Epcot Walt Disney World tips

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Epcot Disney World is an amazing park and is often not the first one everyone thinks about visiting. There is so much to do at Epcot it really is a world in a world! Here are our Epcot Walt Disney World tips.

If you are cruising out of America on a Disney cruise, Walt Disney is the perfect place for your cruise and stay! Pick a hotel at such as the Disney Swan and Dolphin after your Disney cruise and spend some magical days here.

Epcot is one of the best parks at Disney for a variety of ages.

Epcot Disney land is by far one of my favourite parks it has so much to offer and is often overlooked. It is perfect for all ages your Teens will even love Epcot! The Epcot park is a mix two parks; Future World with the technology and innovative rides and a World Showcase

To make the most of your day at Epcot there are many things you will not want to miss.  These Epcot tips will avoid time-wasting and stop you from missing some of the best iconic attractions that Epcot has to offer. 

Epcot Walt Disney World tips all you need to know before you
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What Is Future world Epcot?

Future World Epcot is at the main entrance to the park. You will not mistake the huge golf ball in the heart of Future world. Future world is just what its says a mix of fun futuristic and out of this world earthly rides and attractions.

You will find the following rides in Epcot Future world.

  • Disney Pixar Short Film Festival
  • Soarin’
  • Mission Space
  • Test Track
  • Living with the Land
  • The Seas Pavillion
  • The Sea with Nemo and Friends
  • Turtle Talk with Crusha
  • Guardians of the Galaxy (coming soon 2021 )
  • Journey in to Imagination
  • Spaceship Earth

There are also many character meet and greets in Epcot Future world.

Finding Nemo and friends at future world Epcot
Finding Nemo and friends at Future World Epcot

What Is Epcot world showcase?

What is Epcot world showcase? Epcot world showcase is an attraction with 11 countries around a huge lake. Each countries nationality is authentic with backdrops, iconic buildings and food the nation.

You can experience Japan, Italy and Mexico amongst many others all in one day. The Meet and greet characters coincide with where they come from as well. You can expect to see Anna and Elsa in Norway as well and Alice or Mary Poppins in UK.

What countries are in the Epcot World Showcase? These are the countries round the lake in the Epcot world Showcase;

  • Mexico
  • Norway
  • China
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • United States
  • Japan
  • Morocco
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Canada

The attractions at Epcot World showcase are.

  • Frozen Ever After
  • The American Adventure
  • Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
  • Reflections of China
  • Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
  • Canada Far & Wide in Circle-Vision
Italy Venice in Epcot World Showcase
Italy Venice in Epcot World Showcase

Plan your day with these Epcot Walt Disney World tips

Arrive early at rope drop and head to the ride that you do not have a fastpass for.

Rope drop is the name for the parks opening time. Normally a rope would be held across and dropped at opening time and everyone would rush inside. When the park opens the best thing to do is go to the best ride in the park that you do not have a fast pass booked for.

Soarin or Frozen are two of the most popular rides at Disney so head to the ride you do not have booked first. 

Epcot Walt Disney World tips
Epcot

Do future world first!

The world showcase opens later than future world. So do this first! You can always pop back later in the day 

Arrange a Visit during a special event! 

Epcot holds lots of special events throughout the year.With food and wine, amazing floral displays and art festivals. These are the annual special events at Epcot Walt Disney world

Explore each country at Epcot

Each country is totally unique and made to feel exactly like you are in that country!

You can experience real Mexican food in Mexico and real gelato in Italy! And what’s more all of the shops are relevant to the country with real souvenirs. It may take you the whole day to do all of the countries as each one has something totally unique with an attraction, a meet and greet and live music and bands.

Try these funs things in each country;

We like to finish with a pint of beer in the English pub! 

Epcot Hats in China Tips for the World showcase
Epcot Hats in China

 Don’t forget mickey!

Head over to future world for your Mickey Mouse fix in the Mousegear shop! Shop everything from Micky mouse clothes, ears, household objects and souvenirs. This huge shop is a one stop Disney and Mickey Mouse emporium. Don’t forget that if you are staying at a Disney resort such as the Disney Swan and Dolphin you can have your shopping delivered to your room free of charge.

Don’t overlook the smaller attractions such as Turtle Talk 

Turtle talk is a smaller attraction in Epcot and one of my favourites! It is a virtual animation aquarium screen with Crusha from finding Nemo gently swimming across. He chats with the audience and seemingly knows just the right answer!

I can always remember crusha asking my 6 year old what his favourite food was and he replied “carrots” crusha replied “wow can you see in the dark!”

Don’t miss the IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

The Epcot fireworks Iiiumonations take place nightly and is a show is not to be missed! The show takes place on the lake in the World Showcase. You can view the fireworks from Future World and the whole of the world showcase. 

Find your spot to watch the fireworks before the show. You may need to queue about 45 minutes before as people tend to stay for the fireworks and leave directly after when the park closes. Our favourite place is to watch the fireworks from the Rose and Crown pub over dinner.

What hotels are near Epcot?

 Epcot is it a very accessible park and there are a few good Disney hotels nearby. Hollywood  studios is also minutes away as well as the Boardwalk Inn.

You can access the water taxi to and from Epcot and it is close to the following hotels 

  • Beach Club Resort
  • Yacht Club Resort
  • Swan and Dolphin Resorts

The water taxi service operates all day and arrives at the rear entrance to the park from these hotels. You will enter at the World Showcase near the England. 

Does the Monorail run to Epcot?

You can get a Monorail from Epcot outside the main entrance of the park which goes to the ticket and transportation centre where you change for the Magic Kingdom. The Monorail is a free service as it is outside the gates so no ticket required.

Opening hours and getting about Epcot

The park normally opens around two hours earlier on the tomorrow land side before the world showcase. The showcase opens later in the day ending with fireworks over the lake. 

Thank you for reading Epcot Walt Disney World tips, we love all things Disney!

Take a look at our section on Disney cruising! Get your Disney fix on land as well as the sea.

We also have a top tip for Disney cruises and insights in to Disney cruising in Alaska!

Exploring Epcot tips image of Italy in Walt Disney World

Author

  • Donna Vallance

    Donna loves cruising with her husband and two teenage boys. Having cruised with the children from a young age she feels it is the perfect way to experience the world safely. Her boys are social butterfly’s and love meeting other children their own age whilst onboard some of the most extraordinary floating ships. She also writes over at Like Love Do, a travel memoir of her trips, from London to far off beaches. She has an eye for the unusual and like to go off of the beaten track just to find the perfect photo. With a passion for photography and exploring cruising has become the perfect holiday choice.

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