EPCOT.
It’s amazing, right?
Read more: Top EPCOT Must-Do’s for 2025: Your Ultimate GuideBut let’s be honest, it can feel HUGE. Where do you even start? If you’re planning a trip to EPCOT in 2025, you’re in for a treat. This guide breaks down the absolute must-do experiences, whether it’s your first time or you’re an EPCOT pro. Get ready to make the most of your day!
Embrace the EPCOT Transformation: What’s New and Next
EPCOT is always changing. It feels like there’s something new every time you visit, doesn’t it? Let’s check out some of the exciting things happening.
Test Track Reimagining: A Nod to the Past, A Glimpse of the Future
Test Track closed in June 2024 for a major update. The reopening is expected sometime in the summer of 2025. What’s really cool? The new version is inspired by the classic World of Motion ride! It’s like mixing the old with the new.
Disney is keeping the specific details a secret to build excitement. But here’s a tip: When it reopens, be prepared for a possible virtual queue. It’s worth checking ahead of time so you’re ready.
Spaceship Earth’s New GO82 Lounge: Adults Only Oasis
A new lounge is coming to Spaceship Earth. It’s called GO82 and it’s slated to open in late spring. The theme? Spaceship Earth, of course.
Here’s the big detail: It’s adults only (21+). This is pretty significant. You don’t see many dedicated adults-only spots inside the parks. If you’re planning a grown-up trip, keep this one on your radar!
Ride Updates: Single Rider and Standby Lines
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in France has a new single rider line. If you don’t mind splitting up from your group, this can seriously cut down your wait time.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind no longer has a virtual queue. It’s back to a regular standby line now. This simplifies things, but the lines can get long, especially midday.
Consider buying individual Lightning Lane access. It’s around $14-$18+, depending on the day. Weigh the cost versus the wait time.
| Standby Line | Lightning Lane | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | No extra cost | Shorter wait times |
| Cons | Can be very long, especially during peak hours | Additional cost ($14-$18+ per person) |
| Best For | Guests on a budget | Guests who want to save time |
CommuniCore Hall and Plaza: The New Heart of EPCOT
CommuniCore Hall and Plaza opened less than a year ago in World Celebration. It’s basically EPCOT’s dedicated festival zone. It feels like the new heart of the front part of the park.
There’s a “Celebration Sing-Along” on the Plaza stage. It features Encanto songs and characters. It was supposed to be temporary, but it’s been so popular that they decided to keep it going.
Inside the hall, you’ll find seasonal stuff, festival food, exhibits, and the Mickey and Friends meet-and-greet. It’s a busy spot and definitely worth checking out.
Culinary Adventures Around the World: Beyond Burgers and Fries
EPCOT’s food scene is next level for a theme park. It’s not just burgers and fries. You can get some seriously unique and high-quality eats.
France Pavilion: Sweet Treats and Champagne Flights
First stop, France. L’Artisan des Glaces is a must. They have 16 kinds of house-made ice cream and sorbet. They also do ice cream martinis and macaron ice cream sandwiches.
Then there’s the Croque Glacé. It’s a scoop of your chosen ice cream pressed inside a warm brioche bun. Raspberry or chocolate sauce is drizzled on top. It’s an amazing warm-cold-soft-sweet thing.
For the adults, there’s Les Vins des Chefs de France. It looks like a wine shop, but it’s a great little champagne bar.
- Regular flight (around $34):
- Moët & Chandon
- Taittinger
- Veuve Clicquot
- Deluxe flight (around $72):
- Dom Pérignon
- Ruinart
- Bollinger
The deluxe flight is definitely a splurge option.
Germany Pavilion: Hidden Gems and Caramel Delights
Head over to Germany. Find the little kiosk called Sommerfest. It’s kind of hidden away, but you need to find it for one reason: the pretzel bread pudding.
It’s amazing and cheap (under $5). It’s ridiculously good. Get your own!
Much more obvious in Germany is Karamell-Küche. You can smell it from halfway down the pavilion. It’s all about fresh Werther’s caramel. They have caramel butter bars, cookies, s’mores, seasonal whoopie pies, and Mickey caramel apples.
Japan Pavilion: Extravagant Sushi Boats
In Japan, there’s Teppan Edo. It’s a great table service spot where the chefs cook right at your table hibachi-style. It’s always a good time.
Besides the regular menu, they have something extravagant called the “fune.” It means boat. It’s a $300 sushi boat.
It’s a massive, beautiful display of premium sushi and sashimi for four to six people. It’s a novelty, a splurge, but pretty unforgettable.
Rope Drop Strategies: Maximize Your Morning at EPCOT
You need a rope drop strategy. Getting there before the park officially opens and hitting those big rides first saves so much time.
Strategy 1: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Go straight for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The lines get crazy long later.
If you have early theme park entry, that extra 30 minutes for resort guests is even better.
Grab a Joffrey’s coffee nearby afterward to recharge.
Strategy 2: Frozen Ever After in Norway
World Showcase opens later (usually 11:00 AM). But the rides in World Showcase, like Frozen Ever After, open with the park (usually 9:00 AM).
Norway is quieter first thing. You can knock out Frozen before the crowds really hit that area. Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe opens early too. Grab pastries and maybe that Frozen Viking Coffee.
Strategy 3: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure via International Gateway
This one’s best if you’re coming in through the International Gateway. If you’re staying at a Skyliner resort or hopping over from Hollywood Studios, you’re right there in France.
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie is open for breakfast. They have quiche, croissants, coffee, and even mimosas. It’s pretty affordable and open all day too.
Strategy 4: Soarin’ Around the World
Head to Soarin’ Around the World in the Land Pavilion. The lines don’t usually get as insane as Cosmic Rewind or Frozen, but it’s still good to hit early.
Sometimes you can ride it twice back-to-back with hardly any wait. Then you can do Living with the Land and grab breakfast at Sunshine Seasons. It’s all indoors, which makes it a great rainy morning plan too.
Drinking (and Sipping) Around the World: Beyond Alcohol
Time for a classic EPCOT activity: drinking and sipping around the world. But it doesn’t have to be just alcohol. There are tons of amazing non-alcoholic drinks too. EPCOT has something for everyone.
The Disney Food Blog actually has a free guide for this: Best Drinks Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic in Every Pavilion.
Non-Alcoholic Highlights: A Refreshing Journey
- UK: Grab a proper Twinings hot tea at the Rose & Crown.
- Morocco: Oasis Sweets and Sips has fantastic frozen mint tea.
- America: Fife and Drum has the American Dream slush. It’s that layered red, white, and blue Fanta and vanilla ice cream thing.
- Italy: Gelateria Toscana has the Frago. It’s basically root beer and vanilla gelato, like a fancy root beer float.
- China: Joy of Tea has the bubble milk tea.
- Norway: At Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, get the Kristoff Cafe. It’s a frozen coffee with coffee chocolate sauce and chocolate crunch.
Immersive Shopping and Cultural Finds: More Than Just Souvenirs
Time for shopping, but not just t-shirts. Think immersive shopping and cultural finds. The shops in World Showcase are amazing. They have stuff you genuinely won’t find anywhere else in Disney World.
Beyond Souvenirs: Unique Finds and Live Artisans
Look for the live artisans.
- Venetian masks in Italy
- Finding your family coat of arms in the UK
- Picking a pearl in Japan
- Hand-painted ornaments in Mexico
- Custom leather bracelets in Canada
- Perfume bottle engraving in France or Italy
It adds so much to the experience. Budget some time to browse the shops. It’s more than just souvenirs.
Engage with Cultural Representatives: A Global Conversation
Engage with the cultural representatives. This is one of the best parts of World Showcase.
Insider Tips and Cultural Insights
Disney’s Cultural Representative Program brings cast members from the actual countries represented in the pavilions. You can actually talk to someone from Germany in the Germany pavilion.
Ask them about their hometown. Maybe learn a word or two in their language. Ask for food recommendations. Ask them what the most authentic snack or drink is in their pavilion.
You can even ask about the Disney parks back in their home countries, like Tokyo or Shanghai. Just be mindful if they’re super busy. They’re usually really happy to chat and share their culture.
Experience an EPCOT Festival: An Extra Layer of Magic
Experience an EPCOT festival if you can swing it. EPCOT’s pretty much festival central most of the year.
A Quick Rundown of EPCOT’s Festivals
- Festival of the Arts (Early Year): Amazing chalk art and a big paint-by-number mural.
- Flower and Garden (Spring): Gorgeous topiaries, flowers everywhere, a butterfly house, and a tea tour in the UK.
- Food and Wine Festival (Fall): Global marketplaces, small plates, and drinks.
- Festival of the Holidays (End of the Year): Storytellers in each pavilion, a holiday overlay to Living with the Land, and the Candlelight Processional.
The Candlelight Processional has a celebrity narrator, orchestra, and choir. It’s incredibly moving. Line up super early or book one of those dining packages for guaranteed seats.
Re-Experience Attractions at Night: A Different Perspective
Re-experience attractions at night. Some things just hit differently after dark.
Spaceship Earth and Beyond: Nighttime Magic
Spaceship Earth is the obvious example. The ride inside is the same, but the outside is gorgeous. Look at the lights with that slow-shifting rainbow pattern every 15 minutes.
There are also special light shows. The standard EPCOT one, plus the limited-time ones for festivals or holidays.
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana changes at night too. Daytime, it’s bright and earthy. At night, the lighting shifts completely. Lots of pinks, golds, purples, and sunset vibes.
The World Celebration Gardens light up too. Beautiful sunset and rainbow colors. They sync up with the Spaceship Earth shows.
Embrace Your Favorite Traditions and EPCOT Nostalgia
Embrace your favorite traditions and EPCOT nostalgia. Don’t feel like you always have to do the newest thing. Sometimes revisiting old favorites is the best part.
The Joy of Familiar Comforts
If riding Spaceship Earth first thing is your family tradition, do it. If you love getting a specific snack every time, go for it. It’s your vacation.
There’s real joy in those familiar comforts. Don’t skip them just because they’re not new.
Witness Luminous: The Symphony of Us
Witness Luminous: The Symphony of Us. It debuted in late 2023. It’s really beautiful. Fireworks, fountains, lasers, lights, and those reimagined Disney songs are great.
Best Viewing Spots and Dining Packages
No more giant permanent barges blocking the lagoon during the day. The view is much cleaner now. Because there aren’t fixed projection screens, finding a decent view is generally easier.
The walkway between Mexico and Norway is usually pretty solid. You get a good lagoon view, plus Choza de Margarita is right there.
You could book a dining package. Rose & Crown in the UK has that patio with a great view and British food. Spice Road Table in Morocco has covered outdoor seating and Mediterranean small plates.
World Showcase Plaza at the entrance to World Showcase offers a prime center view. The bridge between France and the UK (Ponte Vecchio) is elevated and gives a cool perspective, but space is tight.
Here is an interactive map showing the best viewing spots for Luminous: Interactive Map of Epcot
Luminous is a show that will remind you why you love Disney.
So that’s the top 10 must-dos for EPCOT this year. There’s still so much more to EPCOT. It’s all about finding your perfect way to experience this amazing park. Have an amazing time on your next trip
