Number three in this series takes us to what I consider to be my favorite park at the Walt Disney World Resort; Epcot. What makes this my favorite park is not so much the rides but the variety of things to do. Let’s begin with what Epcot stands for. Epcot stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow and was named by Walt Disney himself. As you will see, this park has something for everyone. Let’s get going!
When you first enter the park, or before you even get there actually, you are greeted by what some call the giant golf ball. This is Spaceship Earth. Inside this attraction you will be taken on a journey through over 40,000 years of history. You’ll see prehistoric man, ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire as well as how we might be living and communicating in the not so distant future. It’s a great way to kick off the day. I have a list of things that you “must” do in this park just like I have for the others. Since the rides at Epcot are limited, there are usually long lines. Taking advantage of the Fast Pass feature is a must if you’re going to get on the rides on my list. We’ll start with Soarin’ which is located in The Land. Soarin’ takes you on a hang-glider flight over California. You’ll fly over the Golden Gate Bridge, Malibu, LA and more. Not only do you get to “see” these wonderful sites you will also smell orange groves and the ocean! Oh, and be sure and look for the Hidden Mickey on the golf ball as you fly over a popular golf course. Since you’re going to be in the area, hop on over to The Seas to check out the 5.7 million gallon aquarium filled with every fish and mammal you can imagine! If you have kids, The Seas with Nemo and Friends as well as Turtle Talk with Crush are a must here as well. Keep in mind, these are just my favorites. There are so many more things to do in The Land and The Sea areas of Epcot. Be sure and check your map for additional attractions.
Let’s cruise over to the other side of the park to Future World. The big two attractions here are Test Track and Mission Space. Again, use the Fast Passes for these rides. Test Track takes you on a trip through the world of automotive testing where you see how a car goes through the safety and quality tests that General Motors performs on every prototype it manufactures. At the end you’ll be sent on a high-speed run around the track to make sure your car is performing correctly so hold on to your hats! To keep the adrenaline flowing, go over to Mission Space next. Mission Space has two options, the full force version where you feel all the G-Forces of space travel or the more calm version that takes you on the same journey only without the G-Forces. If you have ever wanted to feel what it’s like to be an astronaut then this is the ride for you! My advice to you is to choose wisely when deciding which version of the ride to experience. The G-Forces are pretty intense so if you have any health issues or just aren’t sure, take the calmer version. After these two rides you’ll be ready for some relaxation for sure! There are a number of shops to stroll through in the middle of the park as well as some relaxing rides such as Ellen’s Energy Adventure, Journey Into Imagination with Figment, and Living With The Land. All of these will allow you to sit and be slowly transported through and educational and entertaining experience.
Your final stop will be the World Showcase. Here you will be immersed in the cultures of the world! You will visit Canada, Mexico, China, Germany, France, Japan, Italy and more. You will be able to taste the foods, the people and the cultures of the countries without having to deal with jet lag! Just this area alone will take more than a day to full enjoy so if you have more time during your stay at the Walt Disney World Resort, plan on coming back to Epcot so you don’t miss anything. At the end of the day, stay in the World Showcase area to enjoy IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. This is the perfect way to end your day at Epcot. It’s an amazing show filled with pyrotechnics, lasers, fire and fountains on World Showcase Lagoon. There are some choice spots to watch the show. If you can get a table at the Rose and Crown Pub in England outside, this will provide you with a great seat. You might want to make reservations. If you can’t get in there, go over to Italy and find a seat on the water. Either place will give you a great view.
You’ll do a lot of walking in Epcot so be sure and make time for breaks. Tasting the wonderful foods in the different coutries is a great way to relax and take a break. I could keep going with more exciting things to do in Epcot but we’d be here all day if I did! This is just a quick overview of the many wonderful things you will see in this park. As I mentioned earlier, be sure and check your map for more attractions. I hope you have enjoyed our little trip as much as I have. We’ll take another walk through a Disney World park real soon. If you have any questions or would like to book your family trip to the Walt Disney World Resort please give us a call. Remember, we don’t charge any fees, our services are totally free! We’ll talk to you soon!
