I Never Thought I Would Try This in EPCOT, But It Made My Day 10x Better

We’re about to challenge some longstanding EPCOT traditions, but trust us, it’s worth it!

There’s just something about EPCOT that will always hold an extra-special place in our hearts. Seriously, from the incredible range of dining and entertainment around the World Showcase to mindblowing attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, is there anything this park can’t do?? As lifelong EPCOT lovers, we’ve definitely built some habits and go-tos around the parks… but what happens when we switch things up? It turns out, our day can get EVEN BETTER!

Let’s dive into some of our hot takes and unexpected tips that took our EPCOT park day to the next level!

Start in France

We constantly hear the question, “Do you start the World Showcase in Mexico or Canada?” But did you know there’s an underrated THIRD option in that heated debate??

There are two options for entering EPCOT: the traditional entrance at the front of the park near Spaceship Earth, or from the International Gateway entrance between France and the United Kingdom in the World Showcase.

We know the surge of emotion that comes from passing under Spaceship Earth when starting an EPCOT day at the traditional entrance. But hear us out! Entering through the International Gateway can give you a head start on a few popular spots that are worth beating the crowds to. For one, it gives you the chance to rope drop Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure before guests coming through the main entrance can make it all the way across the park.

And, even though many of the food locations around the World Showcase don’t open until later, Les Halles is a notable exception. Les Halles is a bakery that can rack up some pretty lengthy lines throughout the day, thanks to its delicious assortment of fresh-baked menu items. But if you start your day in the France Pavilion, you can usually swing by and grab something for breakfast before the crowds hit!

You can walk directly to the International Gateway entrance if you’re staying at  Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, or the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin. Plus, it’s also where the EPCOT Skyliner station is located, so it’s super easy to access if you’re staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, or Disney’s Riviera Resort, which all have Skyliner stops!

Switching up our EPCOT itinerary by starting our day in France gave us the jump on a few popular spots, plus the chance to stroll through a less-crowded World Showcase for some unique photo ops and relaxing vibes!

Leave World Showcase to Eat

Between the food booths at the EPCOT festivals throughout the year and the dozens of cool dining locations throughout the World Showcase pavilions, you might wonder, “Why would I ever eat anywhere else in EPCOT?” And, to be fair, we’re absolutely NOT suggesting that you avoid eating in the World Showcase! Just that there are a few compelling reasons you might want to head elsewhere for a particular meal.

If you’re in need of a mid-day recharge — both literally and figuratively — it might be worth stopping by Connections Eatery in the World Celebration area of the park. This quick service spot serves up a variety of dishes inspired by global flavors, so you can still find something different from “standard theme park food” in an environment that’s typically not quite as cramped as the busy restaurants around the World Showcase.

We’ve tried everything from salads to sandwiches to the popular Liege Waffles at Connections Eatery, and it’s become one of our go-to quick service spots in the park. You’ll find a range of flavors for both picky and adventurous eaters, and the food is usually a pretty good value, especially considering Disney World prices!

To top it all off, the booth seats in Connections Eatery have built-in USB ports and outlets so you can charge your phone while you eat, as long as you have your own charging cable with you. Plus, there are also tables with wireless charging capabilities!

If you limit yourself to dining only in the World Showcase, you might be missing out on some incredible restaurants and lounges, like the new GEO-82, which is an EPCOT super-fan’s dream come true!

Don’t get us wrong, we definitely still eat and drink PLENTY in the World Showcase! But we’ve also found that the other dining locations around the park have their own benefits that have been drawing us in more and more.

Buy Packaged Snacks

On the topic of unconventional food moves we’ve pulled in EPCOT… In general, we tend to avoid buying most of the pre-packaged snacks in Disney World, since most of them are either basic items we can get back home (like classic Lay’s potato chips) or have fresher alternatives we’d rather go for (like a packaged cookie, when we could get a fresh-baked one instead).

BUT, we’ll actually pull a 180 on that approach in EPCOT and specifically seek out some pre-packaged foods in this park! Many of the stores around the World Showcase sell snacks popular in the pavilion’s country, giving you a chance to sample unique and interesting treats from around the world.

One of our favorite stores to browse for pre-packaged snacks is Mitsukoshi in the Japan Pavilion. We’ve found some absolute gems at Mitsukoshi, like Japanese-style flavored breads, mochi, and tons of flavors of Pocky sticks.

Another one of our go-to spots to look for pre-packaged snacks is the House of Good Fortune in the China Pavilion. We can’t resist browsing the selection of Lay’s potato chip flavors each time we stop by. We’ve found so many different options like Wasabi, Roasted Garlic Oyster, Fried Crab, and Mexican Chicken Tomato, to name just a few!

Even though we typically skip the pre-packaged snacks around Disney World, we’ve had so much fun trying the unique treats from the World Showcase shops, so we’ll happily bypass our usual advice in this case!

End With Spaceship Earth

For guests starting their EPCOT day at the main entrance, Spaceship Earth is the first major attraction they’ll pass. It can be super tempting to hop in line for the ride right away, and for many guests, that’s exactly what they do! But, as tough as it is to resist stepping inside the park icon, we try to hold off on Spaceship Earth until later in the day.

Since so many people hop in line for Spaceship Earth as soon as they enter EPCOT, the line for the ride tends to be the longest in the first few hours after the park opens. Lines for Spaceship Earth usually go down as the day goes on, so you’ll likely have a shorter wait if you hold off for a bit.

Plus, since Spaceship Earth is pretty much THE quintessential EPCOT ride, it feels like the perfect way to cap off our day at the park by celebrating its themes of world history, futurism, and global togetherness.

As much as we adore the newer EPCOT attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, finishing with a ride on Spaceship Earth is the ultimate cherry on top of a peak EPCOT day for us!

These are some of the unconventional moves we’ve pulled in EPCOT that have helped take our time in the park to the next level. Stay tuned to AllEars for more of our favorite tips and tricks from around the Disney parks!

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Do you have an unexpected EPCOT tip? Share it in the comments!

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