EPCOT is the second oldest of Disney's Floridian theme parks, and was opened in 1982.

EPCOT, or the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow was Walt Disney's visionary idea comprising a huge transparent dome containing an entire city of harmony and progress.

However with Walt's passing, many of the original ideas for EPCOT were lost, and the resulting EPCOT Centre is a compromise between the parts of the dream laid out by Walt himself, and what could be achieved in practice.

It is subdivided into two main sections, Future World, and The World Showcase.

You'll probably need two days if you want to see and do everything within the park, (1 day in Future World, and 1 day around the World Showcase - but many guests (and especially children) find it less interesting than the other Disney parks like The Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom or Disney MGM Studios.

Future World which opens (and closes) earlier than the World Showcase is themed into distinct pavilions, and is dominated by Spaceship Earth, a large 180ft geodesic sphere made from white aluminum. As well as providing a focus for the park, Spaceship Earth contains a slow ride, which winds its way along a track through the dome itself, tracing the history of human communication from cave drawings through satellite and television.


The World Showcase covers the area around the lagoon at EPCOT, and it provides a view of the cultural heritage of 11 varied nations including America, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, and the United Kingdom. However - be warned that this is a "Disney view" of the heritage of these Nations, and many come away feeling slightly disappointed!


However, having said all of the above , there's an awful lot of things to do and see, many of which can be previewed by clicking on the panel on the left.

Opening Times

Open daily from 10:00am through 7:00pm.

Tips for Guests

We recommend that all guests use the FASTPASS machines to plan their times on the 2 or 3 rides at EPCOT. If you want to avoid the majority of the crowds, without using the FASTPASS machines, then get to the park early, work out which rides you want to see most, and then plan a time to see them when most guests are having their lunch at the park (between 12 noon and 2:00pm). Another tip worth trying is to travel around the park ant-clockwise - you'll see what we mean when you get there, and most guests travel in a clockwise direction!

It's BIG - VERY BIG. You're going to need to pace yourself at this park, especially if you come in the summer months. The sun beats down onto the pathways and reflects back up - and you will feel the effects. Drink plenty of water, and make sure you wear comfy shoes.