Welcome to the rides of Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow! For those of you who don’t know, this is what Epcot stands for. Originally, Walt’s vision was to build an entire community, a real working city. Over time, after Walt passed, that all transformed. In the end, Epcot came to life as this intersection of technology and the world.
Future World Rides at Epcot
This part of Epcot is meant to be a vision of the future.
Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: Yes
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: 18 minutes
Looking to escape the Florida heat for a bit? Sit down for this 18-minute short film festival. The show features 3 dazzling short films from Disney and Pixar and some incredible in-theater effects.
Journey Into Imagination With Figment
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: Yes
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: Approximately 6 minutes
This is the first stop for many Figment fans. For those of you who don’t know, Figment is a purple dragon that helps you explore the endless possibilities you can achieve with your imagination. This slow moving ride takes you through the different lab rooms inside the imagination institute. Be prepared to encounter loud noises, optical effects, and interesting smells. Everyone in the family can ride.
Living with the Land
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: Yes
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: Approximately 14 minutes
Tour a real working Epcot greenhouse. The food grown inside of these greenhouses is actually served at select locations across Disney World property. This slow-moving boat ride takes you through the history of our food ecosystems and how humans have impacted them. While many find this ride a little on the boring side I love getting to see the new foods they are testing out. Plus it’s fun to uncover the hidden Mickey’s on this ride.
Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: Yes for Mickey, Minnie & Goofy
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: Varies
This is an indoor air-conditioned space to meet Mickey, Minnie and Goofy. You can also find Baymax from Big Hero 6 and Joy and Sadness from Disney Pixar’s Inside Out.
Mission: SPACE
- Height Requirement: Green Mission 40″, Orange Mission 44″
- FP+: Yes
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: Approximately 5 minutes
Here you have the two different version of the ride, a mild green version and an intense orange version. If you choose the orange, be prepared for real g-force just like the astronauts experience, and beware, this is achieved by spinning.
The Green version takes you on a flight around the Earth’s orbit. Be on the lookout for landmarks like the Hawaiian Islands, the Italian peninsula, and the Northern Lights. Everyone is assigned a task to complete during the mission. The journey ends by landing at Florida’s own Kennedy Space Center!
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: Yes
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: Approximately 5 minutes
Take a dive under the seas aboard a special clamobile and try to help Marlin find Nemo who has gone missing again! This adorable slow moving ride is a great stop for kids. The end is my favorite as the beautiful blend of the exhibit aquariums of the seas in with characters from Finding Nemo.
Turtle Talk with Crush
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: Yes
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: 15 Minutes
Ever wish you could ask Crush from Finding Nemo a few questions? Well here is your chance! Get to sit down and hear about Crush’s life, you can even ask him some questions of your own.
Soarin’
- Height Requirement: 40″
- FP+: Yes
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: Approximately 5 minutes
Located in the Land Pavillon, this used to be Soarin’ over California but now this attraction will take you on a trip around the whole world. Get a chance to soar over the seven wonders of the world and more, my favorite part of the ride is the smells. Be prepared for more surprises in this version of the ride, which shouldn’t be missed by anyone that makes the height requirement.
Spaceship Earth
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: Yes
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: 16 Minutes
This is a slow moving ride through the history of innovations. I must admit this isn’t my favorite ride and it will be undergoing a much-needed update. Everyone can ride, so you should at least try the ride once and judge for yourself.
Test Track
- Height Requirement: 40″
- FP+: Yes, Plus Single Rider Line
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: Approximately 5 minutes
Build your own car specifications and then test its performance on Disney’s test track in this updated version of the original ride. Be prepared to loop the exterior of the building at speeds reaching 60 miles an hour! This is the first ride that I head for when visiting EPCOT.
World Showcase Rides at Epcot
This is the part of Epcot that has all the countries. You can walk around and explore the architecture of various countries from all around the world. Some countries even feature rides as well as various shows, dining, shopping and more. In total, you will find eleven different countries. Note that this area opens later than the rest of the park, most days it opens up at 11 am.
Kidcot Fun Stops
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: No
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: Varies
All eleven countries have Kidcot Fun Stops. Each pavilion has a station with art supplies hosted by the country’s citizens. You will be able to collect stamps and create your own artwork to take home! Everyone is encouraged to learn something new about the country they are exploring. I highly recommend taking your little ones to these stops, I guarantee that they will enjoy getting involved. I used to ask the representatives to write my name in their native language!
Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: No
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: Varies
On Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure, you become a secret agent helping Perry in his fight against evil. Perry is a platypus from the show Phineas and Ferb on the Disney Channel. Signing up can be done straight on your own cellphone using the Agent P website. Once you are all signed up then you are sent off on a mission to your choice of seven World Showcase pavilions.
The American Adventure
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: No
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: 29 minutes
Hosted by Mark Twain and Ben Franklin the American Adventure takes you through the history of the United States. Of course, cutting down American history to a half hour is no easy feat. As you would expect in Disney the story tends to gloss over a lot of the less than glamorous parts of American history. Completely indoors and in a large theater, it is a great pit stop to make and cool off on your trip around the world.
Voices of Liberty
You can catch this show schedule on your time’s guide, which generally is a half an hour before the American Adventure starting around noon and finishing by 5 p.m. Don’t miss this a cappella group perform a 15 minute show under the rotunda inside the waiting area.
Frozen Ever After
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: Yes
- Best Time: Right at park open, during fireworks or with a FP
- Length: 6 1/2 minutes
Head to Norway for a boat ride with your favorite Frozen friends (be prepared for a crowd, as this is a popular ride). Here you will be dropping in on Arendell’s winter in summer celebration. Of course, you can just imagine how excited Olaf is for this. This slow-moving boat ride does have a small drop at the end and briefly goes backwards but is still a great ride for kids. For more read Useful Tips on How to Ride Frozen Ever After.
Meet Anna and Elsa at Royal Sommerhus
Either before or after you ride Frozen Ever After, make sure to stop by and see Anna and Elsa in this charming setting. This is a perfect place to get a great photo with your favorite princesses! You may also want to also snag an autograph while visiting them in their summer home.
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: No
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: Approximately 7 minutes
This attraction is a slow moving boat ride through the Mexico Pavillon. I must admit that I am not a fan of this ride, if you can call it that. This boat ride is in desperate need of an update, but it can be a great break out of the brutal Florida heat.
The Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: No
- Best Time: Anytime
- Length: 22 minutes
Appearing seasonally, from June 14th to August 18th 2019, you can catch this show at the American Gardens Theater. Enjoy this live band for your favorite songs from the Awesome Mix tapes volume 1 & 2. The Show is live 5 times daily at 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. You will enjoy this show whether you are a Guardians of the Galaxy fan or a fan of classic from the 70’s and 80’s. You should plan on arriving at least 15 minutes early for these shows to get a seat in this large partly shaded outdoor theatre.
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
- Height Requirement: None
- FP+: Yes
- Best Time: Arrive 30 minutes before the show
- Length: 12 minutes
There isn’t much time left for this nighttime firework show at Epcot. In the summer of 2019 Illuminations will be replaced with a brand new show. The current show Illuminations focuses on the countries of world, peace, and unity. To find out the best spot to watch the show read, Best Epcot Firework Viewing Locations.
Impressions de France
Located in the rear of the France Pavillon, this 18 Minute Film will taking you on an aerial journey exploring France. You will see many of this country’s amazing sites and visit both the countryside and the large cities and includes all the classic landmarks that you would expect to see. This film was made for EPCOT’s opening in 1982.
O Canada!
Located in the Canadian Pavillon, you can view this 14 Minute film in Circle-Vision 360. Martin Short narrates this look at the beauty of our vast northern neighbor. This theatre holds 600 people and you stand for the film so that you can fully experience the total surround.
Reflections of China
While in the China Pavillon, you can view this 14 Minute film in Circle-Vision 360. Highlights will include the people and breath taking landscape of China. You will see all of the expected major sites, including the Great Wall of China!
Well, there is the list of all of the rides and attractions at EPCOT. I am tired just thinking about all there is to do, and we didn’t even mention the street performers, food or festivals!
I have been visiting the parks annually since my parents first brought me at just a year old. Recently I was able to fulfill my life long dream of being a Florida local and moved from the wintery Northeast to the sunshine and fun of central Florida. Now I am hoping to share my Disney knowledge with you so you can have the best vacation possible!
