Theme Park Yes Or No — EPCOT
Disney theme parks overflow with entertainment options. You could spend a week or two at Walt Disney World while never running out of stuff to do.
I speak from experience here, but I also remember what it was like the first time I returned to Disney after an extended absence. I felt overwhelmed.
If you haven’t visited the parks in a while, you may feel the same way. So, MickeyBlog is publishing a series of articles to help.
In the latest Theme Park Yes Or No, we’ll discuss what’s worth your time at EPCOT.
Awesome Planet
I’ll preface this discussion by saying two things. First, EPCOT is my favorite theme park. So, I’m wildly biased here.
Second, this park features so much to do that I’m excluding most shows and other entertainment options.
Disney
Realistically, I may do a World Showcase update later with that stuff. I say this because Awesome Planet is the only show/movie attraction I’ll evaluate today.
I’m including this short movie because it’s a lot of fun and always available. You’ll rarely wait more than 15 minutes to experience it.
So, Awesome Planet can be a lifesaver on hectic park days. You know that you can sit down and watch Ty Burrell be funny for a while.
For these reasons, I say it’s a yes. Here’s the show if you want to know what it’s like:
Frozen Ever After
Before Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opened, Frozen Ever After stood as the unquestioned top attraction at the park.
Since this ride debuted a few years ago, it’s maintained constant crowds. The explanation comes down to Frozen Fever, that obsession fans feel about Anna and Elsa.
Frozen Ever After masterfully distills all the high points from the movie into a single five-minute ride. It’s pure joy and one of the best things at Walt Disney World.
You’re cheating yourself if you don’t make time for Frozen Ever After.
Credit: Disney
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
I swear I’ll have some no comments in a bit. However, the yes streak continues here.
Gran Fiesta Tour qualifies as the pride of the Mexico pavilion. It’s a hidden gem of an attraction that I would describe as Donald Duck Presents It’s a Small World.
Image: Disney
You shouldn’t raise your expectations much, or Gran Fiesta Tour could disappoint you.
However, I ride this at least once per EPCOT visit and sometimes more, depending on my mood. It’s such a delight.
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Okay, here’s the first no. As a child, I rode the original version of Journey into the Imagination, and it was amazing!
Since then, Disney has redesigned the ride twice, neither of which has worked as well as the first one.
Eric Idle, the Monty Python actor who stars in this attraction, doesn’t even remember it. That’s telling.
Some people will defend Journey into Imagination fiercely, and I respect that passion. Still, I think the only people who should ride it are small children.
Living with the Land
Something that will come across here is that I really like The Land pavilion. All three of the attractions here justify the time investment.
While Living with the Land doesn’t get much hype, it’s the perfect downtime attraction.
Image: Orlando Inside
Sometimes, you will get tired and need a break. This boat ride will distract you for 20 minutes. And if it doesn’t, you’ll nap blissfully in the dark.
Personally, I highly recommend that you stay awake for the back half of the ride, though.
(Earth 911)
Imagineers are doing some remarkable stuff in the field of agriculture. Much of it is on display here.
Mission: SPACE
Here comes another controversial no vote.
I’ve never understood the hype for Mission: SPACE. At its core, it’s a four-minute space simulator in a phone booth.
You might want to do it once to see what the fuss is about. For me, Mission: SPACE has absolutely no repeat value, a rarity for a Disney attraction.
If you plan to ride it, please know that the Green version doesn’t utilize the centrifuge. So, it’s much calmer.
The Orange version does employ the centrifuge. So, it can kick your tail if you’re not prepared.
This attraction proves more than anything else that space travel ain’t for everybody.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Yes, you want to ride the newest E-ticket attraction at Walt Disney World. End of story.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Omnimover rides are ones where the ride carts pass through a cyclical course at a standard speed.
Disney loves the reliability of this form of attraction, which guarantees a set amount of riders per hour.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends uses the Omnimover concept well. You board an adorable clamshell and ride through the world of Finding Nemo.
At one point, special effects make the sea turtles in front of you appear to surf through the East Australian Current. It’s a mind-blowing Imagineering trick.
Since the wait times are rarely long for this ride, you have no reason to skip it. In fact, you should ride it several times! That’s what we usually do.
Soarin’ Around the World
When building this ride, an Imagineer took inspiration from a childhood toy, the erector set.
The concept has proven so popular that variants of it exist at tourist locales like Las Vegas, the Wisconsin Dells, and Pigeon Forge.
Many of these places charge in excess of $20 for a single ride. Somehow, the original, best version is available as part of a standard admission ticket at EPCOT.
So, yes, you want to ride this one. Repeatedly.
Spaceship Earth
Since my first EPCOT visit back in the day, Spaceship Earth has captivated me. So naturally, I relished this opportunity to ride to the top of the giant silver golf ball.
Photo: Disney
Oddly, I didn’t appreciate the attraction as much then as I do now. When I enter my time travel vehicle today, I admire the story of humanity.
The set pieces allow human history to unfold across a series of immaculate sets, each indicating a time of remarkable growth in society.
Image Credit: Sarah Phillips
As a history buff, Spaceship Earth speaks to me, which is why I strongly recommend it. However, if you’re not into that sort of thing, you may find it boring.
Still, you’ll enjoy the extended ride in the dark and have some fun with the Choose Your Own Adventure nature of the final segment.
Test Track
Disney has constructed three entirely different ride experiences using the same structure.
Imagineers call Test Track a slot car dark ride, just like Radiator Springs Racers and Journey to the Center of the Earth.
With Test Track, you take on the role of a crash test dummy, riding a vehicle that hurdles through several potential pitfalls.
You’ll stretch the limits of your brakes, acceleration, and navigation during the “test.”
Ultimately, you’ll explode into the outdoors with a roller coaster-like twist at the end.
Also, you get to build a simulated car before you ever set forth on your journey.
Image Credit: Disney
Test Track delivers one of the best overall experiences at Walt Disney World. You definitely want to ride it. I should warn you that the lines can grow long, though.
Turtle Talk with Crush
The answer to this one depends on whether you’re traveling with children.
Turtle Talk with Crush involves a communal interaction between turtles on a digital projector movie screen and all the guests in the crowd.
As such, each show is different and quite charming. However, it skews very young, even when compared to its similar cohort, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.
I don’t recommend it for adults, as they already have too much to do at EPCOT. Remember that I’ve barely discussed the World Showcase, after all.
Parents of small children will discover pure joy at Turtle Talk with Crush.
