Epcot is for Everyone
My family just got back from a week at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I’ve mentioned in several previous posts that we are fans of Florida and the Disney theme parks. I grew up going to Disney World, so it is a tradition. Each trip there is something different to discover, from new restaurants to new attractions. This time I was in awe of just how much Epcot has changed since I was a kid.
On the plane ride home, my daughter Isabelle told me that Epcot was the best Disney theme park. That made me do a double take. What?!? It was my least favorite as a child. Back then, I thought there were a few interesting attractions and great fireworks, but overall, it was boring, and I would rather spend a day somewhere else. However, I agree with Isabelle now – Epcot has changed over the years and is a must-visit theme park for all ages.
What is Epcot?
I still talk to quite a few people that tell me they are going to Disney World but are going to skip Epcot. I tell them they are making a mistake if they do. For the past 10+ years, it has been a place children can truly enjoy as they have added more rides to accompany the learning experience. So what is this park all about?
Epcot is an acronym created by Walt Disney in 1966 meaning Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. The park opened in 1982. A beacon of innovation and cultural exploration, Epcot stands as a testament to Walt Disney’s vision of an experimental prototype community of tomorrow. It feels like two distinct parks – one part being a world of the future and the other being the World Showcase where people can “visit” many different countries. These areas were going to be two separate parks until the Disney team designing them pushed the two theme park models together and decided to make it one big park.
At its core, what sets Epcot apart from other theme parks is its unique blend of education, innovation, and global cultural immersion. Kids and adults will learn something new there each time they visit. The great thing is that kids don’t even realize they are learning. As Isabelle explained, “I love Epcot because it gets me excited about technology and the future.”
Attractions that Educate and Inspire
If you’ve visited Epcot in the past, you’ve likely visited Spaceship Earth inside the iconic “Epcot ball” as most people call it, Mission: Space, and other immersive experiences such as Soarin’ within the Future World area. Isabelle’s favorite ride is Test Track, which has been around for quite awhile, though updated, and invites users to create virtual concept cars.
Kieren designs a car at Test Track
What truly distinguishes Epcot’s Future World is its commitment to education and environmental stewardship. Attractions such as The Seas with Nemo & Friends and Living with the Land not only entertain but also educate guests about marine life conservation and sustainable agriculture. This was our first time to visit Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana which opened in October 2023. We walked through the area at night, and it was magical! Children can interact with the water while learning about the global water cycle. This self-guided path attraction is absolutely worth doing.
Isabelle activates water with motion at Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
On the inspiration side, it was our first time riding Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster. It is one of the largest indoor roller coasters, and we all loved it. Though not high on the educational side, it arguably has one of the biggest awe factors of any Disney ride because of the technology involved. We had just watched a documentary about Disney Imagineers, and what they accomplished with this attraction was amazing.
Visiting the World in One Day
You get a hint of world travel when you visit Epcot’s World Showcase. In this area, 11 pavilions representing 11 different countries provide culturally immersive and educational experiences as well as fantastic restaurants at different price ranges. In each area, you can also purchase souvenirs specific to each country and items that would be very hard to find elsewhere. Our teenager, Kieren, loved the World Showcase area.
There is also country and cultural-specific entertainment at each pavilion, which adds to the unique vibe of the World Showcase. Something I love about this area is that when you visit the France pavilion, for example, many Disney employees (called cast members) working in this area are from France. It has the employee’s name and country on their name tag. The cast members are happy for inquiring children to learn about their heritage.
There are also added bonuses for younger children in the World Showcase such as Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at the France pavilion and Frozen Ever After located in the Norway pavilion. Watching the night fireworks is the perfect way to end the day at Epcot. The show takes place on the pond in the middle of the World Showcase.
Epcot is a celebration of human achievement (past and present), cultural diversity, and the endless possibilities of tomorrow. Walt Disney once said, “Epcot… will always be in a state of becoming,” and it continues to become something better with each visit. It is a place that everyone, toddlers through adults, can enjoy over and over again.
