If you’re planning to visit Epcot during your Disney World vacation, be sure to check out these must-do rides!
Our list of the best Disney rides at Epcot will ensure you get the most out of your day in the parks!
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Visiting Walt Disney World is an exciting adventure filled with popular rides, Mickey-shaped snacks, and top-notch live entertainment.
Planning what to do on your Disney vacation can feel a bit overwhelming when you really want to hit every single themed attraction and experience all the magic, especially at Epcot.
Between Future World and the World Showcase, there’s just so much to do!
To help you narrow it down, I’ve created a list of the best Disney rides at Epcot.
These Epcot attractions are located in both Future World and the World Showcase, meaning you’ll be able to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells in all corners of the popular park.
I’ll also give you some park tips and helpful hints that will help you make the most of your day at Epcot.
More Epcot Resources:
- Best Epcot Quick-Service Restaurants
- Top Things to do at the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
- Breakfast at Epcot: Best Quick-Service and Table-Service Options
Tips for Hitting the Rides at Epcot
In our opinion, Epcot is one of the best Disney parks for adults, but it’s also high on our list of the best Disney parks for toddlers.
Depending on the ages of everyone in your party, you can adjust where you want to go first and create your plan for the day.
Epcot may not be the Disney park with the most rides, but there are so many options that you’ll still need to have a plan so you can fit in the things that matter most to you!
Related: Be sure to also check out our tips for preventing motion sickness at Disney World.
The Best Time to Ride
Depending on the time of year, the World Showcase often opens around 11am daily, which is usually 1-2 hours after the front of the park, where Future World, the Land & the Seas are located.
If you’re hitting the parks at rope drop or early in the morning, it’s the perfect time to explore these areas before the World Showcase opens.
On the other hand, a lot of these stand-by lines are much shorter at the end of the day when most guests have crossed the International Gateway into the World Showcase.
For those reasons, I suggest you plan to visit the rides in Future World, the Land, and the Seas either early in the day, or closer to park closing when you can avoid long lines.
You’ll be able to visit more of the Epcot attractions in less time when lines are shorter.
Plan Your Route
Whether you’re planning on park-hopping at Disney, if you have Disney dining reservations you don’t want to miss, or if you simply want to be sure you hit the high points of Epcot, it’s a good idea to create a plan.
In addition to considering the opening and closing time of the parks, you’ll want to consider the amount of walking required to get from one ride to another.
Epcot is much larger than you think, so if you want to avoid getting “Disney feet,” you’ll want to plan accordingly.
Create a route that makes sense, based on the attractions you want to hit and where they’re located within the park.
Height Requirements
Be sure to take note of the Disney height requirements for various rides, particularly if you’re visiting Disney World with toddlers or younger children.
Many rides have a height restriction in place, but not all do.
We’ve listed notable requirements for each of our top Epcot rides below.
The Best Rides at Epcot That You Won’t Want to Miss
These are quintessential rides that you definitely will want to add to your park itinerary for the day!
Spaceship Earth
Location: Inside The Geosphere, Future World East Side
Type: Slow-Moving Omnimover Ride
Why It’s a Must-Do Ride at Epcot: This park icon is the ultimate journey through time that takes you to the future!
The story begins in the BC era and continues all the way up to modern day. You’ll uncover some of the most influential discoveries and events of our time as you go along on your adventure in a slow-moving ride vehicle.
Spaceship Earth is a “must-do” because it’s a perfect ride for all ages! In our opinion, you have to ride it at least once.
It’s more about the journey than the experience, so those who are not roller coaster fans or adrenaline junkies will have a great time riding this classic Disney attraction.
Height Requirement: Any height. Guests must be 40″ tall to ride on their own, or 38″ if accompanied by someone at least 14 years old.
Those under 40″ may experience the ride as passengers with a responsible person who is at least 14 years old and sitting in the same row.
Soarin’ Around the World
Location: Inside The Land Pavilion near The Living Seas
Type: Flight Simulator
Why It’s a Must-Do Ride at Epcot: This beloved ride takes you on an adventure around (and above!) the world.
The motion simulator takes you on an unbelievable global journey, so you can see sights like California, Florida, and even the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Soar above the Eiffel Tower, and experience the fireworks over Main Street USA in Disneyland as you fly over some of the most iconic locations across the globe.
Height Requirement: 40″ tall minimum.
Mission: SPACE
Location: Inside The Land Pavilion, Future World East Side
Type: Simulation Ride
Why It’s a Must-Do Ride at Epcot: This is not your typical Disney ride!
If you’re up for an exciting journey, Mission: SPACE takes you on a thrilling adventure that simulates what it feels like to be an astronaut.
You’ll blast off into space and choose your mission. You can choose between training exercises or journeying through space.
If you’re not a fan of closed spaces or tend to get motion sickness, this might be one ride to skip.
Height Requirement: 40″ tall minimum by height.
Test Track
Location: Inside The Land Pavilion, Future World East Side
Type: Transportation Simulator
Why It’s a Must-Do Ride at Epcot: This vehicle testing lab is the perfect way to bring thrills to your Disney vacation!
Test Track is a high-speed journey that simulates what it’s like to test out vehicles at General Motors.
You’ll ride through vehicle testing laboratories, where you’ll venture through uneven terrain, exceptional temperatures and weather conditions, and even a crash test!
The technology involved in the journey is mind-blowing, and you’ll feel like you’re the star in a thrilling movie!
Height Requirement: Riders must be 40″ or taller to experience Test Track.
Frozen Ever After
Location: The Norway Pavilion, World Showcase West Side
Type: Boat ride based on Frozen.
Why It’s a Must-Do Ride at Epcot: This is an immersive journey that lets you hang out with Anna and Elsa from Disney’s mega-hit movie “Frozen!”
This attraction takes you into the kingdom of Arendelle and the magical land of the “Frozen” movie.
The journey is set to memorable songs from the film, so this ride will be a huge hit with your little ones who are Frozen fans! Older kids should enjoy it as well since they’ll likely have seen the film after its tremendous success in 2013.
This is a dark ride, so if that bothers your kiddos, you may want to pass on it.
Height Requirement: Any height. Children who are not yet 38″ tall must be accompanied by a responsible person who is at least 14 years old.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Location: France Pavilion, World Showcase East Side
Type: 4D Cinema Ride
Why It’s a Must-Do Ride at Epcot: The newest Epcot ride on our list, this is an exciting journey that brings you to the streets of Paris where Remy leads your adventure.
You’ll be shrunk to Remy’s size so you can experience his world in miniature as you scamper and scurry with Remy and his friends.
This new ride uses a virtual queue. There is no stand-by line for this Epcot ride. Get all the details on how Disney’s virtual queue works.
Height Requirement: Any height. Do note this ride can cause motion sickness in some guests.
Epcot Rides for Kids
For children who may not meet the height requirements of some of our favorites (or who prefer gentler, less-intense options besides a thrill ride), here are some of our top picks for kids:
- Frozen Ever After
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Spaceship Earth
- The Seas with Nemo and Friends
- Journey into Imagination with Figment
- Beauty and the Beast Singalong
Full Epcot Rides List
Although we’ve given some of our top picks for our favorite rides, there are plenty more where those came from!
Here’s the list of rides at Epcot (subject to change–always check with the park for current closures or renovations):
- Spaceship Earth
- The Epcot Experience
- Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
- Journey Into Imagination with Figment
- Mission: SPACE
- Test Track
- Awesome Planet
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Living with the Land
- The Seas with Nemo and Friends (all your favorite Finding Nemo characters!)
- Turtle Talk with Crush
- SeaBase
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros (including Donald Duck!)
- Frozen Ever After
- Reflections of China
- America Gardens Theatre
- The American Adventure
- Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
- Impressions de France
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360
Enjoying the Best Rides at Epcot
I hope this list of the 6 best Epcot rides helps you as you plan for your next trip to Orlando and the Disney parks.
These must-see attractions are memorable ones you’ll never forget!
More Disney Planning Resources:
- How the Disney Payment Plan Works
- How to Stay Cool at Disney World
- Disney Packing List: What to Bring
- The Best Live Shows at Disney World
Be sure to save this article to your Disney vacation board on Pinterest!
