Six Reasons EPCOT is Walt Disney World’s Most Underrated Park

It seems that every Walt Disney World park has its own “thing.” Magic Kingdom is often considered the most classically Disney. Animal Kingdom has incredible theming, highlighted by the addition of Pandora — The World of Avatar. Disney’s Hollywood Studios has the newly-opened Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, including the must-do attraction, Rise of the Resistance.

So, what about EPCOT? Well, for years, folks looked at EPCOT as the Park for edutainment, meaning it was low on thrills and high on learning.

And because of that, we’d say EPCOT could be the most underrated Disney World park.

Incredible Dining Options

The diversity and attention to detail in World Showcase means that EPCOT has some truly amazing and unique dining options — from snacks to gourmet meals! We love grabbing ice cream and pastries in the France pavilion and stopping by La Cava del Tequila for a margarita with chips and queso in the Mexico pavilion. And most of the pavilions also feature at least one Table Service restaurant that gives guests a taste of international cuisine. There’s even the incredible Takumi-Tei in the Japan pavilion which provides a next-level dining experience.

But the impressive dining options in EPCOT aren’t limited to the World Showcase! Sunshine Seasons located in the Land pavilion is consistently one of our favorite Quick Service restaurants. We think EPCOT can make a play for best dining in any of the Walt Disney World theme parks.

Great Attractions with Short Wait Times

Admittedly, not all of the attractions in EPCOT have frequently short wait times. But a few of our favorite rides do consistently have wait times of fewer than 15 minutes! Living with the Land will always hold a special place in our hearts, and Gran Fiesta Tour is a charming ride with an incredible atmosphere. Both can very often be found with short queues.

Plus, several of the World Showcase pavilions feature short films that highlight the countries, and there is rarely a line for these as well! Which, at the very least, means plenty of opportunities to enjoy a break from the elements. These films include Impressions de France, Beauty & the Beast Sing-Along, and Canada: Far and Wide.

Excellent Fireworks Viewing

We also love that there are so many great places to enjoy the EPCOT nighttime spectaculars. The newest show — Harmonious — is expected to blast off in 2020, and since the show will take place on and over World Showcase Lagoon, just about every pavilion enjoys a clear and unobstructed view of the show from various vantage points.

We often find ourselves spending less of our EPCOT park day staking out a viewing location for the fireworks compared to the other parks. That means more time on attractions, watching shows, and enjoying food and drinks.

Multiple Transportation Options

There are SO many ways to get to and from EPCOT! Of course, there are the classic Disney buses. But the Monorail loop also stops at EPCOT. Guests can travel between Hollywood Studios, the EPCOT-area Resorts, and EPCOT by Friendship Boat. Plus, the newly opened Skyliner system also connects these two Parks with several Disney World Resorts. And, if all of that wasn’t enough, guests staying at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Swan and Dolphin hotels, Beach Club, and Yacht Club can also walk to the Park from their hotels!

So guests visiting EPCOT can pick just about any Disney transportation option of their choice and also have decent access to lots of other Disney property landmarks.

Detailed Theming of World Showcase Pavilions

One of our favorite things to do at EPCOT is just to wander around the World Showcase pavilions to take them all in. The attention to detail in the pavilions is astounding, and we’re constantly noticing new elements that we hadn’t seen before.

There are so many hidden gems around the World Showcase that we don’t feel as though we’ve ever fully experienced everything they have to offer. Which makes us excited to visit EPCOT again and again!

EPCOT Festivals Keep Things Fresh

And of course, we couldn’t complete our list without mentioning the EPCOT Festivals! We’ve looked forward to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, and Epcot International Festival of the Holidays for years. And the newest edition to the lineup, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, is quickly making its way up our list of favorite events!

Between the food booths, gorgeous decorations, unique entertainment, and fun merchandise, the festivals constantly give us something new to look forward to in EPCOT!

So, while we’ll admit that EPCOT doesn’t have quite as many headlining attractions as some of the other Parks, we still think it has a lot of awesome qualities that make it a severely underrated park. Three cheers for EPCOT!

Which Disney World park do you think is the most underrated? Let us know in the comments!

 

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