Our 1-day Epcot itinerary particulars technique for an ideal go to, together with doing Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This Walt Disney World touring plan has step-by-step technique to keep away from ready in lengthy traces for rides, beating crowds, seeing exhibits, eating at one of the best eating places, and having fun with World Showcase. (Updated February 11, 2023.)
This one-day Epcot plan has been overhauled a number of instances within the final yr, considering Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary celebration, Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours, pageant crowds, plus paid FastPass–however this itinerary assumes you’ll not be shopping for these line-skipping providers. If you do plan on spending the additional, seek the advice of our 1-Day Epcot Itinerary with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
Then there’s all the building and new additions. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure have now been open for some time now, and these huge additions plus Frozen Ever After in World Showcase are all huge boosts for Epcot. Which you need to prioritize can be dependent upon whether or not you’re coming from the Crescent Lake resorts or Skyliner gondolas and getting into by way of International Gateway, or Epcot’s entrance entrance. We’ll handle this within the new 2023 single-day Epcot itinerary beneath.
This put up continues our sequence of Walt Disney World Park Itineraries & Touring Plans designed to reply the ceaselessly requested query, “what would you do in an ideal day at the park?” We view Epcot as Walt Disney World’s greatest “atmosphere park” and there have been full days once we’ve achieved barely any sights at Epcot, as a substitute simply meandering round, having fun with World Showcase.
Epcot stays within the midst of a large transformation. On the plus aspect, this has already resulted in some enjoyable new choices, with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind being the large new addition at Walt Disney World for this yr. Additionally, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure has debuted within the France pavilion, the Harmonious spectacular performs nightly in World Showcase Lagoon, and the entrance of the half begin to take form with new eating places and retail.
With all of that in thoughts, let’s cowl the 1-day Epcot touring plan…
Fast-Forward to (Cosmic) Rewind – On the morning of your Epcot day, at the least one individual in your get together will should be awake earlier than 7 am. This is as a result of friends with a legitimate ticket and a Disney Park Pass reservation for Epcot will have the ability to entry the digital queue system beginning at 7 am on the day of their park go to. This is completed exterior the park–earlier than you allow your resort resort, or from actually anyplace.
The digital queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind fills up quick. Our How to Ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind & Virtual Queue Speed Strategy is important studying and covers every part you’ll want to know–like growing your possibilities of success! (For causes past us, this digital queue continues to be in use. However, we anticipate it to be retired within the close to future–possible earlier than TRON Lightcycle Run opens on April 4, 2023. It can be unprecedented for Walt Disney World to make use of two digital queues concurrently.)
If you’re unsuccessful, you possibly can attempt to be part of the digital queue once more at 1 pm from contained in the park. Pencil Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind into this itinerary every time is handy after your boarding group will get referred to as. You have an hour to return to the attraction from receiving the notification that it’s your time to experience. The digital queue is getting simpler to enter, so that you shouldn’t have a problem–particularly with the 1 pm drop.
Early Entry at Epcot – Walt Disney World is now providing Early Theme Park Entry, which permits on-site resort friends to enter Epcot (or any park) half-hour earlier than official park opening time. Early Entry is obtainable in any respect 4 theme parks each single day of the week. This complicates technique, particularly for off-site friends. Check out our Guide to Early Theme Park Entry at Walt Disney World for more information.
If you possibly can reap the benefits of this early admission and might be getting into by way of International Gateway, we’d strongly suggest studying our current Early Theme Park Entry at Epcot Photo Report for tips on how to sort out the park’s headliners by way of standby, and why this on-site perk is healthier than Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Epcot.
Navigate to Norway – In the previous, we’d not have really useful prioritizing World Showcase, which is generally purchasing, eating, and wandering. However, there are a number of compelling causes for doing so proper now.
For starters, World Showcase is residence to each of Epcot’s hottest sights that provide standby traces. There’s additionally the truth that most friends arrive by the entrance entrance and do Epcot from entrance to again, which means they do World Showcase within the afternoon. Zig when others zag, and work from again to entrance, which places you on the other monitor of crowds. It’s like leaving town throughout morning rush hour as a substitute of becoming a member of the rat race into city.
This is why we begin our day by heading to Frozen Ever After in World Showcase’s Norway/Arendelle pavilion. This is tied for the most well-liked experience at Epcot proper now, and as such, you actually is not going to be the one friends heading on this route–on the contrary, a large variety of friends will navigate to Norway. However, it’ll be proportionally fewer than different headliners–or that’ll be going to Norway later within the day.
By the time you get again to Norway, there’s likelihood that Frozen Ever After could have a posted wait time of 45 minutes or longer. So lengthy as you arrive proper at Epcot’s opening time, you need to do it anyway. Wait instances for Frozen Ever After solely worsen because the day wears on, as most friends do World Showcase within the second half of the day.
Cross to Canada – Beatles v. Stones. Coke v. Pepsi. Orange v. Lime. Canada v. Mexico.
Walt Disney World followers have lengthy debated which route is the “correct” technique to begin a trek round World Showcase. We’re right here to tell you that one of the best method is definitely each. After ending up in Norway, double again and head to Canada, persevering with round World Showcase in that route. You’ll perceive why if you see the following cease…
Scurry to the Streets of Paris – The different hottest attraction in Epcot is Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, which can be the most recent at Walt Disney World. Due to this “new ride smell,” it’s what most friends race to throughout Early Entry and at rope drop.
Consequently, we’ve noticed an fascinating phenomenon with a relative lull in wait instances about an hour after park opening till round midday. This hole is principally between when the early arrivers have already completed up with the attraction however earlier than the friends who prioritized the entrance of the park arrive to World Showcase. It’s nonetheless early, so this pattern might change, nevertheless it intuitively is sensible and our expectation is that it’ll proceed.
As such, your purpose must be to reach at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure earlier than lunch. It might not look like a lot, however knocking out these two headliners earlier than mealtime is big, and can set you up for an environment friendly afternoon.
The World Showcase is Your Oyster – Routinely considered because the culinary epicenter of Walt Disney World, there are a selection of distinctive eating places in World Showcase. We assume the delicacies at many of those is overrated, nevertheless it’s nonetheless value being a bit adventurous and consuming someplace distinctive. Some of our favourite choices embrace Biergarten, Teppan Edo, Spice Road Table, Via Napoli, and Chefs de France.
If you need one thing extra approachable, among the finest counter service eating places in Epcot is Regal Eagle Smokehouse. It has quite a lot of crowd-pleasing BBQ, plus salad and even plant-based choices. (We’ve eaten every part on the menu–learn our Regal Eagle Smokehouse: A Review of All Foods, But Mostly BBQ Meats for ideas on what to order.)
Alternatively, if it’s a must to head again to the entrance of the park on your Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind return time, eating on the new Connections Cafe & Eatery isn’t a nasty possibility. Both of those have very abnormal menus which can be easy and simple, however surprisingly good.
American Adventure – Right subsequent door to Regal Eagle Smokehouse is Epcot’s greatest attraction. American Adventure is a robust Audio Animatronics present montage stage that includes key moments in American historical past.
American Adventure is so good that it made our record of the Top 10 Disney Theme Park Attractions. Skipping it will be distinctly unpatriotic.
_______ Around the World – The distance round World Showcase is roughly 1.25 miles. If you comply with this plan, meaning you’ll be strolling at the least 2.5 miles (you’re more likely to stroll over 10 miles in a day at Walt Disney World, so that is nothing), as that is going to name for two laps round World Showcase. It’s value it.
During this primary lap, we propose attempting Drinking Around the World or Snacking Around the World. Or attempt each for a distinct type of the “Dopey Challenge.” We suggest a snack or drink at each cease for the balanced method, however hats off if you are able to do extra. Along the way in which, think about breaks for Reflections of China and Canada Far & Wide.
Around the World Pit Stops – If it’s ‘Festival Season’ at Epcot (which principally encompasses your complete yr save for a couple of weeks), you need to cease to get pleasure from both the meals & drink cubicles or particular choices throughout these occasions.
Here are the assorted occasions together with their approximate annual timeframes:
Maneuver to Mexico – Around mid-afternoon, you need to discover crowds beginning to construct in World Showcase. Now is the time to double again in direction of the entrance of the park. On your manner out, make a cease contained in the Mexico pavilion to do the Gran Fiesta Tour boat experience.
If you’re planning on having fun with a drink or few, now can be time to cease at La Cava del Tequila or Choza de Margarita for a drink. Both places may have already got traces, however these will solely be worse later.
Back to the Future World – Once you’ve “finished” World Showcase, bounce again to Future World. This is the counter-intuitive method. Most friends do Epcot from entrance to again, which means the wait instances for sights on the entrance of the park are longest initially of the day and reducing within the afternoon.
Order of sights doesn’t make an enormous distinction in Future World (with a few huge exceptions), however our really useful method is:
- Journey into Imagination with Figment
- Spaceship Earth
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends (make sure that to take a look at the aquatic life, particularly the majestic manatees)
- Living with the Land
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Mission: Space
- Test Track
That includes a little bit of backtracking; be at liberty to scale back that if you wish to reduce steps.
The vital factor is to verify Soarin’ Around the World and Test Track are in direction of the tip. Those are the 2 sights that may have the longest traces earlier within the day. By early night, each traces must be a lot shorter than they had been within the morning.
Dinner – After coming back from the crimson planet in Mission: Space, head above Earth for dinner at Epcot’s latest restaurant. See our Photos & Video Inside Space 220 Restaurant in addition to our Space 220 Restaurant Review that appears at whether or not the meals is definitely worth the price ticket.
In an excellent situation, you’d ebook an Advance Dining Reservation in World Showcase about 2 hours earlier than Harmonious, with dinner wrapping up shortly earlier than that begins. If orbiting above Earth isn’t your pace, there are nice choices in World Showcase.
Spice Road Table is our prime decide in World Showcase proper now for delicacies and open air environment. If this sounds exterior your consolation zone, we’d encourage you to attempt it regardless of that–there are some surprisingly approachable menu choices. If Spice Road Table doesn’t sound interesting to you think about Via Napoli, which serves one of the best pizza in Walt Disney World.
Impressions de France – This is the attraction we expertise most in Epcot, and is certainly one of our picks for “Underrated Walt Disney World Experiences.” The rating is hauntingly stunning, and the imagery as you swoop by totally different elements of France is gorgeous.
There are a number of Epcot movies, however that is the one one which’s really a must-do. (Be positive to take a look at the “Tale as Old as Time” exhibit within the foyer beforehand, too.) Unfortunately, it solely is proven the final 2 hours of the day, so that you won’t have time for each Impressions de France and Harmonious.
Hang Out for Harmonious – The new nighttime spectacular in World Showcase Lagoon for Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary is Harmonious. This fireworks present options an assortment of songs from Disney films, choreographed fountains, colourful lights, lasers, LED panels, fireworks, an enormous Stargate, and extra.
It’s an odd mixture of expertise and the present suffers from pacing points and visuals which can be extremely location-dependent. Read and see extra in our complete Harmonious Review. For planning functions, seek the advice of our Best Epcot Fireworks Viewing Spots posts for a listing of one of the best spots and different suggestions for viewing the present.
Epcot Post Show: World Showcase Stroll – Since the eating places in World Showcase make eating reservations till park closing and it takes some friends over an hour after park closing to complete their meals, you have got over an hour to linger and slowly make your manner out of the park after the park closes. Take full benefit of this with a leisurely stroll out of the park. Trust us, it’s value it.
If you’re in a position to do even 75% of the issues on our Epcot touring plan, you’re just about assured of getting a superb day in Epcot. If you do have two or extra days to get pleasure from Epcot, or need to expertise different sights apart from these we’ve listed, make sure that to take a look at our Epcot Park & Attractions Guide, which charges and evaluations all sights.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about accommodations on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a novel take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every part you’ll want to know!
Your Thoughts
What would you embrace in your splendid day in Epcot? Any suggestions of your personal so as to add, or stuff you’d suggest that this itinerary is lacking? If you haven’t visited Walt Disney World, what do you intend on doing? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions about your experiences is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas or questions beneath within the feedback!