Epcot is one of the four theme parks located at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. It's known for its international pavilions, futuristic technology exhibits, and various attractions and shows. With so much to do around EPCOT including the World Showcase, we have listed the EPCOT Must Dos for your EPCOT day.
Best Rides in EPCOT
EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) is a unique theme park that combines education and entertainment. The park was originally conceived by Walt Disney as a place where people could learn about science, technology, and the future in a fun and engaging way.
EPCOT is divided into two main sections: Future World and World Showcase. Future World is where you can explore technology, innovation, and the natural world through a variety of exhibits, shows, and attractions. For example, you can experience a simulated space mission at Mission: SPACE, design and test your own virtual concept vehicle at Test Track, or explore the world's oceans and marine life at The Seas with Nemo & Friends.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is an upcoming attraction at Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort, currently under construction and set to open in 2022. The attraction is based on the popular Marvel Comics characters and features an innovative ride system that combines a roller coaster with a rotating ride vehicle.
The story of the attraction follows the Guardians of the Galaxy as they visit the Nova Corps to borrow a device called the "Cosmic Rewinder." However, things go awry when a creature called a "Chronosaurus" escapes and causes chaos throughout the galaxy. Guests will join the Guardians on a thrilling adventure through space and time as they attempt to catch the Chronosaurus and restore order to the galaxy.
This attraction combines great music, storyline, and ride experience, so it is of course on the list for your Best Day Ever! Currently, the only way to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmis Rewind is to either get a Virtual Boarding Group or purchase an Individual Lightning Lane (pay per ride to skip the line feature).
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure is a recently opened attraction at Epcot and is based on the popular Disney Pixar film "Ratatouille" as it takes guests on a thrilling adventure through the world of the film's protagonist, Remy the rat.
The attraction is located in the France pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase and takes guests on a ride through the kitchen of Gusteau's restaurant, where they follow Remy as he scurries through the kitchen, avoiding obstacles and dodging danger.
The ride uses state-of-the-art technology to create a fully immersive experience for guests. The ride vehicle, which resembles a rat, moves and tilts in sync with the action on screen, creating a feeling of being inside the film itself. The ride is also designed to appeal to all ages, with no height requirement, making it a great option for families with young children.
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure is a fun and exciting addition to Epcot, offering guests a chance to step inside the world of one of Disney Pixar's most beloved films as an honorary rat! Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is currently available under the Genie+ Lightning Lane system as well as a traditional standby queue.
Because this is a new attraction, we recommend either riding right at Rope Drop or right before the park closes if you plan to use the standby entrance.
Frozen Ever After
Frozen Ever After is a popular attraction at Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort, based on the hit Disney animated film "Frozen". It is located in the Norway pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase.
The ride takes guests on a boat journey through the world of "Frozen," where they encounter characters like Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven. The ride features scenes and songs from the film, including "Let It Go," and "For the First Time in Forever."
The attraction uses state-of-the-art technology to create a fully immersive experience for guests, with animatronics, special effects, and projections that bring the world of "Frozen" to life. Guests will feel as though they are sailing through the fjords of Arendelle and experiencing the magic of Elsa's ice palace.
The animatronics in Frozen Ever After use some of the most sophisticated technology used in any Disney animatronic and utilize projection mapping for hyper realistic faces and facial expressions. Basically, this attraction isn’t just for the little princess loving children, it’s really for the engineering and Disney nerds!
Frozen Ever After is available through the Genie+ Lightning Lane service to schedule a time to skip the line. Trust us, this is a must if you want to ride Frozen Ever After. The standby line for this is always crazy long.
Must Have Epcot Lightning Lanes
If you purchase Genie+ there are rides that you want to prioritize Lightning Lanes for and others that you can just do in the general standby line. The attractions that you want to use Genie+ for on your Best Day Ever at EPCOT are:
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Frozen Ever After
- Test Track
- Soarin’
- Mission Space
Individual Lightning Lane
The only ride that utilizes the pay-to-play skip the line Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The cost is based on demand for the day. The pricing can range from $15 per person to $29 per person.
Do you need an Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) in the EPCOT?
Yes and no.
Let’s explain: Getting a Virtual Boarding Group is FREE. F-R-E-E. However, that is only an option if you actually get one.
Getting a Virtual Boarding Group requires some preplanning, fast fingers, and an early alarm. It’s totally possible, but realize that 10,000 of your closest friends are all trying to do it at the same time.
How to Snag a Virtual Boarding Group
- Have your party already set ahead of time.
- Make sure you have a park reservation for EPCOT.
- Set an alarm for 6:30 AM EST so you can wake up and have a cup of coffee before you need to function.
- Have another device open to the World Clock in the clock app.
- Make sure you are off of Disney WiFi. Frankly, cell phone data is more reliable for this because remember those 10,000 friends…
- At 6:55 AM open up your My Disney Experience App and click the button on the home page that says “Join Virtual Queue”.
- When the world clock app says 6:59:59 start refreshing the Join the Virtual Queue page in the app until a button appears that says “Join”.
- The next page will ask you to select your party. Don’t waste time reading the members, just click the next button!
- Hopefully you got a success page. If you don't, it's okay. You can try again at 1:00, but this time you have to be in the park.
Good Luck!
BONUS: EPCOT Cult Classic Rides
There are some die hard Disney fans out there, and some Disney attractions, especially original ones sometimes gain an almost cult-like following with super fans, and EPCOT is no exception.
For EPCOT, the cult attraction is hands-down Journey into Imagination with Figment.
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Journey Into Imagination with Figment is an attraction at Epcot that has gained a cult following among Disney fans. The ride first opened in 1983 as a replacement for the original Journey Into Imagination attraction, which opened in 1982.
The ride takes guests on a journey through the Imagination Institute, where they are introduced to Dr. Nigel Channing and his mischievous purple dragon assistant, Figment. The ride features a catchy theme song and colorful sets that showcase different aspects of creativity and imagination.
Despite undergoing several changes over the years, including a major renovation in 2002 that removed the original version of Figment, the attraction remains a fan favorite. Many fans appreciate the ride's whimsical spirit and its celebration of creativity and imagination, and Figment has become something of a cult icon among Disney fans.
Figment the Pop Culture Icon
In recent years, Disney has embraced the ride's cult following, introducing Figment-themed merchandise and hosting special events for fans. While most days Figgy maintains a 5-15 minute standby line, that changes at Christmas when fans will wait in an hour long line just to see our favorite little dragon in a cute Christmas sweater.
If you think that was crazy, that’s nothing compared to the 2022 EPCOT festival where they released a Figment souvenir popcorn bucket where people waited in a line for… wait for it… 8 HOURS! Yes, 8 hours for a Figment Popcorn bucket.
Best Entertainment in EPCOT
Epcot is known for its live entertainment offerings, which are spread throughout the park and provide guests with a variety of musical and cultural experiences. Here are some examples of live entertainment you can enjoy at Epcot:
Mariachi Cobre - This group of Mexican musicians has been performing at Epcot since the park opened in 1982. They play traditional Mexican music and wear authentic costumes, adding to the festive atmosphere of the Mexico pavilion.
Matsuriza - This Japanese drumming group performs in the Japan pavilion, using taiko drums to create a powerful and rhythmic sound. Their performances are full of energy and are a great way to experience Japanese culture.
Jammitors - This group of percussionists uses trash cans and other everyday objects to create music and entertain guests in Future World. Their performances are high-energy and fun for all ages.
These are just a few examples of the live entertainment offerings at Epcot. There are many other performances and shows to discover throughout the park, so be sure to check the schedule and performance times in your My Disney Experience App.
Do you need Lightning Lanes for EPCOT Entertainment?
There are no Lightning Lanes for entertainment or shows in EPCOT. EPCOT is a “choose your own adventure” park, so relax, stroll, and see what you see! Today is a break from major planning.