The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow; that is a mouthful for a theme park. Epcot which opened in 1982 had suffered from the perception that it was a theme park that was primarily of interest to adults. While that may have been true in the early years, today finds plenty of excitement awaiting kids and adults alike. During a previous trip to Disney World in 1981 we boarded a bus leaving the Magic Kingdom which happened to be empty. The congenial bus driver made a little side trip and took us to the main entrance of the nearly completed Epcot theme park. I remember looking up at Spaceship Earth thinking that this geodesic dome resembled a giant golf ball and I imagined that god was about to take his stance with his celestial driver and whack the dome right into Dade county. Spaceship Earth is the first attraction you encounter upon entering the park and is quite popular. On a busy day the lines to board the ride in Spaceship Earth are extremely long in the morning and afternoon. If you want to go on Spaceship Earth I recommend doing it on your way out of the park in the evening when lines are shorter. The ride itself can be a little boring to small children and they may not even want to go on it. Imagine being a little child looking up at this massive structure looming above you as you stand in line for up to an hour and you can see how it might frighten little children. On your way into the park don’t forget to have your picture taken with Spaceship Earth in the background. Do it again on your way out in the evening when the dome is lit up, its colors will knock your socks off.
Epcot is divided into two sections: Future World and the World Showcase. Future World consists of two large exhibition buildings and seven rides and attractions. When it opened nearly thirty years ago Future World was a little staid and unexciting but now it has several of the most popular thrill rides at Disney World. The World Showcase has some impressive architectural displays with authentic restaurants and cultural exhibits from countries around the world; and even a ride or two. The World Showcase has always been a favorite of mine for its food and architecture as well as IlluminNations, a fantastic fireworks, laser light and water show that will thrill you. One of the most interesting facets of the World Showcase is that the cast members (Disney employees) you encounter at each country’s exhibit are actually from the country they represent. We went back to Epcot the first year it was open and indeed it did seem quite stuffy, especially the two building exhibit called Innoventions which is directly located behind Spaceship earth. While Innoventions has made a little progress throughout the years I feel it will still be somewhat boring to little children. My recommendation is to bypass Innoventions and head for the fun stuff beyond.
If your children are very small you can pretty much skip the attractions of Epcot that are to your left as you make your way into Epcot, but I will give you a quick overview of them anyhow. The first attraction to your left as you enter the park is the Universe of Energy. Inside the Universe of Energy is one of my favorite rides where you watch a short movie and then magically entire sections of the theater start moving and take you on a journey back in time where you experience a world of dinosaurs and volcanoes so lifelike that even adults cower in fear as dinosaurs do battle with each other. My grandchildren did go on this ride in 2008 but refused to do so in 2010. Unless your little children are very brave and adventuresome you might consider leaving this ride for a future trip when the kids are older.
The next attraction on the left side of Future World is Mission Space. This ride is definitely not for little children and even not for some adults such as myself. It is the only ride in Disney World that offers you a choice between two versions of the ride. Both versions are intense. Mission Space is a motion simulator that takes you on a mission to Mars. As you enter the ride there is a sign with a long list of warnings about who should not ride this ride including; those with heart problems, bad backs, and pregnant women. Although children above 44” tall are allowed on the ride I would not recommend it for any but the most fit and stout hearted of individuals.
Next in line on the left is Test Track which has a 40” tall height restriction. This is one ride that I will recommend for kids that meet the height requirement. The ride looks much more intense than it actually is. Both of my grandchildren loved it and we went on it multiple times. If you are by now familiar with the Fast Pass service this is the ride you will want to send your runner on ahead to get Fast Passes for. This ride is extremely popular and the Fast Passes are snapped up quickly.
Now that I have given you an overview of the left side of Future World I would recommend that your first stop after Spaceship Earth be The Seas with Nemo & Friends which is on the right side of Spaceship Earth. This attraction has a nice aquarium, and a ride where you board a Clam Mobile for an under the seas adventure where you search for Nemo, but it also has what is my all time favorite show – Turtle Talk With Crush. This is a very entertaining show where Crush the hippest turtle in the sea interacts with the audience. Upon entering the theater little ones are encouraged to sit on the floor in front of a large screen while adults are supposed to take seats in the back of the theater. Oh how I wish I was little and could sit down front! It doesn’t take long before Crush has the audience erupting in laughter with his comments. He talks to the kids, answers questions and thoroughly entertains one and all. Don’t miss this show!
If you can pull yourself away from Crush the next attraction on our itinerary is The Land. It is home to two rides; Soarin and Living with the Land. Soarin is a ride that takes you on a hang gliding adventure over California’s most scenic wonders. It has a 40” height limitation: if your kids measure up they would probably enjoy this ride. Living with the Land is a gentle educational boat ride through a greenhouse which can be a welcome respite from the excitement of the day.
The last of the attractions in Future World is Imagination. It features a nice ride for kids entitled Journey Into Imagination With Figment. It is an entertaining ride for the kids featuring a playful dragon named Figment. Located inside the Imagination pavilion is Image Works, an interactive play and exploration area where kids are encouraged to give free reign to their creativity. Imagination does have a 3D movie. It used to be a hilarious movie entitled Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Unfortunately it has been replaced by the 3D movie Captain EO starring Michael Jackson. This movie had been at the Imagination pavilion many years ago and had not proved to be very popular. In truth is just isn’t very good at all and I am at a loss to explain why Disney chose to replace Honey I Shrunk the Audience with it. Anyhow, outside the Imagination pavilion is an attraction that I have enjoyed ever since Epcot opened. Outside the Imagination pavilion are a series of fountains that miraculously shoot perfectly formed tubes of water back and forth. If you don’t mind the kids getting a little wet let them play underneath the water tubes and be sure to have your camera ready. When the kids have had their fill of the shooting water tubes head on over to the World Showcase.
Instead of turning right outside of Imagination to get to World Showcase I want you to go straight ahead walking just to the left of the large fountain in front of Imagination. The reason I want you to go this way is there is a little known photo op spot along the way, along with an ice cream cart where you can bribe the kids into letting you take their picture with the rear of Spaceship Earth and a fountain in the background. 
You won’t have a problem with other Disney fans getting in your picture because very few people head this way. After your ice cream (I like the ice cream bars shaped like Mickey’s head) head towards the World Showcase lagoon. When you reach the main thoroughfare turn left and walk towards the Mexico pavilion. As you cross the bridge on your way to the Mexico pavilion look down at the flock of pink flamingoes that make their home there. The kids will enjoy this mass of pink fluff, where each bird seems to be miraculously standing on only one leg. The architecture of the Mexico pavilion is outstanding and it has a scenic restaurant which serves authentic Mexican food. And I do mean authentic, you won’t find anything like this at the unnamed little dog fast food restaurant. But there is something inside the Mexico pavilion that will absolutely delight the kids. There is a gentle boat ride to the left and rear of the restaurant that almost everyone overlooks. The ride is entitled the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros. While you gaze at the electric light fireworks display above the kids will be watching a movie starring Donald Duck; Panchito, the Mexican rooster; and Jose Carioca, a Brazilian parrot. My grandchildren loved this ride so much that we went on it five times. By the way there are no lines for this ride it because it is so little known and you can get off, go right around to the entrance and get right on again.
On our way out of the Mexico pavilion in 2010 we made a delightful discovery of something I had never known existed at Epcot; Kidcot Fun Stops. There are fourteen Kidcot Fun Stops at the World Showcase. At each of them the kids are able to make their own free souvenirs by making crafts with the help of cast members from the country that each pavilion represents. My grandchildren had a ball making masks at the Mexico pavilion.
If you don’t see the Kidcot Fun Stop at an individual country’s pavilion ask a cast member to point it out to you. Here a quick tip for you; the Kidcot Fun Stop at the United States pavilion is outside.
After the Mexico pavilion is the Norway pavilion which has a family friendly boat ride and a popular character dining experience featuring Disney princesses including the only appearance of Ariel at the character dining meals that I have experienced.
Next stop is the China pavilion; one of my favorites. On a past trip here some of the terracotta soldiers and horses from Xian, China were on display there; they were outstanding! The China pavilion also has my favorite movie of all the movies in Disney World; Reflections of China is a Circle-Vision 360 aerial tour of China’s most spectacular sights. Sadly, this movie would make most little children uneasy. You watch the movie standing up and it is like standing in the middle of a fast moving Imax movie. My grandchildren would not watch it with me so I wasn’t able to see it on my last two trips to Disney World.
After China is the Germany pavilion where you will find an authentic German beer garden and lively German music.
Moving on we now are at the Italy pavilion. The architecture and great Italian food will have you singing O Solo Mio in a heartbeat.
The American Adventure pavilion is at the apex of the lane going around World Showcase lagoon. Inside is the patriotic and inspiring show The American Adventure; a combination of audio-animatronics, film and music. There are almost always singers and/or drum corps performing to entertain you. If that isn‘t enough entertainment for you; just outside the American pavilion on the edge of the World Showcase lagoon is the America Gardens Theater. There are shows there throughout the day and night that are quite good and offer a chance to sit down and rest for a bit during your walk around the lagoon.
As you move on you will see the Japan pavilion with peaceful gardens, great architecture, and authentic Japanese dining.
As we continue our adventure of discovering different cultures we enter Morocco. Here you can be entertained by belly dancers while munching on dates and eating Couscous.
After Morocco you will swear you are actually in Gay Paree as you stand in the middle of a cobblestone square at the French pavilion. There is a movie here; Impressions de France which is quite nice but probably won’t be of interest to little children. If it is snack time there is one thing in the Paris pavilion that I know the kids and you will like: try a chocolate éclair at the bake shop. They are magnifique!
After a walk across a bridge over an inlet that goes to some of the Disney resorts you come to the United Kingdom where you can have a glass of bitters (quite tasty) and dine on steak and kidney pie.
The final country we will visit is Canada where you will find another Circle-Vision 360 film that my grandchildren wouldn’t let me see. Canada features one of the most popular adult dining spots and it is always booked up. If you happen to make a future trip here when the kids are older or if you are by yourselves make reservations online far in advance for the Le Cellier Steakhouse.
I have saved what I think is the best for last. IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, Epcot’s spectacular fireworks and laser light show plays nightly on the World Showcase lagoon. This show is not to be missed, especially if you have never seen it before. The entire display is coordinated with music specifically orchestrated for the show. I like to plan on viewing the show on the nights when Epcot has its Extra Magic Hours for resort guests. I will go to the park in the morning and then take a nice long break in the afternoon, go back to Epcot in time to see the show. Then after the crowds leave I enjoy unlimited rides on the most favorite attractions. It is almost like having your own private theme park. People stake their claim to the best viewing spots around the lagoon up to two hours before the show starts. When IllumiNations is over the thousands of spectators all try to leave at the same time. These thousands of people are all funneled into the narrow opening to Future World and you have to protect little children from the crowd whose only objective is leaving the World Showcase as fast as possible. Take a tip from me and just sit for a little while and enjoy the afterglow of a spectacular show and then maybe even spend a little time at a country’s pavilion before heading to the rides in Future World.
The evolution of Epcot over the past almost thirty years has seen it become a park known for its thrill rides such as Test Track. Not as popular as the Magic Kingdom but still a place where you accumulate a treasury of Disney memories.
Next. I’m going to Hollywood.
