EPCOT is the Disney Park that is currently undergoing major redevelopment works. Over the last couple of years, The Walt Disney Company has renamed the neighborhoods of the theme park. Future World has been split into three themed lands: World Celebration, World Nature and World Discovery. These lands’ names are cohesive with World Showcase, which has kept its original name.
EPCOT is a Disney Park that Guests can spend an entire day in. Equally, we love spending a morning or an evening in the Walt Disney World Park, allowing us to split our time with another part of the Walt Disney World Resort in one day. Early Theme Park Entry adds a little extra magic to your Disney experience by allowing you to ride attractions with a minimal wait if you are a Disney Resort hotel Guest.
Plan your day in the Disney Park effectively, and using Disney Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lane isn’t required. Time it right, and attractions such as Spaceship Earth, Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico Pavilion, and Living with the Land in World Nature can be experienced with less than a five-minute wait. However, attractions such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, and Test Track draw Guests to use the Disney services due to their popularity and long lines.
If you want to experience all of these attractions without the additional cost that Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane require, you may need to skip some of the EPCOT attractions. Here are the EPCOT attractions we always avoid, especially when we don’t have time to experience everything in one day.
Mission: SPACE
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to embark on a space mission with NASA, then you’ll want to ride Mission: SPACE. The simulated attraction allows Guests to experience a rocket launch to Mars. If you’d rather skip the intense G-Force experience (the Orange Mission), there is a gentle simulated experience via the Green Mission.
But why do we skip this EPCOT attraction? Simulated ride experiences are not for us. The attraction is also not suitable for Guests who do not like enclosed spaces or suffer from motion sickness. We recommend dining in Space 220 to get the space experience instead.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Board your clam and enjoy a gentle ride descending into the World Nature aquarium. Take a journey under the sea with Crush, Dory, Marlin, and friends from Finding Nemo (2003). The Seas with Nemo and Friends is a great attraction to enter the EPCOT aquariums, however, expect a long walk around the line before you board the attraction. We love to explore inside but prefer to enter near the Coral Reef restaurant.
Awesome Planet
Located in The Land Pavilion, Guests walk by the Awesome Planet theatre on their way to use the escalators down to Soarin’ Around the World and Living with the Land. The ten-minute film shows Guests stunning imagery from across the world. In-theatre effects are used to help tell the story of Planet Earth and why we need to look after it.
Awesome Planet is a beautiful show to watch, but we generally find ourselves walking by to enjoy the other attractions in The Land Pavilion. Time it right, and you’ll be able to walk straight into the theatre. Otherwise, you’ll have a ten-minute wait for the theatre to open and welcome Guests again.
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Take a ride through the sensory labs of Imagination Institute. Figment will guide you through each lab, providing you with a demonstration of how each of your five senses can capture the imagination. This is a great attraction to experience if you are looking for a low wait time. It’s also fun to share with younger Guests. However, once you’ve experienced the smell lab, you’re done with this attraction forever! Sorry Figment, but you’ll find us passing on your journey!
Impressions de France
You’ll find an eighteen-minute film called Impressions de France at the back of the France Pavilion in EPCOT World Showcase. Prepare to enjoy a movie showcasing France’s romance, charm, and grandeur. |f you are yet to visit France, Impressions de France will inspire you to take that vacation soon. While this EPCOT attraction offers a welcome break from the Floridian sun and heat, we always forget about it. We much prefer to explore the shops in the France Pavilion while enjoying some AC.
Canada Far and Wide in Circle Vision 360
Another place to take a break from the sun is found in the Canada Pavilion. Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 offers breathtaking views of Canada. Enjoy a twelve-minute presentation in a 360-degree cinema. While we love the idea of a place to sit, cool off, and take a break from the crowds, we much prefer to take in the views of the beautiful Canada Pavilion by browsing the stores and exploring the gardens and waterfalls.
Visiting Disney World outside the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is crucial to experience Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360. The Circle Vision theatre has been known to become a Food Booth during the EPCOT Festival, resulting in the show being paused.
Reflections of China
The final place to enjoy a short film in EPCOT is the China Pavilion. Reflections of China is a twelve-minute film shown in Circle-Vision 360. This is your opportunity to enjoy an immersive tour of the sights and sounds of China. It’s likely to inspire you to plan a vacation to China soon. But similar to the other films in EPCOT, we find ourselves walking by and exploring other parts of the Disney Park, including The American Adventure and other World Showcase Pavilions.
Do you agree with our choices? Which EPCOT attractions do you generally avoid? Are these on your list to experience or avoid during your next Walt Disney World Resort vacation?
Check out the Magic Kingdom attractions we always avoid too!
