There is something about Epcot in Walt Disney World that has always appealed to me.  I know many guests might not be as drawn to this park as I am, but before you strike it from your next itinerary please consider everything that Epcot has to offer.  From innovation and imagination, to sea life, characters, and culture, Epcot has many special attractions to offer guests.

While it is hard to dispute that Magic Kingdom is the best park in Disney when traveling with children, the other parks shouldn’t be overlooked.  There are rides and attractions for every age group at all four Disney parks, and I argue that sometimes Epcot has more options than Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom for certain families. 

If your little ones are into ocean life then Epcot is a must!  Turtle Talk with Crush in the Living Seas Pavilion is a show with a talking turtle (man behind the curtain type of deal) where kids sit on the floor in front of a big screen and parents behind on benches.  The verse is very funny between “Crush” and the audience and you can find both the children and parents laughing quite a bit.  

After Crush, check out the huge coral reef and sea base that Disney has set up.  Sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, sting rays, and all sorts of fish will wow your visual senses and keep the kids occupied for more time than you think. We could have sat at the dolphin tank for an hour just watching them swim past us over and over again.

Right next to Crush is The Seas with Nemo & Friends.  It’s a calm ride where you sit in a clam shell and feel as if you’re traveling through Nemo’s world.  This ride will make any Nemo fan happy, and remember it’s “a big blue world!”

If you’re on a real kick with the ocean theme you can dine at the Coral Reef Restaurant for lunch, where tables are situated around, you guessed it, a huge coral reef!  I can remember going here as a child and thinking it was one of the coolest places I’d ever been for dinner.  No need for iPads to keep the little ones occupied here, you have unlimited sea life to watch while you eat.

Next up is Figment.  Come on people, Figment is just adorable.  A little purple dragon that is curious and pushing the limits of his imagination…..and asking the participants on the ride to do the same!  After the ride there is an entire imagination play area called ImageWorks where your children can put their creativity to the test.  The kids can jump and make different instruments play depending on where they land on the musical rug, make music by waving their hands in front of a big screen, or create their own Figment character.

Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival is a 3D experience, less than 20 minutes, and really cute.  The first movie is old school Mickey Mouse and the next two are super sweet and send a nice message.  We talked about them over lunch with the kids and I was kicking myself for waiting so long to try out this attraction.

Living with the Land is a slow moving boat ride that goes through describing various types of lands and then brings you on a greenhouse tour where you can see the different foods that Disney grows and serves in some of the restaurants!  This was another random ride we always passed up, but after going on it my kids really enjoyed it.

Probably the two most exciting rides in Epcot are Soarin’ and Test Track and you have to be 40 inches tall to ride them.  I’ve had my 4 year old son on both and he loved them, but like anything else, this is child specific and not every child likes to feel like they’re flying or racing fast in a car. With that being said, if you can get them on these rides it will make Epcot even more worthwhile!

If you’re looking for another thrill ride check out Mission: Space.  The two sides to this ride are orange and green side, with the green being less severe.  The height requirement is 40 inches.  Proceed with caution if you are prone to motion sickness.

Don’t think I forgot about Frozen Ever After.  An overlay on the old Norway Maelstrom Viking ride did produce a little heat from fans who were annoyed Disney did away with the cultural experience, but watching this Frozen movie be brought to life will delight fans of all ages. Next to the ride there is a meet and greet and it is the ONLY opportunity to meet Anna and Elsa in Walt Disney World.

One of my favorite things to do is an early breakfast at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall where we can meet Belle, Ariel, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty.  Following our meal we ride Frozen and meet Anna and Elsa, checking off a lot of the list within the first two hours of the day. 

Epcot has added many character meet and greets throughout the park, making it one of the best parks to see your favorite pals and princesses! If you can’t get a dining reservation with the characters you will be able to meet quite a few in various locations.  Check the app to get all the details!

At the World Showcase you can spend hours walking around admiring the architecture and cuisine options of the various countries represented.  Kids can take part in their own passport fun going from country to country with Kidcot fun stops.

If you’re up for watching a movie check out Canada, France, and China. Take a ride on The Three Caballeros boat ride in Mexico for another chance to cool down from the Florida heat (and add another ride to the list).

While Epcot might not be a laugh a minute like Magic Kingdom, it offers enough to keep a family quite busy and the chance to check out some cool stuff! It is much bigger than you think and you will walk a lot – be prepared.  Epcot is twice the size of Magic Kingdom.  After all of that walking you can treat yourself to a delicious dinner around the World Showcase, but make sure to make reservations in advance!

by Ellen Volpe – Co-Owner of ET Family Travel