What is the Disney World Resort? Part 2: Epcot

I have decided that I will go in the order of the parks opening date for my 4 part blog entry about the Disney parks. So that means next is Epcot, which opened in 1982. A lot of people think they would not enjoy Epcot and that children would not enjoy Epcot. While I will admit if I had to choose one park to skip it would likely be Epcot (although that is unlikely to ever happen lol). But Epcot is actually a very enjoyable park for both adults and children. 

 

Epcot is a park in which it's focus is technology, as Walt had wanted it to be a futuristic city. This of course did not happen and the park was built long after Walt's death. Instead it was built as a park that focuses on learning and technology. The name Epcot stands for Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow, and if you are in Magic Kingdom and ride the Tomorrowland Transit Authority you will actually see a model of Walt's original idea. 

 

If you are in the park you will find that it is broken into 2 sections; Future World and World Showcase. The parks main entrance brings you into Future World and there are a variety of pavilions which focus on innovation and science. Some of the attractions center around learning while still being enjoyable. For example, Spaceship Earth is located in the Epcot ball and takes you through time showing how communication was developed in history.  

There are three major rides in Epcot; Mission Space, Soarin and Test Track. Soarin generally has some of the longest waits so you will want to get a fast pass for this ride to save yourself some time. Soarin was brought over from the California Park and is a motion simulator that makes it appear as if you are in a glider flying over various parts of California. Also located by the building Soarin is located in you will find The Seas With Nemo and Friends. This building houses the Finding Nemo dark ride (great for kids), and a massive saltwater aquarium with various types of salt water fish. If you have ever watched the show Full House and remember the episode where they visit Disney World, this tank would be the one in which Jesse and Joey were broadcasting their radio show and the Coral Reef restaurant also in this building is where Danny was having Dinner with Vicki. 

 

Now we move to the opposite end of Future World for Mission Space and Test Track. Mission Space can be an incredibly intense ride. When you enter you can chose 2 options the green version or the orange version. I prefer the green since it is milder. I have done orange once and it was too intense for me, although my 11 year old brother and my husband love it! When we took my brother back in May of 2013 he rode the orange version back to back several times! No matter which version you choose the story of the ride is the same. The only difference is in the orange version you are put in a centrifuge  (where you are spinning) with very high G-Force being used. In Mission Space the story is that you are training as an astronaut on a Mission to Mars. In the orange version it puts you closer to what an astronaut would experience from the G-Force of the Mission to Space. 

 

And finally located next to Mission Space is Test Track. I absolutely love this ride! It is by far my favorite ride in Epcot and is a lot of fun. This ride was recently changed with a completely new Tron like overlay. I have seen mixed reviews between the old and new version but I personally prefer the new version. Before the ride you enter into a room where you are given a card to design your own vehicle. Before you board your vehicle afterwards you scan it and as you are going through the various "road tests" that would be involved with testing a vehicle screens tell you how your car hold up. The best part of this ride is at the end when you end up outside on a track doing a lap reaching speeds of 65 MPH (I would take off those mouse ears because you may lose them lol). The ride is not intense but just a lot of fun!

Let's now move over to World Showcase. There is actually a second entrance which is rarely used (and this is the only park with 2 entrances) that will bring you into World Showcase. Otherwise, you can just walk over from either one end or the other. World Showcase surrounds the World Showcase Lagoon and includes 11 pavilions: Canada, United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan, American Adventure, Italy, Germany, China, Norway and Mexico. World Showcase is certainly more adult themed and each pavilion is meant to look like that country. Disney even pays so much attention to detail here that every worker in each pavilion is actually from that country! 

 

Each pavilion with have a shop that sells merchandise relevant to that country, has restaurants with local cuisine. The buildings are meant to look like landmarks for that country (ie The Eiffel Tower for France, St. Mark's Square and Gondola's for Italy). There is various performers and shows within the pavilions. You will not find many rides in this part of the park. There is a dark ride located in the Mexico pavilion as while as one in the Norway pavilion. 

 

The major draws for World showcase for adults is drinking around the world and the various restaurant choices. One of my favorite character breakfasts is Akershus in Norway. This is a great dinner with the princesses and an excellent alternative to a breakfast in Cinderella's Castle (and in my opinion has better food) as it feels like you are inside a castle! When you enter you will find Belle in her yellow dress to greet guests for a photo opportunity (and the photo is included with your meal!). While you enjoy your breakfast the princesses (usually Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella and Snow White) will make their way from table to table. It can be a little more pricey than some of they other character breakfasts, but it is a fantastic experience for little girls (or us adults who still get all giddy over the princesses) and a great way to avoid the long meet and greet lines in the parks!

 

One of Epcot's fanciest restaurants is a steakhouse in the Canada Pavilion called Le Cellier, It is not my tastes as it is a steakhouse (but I am a very picky eater), but people love it! We did eat here once and I must say the inside was very nice with the seating is broken off into each Canadian province (oddly enough we were seated in the New Brunswick section). Now speaking of food, one of the big draws for me is the quick service restaurant Yorkshire County Fish Shop. They sell the best french fries I have ever eaten in my entire life!! I personally do not like fish, but my husband does love their fish as well. It is our favorite place in the park and a must do for us every trip! They great part is it's less than $10 per person for a very filling and tasty meal here!

 

At the end of the evening make sure you stay to watch Illuminations Reflections of Earth. This is the parks fireworks show which also includes lasers and fountains going along to a soundtrack for the show. This show has an amazing finally during the holiday season late in the year as well. 

I hope this gives some information for anyone who is not sure if they want to make a visit to Epcot or not. Also keep in mind early in the year you will find Epcot's Flower & Garden festival when the park is filled with some beautiful flower displays. And late in the year is Epcot's Food & Wine festival, where they will bring in more food and alcohol from around the world!