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EPCOT
At Epcot®, Disney’s unique park of discovery, high tech fun and imagination are combined with the wonder of diverse cultures in two distinct worlds, Future World and World Showcase. Both are bursting with thrills and excitement.Rocket into outer space in an all-new, one-of-a-kind astronaut-like experience. Mission: SPACE, presented by HP, blasts guests into the most thrilling ride ever, from the pulse-pounding liftoff to the spectacular sensations of traveling though space. Then, buckle up for Test Track, and find out just how fast fast really is! Travel down the “Road to Tomorrow” at Innoventions® to experience new technologies first-hand, even before the rest of the world! |
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In World Showcase, you can travel around the world...and you don’t even need a passport! Eleven great nations offer the best of their food, music, products and culture.
Journey through the poetic mountains of China; soar in a balloon over France; encounter tricky trolls on a Viking expedition in Norway; sail down a River of Time in Mexico. And the food! Gourmet French cuisine...succulent steaks from the Great White North... bratwurst and beer from Germany... Mediterranean sandwiches from Morocco... the finest seafood, sushi and vegetables from Japan... fresh-baked Norwegian pastries and desserts... it’s an international feast of delectable delights.
Plus, you can shop ‘til you drop, indulging in tempting Guerlain fragrances, Goebel Hummel figurines, glass etchings, antiques, trinkets, jewelry, gifts, toys and more. You’ll find something to amaze and excite everywhere you turn...from living “statues” in France to rock ‘n’ roll bagpipers in Canada.The grand finale? IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, an inspiration of music, fireworks, lasers and special effects celebrating the planet we call home. Epcot®. Two big worlds of discovery. One incredible experience unlike any other on earth.
Tips for EPCOT:
1. EPCOT has great food
The Food Court at the Land Pavilion has a variety of foods to choose from for casual dining. But you must make reservations if you want to dine in the World Showcase during peak times. Go to visitor relations when you get in the park and make lunch reservations (for up to 4:00pm ) to save a little money and get a sampling of their delicious cuisine. Try something different-we recommend Les Chefs de France for French food, Mitsukoshi Tempura Kiku for sushi and other Japanese delicacies and La Cantina De San Angel for wonderful Mexican cuisine and relaxing atmosphere.
2. Snacks and Drinks
If you are trying to save some money, bring your own snacks and plenty of bottled water, as you will be doing lots of walking in Epcot.
3. Plan ahead
As with all the parks, make sure you have plenty of essentials on hand-sunscreen, sunglasses, film, baby products and an extra change of clothes for the kids. These can get pricey in the parks. And wear comfortable sneakers and pack an extra pair of sandals, especially if you've been park hopping for a couple days.
4. Stay in touch
Stick together, at least electronically. If you are traveling with a group of more than four or with older kids, we highly suggest obtaining walkie-talkies from a discount store prior to your visit, or switching over to a family cell phone plan and giving the kids a phone-just in case someone gets separated or the group wants to do different things and meet up later.
5. Arrive early
Plan to arrive at the park at least a half hour before the stated opening time. Frequently guests are allowed into Future World early, make dining reservations, and get maps and strollers before the park officially opens.
6. Cool off and take breaks
From about April - September it can get uncomfortably hot walking around the parks. Let kids take frequent breaks and wear bathing suits and T-shirts so they can cool off in the splash fountains.
7. Use Fast Passes and plan with flexibility
Test Track is a must, but the line can get as long as a three-hour wait during peak times. Grab a Fast Pass for Test Track as soon as you arrive and then head onto Mission Space and Spaceship Earth . Then walk on over to World Showcase as soon as it opens at 11:00 a.m. Finish Future World in the late afternoon and evening . Test Track is open for an hour after the park closes for an encore ride.
8 . For those of you with small children
The "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" movie is great fun for adults and older children, but may be a little scary for some children under 7. Be aware that the Norway boat ride has some spooky trolls that may frighten small children. It is worth riding on but fairly short, so get a Fast Pass for this one as well to avoid the wait. Skip the movie at the end and browse the unique troll-filled gift shop instead.
9. Character Sightings
If seeing characters is your thing, make sure to check the Guide Map for times and locations. During peak seasons, there is a bus load of characters dropped off at the entrance of World Showcase at various times, allowing you to pick and choose characters for autographs and pictures in about a 30 minute time period. Be aware that Mickey and Minnie obviously will have the longest lines, so if you want more autographs and photo ops, pay homage to other favorites such as Captain Hook, Chip n Dale and Friar Tuck.
10. Kidcot Stations
While touring the countries with children, make sure to visit the Kidcot Stations in World Showcase. Kids receive a mask to decorate and then at each country they can add something unique to it and get a stamp for that country. The mask making project can begin at any world showcase attraction. Each country has a special item for attachments, i.e., Italy has feathers, Morocco has sparkles, etc. Decorative items are added to the mask at each country and the mask's wood handle is stamped with a "visa" showing which places were visited. This is a great way to visit all the World Showcase attractions and involve children.
11. Illuminations
Don't miss the World of Nations parade and fireworks "Illuminations" show. To score a good viewing point for fireworks, sit for the parade in the United Kingdom near the bridge to France . The bridge between the U.K. and France is not open to guests during the parade, but just follow the end of the parade right onto the bridge. You should be able to score a fabulous spot on the bridge railing for viewing the fireworks. Alternatively, if you're not a fan of crowds, go into Future World during the parade and fireworks-you can see part of the fireworks display near Innovations, but be able to catch some rides that may not have such a long wait.
12. Shopping
World Showcase has beautiful and unusual shops. Make your purchases and ask them to be delivered to Guest Services at the front of the park. As the park closes, visit Innoventions West for one-stop shopping for other great EPCOT souvenirs.
Sources: familyfun.go.com, epinions.com, allearsnet.com, travel.go2orlando.com, guide2wdw.com
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