Epcot (or “EPCOT”), formerly “EPCOT Center”—named after Walt Disney's “Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow” project—is a theme park in Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Epcot celebrates community, culture, human achievement, new ideas, and new technologies.
If you’re wondering what rides does EPCOT have, you’d be shocked to find out that there are more rides at EPCOT than at Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom! There are 11 rides at EPCOT in 2023, and only 9 rides at Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom. With the addition of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Coaster, EPCOT attractions have even taken a spot as some of the best thrill rides in Orlando!
Most of EPCOT’s attractions are wonderful for guests who love to explore not only the planet, but explore the possibilities of innovation. Whether you like to build your dream car at Test Track or hang glide over the Swiss Alps, EPCOT will allow you to do that without leaving Florida.
There are 11 countries represented in Epcot World Showcase. Clockwise, the countries are:
This ride is one of the newest attractions to come to EPCOT, including the new Harmonious fireworks shows. Guests can find Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the newest expansion of the France Pavilion. It is a trackless ride that uses 4D technology throughout to simulate that you have truly shrunken down to Remy’s size and are adventuring around Gusteau’s kitchen.
This 2023 EPCOT attraction is perfect for kids and families because there is no height requirement. If you are a Pixar fan, you will fall in love with Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and have a squeaking good time.
The icon of Epcot theme park is Spaceship Earth, a geodesic sphere where contained inside is a 15-minute dark ride where guests are taken through a time machine that shows all of human’s advancements throughout history. Starting off at the dawn of the age of men and ending with today’s communication advancements, Spaceship Earth is due soon for an update for the current times.
The Seas With Nemo & Friends is a standard dark ride that combines a ride through an aquarium with the iconic scenes of Finding Nemo then ending in an aquarium. The ride is located in the identically named pavilion, which is also home to Turtle Talk With Crush, an aquarium, and a gift shop.
Soarin’ is a must do attraction! The ride takes you on a simulated hang gliding adventure and feels as if you’re hang gliding through some of the most beautiful places on Earth.
This ride takes guests on a gentle boat tour through the live EPCOT greenhouses that grow food for restaurants throughout property. The ride gets an overlay as part of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, which definitely elevates it to “must do” level at night (when the lights will look most impressive).
Figment the playful dragon is your guide on this delightful ride through the sensory labs of Imagination Institute. This gentle dark ride takes you through the adventure of Imagination with music and whimsical fun!
Frozen Ever After takes guests on an adventurous journey through the kingdom of Arendelle. Part of the Norway Pavilion of the Epcot's World Showcase section, the attraction features scenes inspired by Disney's animated film Frozen as well as the 2015 animated short Frozen Fever.
Gran Fiesta Tour is a boat ride inside the Mexico pavilion of Epcot's World Showcase. The story is essentially a Three Caballeros concert gone awry. It's a fun ride with a short wait.
This EPCOT attraction isn’t for anyone, especially for the faint of heart. The orange mission are for those who want to experience the real speed of G-force on your mission to Mars, which uses a centrifuge to simulate flight.
The Green mission is a more family friendly tour to the moon that most astronauts can handle.
You can find this EPCOT park ride near the new Space 220 restaurant in the Discovery Neighborhood.
Test Track gives guests the ability to virtually design and road test a customized car. You can even save your car details, take a mini virtual test or pose for a picture with your car as a backdrop!
Have you opened a new location, redesigned your shop, or added a new product or service? Don't keep it to yourself, let folks know.
The World Showcase, a series of "pavillions" (actually miniature neighborhoods) arranged around a lagoon. Each pavillion is dedicated to emulating the architecture, appearance, food, shopping, and culture of a specific country. Thus, visitors can experience a simulated trip around the world, visiting nearly a dozen "countries" from a single amusement park.
When you first enter the pyramid, you’ll walk through the small Mexico Folk Art Gallery. The current exhibit is called Remember Me!, featuring art by Mexican and Mexican-American artists which celebrates the traditions of the Mexican holiday, Día de Muertos. Inside, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros is a slow, dark boat ride where you follow Donald Duck and his feathered friends through Mexico. Back outside, guests can also meet with the duck himself. Meet Donald Duck at the base of the pyramid across from La Hacienda de San Angel.
Drinks & Dining
With no less than five dining outlets, there is no shortage of places to grab something to eat or drink in the Mexico Pavilion. Inside the pyramid, a meal at the table service San Angel Inn Restaurante feels like you’re dining al fresco in the plaza. The menu here is very similar to what you’d find at Mexican restaurants across the US, albeit with heaps more atmosphere. You can also get a top-notch margarita at La Cava del Tequila, a tequila bar with more than 200 tequilas and another Epcot favorite.
When entering Norway from Mexico, one of the first things you’ll see is a large, wooden church. Inside the Stave Church Gallery, guests can explore an exhibit on the fantastical myths and legendary gods of the Vikings. The main event, however, is Frozen Ever After, another dark boat ride. This time, you’ll be exploring the wintery wonderland of Arendelle and Frozen.
You can also Meet Anna and Elsa at the family’s summer home, Royal Sommerhus. Kids, or kids at heart, can enjoy the Kidcot Fun Stop tucked in The Fjording and Puffin’s Roost.
Drinks & Dining
At Akershus, there's 'Princess Storybook Dining' for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. If you forgot your tiara, there's a limited variety of Disney Princess merchandise for sale nearby.
Be sure you make a dining reservation and be prepared to wait. It's rare to walk past this venue and not see a lot of little princesses (and princes) waiting to be seated.
Beyond the gate at the entrance to the pavilion, guests will find a traditional garden with walkways and lotus ponds that sit at the foot of the Temple of Heaven. This magnificent replica of a building found in Beijing houses a 14-minute Circle-Vision 360° film titled “Reflections of China.”
Adjacent to the temple, guests will find the pavilion’s largest merchandise shop, House of Good Fortune. There is also a small shop along the Street of Good Fortune, and one along World Showcase promenade called Good Fortune Gifts.
Drinks & Dining
With a snack stand, a quick service option, and three different table service restaurants, there’s no doubt that Japan is all about dining. There truly is something for everyone here, whether picky eaters or fans of Japanese fine dining. As you reach the pavilion, stop at the Kabuki Café food kiosk for Japanese snacks like edamame and kakigōri, or Japanese shaved ice. Perched on the hillside behind the pagoda, the quick service Katsura Grill serves everything from sushi and ramen to teriyaki chicken and Japanese-style curry.
Unfortunately, there are no rides, films, or exhibits here. However, you definitely won’t want to miss the charming Romantic Road Miniature Train Village on the way to Italy. And if you time your visit right, you may even get a chance to hear and see the pavilion’s version of the Glockenspiel mark the hour. Oh, and did you spy the wishing well on the outside of the pavilion? That’s where Snow White sets up court to meet with her faithful subjects.
Drinks & Dining
Biergarten Restaurant is an immersive table service restaurant set to look like an open-air beer garden under the moonlight. Guests sit at long communal tables, dining on German classics like bratwurst, schnitzel, and apple strudel as a polka band plays. Typically a buffet, meals have been served family-style during the pandemic. Don’t have time for a sit-down meal? No worries, visit the quick-service Sommerfest for a stein of beer and a bratwurst to go.
The main attraction in Italy is probably all the various photo opportunities. Aside from that, however, you may catch Pinocchio doing meet-and-greets here every now and again.
Drinks & Dining
As with any trip to Italy, aside from all the landmarks and museums, the real highlight here is the food. There are several World Showcase dining options here including two different table service restaurants, a wine cellar, and a gelato stand. With colorful murals depicting life in ancient Rome lining the walls, Tutto Italia Ristorante is a pleasant spot for lunch and dinner, serving a mix of both Italian and Italian American favorites. The restaurant’s attached lounge, the Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar, features a menu of small plates and more than 200 Italian wines. Next door to the wine cellar, Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria takes guests to Naples with its wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas. For those with a sweet tooth, stop by the Gelati stand on your way out of the pavilion.
Aside from the America Gardens Theatre sitting on World Showcase Lagoon, the centerpiece here is the large building inspired by Colonial American architecture. With its concert stage, quick service restaurant, and air-conditioned Audio-Animatronics show, this midway point is an excellent spot for a rest. You won’t want to miss the American Heritage Gallery or the melodic stylings of the Voices of Liberty.
Drinks & Dining
Looking for something patriotic to eat or drink? If you’re in the mood for barbecue and fried food. The Fife & Drum Tavern across from the America Gardens Theater is a small food kiosk offering American and theme park classics like turkey legs and root beer floats. Meanwhile, the quick service Regal Eagle Smokehouse serves up regional barbecue favorites.
Matsuriza traditional Japanese drummers play on the front of the pagoda.
The group performs an ancient form of Japanese drumming called “Taiko” on the balcony of the building at the front of the pavilion next to Kabuki Cafe.
You can find daily showtimes in the My Disney Experience app.
Drinks & Dining
Teppan Edo is a sit-down restaurant serving authentic Japanese cuisine for lunch and dinner.
Here, you’ll discover that Teppan Edo offers an experience that is part meal, part show.
Chefs chop and stir-fry dishes on grills at your table, in the communal ritual of Teppan-yaki-style cooking. The Garden House serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including soft drinks, green tea, bottled water, specialty cocktails, beer, wine. Katsura Grill has a lunch and dinner menu featuring sushi, noodles, salad, teriyaki, and more.
The Moroccan Pavilion at Epcot is the only Pavilion in the World Showcase where the country’s government helped to design the space. The king of Morocco sent his royal craftsman to design and lay all of the tiles in the pavilion and he sent more workers to design the carvings and paintings too. In 2020, Disney took over the ownership and operation of the Moroccan Pavilion and they have made a few changes and updates.
Drinks & Dining
If you find yourself just needing a snack break while visiting the Moroccan Pavilion then you should visit the bakery located at the back of the Tangierine Cafe. You can get pastries, cookies, mint tea, and refreshing frozen adult beverages for those warm Florida days.
There is another dining option inside the Moroccan Pavilion, Restaurant Marrakesh which is decorated like a sultan’s palace, but it has not been reopened since Disney shut down the parks in 2020. There are plans to re-open the restaurant in the future, but for now, it is an air-conditioned indoor space where Epcot guests can sit down for a bit to cool off and relax.
When you approach France from the United Kingdom, you stroll over the Pont des Arts inspired footbridge. This spot is reminiscent of the the Seine waterfront, complete with flower carts and streetside artists.
The center fountain is a great place to sit, relax and people watch. Throughout the day the "Serveur Amusant" acrobats perform. It's a fun show where the the two talented performers build a tower out of chairs and balance on top.
The 'streets' are lined in cobblestones and as you explore the pavilion, you'll hear romantic tunes being played. Speaking of romance, there's no greater love than the Beauty and the Beast. You'll often find Belle meeting and greeting guests in the gardens. (Check the My Disney Experience app for scheduled appearances.)
Drinks & Dining
Monsieur Paul - This is an upscale signature dining restaurant that is only open for dinner. If 'elegance' is something you seek, this gourmet spot is one to consider.
The United Kingdom pavilion is a bustling destination. Through the seamless blend of architecture that takes you from the streets of London to an English cottage, the essence of this nation is yours to enjoy. Cobble-stoned streets, a quaint pub, the scent of fish and chips in the air combine to make this an authentic “trip across the pond.
Drinks & Dining
You can head to the Yorkshire County Fish Shop booth and enjoy your meal at a table overlooking the World Showcase lagoon. If you’d like, you can get a yard of ale at the beverage stand located outside the Rose and Crown as the perfect accompaniment to your snack.
The Canada Pavilion with its combination of Great White North charm, First Nations-inspired artwork, and the enchantment of a grand Canadian chateau, is one of the more unique pavilions in Epcot. There are walking paths throughout Canada that let you get up close to the “mountains” and other parts of the pavilion which are perfect out-of-the-way spots for crowd-free photos.
Drinks & Dining
Le Cellier - This signature dining restaurant in the Canada pavilion is one of the most popular dining venues to enjoy an amazing steak. It's popularity combined with its small size has led to some issues getting dinner reservations, so if dining here is a priority for you, be sure to reserve up to 180-days in advance.
I hope this post has helped you plan the perfect day at EPCOT. I wish you great weather, short lines, and a ton of EPCOT fun and great memories!
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