Our 1-day EPCOT itinerary has the most effective order to do all the pieces, together with the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind curler coaster and Frozen Ever After boat journey. This Walt Disney World plan has step-by-step technique to keep away from ready in lengthy traces, beating crowds, consuming and having fun with World Showcase. (Up to date September 14, 2024.)
This one-day EPCOT plan is examined repeatedly and has been up to date for Late 2024, bearing in mind modifications for Early Entry and Prolonged Night Hours. The plan has been overhauled following the completion of World Celebration, opening of CommuniCore Corridor and finish of EPCOT’s building–principally accounting for the truth that you not have to navigate round a sea of partitions on the entrance of the park.
Then there’s Lightning Lane Multi-Move and Single Move, the most recent paid FastPass that replaces the Genie+ system. Beforehand, we had separate plans with and with out Lightning Lanes. With the brand new system, we’re as an alternative recommending you begin with this itinerary because the ‘bones’ to construct your individual plan, and mix it with EPCOT Lightning Lane Multi-Move Rankings & Technique. As long as you e-book Lightning Lanes early, you must be capable of slot these journey reservations into this plan–both substituting standby for Lightning Lanes, repeating rides, or decreasing backtracking.
There are additionally new points of interest and closures at EPCOT. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Journey have now been open for some time now, and these huge additions plus Frozen Ever After in World Showcase are all huge boosts for EPCOT. Should you observe this plan, these are the one points of interest you must have significant waits to expertise. All the pieces else must be a walk-on or have a minimal wait besides on the busiest days of the yr.
You may discover that Take a look at Monitor and Soarin’ Across the World aren’t on that checklist. The latter isn’t as a result of, though it typically has hour-plus waits, it’s fairly simple to beat the lengthy traces for that if you already know what you’re doing. Take a look at Monitor is closed for reimagining till 2025, which is why it’s not on the checklist. The favored thrill journey is being overhauled into Take a look at Monitor 3.0, which is predicted to function new present impressed by its predecessor, World of Movement.
With all of that in thoughts, let’s cowl the 1-day EPCOT itinerary…
Quick-Ahead to (Cosmic) Rewind – On the morning of your EPCOT day, at the least one particular person in your occasion will have to be awake earlier than 7 am to entry the digital queue system for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
The digital queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is fashionable, however not as troublesome because it as soon as was. Our Tips on how to Experience Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind & Digital Queue Velocity Technique covers all the pieces it’s essential know–like growing your probabilities of success.
Should you’re unsuccessful, you possibly can attempt to be part of the digital queue once more at 1 pm from contained in the park. Pencil Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind into this itinerary every time is handy after your boarding group will get known as. You might have an hour to return to the attraction from receiving the notification that it’s your time to journey. The digital queue is getting simpler to enter, so that you shouldn’t have a problem–particularly with the 1 pm drop.
We all the time be part of the 1 pm digital queue for Cosmic Rewind as an alternative of the 7 am one, as a result of this places our return time within the afternoon once we’re going to be within the entrance of the park. This method isn’t with out threat, however until you’re visiting throughout a peak week–assume Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Yr’s Eve, or Easter–the 1 pm digital queue is often open for a number of minutes to a number of hours.
Early Entry at EPCOT – Walt Disney World is now providing Early Theme Park Entry, which permits on-site resort company to enter EPCOT (or any park) half-hour earlier than official park opening time. Early Entry is obtainable in any respect 4 theme parks each single day of the week. This complicates technique, particularly for off-site company. Take a look at our Information to Early Theme Park Entry at Walt Disney World for more information.
Should you can benefit from this early admission and will probably be getting into through Worldwide Gateway, we’d strongly advocate studying our latest Early Theme Park Entry at EPCOT Technique for how one can sort out the park’s headliners through standby, and why this on-site perk is healthier than Lightning Lanes at EPCOT.
The next technique is for official park opening and the rest of the day, which means that it assumes you’re not doing Early Entry. Modify as acceptable in case you are eligible for, and benefiting from, Early Entry…
Navigate to Norway – Previously, we’d not have advisable prioritizing World Showcase, which is usually purchasing, eating, and wandering. Nonetheless, there are a number of compelling causes for doing so proper now.
For starters, World Showcase is dwelling to each of EPCOT’s hottest points of interest that supply standby traces. There’s additionally the truth that most company arrive by the entrance entrance and do EPCOT from entrance to again, which means they do World Showcase within the afternoon. Zig when others zag, and work from again to entrance, which places you on the alternative monitor of crowds. It’s like leaving the town throughout morning rush hour as an alternative of becoming a member of the rat race into city.
This is the reason we begin our day by heading to Frozen Ever After in World Showcase’s Norway/Arendelle pavilion. That is tied for the most well-liked journey at EPCOT proper now, and as such, you definitely is not going to be the one company heading on this course–on the contrary, a large variety of company will navigate to Norway. Nonetheless, it’ll be proportionally fewer than different headliners–or that’ll be going to Norway later within the day.
By the point you get again to Norway, there’s a great likelihood that Frozen Ever After may have a posted wait time of half-hour or longer. As long as you arrive proper at EPCOT’s opening time, you must do it anyway. Wait instances for Frozen Ever After solely worsen because the day wears on, as most company do World Showcase within the second half of the day.
Cross to Canada – Beatles vs. Stones. Coke vs. Pepsi. Orange vs. Lime. Canada vs. Mexico.
Walt Disney World followers have lengthy debated which course is the “appropriate” strategy to begin a trek round World Showcase. We’re right here to tell you that the most effective method is definitely each. After ending up in Norway, double again and head to Canada, persevering with round World Showcase in that course. You’ll perceive why if you see the subsequent cease…
Scurry to the Streets of Paris – The opposite hottest attraction in EPCOT is Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, which can also be the most recent at Walt Disney World. As a result of this “new journey scent,” it’s what most company race to throughout Early Entry and at rope drop.
Consequently, we’ve noticed an fascinating phenomenon with a relative lull in wait instances about an hour after park opening till round midday. This hole is principally between when the early arrivers have already completed up with the attraction however earlier than the company who prioritized the entrance of the park arrive to World Showcase. It’s nonetheless early, so this development might change, but it surely intuitively is smart and our expectation is that it’ll proceed.
As such, your purpose must be to reach at Remy’s Ratatouille Journey earlier than lunch. It could not appear to be a lot, however knocking out these two headliners earlier than mealtime is big, and can set you up for an environment friendly afternoon. That is additionally a nice use of a Lightning Lane, so in the event you do buy Multi-Move, attempt to e-book Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, ideally additionally with a time slot earlier than midday.
The World Showcase is Your Oyster – Routinely seen because the culinary epicenter of Walt Disney World, there are a selection of distinctive eating places in World Showcase. We expect the delicacies at many of those is overrated, but it surely’s nonetheless price being a bit adventurous and consuming someplace distinctive. A few of our favourite choices embrace Biergarten, Teppan Edo, Spice Street Desk, Through Napoli, and Cooks de France.
If you need one thing extra approachable, among the best counter service eating places in EPCOT is Regal Eagle Smokehouse. It has quite a lot of crowd-pleasing BBQ, plus salad and even plant-based choices. (We’ve eaten all the pieces on the menu–learn our Regal Eagle Smokehouse: A Assessment of All Meals, However Largely BBQ Meats for ideas on what to order.)
Alternatively, if it’s important to head again to the entrance of the park in your Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind return time, eating on the new Connections Cafe & Eatery isn’t a foul possibility. Each of those have very strange menus which can be easy and easy, however surprisingly good.
American Journey – Proper subsequent door to Regal Eagle Smokehouse is Epcot’s finest attraction. American Journey is a strong Audio Animatronics present montage stage that includes key moments in American historical past.
American Journey is so good that it made our checklist of the Prime 10 Disney Theme Park Points of interest. Skipping it will be distinctly unpatriotic.
_______ Across the World – The gap round World Showcase is roughly 1.25 miles. Should you observe this plan, meaning you’ll be strolling at the least 2.5 miles (you’re prone to stroll over 10 miles in a day at Walt Disney World, so that is nothing), as that is going to name for two laps round World Showcase. It’s price it.
Throughout this primary lap, we propose attempting Ingesting Across the World or Snacking Across the World. Or attempt each for a unique type of the “Dopey Problem.” We advocate a snack or drink at each cease for the balanced method, however hats off if you are able to do extra. Alongside the way in which, think about breaks for Reflections of China and Canada Far & Huge.
Across the World Pit Stops – If it’s ‘Pageant Season’ at EPCOT (which principally encompasses all the yr save for a couple of weeks), you must cease to get pleasure from both the meals & drink cubicles or particular choices throughout these occasions.
Listed here are the assorted occasions together with their approximate annual timeframes:
World Showcase Atmospheric Acts – It must be apparent from the above entries, however we can not overemphasize the significance of slowing down and taking your time to get pleasure from World Showcase. There must be no sense of urgency for the center portion of the day. Traces for points of interest on the entrance of the park are at their longest, making this a good time to kill time–discover the nooks and crannies, interact with the structure, browse retailers, and–as mentioned above–eat!
Most significantly, take a while to cease and see the atmospheric leisure acts. Amongst different performers, this contains Voices of Liberty (American Journey), Matsuriza Taiko Drummers (Japan), Command Efficiency (United Kingdom), Les Raftsmen (Canada), Sergio the Italian Clown Juggler, and extra. Observe that performers can (and do!) change seasonally, as do showtimes. For schedules, we extremely advocate consulting the My Disney Expertise app on the day of your go to.
Maneuver to Mexico – Round mid-afternoon, you must discover crowds beginning to construct in World Showcase. Now’s the time to double again in the direction of the entrance of the park. In your means out, make a cease contained in the Mexico pavilion to do the Gran Fiesta Tour boat journey.
Should you’re planning on having fun with a drink or few, now can also be a great time to cease at La Cava del Tequila or Choza de Margarita for a drink. Each areas may have already got traces, however these will solely be worse later.
Again to the Future World – When you’ve “completed” World Showcase, bounce again to the entrance of the park, previously often called Future World. That is the counter-intuitive method. Most company do EPCOT from entrance to again, which means the wait instances for points of interest on the entrance of the park are longest in the beginning of the day and reducing within the afternoon.
Order of points of interest doesn’t make an enormous distinction in Future World (with a few huge exceptions), however our advisable method is:
- Journey into Creativeness with Figment
- Meet Figment
- Meet Minnie & Mickey Mouse
- Spaceship Earth
- The Seas with Nemo & Mates (be certain that to take a look at the aquatic life, particularly the majestic manatees)
- Residing with the Land
- Soarin’ Over California
- Moana’s Journey of Water
- Mission: House
That entails a little bit of backtracking; be happy to scale back that if you wish to decrease steps.
The primary vital factor is to ensure Soarin’ Over California and Mission House are in the direction of the tip. These are the 2 points of interest that may have the longest traces earlier within the day. By early night, each traces must be a lot shorter than they had been within the morning.
Moana’s Journey of Water is often much less busy within the night, and it’s a nice spot to observe the sundown and see day transition to nighttime at EPCOT. Even in the event you stopped by earlier within the day, it’s price taking a couple of minutes for a sundown stroll.
Dinner – After getting back from the pink planet in Mission: House, head above Earth for dinner at EPCOT’s latest restaurant. See our Photographs & Video Inside House 220 Restaurant in addition to our House 220 Restaurant Assessment that appears at whether or not the meals is definitely worth the price ticket.
In a great state of affairs, you’d e-book an Advance Eating Reservation in World Showcase about 2 hours earlier than the fireworks, with dinner wrapping up shortly earlier than that begins. If orbiting above Earth isn’t your velocity, there are nice choices in World Showcase.
Spice Street Desk is our high choose in World Showcase proper now for delicacies and open air ambiance. If this sounds outdoors your consolation zone, we’d encourage you to attempt it regardless of that–there are some surprisingly approachable menu choices. If Spice Street Desk doesn’t sound interesting to you think about Through Napoli, which serves the most effective pizza in Walt Disney World.
Impressions de France – That is the attraction we expertise most in EPCOT, and is one in all our picks for “Underrated Walt Disney World Experiences.” The rating is hauntingly lovely, and the imagery as you swoop by totally different elements of France is gorgeous.
There are a number of EPCOT movies, however that is the one one which’s actually a must-do. (You’ll want to take a look at the “Story as Outdated as Time” exhibit within the foyer beforehand, too.) Sadly, it solely is proven the final 2 hours of the day, so that you won’t have time for each Impressions de France and the fireworks.
If for some cause the wait time was too excessive, you didn’t have a Lightning Lane, you don’t care about fireworks, otherwise you simply need to journey it once more–that is additionally a good time to do Remy’s Ratatouille Journey. Even when the posted wait time is over an hour, there’s a great likelihood the precise wait time is about half that. (Disney inflates wait instances on the finish of the night time.)
Fireworks Finale – EPCOT has had three totally different nighttime spectaculars in the previous few years, with the most recent being the brand-new Luminous: The Symphony of Us. This debuted late final yr and may stay extremely fashionable into 2025. Will probably be way more aggressive than viewing EPCOT Endlessly, so we advocate staking out a spot at the least half-hour upfront.
For planning functions, seek the advice of our Greatest EPCOT Fireworks Viewing Spots posts for a listing of the most effective spots and different suggestions for viewing the nighttime spectaculars.
EPCOT Put up Present: World Showcase Stroll – Because the eating places in World Showcase make eating reservations till park closing and it takes some company over an hour after park closing to complete their meals, you’ve over an hour to linger and slowly make your means out of the park after the park closes. Take full benefit of this with a leisurely stroll out of the park. Belief us, it’s price it.
Should you’re capable of do even 75% of the issues on our single-day EPCOT plan of assault, you’re just about assured of getting a wonderful day within the park. Should you do have two or extra days to get pleasure from EPCOT, or need to expertise different points of interest apart from these we’ve listed, be certain that to take a look at our EPCOT Park & Points of interest Information, which charges and evaluations all points of interest.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about lodges on our Walt Disney World Resorts Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the pieces it’s essential know!
Your Ideas
What would you embrace in your perfect day in EPCOT? Any suggestions of your individual so as to add, or stuff you’d advocate that this itinerary is lacking? Should you haven’t visited Walt Disney World, what do you propose on doing? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions about your experiences is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas or questions under within the feedback!
