10 Attractions Worth the Wait – Epcot Edition
Your time spent at a Disney theme park is precious. You need to maximize your entertainment, which means you want to wait in line as little as possible. Sometimes, standing in line for an attraction is unavoidable, though. The question becomes whether something is good enough to justify your time. Here’s an evaluation of whether popular attractions at Epcot are worth the wait.
Frozen Ever After
This list is alphabetical, and so we start with a challenging decision. Our friends at TouringPlans suggest that Frozen Ever After is always at least a 70-minute wait. That’s an eternity for a Disney theme park and, yes, the longest wait at Epcot most of the time. Sadly, I’m describing the good news, too. Sometimes, the delay approaches two hours, which is…almost twice an eternity.
Is any ride worth that kind of wait? Personally, I’d strongly suggest that you aim for a FastPass. I understand that it’s not possible, though. Frozen Ever After is the kind of E-ticket attraction that justifies any amount of wait. So, it IS worth any time you spend in line. You may consider a Rope Drop approach, though.
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
Several discussions at Epcot are a bit silly, particularly compared to other parks. Four of the attractions that I’ll mention claim some of the shortest wait-times at Walt Disney World. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros is my favorite example, as annual passholders have a running joke about it.
When the ride is anything but walk-on, we joke that it’s the longest we’ve ever seen the line. Also, this little boat ride starring Donald Duck and friends is a blast. It is DEFINITELY worth the no-wait…or even a 15-minute one.
Journey into Imagination with Figment
My other joke about Epcot involves this attraction. It’s almost always the shortest line of any Future World ride. While some, me included, question the quality of Journey into Imagination relative to its original version, the fact remains that kids love it.
I’m not saying it’s the greatest thing at Epcot or anything, but it’s unabashedly upbeat. We need more positivity in the world these days, and that’s the calling card of Journey into Imagination. It is definitely worth a small wait. I wouldn’t go much past 15 minutes, though.
Living with the Land
How do you feel about plants and agriculture? Before you answer, you might want to take a boat ride through Living with the Land. It’s the best kind of old school dark ride, showing woefully dated scenes about humankind’s attempts to feed everyone more efficiently.
Right when you’re lulled into a sleepy sense of security, you burst into a bright greenhouse that shows the future of agriculture. It’s quietly one of the best parts of Epcot and a fantastic distraction when the wait-time is 25 minutes or less. Unfortunately, it can creep up to 50 minutes on occasion. Even I, a diehard supporter of Living with the Land, think that’s a bit much.
Mission: Space
This recently revamped ride is another one with minimal wait-times. It’s frequently 10 minutes or less and rarely more than 20 minutes. Your main decision here is which version of the attraction you prefer. It’s no longer identical save for the centrifuge.
The Orange version is the one that you’ve known for more than a decade, only with updated graphics. The Green version is no longer a trip to Mars; instead, you orbit Earth and get a spectacular view of our planet from outer space. It’s a much-improved version of the original concept. Since it has such a modest wait, I recommend Mission: Space as long as you’re not prone to motion sickness.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
I think of this well-themed ride as one of the easiest FastPasses at Walt Disney World. So, this isn’t a debate you’ll have very often. Generally, as long as you plan it a couple of hours ahead of time, you can book a FastPass easily.
Should you have to wait, you’ll only have problems between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Just don’t head to The Seas with Nemo & Friends during this timeframe if you want to skip the line. Even when you wait, it’s rarely more than 20 minutes, and the attraction is lovely. I seriously ride it at least three times per Epcot visit. I’m not even a huge fan of Finding Nemo, either. I just like the attraction.
Soarin’ Around the World
The second-best ride at Epcot has the second-longest wait-time. Yes, the former is my opinion, but the latter is a cold, hard fact. There’s an asterisk involved that I’ll mention in a moment. Overall, you’ll have the same calculation for Soarin’ Around the World no matter what.
Are you willing to stand in line for an hour to enjoy a masterpiece of Disney Imagineering? For infrequent Disney visitors, the answer should be, “ABSOLUTELY!!!” For those who attend Epcot regularly, the size of the line will determine whether or not you should wait.
Spaceship Earth
This attraction has a secret similar to The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Its wait-times fluctuate wildly depending on the time of day. Due to the configuration of Epcot, the entrance pathway takes guests right by the attraction. Naturally, people tend to ride it first, which means it’s most crowded at the start of the park day.
Photo Credit: BuffaloSmash.net
Then, it picks up again during the busy hours between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. As long as you avoid Spaceship Earth during these windows, you won’t have to wait long. Even when it’s crowded, this is a fascinating attraction that justifies any wait of 25 minutes or less. Beyond that, just come back to it later. Alternately, look for a FastPass.
Test Track
Remember when I said that Soarin’ has the second-longest wait-time? Okay, I played a bit fast and loose with the truth. Test Track has longer times, although the explanation isn’t crowd size. The attraction is so complex that TouringPlans has built in a buffer.
Their system EXPECTS Test Track to go down for maintenance at least once a day. This situation stacks the lines, causing extended delays. During peak times, you may wait between 80 and 120 minutes, something I wouldn’t do. Instead, use the Single Rider line. You won’t get to design a monster car, but you will still have the time of your life on one of Walt Disney World’s most thrilling attractions.
Turtle Talk with Crush
Technically, this isn’t a ride. I’m including it for interested parents. Turtle Talk with Crush is an interactive stage show akin to Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor at Magic Kingdom. Due to the size of the showroom that hosts the event, you’re rarely more than two performances away from a seat.
We’re talking about 20 minutes at most. Generally, a wait of 10 minutes or less will get you into the show, where young children will delight in interacting with one of their favorite animated characters. This one is definitely worth the wait. Then again, as you’ve probably noticed, most of the stuff at Epcot is.
