EPCOT is arguably the most diverse park at Walt Disney World. It is twice the size of Magic Kingdom and is dedicated to human achievement, technology, and international culture.
It is a park where you will do the most walking. It is also the best park for adults, foodies, and those who love culture, although recent additions have made it excellent for small children too.
Important Updates for 2025 Visitors
EPCOT has finished a massive, multi-year construction project. Here is what is new and what is closed in 2025:
- Test Track is CLOSED: The popular fast car ride is currently undergoing a major reimagining. It is expected to reopen sometime in late 2025, but no specific date is set.
- Construction Walls are Gone: The center of the park is finally open. You can now enjoy the beautiful gardens in “World Celebration” and the new CommuniCore Hall & Plaza.
- Guardians of the Galaxy requires a special plan: You still cannot just walk into a normal line for this ride. You must use a Virtual Queue or pay for a Lightning Lane Single Pass (more on this below).
EPCOT Ticket & Price Guide
Disney uses “Dynamic Pricing.” This means the price of a ticket changes every day based on how busy they expect the park to be.
- Cheapest Days: late August, September, and weekdays in January/February.
- Most Expensive Days: Christmas week, Thanksgiving week, Spring Break (March/April).
1. Base Ticket Prices (One Park Per Day)
If you only want to visit one park per day, you buy a “Base Ticket.”
- 1-Day EPCOT Ticket: In 2025, a one-day ticket specifically for EPCOT typically ranges from $129 to $194 (plus tax).
- Child Discount: Children aged 3–9 pay about $5 less per day than adults.
- Babies are Free: Children under age 3 do not need a ticket.
2. Multi-Day Ticket Savings
Buying a ticket for multiple days is the best way to save money. The “per day” price drops significantly the longer you stay.
- Example: A 1-day ticket might cost $164. But if you buy a 5-day ticket, the cost might average out to only $115 per day.
- Note: You do not have to visit consecutive days. A multi-day ticket usually has a “use window” of about 7 days.
3. Ticket Add-Ons Explained
The “Park Hopper” Option
This add-on lets you visit multiple parks on the same day.
- Cost: It is a flat fee added to your whole ticket, usually ranging from $70 to $95 extra depending on ticket length.
- Is it worth it for EPCOT? Yes, if you are a “foodie.” Many guests love having a Park Hopper so they can spend the day at Magic Kingdom, but “hop” to EPCOT every evening just for dinner at the World Showcase.
Lightning Lane (Skip-the-Line Passes)
These are optional purchases made on the day of your visit through the Disney app. Prices change daily.
- Multi Pass (EPCOT average): Expect to pay between $15 and $35 per person.
- Single Pass (Guardians of the Galaxy only): Expect to pay between $14 and $18 per person if you do not get a free spot in the Virtual Queue.
4. Other Essential Costs to Budget
- Parking: Standard car parking at EPCOT is currently $35 per day. Tip: If you are staying at a Disney-owned hotel, parking at the theme parks is free.
- Food & Drinks: Budget more for EPCOT than other parks. It is easy to spend $50+ per person just snacking around the World Showcase festivals.
Here is the section regarding EPCOT’s operating hours. You can add this right after the “Park Layout” section or before the “must-do” attractions.
EPCOT Opening Hours
EPCOT typically has the most consistent hours of all four Disney World parks.
1. Standard Operating Hours
- Typical Hours: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
- Holidays & Weekends: The park sometimes stays open until 9:30 PM or 10:00 PM during very busy seasons (like Christmas or Spring Break).
2. Early Theme Park Entry (30 Extra Minutes)
If you are staying at any Disney-owned hotel, you get to enter the park 30 minutes before regular guests.
- Typical Early Entry Time: 8:30 AM.
- What is open? Most major rides open early, including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, Test Track, and Soarin’.
- Pro-Tip: The “World Showcase” attractions open at 8:30 AM, but most of the country pavilions (shops and restaurants) do not fully open until 11:00 AM.
3. Extended Evening Hours (2 Extra Hours)
This is a special perk only for guests staying at Disney “Deluxe” hotels.
- When: Usually on Monday nights from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
- During these two hours, the park is nearly empty, and wait times for rides like Guardians of the Galaxy are very short.
4. Festival Booth Hours (Important for Foodies!)
Even though the park opens at 9:00 AM, the famous food and wine festival booths usually do not open until 11:00 AM. Plan to ride attractions in the morning and start eating around lunch time.
Park Layout Simplified
EPCOT is shaped like a giant hourglass.
- The Front (formerly Future World): Now divided into three neighborhoods: World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature. This is where most big rides are (Guardians, Soarin’, Spaceship Earth).
- The Back (World Showcase): A massive lagoon surrounded by 11 pavilions representing different countries. This is where you eat, drink, and explore cultures.
Must-Do Attractions by Visitor Type
For Thrill Seekers
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (World Discovery): This is currently the best ride at Walt Disney World. It is a super-smooth, indoor, reverse-launch roller coaster that plays loud pop music. It is incredibly fun. (Height requirement: 42 inches)
- Mission: SPACE (World Discovery): A very intense centrifuge simulator that mimics launching to Mars.
- Warning: Choose the “Green” mission if you get motion sickness. The “Orange” mission is extremely intense and causes many people to feel ill. (Height requirement: 44 inches)
For Families & Gentle Riders
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (France Pavilion): A fantastic, trackless 3D ride where you shrink to the size of a rat and scurry through a kitchen. It is great for all ages.
- Frozen Ever After (Norway Pavilion): A beautiful boat ride featuring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and the hit songs from the movie.
- Soarin’ Around the World (World Nature): A gentle simulator that lifts you into the air in front of a massive screen, making you feel like you are hang-gliding over world landmarks. (Height requirement: 40 inches)
- Spaceship Earth (The giant golf ball): A slow-moving classic ride through the history of communication. It is relaxing and iconic.
Dining Guide (The EPCOT Specialty)
Food is the main attraction for many EPCOT visitors.
Quick Service (No reservation needed)
- Best Overall: Connections Eatery (World Celebration). A massive, modern dining hall with very good burgers, pizza, and salads. It has plenty of air-conditioned seating.
- Best in World Showcase: Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie (France). An authentic French bakery with amazing baguette sandwiches, quiche, and pastries.
- Best BBQ: Regal Eagle Smokehouse (American Adventure). Great standard American BBQ with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
Table Service (Reservations highly recommended)
- Best Experience: Space 220 (World Discovery). You take a “space elevator” up to a restaurant that looks down on Earth. The food is pricey, but the view is incredible.
- Best Steak: Le Cellier (Canada). Famous for its cheddar cheese soup and filet mignon. It is cozy and feels like a wine cellar.
- Best Character Meal: Garden Grill (The Land Pavilion). This restaurant slowly rotates while you eat, offering views of the “Living with the Land” ride. You can meet Mickey, Pluto, and Chip ‘n’ Dale in farmer outfits.
The Festivals
Almost year-round, EPCOT hosts a festival. During these times, extra food booths appear all over the park offering small, unique snack portions.
- Festival of the Arts (Jan-Feb): Focus on Broadway music and visual arts.
- Flower & Garden Festival (March-May): Beautiful topiaries and fresh food.
- Food & Wine Festival (August-Nov): The biggest and most popular food event.
- Festival of the Holidays (Nov-Dec): Holiday traditions and food from around the world.
Lightning Lane Strategy 2025
EPCOT uses a tiered system for its Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which makes it a bit complicated.
1. The “Virtual Queue” (Crucial for Guardians)
- To ride Guardians of the Galaxy for free, you must join a “Virtual Queue” via the Disney app at exactly 7:00 AM.
- These spots disappear in seconds. If you miss it, you can try again at 1:00 PM (but you must be inside EPCOT to try for the 1:00 PM drop).
2. Lightning Lane Single Pass (Pay per ride)
- If you miss the Virtual Queue, your only other way to ride Guardians of the Galaxy is to buy a Single Pass. It usually costs between $14 and $18.
3. Lightning Lane Multi Pass (The bundle)
- You can choose 3 rides to start.
- Tier 1 (You can only pick ONE of these initially):
- Frozen Ever After OR Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure OR Soarin’.
- Strategy: Pick Remy or Frozen. They have the longest lines. Soarin’ is easier to get later in the day.
- Tier 2 (Pick TWO of these):
- Good choices are Mission: SPACE, Spaceship Earth, or Living with the Land.
3 Essential Tips for EPCOT
- Wear Your Best Shoes: You will walk further here than at any other park. It is common to walk 8 to 10 miles in a full EPCOT day.
- Don’t Drink “Around the World” too Fast: Many adults try to have one alcoholic drink in every country. This is expensive and dangerous in the Florida heat. Pace yourself, drink water, and share drinks.
- Stay for “Luminous”: The new nighttime fireworks show over the World Showcase lagoon is spectacular. The best viewing spots are usually between the Mexico and Canada pavilions as you enter World Showcase.