Walt Disney World Resort

EPCOT

EPCOT_® has more range than any other theme park at Walt Disney World_® Resort. Four neighborhoods — World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and World Showcase — mix thrill rides, hands-on experiences, and 11 country pavilions. With EPCOT rides spanning indoor coasters, flight simulators, and gentle boat rides, there is something for every age.

You can ride a roller coaster through space in the morning, eat your way around the world in the afternoon, and watch fireworks over the water at night. The first three neighborhoods surround Spaceship Earth near the entrance. World Showcase wraps around a 40-acre lagoon behind them.

The four neighborhoods

EPCOT is bigger than Magic Kingdom_® Park in total area, and it feels different, too. The EPCOT attractions range from gentle dark rides to high-speed coasters. The three neighborhoods at the front of the park — once called Future World — have a modern, open layout with wide walkways. The back half — World Showcase — is a 1.2-mile loop around a lagoon lined with country pavilions. Each pavilion has architecture, food, shops, and Cast Members from that country.

World Celebration

World Celebration is the area directly around Spaceship Earth. This is what you see when you walk through the entrance gates.

• Spaceship Earth. The giant silver sphere is both an icon and a ride. The slow-moving journey traces the history of human communication, from cave paintings to the internet. Lines can build during the middle of the day, so ride when waits dip or add it to Lightning Lane Multi Pass for an easy win.
• CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza. These new spaces host rotating exhibits, festivals, and character meet-and-greets. CommuniCore Hall is air-conditioned and a good place to cool off.
• Dreamers Point. A garden area with a statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. Nice for photos on your way around the park.
• Journey Into Imagination With Figment. A gentle dark ride featuring the playful purple dragon Figment. It has a loyal fan base. Kids enjoy it. The ride rarely has a long wait.

World Discovery

World Discovery is the high-energy neighborhood to the right of Spaceship Earth. It has two of the park’s biggest attractions.

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. An indoor roller coaster that spins and launches you backward. It is one of the longest enclosed coasters in the world. The ride plays a different song from the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack each time. It has a standby line, but waits can be long. A Lightning Lane Single Pass is a good option if you want to skip the queue.
• Test Track. A high-speed ride where you design a virtual car and then test it on a track that reaches highway speeds. It reopened in July 2025 with a full reimagining. The queue features new scenes showcasing vehicle technology. Wait times are often the longest in the park. Use Lightning Lane Multi Pass or ride during the last hour of the day.
• Mission: SPACE. A centrifuge simulator that replicates a launch to Mars. The Orange Mission is intense — it uses real G-forces. The Green Mission is a gentler version for younger kids and anyone who gets motion sick. 44-inch height requirement for Orange and 40 inches for Green.
• Space 220. A table-service restaurant themed as a space station. It is not a ride, but the elevator experience on the way in simulates a trip 220 miles above Earth. Reservations are hard to get — book early.

World Nature

World Nature sits directly opposite World Discovery on the other side of Spaceship Earth. It focuses on the natural world — oceans, land, and flight.

• Soarin’ Around the World. A flight simulator that lifts you in front of a giant screen and carries you over landmarks around the globe. Wind, scents, and mist add to the experience. It is one of the most popular rides in the park. In May 2026, the film changes to Soarin’ Across America, a new experience celebrating landmarks across the United States.
• Living with the Land. A gentle boat ride through greenhouses where Disney grows real produce. Some of the food grown here ends up in EPCOT restaurants. Wait times are usually short. It is a peaceful break from the bigger attractions.
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends. A slow ride through an undersea scene that ends at one of the largest saltwater aquariums in the world. After the ride, you can explore SeaBase, a walk-through aquarium with sharks, rays, sea turtles, and dolphins.
• Turtle Talk With Crush. An interactive show where the sea turtle from Finding Nemo talks live with the audience. Kids love it. The experience is impressive — Crush responds to real questions from the crowd.
• Journey of Water Inspired by Moana. A walk-through outdoor attraction where kids play with water in environments inspired by the film. It is free-flowing — no line, no wait. Bring swimsuits or a change of clothes — kids will get soaked.

World Showcase

World Showcase is the back half of EPCOT and the part that makes it unlike any other theme park. The EPCOT World Showcase is what sets this park apart in all of Disney World. Eleven country pavilions circle a lagoon, each with architecture, food, shops, and cultural experiences from that nation.

The pavilions, in order from the left entrance: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, the American Adventure, Japan, Morocco, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Walking the full loop is about 1.2 miles. Most families take 3-4 hours to explore at a relaxed pace — longer if you stop for meals, shows, and rides.

• Frozen Ever After. In the Norway Pavilion. A boat ride through Arendelle with Anna, Elsa, and the Frozen cast. It is one of the most popular rides in the park. Wait times regularly pass 60 minutes. It received upgraded Audio-Animatronics_® figures in early 2026.
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. In the France Pavilion. A trackless dark ride that shrinks you to the size of a rat and sends you through Gusteau’s kitchen. Fun for all ages.
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. In the Mexico Pavilion. A gentle boat ride inside the pyramid. Wait times are almost always short.
• The American Adventure. In the American Adventure Pavilion. A sit-down Audio-Animatronics show that traces American history. The theater is air-conditioned and the show runs about 30 minutes — a solid midday rest stop. Regal Eagle Smokehouse next door serves solid barbecue in a Muppets-themed quick service spot.
• Every pavilion has at least one place to eat. The food in World Showcase is one of the biggest draws at EPCOT. Especially during the annual festivals.
• Kidcot Fun Stops. Each pavilion has a stop where kids can pick up an activity card and stamp it at each country. It gives children a goal as they walk the loop and keeps them engaged between rides.
• Pavilion films and shows. Several pavilions have short films or live performances. Impressions de France and the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along share a theater in the France Pavilion. Reflections of China is a 360-degree film in the China Pavilion. Canada Far and Wide plays in the Canada Pavilion. The America Gardens Theatre outdoor stage hosts seasonal concerts during EPCOT festivals.

How to plan your day

A full day at EPCOT starts with rides and shifts to food and the sights as the day goes on, ending with fireworks over the lagoon. Here is how to make the most of it.

Start with the busiest rides

The attractions with the longest waits are Test Track, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Frozen Ever After, and Soarin’ Around the World. Knock out one or two in the first hour while crowds are light.

If you have Early Theme Park Entry, head straight to Test Track or Frozen Ever After. Disney Resort hotel guests and select partner hotel guests get into the park 30 minutes early.

For Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, ride early or late in the day when standby waits are shorter. A Lightning Lane Single Pass is worth considering if the posted wait is long.

Use Lightning Lane for the midday rush

Standby lines peak between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. This is when Lightning Lane Multi Pass saves the most time. EPCOT uses a tier system:

• Tier 1. Choose one. Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Test Track
• Tier 2. Choose two. Journey Into Imagination With Figment, Living with the Land, Mission: SPACE, Soarin’ Around the World, Spaceship Earth, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Turtle Talk With Crush

Book your Lightning Lane Multi Pass as early as your window allows. Disney Resort hotel guests can book seven days before arrival at 7:00 AM Eastern. All other guests book three days before their park visit.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is not part of the tier system. It uses Lightning Lane Single Pass only — a separate purchase for a specific ride time.

Explore World Showcase in the afternoon

After riding the big attractions in the morning, shift to World Showcase for the afternoon. The front of the park gets busy midday, but World Showcase stays calmer — except on weekends or around events that draw crowds.

Take your time. Stop at food booths during festivals. Browse the shops in Japan. Watch the acrobats in China. Let your kids stamp their Kidcot cards. World Showcase is best enjoyed at a slow pace — it is not a race.

Stay for the fireworks

Luminous The Symphony of Us is EPCOT’s nighttime show. It combines fireworks, fountains, lasers, and projections on the water. The show plays over World Showcase Lagoon, so you can watch from almost anywhere on the loop.

The best viewing spots are near the Japan and American Adventure pavilions — they face the center of the lagoon. Claim your spot 20-30 minutes early on busy nights.

After the fireworks, ride lines at the front of the park drop. Walk back to Test Track or Soarin’ for short waits.

Dining at EPCOT

EPCOT has the best dining of any park at Walt Disney World Resort. If you visit EPCOT at Disney World for no other reason, come for the food. World Showcase alone has more table-service restaurants than most theme parks have total.

Quick service favorites

• Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie. In the France Pavilion. French pastries, sandwiches, and soups. One of the most popular quick service spots in the park.
• Katsura Grill. In the Japan Pavilion. Sushi, udon noodles, and teriyaki. A quieter spot with covered outdoor seating.
• Regal Eagle Smokehouse. In the American Adventure Pavilion. BBQ platters and craft beer. Indoor and outdoor seating.
• Connections Café. Near the front of the park in World Celebration. Burgers, pizza, and salads. The largest quick service restaurant at EPCOT.
• La Cantina de San Angel. In the Mexico Pavilion. Tacos, nachos, and margaritas with a view of the lagoon.

Table service restaurants

Table-service dining reservations open 60 days before your visit. The most popular restaurants fill up fast.

• Space 220. In World Discovery. A themed dining experience where the elevator simulates a trip to a space station. The food is solid, but the atmosphere is the real draw. One of the hardest reservations to get at EPCOT.
• Via Napoli. In the Italy Pavilion. Wood-fired pizza made with water imported from Italy. Many families call it the best restaurant in World Showcase.
• San Angel Inn Restaurante. Inside the Mexico Pavilion pyramid. Mexican cuisine in a dimly lit, atmospheric setting beside the Gran Fiesta Tour boat ride.
• Biergarten Restaurant. In the Germany Pavilion. A buffet-style meal with live Oktoberfest entertainment. Kids enjoy the festive atmosphere.
• Chefs de France. In the France Pavilion. Classic French cooking — onion soup, duck confit, crème brûlée. A sit-down meal that feels like a Parisian bistro.
• Garden Grill. In World Nature inside The Land Pavilion. A character dining restaurant with Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale. The restaurant slowly rotates past scenes from Living with the Land. Some of the produce served here is grown in the greenhouses below.
• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. In the Norway Pavilion. A princess character dining experience with Aurora, Snow White, Ariel, Belle, and Tiana. Reservations are highly sought after.

EPCOT festivals

EPCOT hosts four festivals each year. They cover so much of the calendar that there is almost always one happening during your visit. All festivals are included with park admission — no extra ticket needed.

Festivals add outdoor food and drink booths around World Showcase, plus live entertainment, workshops, and seasonal decorations. During festivals, the park feels different. The booths turn World Showcase into an open-air food crawl.

• EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. January–February. Live painting, performance art, Disney on Broadway concerts, and food inspired by art from around the world.
• EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. March–June. Character topiaries, garden displays, outdoor kitchens, and a garden-themed concert series. The topiaries are huge and beautifully detailed.
• EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Late August–November. The most popular festival. Dozens of food booths with small plates and drinks from around the world. Live cooking demos and the Eat to the Beat concert series.
• EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Late November–December. Holiday traditions from each World Showcase country. Festive food booths, holiday decorations, and the Candlelight Processional — a celebrity-narrated retelling of the Christmas story with a full choir.

Characters at EPCOT

EPCOT has fewer character meet-and-greets than Magic Kingdom Park, but the ones it has are popular.

• Mickey and friends. CommuniCore Hall in World Celebration. This is a newer meet-and-greet location.
• Anna and Elsa. Royal Sommerhus in the Norway Pavilion. Dedicated meet-and-greet in a cozy Norwegian cabin. Waits can be long — go early.
• Disney Princesses. Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway Pavilion doubles as a princess character dining experience. You can meet multiple princesses during your meal.
• Character dining at Garden Grill. Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale visit your table during the meal. A good way to see characters without waiting in a separate line.

Character lineups change without notice. Check the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit for current times and locations.

Tips for your visit

• Wear comfortable shoes. EPCOT involves more walking than any other park. The World Showcase loop alone is 1.2 miles, and you will walk it at least once.
• Bring a portable charger. Between the My Disney Experience app, Lightning Lane purchases, and photos, your phone battery drains fast.
• Use the International Gateway entrance. If you are staying at a Disney Resort hotel on the Disney Skyliner route or near the Boardwalk area, enter through the International Gateway. It sits between the France and United Kingdom pavilions and puts you right in World Showcase, skipping the main entrance crowds.
• Ride during fireworks. While the crowd watches Luminous at the lagoon, ride lines at the front of the park — Test Track, Soarin’, Mission: SPACE — drop sharply. If you have already seen the show, this is some of the best ride time of the day.

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