In Part 3 of my Walt Disney World – Family Edition post, I will talk about the Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow, or what everyone knows as EPCOT. This park is so educational and fun and full of Disney amazingness. Read on to find out more about this fantastic park. If you missed part 1 or 2 of my post, click below.
EPCOT, or the Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow, was originally designed by Walt Disney to be a functioning city with people living and working there. Although that dream never came to fruition, it does resemble a futuristic community. There is so much to see and do there. Our family enjoys how educational it is as well. The park is split into two very distinct and different areas. Future World, at the front of the park, is definitely the future city that Walt envisioned. It focuses on technology, farming, communication, biology, oceanography, engineering, space travel, and even imagination and innovation. The World Showcase is at the back of the park and showcases some countries from around the world (mostly Europe and North America) in a Disney way, of course. It is very fun to take a quick tour around the world, and it makes you want to plan that future vacation. Keep reading to find out my tips to explore this wonderful park. You won’t want to miss it.
EPCOT -Tips and Tricks
Fast Pass + – Make sure you have reserved your fastpasses for the day on your Walt Disney World account. See my tips on Fast Pass + in part 1 of this series. Attractions worth getting fast passes for, if possible:
Fast Track
Soarin’
Mission Space
Finding Nemo
Frozen Ride (schedule to open in May 2016)
Remember: If you get three attractions reserved early in the day, you can go back and order more fastpasses on the My Disney Experience App once you have used them all. That is the only way to get more than three fastpasses in a day. Also, don’t forget to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours at this park.
MVP (My Vacation Pants) Tip: EPCOT has two entrances. The main entrance is quite busy in the morning. The security check point creates a lot of traffic and the monorail, parking lot, and hotel guests all arrive and walk into the same crazy line. If you plan on going in the morning, try taking the back entrance. It’s called the International Gateway and it is an often overlooked entry point that brings you right in to the World Showcase. It leaves from some of the hotels, but it also leaves from Disney Studios, so don’t forget to use it. You’ll get into the park way fast.
Educational Guide – As I have said before, I’m a teacher, so the educator part of me wishes she could whisk her students off to this most educational park. The problem is I live and teach 3,000 miles away, so I have to make the most of educating my own children while we visit. First of all, Future World has so much to learn about. Make sure you check out the Innoventions areas in the park. Think of a science type museum rolled up in your theme park visit. Also, check out the different pavilions of Future World, each one has a lot to learn about subjects such as oceanography, agriculture, etc. We especially love the Universe of Energy. First, marvel at the amazing structure that it sits in. It has these amazing solar panels that are used to run the massive attraction. Then go inside and have fun taking this combo film and ride in one. Plus, it stars Ellen and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Hilarious! The Test Track goes into the science of car design. You have to calculate correctly for your car design to win the competition.
Designing our winning car before we boarded the attraction.
Of course there is also a very realistic space themed adventure as well. Mission Space is modeled after space simulators that real astronauts use to train for space. The ride is pretty intense for littles, but there is a less intense version you can do with your kids. I always have to do the intense version at least once while I am there because I am that HUGE of a Disney nerd. I always feel a little nauseated afterward, but it eventually passes. You can talk about the physics of that attraction because they show you how it works in the line. As for the World Showcase, be sure to visit each country and talk about the geography, culture, language, etc.
Plus, all the cast members there are from the the countries they work in. Oh, and a bonus educational treat: each pavilion features food from its respective country, so you can learn as you eat some yummy authentic cuisine!
Vintage Cool Attractions – I guess it depends on what you consider vintage. I grew up in the 1980s and this park is like stepping back into that era. Probably because it opened in 1982. From the architecture to the exhibits to the background music, it feels 80s, and I love that. Make sure you check out the Journey through Imagination with Figment. There is a super cool backstory to this attraction that you can read from Theme Park Tourist here. I guess the attraction has undergone some major changes through the years. I have only seen it in today’s form, but it still feels very vintage to me. It also stars Eric Idle of Monty Python fame, and who doesn’t love that? The World Showcase area has two Circle Vision shows you have to see. Circle Vision is a 360 degree theater experience where you stand in the center of the theater and can spin around and see a different angle of the scene the entire movie. These types of shows used to be quite prevalent at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, but these two are the last of their kind, so make sure you check it out. There is a show in the China Pavilion and the Canada Pavilion. There are other film type shows in the World Showcase, but these are the only two Circle Visions. Enjoy your 1980s visit to EPCOT! It will be totally awesome.
Pacing – This park is HUGE. It is a 1.2 mile walk just around the World Showcase, so make sure you give yourself enough time to explore this park. You won’t spend a lot of time waiting in lines at EPCOT because the park has many high capacity rides and shows. Make sure you get fastpasses for the attractions listed above, and you should be able to get on everything. The only thing that will slow you down is your ability to cover the entire park. Everything is spread very far apart and it would be best to spend one day in Future World and the other in the World Showcase. If you only have one day, then make sure you ride the attractions above and walk the World Showcase at some point during the day. We like to eat there. Such good food! More on that later. One more pacing note: Some rides, attractions, and pavilions are not open for the entire day, so make sure to check for operating times as you plan your visit.
A Photo Tour of the World Showcase (Traveling Clockwise)
Mexico Pavilion
Norway Pavilion
China Pavilion
African Outpost
Germany Pavilion
Italy Pavilion
America Pavilion
Japan Pavilion
Morocco Pavilion
France Pavilion
United Kingdom Pavilion
Canada Pavilion
My Vacation Pants Recommendations- There are a lot of fun things to do as an entire family at this park. You have to go to the Sodas From Around the World exhibit in Future World. It is called Club Cool, and they have FREE samples of soda. You stand at the fountain and try all the different flavors. Some are just plain gross, some are quite refreshing.
Get your beverage on for FREE at Club Cool
You know that big golf ball looking thing at the center of the park? Well, it’s actually a ride. It is a slow moving dark ride vehicle that walks you through Communication through the ages. My recommendation is to skip it at the beginning of the day when everyone is coming in, and go on it after the morning rush. Then you’ll be able to walk right onto the ride.
Inside the EPCOT ball
If you have never been on Soarin’, check that out. It simulates the feeling of hang gliding over, well, California. It’s called Soarin’ Over California at California Adventure, and it’s the exact same as the one in Florida, but spectacular just the same. Don’t miss the Chinese acrobats in the China Pavilion. This has been the same acrobat troop we have been watching over the years. They started as child performers and now they are adults. They are such a talented group.
Don’t miss the Chinese Acrobats. Amazing show.
My kids (and husband) loved Agent P’s Phineas and Ferb Scavenger Hunt. They will check you out a cellular device in several different spots around the World Showcase, and you follow a series of interactive clues to make fun things happen while you walk around the World Showcase. You even go and talk to cast members who give you secret items and clues. Check it out while you are there. Also, make sure you check out my food recommendations below. This is the park you want to come hungry to.
Getting their Agent P Scavenger Hunt on
What To Eat
Teppan Edo– This restaurant is located in the Japan pavilion at the World Showcase and it is hands down our favorite restaurant that we have tried in all of WDW. It is a Teppanyaki style restaurant, meaning they sizzle your food right at the table. It’s part show, part delicious dinner. The food is amazing. I love the dipping sauces. I love the show. I love everything. I have been to a couple different places that make food this way, but this one is top notch.
Onion Volcano Time at Teppan Edo
San Angel Inn – This Mexican restaurant is located inside the pyramid in the Mexico pavilion. Once you walk inside, you see a night sky and hear festive music, even if it’s daytime. There is a boat ride that you can take while you wait for your table to be ready that glides right by the restaurant. If you have ever been to the Blue Bayou at Disneyland, it is a similar experience, except Mexican themed. The food was fantastic and seemed authentic. Apparently all the restaurants in each country are supposed to be very authentic, and staffed from people who are originally from those countries. Check it out while you are there.
Blurry, but artsy shot of the San Angel Inn
Flavored Popcorn – We had just come out of The Land Pavilion in Future World and smelled some amazing popcorn. As we approached the cart, we saw they had interesting flavors like buffalo ranch, and sour cream and onion, so we had to try some. With a wave of my Magic Band we started to enjoy this magnificent treat. I am telling you that snack hit the spot. My favorite was the Sour Cream and Onion one while my hubby preferred the Buffalo Ranch. It was much spicier, if you are into that sort of thing. Enjoy some while you are there. Vanilla Ice Cream Funnel Cakes – Okay, this is a treat that has us coming back multiple times per trip. Head on back to the America Pavilion in the World Showcase. Right out front they have this tiny little funnel cake shack. Order the funnel cake with vanilla ice cream. They take a rectangular slab of vanilla ice cream and put it on a piping hot funnel cake and voila… you have a decadent treat that will leave you dreaming about coming back and having more. So amazing! Salted Caramels and German Pretzels- Make sure you go to the Germany Pavilion and go to the Werther’s Original candy shop. I am in love with salted caramels and I get them everywhere I go. Well, the ones I got here were like the BEST salted caramels I have ever had. They have all sorts of other amazing chocolates to try too, but this is my number one pick. Once you have had your fill of caramels, walk across to the beer stand and get one of those HUGE German pretzels with mustard. They are warm, soft, salty and perfect. They are big enough to share with the whole family, but I’m pretty sure I ate it all by myself. Teehee! There you have it, my EPCOT whirlwind tour. Have fun and enjoy your trip to this unique place. Don’t forget to check out the other parts of my series about Walt Disney World, and please write in with any questions you have about this park. I can definitely help you plan a great trip.
