EPCOT is currently undergoing some major changes and in the next few years, we are going to see some new rides coming to the park. Until then, you will be glad to know that are plenty of fun things for you to experience at the park right now. If you are wondering what you can look forward to doing, we have a list of what we think are the 5 best rides at EPCOT.
5 Best Rides at Epcot
When it comes to the four Disney parks, Epcot often is overlooked because people feel like it is more educational than actually fun. This is simply not true!
While Epcot is educational, it has plenty of rides and attractions to make your trip fun for the whole family!
These are five of our personal favorite rides at the park:
1. Test Track
Those traveling to Epcot won’t want to miss Test Track!
This full immersion experience allows you to create a virtual car and then take a simulated ride on a mile long track where you will reach speeds of 65 mph while hugging curves and dodging on-coming traffic obstacles!
There is no doubt that Test Track is a must do when you are at Epcot!
The fun begins at the queue for Test Track. You will get to see some pretty incredible futuristic cars brought to you buy Test Track’s sponsor, Chevrolet.
No one enjoys spending time in lines, but this is a good distraction.
Next, you will be taken to a station where you and another member from your party will digitally design your dream car.
You will create your car; choosing the color and style.
You will then place features on your car that will show you how well your car is designed based on Capability, Efficiency, Responsiveness, and Power.
This is a timed digital design, so you can’t spend too long on one particular feature. The goal is to create the best driving experience keeping those factors in mind.
Once that your car has been designed, you are ready to ride the SIM car.The SIM vehicle is a base car (with no exterior design) that seats up to 6 people.
Everyone who rides Test Track gets the same exact experience, but the vehicle you created digitally will be judged based on your personal design.
The SIM vehicle will go through a few obstacle courses before the lap. With each obstacle, your digital vehicle will be judged against the 2 other cars designed by other riders in your SIM car.
There will be a screen after each test to show who scored highest for each of the designated categories: Capability, Efficiency, Responsiveness, and Power.
What makes this the best Epcot ride is that the experience ends with a fast paced trip (up to 65 mph) around a near mile long track!
2. Frozen Ever After
Do you love Frozen? If so, you will not want to miss going to the Norway Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase.
Not only can you meet Anna & Elsa at their Royal Sommerhus, but you can take a magical trip to Arendelle.
The standby line meanders through a typical Norwegian Fjord village.
You’ll even get to go through Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post where you will hear Oaken calling out ” Yoooooo Hooooo.”
If you are lucky enough to score a Fastpass for this popular Epcot ride, you will by-pass most of the village (including Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post), but you will get a ticket straight to the front of the line to Arendelle.
The premise of Frozen Ever After is that you are a guest attending a Summer Snow Day Celebration in honor of the day that Queen Elsa saved her sister, Princess Anna, with an act of unselfish love.
The royal reception takes place in the Ice Palace and the only way to get there from Arendelle is by taking an ancient Norwegian vessel.
You will be transported from the port at Arendelle by a small viking ship and go ona magical journey through your favorite scenes from Frozen.
Along the way, you will see some of your favorite characters and hear some of your favorite songs from the hit Disney movie.
Olaf appears in several scenes along with everyone’s favorite reindeer, Sven. You will also get to see Marshmallow, the snow monster that Elsa created in Frozen along with everyone’s favorite little Snowgies from the Frozen Fever short.
3. Soarin Around the World
One of my personal favorite Epcot ride is Soarin’ Around the World. This attraction takes guests on an exhilarating “flight” visiting six continents in a matter of minutes!
What makes this ride so fantastic is that it is a multi-sensory experience.
Not only do you feel like you are flying, but you will hear sounds and recognize fragrances that capture exactly what you are seeing!
Where will you be traveling on this one of a kind Epcot ride?
The Great Wall of China, the Great Pyramids of Egypt the Eiffel Tower in Paris are just a few of the destinations you’ll take on this magical trip around the globe!
Are you traveling with someone afraid of heights?
I hate heights and the feeling of drops, but I love this ride.
While you are lifted 40 feet off the ground and feel like you are suspended in air, the screen is what moves, not the ride itself (other than subtly lifting you up and back down at the end).
4. Mission Space
Those wondering what it would be like to be an astronaut can get the chance in Mission Space, a simulated journey to outer space.
There are two ways to experience Mission Space:
- The Orange Mission uses a centrifuge that spins and tilts to simulate the speed and G-forces of a spacecraft launch and reentry,
- The Green Mission is also a motion simulator that offers light movement and doesn’t spin. It is the best for those that are prone to motion sickness.
Make sure that you know which line you are getting into before going into Mission Space!
Something else to be aware of is that if you are the least bit claustraphobic, this is NOT the ride for you. When you enter the ride, you will be in a VERY small cramped space that doesn’t allow you a lot of room to move about.
You will begin your journey by assembling a 4 member crew. There are four roles that you will need to choose from: navigator, pilot, commander or engineer.
Each role is crucial in your space mission, so pay attention to what you are in charge of during the mission.
The ride itself will make you feel as though you are really on a space craft. You will begin the journey with a countdown to life off.
At lift off, the engines roar, vibrate and finally blast off.
You will undergo the physical and visual experiences of leaving Earth, including G Forces as you leave the Earth’s gravitational pull.
As the flight continues, you will get a sense of weightlessness. Be sure to keep your eyes open through out the journey and if you begin to feel any sort of sickness, know that there are bags in the flight simulator for a reason.
Along your journey in space, you will be given instructions on things you need to do in order to arrive safely back on Earth. As long as you complete the instructions correctly, you will complete your mission.
If you don’t, well, all I can say is good luck!
5. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
If you ever wanted to go know what it’s like to be a rat inside a restaurant, this ride will give you the chance!
When you board your mouse car, you will be doning a pair of 3D glasses because this ride is built to make you feel like you are really part of the action.
Guests will experience the sights, sounds, and even the smells of a working kitchen as they race through trying to avoid being caught!
If you really want to ride the best rides at EPCOT in one day, you should consider paying up for Genie+ so that you can access Lightning Lane.
This will give you the ability to jump the line and free up your time to do other things in between your rides.
Those not wanting to pay the extra fee should plan on getting to EPCOT early and lining up for one of the more popular rides on this list.
Keep in mind that World Showcase doesn’t open until 11am.
Have you been to Epcot? Do you have a favorite ride at Epcot?