6 Tips & Tricks For Your First Trip Around Epcot’s World Showcase

Of the four theme parks in Walt Disney World, many guests love to spend the majority of their time exploring all that Epcot has to offer. World Showcase draws many guests in for long afternoons in the park and is home to eleven different pavilions which each highlight a country from around the world. Each pavilion celebrates history, culture, architecture, entertainment, traditions, cuisine, and more from that particular country and guests absolutely love exploring each area and taking in all of the beautiful details. With so much to see and enjoy in World Showcase, it can be a little overwhelming for first-time visitors, but there are some helpful tips and tricks which will make the experience amazing. Here are the top six tips and tricks for a guest’s first trip around Epcot’s World Showcase.

1 – Head Straight to Frozen Ever After or Remy Ratatouille Adventure

Depending on your family’s preference, you’ll want to either go to Frozen After After or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Both are extremely popular and will have shorter morning wait times. Frozen Fans should head directly for the Norway Pavilion to experience the very popular new attractions based on the smash-hit Disney animated film Frozen. Guests can enjoy meeting Anna and Elsa in their Royal Sommerhaus and then head over for a special adventure on Frozen Ever After. Since all things Frozen are still very popular, wait times are going to remain equally as high. Guests who want to enjoy a ride at the attraction should definitely plan on heading to the attraction first thing in the morning for the shortest wait times.

On the other hand, if you’ve got Remy fans in your party, you’ll want to head to the France Pavilion for a fantastic family ride. The family-friendly attraction makes guests feel as if they shrink to the size of a rat and race through Gusteau’s restaurant. Gusteau has invited guests to join Remy for a special meal the “Little Chef” is creating. Guests will love wearing their 3D glasses and scurrying around in colorful rat-shaped vehicles seeing everything from a “rat’s-eye view.” The attraction is a lot of fun, and since it’s still relatively new, the best time to ride it is in the morning before wait times get too long.

If you visit one of these attractions right in the morning, you should be able to skip paying for Genie+ and access to the Lightning Lane.

2 – Leave Plenty of Time to Explore

World Showcase is an absolutely huge area along the shores of World Showcase Lagoon. Each of the eleven pavilions features shopping, dining, entertainment, architecture, and cultural elements and several feature attractions and shows. With so much to enjoy and explore, guests should plan on leaving plenty of time to fully soak in the atmosphere and environment of each pavilion, which could easily take all day. By having plenty of time to wander through World Showcase, guests ensure that they will have an amazing experience.

3 – Try Foods From Each Country

Guests had better bring their appetites to World Showcase as each pavilion is home to at least one full-service and one quick-service dining location. Guests visiting each country can sample traditional cuisine from that region and explore different flavors they may have never encountered before. Spending a full day in World Showcase ensures that guests will be hungry on and off, allowing them to stop and enjoy a food sampling from each country along the way.

4 – Enjoy the Stores

One of the best ways to spend time in World Showcase is by browsing through the many stores found throughout the countries. Each store sells unique items, many of which were created in that country. Guests can browse an open-air market in the Mexico Pavilion, shop for beautiful jewelry in the Italy Pavilion, and purchase handmade caramel candies in the Germany Pavilion. With so many wonderful locations to peruse, guests are sure to find the perfect souvenir in World Showcase.

5 – Don’t Skip Attractions

Several of the pavilions in World Showcase are home to wonderful attractions that guests should not skip. The Mexico Pavilion is home to The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, which takes guests on a boat ride with Panchito and Jose as they search the country for Donald. Reflections of China is a beautiful circle vision film that showcases the amazing locations and people of China. The America Pavilion features the American Adventure, which tells the story of the American people through history, photography, artwork, music, and audio-animatronics. Impressions de France is a breathtaking film that combines beautiful footage of the country with music by popular French composers and has recently had a digital upgrade. You’ll also want to experience the new Beauty and the Beast Sing-a-Long. You also don’t want to miss Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in France. The final attraction in World Showcase is Canada Far and Wide, which features a circle vision film that showcases the beauty and diversity of Canada and its people.

6 – Get an Early Spot for EPCOT Fireworks

No day in World Showcase is complete without enjoying the evening fireworks and light show at Epcot. The new show, “Luminous the Symphony of Us,” takes place on World Showcase Lagoon and features laser lights, pyrotechnics, fireworks, and music for an unforgettable experience. While the fireworks can be viewed from around World Showcase Lagoon, the best spots are filled very quickly. Guests who want to ensure an amazing view of the show should plan on finding a spot at least an hour before showtime.