Epcot Disney World Orlando

EPCOT Is Two Completely Different Parks That Happen to Share a Gate

The front half (World Discovery and World Nature areas) has theme park rides and IP-driven attractions. The back half (World Showcase lagoon) has 11 country pavilions arranged around a lake, staffed partly by citizens of those countries, serving food and drink, and running almost no rides. These two halves have almost nothing in common with each other, which explains why the park is simultaneously loved and confused about its identity.

EPCOT opened in October 1982 as Walt Disney’s original vision: a permanent world’s fair, part futurism showcase, part international cultural village. The World Showcase component is the surviving piece of that vision. The rest has been updated as Disney added more thrill rides and intellectual property.

World Showcase

The France pavilion has the crêpes cart and a passable croissant. The Japan pavilion has a legitimately good sake selection at Teppan Edo restaurant. The Morocco pavilion’s Restaurant Marrakesh is consistently underrated by visitors who bypass it. The United Kingdom pub (Rose & Crown) serves Boddingtons and Fuller’s London Pride on draught.

The main rides in World Showcase are Frozen Ever After (Norway) and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (France) – both family-oriented dark rides, neither a thrill ride. Queue times are reasonable relative to the rest of Disney World.

The Forward Section

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (opened 2022) is the headline attraction: a rollercoaster in a large darkened building with rotating vehicles and a specific music playlist. One of the better new rides at Disney World with consistently long waits. Test Track has you design a virtual vehicle tested in a simulated speed run. Mission: SPACE’s intense version uses a centrifuge and reliably causes nausea in a percentage of riders.

Food and Wine Festival

Roughly August through November each year, EPCOT runs the International Food and Wine Festival with food booths from various countries added around the World Showcase lagoon. This is when EPCOT gets most crowded and also provides the best reason for people who find theme parks unappealing to visit: the primary activity is eating and drinking while walking outdoor spaces. Ticket prices are the same as a regular EPCOT day; food booth spending is additional.

Practical Notes

EPCOT is the second-largest park at Disney World. The walk from the front gate to the far end of World Showcase is about 2.5 kilometres. Tickets start around USD 109 per day. Dining reservations for table service restaurants should be made 60 days in advance through the Disney website.