What are the best rides at Epcot? Walt Disney World has done a lot in recent years to expand the choice of rides at Epcot. This Disney park is probably the most misunderstood of any of the four theme parks.
Each of the others has a strong idea related to it. However, Epcot has often, but unfairly, been seen as the one which is just a little difficult to define.
Which are the Best Epcot Rides?
Sure, we know Epcot was based on Walt Disney’s idea of the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. However, somehow the fact that Epcot has some excellent rides and attractions gets a little mixed up along the way.
What Are the Rides at Epcot?
One of the most innovative, expensive and technologically advanced rides at Epcot, Test Track is also one of the most popular. For good reason.
This thrilling Disney Test Track ride has at its theme the concept of a vehicle test facility. Epcot Test Track will have you test driving anti-lock breaks, speeding around tight corners, collision aversion maneuvers, and then accelerate you to 65 miles an hour.
Epcot Test Track is a great ride for everyone in the family – well those over 40″ high anyway.
For more details and a video go to Epcot Test Track.
Most of the Test Track ride is indoors, but for the final acceleration to 65 miles per hour, the ride goes outside. The track is in a huge circle and the ride vehicle accelerates quickly around.
Wear a hair tie if you have long hair as the wind is pretty intense!
Take a look at the features in the line – it is one of the most entertaining in Epcot. You will be spending quite a bit of time in there so you may as well look at the details!
Always get a Fast Pass if you can as Epcot Test Track is one of the most popular attractions in the park.
The best times to ride Epcot Test Track are early in the morning at rope drop and later in the evening as the park is about to close.
Unfortunately, as one of the most technologically advanced of the Disney rides, Test Track does have quite a bit of downtime. It really is not just one of the best rides in Epcot but the whole of Disney World, so make sure that you experience it if you can.
Soarin’ Over the World
This Soarin’ Over the World Epcot ride made it’s debut in Disneyland California and has been a big hit in Disney World since making it to Florida on May 5th, 2005.
This 4 minute 40 second simulated Soarin” Over The World flight ride takes guests over the amazing sights of the World including The Great Wall of China, Sydney Harbor, The Taj Mahal and Iguazu Falls in South America.
The ride used to have a movie Soarin’ Over California which originally debuted in Disney’s California Adventure Park.
However, both the Florida and California version was updated to include the new movie Soarin’ Around the World. This is such a huge improvement on the Soarin’ Over California version.
I always loved the original, but they have certainly improved on this Disney classic.
The only thing which is slightly disturbing is the image of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I have been there and know that it really doesn’t curve like that!
The reason for this is something technical to do with the filming process. I don’t get it, but just ignore the fact that the Eiffel Tower looks like it is curved and you are going to enjoy this Epcot ride a whole lot!
Even though this is a simulated flight it is not a flight simulator! It is an entirely different concept with a ride mechanism that actually takes guests up into the air on a row of seats.
You are safely strapped into your seat and then you ‘fly’ upwards into the air in front of a giant IMAX screen.
There are 3 rows of seats and as your feet dangle in the air, the best view is on row 1 as your line of vision doesn’t have someone’s feet in it.
I always have difficulty actually explaining this ride to people before they ride on it. The best thing is just to experience Soarin’ Over The World for yourself.
This is one of those must-do rides at Walt Disney World. There really isn’t anything like it at any other theme park. Epcot’s Soarin’ is truly a Disney original.
The height requirement is 40″ and young children do get an extra safety strap. Try and get a Fast Pass for this ride as lines up to 120 minutes are not unheard of.
Either ride Soarin’ or Test Track as soon as you arrive at Epcot and get a Fast Pass for the other attraction. These are the best rides at Epcot.
Living with the Land
The Living with the Land attraction is housed in The Land Pavilion with Soarin’. That is where the similarity ends.
This is unfortunately now very much a secondary attraction which can be missed if time does not permit. This used to be one of my favorite attractions, but now it just seems so dated.
However, if lines are not too long then it is still worth experiencing. Also, if you just want a break from the noise and crowds of the Disney theme parks, this is a very relaxing Epcot ride.
You will board a slow-moving boat that will take you through an educational journey about advances in agricultural technology.
Sounding great so far? Actually, it is a lot better than that basic description suggests as it is interesting to see aquaculture farming, the upside-down tomato plants and the innovative ways of increasing food production.
Sounds dull? Some people think it is, but I think it is worth experiencing at least once. However, it is not one of the best rides at Epcot, so if the line is long you can skip it.
Living With the Land is a 14-minute gentle boat ride and you may just learn something along the way.
However, Living With the Land is one of those Disney rides which really need an update. I hope that they update it rather than close it down as they sometimes do with the older attractions.
Epcot The Seas with Nemo and Friends
You can see all of your favorite characters from the Finding Nemo movie on this gentle Epcot ride. Launched in 2007 The Seas with Nemo and Friends appeals to all ages.
Guests board a slow-moving clamobile and glide past the 5.7 million gallon aquarium which appears to feature Nemo and his friends.
The technology on The Seas with Nemo and Friends is amazing and the effect combines animation with the real creatures of the sea in the huge aquarium.
It is a secondary attraction, but I still think it is worth your time. However, if the line is longer than 30 minutes you may want to skip it.
Fortunately, the line for Nemo and Friends is all inside. Therefore, it can be a welcome escape from the Florida heat at the height of the summer.
There is no height requirement for The Seas with Nemo and Friends and this is definitely a feel-good attraction for every member of the family.
Epcot Spaceship Earth
This is, of course, the most recognizable ride at Epcot. At 180 feet high the iconic Spaceship Earth ride can be seen for miles around.
The geodesic silver dome of Spaceship Earth takes guests on a journey through time – from the beginning of mankind to present times.
This 13 minute Epcot ride travels inside the dome in slow-moving vehicles that pass animatronic scenes through the ages. Describing it isn’t easy – believe me, it is better than it sounds!
Space Ship Earth is definitely an Epcot attraction that has to be experienced at least once. Unfortunately, it is due to close in early 2020 for a refurbishment which is expected to last for 2 years.
The usual ‘traffic’ pattern for Spaceship Earth is that guests ride it as soon as they enter the park. It is right there at the front of the park and so it is tempting to do that.
However, if the wait time is over 20 minutes long then think again. Try and ride it later in the day before you go into World Showcase when the lines are usually much shorter.
Epcot Mission Space
Mission Space is the only ride at Disney World, and possibly anywhere, to provide motion sickness bags for guests! This gives you an idea of why this Epcot ride is not quite as popular as Disney had hoped.
It is a motion simulator ride that speculates about what an astronaut may experience on a journey to Mars. Obviously, this requires quite a stretch of the imagination, but it is well worth trying this Epcot ride.
There are 4 riders in each vehicle and everyone is assigned their own role (i.e potential buttons to press when instructed) either Commander, Navigator, Pilot or Engineer.
The Mission Space ride vehicle is small and if you are prone to motion sickness or claustrophobia this is a ride where you really should observe the warnings. Riders experience up to 2.5 G Force.
I remember that when this ride first opened it was hailed as the next big thing in ride technology. Unfortunately, it was a little too much for many riders and it is one of the least popular in the Epcot park.
Epcot Mission Space is a highly intense and very unique ride. It is certainly one of the most thrilling Disney World rides.
But for many, it was a little too much which is why Disney opened a second non-motion version of the ride. This is also quite a lot of fun and does not have the G Force of the main attraction so is suitable for more people.
If you do not like enclosed spaces though avoid Mission Space. There is not that much space in the capsule!
Mission Space rarely has long lines, particularly for the motion simulator version so no particular tactics are needed to avoid the lines.
Journey Into Imagination with Figment
This is one of the older Epcot rides and is found in The Imagination Pavilion in Future World. This somewhat mediocre ride has the theme of how our imaginations play tricks on us and features the lovable Figment the Dragon as our guide.
Guests board a vehicle that slowly takes them through various scenes of our senses. It is suitable for all ages but some parts are dark, noisy and contain just a few surprises. If you are short on time this is one you can safely skip.
Rides at Epcot – World Showcase
There are only a couple of rides in Epcot World Showcase but they are both definitely worth experiencing.
Epcot Frozen Ever After Ride
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Frozen Ever After is the newest ride in Epcot. It replaced the Maelstrom ride in the Norway Pavilion of World Showcase.
As you can imagine, Frozen Ever After is a phenomenally popular ride. Think, the most popular ride you can imagine. Then double that.
Those guests who ever experienced Maelstrom will recognize that the basic structure of the boat ride has changed very little for this Frozen-themed ride in Epcot. It has been completely overtaken by the Disney Frozen theme though.
Frozen Ever After is a boat ride with some small drops. There is a 28-foot drop close to the end which some may find a little bit scary.
Always get a Fast Pass. Lines aren’t as bad as they used to be, but can still often be around 2 hours. You really don’t want to be waiting in Arendelle for that long. Read our guide to getting difficult Fast Pass Reservations.
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
This is a gentle and relaxing ride housed inside the Mexico World Showcase Pavilion at Epcot which is loosely based around the 1944 movie The Three Caballeros which featured Donald Duck.
This 7-minute ride sails past the San Angel Inn Restaurante and into the history and landscape of Mexico. This Epcot ride is a lot of fun and is suitable for all ages.
As you will see it is perhaps rather unfair that Epcot is sometimes thought of as not having a large selection of rides. In fact, Epcot has some of the best and most popular rides in Walt Disney World.
Which Epcot ride is your favorite?
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Tuesday 25th of February 2014
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John & Mugs
Saturday 17th of December 2011
We recently made a one day trip to Epcot with friends from out of state. Our friends had not been there for many years, while my wife & I are Florida residents who last visited it in 2008. We were all pretty disappointed in the park. We had been on Soarin' prior to the 2008 visit while our friends had never been on it. The ride was the high point of the day, however, it was offset by the short duration and the length of time waiting for our "appointment' from fast pass. The park was overrun with strollers & electric carts which were constantly clogging walkways and exhibits. We had hoped to ride on some other 'premium' rides, ie: Energy, Test Track, etc but the wait times were ridiculous (the park was perhaps 1/3 full) and the fast pas times were well into the late afternoon. We settled on things such as the boat ride through the Land then a visit to Captain EO. I had forgotten that this 3-d was a Michael Jackson/Michael Eisner love affair flick from 1985. It is dated and shows every one of it's 26 years. Time to re-do this Disney guys! We had told our friends about the restaurants in the Living Seas and the great show in the German biergarten, so we made lunch reservation at the Coral Reef and dinner reservations at the biergarten. I must admit the lunch was quite surprising; my wife & I shared the appetizer for 2 ( 4 fried shrimps, 2 quarter sized crab cakes and 2 teeny cups of lobster bisque. We also shared a fish tostada which was 2 3 inch round tostada chips with a dollop of fish salad. All were quite tasty, but pricy at $11.59 and $859 respectively. Dinner, other than the show, was the pits. For $35 a head we able to slog through a buffet line of primarily coldcuts with various salads. Hot dishes were roast pork of cardboard consistency sliced by a disintered server, chicken cutlets that would make wonderful shoe soles, beef rouladen that was dry and tasteless and a baked salmon dish that was not sampled but looked overdue to leave the steam table.Other hot foods were various german type sauaages and sauer kraut, potato salad, red cabbage (ok), spatzle (ho hum), etc.The deserts were tasty though microscopic. If you have never visited Epcot, this will be a n experience. If you haven't visited in the last few years, nothing much seems to have changed.
HOLIDAY GUIDE » Epcot Rides » HOLIDAY GUIDE
Sunday 18th of September 2011
[...] the four theme parks. Each of the others has a strong idea related to it whereas Epcot has …http://www.everythingmouse.com .. Incoming search terms:epcot ridesepcotepcot disneydisney ride soarindisney ride in epcot ballDisney [...]
Epcot Rides Guide | | ALL HOLIDAYS GUIDEALL HOLIDAYS GUIDE
Wednesday 14th of September 2011
[...] our imaginations play tricks on us and features the lovable Figment the dragon as our guide. …http://www.everythingmouse.com .. Share and Enjoy: This entry was posted in Epcot Rides and tagged Epcot, Guide, Rides. Bookmark [...]