guaranteed. Not all boarding groups may be called to return based on the availability of the experience. An evening Virtual Queue is available as part of the Extended Evening Hours benefit to guests of Deluxe Disney resorts. Deluxe Resort Guests can request to join at 6:00 pm.
7 – Head Immediately to Test Track
Editor’s Note: Test Track is currently closed for reimagining and is scheduled to reopen in 2025.
Outside of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Test Track will almost always have the longest standby line. (Note that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind uses a Virtual Queue and does not have a traditional standby queue). Arrive at EPCOT when it opens, and head immediately to Test Track. It will not take long for the line to grow. If the wait time is too high, consider getting in the Single Rider Line. You and your party won’t ride together, but your wait will be much shorter.
8 – Think Twice About Mission: SPACE
Mission: SPACE is not a good idea if you have even the slightest problem with motion sickness or hate small spaces. Enough people get sick on the ride, and there are barf bags in the ride vehicle. If you aren’t sure if you can handle it and you want to try, get in line for the Green Mission first. It is much less intense than the Orange side.
9 – Explore World Showcase
There is much more to EPCOT than a few rides and construction walls. World Showcase is incredible! Where else can you visit Morocco and the United Kingdom in one day? Each World Showcase country is designed to make you feel as if you are really there. You can dine on traditional dishes and buy authentic merchandise. Pay attention to the architecture and the small details, and take some time to explore each pavilion. There’s a good chance that you’ll learn something.
10 – Be Careful if Drinking Around the World
An unofficial game that some members of the 21-and-up crowd play at EPCOT is Drinking Around the World. It involves purchasing and drinking one alcoholic beverage from each World Showcase country—that’s 11 drinks! If you decide to partake, spread out the drinks, eat something, and drink water as well. Please, always drink responsibly.
11 – Look for Characters
If you love characters, you will find plenty at EPCOT! It is a great place to see princesses, and the classic characters can be found as well. Check the My Disney Experience app for characters and locations.
12 – Don’t Skip the Fireworks
A brand new nighttime spectacular, “Luminous the Symphony of Us,” brings guests together around World Showcase Lagoon and shines a light on the shared experiences that connect people across the globe. With a dazzling display of fireworks, fountains, lights, and music, the new show is a perfect finale for a memorable day at EPCOT. Much like a beautiful piece of music, “Luminous the Symphony of Us” is made up of a series of movements representing common themes of the human experience. Guests can expect to hear new arrangements of iconic Disney hits that enliven the story. Enveloping these movements are two new, original songs written exclusively for the show: “Heartbeat Symphony” and “Beating of Our Hearts.” Don’t miss this show!
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