Epcot for Kids: Fun for All Ages or Mostly for Adults?
When families think about visiting Walt Disney World, they often wonder if they should skip EPCOT with its storied history of edutainment. They may wonder if the kids are learning, then will they have fun? Is this theme park with all of its fancy festivals based on food really going to be fun for the whole family?
In the interest of full disclosure, we'll tell you right up front that we are huge EPCOT fans. We've been visiting since before our son was born and have been taking him to visit this park since he was a toddler. With all of that in mind, we realize that some of you may be skeptical about this park for your family.
To that we say, fair enough. Let us give you the lay of the land to help you decide whether or not it's a good fit for you and your family, especially for your littles. So, grab your MagicBands and let's go!
5 Things to Know About Visiting EPCOT with Kids
Most of EPCOT’s rides do not have a minimum height requirement and are slow-moving rides
There are three thrill rides at EPCOT that are definitely targeted to older kids, teens, and adults
Don't underestimate the power of Rider Switch for the more thrilling rides
Many of the rides have indoor playgrounds to keep your littles entertained while the older kids ride the rides
A number of the rides and attractions are based on Disney’s stable of popular characters and movies like Nemo, Frozen, Guardians of the Galaxy, and coming soon, Moana
Getting to Know EPCOT
EPCOT has recently undergone a major refurbishment. In fact, as of the writing of this article, they are still on what we hope is the backend of the journey to the upgrades. With the recent upgrades, they've put in a variety of rides and attractions for families to explore.
Now, no matter what age your child is, they're sure to find something to do in EPCOT. Think thrill rides and attractions starring characters like Guardians of the Galaxy for your older kids and even Remy from Ratatouille for your littles.
Plus, there are places to learn about different cultures in EPCOT’s World Showcase. Kids can travel around the 'world' exploring countries like Mexico, Norway, and China, all while having fun learning about their histories and cultures.
What's even better is that kids are likely to learn more about each culture from cultural ambassadors. Typically, they are college-aged individuals who work in the pavilion of their country of origin. The cultural ambassadors will share more about their cultures, where they are from, and even share some of the language.
As foodies, we can't forget that more than likely you'll be able to find meals, snacks, and treats that are traditional to these countries in each pavilion as well.
Let's take a deeper dive into EPCOT.
Exploring EPCOT's Neighborhoods
When visiting EPCOT, there are four distinct neighborhoods to explore. Each one offers a variety of family-friendly rides and attractions. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll find in each area:
EPCOT's World Celebration
The first area that you walk into as soon as you enter the gates is EPCOT's World Celebration.
Spaceship Earth
Here you will find an opening day attraction, Spaceship Earth. This is a favorite of our family! It's a slow-moving dark ride through the history of communication, where your ride vehicle comes equipped with interactive touch screens.
Spaceship Earth, EPCOT
You can thank the Phoenicians for inventing the alphabet and learn about how technology has shaped communication throughout the ages. There are no surprises or height requirements on this ride making it friendly for kids of all ages including the youngest of your littles.
If for any reason you don't think your kids will do well on this ride, you can always stop into the interactive play area at the end of the ride by entering through the exit. Here in Project Tomorrow you will find games and exhibits that are focused on innovation and technology.
A tip for you here, don't wait in line for this ride if it's longer than 20-30 minutes. Check the MyDisney Experience app for a lower wait time and come back to ride it when the waits are down.
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Then there's Journey into Imagination with Figment, another slow-moving dark ride where you meet a lovable purple dragon as you journey through the Imagination Institute labs. Similar to Spaceship Earth, this ride does not have a height requirement and should work especially well for your littles in the toddler and preschool age range. That said, we with our older child enjoy riding this one as well.
We do want to point out that there are two moments in the ride that may be unsettling for your smallest littles. The first moment is toward the beginning of the ride where Figment is testing your hearing, the room does go dark and there is the loud sound of a train approaching.
The other gets us every time, even though we know it's coming. This one comes towards the end of the ride when Dr. Channing has come around to seeing things Figment’s way. Figment says, "Imagination is a blast", after a spark from the screen the lights go out, there's a puff of air from behind you and up pops the final bright and cheery set.
Either or both of these moments may be a little scary for your littles. That said, the catchy tune and the fan-favorite purple dragon will be a hit with most kids.
After the ride be sure to spend some time in the Journey into Imagination playground, Imageworks, to enjoy some interactive activities, like creating music and creating your own dragon!
EPCOT's World Nature
The area behind Spaceship Earth and to the right is called EPCOT's World Nature. Nature lovers will love exploring this region of EPCOT. Here you'll find a world full of rides, attractions, and interactive activities that are fun for everyone. Let's take a look at some of the most popular attractions here:
Soarin' Around the World
One of our favorites is Soarin' Around the World. Located in the Land Pavilion, this ride takes you on a high-flying adventure 'around the world' to some of the most iconic locations. This is one of our favorites and you'll need to keep in mind that if you have a fear of heights, this one may not be for you!
We remember when our son rode this for the first time. He loved the immersive sights and the smells of this ride. He even tried to wipe away the sand from his first encounter with the elephants on the Savanah.
This is the first ride where you will run into a height requirement. To ride, your little must be 40 inches or taller. A tip for you here is to pass the time in line, use the Play Disney Parks app to play the trivia game.
Living with the Land
Also located in the Land Pavilion, you'll find another great attraction, Living with the Land. It's a throwback to EPCOT's original edutainment mission and is a slow-moving boat ride through the history of farming. You'll find this one suitable for kids of all ages.
The Land Pavilion, EPCOT
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
In the next pavilion over, you will find The Seas with Nemo & Friends. This area is chock full of family-friendly activities. Keeping the focus on rides, you will climb aboard a slow-moving clam shell to follow Nemo on the adventures through the East Australian Current.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends, EPCOT
This dark ride is based on the first Nemo film where you can follow Nemo's original story and meet all your favorite characters from his underwater world! The ride does not have a height requirement, which makes it perfect for your youngest littles.
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
Coming soon to this area will be Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. This attraction is scheduled to open later this year. It's billed as a walkthrough attraction based on the movie Moana. Water is supposed to do some interesting things in this attraction, and we can't wait to see it for ourselves.
Based solely on the attraction’s description, it sounds as though this one will be family-friendly and good for kids of all ages. Hopefully, it brings a touch of some much-needed shade to this area of EPCOT.
EPCOT's World Discovery
If you're looking for thrills, the World Discovery area of EPCOT is a great place to start. Located behind Spaceship Earth and to the left, you'll find three of the park's most exciting attractions.
Test Track
First up is Test Track. This ride lets you 'build' your own concept car and then take it out for a spin on the track. Topping out at around 65 mph and with no drops, it's sure to get your heart racing!
Here you will find a height requirement of 40 inches or taller. If your littles are too small to ride or don't feel like they are ready yet, you can take them through the exit to visit Chevrolet concept cars and a show room of their latest designs.
Test Track Build, EPCOT
A tip here, this one will have long waits through out the day. You have a few options to work around the wait or at least make it more bearable. Rope drop this one, or for the uninitiated make sure you are at the park about 30 minutes prior to opening so that as soon as you're let in you can make this the first ride you line up for.
Or, you can choose to purchase Disney Genie+ and make this the first or second ride you snag next to Remy's. Either way, you are going to want an earlier ride time, especially if you are visiting in the summer since this one will close down for inclement weather.
Mission Space
At Mission Space, visitors can choose between one of two space missions where they will either be a navigator, pilot, commander or engineer. The Green and the Orange missions have different intensity levels, so choose wisely.
Mission Space, EPCOT
The Green Mission
This tamer version of the ride sends you on a mission to orbit around the earth. Designed to be the more family friendly version of the ride, it is less intense than the Orange mission,
The Orange Mission
The original and more intense version of this ride takes you on a mission to Mars where things don’t go quite as expected. This ride is so intense that it comes with sick bags.
Our tip for you here is that we suggest going with Green and avoiding the Orange Mission because it has been known to make people motion sick. In either event, you must be comfortable in tight enclosed spaces to enjoy this ride.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Last but certainly not least, there's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the newest thrill ride addition in EPCOT. This indoor space-themed coaster offers riders an out-of-this-world experience with a reverse launch and plenty of thrills!
This is another ride that has been known to make people who are prone to motion sickness ill. It's been said that if you ride the middle cars on this coaster, you should fare better.
EPCOT's World Showcase
EPCOT's World Showcase is an area of the park that has something for everyone. It takes you on a journey 'around the world', celebrating multiple cultures through food, exhibits, rides, and attractions. There are three rides in EPCOT's World Showcase and all three just so happen to be family-friendly.
The Mexico Pavilion
The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros is a slow-moving boat ride through the sites and sounds of Mexico starring Donald Duck, Panchito, and Jose Carioca.
There's no height requirement on this ride, making this one good for all ages. We believe your younger littles will find this ride most enjoyable.
The Norway Pavilion
Here you will find one of the most popular rides in EPCOT, Frozen Ever After. This slow-moving boat ride takes you through Ana and Elsa's story including a trip up to Elsa's ice palace. What goes up must come down, get ready for the return trip down the mountain.
Frozen Ever After, EPCOT
Your littles, especially those that love these two princesses will enjoy this ride. We would say that we thought our son would enjoy it when he was a preschooler but we found that the abominable snowman, Marshmallow, found just before the drop, scared him.
There's no height requirement on this slow-moving dark ride. A tip here is that if this is a must-do for your kids, you'll want to consider either rope-dropping this ride or making use of Disney Genie+.
The France Pavilion
Ready to be shrunken down to the size of a mouse and chased through a fancy French kitchen? Then hop on board Remy's Ratatouille Adventure. This slow moving dark takes you along with Remy as he journeys through Gusteau's restaurant kitchen in search of tasty ingredients for his next culinary masterpiece.
Remy’s Ratatouille, EPCOT
As with so many rides in EPCOT, this one does not have a height requirement and we definitely recommend rope dropping this ride or making use of Disney Genie+.
Interactive Exhibits and Play Areas in EPCOT, Perfect for Kids
If you’re still wondering whether or not EPCOT is good for your younger ones, then let's talk interactive play areas and exhibits. Many of the rides have areas at the end of the rides that are centered around interactive exhibits and play areas.
Should your kids be too young or just not ready for some of the more intense rides, you’ll find these special areas tucked away for them. For example, Mission Space has ‘Space Base’ at its exit, a special space-themed play area where little astronauts can explore! Similarly, Journey into Imagination has ‘Imageworks’ where guests can explore their inner inventors and test out their creativity.
You could also head over to The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion. This area houses a 5.7 million-gallon aquarium filled with sea turtles, manta rays, and an incredible range of fish species.
Can the Kids Meet Characters in EPCOT?
Yes, they definitely can! It's actually one of our favorite moments when a character randomly "wanders" into an area, like Daisy at the International Gateway.
Joy Character Meet and Greet, EPCOT
Once World Discovery has finished its refurbishment, you'll be able to find the Fab 5 characters meeting and greeting people. For now they hang out in the general area to the right of Spaceship Earth.
Daisy Meet and Greet, EPCOT
Anna and Elsa have their own dedicated meet and greet space in Norway, while other princesses like Mulan will show up from time to time in their respective country’s pavilions.
If you really want to meet the princesses and spend some quality time with them, consider having a meal at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway. We hear the food is good and maybe more importantly, you'll get to meet an assortment of princesses.
Is there Kid Friendly Food at EPCOT?
When it comes to food, you can rest assured that there is something here for your kids. Not only will you always be able to find your basic chicken tenders, or burgers and fries throughout the park, but if your kids are more adventurous we suggest trying the food at any of the festival booths, no matter which festival happens to be on when you visit.
Or, if festival food isn't your thing, you can still stop by a quick service option at one of the World Showcase pavilions like France, Japan, or Italy for a meal, a snack, or a treat. EPCOT offers cuisine from around the world making sure kids don't miss out on experiencing some of the flavors of dishes from other cultures.
Will you need to buy Disney's Genie+ or Lightning Lane?
You may be wondering if EPCOT is one of those parks where you might consider investing in Disney's Genie+ or purchasing a Lightning Lane.
If you are traveling during the busier seasons at Walt Disney World, we suggest at least buying a Lightning Lane for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. It can save a considerable amount of time waiting in line.
Lightning Lane EPCOT
We've been purchasing Genie+ and find it useful to make certain we can get on the most popular rides and not have to wait on the much longer standby lines. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s definitely worth it if you are traveling during one of the peak seasons at Disney World, and want to minimize the time you spend standing in lines throughout your park day.
What else does EPCOT have for kids?
Believe it or not, there's much more to explore at EPCOT for kids! For instance, Disney & Pixar’s Short Film Festival is a must-watch where you get to view some animated shorts from Disney and Pixar.
Finding Dory’s Friends A Fin-Tastic Scavenger Hunt, EPCOT
Then there’s Turtle Talk with Crush, where little ones get to interact in real-time with Crush from Finding Nemo. And then there are the seasonal scavenger hunts, the Kidcot Fun Stops, or the recently installed DuckTales World Showcase Adventure. And did we mention the aquarium?
Kidcot Fun Stop, EPCOT
If you visit during one of the festivals like Flower & Garden Festival or International Food & Wine Festival, you'll find even more ways for kids to explore and have fun. The butterfly garden is always one of our favorites during the Flower & Garden festival.
EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
And the special place EPCOT becomes around the winter holidays is definitely worth a visit! Then, no day would be complete without fireworks around the World Showcase lagoon at the end your day.
Final Thoughts
So, is EPCOT kid friendly? The short answer is, Yes! Whether you're traveling with a newborn or a ten-year-old, you will find plenty of rides and attractions that are just right for your family.
EPCOT is good for kids of all ages. Not only does it have a great selection of rides and playgrounds for the little ones, but it also has plenty to offer for the adults in the family. From the World Showcase Pavilions where you can take in the culture from around the world, there's the food and shopping items that are unique to each country.
At the same time, there are a number of thrill rides and roller coasters that are a must-do for your older kids. If you have a mix of ages in your family, never underestimate the power of Rider Switch.
We used to take advantage of the ability to have one of us ride the thrill ride while the other waited with our little guy. This gives the person that waited the ability to hop back into line near the front so that they get to experience the ride without having to go to the back of the line.
We hope that we've given you the information that you need to decide whether or not EPCOT is right for you and your family.
Until next time, enjoy the journey!
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