Epcot is always one of our favorite parks to visit. It has something for everyone, and can be an extremely daunting day to plan, especially if you only have one day at the park. Here are some tips to help you make the most of that day.
9. Grab a FastPass for either Soarin’, Frozen Ever After, or Test Track
This has to be of utmost priority when planning your day in Epcot. These three rides are considered top rides on property and Disney knows it. So they won’t let you book both of them – placing this on Tier 1 of the FastPass system. Whichever you choose, just be sure to book your FastPass well in advance (60 days for resort guests, 30 days for non-resort guests). This will save you at least an hour of waiting in line no matter what time of year you are visiting the parks.
8. Hit the park for rope drop, make a beeline for the rides you did not FastPass
We have seen the lines for the three rides mentioned above grow to an hour plus, only 15 minutes after the park opens. So if you’ve obtained a FastPass for Soarin’, we recommend heading straight to Frozen Ever After. After this ride, you can check out the standby line for Test Track or consider the Single Rider line to cut down on wait times. Hopefully you will be able to get these three rides knocked out before lunch.
7. Make sure Spaceship Earth is one of your other FastPasses
You get three FastPasses, so make sure you use them wisely. Using a FastPass for Mission Space, or Journey Into Imagination, or even The Seas with Nemo and Friends would be a mistake. In the early morning you aren’t going to see more than a 5-10 minute wait for any of these attractions. Being housed in the iconic ball at the park’s center, and also being located right in everyone’s track when you enter the park, makes the line for this one grow fairly quickly. You could chance it and walk onto this ride depending on the day, but better to be safe than sorry with your time.
6. Don’t stop for a full meal during the day
Instead, eat your way around the worlds. There are obviously a ton of sit-down and quick service restaurants, both in Future World and in the worlds themselves, but choosing just one would be unfair to yourself, given the plethora of options available to you. This is especially true if you are lucky enough to be visiting the park during Food and Wine Festival. Every world has culinary options that must be tried. Most of them have little carts outside the pavilion so that you can enjoy a grab and go option. If you fill up on a big meal, how are you going to be able to sample the caramel treats in Germany, or the ice cream in France?
5. Make your dining reservation well in advance for dinner
Epcot has so many options for meals that it may seem like you can just decide when you get to the park. This would be a mistake. Most of the restaurants in Epcot book up months in advance. If you are looking for reservations at restaurants like Chefs de France or Le Cellier, you need to be online 180 days out to get the time and date you want for your meal. It may seem a bit daunting knowing your schedule that far in advance, but it is necessary to get what you want out of your day in Epcot.
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4. Maximize your time in Future World in the morning
If you want to make the most out of your day in Epcot, the last thing you want is to have to make a trip back to get in line for a FastPass, once you’re halfway through the World Showcase. There is no reason you can’t experience everything, or close to everything, that Future World has to offer before you head to the World Showcase. Sure, if you want to experience Living with the Land or the aquarium, you could leave them until later in the day, but for the most part try to leave yourself enough time to really explore the World Showcase once it opens.
3. Plan out the performances you want to see in each world
Each and every one of the worlds includes a performance of some sort. It could be a film, or it could be a live show. Check out the calendar as far in advance as you can and pick out which shows are must-sees for you and your party. This will give you a starting point for which direction you want to walk in when you start your journey through the World Showcase.
2. Plan out your character meet-and-greets as well
Characters are everywhere in the World Showcase. Mary Poppins shows up in England, Belle appears in France, and of course Mulan poses for photos in China. If you have must have pics or autographs for yourself or that little one in your party, make sure to leave yourself enough time in the worlds where their favorite character resides. The lines can get a bit long and they do take frequent breaks.
1. Experience what makes Epcot the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow
Epcot was one of Walt’s dreams that he never saw come to fruition. There are multiple attractions that still have that focus; Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, Innoventions and more, located mostly in Future World, are exactly what was envisioned originally for this amazing park.