Travel Tips for Visiting Epcot
A visit to Epcot at Walt Disney World can be a truly wonderful experience, as Epcot embraces both education and entertainment in a way only Disney can. The attractions are top notch and are enjoyed by people of all ages. Epcot its covers nearly 300 acres and is arranged in two sections, Future World and World Showcase.
A little advance planning before your trip to Epcot will allow you to experience all the park has to offer without the stress normally associated with touring a theme park. When planning your visit to Epcot several factors should be considered. The ages of the people in your traveling party and the number of days you have available to spend at Epcot are the most important things to consider.
If you are traveling with children you should be aware that Epcot is much larger in size than most other theme parks in Walt Disney World. Young children will definitely need strollers (bring your own or rent) to cover the park and you will greatly benefit from reviewing the attraction details in advance to help you plan what attractions are geared for your group. Although Epcot can be very enjoyable for children of all ages, if young children visit Epcot after a day at the Magic Kingdom they might not understand that attractions like Dumbo and it’s a small world don’t monopolize this park. If you are planning to visit multiple Walt Disney World theme parks, try to visit Epcot before the Magic Kingdom if your children are under the age of 10.
Epcot BallWhen traveling with seniors, it is also advisable to consider your touring of the park. If at all possible try to visit Epcot over a span of two or three days. This will enable your party to visit the park at a comfortable pace and even re-visit any attractions they really enjoyed. There is nothing worse than to rush through the park in a “see it all or die�? pace – which really destroys the fun element of the entire day. Remember to leave time for short rests and meals, especially if traveling with seniors.
In general, Epcot is best seen over a two day visit (and not necessarily two back to back days). Since the park is broken up into two main sections, Future World and World Showcase – it is quite easy to break up your days to one section per day. A two day touring schedule allows for visiting all attractions, while being able to enjoy shows and even some shopping.
Of course visiting for only one day is sometimes your only option. This can still be an enjoyable visit, however, you will need to review the park layout in advance and make a list of attractions that you really want to see. Due to the size of the park and the various attractions, it is nearly impossible to see everything in a one day visit (unless you are traveling without small children and are willing to move at break-neck speeds to cover the entire park). A one day touring schedule would involve visiting your top attraction choices first and leaving time for revisiting them or seeing a show or two…
Epcot park hours vary by season, but typically the park opens at 9am and closes at 9pm. The Future World Section is open to guests at 9am, but may close as early as 7pm. World Showcase usually opens at 11am and remains open until the parks closing time. As you enter the park you will be in Future World and most guests travel from attraction to attraction based on the layout of the park. It is best to resist the urge to visit the first attraction you see and to proceed to the newer and popular attractions (Soarin and Test Track are good examples). When visiting first thing in the morning you will have a better chance at a shorter line. If the lines are already long, you can always pick up your FastPass for the attraction and return later. Disney’s FastPass is a ticketing system that allows park guests to obtain a return time pass for a popular attraction. You insert your park ticket into the FastPass machine (available at most popular Epcot attractions); it prints out your passes with your return time stamped on each FastPass. The time gives you a one hour window when to return; when you do this you are able to enter the FastPass return line for a much shorter wait for the attraction. One thing to note is that you are limited to one FastPass ticket at a time – the system will not allow you to obtain more than one FastPass at a time.
When planning which days of the week to visit Epcot, check to see which days are “early entry�? days at Epcot. On these days guests staying at a Disney hotel will be allowed to enter the park one hour before all other guests. If you are staying on-site at a Disney hotel, you should visit the parks on their early entry days, as those times will be less crowded. If you are staying off-site, it is not advisable to enter Epcot on its early entry day as you will face crowds as soon as you arrive.
In general Epcot is one of the top vacation destinations, for people of all ages. It is able to combine elements that allow people young and old to enjoy there time there. With a small amount of planning you will enjoy a stress free time when visiting.
