Tour of EPCOT - Part 1 (Introduction/Future World)

Hi Disney friends,

Yesterday, I finished off the tour of the Magic Kingdom and today I am going to move over to the second park at Walt Disney World. EPCOT is an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. The park is nothing like Walt Disney’s original view of what this would be. Walt originally viewed EPCOT as a city that was interconnected with ease of access to everything. In some ways Walt was a city planner of the future. If you looked at the Tour of Magic Kingdom – Part 6 (Tomorrowland,) you will see what Walt envisioned for this city of the future.

EPCOT is actually divided into 2 parts, Future World and World Showcase. Future World is the area you find when you first enter the park and pass under the large iconic geodesic dome (golf ball) that houses Spaceship Earth (The dome actually is a sphere within a sphere and when it is raining, the precipitation is moves between the 2 spheres and is used to water plants under the building.) The main entrance is accessible from the parking lot or the monorail station that is serves guests traveling to the Ticket and Transportation Center (connections for Magic Kingdom occur here.) The monorail is unique here in that it travels around Future World when coming from the Ticket and Transportation Center.

The second part of EPCOT is World Showcase house pavilions from 11 countries, including the United States. There is also a back entrance to the park in World Showcase between France and United Kingdom, but there is no parking in this area and most people who use this entrance are coming from either Hollywood Studios, Boardwalk Resort, Beach and Yacht Club Resort, or the Swan and Dolphin resort. You can get to EPCOT from either of these locations by either walking or by boat. In the future, there will be the Skyliner option that will expand non-bus options of getting to EPCOT to Riviera Resort (under construction,) Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century, and Art of Animation.

Future Skyliner Transportation for EPCOT

Boat from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT

I will break the discussion of Future World up into 4 posts. This first post will center on the main entrance and Innoventions. The first ride you come to is Spaceship Earth. This ride is generally crowded early in the day since most people come straight in and stop off there, but later in the day, there is a good opportunity to get some shorter lines. Spaceship Earth is a slow moving ride where you are given a tour through the history of communication. The ride allows for a nice break from rushing around the park and is quite relaxing (it is approximately 16 minutes long,) thus one of the reasons I like to hit this ride about midday. When you disembark the ride, you are able to play games and email yourself you plans for your future world.

 

Spaceship Earth at Night

Once you leave this ride, you are in Innoventions. As of now, Innoventions is going through major changes with . The only major attraction that is here is 3 different meet and greets with different Disney characters. One of the meet and greets allows guests to meet Baymax from Big Here 6. The second bring Joy and Sadness of Inside Out to EPCOT. The final meet and greet is with Mickey and friends (Minnie, Pluto and Goofy.)

When it comes to food options, there is the Electric Umbrella for a quick service meal and the Fountain View Café (at certain times of the day, the fountain goes off to classical music) where guest can savor some Starbucks coffee. Club Cool is also located in this part of the park. This area is sponsored by Coca-Cola and allows guests to sample Coke products from around the world. Innoventions also houses Mouse Gears which is one of the larger stores in Walt Disney World. You are able to find everything from toys to clothes to housewares to jewelry here.

I know that it may get redundant me thanking you for reading my posts, but I am grateful for you. I enjoy sharing Disney with people and you allow me that opportunity. If you have any questions about Walt Disney World (or any other Disney locations here in the states,) please let me know and I will do my best to answer your questions. If you need help booking a Disney vacation, I will also be glad to help you with that also, just email me at brian.herndon@mousemadesimple.com.