EPCOT: Getting Your Bearings & Highlights 2025
- Brenda
- May 19, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 7
Get the lay of the land with this virtual tour of EPCOT! We’ll take you on a quick walkthrough of each neighborhood in the park and highlight a few must-see attractions and experiences along the way.
👉 Want to take your plan on the go? Don’t miss our Downloadable EPCOT Cheat Sheets — perfect for saving to your phone or printing before your trip!
When you first enter EPCOT, you’ll immediately spot the park’s iconic centerpiece — the giant “golf ball” structure known as Spaceship Earth. This beloved attraction also houses a ride of the same name, which takes guests on a journey through the history of human communication.
As you move forward from the entrance, you’ll have a few options on which way to explore. The front of the park is now divided into three themed neighborhoods:
World Celebration
World Discovery
World Nature
Each one offers a unique experience, from space travel and environmental innovation to immersive festivals and character encounters.
Continue through the park, and you’ll arrive at the World Showcase — EPCOT’s fourth neighborhood — which wraps around the picturesque lagoon at the back of the park and features 11 different country pavilions filled with culture, food, and entertainment.
🚪 EPCOT Entrances
There are two main entrances to EPCOT:
Main Entrance – Located at the front of the park (most guests enter here), and where our overview begins.
International Gateway – A back entrance located between the France and UK Pavilions in World Showcase. It offers quick access to the Disney Skyliner and EPCOT-area resorts.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: If you’re staying at Disney’s Beach Club, Yacht Club, or BoardWalk Inn — or arriving via Skyliner — the International Gateway can save you a lot of walking!
World Celebration
As you enter EPCOT through the main entrance, you’ll find yourself in World Celebration — the heart of the park and a central hub connecting World Discovery on the left and World Nature on the right. This area stretches from Spaceship Earth all the way back toward the Imagination Pavilion.
👉 Want the full tea on all the rides?
Head over to our EPCOT Attractions Guide for an up-to-date look at every ride, show, and experience — from thrill rides to gentle boat journeys.
🌐 Festival Fun & Character Magic
CommuniCore Hall, EPCOT’s new multi-use space, is located in World Celebration and serves as the epicenter of EPCOT’s seasonal festivals — including the International Festival of the Arts, Flower & Garden, Food & Wine, and Festival of the Holidays. You'll often find live performances, interactive exhibits, and specialty food booths here.
It’s also home to the Mickey & Friends Character Meet and Greet, giving you the chance to snap a photo with some classic pals in a bright, air-conditioned setting.
🎤 Don’t miss the Encanto Sing-Along experience, located nearby. It’s a fun, family-friendly show where you can sing along to your favorite songs from Encanto.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Check the My Disney Experience app for showtimes so you don’t miss it!.
👉 Planning to meet characters?
Check out our EPCOT Character Meet and Greet Guide to see who you can meet and where — including tips for timing and locations!
World Discovery
Veer left after passing beneath Spaceship Earth, and you’ll enter World Discovery — a futuristic area focused on science, space, and technological innovation. This section is home to some of EPCOT’s biggest thrill rides, so it’s often a popular first stop when the park opens.
🎢 World Discovery Attractions
This neighborhood features three major attractions, all known for their adrenaline-pumping experiences:
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – EPCOT’s newest (and wildest!) roller coaster, complete with backward launch and rotating ride vehicles.🌀 Currently the only attraction in EPCOT offered as a Lightning Lane Single Pass.
Mission: SPACE – Choose between the intense Orange Mission to Mars or the gentler Green Mission orbiting Earth. This simulator ride isn't for the faint of heart!
Test Track – Design your own virtual concept car and put it through the paces, ending with a high-speed outdoor run.
👉 Confused about Lightning Lane Multi Pass?
Our Lightning Lane Multi Pass & Single Pass FAQ covers how the new system works at EPCOT and beyond.
🍽️ Dining in World Discovery: Space 220
While you're here, consider dining at Space 220 Restaurant, one of EPCOT’s most immersive dining experiences. You'll board a space elevator and “travel” 220 miles above Earth to a sleek space station with panoramic views of the galaxy. The food is upscale and delicious, though it’s considered a signature dining experience, so budget accordingly!
👉 Looking for the best bites?
Our EPCOT Dining Guide breaks down quick service favorites, festival snacks, and must-try table service spots around the park.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Heading straight to World Discovery at rope drop can help you avoid long lines — especially for Guardians and Test Track, which fill up fast. Don’t forget to set your alarm for Lightning Lane bookings!
World Nature
On the opposite side of the front of the park from World Discovery, you’ll find World Nature — a lush and educational area dedicated to the living world around us. This part of EPCOT is home to The Seas Pavilion, The Land Pavilion, and the newest attraction: Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana.
🐠 The Seas Pavilion
Dive into the ocean’s wonders at The Seas with Nemo & Friends, where you’ll board a clamobile and journey through a whimsical undersea adventure. Nearby, Turtle Talk with Crush gives little ones (and adults too!) the chance to chat with everyone’s favorite laid-back sea turtle.
But the real hidden gem? The enormous aquarium, one of the largest in the world, teeming with marine life — from dolphins and sea turtles to sharks and colorful fish. 🧜♀️ Our favorite? The peaceful manatees on Level Two.
🌱 The Land Pavilion
Next door, step into The Land Pavilion, where Disney’s passion for agriculture and sustainability comes to life. You’ll find:
Soarin’ Around the World – a fan-favorite flight through some of Earth’s most breathtaking wonders (head down a level and to the right!).
Living with the Land – a gentle boat ride through real working greenhouses showcasing Disney’s innovative farming techniques.
Awesome Planet – a short but powerful film about Earth’s beauty and fragility.
When it’s time to eat, this pavilion also hosts:
🍴 Sunshine Seasons – quick-service meals with plenty of healthy and hearty options
🍽️ Garden Grill Restaurant – a rotating table-service meal with Chip ‘n’ Dale and friends
💧 Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
One of EPCOT’s newest additions, Journey of Water is an interactive, self-guided walking trail that celebrates the water cycle through playful fountains and beautiful landscaping. Fans of Moana will love spotting familiar symbols and characters throughout the experience.
And don’t forget — Moana herself appears near the entrance to this trail throughout the day. 📱 Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for current meet-and-greet times!
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: World Nature is often calmer in the late afternoon, making it the perfect spot to recharge, explore at your own pace, and enjoy air-conditioned attractions without massive lines.
World Showcase
At the back of EPCOT, you'll find the World Showcase — a vibrant collection of 11 pavilions, each representing a different country and culture from around the globe. While there are only a handful of rides in this part of the park, the World Showcase offers an abundance of immersive experiences, entertainment, and delicious eats. You’ll find everything from festival food booths and quick service favorites to exceptional table service restaurants, making the World Showcase a foodie’s paradise.
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Don’t rush through this area! Each pavilion has hidden gems — live music, cultural exhibits, shops, and unique character meet and greets — that are easy to miss if you’re focused solely on rides.
👉 Ready to explore World Showcase?
We’ve got a full walkthrough of all 11 country pavilions in our World Showcase Pavilion Guide, including food, entertainment, and hidden gems in each.
🎨 Visiting During a Festival?
EPCOT’s seasonal events are some of the best times to visit the park! From beautiful blooms to global bites, our EPCOT International Festivals Guide breaks down all four festivals — including dates, top experiences, and insider tips for planning your visit.
International Gateway
Tucked between the France Pavilion and the UK Pavilion, you’ll find EPCOT’s International Gateway — the park’s second entrance and exit. This lesser-known entry point offers easy access to a variety of transportation options and nearby resorts.
Just outside the gate, you’ll find:
The Disney Skyliner, which can whisk you away to:
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Pop Century Resort
Art of Animation Resort
Friendship Boats and scenic walking paths to the EPCOT-area resorts:
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: This entrance is a major shortcut if you're staying at an EPCOT-area resort — and it’s often much less crowded than the main gate!
✨ Bonus: Keep an eye out near the International Gateway for an occasional Daisy Duck meet and greet — a delightful surprise for character fans!
Park Overview -
🧚♀️ Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Download our cheat sheets before you go — they’re perfect for planning on the fly and navigating EPCOT like a seasoned expert!
click image head over to our EPCOT Downloads
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🎉 Ready to Plan Your Day at EPCOT?
Now that you’ve got the lay of the land, you’re well on your way to navigating EPCOT like a pro. Whether you’re soaring over the world, exploring lush greenhouses, or snacking around the World Showcase, a little prep goes a long way in making your visit magical!
Looking for more EPCOT planning tips? Check out these helpful guides next:
Pixie Dust Hugs,
Bren, Lyn, and Kim
P.S. Planning your own magical getaway?
