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Best Rides For Adults to Do at Epcot

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Looking for the very best rides for adults at Epcot?

Adulting at Disney’s Epcot has become synonymous with boozy walks around World Showcase or taking the monorail crawl.

While these can be fun with adult friends, these activities are not the only attractions Disney has to offer adult guests.

There are so many things to do at Epcot to entertain everyone, no matter what their age.

So which of the Epcot rides and attractions are the best for adults? Here is your complete guide!

epcot rides for adults
Epcot Spaceship Earth

Whilst Disney parks do not make any attractions specifically for adults there are some rides that are more suited to grown-ups.

Epcot is perhaps the most “adult” of all of the Disney parks.

And although much of Epcot is centered around the World Showcase shopping and dining experiences, there are still many great rides at Epcot to experience.

The park itself is split into two parts.

Future World and World Showcase.

Future World is a collection of pavilions and rides which have evolved over the years. This is the part of the park which has the iconic Spaceship Earth geodesic dome.

World Showcase is a celebration of different nations which have shops, dining experiences, and attractions, all located around the World Showcase Lagoon.

Soarin’

Riding on Soarin’ is a great way to start your day in this Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Yes, that is what Epcot stands for!

Soarin’ is a highly unique motion simulator-type ride.

You will feel as though you are flying over some of the most iconic landmarks in the world, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and the Matterhorn.

The ride simulates the feeling that you would have from flying above these amazing places in a hang glider. Soarin’ is certainly one of those very unique Disney rides.

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The original movie was Soarin’ Over California, which never made that much sense in the Florida Disney park, but nevertheless, it worked. Then in 2016, the new current version of Soarin’ Around the World was introduced.

Soarin’ is calm and thrilling all at once, so every type of rider can enjoy it. From young children to seniors, this attraction is sure to please.

Be aware though that if you do not like heights then you have to take a close look at what this attraction actually involves. The ride mechanism does go pretty high, but you only really have a sense of this if you look down!

If you came to EPCOT to see the world through the pavilions of the World Showcase, this is an added treat that lets you briskly visit even more world destinations.

The ride mechanism is a little difficult to describe. At the front of the attraction is a 180 degree, 80-foot IMAX screen.

As you walk into the attraction space, you will see 2 huge metallic structures to your left and right.

Each structure has 30 seats – that is 3 rows with 10 seats in each. You will walk into the attraction in order so you will know which seat to sit in.

Once you are buckled up, the lights will dim and you will feel the sensation of the chairs being raised up into the air.

The music and movie then start.

The ride mechanism moves gently in sync with the movie, so it really does give you the sensation of flying. It also uses wind effects to enhance the feeling of motion.

Best of all are the scents that it uses to make you really believe you are there. The Taj Mahal and the Fiji scents are my favorites.

If you want to experience these scents at home then Magic Candle Company really does capture them well in candles, fragrance oils, and melts.

The experience on this ride varies, because unfortunately if you sit on either side the illusion made by the curved screen is spoiled.

The Eiffel Tower is particularly badly affected and looks very curved!

Should they have thought that through a little more? Certainly. But if you’re seated in the center, the ride is absolutely one of the best things to do at EPCOT as adults.

Soarin’ is located in the Land pavilion in what is now called the World Nature neighborhood of the park.

Although it was my first pick and it’s a popular choice, I have to admit that it’s not my favorite ride in this pavilion. More on that later. Suffice it to say that this is one Future World pavilion you don’t want to skip.

Epcot Spaceship Earth for Adults


Epcot’s Spaceship Earth is a great ride for kids and adults. It’s definitely high on the list of the best things to do at Epcot for grown-ups.

Spaceship Earth is housed in the iconic geodesic dome which is right at the main entrance to Epcot park. Most people visit the attraction as soon as they arrive, so this means that lines can be long in the morning.

One tip is to head to other attractions first, and return to Spaceship Earth later in the day before you have entered World Showcase.

epcot space shop earth interior

Spaceship Earth is a Disney ride that every age is going to enjoy. It is a dark ride that tells the story of how communication has shaped the world.

It’s such a powerful perspective on human history that is really well told.

Guests board a continuously moving vehicle, which seats two people.

You slowly travel around the geodesic dome, going past scenes from history. From Cave Men to the dawn of the computer age, this ride takes you on a journey through time.

Since the attraction opened in 1982 there have been four different Spaceship Earth Scripts. The present one is narrated by Dame Judi Dench.

It was announced in 2019 that Spaceship Earth would be closed and refurbished. The closure will last for 2 years.

The refurbishment has been delayed and no date has been announced. Neither do we know any details about what the changes may be.

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The last refurbishment of Spaceship Earth introduced the interactive element towards the end of the ride. Even when it first came out it seemed dated – and it certainly does now!

Let’s hope that when the refurbishment of Spaceship Earth does happen that it keeps the fundamental spirit of the attraction but modernizes it with new technology.

However, for the moment Spaceship Earth remains open and it definitely a must-do ride at Epcot for all ages including adults.

Epcot Test Track

Not all adults love thrill rides, but if you do you are certain to love Test Track!

Don’t expect a white knuckle kind of intensity – just a kind of fun easy attraction that all the family, including the adults, will enjoy.

The idea behind Epcot Test Track is that you are riding in a car that takes a series of safety tests.

The original story idea was that you were a kind of human crash test dummy, but this idea went away with the latest refurbishment!

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You will board a test vehicle that holds up to 6 guests in two lines of three. The best seats are at the front – and the best of these are on either side of the middle.

Your vehicle then goes through a series of fun “tests”. These include braking and steering tests.

What everyone really looks forward to though is that final loop around which takes place on the track outside. You start from standing and get up to speeds of 65 miles an hour around the circular track.


It really is fun to feel the wind rip through your hair as you take that final outdoor lap. Bring a hair tie if you have long hair or you will miss most of the visuals from having your hair in your face!

Mission: SPACE

This is perhaps the most thrilling of all the rides in Epcot. But also one of the most disliked.

The reason?

One version of it is very intense.

Definitely not the Epcot ride for you if you have motion sickness. This is most definitely an intense ride!

When Mission: SPACE opened there was just one version of the ride. It had the dubious distinction of being the only Disney ride where a vomit bag was provided!

There are now two versions of this space simulation ride. The green version is the tame one and the orange one is the fun one. I’m kidding, but I do love the more exciting intense version.

Mission Space Epcot

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This Epcot ride is meant to simulate the first crewed mission to Mars.

Each simulator takes 4 guests who are each assigned to a role or either navigator, pilot, commander, or engineer.

It really doesn’t matter which one you are as it doesn’t particularly alter your experience.

You do need to be aware that the simulator is small. If you are likely to be claustrophobic, avoid this ride.

If you ride the Orange version you can experience up to 2.5 G. Hence the vomit bags.

This is currently the most thrilling attraction in Walt Disney World in my opinion. It’s not for everybody, but when you love it, you love it.

Living With the Land


Back to the Land pavilion for my favorite EPCOT ride. This slow-moving boat ride is so enjoyable.

This Epcot ride is just so unique. It certainly isn’t a thrill ride, but it is relaxing and entertaining.

epcot living with the land

Living with the Land is a boat tour that sails around various dark ride elements with a brief narrative about nature before bursting into the sunlight for a tour of Epcot’s futuristic greenhouses.

The boat tour highlights various forms of high-tech sustainable agriculture that are better for the environment and more efficient.

This is more a ride for the adults than the kids. It is slow-moving, educational, and relaxing – small children may be a little bored.

epcot living with the land
Epcot Living with the Land

The food that grows there is not only real, they distribute it to restaurants around Walt Disney World.

You don’t have to go far to try it though, there is a table service restaurant and a quick-service food court inside the Land pavilion.

Wait times on Living with the Land tend to be pretty short.

The American Adventure

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If you love history, this show is also one of the best things to do at Epcot for adults.

While technically not a ride, this attraction is unlike any other show. A host of mobilized animatronics and sets below the audience make it possible.

The complexity of the show notwithstanding, viewers are treated to a concise narrative about the American nation’s history with well-written scenes and Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain as co-hosts.

Like Spaceship Earth it’s a good way to brush up on history and it is certainly thought-provoking. A definite must-do attraction for adults visiting Epcot.

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Gran Fiesta Tour

Located in the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot World Showcase, the Gran Fiesta Tour is a gentle, but entertaining boat ride.

I think of this as more of an adult ride because I don’t think many kids are familiar with the source material Saludos Amigos and the Three Caballeros.

epcotmexico

The ride itself feels like a weird mashup of Pirates of the Caribbean and It’s a Small World.

On its most basic level, it’s a ride-through travel brochure, but the added layer of the Three Caballeros concert tour narrative gives the ride plenty of laughs and a better sense of entertainment.

Plus, while you are inside the mesoamerican pyramid that houses the entire pavilion, you can drop in on La Cava Del Tequila.

Best Epcot Restaurants

That tequila bar in the Mexican Pavilion is also one of the best things to do at EPCOT for adults!

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

One of the newest Epcot attractions is Remy’s Ratatouille Aventure. This ride, based on the Pixar movie, has long been a feature of Disneyland Paris, but only just opened in 2021 in Disney World.

This is not just one of the best attractions in Epcot, but the whole of Walt Disney World.

It is also one of the most popular rides in Epcot center.

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Remy’s Ratatouille Aventure at Epcot

Remy’s Ratatouille Aventure is located at the back of the France Pavillion in World Showcase.

It is beautifully themed.

Take some time to explore the exterior and take time to stroll down the streets of France.

The idea of this fun ride is that you shrink down to be Remy the rat-sized and go on a thrilling adventure in Gusteau’s famous kitchen.

You board a four person ride vehicle.

It is in the shape of a rat – but a cute one of course.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure uses the same trackless ride system as Rise of the Resistance.

remyratatouilleadventure

The ride is a lot of fun for all ages, including adults. This is a very family-friendly ride.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is one of the most popular of all the Epcot rides.

Up until early 2022, the ride had a Virtual Queue system where you reserved a spot in line on your phone.

However, the Epcot Ratatouille Ride now has a standby line instead. This is a new and very popular attraction so you can expect long lines.

Due to its popularity, it is now part of the individual Lightning Lane system.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Let’s face it. We always knew that it wouldn’t be long before the Marvel Universe arrived in Epcot. And this was confirmed when Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened on May 27, 2022.

It is Epcot’s first-ever roller coaster. And the most thrilling ride that Epcot has to offer.

It replaced the dated but strangely much missed Ellen’s Energy Adventure. Dinosaurs have been replaced with the characters from Guardians of the Galaxy. Ellen is long gone and the building has now been renamed the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion.

The ride has a number of interesting elements – a 360-degree spinning ride vehicle, it uses screens for effects and physical sets, and it has a thrilling soundtrack from the 70s and 80s.

You experience one song on each ride – so it is a very different experience if you get one of the others.

The ride has a height requirement of 42″ and is described as a “thrilling, high-speed, turbulent ride that goes forward and backward through the dark and includes sharp turns, sudden drops, and stops.”

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is attention-grabbing from the very start of the ride right to the end. It starts with a reverse launch.

It is of course, insanely popular. There is no standby line at present so you have two alternatives. The Lightning Lane or a Virtual Line.

Frozen Ever After

I did wonder whether to include Frozen Ever After in an article about the best rides for adults at Epcot. Then I realized it was essential to include it.

Not only is it one of the most popular rides in the whole of Disney World it is a really fun ride for adults too. I know you are tired of hearing “Let it Go’ but Frozen Ever After is a great attraction!

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Located in the Norway Pavilion in Epcot World Showcase, you take a thrilling (well slightly) boat ride around Arundale.

It replaced the much-loved, but rather dated Maelstrom. The basic ride track has stayed the same, but Anna, Elsa, and Friends have moved into the space!

Anyone who rode on Maelstrom will recognize that a lot has stayed the same.

Frozen Ever After retains the two drops. They are thrilling rather than scary. We are not even talking Splash Mountain level – more like Pirates of the Caribbean.

The line is pretty much always long. The ride is very slow loading and this is the only downside of this great attraction.

Frozen Ever After is now part of the Lightning Lane system where you can pay extra to decrease the time that you spend standing in line.

Want to Know More About Epcot?

epcot facts

Epcot is such a huge park it really takes some research to get the most out of it. You could easily spend two days here and not experience everything you want to do.

Epcot is not only known for its rides. It is particularly known for its fabulous food and restaurants.

Here are some guides for you:

Epcot Mexican Restaurants

Best Sushi in Disney World

What is the Best Breakfast in Epcot?

Best Epcot Restaurants for Families