Quick Guide to Epcot

Share this:

Epcot is a HUGE park and since this is only a quick guide, I will not be able to cover everything. But if there is something that I have missed that you feel should be included, please let me know in the comments. To read about the history of this unique Park, please check out a previous post.

Epcot opened as EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982 and was the second Park to open at Walt Disney World. Epcot is home to attractions and pavilions that provide a form of “edutainment”. The Park is split into two distinct areas, Future World and World Showcase, and each area specializes in both educating and entertaining guests. Though becoming outdated now, Future World was built to explore the technology and discoveries of the future. World Showcase opened with nine pavilions, each representing a different county to allow guests to experience those cultures. The nine pavilions were Mexico, China, Germany, Italy, United States, Japan, France, United Kingdom, and Canada. Morocco was added in 1984 and Norway was added in 1988.

Future World

Future World East:

Future World East houses attractions and pavilions that focus on technology. Spaceship Earth is not only the central icon for Epcot, but it is also a dark ride featuring narration by Dame Judi Dench about the history of communication and innovation. Spaceship Earth offers FastPass+. Mission: Space is a centrifugal motion simulator attraction that opened in 2003. This attraction proved to be so intense that a non-spinning version had to be added. Now the two versions offer different storylines. The Orange version is the more intense version and is a mission to Mars. The Green version is less intense and is a mission around Earth. Mission: Space offers FastPass+ and guests do not need to select separate FastPasses for the different missions; they can decide once they reach the queue. However, there are different height requirements with the Orange mission having a requirement of 44 inches / 112 cm and the Green mission having a requirement of 40 inches / 102 cm. In the same building as Mission: Space is the Advance Training Lab, an interactive play area. The E ticket attraction of Future World East is Test Track. In the queue, guests design their own vehicle at touch screen stations. Those vehicles are then put to the test during actual ride. Test Track contains both a dark ride element and a high speed racing section. It offers FastPass+ and has a height requirement of 40 inches / 102 cm.

Also in Future World East is the headquarters of Agent P’s World Showcase. Anyone can participate in this Phineas and Ferb themed challenge but it is designed for older children and preteens. There are stops in the Mexico, China, Germany, Japan, France, and United Kingdom pavilions. There is only one restaurant in Future World East and that is Electric Umbrella. This quick service restaurant offers Mobile Ordering. There are two snack stands near Test Track called Taste Track, serving ice cream, and Test Track Cool Wash, serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic frozen beverages. Future World East is also home to the large Mouse Gear shop, similar to the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom.

Future World West:

Future World West is home to a couple of different pavilions that focus on discovery. There is The Seas with Nemo and Friends which is home to the dark ride attraction of the same name. This dark ride brings guests through the story of Finding Nemo, but what is unique about this attraction is that the water is an actual aquarium and the Nemo characters are projections in with the real fish. The Seas with Nemo and Friends attraction offers FastPass+. There are also plenty of fish to look at outside of the attraction, just head on over to the Sea Base. The Seas is also where Turtle Talk with Crush is. This interactive show offers FastPass+. The Coral Reef Restaurant, probably most well-known from the Full House episode The House Meets the Mouse, is a table service restaurant where guests dine beside large aquariums.

Next door to The Seas with Nemo and Friends is The Land pavilion. The Land is home to the popular Soarin’ attraction which is a hang-gliding flight simulator that takes aviators around the world. Soarin’ has a height requirement of 40 inches / 102 cm and offers FastPass+. Another attraction is Living with the Land which also offers FastPass+. This boat ride brings guests through the greenhouses of Epcot where food is actually grown for the restaurants. There is even a Behind the Seeds tour for guests who are extra interested in learning about the innovative ways scientists are growing Epcot’s food. This tour lasts one hour and is $25 per person. There are two restaurants in The Land: the quick service Sunshine Seasons and the table service Garden Grill. Garden Grill offers Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest Feast, an all you care to enjoy character meal with Chip, Dale, Mickey, and Pluto. It is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Another pavilion is the Imagination! Pavilion. This is home to the dark ride Journey into Imagination with Figment which offers FastPass+. Another section of this pavilion is Imageworks, an interactive play area. The Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival is also housed in this building and offers FastPass+. Three rotating short films are played at a time. And if you have ever wondered about the glass pyramids on top of the pavilion, inside is a Disney Vacation Club lounge.

Future World West is also home to Character Spot. This meet and greet area for different characters is quite popular. There are a few different sections. The section where guests can meet Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy offers FastPass+ but the other sections do not. Guests can also meet Baymax from Big Hero 6, and Joy and Sadness from Inside Out. Fountain View, which is Epcot’s Starbucks, is located near the Character Spot and so is Club Cool. This shop offers Coca-Cola merchandise as well as complimentary samples of different Coca-Cola drinks from around the world. It is a great place to catch a break on a hot day. Another shop in Future World West is the Art of Disney.

World Showcase

Canada:

Starting on the right of World Showcase (if you are facing World Showcase Lagoon) is the pavilion representing the greatest country of them all, Canada! And yes, I am Canadian. Not biased at all. The Canada pavilion has one attraction which is the Circle-Vision 360 film Canada Far and Wide This film is narrated by Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy who takes guests on a 12 minute tour of Canada. I really enjoy the Circle-Vision 360 films and I love that Disney is still using them as they have a long-time history at the Parks. There is only one restaurant in the Canada pavilion and that is the signature dining location Le Cellier Steakhouse. The Canada pavilion features the beautiful Victoria Gardens which are inspired by the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, B.C.

United Kingdom:

Next is the United Kingdom pavilion. Canada might be my favourite country, but I think the United Kingdom is my favourite pavilion. I love the representation classic stories like Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Winnie the Pooh have there. The United Kingdom pavilion is home to the Rose & Crown. There are two sections to this restaurant; the dining room is a table service restaurant and requires reservations, and the pub section where guests are seated on a first come, first served basis. Fun Fact: The Rose & Crown got its name because the words rose and crown are the two most commonly used words in actual pubs around the U.K. And if you still haven’t gotten your fill of fish and chips, there is the quick service Yorkshire Country Fish Shop.

France:

The France pavilion is beautiful. There is a film here called Impressions de France. This is the only film in Epcot with seats so it is a nice break off of your feet, especially since this film is 20 minutes long. The France pavilion is filled with delicious dining options. There is Chefs de France (table service restaurant) and Monsieur Paul (a signature dining location). There are many specialized quick service locations as well. Les Vins des Chefs de France offers French wines and beers, Crepes des Chefs de France has crepes as well as specialty coffees, and L’Artisan des Glaces is an ice cream shop. I highly recommend the croque glacé, a scoop of ice cream drizzled with sauce pressed in a warm brioche bun. The bakery in France, Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie opens before the rest of World Showcase so guests can grab a delicious breakfast before they start their day.

Morocco:

The Morocco pavilion is the only World Showcase pavilion in which the respective country aided in the design. The king of Morocco, King Hassan II even sent royal artisans to Epcot to build the pavilion. From across World Showcase Lagoon, the Tower of Terror can be seen from Disney’s Hollywood Studios so the top of the attraction has been designed to look similar to the Moroccan buildings in order to blend in. That is a definitely a detail only Disney would think of! The Morocco pavilion is home to three different restaurants. Spice Road Table and Restaurant Marrakesh are both table service restaurants and Tangierine Café is a quick service restaurant.

Japan:

The Bijutsu-kan is a gallery in the Japan pavilion that showcases Japanese art and culture. The Mitsukoshi Department Store is a very large store in the pavilion that is separated into four sections, representing Festivity, Silence, Harmony, and Interest. There are a few restaurants in the Japan Pavilion. Teppan Edo is a table service restaurant where Hibachi chefs grill the food right at the guests’ tables. Tokyo Dining is another table service restaurant. Katsura Grill is a quick service restaurant and Kabuki Cafe is a snack location.

The American Adventure:

The American Adventure is the United States pavilion but it is themed to colonial times. There is an attraction located in this pavilion also called The American Adventure. This half-hour stage show features Audio-Animatronics, a film, and songs about American history. Inside the same building is also the American Heritage Gallery. This pavilion has one quick service restaurant called Liberty Inn and it offers the Mobile Order option. There is also a snack stand that sells turkey legs called Fife & Drum Tavern.

Italy:

The Italy pavilion has a little bit of Venice, a little bit of Rome, and a little bit of Florence in it. It is home to two table service restaurants and one lounge. Tutto Italia Ristorante serves different pasta entrées as well as Pesce e Carne dishes. Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria is well-known for their wood-fired pizzas. The pizzas are baked in brick ovens that are named after three Italian volcanoes: Stromboli, Etna, and Vesuvius. The lounge in the Italy pavilion is called Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar and is not part of the Disney Dining Plan.

Germany:

The Germany pavilion is designed to look like a Bavarian town. A highlight here is Biergarten Restaurant, a buffet restaurant that features live entertainment. Please check out my review of Biergarten to learn more about this restaurant. In the Germany pavilion there is also a quick service restaurant called Sommerfest. Karamell-Küche is Werther’s Original Caramel shop where guests can pick up sweet treats to snack on as well. Another part of the Germany pavilion is the miniature train and village that is located in a garden outside.

China:

Guests enter the China pavilion through a large and beautiful Chinese gate. The China pavilion is also home to a Circle-Vision 360 film called Reflections of China. This film is about 14 minutes long and brings guests on a brief tour of the country. It is located off of a museum where Chinese artifacts are on display. Nine Dragons Restaurant is a table service restaurant and the Lotus Blossom Café is a quick service restaurant. There is a snack cart here as well called Joy of Tea. Fun Fact: The China pavilion served as the setting for Christina Aguilera’s music video of “Reflection” from Mulan.

Norway:

The main attraction in the Norway pavilion is Frozen Ever After. This boat ride offers FastPass+ and guests walk through the quaint town of Arendelle inside the queue. Guests can also meet Anna and Elsa at the Royal Sommerhus next door. The table service restaurant Akershus Royal Banquet Hall features the Princess Storybook Dining which is character dining experience with Disney princesses. Anna and Elsa are not a part of the line-up though so if you have a little guest who really wants to meet them, head on over to the Royal Sommerhus. The Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe is a small bakery that is well-known for their school bread and troll horns. The Stave Church houses a gallery of Norwegian culture that served as inspiration for Frozen.

Mexico:

The majority of the Mexico pavilion is located inside a giant Aztec pyramid. The inside of the pyramid feels like a marketplace at dusk. Inside is the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. This boat ride journeys through different sights of Mexico and is hosted by Donald Duck, José Carioca, and Panchito Pistoles. Inside is also the San Angel Inn Restaurante table service restaurant and La Cava del Tequila which is not on the Disney Dining Plan. Outside the pyramid is the La Hacienda de San Angel table service restaurant which is right on edge of World Showcase Lagoon and there is also La Cantina de San Angel which is a quick service restaurant. Nearby is the snack cart Choza de Margarita which is also not on the Disney Dining Plan.

General Tips about Epcot:

Epcot’s FastPasses are tiered, meaning guests can only choose one FastPass from tier 1 and two FastPasses from tier 2. The FastPasses are broken down as follows:

Tier 1 (Choose 1):

Frozen Ever After
Test Track
Soarin’
Epcot Forever

Tier 2 (Choose 2):

Mission: Space
Spaceship Earth
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush
Living with the Land
Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
Journey into Imagination with Figment

Each country pavilion has what is called a Kidcot Fun Stop. These are crafting stations where kids, or really any guest who wishes, receives a Ziploc bag that looks like a suitcase. Each bag has traveler’s cards that represent each country. The Cast Members in each pavilion also have stamps representing their country so guests can collect stamps from around the world. Guests are welcome to use their own booklets to collect the stamps instead of using these Ziploc bags.

There are many different festivals that happen throughout the year at Epcot:

International Festival of the Arts: Begins mid-January and ends mid-February
International Flower and Garden Festival: Begins late February or early March and ends late May

International Food and Wine Festival: Begins late August or early September and ends mid-November
International Festival of the Holidays: Begins mid-November and ends late December

Epcot actually has two entrances into the Park. The main one is at the front near the monorail station, bus loops, and parking lots. But at the back of World Showcase between the France and the United Kingdom pavilions is International Gateway. This entrance leads right to Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club, Boardwalk Inn, the Swan and Dolphin, and there is even a path that leads all the way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There are boats that travel between International Gateway and Hollywood Studios as well.

The majority of World Showcase opens two hours after Future World opens. Exceptions are Frozen Ever After and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway, and the bakery in France.