EPCOT Guide- What to Know Before You Visit

Disney’s Epcot has so much to see and do. In this post I am sharing a full Epcot guide to everything you need to know before your visit.

I really enjoy visiting Epcot because is is such a unique theme park. There are so many things to see and do that even with dozens of visits I always find new things to discover.

This guide to Epcot is to help you become familiar with what there is to do at Epcot and what you want to include in your day. When you are done reading this check out my 1-day Epcot itinerary to put it all together for your visit.

Epcot Guide- The Basics

Before you arrive at Epcot you want to be prepared and know a few things about your visit including park hours, cost and how to get there.

Costs of Visiting Epcot

It is also important to check ticket prices and hours before you arrive. Epcot one day ticket price starts at $119.00 a day but these are during August and September. Most days start at $150.00 a day. This price depends on the date of your visit and can change.

When I look for tickets for Epcot I will shop a few websites and compare prices. I start with the Walt Disney World website to see what special offers are available. Then I compare to other Disney ticket deals and Undercover Tourist deals. If you want someone to do the planning for you reach out to our friend Nikki at Royal Treatment Travel for great deals.

Epcot Hours

Epcot is typically open from 9:00am-9:00pm. Hours can change and I highly recommend confirming your travel dates on the website.

Guests staying at a Disney World resort can enter the park 30 minutes before park opening by taking advantage of Early Entry. They would be able to enter Epcot at 8:30am.

Guests staying at a Deluxe resort can take advantage of Extended Evening Hours that are usually the 2 hours after official park closing time. This would be between 9:00pm – 11:00pm.

If you are planning on arriving at park open be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before the park opens.

How to Get to Epcot

Bus, Disney Skyliner, Friendship boats, and walking paths are available to guests visiting Epcot.

Guests staying at an Epcot hotel will enter Epcot at International Gateway. These hotels are within walking distance of the park. You can also take a boat but it doesn’t really save you any time. Walking is the best option. Guests arriving via the parking lot or bus transportation will enter at the front of the park.

If you are entering from a Skyliner resort (Epcot hotels), like Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, or the Riviera Resort, you will enter in The World Showcase at the International Gateway which is between France and the United Kingdom.

Epcot Layout

Epcot is divided into 4 different areas. They are World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature and World Showcase. This is built around a lake. World Showcase horseshoes around the lake and the other lands are at the front of the park.

Looking over the map on My Disney Experience app to give you a better idea of the layout of the park and allow you to organize your Epcot touring plan easily.

Lightning Lane at Epcot

Lighting Lane is the ride reservations system at Epcot. It is an additional cost to your daily admission ticket.

Guests that purchase can reserve times to ride each attraction 7 days before check-in date if staying on-site or 3 days before park visit. Both are available at 7:00am on the My Disney Experience App.

There are three types of Lightning Lane Experiences available for purchase:

• Lightning Lane Multi-Pass: Allows guests to book 3 rides before you arrive. After you use 1 you can then book another. 1 reservation per ride per day and cost $24.00-$35.00 a day/per person.
• Lightning Lane Single Pass: A one time purchase for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is $20.00 per person/per day. Prices fluctuate depending on day of visit.
• Lightning Lane Premier Pass: Entry to each attraction one time without having to make reservations. Cost is $159.00 a day/per person.

Lightning Lane Attractions at Epcot

Choose one from Group 1:

• Frozen Ever After
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• Test Track

Choose two from Group 2:

• Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
• Journey into Imagination with Figment
• Living with the Land
• Mission: SPACE – Green
• Mission: SPACE – Orange
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Spaceship Earth
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Turtle Talk with Crush

Is Lightning Lane Worth It?? Yes, it saved us time waiting for rides and I recommend it for your day at Epcot. On-site guests can make reservations before they arrive at the parks, up to 7 days from check-in date. Guests that don’t want to use the paid service can use the regular line for all attractions.

Special Events at Epcot

Epcot hosts many special events throughout the year. These typically bring crowds especially later in the afternoon. It is good to be aware of Special Events when planning your day at Epcot. All of these are included with your admission to the park.

• Festival of the Arts (January/February)
• Broadway Concerts (January)
• Flower and Garden Festival (March-July)
• Food and Wine Festival (July-November)
• Festival of the Holidays (November/December)

Epcot Guide- What to Expect

Epcot’s four areas are very large spaces in the park. World Nature, World Discovery, and World Celebration are at the front of the park and The World Showcase is towards the back of the park. Below are the most popular attractions in each area.

• World Nature: Soarin’, Living with the Land, Seas with Nemo and Friends
• World Discovery: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track
• World Celebration: Spaceship Earth, Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
• The World Showcase: Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Each area offers attractions, walk-thru exhibits, dining, and shopping for guests. Epcot blends theme park thrills with a lean into curiosity and education.

One unique experience to Epcot is the DuckTales World Showcase Adventure. This is an interactive experience played on the Play Disney Parks mobile app.

Once downloaded you can log in and participate in scavenger hunts around the park that sets off different DuckTales characters hidden throughout the World Showcase. This was really fun when my kids were small and it is a free experience.

There are also characters and shows you may want to include in your day Check the My Disney Experience App to see what is available during your visit. Epcot has a nightly show- Luminous the Symphony of Us that is shown on the lagoon inside the park.

World Celebration

World Celebration is the first land you enter from the front of Epcot. Guests are welcomed by the giant Spaceship Earth that you will walk under to make your way into the park. There is also a ride inside it.

World Discovery

World Discovery has two of the most popular rides at Epcot: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Test Track. There is also a small playground area inside the Mission Space building. (Table service/Reservations Recommended = TS)

World Nature

World Nature has a peaceful ambiance to it that leans into a slower pace and embraces nature.

World Showcase

World Showcase features 11 different country pavilions that have rides, attractions, dining, and shopping. I will be writing a full post soon and will update that here when it is up but below I have listed the countries and any rides/attractions that are at that country.

World Showcase Pavilions:

• Canada: Canada Far and Wide in Circle Vision 3D (show)
• United Kingdom
• France: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Beauty & the Beast Sing-Along (show), Impressions de France (show)
• Morocco
• Japan
• The American Adventure: The American Adventure (show featuring animatronics), American Gardens Theatre (show)
• Italy
• Germany
• Outpost
• China: Reflections of China (show)
• Norway: Frozen Ever After, Meet Anna & Elsa
• Mexico: Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros

Coming Soon to Epcot

This is a quick update on what has been announced for coming soon to Epcot.

• Soarin’ Around the World will open as Soarin’ Across America in summer of 2026 as part of the Disney Celebrates America celebration.

My Final Thoughts

Epcot is a park that people either love or hate. It can feel a bit disjointed because there is so much to process and experience. During festivals it gets crowded and can impact a visit.

What I have learned over our visits is to lean into what we can experience during our day at Epcot and save the rest for another visit.

This means if we have one day at the park we may spend our time at World Showcase and not as much time in the other spaces. Or we may want to explore the aquarium so we plan our day around that. Consider your kids ages and interests and use that to plan a day at Epcot that best suits your needs.

I hope this guide to Epcot helps you feel excited to plan your trip.

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If you are overwhelmed with planning or just want someone to make all the reservations for you consider using a travel agent. Our friend Nikki at Royal Treatment Travel is amazing and has helped us plan and book many of our trips. She finds the best deals and her service is complimentary for most theme park vacations! It is a win-win. Learn more here.

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