Our 9-Year-Old's Perfect Epcot Outing: His favorite rides and Remy hunt

You know that feeling when your kid is old enough to really enjoy and appreciate a place like EPCOT?

Our 9-year-old son has been visiting EPCOT since he was a tike and now has definite opinions about the park and the things he likes to do when we visit.

Over the course of two days we handed him the reins and let him guide us through EPCOT.

He made sure that we hit all of his must-do attractions like Soarin', Mission: SPACE, and Test Track (more than once). But he also wanted to hunt for Remy, the rat from Ratatouille, as part of EPCOT's Hide and Squeak Scavenger Hunt. I have to admit, his enthusiasm was contagious.

7 Things to know about EPCOT and Kids

First things first, EPCOT is kid-friendly! There are plenty of rides and attractions for the whole family
There are a number of slow moving dark rides that do not have minimum height requirements
If it's a thrill you're after, Guardians of the Galaxy, Test Track and if you can stomach it Mission Space: Orange Mission might be just what you're looking for
If for any reason you have a family member that doesn't meet a height requirement or just doesn't want to ride, remember to take advantage of Rider Switch
Take advantage of the many indoor playgrounds to keep your little busy or to keep the entire family out of the Florida summer rain and heat
Most of the World Showcase pavilions have museum quality exhibits that you can explore with the family
EPCOT is the land of festivals! There are four festivals that rotate throughout the year (EPCOT Festival of the Arts, EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and EPCOT Festival of the Holidays) that provide unique to the festival food, beverages and entertainment for your family to experience

Our 9 Year Old Takes Charge: Planning Our Epcot Visit

When our 9-year-old found out he could plan our time at EPCOT he was thrilled. He loves being in charge and EPCOT just may be one of his favorite parks.

He enjoyed every moment of leading us around EPCOT and now thinks he can plan our Disney days.

Riding His Favorite Rides

First on the agenda were his beloved rides. He insisted that we ride his favorites more than once where possible. Here's what he loves to ride, spoiler alert it's just about every ride in the park.

Disney Genie+

But before we dive in, a word about Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. We visited EPCOT 3 times on this trip and only purchased Lightning Lanes once, when we knew we would be hopping to another park and could take advantage of using them at the second park.

Generally speaking, you will only need to purchase Disney Genie+ at EPCOT when you only have one day in the park and want to make sure you can ride most of the attractions. Or, it's a particularly busy day and you want to minimize your wait time.

Standby and Lighting Lane Entry at Mission:SPACE at EPCOT

The only attractions that we suggest you pay extra for are Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind and Remy's Ratatouille Adventure.

These two rides are the most popular rides in EPCOT and if you want to make certain you either don't have an extremely long wait for Remy or miss out on snagging a Boarding Group for Guardians, then you should consider figuring the cost of these Individual Lightening Lanes into your budget.

Individual Lightning Lanes

Individual Lightning Lanes can be purchased without purchasing Disney Genie+ for the day. We suggest that if you are purchasing either Disney Genie+ or Individual Lightening Lanes for they that you are up and ready to go at 7am to make sure that you are able to snag the rides that you want.

We also suggest that if you're purchasing Disney Genie+, make sure that you have linked your travel party so that you can purchase and make reservations for rides for the entire party at the same time.

Mission SPACE

At Mission Space, you can be either the navigator, pilot, commander or engineer. There are two space missions to choose between, the Green or the Orange mission.

The Green mission, or shall we say the tamer version of the ride simulates what it's like to train as an astronaut and blast off into space. You'll experience the g-forces of liftoff and the thrill of space travel as you zoom past landmarks on Earth and navigate through a meteor shower.

After conquering this mission, you'll head to the post-show area where your little astronaut can explore Mission: SPACE Advanced Training Lab and try their hand at interactive space games.

The Orange mission is the more intense version of the ride and instead of orbiting earth, your mission takes you on a mission to Mars where things don’t go quite as expected. If you are prone to motion sickness, please know that this version of the ride is so intense that it does come with sick bags.

Soarin' Around the World

Soarin' Around the World is located in the Land Pavilion, this unique ride uses giant projection screens and lifts you up in the air, making you feel like you're hang gliding over some of the most scenic places on Earth.

You'll gently soar over the Great Wall of China, dive into the Great Pyramids of Egypt, and swoop up and down the Eiffel Tower. The immersive visuals and subtle scents of each location make you feel like you're really there. It's a thrill ride that's exciting yet family-friendly.

Keep in mind that if you have a fear of heights, this one may not be for you!

Spaceship Earth

Spaceship Earth is the icon of EPCOT and home to a slow-moving dark ride through the history of communication. Your ride vehicle has an interactive touch screen where you will choose your reentry to earth while exploring future technology for home and travel.

Remember to "thank the Phoenicians" for inventing the alphabet on your journey!

Be sure to stop by Project Tomorrow; the high tech indoor play area at the end of the ride. Here you can perform remote surgery and try your hand at a driving simulation game among the many experiences in the area.

The Seas with Nemo and

If you wanted to explore the world of Nemo, then this is the ride for you. The Seas with Nemo & Friends lets you climb aboard a clam shell to follow Nemo on his adventures through the East Australian Current.

This 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!

In our opinion, this ride has the best after ride attraction. Stop by the 2 story aquarium to learn more about the marine life that they care for here. There's also a Dory themed scavenger hunt and Turtle talk with crush.

Journey into Imagination with Figment

Journey into Imagination with Figment takes you on a slow moving dark ride through the Imagination Institute labs where you will meet the lovable purple dragon.

Just outside of the ride, you can spend time in the Journey into Imagination playground, Imageworks, to enjoy some interactive activities, like creating music and creating your own dragon!

Honorable Mentions:

Test Track

"Build" your own concept car at Test Track 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!

We did get to ride this one but only once and not on a day when he was technically in charge. That said, we suggest that you rope drop this one, getting on line as soon as the park opens and make this one of the first rides of your day. You'll especially want to do this if you're visiting in the summer since this one will close down for inclement weather.

This ride also has a post attraction area that is fun to explore. You'll see the latest Chevrolet vehicles on display, including a few concept cars. There's an area where you can simulate driving the vehicle that you created and be sure to take advantage of the photo ops.

Frozen Ever After

As one of the most popular rides in EPCOT, Frozen Ever After takes you on a slow-moving boat ride 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.

Much to our surprise he requested to ride this one. Especially unexpected given that he does not like the snowman on this ride.

The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros

Located in the Mexico pavilion, The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros is a slow-moving boat ride through the sights and sounds of Mexico starring Donald Duck, Panchito, and Jose Carioca.

This is another one that we were surprised that he requested considering that it's not particularly thrilling. However, he is a Donald Duck fan and Donald trumps everything!

Hunting for Remy: The Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt

In between riding the rides and taking in the attractions, it was time for Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak Scavenger Hunt. This fun activity had us searching the World Showcase for Remy statues posed with various foods.

Map and Prize for Remy’s Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt, EPCOT

You can purchase your map and stickers at multiple locations around the World Showcase including:

Disney Traders
Port of Entry
Creations Shop
World Traveler at International Gateway
Festival Merchandise Kiosks

Remy hiding in Mexico along with the Hide & Squeak Map, EPCOT

For the first time, we managed to complete the whole challenge in one day! That's not something we suggest that you do. Spread this activity out over a few days, especially if you're there during the heat of summer.

After finding each Remy, he was able to claim his completer prize. This year, there was a selection of insulated lunch bags to choose from.

Collector prizes can be redeemed at:

Tasting New Foods at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival

No trip to Epcot during any festival would be complete without tasting the dishes from the different food booths. At the time of our visit, the Food and Wine Festival was in full swing

At nine, he's not an adventurous eater but believe it or not, we found two new dishes at the festival that he liked! The Brew-Wing Buffalo wings were a hit; they were too spicy for me but perfect for him. He also enjoyed the Chicken Tiki Masala from the India booth.

Chicken Tiki Masala from the India Booth, EPCOT

It goes without saying he had no complaints when we stopped by the Fry Basket for the Fry Flight. He liked both the Sea Salt and Malt Vinegar and the BBQ Bacon Fries were a hit with him.

While not a festival booth, we stopped by Club Cool where he tried out two flavors of coke products that are only available in other countries. He was partial to the Philippines and the Dominican Republic flavors. And just in case you haven't heard, you should try Beverly. Some people love it, most people don't.

The other item that was kid requested and kid-approved was a funnel cake from the Funnel Cake booth. The cake of choice was a Funnel Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream.

The festival offers so many opportunities for your little to try new and different foods from around the world. While you sip and savor, keep an eye out for dishes with familiar ingredients that your little might enjoy.

With an open and adventurous mind, you’re sure to discover some new favorites to delight those little taste buds. Sampling the variety of flavors from diverse cultures is a perfect way for kids and adults alike to explore and celebrate diversity together.

Final Thoughts

After two full days of riding some of his favorites, hunting for Remy's, and tasting foods from around the world, our 9-year-old's perfect EPCOT adventure comes to an end.

EPCOT holds so many opportunities for learning and discovery, especially for kids. Giving them ownership of the experience fuels their natural curiosity about the world. Our perfect EPCOT adventure showed us once again why this remains one of our family’s most cherished places.

Our little guy proved he’s ready to take the reins and plan more of our Disney adventures. We're looking forward to having him get more involved and helping us decide what we'll do when we visit the parks.

We can't wait to return and do it all over again! What will be on your perfect EPCOT itinerary the next time you visit? The possibilities at EPCOT are nearly endless.

Enjoy the journey!

Our 9 Year Old's Perfect EPCOT Outing: Riding His Favorite Rides and Hunting for Remy

7 Things to know about EPCOT and Kids

Our 9 Year Old Takes Charge: Planning Our Epcot Visit