Of all the Parks that people tend to skip when traveling with children, Epcot seems to be the most common. Personally, I think this is a shame. Sure, Epcot often gets a bad rap due to crowds flocking to drink around the World Showcase. But don’t underestimate how great this Park is for kids. It has actually been one of my daughter’s favorites since she was quite small. Here’s why we think Epcot is great for kids!
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Why You Shouldn’t Skip Epcot with Kids
A lot of people tend to skip Epcot when traveling with kids. We think this a mistake! There is so much for kids to see and do at Epcot. The festivals at Epcot bring about lots of fun additions for kids. And outside of Festivals there are plenty of activities to keep kids busy and entertained. From green spaces that they can run around and play in, to imaginative rides that are so much fun, and plenty of learning opportunities, you shouldn’t skip Epcot if you’re traveling with kids!
Rides for kids at Epcot
While Epcot may not be able to compete with Magic Kingdom when it comes to rides for kids, it can definitely old its own. In the last few years, Disney has introduced new rides at Epcot that appeal to the younger Disney traveler. Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure are both fun for kids. Add that to the rides that many kids already love, like The Seas with Nemo and Friends which also includes a large aquarium and play space for kids. While I am not personally a fan, kids who are 40 inches or taller can ride Mission: Space, which for some reason seems to be a kid favorite!
Another ride that requires your child to be 40 inches is Test Track. This one is a lot of fun for the whole family. And though Soarin’ Around The World is another one that requires a 40-inch height requirement, it’s often one of the most popular rides at Epcot for kids. They can fly around the world in just minutes! And for kids who are just a little bit bigger, at 42 inches, you can get into Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which I might just have to say is our new favorite at Epcot.
Character Meet and Greets at Epcot
One of the biggest draws of Epcot for kids is that there are so many character meet and greets! Even just as you enter Epcot, there’s a character meet and greet right at the front. Mickey and Friends meets here, so keep an eye out for characters like Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Pluto. Kids can also meet Mickey at the Magic Eye Theater and Donald in his Three Caballeros outfit can be met in Mexico. Vanellope from Wreck It Ralph and Joy from Inside out are stationed inside Imageworks which is a nice little escape from the heat. Alice can be met in the UK pavilion, and even though she’s not currently listed, Mary Poppins has been known to show up in the UK area as well. To find all of the characters available in Epcot, you’ll want to check our your My Disney Experience app. Here you’ll be able to see meet and greet times and locations.
Meeting Disney Princesses at Epcot
If you’re traveling with a younger traveler who loves all things Princesses, then you definitely should not skip Epcot. There are more Disney Princesses at Epcot than at any other Park! And many of them don’t have nearly the long lines you’ll find at say Magic Kingdom. Anna and Elsa can be met in the Royal Sommerhus, which is a pretty cool space! You can meet Belle in France in her villager dress, Mulan in China, Jasmine in Morocco and Snow White in Germany.
The Beauty and the Beast Singalong in the France Pavilion is lots of fun for smaller travelers and is a great way to escape the summer heat for a short time. And for those wanting a Princess Dining experience, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is located in the Norway Pavilion. This reservation can be a hot ticket for those looking to meet many princesses at once, but don’t want to drop a fortune at Cinderella’s Royal Table. So, if you’re hoping to add this to your Epcot day, be sure to reserve this one early. The menu is a little different than you may be used to. Served family style, you will find Norwegian cuisine here. It’s been a while since we’ve eaten here. But it mostly reminded me of the food at Ikea! For the full menu at Akershus Royal Banquet, click here.
Character Dining Experiences at Epcot for kids
Aside from Akershus Royal Banquet, Chip and Dale’s Harvest Feast at Garden Grill is also available in Epcot in the Land Pavilion. With Chip, Dale, Mickey, and other Disney pals, this is a really cute and fun dining experience. Served family style, they currently only serve lunch and dinner, but we are patiently waiting for them to bring back breakfast. So fingers crossed that happens soon! You can find the full menu for Garden Grill at Epcot here.
Learning Experiences for Kids at Epcot
One of our favorite things about Epcot with kids is that there are so many learning opportunities. Whether exploring the World Showcase and learning about new cultures, or learning about natural sciences in The Land pavilion, there’s so much to explore at Epcot with little ones! Take them to the aquarium by the Nemo and Friends ride and talk to a Cast Member there about their favorite marine animal. Or do a Behind the Seeds tour to learn about conservation and how food is grown at Epcot. Living with the Land is a great introduction to this as well.
The Festivals at Epcot offer great opportunities for learning as well. During the Flower and Garden Festival, kids can have fun exploring the butterfly house and learn all about their habitats! During the Festival of Holidays, storytellers around the World Showcase share tales of how their culture celebrates certain holidays.
My daughter has been homeschooled for most of her school career, and we’ve always been so impressed by all there is to learn at Epcot! You can find our Disney Homeschool Guide here. Even if you’re not a homeschool family, the experiences available at Walt Disney World can make learning fun. So, use that to your advantage!
Disney Games at Epcot for Kids
We love games at Disney. Especially when they’re free! You’ll have to pay for the scavenger hunts at the Epcot festivals, but there is one game that is completely free at Epcot. Ducktales World Showcase Adventure can be played right from your phone and costs nothing. You can access this game via the Disney Play app. To learn more about this, read our post on the Ducktales World Showcase Adventure at Epcot here. There’s also a scavenger hunt for Dory’s friends in the Nemo and Friends Pavilion in The Aquarium that’s self-paced and free as well.
Kidcot At Epcot
Kidcot has changed a lot over the years. But it’s still a fun, free experience for kids at Epcot. We personally prefer the more personal touch that it used to have. And maybe as Walt Disney World returns to a more pre-pandemic state of things we will see some of these personal touches come back. But in the meantime, kids can travel around the World Showcase, collecting a coloring sheet and sticker from each country.
Epcot Festivals with Kids
Epcot is known for its festivals. Especially now that there are almost festivals all year long. These festivals are great for kids! Each festival not only brings something new to Epcot, which keeps the Park interesting for kids; but there are also usually scavenger hunts that can be played throughout the Park at each one as well. Spike’s Pollination Nation Exploration is a fun one for the Flower and Garden Festival. And every festival has its own version. These are available for purchase, and you get to select a prize when complete.
Even if you don’t want to purchase the game board and prize, you can always go on a hunt on your own and try to see who you can find. These are super fun, and not just for kids. But they’re a great way to pass some time with little ones at Epcot.
Tips for visiting Epcot with Kids
Epcot can be such an amazing Park for kids! Here are some tips to enjoy your time with little ones while at Epcot.
Avoid the weekends with kids at Epcot
Don’t go on the weekends. If you have no choice, then, well so be it. But just be aware that this is when it’s not only the most crowded, but generally speaking, it’s also when you’ll see the worst behavior. The Drink Around the World crowd tends to show up Friday-Sunday and let’s just say it doesn’t create the most welcoming environment for kids. This doesn’t bother some people. And that’s fine. But if seeing young adults, and well even older ones, stumble around the world isn’t your idea of a Disney Vacation with kids, then we recommend avoiding the weekend when possible.
If you must go on the weekend and don’t want to expose your children to drunken behavior, plan to spend the earlier parts of the day in the World Showcase. And move to other areas of the Park after that. The rest of the Park tends to be quite tame comparatively and that way you can be out of the World Showcase by the time everyone’s alcohol starts setting in.
Take Breaks with kids at Epcot
There are so many great places to take breaks with kids at Epcot. There’s a play and splash area in Future World that’s a perfect place for kids to take a break from the crowds. The Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival offers a great escape from the heat or rain. Bruce’s Shark World in the Nemo and Friends Aquarium is a fun place for kids to play and is also in air conditioning, making this a great spot to take a break from the heat.
Arrive Early to Epcot if possible
Epcot is the least crowded in the earlier parts of the day. Epcot is a pretty large park, so arriving early with give you time to explore before the crowds start rolling in.
Try new foods at Epcot
If your little explorer is willing to try new foods on your Walt Disney World trip, Epcot is a great place to do it! With booths all around the world, finding something new but also kid-friendly is easy. One of our favorites is Kakigori at Kabuke Cafe in Japan. It’s basically like flavored shaved iced and you can choose to have condensed milk added. It’s so delicious and refreshing. Gelato, although not likely to be “new” can be found in Italy. Or stop by Germany and try some caramel treats at Karamell Kuche in the Germany Pavilion. Even if you have picky eaters, there are plenty of options for trying new food at Epcot with kids.
Why Epcot is Great for Kids
Hopefully, this post has convinced you that Epcot is great for kids! We think too many people skip this Park with their little ones. There’s so much to see and do and taste and learn at this Park. And with new things coming to Epcot later this year, there will be even more reasons to visit Epcot with kids!
Melanie Renee is a photographer, writer, designer and mom. Visiting Disney destinations since 2010, she is also an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. When she's not creating her next coffee recipe, or designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's seeking beautiful sunsets and planning her next trip .
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