Five Things You Don’t Want to Miss When Visiting Epcot

We all have our favorite things to see, eat, and drink at each of the theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort. We consider these our "must do" attractions or dining destinations and we can't miss them or our trip won't be complete.

And so today, we're going to explore five "can't miss" things at Epcot.

Five Things You Don't Want to Miss When Visiting Epcot


We'll start our "must do" adventure at the front of the park. If truth be told, most of us will walk (run?) past Spaceship Earth and head straight to Soarin', if only to get in the FastPass line.

(Of course, this FastPass fun run might be a thing of the past very soon as the legacy FastPass system will be replaced by FastPass+. But for now, we'll live in the "old" FastPass world.)

Soarin' is the ultimate can't miss attraction at Epcot in my very humble opinion.

Between the beautiful California scenery, the smells of evergreen and orange blossoms, and the amazing score by Jerry Goldsmith, Soarin' is quite possibly one of the most magical attractions in all of Walt Disney World. And this is probably why many people break into applause at the end of the ride. It's just that amazing.

Soarin'

The next must-do item on our list actually includes three attractions and we'll call them 'The Must Do Boat Rides at Epcot.'

You know what I'm talking about here. No trip to Epcot is complete unless you take at least one cruise on the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, Maelstrom, Living with the Land, and the Friendship Boats.

While these are all lumped into the boat ride category, each is special in its own way. The Gran Fiesta tour is amusing, Maelstrom is exciting, Living with the Land is educational, and the Friendship Boats are the best way to rest your feet as you tour World Showcase.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

If you're looking for something with a bit more excitement for your must-do list, perhaps Test Track is more your speed. The redesigned attraction opened in December 2012 and features an updated queue, a chance for guests to design their own custom virtual concept car, and of course an updated ride experience.

While the entire attraction is fun and has some heart-pounding moments, the best part of the attraction has to be the final section when the ride vehicles end up on the outdoor portion of the ride track and reach speeds of 65 mph.
If all the excitement of Test Track has you craving a little relaxation, you'll love the next item on our list.

There are two can't-miss beverages at Epcot and they are the Grand Marnier Orange Slush and the Grey Goose Citron Lemonade Slush in France. These are two of the most popular drinks at Epcot and you don't want to miss out.

The Grand Marnier Orange Slush is like an orange fruit smoothie combined Grand Marnier liqueur, and the Grey Goose Citron Lemonade Slush is just as refreshing but with a lovely lemony twist.

These incredible frozen concoctions can be found at the Les Vins des Chefs de France kiosk, located across from Chefs de France.

Grey Goose and Grand Marnier Slushes

And of course no day at Epcot would be complete without a viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Once you've enjoyed your Grand Marnier Slush, it's time to find a great viewing spot around the World Showcase Lagoon and prepared to be amazed.

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth tells the story of the past, present, and future of Earth through flames, fireworks, and lasers. The nighttime spectacular features the Inferno Barge, a liquid propane mechanism that launches balls of fire into the night sky and the 35,000 pound Earth Globe which is the world's first sphere display system.

And listen closely to the narration of IllumiNations. The voice you here is none other than Jim Cummings, the voice of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and other Disney characters.


5 Things You Don't Want To Miss At Epcot


These are just a few of our favorite things at Epcot. Ask us on another day and we might have a completely different list, but we guarantee that Soarin' and Grand Marnier Slushes will still be on it.

We extend our thanks to Topazlaydgem for sharing her fantastic image of Soarin' through Creative Commons. Thanks also to Kristen K. and our friends at the Disney Food Blog for use of their photos!

What are your must-do items when visiting Epcot? Leave us a comment and let us know!