How to Approach EPCOT in 2025

Three Walt Disney World theme parks will undergo sweeping changes over the next few years.

Today, I’d like to discuss the one that won’t. Disney just spent the past seven years modernizing EPCOT.

So, the park that Walt Disney envisioned before his death is now ready to serve guests of the 2020s and beyond.

Then again, the EPCOT of right now looks slightly different than the one we’ll have during the second half of the year.

Disney is always changing, even the parks that have seemingly finished their makeovers.

Let’s discuss how to approach EPCOT in 2025. It’s a conversation with some nuance.

The Elephant in the Room

Every Walt Disney World theme park offers Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and all of them but Disney’s Animal Kingdom offer tiers.

Currently, the top tier at EPCOT is a bit of a mess. Disney lists the following options:

• Frozen Ever After
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• Soarin’ Around the World

One of those is not like the others. Soarin’ isn’t supposed to be a top-three ride at EPCOT because it’s not and hasn’t been since 2016.

I say that as a superfan of the ride who has praised it and the pavilion hosting it.

During the 2020s alone, EPCOT has added Ratatouille and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Along with Frozen Ever After, those are the top three rides at the park, and I’d add a fourth if it were open.

That attraction is Test Track, which is currently undergoing a re-theme.

Later this summer, EPCOT will unveil Test Track 3.0, which promises to be the best version to date.

At that point, Test Track instantly becomes a must-do attraction.

So, your approach to EPCOT in 2025 partially depends on the availability of Test Track.

You’ll discover that you can typically ride everything else at the park during a single visit if so inclined, presuming you arrive early and stay late.

Several of the attractions here require only modest waits. It’s a distinctly top-heavy park.

Once you check the top attractions off your list, the rest should be easy, especially when you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

Not coincidentally, I don’t even recommend its purchase on all but the most crowded dates.

That statement will change when Test Track 3.0 opens. So, you should think of today’s advice as before and after.

The new Test Track will change the calculus. I’ll update accordingly in a few months.

EPCOT by the Rides

Here’s the entire list of rides at EPCOT:

• Frozen Ever After
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Journey into Imagination with Figment
• Living with the Land
• Mission: SPACE
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Spaceship Earth

I’m not listing show-based attractions like Turtle Talk with Crush or Awesome Planet or interactive exhibits like Journey of Water | Inspired by Moana.

This is simply a list of rides for Disney fans who want to do “everything” at the parks.

In that group of ten rides, five (!) required an average wait of 21 minutes or less last week.

That’s a total low enough to say that half the rides here are virtually walk-on at various points throughout the day.

So, you’re really only targeting three rides with long waits.

Those are the ones we already mentioned: Ratatouille, Soarin’, and Frozen Ever After.

Cosmic Rewind employs a virtual queue and sells a Lightning Lane Single Pass. You cannot enter a standby queue for it.

Your entire ride strategy at this park should be built around targeting these attractions, preferably without walking a lot.

The World Showcase covers 1.3 miles in a circle. You’d rather not crisscross this area repeatedly.

A better plan is to start at Ratatouille, head to Frozen, and then knock out Gran Fiesta Tour while you’re there.

Once you’re done at the Mexico pavilion, you can head back to the former Future World area.

Alternatively – and this is probably what most people do – you should start at Spaceship Earth.

When you’re ready for the World Showcase, head left to the Mexico pavilion and ride Gran Fiesta Tour.

Then, head to Frozen Ever After, followed by Ratatouille. This tactic saves you from excess walking.

EPCOT by the Experiences

Here’s the thing, though. While several EPCOT attractions qualify as E-ticket experiences, this isn’t the “ride park” per se.

You’re spending the day at the hangout park. So, you should plan to hang out.

EPCOT is overflowing with relaxing ways to spend your time.

When Disney overhauled the park, Imagineers strongly considered the desires of frequent EPCOT guests.

The new style favors casual exploration over the “Go! Go! Go!” attitude prevailing at most theme parks.

You’ll find several fascinating ways to spend your time, including several memorable character encounters.

Disney does a clever thing where it positions several beloved Disney Princesses and other characters in their homelands.

When you visit the China pavilion, you may meet Mulan. At the France pavilion, Belle is known to read books.

At the United Kingdom pavilion, various British characters like Alice in Wonderland, Mary Poppins, and Winnie the Pooh appear.

Toward the front of the park, the new CommuniCore Hall & Plaza hosts Meet Mickey & Friends, which is exactly what it sounds like.

You should always have your autograph book in hand as you explore EPCOT.

Well, that’s presuming you have a free hand. You may not since this place is known for its foods and beverages.

About EPCOT Festivals

During the 1964 New York World’s Fair, Uncle Walt had a transformational experience embracing international culture.

When Disney envisioned EPCOT, he wanted a thriving community of international cuisines and shopping.

This park has become a foodie’s dream due to all the dazzling flavors on display, and it’s doubly so during festivals.

On most days each year, EPCOT hosts these exhibitions, which offer exclusive food, beverages, and merchandise.

Currently, the four festivals are:

• EPCOT International Festival of the Arts – January-February
• EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival – March-Early June
• EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival – TBD
• EPCOT International Festival of the Holiday — Thanksgiving-New Year’s

I’ve listed a TBD for Food & Wine because Disney changed the dates last year.

Historically, this event has debuted in the summer and ran through early November.

In 2024, Disney pushed the start date until the end of August, and it ran until a couple of days before Thanksgiving.

I’m unsure whether that was a one-time-only move or a permanent change.

Still, you get the gist. EPCOT is THE park for festival fun, with Disney going all-in on the concept in recent years.

This part is the celebratory one comprised of special events like concerts, Broadway performances, and living art.

You should keep that in mind throughout your visit. At EPCOT, the journey is what matters, not the destination.

I’d strongly recommend you keep a flexible itinerary during an EPCOT day, as you never know when you might want a second round.

I’m also glossing over the dining here, but EPCOT is a foodie’s paradise, especially during festivals.

Make sure to follow MickeyBlog on the opening dates of various festivals.

Our dutiful reporters take a bite of everything Disney sells during festivals, and we tell you what’s good.

Final Thoughts

You should understand by now that EPCOT’s behavior varies dramatically from the other Walt Disney World theme parks.

At the other parks, you’ll have a checklist of must-do items that keep propelling you forward.

Conversely, EPCOT’s experiences keep giving you reasons to stay where you are.

Listen to your heart. You can either experience the park the standard Disney World way, or you can mix it up.

I’d encourage the latter, but I can say that as someone who has spent an inordinate amount of time at EPCOT.

If you’re relatively new to the park, you probably have different goals.

The one thing I’ll stress is that you should take a more methodical approach at EPCOT.

There’s no rush, and you can experience most of the rides in a single day, even during the holidays.

The most important part of your visit is having a good time, and that’s pretty much a guarantee at a park as fun as EPCOT.

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Feature Photo: Disney