Guide to Visiting EPCOT Theme Park [One Day Itinerary for Families]

EPCOT at Walt Disney World is all about innovation and celebrating international culture. The park spans 305 acres and is divided into four main neighborhoods – World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and World Showcase. Each area has its own distinct focus with rides, dining, and attractions that work with the unique theme.

The largest of the neighborhoods is the World Showcase, and this area is known for its permanent 11 nations represented as you walk around the showcase. Throughout the year, EPCOT is also home to festivals that incorporate booths throughout the theme park which expand the already diverse food offerings available throughout the park.

Without a doubt, this is the theme park you’ll want to spend some time at if you’re a foodie, and in addition to the variety of food available at stands throughout the park, there are also some notable dining options available here that you’ll want to try as well.

Visiting during one of the annual festivals at EPCOT? Learn more about these fun events on these pages:

EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
EPCOT Festival of the Holidays

Where is EPCOT

EPCOT (an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) was the second theme park to open up at Walt Disney World and was originally dreamed up by Walt Disney himself to be a planned living community. The idea morphed over its inception and became a celebration of innovation and learning, where you can dive into a number of topics during your time there.

There is monorail transportation available to EPCOT from the Ticket and Transportation Center, on a separate line from the monorail resorts. This is a fantastic way to arrive at the theme park, as you get a sweeping view over the park as you arrive. There are also buses to EPCOT from all of the Disney Resorts, and some of the resorts within the EPCOT resort area, like Beach Club Resort and BoardWalk Inn Resort, are even within walking distance from the International Gateway entrance to EPCOT.

Boat transportation is available from the EPCOT resorts on Crescent Lake, which include not only Yacht Club Resort and Beach Club Resort and BoardWalk Inn Resort – but also the Swan and Dolphin Resorts as well. And the Disney Skyliner also can get you to EPCOT from the Riviera Resort station, so as you can see – there are a variety of ways to arrive!

If you will be driving your car in and parking, large parking lots are available to accommodate your vehicle and these rarely fill up. Trams are available to take you to the front entrance of the theme park from your parking spot if needed.

Parking passes at Walt Disney World theme parks are a one day pass that is good at all four theme parks for the day. Fees to park range from $20-$25 per day based on the time of year, and can go up to $50 per day for preferred parking nearest the entrance.

All lots have designated parking for guests with disabilities where a valid disability parking permit will be required to be displayed on your vehicle.

Arriving at EPCOT

When you get to EPCOT, you’ll immediately be greeted by the park icon – Spaceship Earth. Spaceship Earth is also home to one of the park’s legacy rides, where you can go back in time to see the very beginnings of language and innovation, and see how we arrived at where we are today.

As previously mentioned, there is a “back” entrance that you will arrive at if you come to EPCOT via boat transportation or the Disney Skyliner. This International Gateway entrance opens up into the World Showcase between England and France, and also makes a great spot to watch fireworks at the end of the evening. (Especially if you are staying at one of the Crescent Lake resorts, where you can walk back to your resort at the end of the night from this entrance/exit.)

There’s lots to see and do at this park, so you’ll definitely want to plan to spend at least one full day here.

What You’ll Find at EPCOT

There are four distinct neighborhoods within EPCOT: World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and World Showcase.

World Celebration: At the entrance to the park, this area is home to Spaceship Earth and the all new expansion of this area will be fully open in December 2023.

World Discovery: All about science and technology, World Discovery has Test Track, Space 220 Restaurant, Mission: SPACE, and the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

World Nature: This area is home to The Seas with Nemo and Friends; The Land Pavilion; and the new Moana Journey of Water opening October 18, 2023.

World Showcase: The largest area at EPCOT celebrates 11 unique countries and hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year.

Dining at EPCOT

If each theme park has a strong suit, then dining is EPCOT’s specialty! You can find many cultural favorites throughout the World Showcase, and at festivals throughout the year there are special dishes from even more options available.

There are 19 different table service restaurants at EPCOT, so as you can see there are more options than you could fit in over one day!

Table Service Restaurants:

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Dine with princesses at this character dining located in Norway, within the World Showcase. The menu features traditional Norwegian dishes and we enjoy being able to see a variety of princesses at this meal – notably, Belle, Snow White, Princess Aurora, and Ariel are often seen here.
Biergarten – Located in Germany within the World Showcase, this restaurant features traditional German fare like bratwurst and schnitzel.
Chefs de France – Located in France within the World Showcase, this restaurant features traditional French dishes like French Onion Soup and braised beef in elegant settings.
Coral Reef – Dining set next to a large aquarium with a wide selection of seafood located in the World Nature area.
Garden Grill Restaurant – Character dining with Chip, Dale, Mickey, and Pluto served family style. Located in the World Nature area inside The Land.
La Creperie de Paris – A newer addition in France within the World Showcase, serving crepes and galettes.
La Hacienda de San Angel – One of two table service restaurants in the Mexico pavilion within the World Showcase, this restaurant is located outside on the water with a variety of Mexican cuisine.
Le Cellier – Steakhouse located in the Canada pavilion of the World Showcase. It has a classic steakhouse menu with delicious flavors and a calming atmosphere.
Nine Dragons – Authentic Chinese cuisine located in China within the World Showcase area.
Monsieur Paul – Located inside the France pavilion within the World Showcase, this features al-a-carte options and grand prix dining with wine pairings.
Rose and Crown Dining – Located in the UK pavilion within the World Showcase, this dining experience serves traditional English meals like Shepherd’s pie and Bangers and Mash.
San Angel Inn – Located inside the Mexico pavilion within the World Showcase, the atmosphere here is the essence of eating outdoors next to Mayan Ruins.
Space 220 – Take an elevator to space to eat at Space 220, located next to Mission: SPACE in the World Discovery area.
Spice Table Road – Located inside the Morocco pavilion within the World Showcase, this lovely restaurant is on the water and features a selection of tapas.
Takumi-Tei – Located inside the “house of the artisan” in the Japan pavilion within the World Showcase, enjoy a traditionally adorned restaurant with rock features and elements from nature throughout the seating area.
Teppan Edo – Located inside the Japan pavilion within the World Showcase, this is the place to go if you’re looking for hibachi!
Tokyo Dining – Located inside the Japan pavilion within the World Showcase, featuring authentic Japanese food.
Tutto Italia Ristorante – Authentic Italian cuisine located in Italy within the World Showcase.
Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria – If you’re looking for great pizza on your trip, be sure to try this restaurant located in Italy within the World Showcase. Portions are big and easy to share here!

You can’t go wrong with trying any of the table service options at EPCOT and it really comes down to your individual taste preferences and types of cuisine you’re wanting at a given meal.

Our repeat restaurants that we enjoy returning to time and again are: Le Cellier, Spice Table Road, La Hacienda de San Angel, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (to be noted, mainly to see the princesses during a meal!), and Garden Grill.

Entertainment and Shows at EPCOT

EPCOT has the most “hands on” areas out of any of the parks, where you can explore innovation and spend time at the exhibits diving deeper into the topics explored.

There are a number of exhibits where kids can explore and make their own creations – from creating their own car at Test Track (temporarily closed for refurbishment as of June 17, 2024) to building their own future world in the area after you ride Spaceship Earth, build in time to stop and see the exhibits that are attached to a number of ride areas.

Your kids will want to spend some extra time at:

Project Tomorrow: Inventing Wonders of the Future – Exhibit following Spaceship Earth ride where innovation and technology come to life.
Mission: SPACE Advanced Training Lab – Playground area directly following the Mission: SPACE ride. (Note: if you have riders that do not want to ride the Mission: SPACE ride, you can come in this one from a back entrance. Ask a cast member!)
Test Track After Ride Exhibit – Explore how cars are made, create your own car commercial, and race cars. (Temporarily closed for refurbishment as of June 17, 2024)
Aquariums inside The Seas with Nemo & Friends – This area is one of the most underrated areas inside EPCOT. We always spend a lot of time exploring this area after riding the slow clamshell ride, and this place is especially great if you have preschoolers. Visit large aquariums and learn about a variety of sea life – you may even be able to catch Mickey scuba diving here!
Hands on Exhibits after Journey Into Imagination with Figment – Dance and create your own Figment on computer screens in this after ride exploration area.

We always underestimate the amount of time we would spend at the rides above, because of the hands-on activities available for kids typically after the ride. So plan in your day if you know these activities will be a hit for your kids, to spend a few extra minutes exploring these areas.

In addition to these hands-on entertainment options, there are also a variety of performances throughout the World Showcase, sharing some of the local culture of the land you’re visiting. There are also movies available in Canada, France, China, and American Adventure to take in more about the culture there.

Currently the nighttime show at EPCOT is “EPCOT Forever”, celebrating the past, present, and future of the theme park. It is a spectacular display of fireworks and music that the whole family will enjoy. The new “Luminous The Symphony of Us” will debut on December 5, 2023 and feature fountains, lasers, fireworks, and music.

Planning your Day at EPCOT

In this next section, we are going to share our “must dos” for EPCOT. Our family has toured this park a variety of different ways as our children have gotten older. (And taller!)

Here are our must see attractions for all ages at EPCOT:

Spaceship Earth
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Frozen Ever After
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

These attractions are must see if your family enjoys thrills and meets the height requirements:

Test Track (40” height requirement) – (Temporarily closed for refurbishment as of June 17, 2024)
Soarin’ Around the World (40” height requirement)
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (42” height requirement)
Mission SPACE (40” Green /44” Orange height requirement)

Tips to Make the Most of Your Disney Day

Most families will set aside one day to visit EPCOT and you will want to arrive hungry to this park! Cuisine is a big part of the day at EPCOT and there are plenty of different types of food to fit every preference.

This is a theme park that has activities that appeal to all ages, and just a few of the rides have height requirements. Younger children will enjoy all of the hands-on activities and slower moving rides, we always liked doing a character dining experience with younger children as well.

For families looking for the thrill rides, you will want to be sure to catch the Guardians of the Galaxy – Cosmic Rewind (42” height requirement), a family thrill coaster where you help save the galaxy with the help of some of your favorite Marvel super heroes.

Using Genie+ and Lightning Lane at EPCOT

Using the Genie+ system isn’t an absolute must at EPCOT, especially if exploring culture and food will be a big part of your day here.

Purchasing a Lightning Lane pass to ride Guardians of the Galaxy – Cosmic Rewind may be a consideration here if you don’t get a scheduled time doing the virtual queue.

Sample One Day Itinerary for EPCOT

This is another theme park where your itinerary will vary depending on whether your party will primarily be focused on thrill rides, or looking for things to do for younger visitors. Park hours typically run from 9am to 9pm, with early entry on days it is available around 8:30am. Check the times guide for the days you plan to visit.

Times guide: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/day

Our itineraries will come together in the middle of the day to enjoy the World Showcase.

-Grab breakfast at your resort before taking the bus to EPCOT!

For opening, you have two options:

Use early entry hours to head to the more sought after rides, like Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
Arrive at/after park opening time entry at a leisurely pace if you’re planning on focusing on dining and visiting the countries in the World Showcase.

Suggested Itinerary for Families at EPCOT

We will split the itinerary into two sample itineraries to give you ideas for two different family scenarios. One for families focused on riding as many thrill rides as possible, and another for families with younger visitors along with them, that will be focused more on shows and lower height requirement rides.

Suggested Itinerary for Thrill Seekers

At EPCOT, there are a few rides for thrill seekers that have higher height requirements and sometimes may have longer waits due to being in demand. These rides should be a priority to fit in early in the day if possible.

We will keep the lower height requirement itinerary in parallel for most of the day at this park though.

Early Entry Priorities for Thrill Seekers:

Test Track (Temporarily closed for refurbishment as of June 17, 2024)
Soarin’ Around the World
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Join Virtual Queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (or get an Individual Lightning Lane) and return at your designated time

8:30am – Early Entry Ride Selection (Frozen Ever After or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure)

8:35am – Frozen Ever After or Remy’s Ratouille Adventure

8:55am – Test Track (Temporarily closed for refurbishment as of June 17, 2024)

9:00am – Park Opens

9:20am – Mission: SPACE (Either side, we prefer Green, but if you’re brave – Orange!)

9:45am – Soarin’ Around the World

10:15am – Snack break (Sunshine Seasons)

10:45am – Journey into Imagination with Figment

11:05am – Head to the World Showcase

11:30am – Gran Fiesta Tour with the Three Caballeros

12:00pm – Lunch Break – Mexico (Quick service or restaurant reservation)

1:00pm – Walk clockwise around the World Showcase

As you tour the World Showcase here are the must see items we recommend for the whole family:

Visit Norway – try the School Bread from Kringla Bakeri og Cafe
Visit China – watch the Circle-Vision 360 degree movie in China, Reflections of China.
Visit Germany – meet Snow White and stop by to see the trains on display.
Visit Italy
- For dinner, we recommend Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria (advance dining reservation typically required) in Italy to try if you’re looking for a great meal to feed a family with good sized portions. There is also Biergarten (advance reservation typically required) in Germany if you’d like to try some German cuisine, or if you haven’t made any Advance Dining Reservations – head into The American Adventure and stop by the Regal Eagle Smokehouse quick service for a bite to eat. If you time your stops at the previous countries, you should make it around to this point in the World Showcase right at dinner time!
Visit The American Adventure – watch the 5:30pm, 6:30pm, or 7:30pm show time of The American Adventure show.
Visit Japan – stop into the Mitsukoshi Department Store to do some shopping and make sure to see the exhibit at the back of the store area with regional art on display.
Visit Morocco – This is a beautiful pavilion that typically has some quiet spots to sit towards the back of the pavilion if you’d like to take a rest. Or if you’re up for a drink or snack, Spice Table Road has a great sharing plate meal options and a fantastic selection of Mimosas.
Visit France – meet Belle and watch the 18-minute film, Impressions de France.
Visit United Kingdom – meet Alice and stop to take a photo in the red phone booth.
Visit Canada – watch the Circle-Vision 360 degree movie in Canada, Canada Far and Wide.

8:30pm – Head to viewing area for EPCOT Forever

9:00pm – EPCOT Forever

As you can see, when you arrive at the World Showcase, we bring the two itineraries together for attractions, dinner, and shows. However you can adapt this itinerary to head to rides you missed earlier in the day or also ride thrill rides for a second time if they are your favorite!

Suggested Itinerary for Low Height Requirement Riders

For families with lower height requirement riders, if you’re wanting to ride Frozen Ever After or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, these would make good selections to head to during extra magic hours for resort guests.

Another fun activity for your younger travelers are the Kidcot Fun Stops throughout the World Showcase, and getting an EPCOT World Showcase passport to “stamp” each country as you visit! (I still have mine from when I was a child!)

Our itinerary comes together for meals and sightseeing around the World Showcase

Early Entry Priorities for Low Height Requirement Riders:

Frozen Ever After
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

8:30am – Head to Early Entry Ride Selection (Frozen Ever After)

8:35am – Frozen Ever After

8:55am – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

9:00am – Park Opens

9:30am – The Land with Nemo and Friends

9:45am – Turtle Talk with Crush

10:15am – Snack break (Sunshine Seasons)

10:45am – Journey into Imagination with Figment

11:05am – Head to the World Showcase

11:30am – Gran Fiesta Tour with the Three Caballeros

12:00pm – Lunch Break – Mexico (Quick service or restaurant reservation)

1:00pm – Walk clockwise around the World Showcase

As you tour the World Showcase here are the must see items we recommend for the whole family:

Visit Norway – try the School Bread from Kringla Bakeri og Cafe
Visit China – watch the Circle-Vision 360 degree movie in China, Reflections of China.
Visit Germany – meet Snow White and stop by to see the trains on display.
Visit Italy
- For dinner, we recommend Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria (advance dining reservation typically required) in Italy to try if you’re looking for a great meal to feed a family with good sized portions. There is also Biergarten (advance reservation typically required) in Germany if you’d like to try some German cuisine, or if you haven’t made any Advance Dining Reservations – head into The American Adventure and stop by the Regal Eagle Smokehouse quick service for a bite to eat. If you time your stops at the previous countries, you should make it around to this point in the World Showcase right at dinner time!
Visit The American Adventure – watch the 5:30pm, 6:30pm, or 7:30pm show time of The American Adventure show.
Visit Japan – stop into the Mitsukoshi Department Store to do some shopping and make sure to see the exhibit at the back of the store area with regional art on display.
Visit Morocco – This is a beautiful pavilion that typically has some quiet spots to sit towards the back of the pavilion if you’d like to take a rest. Or if you’re up for a drink or snack, Spice Table Road has a great sharing plate meal options and a fantastic selection of Mimosas.
Visit France – meet Belle and watch the 18-minute film, Impressions de France.
Visit United Kingdom – meet Alice and stop to take a photo in the red phone booth.
Visit Canada – watch the Circle-Vision 360 degree movie in Canada, Canada Far and Wide.

8:30pm – Head to viewing area for EPCOT Forever

9:00pm – EPCOT Forever

Final Thoughts on EPCOT

As you can see, there is lots to do, see, and EAT while at EPCOT! Use the plans above to choose what will be the best fit for your family, and we recommend planning at least one day of your trip to enjoy this theme park. And if you love food, this is a great theme park to plan a second day (or use park hopping to enjoy a second time) so that you can try meals at completely different locations!

Read all of our theme park guides to plan out your Disney days!

Guide to Visiting EPCOT Theme Park [One Day Itinerary for Families]

Where is EPCOT

Arriving at EPCOT