Epcot with Kids: Tips for Planning a Day at Epcot for Families

Is Epcot for Kids? We think so! At first glance Epcot might not look like the best choice for kids, but with a little planning you can enjoy the food and culture as a family. Read on for how to plan your day at Epcot with kids.

Epcot is divided into four areas: World Celebration, World Nature, World Discovery and the World Showcase.

World Celebration is where you will find Spaceship Earth. World Nature has Finding Nemo, Turtle Talk, and Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. World Discovery has the popular attraction Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

These are not all of the attractions in these areas but are a few of the more popular ones.

The World Showcase is home to eleven countries that have shows, entertainment, and attractions for kids of all ages.

Both areas offer a lot of things to do for families. You will want to start your planning with booking tickets and securing a park reservation for the day of your visit. Park reservations will no longer be needed after January 9th, 2024

Then you can start planning what you want to see and do at Epcot. Be prepared to do a lot of walking and plan to bring a stroller if you have young children.

12 Best Attractions at Epcot with Kids

Some of the best rides and attractions at Epcot with Kids include characters from your favorite Disney movies and are fun for the entire family.

Frozen Ever After

Frozen Ever After is one of the most popular attractions at Epcot for kids. It is located in the Norway Pavilion. Expect long lines and consider using Genie+ to skip the lines.

Genie+ is a paid add-on that allows guests to skip the lines by reserving a time slot. Learn more here.

This is a family friendly boat ride attraction that takes guests to see some of their favorite characters from Frozen like Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and Kristoff.

This ride is great for kids of all ages and does not have any height requirements.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

The Seas with Nemo and Friends is a dark ride attraction located in World Nature. It takes guests on an adventure to find Nemo. This attraction is for all ages and exits at an aquarium. My favorite part is the final part of the attraction where Nemo and friends interact with real sea life animals.

Gran Fiesta Tour featuring the Three Caballeros

The Gran Fiesta Tour is located in the Mexican Pavilion and is a calm boat ride looking for Donald Duck and friends. It is located inside the large temple in Mexico.

Journey Into Imagination with Figment

Journey Into Imagination with Figment is an Epcot classic and features the purple dragon Figment. This is not scary and is fun for all ages. Journey is located in World Celebration.

New to Epcot in fall of 2023 is a Figment meet and greet. Check the My Disney Experience app for latest meet times.

Living with the Land

Living with the Land is located in World Nature, in the same building as Soarin. It is a boat ride that focuses on agriculture. Guests will see vegetation that is grown on -site and served in Epcot restaurants. There are also a few hidden Mickeys to be on the lookout for.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a copy of the original attraction at Disneyland Paris. Guests experience what life is like as a rat along with Remy and friends. This is a 3D trackless dark ride that is fun for all ages.

Kidcot Fun Stops

KidCot fun stops are located throughout the World Showcase and highlight each country as you visit. This is a really great activity for elementary school kids.I go into more details later in this article about how to participate.

Playgrounds and Special Event Scavenger Hunts

There is a play area and splash area in World Celebration for kids to run off some steam as well as scavenger hunts at different times of the year.

At the aquarium in The Seas with Nemo there is a complimentary scavenger hunt with Dory. Guests can pick up the booklet near the exit of the attraction.

During the Food and Wine festival guests can play Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak scavenger hunt. This paid experience has guests looking for Remy throughout the World Showcase. Kids can get a prize upon completion. There is also a Figment activity during the Festival of Arts.

We had so much fun doing the Remy’s scavenger hunt. You have to find “hidden Remy’s” throughout the world showcase. This is a great activity to keep young children entertained while walking through world showcase.

Soarin

Soarin’ takes guests high above the clouds in this flying adventure. There is a height requirement of 40 inches or higher but is worth adding to your Epcot list.

Test Track

Test Track is another very popular attraction at Epcot that is a must do. The height requirement is 40 inches and guests can build their own vehicle to test out on the track.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Cosmic Rewind is great for the tweens and teens in your group. There is a 42 inch heigh requirement and is fun for most kids that meet that height.

Cosmic Rewind is a spinning roller coaster attraction set to a soundtrack that is random on each ride. You never know what song you will get!

This is a great attraction that you should include in your day when visiting Epcot with kids.

Journey of Water-Inspired by Moana

Journey of Water is a brand new attraction, open in October 2023. It is a walk through attraction that includes spray effects and beautiful Moana inspired areas to discover.

We have not visited this attraction yet but have seen pictures and it looks beautiful. It has seen very long lines and I am worried about what a walk through attraction will be like when crowded.

My tip would be to visit first thing if you have small children and hope that the crowds go to the most popular rides you may be skipping.

If you are visiting with teens consider saving this for evening hours. It looks like it will be even more beautiful at night.

Disney DuckTales World Showcase Adventure

This attraction is done through your phone and at your own pace at the World Showcase. Download Play Disney Parks app and start an adventure in whatever country you are in.

Clues and directions are given in the app with hidden surprises along the way. This replaced the Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure.

FAQ about Visiting Epcot with Kids

Is Epcot Good for Toddlers?

Yes!! Epcot can be great with toddlers. Plan your day around what they would like to do and experience it from a kids perspective.

Don’t worry about seeing and doing everything. Enjoy what your kids are into and leave the rest for a different visit.

What Characters Are at Epcot?

There are many characters at Epcot and traditional meet and greets have been put on pause temporarily. You will often be surprised by characters playing in the grass or waving from a distance.

At times you can meet Mary Poppins, Mulan, Winnie the Pooh, Donald Duck, Snow White, Joy and Sadness, and Ralph and Vanellope. Moana is also meeting at Epcot now. Check the Disney World website for the most up-to-date character list.

What are the Dining Options at Epcot for Kids?

Epcot is known for it’s dining and some of the restaurants are pricey and not exactly kid friendly, but there are places to dine at Epcot that are great for kids!

Garden Grill is a character meal that is a great option for families! There is also a Princess Breakfast at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.

Each country has counter service menu options that offer a great opportunity to try new food from different countries. We like to look at the menus before we arrive and pick a new place each visit.

Front of the Park at Epcot

The front of the park consists of World Nature, World Celebration, and World Discovery. This used to be Future World.

Some of the most popular attractions are in this area. They are: Cosmic Rewind, Journey of Water, Soarin’ and Test Track. It also has Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, Journey Into Imagination with Figment, and the Seas with Nemo.

When planning your day at Epcot with kids you want to prioritize the attractions you want to experience. Don’t waste time with rides you are not interested in.

Epcot is huge and you may not be able to experience everything. I suggest creating a top 5 list with everyone adding there top picks. Ride the most popular attractions early or late in the day and save the walking around and exploring during busier times.

World Showcase at Epcot with Kids

Have you ever wanted to stroll the streets of Paris or explore a temple in Japan? What about dine on delicious cuisine from eleven different countries in one day?

One of the activities we believe you must do at Epcot is explore the World Showcase. At Epcot’s World Showcase you have an opportunity to experience different cultures around the world, without ever leaving the United States.

There are also two very popular rides in the World Showcase. They are Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

The World Showcase highlights the beauty and culture of eleven different countries allowing guests to fall in love with the cultures without ever needing a passport.

The most common question I get asked is – Are there things to do at Epcot with kids?

The answer is yes!! Let your kids guide the way with their curiosity and excitement, as you explore the different areas of the World Showcase.

Epcot for Kids: Best Way to Explore the World Showcase

We have visited Epcot many times and it is one of our favorite Disney theme parks.

The World Showcase is one of the great things to do at Epcot with kids, but for some reason we never devoted time to explore the countries and experience it.

On our most recent visit we decided to spend the larger part of our day at the World Showcase and we ended up discovering so many interesting Epcot activities.

Related Post: Epcot vs. Magic Kingdom: Which Disney Park is Best?

Epcot with Kids World Showcase Itinerary

There are two entrances to Epcot. If you are arriving by the Disney Skyliner or staying at an Epcot hotel, you will enter between the France and United Kingdom pavilion. If you enter at the front of the park, you can choose to start your day at Mexico or Canada.

Where you start depends on your priorities and strategy. If you want to ride the Frozen Ever After attraction first, you will start at the Mexico pavilion and walk to Norway as soon as the park opens. After you ride you can take your time to explore the rest of the World Showcase.

We arrived at Epcot from the Riviera Resort which is on the Skyliner. Our first stop was the France pavilion to get breakfast at Les Halles.

Tip: The World Showcase doesn’t open until 11:00am. Les Halles(Bakery) and Frozen Ever After open at park opening.

Our Day at World Showcase in Epcot with Kids

This doesn’t include spending time in the other areas of the park. If you are looking to do all of Epcot check out this post: Guide to Things to Do in Epcot at Walt Disney World

• Start with an Epcot Breakfast at Les Halles in France
• Ride your top 2-3 most popular attractions. More in this post: Top Rides at Epcot to Include in Your Disney Trip
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• France
• Morocco
• Japan
• The American Adventure
• Italy
• Germany
• China
• Norway
• Mexico

You can mix and match this itinerary any way you would like that works with your family’s plans at Epcot. Be sure to work around Genie+ and dining reservations.

KidCot at Epcot Activity

The KidCot Fun Stops are located at each country in specific locations. At each stop kids can talk to someone from the country they are visiting and receive a sticker and postcard for visiting. If you complete all countries you can receive a World Showcase postcard.

This is a free activity and you can go at your own pace. You can start at any country and do it all in one day or pick and choose where you want to visit. All of my kids thought this was a fun activity at Epcot, and it is great for all ages.

France Pavilion at Epcot

We love discovering new food options and Epcot has so many different options. When traveling with kids I always review the menus before we arrive to make sure the kids know what we will be eating and to make sure there is something for everyone.

Les Halles is a can’t miss Epcot bakery that people were lining up for before the park opened. It is that good! It is also at a great price point for families.

We purchased a Biscuit Chocolat(Chocolate Chip Cookie), Baguette, a Palmier(chocoalte elephant ear) and the Roulé Lard and Fromage (Bacon and cheese bread).

This easily fed all of us and cost under $20.00! It was a perfect place to start our day and we considered stopping every morning because it was so good! Check out the menu here.

After that we took our picture in front of the Eifel Tower and continued on to Future World. At this point the World Showcase would not open for 2 hours and we wanted to go do some rides while we waited.

Attractions at the France Pavilion

• Beauty and the Beast Sing Along (15 Minute film featuring songs from Beauty and the Beast
• Impressions de France (18 Minute show of the sites of France)
• KidCot France
• Meet Belle
• Meet Princess Aurora
• Watch the Serveur Amusant (French Acrobat Show)
• Dining
  • Crepes des Chefs de France
  • Chefs de France (Table Service/Reservations, $$)
  • Monsieur Paul (Signature Dining/Reservations, $$$$)
  • L’Artisan des Glaces (Ice Cream)
  • Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie (Quick Service, $)
  • Les Vins des Chefs de France (Wine)
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! Remy’s is a track-less ride attraction added to the France pavilion. Guests to shrink to the size of a rat for an all new adventure.

Canada Pavilion at Epcot

As it got closer to 11:00am we made our way to the Canada Pavilion to start our World Showcase tour. First on our list was the new Canada Far and Wide show. This show offers 360 degree view of some of Canada’s finest views.

We enjoyed the show but it may be difficult for small children to stay focused during it. It is a standing theater but the kids were able to sit on the ground to watch.

Canada is a smaller pavilion with less to explore but the ambiance is very pretty with rolling mountains and water falls. It is worth exploring and stopping at the KidCot location.

Attractions at the Canada Pavilion

• Canada Far and Wide in Circle Vision 360
• KidCot Canada
• Dining
  • Le Cellier Steakhouse (Signature/Reservations, $$$)
  • Popcorn in Canada
  • Refreshment Port (Here you can purchase Poutine)

United Kingdom Pavilion at Epcot

The United Kingdom is a smaller pavilion with less activities then some other countries but it is charming and cute to explore. My kids always enjoy checking out the red phone booth at the park.

Attractions at the United Kingdom Pavilion

• KidCot at the United Kingdom
• Meet Winnie the Pooh
• Meet Alice
• Meet Mary Poppins
• British Revolution Band
• Rose & Crown Pub Musician
• Dining
  • Rose and Crown Pub and Dining (Table Service/Reservations, $$)
  • Yorkshire County Fish Shop (Quick Service, $)

France is the next pavillion but since we visited early in the day we walked on to Morocco.

Morocco Pavilion at Epcot

Morocco is a beautiful pavilion that can be missed if you move to fast. We took the time to explore and walk through to see the details throughout this area.

Attractions at the Morocco Pavilion

• KidCot at Morocco
• Gallery of Art and History (A walk through gallery of the race in the Sahara.)
• Meet Princess Jasmine
• Dining
  • Tangierine Cafe (Quick Service, $)
  • Restaurant Marrakesh (Table Service, $$)
  • Spice Road Table

Japan Pavilion at Epcot

The Japan pavilion is stunning. There are many different areas to explore and overall we really enjoy this area. We also ate lunch in this area at the quick service restaurant Katsura Grill.

When we arrived we headed straight to lunch for teriyaki chicken, and then explored the gift shop to purchase Japanese candy. When we were planning our trip the kids mentioned they would like to try this so we added it to our itinerary. We also explored the Bijutsu-kan Gallery.

Attractions at the Japan Pavilion

• KidCot Japan
• Bijutsu-kan Gallery (A gallery that explores the kawaii-“cute” culture)
• Dining
  • Kabuki Cafe
  • Takumi-Tei (Signature/Reservations, $$$$)
  • Teppan Edo (Table Service/Reservations, $$)
  • Tokyo Dining (Table Service/Reservations, $$)
  • Katsura Grill (Quick Service, $)
• Watch the Matsuriza Show (Drum show that runs daily.)

The American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot

I was really excited to see the American Adventure show that is a 30 minute audio-animatronic show of American history. This show is a bit long for preschool kids but older children should be okay.

The audio-animatronics are impressive and it’s a great place to rest your feet and escape the heat. There is also a brand new restaurant at the American Adventure pavilion that I would love to try. It is called Regal Eagle Smokehouse.

Attractions at the American Adventure

• The American Adventure
• American Heritage Gallery
• KidCot The American Adventure
• Dining
  • Regal Eagle Smokehouse (Quick Service, $)
  • Fife & Drum Tavern
  • Espresso, Coffee, and Pastries
• Voices of Liberty (a cappella group singing patriotic music)

Italy Pavilion at Epcot

Italy is a small pavilion that will not take long to explore. The best time to visit is during the juggler and mime show, Sergio. Also there is a KidCot in this location and an amazing pizza place.

Attractions at the Italy Pavilion

• KidCot at Italy
• Dining
  • Gelati (Quick Service/Gelato, $)
  • Tutto Italia Ristorante (Table Service/Reservations, $$)
  • Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar
  • Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria (Table Service/Reservations, $$)
• Sergio (Mime/Juggler Show)

Germany Pavilion at Epcot

The Germany pavilion has a really impressive model train set as soon as you enter, coming from Italy. Kids love watching the trains and noticing all the details in this area. Germany also has a caramel shop that has the best treats!

Attractions at Germany Pavilion

• KidCot Germany
• Model Train set
• Meet Snow White
• Dining
  • Biergarten Restaurant (Table Service/Reservations, $$$)

China Pavilion at Epcot

The China pavilion is another one that is impressive. The size and attention to detail is makes this area very immersive. We planned on watching the Reflections of China show but ended up missing the time. Instead we explored the Shanghai Disney gallery.

Attractions at the China Pavilion

• Reflections of China (14 minute Circle-Vision 360 degree film)
• KidCot China
• House of the Whispering Willows (Sneak Peek at Shanghai Disney Resort)
• Meet Mulan
• Dining
  • Joy of Tea
  • Nine Dragons Restaurant (Table Service/Reservations, $$)
  • Lotus Blosson Cafe (Quick Service, $)
• Jeweled Dragon Acrobats Show

Norway Pavilion at Epcot

The Norway Pavilion is the busiest area of the World Showcase due to the popularity of the Frozen Ever After attraction. I do expect this to balance out more in the upcoming years when Remy and Mary Poppins open, but it is a very popular attraction.

If you are following our itinerary I suggest you ride Frozen Ever After at park opening or reserve a Genie+. Stand-By wait time are typically 1-2 hours. I love this attraction and if you are a Frozen fan I think it is a great attraction. You can also meet Anna and Elsa in this area of the park.

Attractions at Norway

• Frozen Ever After (Ride at Rope Drop or Secure a FastPass)
• KidCot Norway
• Stave Church Gallery (Small walk through gallery)
• Meet Anna & Elsa
• Dining
  • Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (Character/Princess Dining/Reservations, $$$$)
  • Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe (Quick Service/Bakery, $)

Mexico Pavilion at Epcot

We really enjoy the Mexico Pavilion because it has an exhibit of one of our favorite Disney movies, Coco. As you enter the ruins you will find the Coco Gallery, a ride, shopping, and a sit down restaurant inside. This is a great place to escape the heat.

We always ride the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros and the wait times are typically under 15 minutes. This is a great final stop on your world showcase tour to relax on this Donald Duck boat ride attraction.

Attractions at the Mexico Pavilion

• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
• KidCot Mexico
• Mexico Folk Art Gallery (Remember Me Coco Exhibit)
• Meet Donald Duck
• Dining
  • San Angel Inn Restaurante (Table Service/Reservations, $$)
  • La Cantina de San Angel (Quick Service, $)
  • La Hacienda de San Angel (Table Service/Reservations, $$)
• Mariachi Cobre
• Marimba de las Americas (Band)
• Viva Mexico (Band)

As you can tell we really enjoyed Epcot with kids. There are so many things to do at the World Showcase and Future World.

From trying new cuisines to learning more about the culture of difference countries, exploring the aquarium, and experiencing Frozen, we discovered there is so much at Epcot for kids to explore and enjoy.

Are you planning a Disney World vacation? Check out our best tips for planning your visit!

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