EPCOT at Disney World: Best Attractions, Dining & World Showcase Tips
A visit to EPCOT at Walt Disney World is a must-do on any Disney vacation. After a long Magic Kingdom day, we arrived at EPCOT around 12:30 PM for a more relaxed experience. With a balanced mix of attractions, dining, and exploration, EPCOT offered both high energy and much-needed downtime.
Start With a Smile: PhotoPass Tip for Families
We kicked off our day with some magical PhotoPass pictures. The kids love hunting down photographers with the shortest lines. Here’s a tip: only one person in your party needs to purchase PhotoPass, and everyone gets to enjoy the pictures. For any Disney family vacation, PhotoPass is a simple way to capture those moments.
Exploring the Four EPCOT Neighborhoods
EPCOT has recently been reimagined into four immersive “neighborhoods,” each offering unique attractions:
World Celebration
Centered around Spaceship Earth, EPCOT’s iconic globe and one of the most iconic pictures of Epcot.
World Discovery
Home to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind—my son’s favorite ride in all of Walt Disney World. If you’re debating how to use your Lightning Lane Single Pass or Multi Pass, this ride should be a top choice for your day at Epcot.
World Nature
Includes Living with the Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends—calmer, educational, and perfect for a mid-day cool-down in air conditioned spaces. If you’re interested in meeting some characters, consider getting reservations at Garden Grill. It is in the same building at Living the Land, and you get to meet Chip, Dale, Mickey and Pluto.
World Showcase
A walk through 11 countries, filled with shops, shows, and snacks. EPCOT’s World Showcase is one of our favorite Disney experiences. We never miss World Showcase, and often return for dinner after a different park (for instance after the water park or Animal Kingdom, which close earlier than Epcot).
Bonus Tip: My daughter absolutely loved doing the EPCOT Passport activity—collecting stamps from each country in the World Showcase. It added fun challenge for kids that added to our day!
Lunch with a View: La Cantina de San Angel
We stopped at La Cantina de San Angel for lunch, located on the edge of the World Showcase Lagoon in the Mexico Pavilion. Tacos, nachos, churros—plenty of crowd-pleasers. We loved that there was indoor seating at lunchtime (note: it’s only available during lunch, not dinner). It’s a great quick-service dining option at EPCOT with both views and a choice for everyone in our group.
Top EPCOT Rides and Attractions
The highlight was Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, an indoor coaster that quickly became my son’s favorite.
Other EPCOT must-dos we enjoyed:
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Spaceship Earth
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
A Walk Around the World Showcase
Exploring EPCOT’s World Showcase is a highlight on every Disney trip, we never skip out on World Showcase. From shops in Japan to live performances in Italy, every pavilion offers something unique. We love to try out small samples or desserts in each county.
We had lunch in Mexico at the start of our day, but on our late afternoon/ evening tour around the World Showcase we had – Dole Wipe in Canada, bought tea in United Kingdom (and met Winnie the Poo again, we first met him the day before at Crystal Palace), had pastries in France, dinner in Morocco, gelato in Italy and churro sundaes in Mexico.
A few of our favorite country stops:
- United Kingdom: Street performers, tea shops, and meeting Winnie the Pooh in the tea garden.
- France: We always grab a treat at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie, then hop on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
- Mexico: We returned later in the day for desserts and drinks at La Cantina de San Angel.
The kids love this area, and it has a magical, immersive feel that’s different from the rest of the parks. It’s also why EPCOT is a perfect park for Park Hopper evenings—great food and beautiful nighttime ambiance. I highly recommend the Epcot Passport activity. You can purchase them at many shops throughout Epcot, and make a stop in the stores at each country to get a stamp and note.
EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival
We were lucky to visit during the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival. The park was extra vibrant, filled with:
- Beautiful topiary displays of Disney characters
- Seasonal food and drink booths
- Garden-inspired activities and photo ops
The floral Disney character topiaries are absolutely stunning—it’s worth timing your trip to see them if possible. It’s amazing what they can do with plants to make them look like your favorite Disney Characters.
The Perfect Ending: Fireworks from the Lagoon
As the sun set, we found a waterfront table at La Cantina again. While my husband held the table, the rest of us grabbed churro sundaes. From there, we watched Luminous: The Symphony of Us, EPCOT’s fireworks show.
The reflections on the water, synchronized music, and peaceful setting made for the perfect end to our Disney day. No crowds, no chaos—just magic.
Bonus Tip: If you can see the sky and the water at World Showcase lagoon, you have a good view of the fireworks show. Find a seat prior to showtime, there are many benches and hideout spots that have good views of the show. This trip, we watched the show from the tables at La Cantina while grabbing a quick bite. Last trip, my parents were tired of walking an claimed a bench outside of Germany for us, while the kids and I continued to explore.
EPCOT Planning Tips
- Theme Park Reservations: Still required for Annual Passholders and some ticket types.
- Use Park Hopper Wisely: EPCOT is an ideal second stop for dinner and fireworks, but it is also worth a full day to explore. We suggest a full day at Epcot, and a return trip for dinner and fireworks if your have Park Hopper tickets.
- PhotoPass: Only one person needs to buy it—share photos across your party.
- EPCOT Passport: A fun, interactive way for kids to engage with each country.
Final Thoughts: Why EPCOT is a Must-Visit
EPCOT blends culture, food, and fun in a way no other Disney park can. Whether you’re traveling with thrill-seekers or little explorers, there’s something for everyone. From cosmic coasters to churros by the lagoon, EPCOT proves again why it’s a Walt Disney World favorite.
💡 Want to save money at EPCOT?
Use TopCashback to earn cashback when buying Disney gift cards from approved retailers—perfect for snacks, festival food booths, and in-park meals!
Or shop through Rakuten and set your rewards to Amex points. You can then transfer those to hotel partners and save even more on future trips.
Learn how to stack rewards in our Disney Cashback Guide.
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I’m a CPA, mom of two, and the creator of Points to Magic. I help people use points to save thousands of dollars on Disney vacations.
