EPCOT, or the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, is the theme park known for the iconic “Epcot Ball” at the front of the park. This is your complete guide to Epcot – a theme park celebrating the future and cultures around the world.
EPCOT is separated into different “neighborhoods”, each with a different theme. Although the park is currently being reimagined, there will be new additions coming in late 2023 and the transformation will no doubt be amazing! When you go through the main entrance, you enter World Celebration, with World Discovery and World Nature on either side. As you walk further into the park, you find the World Showcase. Around the World Showcase Lagoon, there are 11 different pavilions, each one celebrating a country from around the world.
World Celebration
The first neighborhood in EPCOT will help guests connect with a Global Community. Whether it’s dining on cuisine inspired by cultures around the world or learning about the dawn of humanity, this is the perfect way to be welcomed into the park. Plus, in late 2023, Dreamers Point will open and feature beautiful musical performances and a statue of Walt Disney to remind guests to always dream big!
Attractions and Rides
- Spaceship Earth
- Dreamers Point (Opening Late 2023)
Dining
- Connections Eatery (Quick-Service)
Shopping
- Creations Shop
- Club Cool
- Gateway Gifts
- Pin Traders – Camera Center
World Discovery
This neighborhood is designed to help guests explore science and technology with amazing thrill rides and an out-of-this-world dining experience!
Attractions and Shows
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (42″)
- Mission: SPACE (40″)
- Test Track (40″)
If you are traveling with young children, they will love the playground and water play area near Test Track. This is the perfect activity if your child is not tall enough to ride some of the attractions in this area and you are looking for something to do.
Dining
- Space 220 (Table Service)
Shopping
- Mission: SPACE Cargo Bay
- Test Track SIMporium
- Treasures of Xandar
World Nature
This neighborhood is designed to remind guests how incredible our planet is! Whether you are soaring above beautiful landmarks around the world, enjoying the sea life in our big blue world, or dining on freshly made cuisine in one of the restaurants, you will be amazed!
Attractions and Shows
- Awesome Planet
- Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
- Journey into Imagination with Figment
- Living with the Land
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Soarin’ Around the World (40″)
- Turtle Talk with Crush
- Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana (Opening Late 2023)
In addition to the attractions and rides listed above, there are a few hidden gems in this area of the park. This is especially the case if you are visiting Epcot with kids. The Seas Pavilion is the place to go to check out the sea life and extensive aquariums available in the park. You may catch a glimpse of dolphins, manatees, and more!
After your journey with Figment, little ones will love stopping to explore ImageWorks – the “What If” Labs in the Imagination pavilion.
Dining
There are some dining options in World Nature that you will not want to miss. This includes the popular character dining experience at the Garden Grill in the Land Pavilion.
- Coral Reef (Table Service)
- Garden Grill (Table Service/Characters)
- The Land Cart (Quick Service)
- Sunshine Seasons (Quick Service)
Shopping
- ImageWorks
- SeaBase Gift Shop
World Showcase
The World Showcase is the second part of EPCOT. This area is where guests often come to eat and drink around the world! While there are not as many rides in this part of the park, you will find a few, along with different shows, live entertainment, and more. There are 11 different countries (or pavilions) and each one offers shops, restaurants, and more to be explored.
Attractions and Shows
- Frozen Ever After
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- The American Adventure
- American Heritage Gallery
- Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
- Bijutsu-kan Gallery
- Gallery of Arts and History
- House of Whispering Willows
- Impressions de France
- Mexico Folk Art Gallery
- Palais du Cinema
- Reflections of China
- Stave Church Gallery
- The Voices of Liberty
In addition, kids will love exploring the World Showcase and visiting the Kidcot Fun Stops in each country. At each location, they can collect a postcard to color and stamp from each country, as if they traveled around the world!
Dining
There is no shortage of great dining options at Epcot. It’s the reason this park is known for guests coming to eat and drink around the world! Check out this extensive list of dining options currently available in the World Showcase.
- Biergarten Restaurant (Table Service)
- Block & Hans (Quick Service)
- Chefs de France (Table Service)
- Choza de Margarita (Quick Service)
- Crêpes À Emporter by La Crêperie de Paris (Quick Service)
- Crepes des Chefs de France (Quick Service)
- Fife & Drum Tavern (Quick Service)
- Funnel Cake (Quick Service)
- Gelateria Toscana (Quick Service)
- Joy of Tea (Quick Service)
- Kabuki Cafe (Quick Service)
- Katsura Grill (Quick Service)
- Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe (Quick Service)
- La Cantina de San Angel (Table Service)
- L’Artisan des Glaces (Quick Service)
- La Crêperie de Paris (Table Service)
- Le Cellier Steakhouse (Table Service)
- Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie (Quick Service)
- Les Vins des Chefs de France (Quick Service)
- Lotus Blossom Cafe (Quick Service)
- Monsieur Paul (Table Service)
- Nine Dragons Restaurant (Table Service)
- Oasis Sweets & Sips (Quick Service)
- Popcorn in Canada (Quick Service)
- Refreshment Outpost (Quick Service)
- Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue (Quick Service)
- Rose & Crown (Table Service)
- San Angel Inn Restaurante (Table Service)
- Sommerfest (Quick Service)
- Spice Road Table (Table Service)
- Takumi-Tei (Table Service)
- Tangierine Cafe: Flavors of the Medina (Quick Service)
- Teppan Edo (Table Service)
- Tokyo Dining (Table Service)
- Traveler’s Cafe (Quick Service)
- Tutto Italia Ristorante (Table Service)
- UK Beer Cart (Quick Service)
- Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria (Table Service)
- Yorkshire County Fish Shop (Quick Service)
In addition to all of these great food options, the festivals available throughout the year at Epcot offer many additional food choices.
Shopping
- Art of Disney
- Die Weihnachts Ecke
- Disney Traders
- The Fjording
- Glaskunst
- Stein Haus
- La Princesa de Cristal – Mexico
- Good Fortune Gifts
- House of Good Fortune
- Il Bel Cristallo
- Karamell-Kuche
- Kunstarbeit in Kristall
- La Bottega Italiana
- Plaza de los Amigos
- Souk-al-Magreb
- La Gemma Elegante
- La Signature
- L’Esprit de la Provence
- Les Vins de France
- Lords and Ladies
- Mitsukoshi Department Store
- Northwest Mercantile
- Plume et Palette
- Port of Entry
- The Queen’s Table
- Ring Carvers
- The Tea Caddy
- Village Traders
- Weinkeller
- World Traveler
Festivals, Fireworks, and More
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- Photo Courtesy Kelly Greer, Key to the World Travel
Festivals
One thing that makes EPCOT a unique park is the yearly festivals. There are four different ones throughout the year – Festival of the Arts, Flower & Garden, Food & Wine, and Festival of the Holidays. Each one offers different entertainment, food options, merchandise, and things to see and do.
Nighttime Shows
The fireworks at EPCOT take place nightly on the World Showcase Lagoon. On October 1, 2021, a new nighttime show, “Harmonious”, lit up the skies at EPCOT. It did not disappoint! This exciting show features music and visuals from classic Disney favorites, reinterpreted by artists around the world. The show celebrates diverse cultures from around the World Showcase coming together as fireworks fill the skies above the World Showcase Lagoon.
The fireworks are not the only nighttime show at EPCOT! Each evening, Spaceship Earth comes to life with a brief show featuring music and beautiful lights covering the park icon.
Characters & Entertainment
Kids will also love seeing all of the characters around EPCOT. If you are looking for Disney Princesses, this is the place to be! Did you know that EPCOT is the only place to find Anna & Elsa for a meet and greet? Look for Disney friends in nearly every country throughout the World Showcase, as well as a few other spots throughout the park. Check the My Disney Experience app for more details!
In addition, live music has returned to the stage at the American Garden Theatre. During each festival at EPCOT, live performances take place. Whether it’s local bands, the Candlelight Processional, or DISNEY ON BROADWAY, you won’t want to miss these performances! Several pavilions throughout the World Showcase also offer live entertainment throughout the day. Check the My Disney Experience app for more details and showtimes.
The Future of EPCOT
Since the park opened in 1982, EPCOT has celebrated our past, present, and future. You may notice there are currently construction walls throughout the park. With the current re-imagining taking place, EPCOT has great things coming in the future! This park will continue to be the place to come to explore all aspects of our past, present, and future.
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