Magical Quests Blog

Category: EPCOT Festivals

“Besides the Rides” – Edutainment for Everyone at EPCOT
There is so much to do and see at the Walt Disney World theme parks besides the rides, and EPCOT just might have the most edutainment packed into one place. From aquatic animals and extensive greenhouses to a trip around the World Showcase, there’s something for everyone at EPCOT.

World Nature (Previously Future World West)

Welcoming guests since opening day in 1981, The Seas Pavillion, also known as The Seas with Nemo and Friends, is the second largest aquarium in the United States (and the ninth largest in the world) with 5.7 MILLION gallons of tank water. Inside SeaBase Aquarium, you can see over 60 species of fish, sharks, turtles, rays and manatees. Little ones can climb around in Bruce’s Shark World play area or check out the show Turtle Talk with Crush – a fun and interactive chat with your favorite sea turtle from Finding Nemo. For guests ages 10 and up who are open-water SCUBA certified, the recent return of EPCOT DiveQuest is a unique add-on experience that allows you to get up close and personal with the sea life at SeaBase Aquarium. Those of us who will remain on dry ground can catch a diver lock-out demonstration at 10:30am or 4pm. The timing of this 10-minute demonstration is subject to change; please check with a Cast Member in the aquarium for that day’s demonstrations. More Information about DiveQuest can be found here: Magical Quests – EPCOT DiveQuest

The Land Pavillion is the largest pavilion at EPCOT and covers over 6 acres! Within this pavilion guests will find one of the most accessible, family-friendly rides in EPCOT – Living with the Land. While this blog is technically about non-ride attractions at the park, I would be remiss not to mention this slow-moving educational wonder of Walt Disney World. Guests will board a slow-moving boat (transfer is only required for those using ECVs, power wheelchairs can fully board), and meander through various landscapes in the United States before entering the real highlight of the ride – the greenhouses.

As you float through the four abundant greenhouses (covering 2.5 million square feet of space), you’ll listen to a narrative about the plants growing here, as well as innovative ways the horticulture team at EPCOT is cultivating tasty fruits and vegetables to be used across property – from tomato towers to Mickey-shaped pumpkins! During Festival of the Holidays, this attraction turns into Glittering Greenhouses and is decorated root to blossom in lights and holiday décor, often seeing wait times skyrocket to 60 minutes or more, versus what is normally a 5 to 10 minute wait. For guests who are really into gardening, I can’t recommend enough the Behind the Seeds Tour – an hour-long ticketed tour through the greenhouses with an expert Cast Member leading the way. More information about the Behind the Seeds Tour can be found here: Magical Quests – Behind the Seeds

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is an interactive walkthrough experience, and great for every age group. Facts about the water cycle are featured on the journey as guests engage with water in fun and unique ways. Search for the characters from Moana’s story throughout the exhibit – there are actually 16 hidden characters featured in the rock work, and I have yet to find all of them. This attraction is a relief to walk through on a hot day to cool off, or at night to check out the enchanting hues of blue and green that come alive when the sun goes down.

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World Celebration (Previously the Fountains of Nations location)

Recently revamped to include abundant space to sit and relax, World Celebration sits directly behind Spaceship Earth (a family-friendly, all-ages attraction) and gives this area a true “park” feeling. Guests can grab a coffee at Connections Café or a classic treat at the Festival Favorites Kitchen, and then relax in one of the dozens of shaded Adirondak chairs, high bar stools, or garden ledges. There are charging ports nearby, and guests can listen to ¡Celebración Encanto! or catch a performance by theJAMMitors drum ensemble in this area. This is also a great place to meet characters — guests can pop in to say hello to Mickey & Friends at Communicore Hall, and there is also a lovely statue of Walt in these gardens which makes for a great photo op.

World Discovery (Previously Future World East)

This is the one area of EPCOT that may leave non-thrill seekers looking for a merchandise shop to hang out in for a bit. There are three attractions in this area with height requirements, two of which come with intensity warnings as well. Guests who are prone to motion sickness will want to avoid both Mission Space and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Test Track (while family-friendly) has a 40-inch height requirement. (Also, guests who experience claustrophobia will want to skip Mission Space.)

If you have little kids with you that can’t ride these attractions, there is an indoor playground in the exit area of Mission Space called Space Base, with comfortable seating for adults. Guests can access the exit area without going through the queue or ride, and this is honestly just a great place to get out of the heat and sun if you don’t feel like walking around while friends or family ride another attraction. If you are into fast cars, the exit to Test Track showcases vehicles from the current sponsor (General Motors).

World Showcase (Since 1981)

While the front of the park has seen a major face-lift over the last few years, EPCOT’s World Showcase retains most of its nostalgia from the early days, with a few recent, exciting upgrades and expansions. Each pavilion throughout the World Showcase will have tasty (close-to) regional cuisine, as well as cultural representations and history from their respective country. In Norway, visit the Gods of the Vikings House in the Stave Church replica, explore the House of Good Fortune store in China, or walk the “Romantic Road” path in Germany through the miniature train set (always a fan favorite). As you stroll along the promenade you could be drawn in by the sounds of Mariachi Cobre in Mexico, the Voices of Liberty in America, or the rotating band at the Canada Mill Stage between Canada and the UK.

My personal favorite World Showcase pavilion is Japan, and one of the highlights is the Mitsukoshi Department Store. This location is a smaller-scale replica of the real Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, which has roots in Japan all the way back to the year 1673! This location has everything from kimonos to bonsai trees, and chopsticks to Japanese candy. Visitors to Japan can also participate in (or just watch) the Pick-A-Pearl Experience, where guests can purchase an oyster to be opened by a Cast Member during a unique ceremony, revealing your new pearl inside. (Approx. $20 after tax – price is subject to change).

In my opinion, the best entertainment in the World Showcase is also in Japan: the Matsuriza drummers! This act showcases the power of taiko drumming and always draws a crowd when they take the porch outside the replica of the Horyuji Temple.

Most of the pavilions have a corporate sponsor involved with financing the building of the pavilion, but Morocco was funded, designed, and built by artists and artisans from Morocco and is the most accurate representation at the World Showcase. Walking through the Morocco pavilion really feels as though you’ve been transported to a different part of the world, with winding alleys and a bazaar tucked inside. The pavilion houses a replica of Koutoubia Minaret, a prayer tower that is part of Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakesh. Guests can also learn about ultra-marathon runners who trek across the Saharan Desert in the Race Against the Sun exhibit, or take a peaceful moment inside Fes House, a replica of a typical Moroccan home.

In my opinion, the pavilion with the most well-rounded attractions and dining is France. This pavilion was expanded in 2021, with the opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction, as well as a new restaurant, Le Creperie de Paris (which also has a quick service window). Guests can also check out the Beauty and the Beast Sing-A-Long (which shares a theater with Impressions de France), meet Princess Belle throughout the day, pop into Les Halles Bakery for a delicious baguette or latte, or catch the mime street performer. For those with elevated tastes, Monsieur Paul serves gourmet French cuisine on a prix fixe menu, starting at $195 per person (tax + gratuity not included). There is so much to experience in this pavilion, even if you just grab a Grand Marnier Slush and people-watch while enjoying the background music of “La Vie En Rose.”

EPCOT is known for its International Festivals throughout the year, and nowadays most weeks have a festival happening, aside from the summer months. Each unique festival has different entertainment, seasonal kitchens, and themes to match.

EPCOT International Festival of the Arts might be my personal favorite festival (with Flower and Garden coming in as a very close runner-up) because of the unique entertainment, interactive exhibits, and of course, the many artists showcasing their talent. While there are some Festival Kitchens that pop up at this event, the real showstoppers are the musicians, acrobats, painters, and Disney on Broadway performers that bring this festival to life. Guests can watch artists complete “live painting” and participate in a paint-by-numbers mural. One of my favorite things to see is the chalk art illusions that guests can place themselves in for a fun photo-op! Blink and you might miss it – this festival only lasts for about 6 weeks from January 16 through February 23, 2026.

EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is easily the most beautiful time of year at this park, with gorgeous gardens and towering topiaries scattered throughout. Each garden has unique theming, from prehistoric plants to the peaceful Shishi Odoshi garden. Some gardens even include ingredients for the dishes offered at the Festival Kitchens. This event runs from early March through early June (March 4 – June 1 in 2026). Check out my blog about my favorite things to do at this floral festival!

EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival has been a fan-favorite for many years and this event is a must-do for anyone who considers themselves a foodie. Stroll along the World Showcase Promenade and sample cuisine from the year-round pavilions, as well as the pop-up Outdoor Kitchens that represent other areas of the world – from Hawaii to the Swiss Alps, these festivals offer even more opportunities to try tasty treats from around the globe. The Eat to the Beat Concert Series is always a big draw at this event, with acts like Boyz II Men, A Newfound Glory, and the Beach Boys taking the stage this year. This is the longest festival, which ran from August 28 – November 22, 2025, with similar dates expected for next year.

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is the one festival that I have yet to attend! This is the shortest festival, running from the day after Thanksgiving to the day before New Years Eve (November 28 – December 30 in 2025). Throughout the World Showcase, guests will hear storytellers sharing holiday tales from their respective country, or different Santas as they are represented in that area of the world – think, Barn Santa in Norway, Father Christmas in the UK, and Pere Noel in France. The Holiday Cookie Stroll is a fun way for guests to try sweet treats from these locations, collect a stamp for each, and earn a prize for completing the stroll. (Spoiler alert – the prize this year is a festival spatula with mini M&Ms! Great for the baker in your group!) Check out my Christmas blog for more holiday fun across all of the Walt Disney World parks and resorts!

The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow was Walt Disney’s last major idea, and those close to him say that he was using the grid-like ceiling of his hospital bed to map out the schematics for EPCOT in his final days. He famously said that “EPCOT would always be in a state of becoming,” and you can see that to be true nearly 45 years after the park first opened with the recent transformation of Future World East and West, the expansion of the France Pavilion, and new or upgraded attractions elsewhere like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and the latest version of Test Track.

I honestly have not even scratched the surface at this park, and truthfully – EPCOT is the reason I always have a Park Hopper added to my tickets, so I can pop in multiple times during my trip. With so many food and drink choices, the art and culture throughout the World Showcase, and the classic edutainment at the Land and Seas pavilion, there is an endless amount of fun to be had Besides the Rides in EPCOT.

Let’s plan your next edutainment-filled Magical Quest today!

References:

Japan’s First Department Store: Why Nihombashi Mitsukoshi is a Must-Visit Landmark in Tokyo | LIVE JAPAN travel guide

List of largest aquariums – Wikipedia

How Walt Disney World’s Farm Grows the Most Magical Produce on Earth – Farm Flavor

EPCOT (concept) – Wikipedia – Reference Links
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December 13, 2025
Experience Christmas Magic at Walt Disney World
The Christmas season is the most magical time of year to visit Walt Disney World, with the parks taking on an extra special feeling of wonder and joy to wrap up the year. The Holiday Services and Disney Horticulture Teams out-do themselves season after season, as the entire property transforms into Christmas Wonderland. Read on to discover a few fun ways to experience the holidays at Walt Disney World.

Immersive Holiday Park Décor

The parks are decked out for the holidays, and guests can enjoy themed decorations at each of the four parks. Unlike the Halloween Season, the Christmas Holidays extend to all four theme parks, resorts, and Disney Springs. Much like the resorts, each park and land within the park will be decorated in a way that reflects its vibe.

At Magic Kingdom, you’ll find classic Christmas décor with wreaths, garlands, candles on the lamp posts, and of course – the majestic tree in Town Square. Main Street U.S.A. gives off the perfect nostalgic feeling, and throughout the rest of the park you’ll find decorations themed to each land. This year, there are cute Dumbo lights on the lampposts in Storybook Circus, Colonial-themed wreaths in Liberty Square, and even a breakfast-themed wreath outside of Main Street Bakery (aka Starbucks).

As a bonus — Mickey’s Christmastime Parade, which is featured in Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, runs every day for regular day guests from December 22 – December 30. This allows guests who are visiting the parks over the Christmas holiday to catch this special parade after the party wraps up for the year.

Over at Hollywood Studios, you’ll travel back in time a bit to experience vintage Christmas, with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra tunes playing around Echo Lake and giant-sized versions of the classic Christmas toys and decorations from yesteryear. This year, Chewbacca will be wearing his Life Day outfit throughout the Christmas season for meet and greets for the first time! When it comes to holiday décor, Hollywood Studios is my favorite park by far (especially the floating ornaments on Echo Lake), and Jollywood Nights adds an extra flair to this theme park.

Even the animals get in on the festivities, as Animal Kingdom adds holiday touches to certain areas of the park. Within Discovery Island you’ll see lantern lights atop the merchandise locations and can say hello to the Merry Menagerie – a cute puppetry act that interacts with guests around the Tree of Life area.

One of my favorite areas in Animal Kingdom this time of year is in Asia, near the Flights of Wonder show, where the Diwali Lights are displayed. This is a small but beautiful representation of Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights that is usually celebrated in late October or November. I liked to grab a beverage at the Thirsty River Bar near Expedition Everest and stroll over to this area to relax and enjoy the pretty lanterns and mandala for a bit. There is also a fun musical act called Beats and Strings that performs in this area throughout the day, and their last couple of sets start in the evening under the lanterns.

In past years, Dinoland USA was decked out with lights, Christmas music, and a Santa meet-and-greet location. For Christmas 2025 you can still say hello to Santa in this area and get a few last-minute wishes in, but the majority of Dinoland USA is now closed in order to make way for Tropical Americas coming in 2027. Below are pictures from last year’s decorated Dinoland. (R.I.P.)

I could write an entire blog post about holiday activities and décor at EPCOT because there really is so much to do and see at this park around the Winter Holidays. With each country in the World Showcase highlighting how the holiday is celebrated in that region, there are unique decorations, foods, and even Santas throughout the park.

While the park itself is already decorated, the headlining activities officially kick off later in the month with EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays beginning on November 28 and running through December 30. In years past this event has featured Holiday Kitchens with seasonal specialties like Slow Roasted Turkey, Eggnog, Roasted Chestnuts, and more. The fan-favorite Holiday Cookie Stroll will also return with the Festival of the Holidays, and guests can use their festival passport guide to locate these unique cookie offerings throughout the park – and earn a special treat upon completion.

You’ll also find Santas and Storytellers located around the World Showcase, entertaining guests with Christmas tales from their region of the world. In Norway, meet Barn Santa to hear a unique Norwegian Christmas story and in China, catch the Chinese Lion Dancer celebrating good fortune for the upcoming Lunar New Year. Germany and Mexico both offer holiday music from their respective countries, and in America, pop in to hear the Voices of Liberty transform into the Dickens Carolers for the Christmas season.

One of the major events at EPCOT is the Candlelight Processional, taking place every night during the Festival from November 28 – December 30 in the America Gardens Theater. This telling of the biblical story of Christmas is highlighted by choirs and celebrity narrators that draw in guests for highly coveted seats and dining packages. Some of the stars to grace the stage this year are Jordan Fisher, Gary Sinese, Ashley Eckstein, and Henry Winkler! (Ayyy!) This event is free (unless you choose to purchase a dining package) and if you are willing to stand, you can avoid the long wait to enter the theater and simply hang out in the America Pavilion to listen to the show.

EPCOT Christmas Tree

Check out Christmas Décor at the WDW Resorts, too!

All of the Disney Collections resorts around property have a touch of Christmas added to their lobbies, with the deluxe resorts taking the festive fun to the next level. At the Magic Kingdom Resorts, you can view the stunning Gingerbread Houses baked to perfections by the Disney Culinary Team each year. These sculptures and houses take on a flair of the resort they’re located in – think along the lines of a modern-style castle at Contemporary, and a life-size gingerbread zebra head at Animal Kingdom Lodge. (Note: This year, there will not be a Gingerbread House display at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, due to the final stages of construction of the lobby bar and other resort renovations happening. Check out the new lobby bar, The Perch, open now!)

You’ll also find themed Christmas trees at the deluxe resorts, with a nautical flair at Yacht Club & Beach Clubs, and woodsy vibes at Wilderness Lodge. If you are taking a day off from the parks to relax and explore, visiting the different resorts and checking out the themed decorations is a fun, free activity.

Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll

This FREE activity is available at Disney Springs until December 30^th, and it’s a great way to explore the Springs and get into the Christmas spirit at the same time. You can use the Disney World app to find your way around, or pick up a tree stroll map at one of these six locations:
- City Works Eatery and Pour House
- Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers
- havaianas
- House of Blues Restaurant and Bar
- The LEGO Store
- The Polite Pig
This year, there are 18 trees and one Disney Destiny topiary scattered around Disney Springs, each with unique theming and some with special effects triggered by MagicBand+ sensors. After you’ve found all the trees, return to a map location to pick up your prize. (Yes, this free activity comes with a prize as well!)

Tasty Treats!

The Disney Parks never fail to incorporate a holiday into their entrees, snacks, and drinks, and Christmas time is no exception. One of the best places to find a plethora of themed snacks is at Disney Springs – try a North Pole Bar or Peppermint Bark Cheesecake at Amorette’s Patisserie or taste something savory at Jock Lindsay’s Holiday Hanager Bar (I’ve heard the NEW Turkey Egg Rolls are fantastic!). If you are looking for a sit-down meal on Christmas Day, Terralina Crafted Italian will have a special holiday menu (served on the 25^th only) that includes Four Cheese Truffle Gnocchi, Spiced Cinnamon and Nutmeg Cheesecake, and a White Christmas Sangria – yum!

Check out the full Disney Parks Blog Foodie Guide here, which includes treats offered inside the theme parks as well.

Christmas Party Special Events

Walt Disney World offers two “hard ticket” party events during the Holiday season – Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Both of these events include special characters, entertainment, and foods only offered during the party itself. At MVMCP, guests will enjoy a special presentation of Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks as well as the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, which features unique characters and floats only available during the holidays. To top it all off — the “snoap” on Main Street U.S.A. truly brings the Christmas magic to life!

Over at Jollywood Nights, guests can dance the night away at the Tip-Top Club in the Tower of Terror Courtyard, sing along with Jack Skellington at the Nightmare Before Christmas Sing Along, and celebrate the season with our favorite Muppets at the Theater of the Stars, Disney Holidays show. While guests of all ages are welcome at this event, Jollywood Nights does lean more towards the teens/adults age group.

As of today (November 15, 2025) most dates are still available for Jollywood Nights, but all but two dates are sold out for MVMCP. At Magic Kingdom, guests can still purchase tickets for the parties on December 16^th and 18^th. Tickets for MVMCP are priced at $219 per person plus tax for guests ages 10 and up, and a slight savings of $10 for guests under the age of 10. Jollywood Nights tickets start at $159 per person, and range up to $199 per person. There is no discount for children at Jollywood Nights. Whether or not these parties are worth the cost is a very subjective question – I personally love to experience the unique entertainment and characters at these events. (If you are to believe Rumplestiltskin from Once Upon a Time, “All magic comes with a price!”)

It’s the Most Magical Time of the Year

Celebrating the Christmas holidays at Walt Disney World is “next level” magic in my opinion. Having visited these parks many times over the years, during every time of the year, I can confidently say that the Christmas Season is unlike any other time to visit. With gorgeously themed decorations in every corner of the resort, festive parties at both Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and even a touch of edutainment at the World Showcase in EPCOT and Animal Kingdom, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Looking to plan your magical, fairy tale Christmas vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort? Dates are already open for the 2026 season! Contact me to map out your Magical (Merry) Quest today!

Rock your Christmas park ‘fit

Reindeer Ears: https://amzn.to/449w63d

Mickey Snowflake T-shirt: https://amzn.to/49hW48a

Christmas Lights Necklace: https://amzn.to/4pcwtlD

References/Links

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Disney’s Jollywood Nights

Disney Parks Blog Foodie Guide here

Diwali | Indian Religious Holiday, Observances, & Facts | Britannica
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November 16, 2025
The Perfect Rope Drop Morning at EPCOT
Cracking the Top 10 most visited theme parks in the world with close to 12 million visitors each year, EPCOT is a unique theme park that leans on edutainment to enhance the guest experience. This park has welcomed three new ride attractions and one new walk-through attraction in the last nine years, as well as a reimagining of the front area of the park. Home to one of the newest roller coasters at Walt Disney World with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, EPCOT is always a busy park with wait times peaking in the evenings and weekends. The many food and drink offerings make this park a popular place for guests to hop to for dinner, and a huge draw for locals on the weekends (I know I’d be hanging out there!). Setting your alarm and heading to this park early will help alleviate some of the logistical hurdles so you can enjoy a relaxing, culinary tour of the World Showcase and everything else EPCOT has to offer

For non-resort guests, official park opening is typically at 9am, meaning Early Entry Rope Drop begins at 8:30am for guests staying at a Disney Resort and other participating Good Neighbor Hotels. EPCOT rarely changes its regular opening hours, and the majority of dining locations (and bars) in the World Showcase do not open until 11am, except for a couple of carts and locations with breakfast items.

In this addition to my Rope Drop Series, I will cover the logistics of traveling to and entering EPCOT for Early Entry Rope Drop, along with strategies to help you make the most of these early morning hours, and how to spend all that glorious free time you’ll have left. (Unsure what Early Entry Rope Drop is? Check out my post, “Why You Should Rope Drop at Disney World” for background information.)

Getting to the Park

There are multiple options for traveling to EPCOT, depending on what resort you are staying at. And, unlike any other theme park in Walt Disney World, there are two entrances to this park. For guests at Disney’s POP Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, or Disney’s Riviera Resort, you will take the Skyliner to EPCOT and enter through the International Gateway at the rear of the park.

The wait to board the Skyliner on Pop or AoA will vary depending on your arrival time. I have personally waited up to 25 minutes in the morning. The travel time can vary, with a transfer required at the Caribbean Beach Hub for guests staying at POP Century and Art of Animation. Travel time averages about 15 minutes from POP/AOA (including the transfer stop), and about 5 – 10 minutes from Caribbean Beach and Riviera. This commute is slightly shorter than the trip to Hollywood Studios on the Skyliner. You’ll want to allow for at least an hour from door to door, so plan to leave your room no later than 7:30am.

Guests staying in the EPCOT Resort Area at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, or the Swan & Dolphin Resorts will leisurely stroll in through the International Gateway. This is easily my favorite overall resort area on property, with this short jaunt taking me directly into the World Showcase the epitome of convenience.

Guests staying in the Magic Kingdom resort area at one of the Monorail resorts – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower, and Disney’s Polynesian Resort will ride Disney’s Monorail to EPCOT, transferring at the Transportation and Ticket Center. This trip can take about 20-30 minutes, depending on the timing of your Monorail. While the entrance loop into EPCOT is lovely, it does use up some precious time early in the morning.

All other resorts will utilize the Disney Bus service. During very busy times of the year, transportation will often begin running earlier than the 60-minute mark, and it’s important to factor travel time into your morning. If you are driving, parking also opens 60 minutes before early entry begins (occasionally earlier during peak seasons).

So, what time are you waking up? For those of you lucky enough to be staying in the EPCOT resort area by Crescent Lake, you can definitely sleep in for this Rope Drop morning. If you are hopping on a Disney Bus or Monorail, or queuing up for Disney’s Skyliner, you’ll want to be up and out around 7:15am to catch early transportation. For those entering through the front gates, there’s a Joffrey’s stand between security and the entrance that is often open early. Caffeine to the rescue!

Security and Park Entry

Security typically opens 45 minutes or more before early entry begins. This allows any lines forming outside the park to be let into the space between security and the turnstiles/MagicBand readers. This is where you will gather with everyone else who got up and out early to hit the parks. Yes, while the main point of rope drop is to avoid long lines in the park, you are still waiting a good 30 minutes outside of the gates if you want to be at the front of the crowd. The theme park logic in this is that you are not waiting during the park’s operating hours, at least for the first few rides of the day.

Cast members will usually start allowing guests into the park about 10-15 minutes before early entry starts, to alleviate the crowds gathering from the later busses, and to allow guests to walk up to the lands that are participating in early entry to wait. If you are a non-resort guest and arrive early for official park opening, cast members will direct to you to a separate queue/corral area to wait.

After you tap your band, phone, or keycard and fingerprint for park entry, you’ll be directed towards cast members who have handheld readers to scan your ticket again. This is to ensure that you are indeed a Disney resort guest. If you are traveling with others, be sure that everyone included on your resort reservation is together for this step, so one person can be scanned, let the cast member know how many people are on the reservation, and they will simply count heads and let your group in. You’ll be corralled again to wait near attractions that will open with Early Entry, generally outside of the queue area or slightly outside of the land. Cast members will direct you where to go.

France, Norway, Xandar, or Test Track 3.0? (updated 11/16/25)

The four main attractions that guests head to at EPCOT’S Early Entry Rope Drop are Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (GOTG), and Test Track (3.0). This newest version of Test Track opened summer 2025, and it has had a positive effect on the early entry period at EPCOT.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is (obviously) located in France, and therefore the guests entering the park through the International Gateway have a drastic advantage over those entering from the front of the park. The “walking directions” feature on the MyDisneyExperience app times the walk from the front of EPCOT to Remy at 16 minutes, so at a Rope Drop pace you are still looking at 10-12 minutes to get to France, compared to the guests who are practically walking right into the pavilion. If you are entering through the main gates, you will have better luck heading pretty much anywhere else, especially during peak seasons. At a Rope Drop in January with very low crowds, I was able to make it to Remy’s from the front of the park (Frozen Ever After unexpectedly down for maintenance all day and GOTG still on virtual queue), but I had to haul and queued for about 20 minutes upon arriving at the attraction. This isn’t the norm though, and you might find a sizable line by the time you make the trek from the front.

Frozen Ever After is more equidistant from the Main Entrance and the International Gateway, about 10 – 12 minutes from either turnstile. If you have a kiddo who loves Anna and Elsa, or you yourself want to belt out “Let it Go” first thing in the morning, this ride has a level playing field at Rope Drop. While the queue area is cute and immersive, especially when you walk through Oaken’s Tokens & Sauna, it does get very “people-y” very quickly, with switchback chains filling a fairly small waiting area. For this reason, I love hitting Frozen at Rope Drop and zipping through the Arendelle Courtyard in just a couple minutes.

In the videos below, you’ll see the queue as I enter during Early Entry, and the wait that has built up after riding! Totally worth it to hustle to Norway.

The Perfect Rope Drop Morning at EPCOT

One of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind changed from a virtual queue to a regular standby queue in Spring 2025. Up until that point, guests had to frantically tap into a “virtual queue” in the MyDisneyExperience app right at 7:00am while hopping on one foot and singing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” only to often find themselves shut out of a boarding group, or given a return time during an evening dinner reservation. Thank goodness this was the last attraction on the VQ system!

Since becoming “Rope Drop-able,” this attraction has seen floods of guests early in the morning. If you are planning save EPCOT and the rest of the galaxy with the Guardians during your Early Entry time, you want to be at the front of the pack heading through security in the morning to make the most of it. If you are heading to Xandar from the International Gateway, you’ve got a 12-15 minute trek in front of you, depending on how much hustle you have first thing in the morning. Be prepared for a short wait by the time you arrive at the attraction, considering the wave coming in the front. (Please, do not run in the parks!)

If both pre-shows are operating for Guardians in the morning, that attraction will take about (at least?!) 30 minutes from the time you enter the Xandar Pavilion. If they aren’t running and are instead allowing guests to flow through, it will take closer to 15-20 minutes. Either way, it is still a time investment, and this might be the only “E-Ticket” attraction that you ride during Early Entry. Considering this attraction can have a 90+ minute wait during the day, it is still a great use of these early park hours if you do not want to buy an Individual Lightning Lane.

Now that Test Track is open, guests have a fourth headliner attraction to rush to when Early Entry begins — no shade to Soarin’ but it does not tend to get as long of a wait as these other attractions, and you can easily soar around the world later in the morning. Since opening this summer, Test Track has consistently seen 60+ minute wait times and often has a longer wait time than Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Since GOTG is located right next to Test Track, you’ll make the best use of your morning time heading to the roller coaster first and then zipping over to Test Track immediately afterwards. If you have an Individual Lightning Lane for GOTG lined up, you could ride Test Track and then hustle over to Norway via the Odyssey Bridge to catch Frozen Ever After before the park officially opens.

Test Track also has a single rider queue, and I found this to be extremely helpful during my EPCOT day. While the standby queue had a 75-minute posted wait, I was in my car in 15 minutes via the single rider queue. If riding with others, you will be separated from your group as a single rider, but it does save a ton of time.

Prepare to Pivot!

Unlike other parks, it is tricky to accomplish two top-tier attractions during Early Entry. A main reason for this is how spread out the “Big Four” rides are between Norway, France, and World Discovery. The walking times between these attractions are (again, based on the MDE app):
- Guardians of the Galaxy to Frozen Ever After – 10 min walk
- Guardians of the Galaxy to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – 15 min walk
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure to Frozen Ever After – 14 min walk
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure to Soarin’ Around the World – 14 min walk
- Frozen Ever After to Soarin’ Around the World – 11 min walk
- Test Track to Frozen Ever After – 8 min walk
- Test Track to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – 14 min walk
In almost every situation, by the time you get off your first attraction and walk to your second, Early Entry Rope Drop will be over and non-resort guests who have been waiting in corrals will be let into queues. This will still be a shorter wait than later in the day, but it’s not as efficient as Animal Kingdom Rope Drop or Hollywood Studios Rope Drop, with popular rides fairly close to each other. If you have your heart set on crushing both Remy and Frozen during Early Entry, you may want to temper your expectations, and prepare to pivot to another attraction. (Or, make sure you are on the very first transportation option of the day!)

Currently, my preferred #2 ride is Soarin’ Around the World. Whether I am heading over from France or Norway (GOTG Rope Drop is not for me – I’d rather purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for a time of my choice later in the day), I like to grab a Joffrey’s and leisurely head to the front of the park, specifically to The Land Pavilion. Most guests are going to try to fit in one of the other headliner attractions and so at this point I am going to take advantage of a walk on at Soarin’ to keep things moving.

There are a few very popular breakfast places in EPCOT, if you’re willing to wait. In France, Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie and Crepes A Emporter be La Creperie de Paris start serving at 8:30am and 9:00am respectively, and Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Norway also opens at 9:00am. These spots are super popular and do see long lines build up after the first riders exit the attractions in these countries, so be prepared. (I have actually Rope Dropped Les Halles in France and it was 100% worth it!) If you just want a quick breakfast treat, head to Oasis Sweets & Sips in Morocco (right next to France) or the Joffrey’s cart in America in the World Showcase. At the front of the park, you can grab a breakfast bite at Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion on your way to Soarin’, or see what the line looks like at Connections Cafe (aka Starbucks).

Late-Morning Luxuriating

At this point, the park has been open to all guests for a bit, and while there could be some moderate waits around the park, it should be pretty easy to hop on attractions like Spaceship Earth, Mission Space, Living with the Land, and the Seas with Nemo and Friends. This is also a great time to check out Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, a beautiful interactive walkthrough that embodies classic EPCOT edutainment.

The Perfect Rope Drop Morning at EPCOT

If you want to say hi to some character friends, this park has a ton of meet and greets, with many of your favorites hanging out in the pavilion country that aligns with their story. For example, Winnie the Pooh and Alice from Alice in Wonderland meet guests in the UK Pavilion, Anna and Elsa will welcome you to Arendelle in Norway, and Belle says “bonjour” to guests in France. At the front of the park, you can meet the classic EPCOT mascot Figment over in the Imagination Pavilion, as well as Mickey & Friends near CommuniCore Hall.

Most times of the year there is a festival happening at EPCOT, and you can spend some time enjoying the special offerings and entertainment on offer. While the shows and displays will change with each festival, there is always some variety of Outdoor Kitchens throughout the park that offer up tasty bites and sips starting at 11am. The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is happening as I write this, and exploring the gardens and topiaries is a relaxing way to downshift after a busy Rope Drop morning, before you start your quest for culinary delights throughout the World Showcase.

Looking to travel the world and save the galaxy, all in one day? EPCOT has it all!

Let’s map out your next Magical Quest today!
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April 25, 2025