By D’land Diva

Epcot stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. This park envisions Walt Disney’s dream of an organized, technologically sound and self sufficient community. Some would call this a Utopian city. While Walt Disney passed away before the opening of Epcot, his ideas can be showcased throughout the park.

While planning for Epcot, Imagineers were torn between two ideas for the park: World Showcase and Future World. While trying to figure out which idea to put in the park, a creative mind put the two prototypes together. Our current Epcot park is the merging of the ideas for Future World and World Showcase.

It is easy to spend all day at Epcot. There is much to see and explore within the two different sections of the park. While World Showcase is not heavy on rides, it is great fun to experience. Future World is both educational and fun, with many rides and attractions.

This one day suggested itinerary is based on an average day, and takes into consideration the rides and attractions that I have enjoyed on my visits to Epcot. If you have small children or elderly folks in your  group, you may need adjust this itinerary with more frequent breaks and make adjustments for certain rides or attractions. If you are visiting during the December holiday season, you will most certainly want to check out the extra experiences Epcot offers.

So let’s go to Epcot!

One Day Itinerary for Epcot Park 

1. Make lunch and/or dinner advance dining reservations before your trip. This is especially important if you would like to eat at one of the beautiful restaurants in the World Showcase. Our writers at Tips from the Disney Diva have written up several restaurant reviews for Epcot, which can be found here.

Diva Tip: If you are interested in experiencing the food in the World Showcase area, but are on a budget, consider the option of the snack bars or counter service restaurants. These eateries will give you a tasty sample of the regional food that from a particular showcase. 

Second Diva Tip: If you make advanced dining reservations for around 7:30 p.m. at Rose & Crown you may be able to secure yourself a good spot for the Illuminations show. 

2. Head on into Future World East and get a Fastpass for Mission Space. Ride Test Track. Visit Spaceship Earth and then use your Mission Space Fastpass. If you are thirsty, check out Club Cool.*

3. Go to Future World West and get a Fastpass for Soarin’. Take a detour and visit The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Watch Turtle Talk with Crush. 

4. Back to the Land! Go on Soarin’ and then ride or get a Fastpass for Living with the Land if you can. Eat lunch at Sunshine Seasons. There is something for everyone there! Use your Fastpass on Living with the Land if you have not already. I will confess that we really like this ride in the D’land Diva family and have been known to ride it and get a Fastpass for later to ride it again! It is such a relaxing ride…

5. Ride Journey Into Imagination with Figment.

6. World Showcase time! Start in Canada, and make your way through United Kingdom all the way to France. In France, eat a snack from Boulangerie Patisserie. Enjoy sitting along the World Showcase Lagoon.

7. Continue your World Showcase adventure by walking through Morocco and Japan. In Japan, be sure to check out the Mitsukoshi Dept. Store!

8. Visit the American Adventure and take in the show, which will give you a fun American history lesson. Walk through Italy, Germany and China. If you are hungry for another snack, which you should be by now, stop at the Kringla Bakeri og Kafe in Germany for some schoolbread.

9. In Norway, get a Fastpass for Malestrom and then go explore Mexico. Ride Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Tres Caballeros. Use your Fastpass for Malestrom.

10. Eat dinner at La Cantina de San Angel in Mexico (or if you had Rose & Crown reservations, head on over there). At La Cantina, if you grab a seat near the water, you will have a great view of the Illuminations show on the World Showcase Lagoon.

11. Watch Illuminations. Diva Tip: Wait a bit after the show before making your way out of Epcot. The crowds can be heavy right after the show, as most folks are headed toward the exit.


* Another Diva Tip: If you have a chance to get a silly character picture at Epcot Character Spot or at the Visa card member character spot, do so!