skip EPCOT with little kids?…Not so fast
Food and culture. Those are the two things you think of when it comes to EPCOT. At least, those are the two big things I think of when it comes to EPCOT.
They have a festival happening nearly year round at this point. All those festivals feature delicious food (usually) from all over the world. No matter if it is a pop-up booth or a specific country in World Showcase.
Speaking of World Showcase, isn’t this really what we think of when we think of EPCOT? The countries. All the neat architecture, the food, the souvenirs, the food, the cast members form those countries, and the food.
Also, did you know it is HUGE? While Animal Kingdom is bigger, you can’t actually walk most of it, and it is EPCOT that has the most walking paths. World Showcase alone is over a mile if you go Mexico to Canada (or Canada to Mexico for the crazies out there). That number explodes to over 3 miles if circle Future World and World Showcase.
Unique and different food. Learning about other cultures. A lot of walking. Sounds like most kids would hate it, right? These are the big reasons people say not to bring little kids to EPCOT. Skip it until they are older. They can’t even ride Soarin’ or Test Track, and now, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (can Disney please shorten that name?).
Well let me tell you, those people are all W.R.O.N.G. WRONG! EPCOT is great for kids!
The Rides
You might be thinking about the big rides when it comes to EPCOT, and then think there isn’t much else, but EPCOT has arguably just as many kids rides as Magic Kingdom. Let’s run through the list of the best rides that are great for anyone of any age.
Spaceship Earth (we call it the magic ball, you might call it the Golf Ball)
Living with the Land
Frozen Ever After
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Fun fact…every one of these rides is inside. At EPCOT, where there isn’t a lot of shade, and you walk more than any other park, to be able to sit and rest your feet in the air conditioning is a huge game changer.
The Characters
I bet you thought you had to go to Magic Kingdom to meet your favorite characters, and that EPCOT was a boring place without characters, and a place your kids wouldn’t enjoy. Wrong again! Check out the list of characters you can meet at EPCOT:
Mickey Mouse - Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
Belle & Aurora - France Pavillion
Snow White - Germany Pavillion
Anna & Elsa - Norway Pavillion
Mulan - China Pavillion
Jasmine (and sometimes Aladdin) - Morocco Pavillion
Mary Poppins & Alice - England Pavillion
Joy & Vanellope von Schweetz - ImageWorks
Donald Duck - Mexico Pavillion
Goofy, Pluto, Daisy and Donald (again) - Main Entrance
Chip, Dale, Pluto, and Mickey Mouse can also be found at the Garden Grill character meal in The Land building.
Did you know all those characters were at EPCOT? Do you think your kids would love meeting them? Guess what else? Most people don’t know about these, so the lines are much, much shorter!
The Aquarium
Did you know that the second largest Aquarium in the United States is located at EPCOT? Hop of the The Seas with Nemo and Friends, and then stick around for a while to check out the awesome aquarium!
Want to learn more about it? Check out “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom” on Disney+. They aren’t just talking about the park, they are talking about all the great work Disney does with animals throughout their parks, including the aquarium at EPCOT.
The Food
Maybe this one isn’t so much for the kids, as it is for the adults. But, I am sure your kids will be able to find something they like somewhere in the park. Maybe it is nachos in Mexico, or a Pizza in Italy. Could a pastry treat from Norway hit the spot, or maybe a pastry and ice cream from France is more your style? BBQ from America, or maybe a cotton candy flower from China is better. None of those doing it for you? Maybe it is one of the many booths that are out set-up throughout the year with specialty season foods.
No matter your taste, EPCOT has you and your kids covered.
So tell me again…why are we skipping EPCOT with our small kids? If you are ready to include EPCOT in your next family Disney vacation, contact your favorite agent at DDWK Travel.
