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1. Spaceship Earth - 15 Minutes (10 +/- 10)
2. Club Cool - 5 Minutes (No Waits)
3. Captain EO - 17 Minutes (10 +/- 5)
4. Journey into Imagination with Figment - 5 Minutes (5 +/- 5)
5. World Showcase - Canada
6. World Showcase - United Kingdom
7. Dinner
8. World Showcase - France
9. World Showcase - Morocco
10. World Showcase - Japan
11. World Showcase - United States / American Adventure
12. World Showcase - Italy
13. World Showcase - Germany
14. IllumiNations - 15 Minutes (9:00pm or 9:30pm)
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Epcot Touring Plan for Disney Adults – Two Day – One Morning Arrival and One
Afternoon/Evening Arrival – Afternoon/Evening Arrival
This touring plan is ideal for Disney adults (those age ten and older) who plan to visit Epcot over
two days. One of the two days has you arrive prior to 9:00am, so you can visit the headlining
Future World attractions and boat rides in the Mexico and Norway World Showcase Pavilions
with minimal waits. The other day has you arrive later in the afternoon or early evening to visit a
few of the Future World attractions with high capacities before moving on to the rest of the
World Showcase Pavilions and IllumiNations. In many ways, it’s similar to the One-Day
Standard Plan, only split up into two days. This type of touring plan works well in a variety of
situations. You may want to use the evening portion of the plan on your arrival day, so you have
an opportunity to settle in before heading off to a Park. You may want to use the morning
portion on a Fantasmic day, so you can easily Park Hop over to Hollywood Studios at night after
spending most of the day touring Epcot. You may also want to Park Hop over to Magic
Kingdom for Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes. You might find yourself spending half
the day at Animal Kingdom, but want to head over to Epcot for dinner, IllumiNations, and some
World Showcase shopping. There are a lot of scenarios when one morning and one evening
might fit into your itinerary better than the other one and two day Epcot plans.
This is the “Afternoon or Evening Arrival” portion of the touring plan, which assumes you arrive
sometime between 3:00pm and 5:00pm. Obviously, you will have more time in the World
Showcase if you arrive earlier in the day. I recommend trying to get over to Epcot as early as
possible because there is a ton to see and do in the World Showcase.
In Order:
1. Head directly to Spaceship Earth, which is located inside of the 18-story “geodesic sphere”
near the front of Epcot. You can’t miss it if you’re coming in through the main entrance. From
the International Gateway, walk through the United Kingdom and Canada World Showcase
Pavilions and walk through Future World toward the main entrance/exit. The wait for Spaceship
Earth should be less than ten minutes and is almost always posted as five minutes.
2. Exit Spaceship Earth and walk up through Future World to Club Cool, which is near
Innoventions West. If you’d like, sample the various Coca Cola products from around the world.
It’s completely free. I recommend the watermelon flavored beverage from China and the
Beverly from Italy. There is also a Character Spot nearby. Check the lines and visit with the
characters if you like.
3. Continue up to the Imagination Pavilion, which is located past Innoventions and the Land
Pavilion. See Captain EO, the 3D Michael Jackson tribute film. If you see a nearby employee,
ask whether they know when the next Captain EO show will start. If it’s ten minutes or less, get
in line now. If it’s 15 minutes or more, you may consider skipping to Step 4 and returning to
Captain EO after.
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4. Ride Journey into Imagination with Figment, also in the Imagination Pavilion. There is
rarely a wait of more than two minutes, so feel free to ride a second or third time.
5. Exit the Imagination Pavilion and walk up to the World Showcase, this time beginning with
the Canada Pavilion. The main attraction is an 18-minute Circle Vision 3D Film titled “O’
Canada.” Watch it if it’s of interest, but remember that we may have a lot of ground to cover in
a short amount of time. If you do watch O’ Canada, try to time it so you enter the theater just as
people from the last show are exiting. There’s no reason to enter the line early because the
theater is plenty large. Finally, be on the lookout for Off Kilter, a fun Celtic band that plays in
the Canada Pavilion because they don’t fit in any better elsewhere. They don’t play every night,
so check your times guide to see if they’re scheduled.
6. Walk through the United Kingdom Pavilion. Characters from Winnie the Pooh should be out
and about and piano entertainment may be available in the pub section of the Rose and Crown.
Characters from Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland may also be available through 5:30pm
or so. Check your times guide and get here in time to meet them if you’d like pictures. The
British Invasion, which primarily plays Beatles songs, should play several shows in the evening
as well. The World Showcase Players are a comedy troupe that plays shows throughout the day.
Their last show usually begins around 6pm.
7. It should be about time for dinner. I highly recommend making a dining reservation if you’ll
be eating at a table service restaurant when you’re touring Epcot because many of the restaurants
will be booked solid by the time you arrive. You can also opt for a quick service dinner if you
prefer. For quick service, I recommend nearby Yorkshire County Fish Shop (United Kingdom
Pavilion) and Tangierine Café (Morocco Pavilion). For a sit-down meal, I recommend nearby
Le Cellier (Canada) and slightly further away Teppan Edo (Japan) and Tokyo Dining (Japan). La
Hacienda de San Angel and Rose and Crown Dining Room both offer outstanding views of
IllumiNations and will cut down on the wait time necessary to get a good spot to see the show.
If you would like enjoy dinner while watching IllumiNations, I recommend a dining reservation
around 8pm at either restaurant so that you can get settled, order, and eat at least one course
before IllumiNations begins. None of the other restaurants offer a view of IllumiNations. If
you’re not ready for dinner yet or had dinner earlier, skip on to step 8.
8. Continue to the France Pavilion and check your times guide for performances and character
interactions. We are most likely too late for the Princess Aurora and Aristocats meet and greets
and Serveur Amusant comedy/stunt show, but characters from Beauty and the Beast may still be
out until around 7:30pm. France features a 200 degree panoramic film that takes you on a
whirlwind tour of Paris and the French countryside. It’s about 18 minutes long and offers
somewhat comfortable, air-conditioned seating. If you have time, I recommend seeing it. You
can putz around the adjacent shop while you wait for the next film to begin.
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9. It’s time to move on to the Morocco Pavilion. Look out for Mo’Rockin, a six-piece ensemble
that plays music throughout the evening and characters from Aladdin, which are present until
around 7:15pm. Although there is no traditional ride or film in Morocco, there is plenty to see
and do in the various buildings. Because Morocco features replicas of religious buildings, lights
do not shine on the Pavilion during IllumiNations.
10. Continue on to the Japan Pavilion. The Mitsukoshi Department Store is one of the most
popular shops in Disney World, with “literally” tons of authentic merchandise from Japan. Also
make sure you enter the White Heron Castle, which houses an interesting Japanese culture
exhibit and check your times guide to see when Miyuki the Japanese candy artist and the
Matsuriza Taiko drummers will be performing. Their last performances are usually shortly after
6pm, so you may be too late.
11. It’s time for the United States Pavilion/American Adventure. If you have 30+ minutes to
spare, feel free to watch the American Adventure animatronics show and listen to the Voices of
Liberty. We have two more planned Pavilions to make it through and we also need to be
cognizant of the crowds forming around the World Showcase Pavilion for IllumiNations. If it’s
already after 8:00pm, you will likely want to skip the American Adventure show unless you
don’t mind a less-than-stellar location for IllumiNations. The American Adventure is found
inside of the large colonial-style building. It’s a nice, air-conditioned diversion if you need to
cool off or have a particular interest in United States’ history. Also check your times guide to
see if the Fife and Drum Corps will be playing while you’re in the vicinity; most of their shows
are scheduled in the early afternoon. Other than that, there isn’t a whole lot to do in the United
States Pavilion.
Please Note: Take a look at the crowds surrounding the World Showcase Lagoon. If people are
already in place around the Lagoon or it’s already about 30 minutes before IllumiNations begins,
it’s time to find your own spots. See Step 14 for tips on the best locations to view IllumiNations.
If the area surrounding the Lagoon is clear or it’s earlier in the evening, you have time to
continue to Italy and Germany. If you can’t make it to those Pavilions now, exit Epcot in that
direction. Neither Pavilion has a major attraction and you can enjoy much of what they have to
offer, even if the shops are closed.
12. Look around the Italy Pavilion and check your schedule to see if Sergio or the Ziti Sisters
will be performing. Sergio is a juggler and the Ziti Sisters is a fun comedy group that invites
audience participation. Chances are we’re too late.
13. Walk through the Germany Pavilion. There isn’t a whole lot to do here other than look
around, shop, eat, and drink beer, but Snow White and Dopey make appearances until about
6:30pm most days.
14. Crowds for IllumiNations depend heavily on how busy Epcot is during the course of the
day. When it’s busy, you may need to get into position to enjoy the show as early as 8:00pm.
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When Epcot is less busy, it’s usually not necessary to get into position until 8:30pm or so. The
time tends to pass fairly quickly with a beer in one hand and a school bread or pastry in the other.
It might also be a good time to let children purchase something that will occupy their time for a
while before the show. There isn’t a whole lot to do or see before IllumiNations begins.
Epcot is the only major Disney World theme park with two major entrances/exits. The first and
most obvious is the “main entrance” in front of the Park, where the Disney buses and monorail
drop guests off. It’s also the entrance that guests who drove themselves will enter and exit.
However, there is also a second entrance in the World Showcase, between the United Kingdom
and France Pavilions. Known as the International Gateway, this is the entrance that guests who
walk or use the boat from the Epcot-area Deluxe Resorts (Beach Club, Yacht Club, BoardWalk
Inn, Swan, and Dolphin) will use. I tell you this because the ideal spot for IllumiNations
depends on where you’re headed after the show concludes. If you are headed to one of the
Epcot-area Deluxe resorts (or the BoardWalk) after IllumiNations, I recommend finding a spot
for IllumiNations along the railing on the bridge that connects France and the United Kingdom
Pavilions. The key is being able to see the middle of the Lagoon and the sky up above for the
fireworks. There are also good locations around the Rose and Crown Pub area, but they aren’t
plentiful and are usually taken early in the evening. The Canada Pavilion also has spots with a
clear view. As previously recommended, Rose and Crown offers a great vantage point to enjoy
IllumiNations for those with dining reservations around 8pm. Request to sit outside for a seated
view while you dine or eat indoors and your server will guide you to a private viewing area right
before IllumiNations begins. If locations around Canada, France, and United Kingdom are
already full, walk back up toward the American Adventure and Italy Pavilions. There are lots of
good locations here that don’t usually fill up until much later in the evening. Just make sure your
view isn’t obscured by trees. Once IllumiNations ends, walk toward the International Gateway
in the direction of Japan, Morocco, and France.
These locations are excellent for those headed to the main entrance as well, but it will put you in
the very back of the mob exiting the Park through the main gate after the show concludes.
Because IllumiNations is always at the very end of the night (other than December 31st), there is
nothing to do after the show ends and everyone will be headed to the exits. If you’re exiting
through the main entrance at the front of Epcot and find yourself watching IllumiNations near
the back of the World Showcase, I recommend allowing the crowds to clamor for the exit ahead
of you. While many of the shops close at 9:00pm, you can still meander around the World
Showcase Pavilions and take in the architecture as you exit at a gingerly pace. Give it about 45
minutes and you’ll likely find an empty bus, monorail car, or parking lot tram waiting for you by
the time you make it to the front entrance. Don’t worry about Disney shutting down
transportation before you exit; they run buses for at least 90 minutes after the Parks close to
shuttle late diners back to their resorts. This is a much less stressful end to what was hopefully
an amazing day.
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For those leaving through the main entrance, I recommend finding a spot along the rail in the
Canada, Mexico, or Norway Pavilions. These areas have the most unobstructed view of the
Lagoon and the sky and usually fill up later than the locations at the base of the World
Showcase, in the “Showcase Plaza” section. Showcase Plaza is an excellent location, especially
if you want to race to the exit in front of the hordes, but it usually fills up by 8:00pm. If you
walk by later and there are spots along the railing, by all means grab the spots. When the
Candlelight Processional is running (after Thanksgiving and through much of December), some
of this area in Showcase Plaza will be roped off for guests that are using the Candlelight
Processional Dining Package.
I prefer to find a spot across from the entrance to Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Norway because it
is usually less crowded than other locations and offers an outstanding view. As recommended
earlier, La Hacienda de San Angel in the Mexico Pavilion offers outstanding views from within
the restaurant. A reservation around 8pm will allow you to enjoy a relaxing meal and see
IllumiNations from inside. The restaurant pipes in the IllumiNations soundtrack and dims the
lights so the show is easy to enjoy. After the show, order dessert and wait for Epcot to clear out
before you make your exit. La Cantina de San Angel, Mexico’s quick service, also offers seating
that has an excellent view of IllumiNations and the World Showcase Lagoon. However, this
location is highly publicized as being “outstanding” and seating is incredibly scarce. To get
seats, you’ll probably need to arrive by 7:00pm and then defend your table from people who try
to ease in front of you as it gets closer to 9:00pm. I don’t necessarily recommend trying to do
this unless you have a lot of time and don’t mind telling a lot of people to get lost over a few
hours.
Overall, your best bet is staking out a spot near the railing that overlooks World Showcase
Lagoon with a clear view of the middle of the Lagoon and a clear view overhead. The World
Showcase is designed to offer as many of these types of views as possible, though you will need
to find a spot earlier during busier days and seasons. Keep an eye on the crowds as the clock
approaches 8:00pm and don’t hesitate to scout out a location as it becomes crowded around the
Lagoon. Keep in mind that the further away you get from Future World, the fewer people you’ll
find. I don’t recommend trying to rush out of Epcot unless you’re among the first people to
make it out of the World Showcase. It’s much easier to stay back and let the throngs push and
shove ahead of you. Remember, we’re talking about upwards of 25,000 people here. If you let
them exit in front of you and take your time walking to the main exit, the buses will have
returned and it will be easier to get on your way. The other choice is to rush out and get in line
for the bus, monorail, or parking tram and wait with everyone else.
Finally, you may want to designate the entrance to Spaceship Earth as your meet-up spot if
anyone gets separated during the day. While the walkways may seem plenty wide during the
day, they will feel a lot more cramped when thousands of people are jostling for position after
IllumiNations. Even your author got momentarily separated from his parents during his first trip
to Epcot. Spaceship Earth is the easiest landmark to find and is visible from just about anywhere
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inside Epcot. Make sure everyone (adults included) understands that they are not to leave Epcot
until everyone is accounted for.
Skipped Attractions and How to Fit Them In
Ellen’s Energy Adventure – This attraction is about 45 minutes long, which is too much time to
spend with limited Epcot time, unless you have a particular affinity for Bill Nye, Ellen, and
animatronic dinosaurs. If you do want to ride it, fit it in later in the day, after you’ve done the
bulk of the Future World attractions. Waits are rarely longer than it takes for the next ride
vehicle to leave. It’s also an excellent attraction when it’s hot or raining out because it’s airconditioned, slow moving, and doesn’t require a whole lot of attention.
Circle of Life – This 15-minute film is cute, but it doesn’t rank up there with other memorable
attractions like Test Track and Soarin’. It’s located on the upper floor of the Land Pavilion and
you’re welcome to see it if you would prefer to do it over something else. For most people,
Circle of Life isn’t better than the alternatives. The most convenient time to see it would be after
you ride Soarin’ with FASTPASS in the afternoon on the “Morning Through Afternoon” portion,
but you can return whenever you’d like to fit it in. It certainly should not be a morning priority
because it’s highly unlikely you’ll need to wait any longer than it takes for the next film to begin.
Try to time it so you enter the theater just as the audience from the last film is leaving.
Innoventions – Many of Innoventions’ exhibits take a considerable amount of time to
experience and most of them aren’t worth the opportunity cost with a relatively short amount of
time spent at Epcot. Feel free to walk through and check out anything that pops out at you, but
most people prefer to spend their time in the World Showcase and other Future World attractions
over most things they see in Innoventions. I do recommend Sum of All Thrills, which we’re
planning to visit on the Morning portion and Storm Struck is also fun. If you’re headed to
Innoventions, do so in the afternoon, after riding the headliners and experiencing the other Future
World attractions. Like Ellen’s Energy Adventure, Innoventions is an excellent opportunity to
get out of the sun or rain for an extended period of time.
Kim Possible Mission – Visit a Kim Possible Recruitment Center in Innoventions East or at one
of the World Showcase Pavilions to see if Kimmunicators for Kim Possible are still available if
you’d like to do one. There should be unless Epcot is particularly busy. Each mission takes
between 20 and 60 minutes and you can do as many or as few as you wish.
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