10 Things You May Be Missing In Walt Disney World’s Epcot

With a combination of Future World and the World Showcase, Epcot really feels like two parks in one. So many sights, destinations and attractions throughout the park make it difficult to experience everything in one visit. Add to that the Flower and Garden Festival in the Spring and the Food and Wine Festival in the Fall, and trying to tackle everything the park has to offer becomes a much larger ordeal. So whether it’s your first trip or a regular visit for you, we have put together a list of 10 things you may be missing at Epcot.

10. Innoventions

On either side of Future World, Innoventions East and West have evolved after initially opening in 1994. After several overhauls, Innoventions continues to grow with Disney Imagineers consistently looking at ways to improve and innovate the attractions in the space. While Innoventions West is undergoing a revamp, the East building houses some incredibly fun and intense attractions. Colortopia is the latest addition, with a 30-minute experience exploring the psychology of color, as well as an interactive area to explore. StormStruck is an interactive experience teaching home safety during storms as well as a simulated hurricane. Finally, the most intense attraction in Innoventions is The Sum Of All Thrills, giving guests the opportunity to design their very own thrill ride before taking it for a trial run in a 4D robotic simulator.

9. Fountain Of Nations

As one of the most elaborate fountains in Walt Disney World, the Fountain of Nations is in the heart of Future World, acting as the beacon guiding guests towards the World Showcase. When the fountain was first dedicated in 1982, 25 bodies of water representing 29 countries were poured into it. Since then, over 300 jets were added to propel the over 108,000 gallons of water over 150 feet in the air. Timed with music, a water ballet takes place every 15 minutes so if you happen upon a show in progress, take the time to stop and watch this incredible piece of artistry.

8. Pavilion Magic

Each pavilion around the World Showcase has its own secrets and incredible design features in addition to the dining, shopping and attractions. At face value, the pavilions may all blend into one another but upon closer inspection, each has a uniquely designed theme to transport you to the specific countries. Some of the magical elements found in the pavilions include the koi pond in the Japan Pavilion, the beautiful mosaics of the Morocco Pavilion and the incredible gardens of the Canada Pavilion. Each pavilion can be its own adventure as you discover the subtle nuances that go into the design of each cultural space.

7. Project Tomorrow

After guests have disembarked from Spaceship Earth, they enter Project Tomorrow before heading back into the park. Some guests breeze by without a second thought, but there is a lot to see and do inside. A showcase of the latest technology in medicine, energy efficiency and transportation is what awaits guests in the form of interactive games and activities. The exhibits include a Body Builder, assembling a digital body in 3D, a simulated driving video game as well as Power City where guests can discover how to manage power and energy in a city.

6. Snacking Around The World

Each of the pavilions around the World Showcase offer a variety of culinary delights from their respective countries. One of the best ways to experience them all is to enjoy a snack from each country. Bakeries like the Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Norway, Karamell-Küche in Germany and Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in France offer some of the best sweet treats in all of Walt Disney World, with signature snacks of like School Bread, Caramel Corn and Macaroons respectively.

5. Shopping

Also in each of the pavilions is a series of shops designed to showcase cultural items from each of the countries. They are all incredibly fun to walk through and you might find yourself coming out with more than you expected as you discover some really great and sometimes very practical items. Some of the shops worth noting include the Tangier Traders and Brass Bazaar in Morocco, featuring handmade plates, mirrors and instruments, as well as the Yong Feng Shangdian shop in China, which offers everything from silk clothing and paper fans to lanterns, jewelry and Oriental carpets. Another perennial fan-favorite is the Mitsukoshi Department Store in Japan, with an incredibly diverse array of items for sale, from candy and chopsticks to pearls and bonsai trees.

4. Restaurants In Future World

While there are a ton of amazing dining options awaiting guests in the World Showcase, often overlooked are the equally enjoyable restaurants located in Future World. Many of the menus feature dishes containing ingredients grown in the greenhouses of the Land Pavilion. Quick service dining locations include the Electric Umbrella and Sunshine Seasons, which both offer fresh food that doesn’t feel heavy and instead, energizes you for the rest of your journey in the park. There are two table service restaurants in the pavilion, with the Garden Grill offering a family-style buffet and the Coral Reef Restaurant, with spectacular views into the Seas showcasing over 4000 aquatic animals to catch your eye as you dine.

3. American Adventure

The American Adventure Pavilion is a wonderful piece of architecture, designed to look Colonial, while masking its immense size. Inside, a theater holding over 1,000 guests awaits visitors with a 30-minute audio-animatronic show featuring Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain as they take you through the history of America. The entire show is an amazing feat of Imagineering as the 10 scenes are seamlessly transitioned from underneath the audience, to the stage and back again.

2. Performers

If a live performance is more your style, there are plenty of acts to check out throughout the World Showcase. Many of the pavilions showcase performers from different artistic backgrounds as they dazzle crowds with their wonderfully expressive displays. For the music-lovers, acts like the Matsuriza Taiko drummers of Japan and the British Revolution in the UK Pavilion are excellent ways to experience the cultures through rhythm and melody. For a more acrobatic performance, the Jeweled Dragon Acrobats of the China Pavilion and the Serveur Amusant in the France Pavilion will have crowds instantly gathering around to see their feats of strength balance and agility.

1. SeaBase

The Seas Pavilion can be overlooked by some guests visiting Epcot, but there is so much to experience inside, that you can easily stay for hours without getting bored. In addition to housing The Seas With Nemo And Friends attraction, the Seas Aquarium is home to thousands of creatures within its 5.7 million gallon glass walls. On top of the aquarium (and the things to learn and explore) there are several other interactive displays that will keep any fan of the aquatics busy for hours.