Our Evening at Walt Disney World's Epcot Review
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A Fun Start at Typhoon Lagoon
Day 8 of our Walt Disney World Resort vacation was supposed to be a slower day, with a relaxed morning at the hotel followed by an afternoon of “eating around the world” at Epcot. But so much fun was at Typhoon Lagoon the day before, my kids insisted on returning to enjoy the wave pool and lazy river again. They were particularly enamored with the wave pool—my son could have easily spent the entire day riding the waves!
We arrived early to rope-drop Disney's Typhoon Lagoon to avoid long lines, and it worked... the kids were able to hop right onto several water slides, followed by a few hours in the wave pool. It’s worth noting that Disney currently only opens one water park at a time, so Blizzard Beach wasn’t available during our visit.
Be sure to check the theme park hours in the My Disney Experience App, as the water parks tend to have a shorter day than the other Disney theme parks. To get a closer look at our initial experience at Typhoon Lagoon, check out our review: Typhoon Lagoon Review - Our Disney World Trip Day 7.
We stayed at Typhoon Lagoon until around 1:30 p.m., then headed back to the hotel (Marriott's Imperial Palms Villas) to recharge for our next adventure—an evening at Epcot!
Eating at Epcot's World Showcase
After freshening up at the hotel, we made our way to Epcot around 3:00 pm, ready to immerse ourselves in the culture, food, and entertainment of the World Showcase. On our previous day at Epcot, we had already explored many Epcot rides at World Discovery, World Celebration, and World Nature, experiencing rides like Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land.
Since our family prefers calmer rides, we chose to skip Test Track and Guardians of the Galaxy. To read more about our first Epcot day, check out “Disney Day 3 - Amorette's Cake Decorating and Epcot.”
Epcot was in full bloom with its International Flower and Garden Festival during our visit. Beautiful Disney character topiaries decorated the pavilions, adding a special touch to the scenery.
It was so nice to see beloved Disney characters made out of plants. We started our journey in the Canada pavilion, where we enjoyed some delicious soft-serve ice cream and maple popcorn. As we moved through the pavilions, we savored small treats, shopped for unique souvenirs, and soaked in the atmosphere of each country.
maple popcorn in the Canada Pavillion at Epcot
In the United Kingdom, we picked up some tea to bring home, which was a lovely keepsake from our trip.
One of the highlights of the evening was riding Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France pavilion. This was one of my favorite attractions, it took us on a delightful adventure through Gusteau's kitchen, where we felt the thrill of being “rat-sized” in a larger-than-life setting. After Remy's, we continued our tour of the World Showcase.
By the time we reached Morocco, we needed a break and some food, so we got a last-minute reservation at Spice Road Table. The restaurant offers a tapas-style menu, so we ordered several small dishes to share. Each dish was flavorful and satisfying—the tapas was a great way for us to try many different dishes.
Gelato in the Italy Pavillion of Epcot
Our culinary tour didn’t end there! We followed up with creamy gelato in Italy and a delectable caramel dessert in Germany. The variety of flavors was a delightful treat for the whole family.
By the time we reached the Germany pavilion, the day was winding down, and we were ready to secure a good spot for the evening fireworks. We found a cozy table near the water to enjoy the end of the night show, The Story of Us.
The fireworks show was a magical conclusion to our day and an unforgettable way to spend our last evening at Disney World. This was our first time experiencing The Story of Us, and it exceeded all expectations with dazzling visuals and heartwarming music that only Disney can deliver.
To read about our complete Disney adventure, be sure to check out Our Magical Experience on a Disney World Vacation.
On our next Walt Disney World trip to Epcot, I’d love to plan a character meal at Garden Grill and explore even more of the incredible international dining options. My kids had such a great time wandering through the World Showcase, enjoying the sights and flavors from each country, that it’s a must-do for our next Disney adventure!
We would have struggled to to the entire park in one day, splitting Epcot into 2 days was the perfect way for us to enjoy all of the Epoct attractions.
A Note on Disney Ticket Options
If you’re planning a Disney World vacation, choosing the right Walt Disney World tickets can be crucial. We opted for a 7-Day Park Hopper Plus Option, which allowed us to hop between parks and access Disney’s water parks, golf courses, and other activities. This option provided flexibility and enhanced our experience, especially on days when we wanted a mix of water park relaxation and theme park thrills.
We park hoped most days. Most of our park days included starting at one park in the morning, a mid-day break at the hotel, followed by a different park in the evening. We had some very full days during our trip, thanks to Park Hopper.
We went from the water park to the main theme parks; we went from Animal Kingdom to Magic Kingdom Park. Having park hopper tickets makes a short trip to Hollywood Studios for a nighttime show possible
For those who are less interested in water parks, the Park Hopper theme park ticket is a great choice. It allows visitors to move between parks as often as they like in one day, maximizing time and potentially reducing wait times at popular attractions in the evenings.
The freedom to hop parks without limits made our Disney days even more packed with adventure. WhHollywood & Vine: Minnie’s Seasonal Dine Review pay for a large part of our park tickets. To learn about how to use Amex points for Disney Park Tickets check out our post How I Used Points To Score A Disney Trip for $1,414.
You too, can use points to cover a part of your Disney World Park tickets, or if you don't have points, check out how to use Rakuten and Expedia, or Orbitz to get cash back on your park tickets. Ticket prices vary based on ticket type, number of days of your visit, and when you are visiting Disney.
To learn more about how to get discount park tickets or to use points for your Disney park tickets, check out our posts. Want help planning your Disney vacation using points? Check out our services.
