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Fans will continue to benefit from Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration long after it has ended.
During the prolonged birthday celebration, Disney debuted two new E-ticket attractions at EPCOT.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and (especially) Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind have changed the park, and guests must adapt.
Here’s how to have the perfect EPCOT day in 2023.
An Early Start
In 2024, Disney has promised to change a few of the current policies governing reservations for Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane.
These adjustments should lessen the ongoing stress caused by our phone issues and the 7 a.m. struggle.
For the time being, we are going to have to make do with the system that is in place, so we need to get a head start.
As a consequence of this, you need to get up and be ready to use My Disney Genie+ no later than 6:55 in the morning.
Even though the virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind hardly ever fills up immediately these days, you should still be prepared for it just in case.
In addition to this, you need to have that strategy as your Plan A for when the system opens at seven in the morning.
Guests who are able to successfully reserve a Boarding Group for Cosmic Rewind will have a fantastic time on the day of their visit.
But if at first you don’t succeed, keep in mind that you always have the afternoon to give it another shot!
Keep in mind that you can still purchase a Lightning Lane even if you are unable to secure a place in the virtual line on that particular day.
As a result of the fact that EPCOT guests were able to enjoy many park days before the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster opened, I can’t decide whether or not to recommend that course of action.
Rope Drop Tactics
The real advantage of getting a head start is that you will have more time to Rope Drop something, of course.
If you only have time for two attractions while at EPCOT, make them Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
In fact, I’ll tell you a secret. Both can be completed within the first two hours and thirty minutes of EPCOT’s opening if you time it correctly!
The walk is the only drawback to this tactic. You must circle the entire park to get to these pavilions, assuming you enter EPCOT from the front.
Both are somewhat distant from one another and located toward the back of the World Showcase.
Because of this, some visitors choose to start with Soarin’ or Test Track instead.
This strategy divides the walk into two parts, but there is a significant drawback.
The advantage of Rope Drop will be lost if there are long line queues when you get to the France and/or Norway pavilions.
Of course, you are free to behave differently, particularly if you are staying at a particular Value or Moderate tier resort.
If you are taking the Disney Skyliner to EPCOT it will take you to the International Gateway. You will then arrive at EPCOT fairly close to the France pavilion!
I’ll assume you choose this course of action and start at Frozen Ever After. By this time you might be hungry by now.
If so, think about getting a snack from Kringla Bakeri og Kafe! Everybody adores this location!
You might not have a choice, though. You might need to go to Cosmic Rewind right away if you reserved a boarding group there, assuming you did.
The only drawback to virtual queues is that you have to put everything on hold when your number is called.
From Mid-Morning to Mid-Afternoon
If everything goes according to plan, you will have already experienced the arguably top three EPCOT attractions by the time noon rolls around.
You’ll enjoy EPCOT the most at this point because you’re hungry!
There is not a single other theme park anywhere in the world that can compete with the quality of these restaurants. There is a wide variety of mouthwatering options available through Quick Service for meals at reasonable prices.
Although I’m more of a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, I think the Regal Eagle Smokehouse is the best choice among the available options.
Despite this, I am confident in recommending that you go with the option of Quick Service for lunch. If you want to eat somewhere that is closer to the entrance of the park, you could try Sunshine Seasons or Connections Eatery.
But you like Plan B better. Imagine for a moment that you are at EPCOT attending a festival while also dining there. If this is the case, you should go to a concession stand instead!
There are over 15 restaurants to choose from, each of which draws inspiration from a different culture’s cuisine. It’s hard to believe, but the prices of these meals are frequently lower than those at quick service restaurants.
After you’ve had something to eat, you’ll be in the right frame of mind to explore one of EPCOT’s many hidden treasures! Afternoon is typically the departure time for most people, which results in a significant reduction in crowd size.
The World Showcase will be busy during festival season thanks to the locals, but you can ride almost all the other rides at the park quickly.
I advise a straightforward strategy due to this.
Target all of the attractions on one side of the park as you make your way toward the back of the park. After you have finished on one side, proceed to the opposite side of the park.
Visit Journey into Imagination with Figment in the Imagination! pavilion, to be exact.
After you’ve finished there, head on over to the Land pavilion and enjoy both of those attractions there. When there are fewer people around, you should be able to complete all three in about an hour and a half.
Mid-Afternoon through Dark
I think it’s important to point out that a significant portion of the allure of your ideal day is the atmosphere of EPCOT.
Don’t let yourself become so preoccupied with crossing things off your list that you neglect to tour the different pavilions, particularly those in the World Showcase.
The best Disney trips involve a lot of exploring and discovering your own magic along the way. It’s the journey, not the destination, as the saying goes.
Nevertheless, during your last few hours at the park, you should focus on a few attractions. Thankfully, by mid-afternoon, the lines ought to have diminished.
In addition to Spaceship Earth, some other rides that deserve your consideration are Soarin’ Around the World, Test Track, and Mission: SPACE.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends and its accompanying side show, Turtle Talk with Crush, are two of my favorite shows.
You ought to also think about what you’re going to eat for dinner at some point. Evening meals served at a table are highly recommended in my book.
Some of the restaurants offer views of the nighttime fireworks displays that are surprisingly impressive.
In addition, you can sit there and watch other guests while cast members serve you some of the most delicious food at EPCOT. These dining experiences have provided me with some of the most memorable moments I’ve had at Disney World.
After you have finished eating and watching the fireworks, you should make a point of visiting a couple of the places that you enjoyed the most throughout the day.
Because the crowds tend to disperse as soon as the fireworks stop, it will not be difficult for you to re-ride some of your most favorite ride or attraction again.
If a guest is waiting in line for a ride at the time the park closes, Disney will let them ride whatever attraction they want to ride.
If you make the most of this policy, you’ll be able to make the most of your time at EPCOT.
Let us know in the comments below if you agree with any of these tips or if you have any additional tips to share on how to make the most of your perfect EPCOT day. We would love to hear them!
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