How to Plan the Perfect EPCOT Day in 2023
Walt Disney World’s 50th-anniversary celebration has come and gone, but fans will reap the rewards forever.
At EPCOT, Disney unveiled two new E-ticket attractions during the extended birthday party.
EPCOT
Image Credit: Disney
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and (especially) Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind have changed the park, and guests must adapt.
Here’s how to have the perfect EPCOT day in 2023.
An Early Start
Photo: Park Savers
Disney has promised that it’ll modify some current rules regarding Lightning Lane and Disney Genie+ reservations in 2024.
These changes should alleviate the continued stress of our phone problems/the 7 a.m. Struggle.
Photo: Disney
Until then, we must make do with the current system, and that requires an early start.
So, you should plan to awaken and be ready to access My Disney Genie+ by 6:55 a.m.
While Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind’s virtual queue rarely books immediately these days, you should be prepared just in case.
Also, that tactic should be your Plan A when the system opens at 7 a.m.
Guests who manage to book a Boarding Group for Cosmic Rewind will have a perfect day.
Photo: Walt Disney Company
Remember that should you fail, there’s always a second try in the afternoon, though!
Even if you don’t snag a virtual queue that day, remember that you can purchase a Lightning Lane.
Photo: Disney
I’m torn about recommending that strategy, as EPCOT fans relished many park days long before the Guardians park coaster debuted.
Still, when we discuss the perfect EPCOT day in 2023, Cosmic Rewind tops the list. Since it’s not available via the standby queue yet, those are the only two options.
Plus, since you’re already up early, you might as well get dressed, have some coffee, and head to EPCOT.
You’ll also find plenty of coffee options at the park once you’re there.
Rope Drop Tactics
Of course, the true benefit of an early start is that you can Rope Drop something.
At EPCOT, your two targets should be Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
In fact, I’ll tell you a secret. When you time it well, you can do both within the first 90 minutes of EPCOT’s opening!
Photo: Disney
These are two of the most crowded park attractions, but you can ride both by 10:30 a.m. on many days!
The only downside with this strategy involves the walk. Presuming you enter EPCOT from the front, you must crisscross the entire park to reach these pavilions.
Photo: Disney
They’re both at the back of the World Showcase and not that close to one another, either.
For this reason, some guests prefer to start with something like Soarin’ or Test Track instead.
By taking this approach, you split the walk into two sections, but there’s a dramatic downside.
Photo: Disney
By the time you reach the France and/or Norway pavilions, the line queues could be sizable, thereby negating the advantage of Rope Drop.
Of course, you can take a different approach, especially if you’re staying at certain Value or Moderate tier resorts.
Image Credit: Jennifer Turner, MickeyTravels
You can ride the Disney Skyliner to the International Gateway. Then, you’ll enter EPCOT quite close to the France pavilion!
I’ll presume you adopt this approach and then finish at Frozen Ever After. By this point, you may be hungry.
Photo Credit: TouringPlans.com
If so, consider a snack at Kringla Bakeri og Kafe! Everyone loves this place!
Then again, you may not have a choice. Presuming you claimed a Boarding Group at Cosmic Rewind, you may need to head there as soon as you’re done.
The one problem with virtual queues is that you must drop everything once your number comes up.
From Mid-Morning to Mid-Afternoon
If everything breaks right, you will have already ridden arguably the best three attractions at EPCOT, and it’s close to noon.
At this time, you’ll appreciate EPCOT the most, as you’re ready to eat!
This park hosts THE best batch of restaurants of any theme park in the world. You’ll find plenty of delicious Quick Service options for inexpensive meals.
Personally, I’d recommend the Regal Eagle Smokehouse, but I’m a meat-and-potatoes fellow.
I do feel strongly that you should choose Quick Service for lunch, though. If you’re closer to the front of the park, consider Sunshine Seasons or Connections Eatery instead.
However, you prefer Plan B. Let’s say that you’re dining at EPCOT during a festival. If so, pick a food booth instead!
You’ll find 15+ dining options with culinary flavors from around the world. Remarkably, these foods are often cheaper than Quick Service places!
Once you’ve dined, you’re ready to discover one of the true joys of EPCOT! People start leaving in the afternoon, clearing out most of the crowds.
Spaceship Earth
That statement particularly applies to the front of the park, the former Future World area.
During festival season, the locals will keep the World Showcase hopping, but you can ride nearly everything else at the park in quick fashion.
For this reason, I recommend a straightforward approach.
Work your way back to the front of the park by targeting all the attractions on one side. Then, switch to the other side after you’re done.
Specifically, head to the Imagination! pavilion and visit Journey into Imagination with Figment.
Once you’re done there, ride both attractions at the Land pavilion. When the crowds dwindle, you can do all three in about 90 minutes!
Mid-Afternoon through Dark
Something I should stress about your perfect day is that the ambiance of EPCOT provides much of the mystique.
Please don’t grow so distracted about checking things off your list that you forget to explore the various pavilions, especially the ones in the World Showcase.
The best possible Disney visits include tons of wandering and finding your own magic along the way. As the cliché goes, it’s the journey, not the destination.
Still, you should target a few attractions during your final few hours at the park. Thankfully, the lines should have shrunk by mid-afternoon.
Soarin’ Around the World, Test Track, and Mission: SPACE are other rides you should consider, as is Spaceship Earth.
I’m also a fan of The Seas with Nemo & Friends and its side show, Turtle Talk with Crush.
Photo: Disney
At some point, you should also consider dinner. I’m a big believer in a Table Service meal at night.
Some of the restaurants provide startlingly good views of the nighttime fireworks presentations as well.
Plus, you can sit there and people-watch while cast members serve some of EPCOT’s tastiest cuisine. Some of my best times at Disney have happened during such meals.
Once you’ve finished eating and watching the fireworks, you should target a couple of your favorite attractions from the day.
You can repeat them easily since the crowds generally dissipate as soon as the fireworks end.
Disney will allow guests to ride anything as long as they’re standing in line for it when the park closes.
Take full advantage of this policy, and you’ll perfect your EPCOT day!
Photo: MickeyBlog
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