My Top 10 List of Things to do at Epcot

A visit to Disney World can be overwhelming, There are so many things to do in each park that you constantly question which places and rides are worth the time and which ones are not.  As a frequent Disney guest, I’ve experienced almost everything within each park and have come up with top 10 things to do at each of them, starting with Epcot in this post. Epcot is very different than every other park specifically because of the World Showcase. You have the pleasure of “visiting” 11 countries around the world and getting a taste of their culture. You also have Future World (which isn’t really “futuristic” anymore) but still has fun places to experience. In no particular order, here are my top 10 list of things to do at Epcot.

1. Enjoy a glass of Chianti in Italy.

You can’t go to Italy and not drink wine, even if your Italian vacation takes place in central Florida. There is a small wine shop in the front of the Italy pavilion, Enoteca Castello, that serves bottles of wine that you can take home or glasses of wine to enjoy while you are at the park. We usually choose a lower-priced Chianti and it’s perfect to enjoy no matter what time of day. We grab our glass as we stroll through the rest of the World Showcase as we decide what we want to do next.

BONUS TRICK: The last time we visited Disney World my brother-in-law taught us a “trick.” Since the wine servings are small, he asked for 2 glasses of wine in a bigger cup (I think it’s the cup they use to serve beer). It costs the same as getting 2 glasses, but on at least one occasion, the pour seemed to be much more generous than the 2 smaller glasses. The smaller cups are easier to spill, so the large cup helps with that. If we do the larger cup we usually split it between the two of us.

2. Visit the American Adventure show.

You are walking around the world when you visit Epcot’s World Showcase, but there is nothing like coming home to America to see how everything started. The American Adventure is a classic 30-minute show led by Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain that takes you on a crash-course trip through American history. Prior to the show you walk through a colonial-style lobby that displays all the different flags throughout U.S. history as well as paintings and statues that depict American life. You’ll leave the show feeling patriotic AND a little more rested (since you got to sit for a full 30 minutes during your otherwise walking-intense Disney vacation).

3. Grab a margarita in the pyramid at the Mexico Pavilion (catching a fun boat ride before you order).

My favorite margaritas at Epcot are made INSIDE the Mexico pyramid in the World Showcase. La Cava del Tequila makes margaritas from scratch that taste delicious. If you avoid sugar like I do, I recommend asking for the Ambhar Blanco tequila with club soda and lime juice on a salt rimmed glass – that’s it. It’s also not a bad idea to share the margarita because they do tend to make them strong. Be aware that during the weekends or crowded park days the line for this tequila bar can be very long. Since we always visit during the off-season, we usually go during the middle of the week and walk right up to the bar with no wait. Before ordering your drink (you can’t take food/drink on any ride) make sure you check out the boat ride, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, located in the back left of the pyramid. Donald Duck and his three nephews take you through a slow boat ride tour of the people and places of Mexico. If you go during off-season there is rarely ever a line and it’s another fun, relaxing break from walking around all day.

4. Visit Mouse Gear & Art of Disney shops in Future World.

Mouse Gear, located in the Future World, is the largest souvenir shop within the Disney World Parks.  I like to wait toward the end of the trip before purchasing anything, so I know I’ve seen all my options. Mouse Gear is great because it has everything you’ve seen in one place. Once everyone in your party has decided on what they want, it’s a one stop shop! It has everything from clothing to household items, plush toys, and even jewelry. If you are an Annual Passholder, you also receive a discount off your total purchase (usually around 10%). Another shop I love to visit is Art of Disney. Also located in the Future World, it sells more non-traditional souvenirs like paintings, figurines, limited-edition prints and other collectibles. I love Disney merchandise and sometimes it’s a nice change to select an art print over another Disney T-shirt.

5. Ride the Living with the Land boat ride.

You can probably tell by now I enjoy a Disney boat ride. It’s a great way to sit down for a few minutes, relax, and take in some of the Disney entertainment they are known for. Living with the Land, which is located inside The Land pavilion, is another slow-moving boat ride that gives you an appreciation of where your food comes from. Focused on the history and future of agriculture, the second half of the ride you float through the “living laboratories” where you get to see all different types of plants and how they are grown. It’s fun to see the innovative ways Epcot is growing agriculture and using the final products at restaurants within the parks. Sunshine Seasons and the Garden Grill Restaurant, both located in The Land pavilion as well, serve the fresh produce and seafood grown in the living laboratories!

6. Grab a coffee and enjoy the picturesque views of Canada.

I’ve been to the real Canada as a young child, but the Canada pavilion in Epcot really makes me want to go back as an adult. It’s beautiful, peaceful, and a great place to relax on the benches and enjoy a cup of coffee or an adult beverage (perhaps the margarita you purchased in Mexico). If you walk up the steps and toward the back, there is a great place to sit with views of the waterfall, gardens, and castle-like architecture. Canada is between two Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company carts (one is located between the United Kingdom and Canada and the other is at the World Showcase entrance near Disney Traders) where you can pick up a cup of coffee prior. Joffrey’s has the option to add whiskey to your coffee if you are ready for another adult beverage. As with the other alcoholic drinks I mentioned, it’s a good idea to split the coffee so you aren’t having too much (especially if you’ve already enjoyed your Chianti in Italy and margarita in Mexico).

7. Ride Test Track.

Until our last visit to Disney World this past February, I only ever rode this ride once. Test Track is usually a ride that you want a Fast Pass for since the wait times can be long, but we would always get a Fast Pass for Soarin’ instead (they are both in the tier 1 section of fast pass choices and you can only choose one from tier 1). My 6-year-old niece convinced me to try this ride again and I am happy I did. You start the ride in line where you design your own virtual custom concept vehicle to “test” on an almost mile-long track. Once in your custom vehicle, you test for capability, responsiveness, efficiency, and power at a speed of almost 65 mph. It’s a fun, fast ride that isn’t too jerky.

8. Stop in France for dessert.

While I don’t eat dessert, I know 99% of the people visiting Disney World probably do and would like a place to get a unique, tasty, sugary treat. I’m making assumptions here, but if you are one of them you should visit Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in the French pavilion. Located toward the back of the pavilion, you feel like you’re walking through a Parisienne neighborhood prior to entering the bakery. The 1^st time I visited Disney World as an adult a friend recommend this place (I was eating dessert then) and I remember the cream puff (on the menu as a Napoleon) was amazing. Opening daily at 9am, this bakery offers a quiet place to eat a quick-service breakfast, while the rest of the World Showcase eateries mostly open at 11am. I recommend entering through the back entrance of Epcot (the International Gateway) if you are going for breakfast. They also offer a lunch and dinner menu featuring soups, salads, and fresh sandwiches.

9. Visit the aquarium next to The Sea with Nemo and Friends.

The Living Seas pavilion brings a little marine life to your Disney Vacation. Whether you ride the Nemo ride or not (it’s fun but if there is a wait time I wouldn’t recommend), the giant 2 story aquarium next to the ride is a great place to visit to cool off and learn about sea animals. Featuring manatees, sharks, sea horses, and thousands of other sea creatures it’s entertaining to watch them swim by the floor-to-ceiling glass walls separating you from them. Depending on the time you visit, you may also catch a feeding time which is fascinating to watch. The smaller tanks on the bottom floor that house real versions of Nemo (a clown fish) and Dory (a Pacific regal blue tang) are also fun to see in real life.

10. Ride Frozen Ever After.

Yes another boat ride, but if you can get a Fast Pass to ride Frozen Ever After it is definitely worth it. One of Disney World’s newest rides, the wait times to ride without a Fast Pass are well over an hour, even during the off-season when we have visited. Before boarding the boat, the lines place you right in the scene of the movie’s town Arendelle. Once on the boat you take a journey through Arendelle where you get to see all of your favorite characters from the movie while the catchy songs play in the background. Even if you aren’t a Frozen fan, the music, artistic touches, and the technology used to display the characters make it extremely life-like and extremely impressive.

If you are planning a Disney World vacation and looking to save money, check out my posts on how to use credit card points and Stay 7 Nights Free at the Swan & Dolphin Hotel, Get a Free Walt Disney World 7-Day Park Hopper Ticket, or How I got my Walt Disney World Annual Pass for $313.11.