Disney World Epcot

Exploring Epcot

Most visitors enter Epcot through the main entrance at Future World. This section's exhibits focus on discover, scientific achievements and technology. Although there are really only a small number of rides in Future World, the newest of these -- Test Track and Mission: Space -- are packed from the onset, so it's best to get to them early. Pick up a Fastpass for one and ride the other.

Future World is home to the Spaceship Earth ride. Spaceship Earth is the world-renowned 180-foot-tall geosphere. Epcot's icon houses a ride of the same name. This continuously loading ride is a Time Machine vehicle that conveys you past animatronic scenes portraying mankind's progress in technology through moments of the past, present and future — from the dawn of recorded time to the 21st century's New Global Neighborhood. The Living Seas is visited by most people to see Sea Base Alpha - Epcot's most ambitious research project. You board a moving train of small cars that carry you past astonishing views from a 5.7 million gallon aquarium filled with more than 4,000 sharks, barracudas, rays, dolphins and other reef fish. In Wonders of Life, Epcot's first simulator thrill ride - Body Wars - takes you through the human body, having first miniaturized you. This is a jerky ride that causes motion sickness in quite a few people. Test Track by far is the most popular ride at Epcot. So popular that the lines outside continue to grow all day until by the evening you can expect a wait of between 90 minutes and 2 hours for this 4 minute ride. Be aware that the Fastpass machines outside the entrance have normally exhausted their allocation by lunchtime. Test Track uses the most sophisticated ride vehicle technology available. Essentially, you are the passenger in a six- seater prototype sports car being tested prior to going into production. The ride follows a track that includes braking tests, a hill climb, sharp turns and there's also a 12-second burst of speed to the tune of 65 mph. The Imagination Pavilion houses a show - the funny E-D presentation Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, a ride - Journey into Imagination with Figment and an interactive showcase, ImageWorks Lab - a playground of audio-visual sensory games and demonstrations. Living with the Land is a cruise through the past, present and future of U.S. Farming.

Mission: SPACE is the newest thrill ride at Epcot. Mission: SPACE is the ultimate interactive thrill-packed adventure which is as close as you can get to blasting off into space without leaving Earth. This extremely popular attraction combines high speed spinning - to simulate g-forces - with a simulator and a 3-D visual interactive storyline. Resulting in a convincing rocket launch and high-speed trip to Mars with a ride around the moon. The entire experience, from pre-show to the Advance Training Lab, can last from 45 minutes to more than an hour. The ride to Mars last about 4 minutes from capsule door closing to it reopening. Read all the warning signs at the entrance to Mission: SPACE and take the ride only if you are sure you'll be able to handle it. Avoid a lengthy wait for this ride by using the Fastpass ticket.

World Showcase is 11 miniature nations surrounding a 40-acre lagoon. The Temples, churches, town halls and castles of these 11 pavilions are sometimes replicas of genuine buildings. Every pavilion is staffed by people from the country it represents. Travel the streets of both Paris and the provinces to find stunning shops with designer fragrances, soaps, cosmetics, wines, dinnerware and kitchen accessories. Dine at delightful bakeries and two outstanding restaurants, the Bistro de Paris and Les Chefs de France, with the food the French are famous for. Discover the wonders of China. Visit the festive Mexico pavilion with an active marketplace, music, dining and the delightful El Rio Del Tiempo - "The River of Time" boat ride in a shady lagoon at the foot of a smoking volcano. Travel to jolly old England, enjoy German baked goods at Sussigkeiten, watch the incredible CircleVison 360° film presentation, "O Canada!" or visit Norway's pavillion's stave church and ride the Maelstrom - a boat ride in a dragon-headed Viking vessel.

IllumniNations: Reflections of Earth is one Epcot show you won't want to miss. Presented near closing time around World Showcase Lagoon, it's the most magnificent show of its kind, with dazzling special effects, colorful lasers, brilliant fireworks, and fiery torches all choreographed to an incredible musical score. Watch the thrilling nighttime kaleidoscope as the sky erupts with over 1,100 pyrotechnic bursts and the extraordinary Earth Globe floats across the lagoon, revealing wonders of the seven continents on its curved LED screens. Best viewing spots are a seat on the veranda at the Cantina de San Angel in Mexico, the outside restaurant balcony in Japan and the International Gateway bridge near the United Kingdom. Show Length:
Approximately 13 minutes.

Epcot Tips

• The World Showcase opens later than Future World and closes later so save your tour of the World Showcase for the afternoon or evening.
• The interactive fountain on the walkway between Future World and World Showcase is a must for young children on hot day.
• Boats cross the World Showcase Lagoon fairly regularly which is a bonus since they are air conditioned.
• Test Track is very popular but unreliable. To avoid long lines try to ride this first.
• Because Test Track runs continuously - even when the park is closed - you can enjoy a last minute ride before park closing.
• If a breakdown occurs during your ride ask the cast member if you can ride again, immediately.
• To avoid severe congestion at the end of the day, park in the visitor's car park of the Yacht and Beach Club Hotels. Walk into World Showcase through the International Gateway and exit the same way after IllumiNations.