10 Can't Miss Things at EPCOT
Writing my 10 Can't Miss Things at EPCOT is almost as agonizing as when I wrote the 10 Things to Skip at EPCOT article, because there is just so much to do! EPCOT is one of my favorite Disney parks and there are few attractions, and definitely few dining opportunities that I would say aren't worth it. But somehow I found what I think is the best 10.
And now it's time to choose from all of those other things and tell you which ones are absolutely not to be missed.
10. Turtle Talk with Crush
This is not a headliner attraction and some might be surprised to find it on this list, but trust me here. If you are amused by the silly things kids say, this is like a live comedy show. Also, your kids will love it. And Crush just rolls with the punches because he's a cool duuuude.
Last time I was here, three different kids asked Crush if he knew Australia. At first this was not a silly question and Crush answered. But then two other kids asked him the same question. It's amazing how a cartoon character can have such facial expressions! It was just adorable and hilarious. If children amuse you at all whatsoever, you should go.
9. Mitsukoshi department store
Nestled in the Japan pavilion, this store is much larger than other gift shops and much more interesting. You can find all the Japanese crazes here: Pokemon, Pocky, lucky cats, bento boxes, all of it. Your pre-teen will know ALL the things. And for adults they are just adorable.
But ALSO you can open your own oyster and see if you got a pearl here - if you did, they make a HUGE deal out of it. Or you can get your name painted on a grain of rice if the artist is around. Or you can wander to the back and see real beautiful kimonos. It's just a shopping experience like no other and while I don't normally recommend shopping, this is worth it.
8. The Seas pavilion
I'm not talking about the ride, but the rest of the pavilion. The Living Seas pavilion is really a quite good aquarium, the kind that could be a destination in itself if it weren't, you know, in the middle of Walt Disney World. There are plenty of exhibits to explore in Seabase Alpha, but my favorite has to be the manatees.
7. The Morocco pavilion
The Morocco pavilion might not have a huge department store or a lot of loud entertainment going on, but it's quite beautiful. It's also the one pavilion that seems to go way back and just keep going so that at a certain point, you feel you are walking through the streets of Marrakesh.
It also has a functioning mosque tucked away in a very quiet spot. Yes, quiet. In Walt Disney World. In fact, what really endears this pavilion to me, aside from the beauty and detail in the architecture, is that it is a very peaceful place. To find your own peace, upon arriving at the Morocco pavilion, head straight back through the "streets" and keep going.
6. Matsuritza
Back to Japan we go. I love everything, really, about the Japan pavilion, but we are talking favorites here. Matsuritza is definitely one of my favorites. These are live Taiko drummers that put on several shows a day on the balcony of one of the buildings. You will likely hear them across much of World Showcase when they are playing, but please do watch them. If you've not seen Taiko drumming before, you are in for a treat. The energy and strength that goes into this is just wonderful.
Let's face it, many of us might not get the opportunity to see this art elsewhere, so I highly recommend doing it here at EPCOT.
5. Via Napoli
Something the kids will eat? Check. Grown-up style pizzas and draaaaanks? Check. Charming Italian servers? Check.
Via Napoli in the Italy pavilion is probably my very favorite table-service location in all of the parks. It might not sound like anything special. It's pizza, basically. But it's not your basic pizza. Consider my favorite: Prosciutto e Melone (prosciutto with cantaloupe and arugula). Consider that to form the crust of these Naples style pizzas, they import water from Naples. Consider that these are cooked in wood fired ovens named after the three volcanoes in Italy. They are serious about pizza here.
Add to that exceptional service and a reasonable price and you've got a winning "can't miss" place to have a nice meal.
4. Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth is the centerpiece of EPCOT, the geosphere everyone thinks of when they think EPCOT. It's obvious that you must go inside, right?
I have to admit, Spaceship Earth is very sentimental to me. It was my first ride at Walt Disney World ever, and it was where I learned that a ride could be more than a thrill ride or a spin-and-puke. I discovered "Disney-style" omnimover rides, the kind that gently glide you through an experience. I smelled Rome burning, and watched the audio-animatronics for the first time, and got all emotional at the end when the Earth was revealed because of the story that was being told.
To me, Spaceship Earth is a Disney storytelling ride at its finest. It was where I went over and over again while I was residing there during my College Program when I felt I needed perspective. If I could have a Spaceship Earth in my yard, I think I'd be a happier person. Maybe it's not your thing as much as it is mine, but you will never experience another ride like it for sure.
3. Boulangerie Patisserie
I can't believe I only recently discovered this place! I can't believe I've been missing this all my life! Don't make the mistake I did. Boulangerie Patisserie is a wonderful pastry and coffee place tucked away at the back of the France pavilion. The moment you walk in, you see all of these gorgeous pastries behind glass - some sweet, some savory. It's basically a candy store, but with French pastries. Your mouth will water and you won't know what to order, but with remarkable efficiency your order will be taken and then you get to eat your deliciousness at an outdoor table (if you desire) in the streets of France. It's just lovely, and it's the perfect breakfast.
Oh yes, AND World Showcase is open up through France early just so you can get here for breakfast before the rest of World Showcase opens at 11am.
2. Soarin' (Over Anything!)
Soarin' has until recently been my very favorite ride in all of Walt Disney World and has recently been supplanted by Avatar: Flight of Passage, which is basically Soarin' on steroids. Still, Soarin' is my second favorite ride in all of Disney World, and if you find Flight of Passage to be too intense, Soarin' is nothing like that intense. It's simply a nice ride that feels sort of like you are paragliding over amazing landmarks. It's so realistic that you feel wind in your face and can smell the landscape you are gliding over. It's the ultimate calm-maker while also a complete thrill.
Notice I don't differentiate between Soarin' Over California (the previous show) and Soarin' Over the World. Both are equally great, in my opinion. I am confident that any Soarin' would be awesome.
If you've been on Soarin' before, next time you are on it, take a moment to admire the mechanics of the ride. It really is innovative the way you are lifted up into the sky.
1. Illuminations: Reflections of Earth
"Good evening and welcome. We've gathered here tonight around the fire as people of all lands have gathered for thousands and thousands of years before us ... to share the light ... and to share a story. An amazing story as old as time itself, but still being written. And though each of us has our own individual stories to tell, a true adventure emerges when we bring them all together as one. I hope you enjoy our story tonight: Reflections of Earth."
With those words, you hear someone blowing out a candle, and all of the torches that have been lit around World Showcase go dark. That's when this nighttime show begins. (And I get goosebumps just writing that!)
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth is probably the most intense fireworks show you will ever see. I mean, it has an "inferno barge"! It was launched during the Millennium Celebration in 1999 and so far has survived the test of time, though there are rumors that Disney might be looking to replace it (NOOOO!).
I've been seeing Illuminations since that time, and have every blast and every movement of it memorized, so maybe I'm a bit attached. But I was in the College Program when some of my co-workers saw the Cast Member preview, and they were blown away. And even on my last trip, watching people see the show for the first time, it's clear it is still as moving as it was in 1999.
As you can see, I love EPCOT, and often not the headliners but the treasures you can experience if you dig just a little deeper. I hope my top ten must see gives you an idea of what you might want to experience at EPCOT.
So, did I get it right? What are your favorites? Comment below!
