By: Heather Carlson
August 20, 2024

Have you been to EPCOT and become overwhelmed? EPCOT is divided into fairly distinct sections. In the front of the park you will find World Celebration, World Discovery, and World Nature. In the second half of EPCOT, you travel around World Showcase while discovering cultures from 11 different countries around the World Showcase Lagoon. In both sections of EPCOT, you will find delightful character meet-and-greets, amazing rides, and incredible dining experiences. Some people may find EPCOT a harder park to keep children entertained in or too large that it becomes overwhelming. I want to share some hidden gems with you! There are tons of hidden treasures inside EPCOT that make it a very entertaining park for children and adults alike.

1. In World Nature, besides The Seas with Nemo and Friends ride and Turtle Talk with Crush, you will find The Seas- a gigantic aquarium with many species of fish and other sea life including manatees, dolphins, and sea turtles. Don’t forget the self-guided, complimentary scavenger hunt!

2. Located on the 2nd floor of The Land pavilion in World Nature, Awesome Planet is a stunning 10-minute film that shares information about Earth’s biomes and the problems that are faced. Awesome Planet uses in-theater effects such as wind, scents, and water.

3. Club Cool is found in World Celebrations next to the Creations Shop. In Club Cool, you will be able to sample different soft drinks from around the world for free! Watch out for the Beverly!

4. Did you know that besides being EPCOT-staple rides, Spaceship Earth and Mission: SPACE, both have kids’ game and activities areas? In Project Tomorrow, after Spaceship Earth, you will find games where you can build, create, and play in different technological exhibits. In the Advanced Training Lab by Mission: SPACE, there is a high-tech play area with space-themed games and activities for all ages and an interactive playground. These are great spaces for kids!

5. While traveling around World Showcase, be sure to participate in one of the EPCOT Festival Scavenger Hunts. Most of these are fun activities for the whole family to enjoy together but others are more geared toward adults. During different times of the year, more than one scavenger hunt may be available! You can find scavenger hunt maps at Creations Shop, Port of Entry, and World Traveler along with other locations. In previous years, maps cost $9.99 plus tax and completed maps can be turned in for a prize!

6. There are more ways for kids to explore World Showcase that will help to keep them busy as you explore the different countries. In each of the 11 World Showcase Countries, you will find the Kidcot stations. Participants will receive a Kidcott Passport and be able to fill their passport through coloring, stickers, and Cast Member signatures. Another lesser-known way for kids and tweens to explore World Showcase is to download the Play Disney Parks app and participate in Disney’s Duck Tales World Showcase Adventure. In this game, you will join the Duck Tales crew to find the 7 Lost Magic Treasures hidden in 7 of the World Showcase countries.

7. Inside the pyramid in the Mexico pavilion, besides the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros ride, you will find other fun experiences. In Mexico, you will see the Celebrate Dia de Muertos folk art exhibit by prominent Mexican artists—and work inspired by Disney·Pixar’s Coco (my favorite!). La Cava del Tequilla is an intimate lounge that offers over 200 tequila options, top shelf cocktails, margaritas, beer, wine, and tequila flight options. This is smaller space that can become very busy. It also offers the option for to-go drinks.

8. In most EPCOT countries, you will find incredible live performances. Some of my favorite performers include the JAMMitors in World Celebration, Sergio in Italy, Voices of Liberty in the American Pavillion, and Matsuriza in Japan. It is important to pay attention to the performance times as a lot of these performances only take place during midday hours. Performer location and times can be found on the My Disney Experience app.

9. Keep your eyes peeled for EPCOT photo ops! Some of my favorites are the large troll statue in Norway, hedge maze in United Kingdom, and the waterfalls in Canada.

10. For a unique, fun experience and souvenir, visit the Mitsukoshi store inside the Japan pavilion. At Akoya Pearls, you can choose an oyster from the tank and the Cast Member will open the oyster to reveal your pearl! The pearl itself is $18.78 plus tax. There are different jewelry settings available to purchase separately.

Enjoy an amazing day exploring all EPCOT has to offer! Keep in mind, besides incredible food, that every EPCOT country has amazing cultural experiences and exhibits. Dig in and enjoy!

I love discussing what each Walt Disney World park has to offer! Please reach out to me so I can help you create an amazing vacation! I can be contacted through:

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