EPCOT Must-Do Experiences for a First Time Visitor!

One of Walt's biggest dreams for his Florida Project was the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, also known as EPCOT.  Here, dreams of the future have taken place and come true since it's opening day of October 1, 1982. Now, over 40 years later, EPCOT is still delighting guests with its unique experiences and attractions. Everyone who visits will find something they love, whether it be a high-speed attraction in World Celebration or a stroll through the countries in World Showcase. Today, I want to shed some light on must-dos for guests visiting EPCOT for the first time!

Travel in Time

When you hear the name EPCOT, chances are the image of a giant, silver geodesic sphere come to mind. While many people refer to it as the giant golf ball, Spaceship Earth is the park's icon, and does it ever make itself present! Standing tall and proud at the front of the park, it's unmissable. Some people are surprised to find out that there is actually a ride inside of the sphere. For a first time guest, Spaceship Earth is a right of passage into the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. But this isn't the only way to travel back in time here! Make sure to secure your Virtual Queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind to experience one of the best attractions in all of Walt Disney World!

Become a World Traveler

EPCOT is home to one of the most wonderful theme park experiences in my personal opinion - World Showcase. Situated around World Showcase Lagoon, 11 pavilions represent the countries of Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, America, Japan, France, United Kingdom and Canada. Some of these pavilions have their own attractions (such Remy's Ratatouille Adventure in France) and others have films showcasing their countries (such as China). However, the experiences you will find in these pavilions don't stop with attractions. 

Merchandise, music, people and food from the pavilion's respective countries come together to bring you an experience that could only be more authentic if you were actually there. Be sure to set aside several hours and some room in your stomach for your World Showcase experience. The details in the pavilions are impeccable and can be easily overlooked by those in a hurry. Slow down, take it all in and enjoy!

Land, Sea, and Air

Located in World Nature are some experiences that must be experienced by both first timers and veterans. Dive in to The Seas with Nemo and Friends to an aquarium and board a clam-mobile and go on a journey with everyone's favorite clownfish. Marlin, Dory, Crush, Squirt and all their friends invite you to grab shell and go with them as they find - you guessed it - Nemo! And the fun doesn't stop there! After you're journey you can explore the rest of The Seas and see dolphins, manatees, sharks, sea turtles and so many other underwater species! Turtle Talk with Crush is also a great family attraction in which Crush interacts with little ones! 

When you're done with your underwater adventures, go straight ahead and to the right you'll see The Land. Inside of The Land you will find dining options (both quick service and table service), a movie about the circle of life and two attractions. First of these two attractions is Living with the Land. Now, some people overlook this ride but it happens to be one of my favorites. Guests step on to a slow moving boat and first travel through scenes of rainforests, desert and farms. Beyond that is our favorite part of the ride in which you ride through greenhouses and past tanks with fish, alligator and shrimp. These are real plants and animals that Disney uses for research to help the environment. They even use some of the vegetables grown in their theme park food! By far the biggest reason people visit The Land is for the breathtaking attraction known as Soarin'. Ever been hang gliding? Me neither. And for those like me with a phobia of heights, it will probably never happen. Thankfully there is Soarin'. Here guests can fly over the most beautiful scenery in the world! The scenery, sights, sounds and even smells all come together to make one of the most exhilarating attractions in Disney history. Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is also in this area and is a new hit! This walk through attraction allows you to experience the water cycle in a fun way.

Be Entertained

The live entertainment in EPCOT seems to be endless. Throughout the year, the various EPCOT Festivals host different live entertainment acts in the American Gardens Theater. However, the World Showcase Pavilions also have a ton of great entertainment year-round. Two of my favorites are the drummers in Japan, and the Voices of Liberty in America.

As you can see, EPCOT is a park full of must-dos. Some even find it surprising that there are also countless characters to meet, places to shop and foods to try. In my opinion the whole park is a must-do! My suggestion is plan ahead by looking at maps and some of our other blog posts reviewing the EPCOT Festivals based on the season you are traveling. There is so much to see and experience at EPCOT it's no wonder that it is a favorite of Disney fanatics all over the world!

Planning a Walt Disney World vacation? We are here to help! Contact your Kingdom Konsultant travel professional or submit a request form for a free quote today. Make sure to check out our Planning for Walt Disney World Vacations page for more posts. 

We Want to Hear From You

What's your favorite Must-Do EPCOT experience? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Maci Schau

Maci is an avid foodie and loves trying out new restaurants and seasonal food offerings in the parks.  You can email Maci at maci@kingdomkonsultant.com.