Welcome to a brand new series of time strategies! On this first occasion, I will share the best tips for a successful Epcot 1-day Itinerary. I will cover a feasible one-day plan without purchasing Disney Genie+ for two types of groups: with or without children.
If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World Resort but your time is a bit tight, you need a strategy so you don’t miss out on the most important things in each park. Below, you will find a plan I recommend following during your Epcot visit to cover as many attractions as possible in just one day.
This post is all about a 1-Day Itinerary for Epcot!
Epcot 1-Day Itinerary
Let’s Cover The Basics: 1-Day Itinerary for Every Park
- Download My Disney Experience app and check opening, closing, and show times there. You should also check the app throughout the day to know wait times. I also recommend checking the app from your home before you arrive, so you know what to expect for each attraction.
- For 1-Day itineraries, you need to be at the gates during rope-drop. You should arrive 30-60 minutes before the park opens.
- If you’re staying in a Walt Disney World Hotel, you will have the Early Theme Park Entry benefit included. You should always take advantage of this precious time, as the parks are way less crowded.
- If you’re on a tight schedule, always choose Quick Service food spots and Mobile Order when possible. If you want more tips on Disney Dining, you can read this article.
- People tend to walk to the right. If you’re rope-dropping always aim left as soon as you enter a park unless this itinerary tells you otherwise.
- Use rider switch. This is a free service theme parks offer so that families do not have to stand in line twice when the little ones can not ride due to height requirements. Here are the details for height requirements in Walt Disney World. The whole group should go to the ride entrance and let the Cast Member know you will be using rider switch. They will scan your ticket or magic band and part of the group can wait outside while some of you stand in line. When the first group comes out of the ride, the ones that were left outside will access through a lightning lane. They usually allow you to ride with someone else, so if someone loved the attraction, this is a great chance to do it a second time without standing in line all over again!
[IMPORTANT] In this itinerary you need to arrive 30 to 60 minutes before the park opens, so your breakfast should be before that time, or while you’re waiting for the rope to drop. You can bring your own snack and enter the parks with some food in your backpack. I recommend this cooler bag for you to bring whatever you want.
The first three hours are crucial for you to succeed in this 1-day Itinerary. You will also get some beautiful pictures before the parks are crowded.
[DISCLAIMER] Epcot is HUGE. Never underestimate the time it will take you to get from one place to the other. It may be as long as 30 minutes!
Epcot is a Whole World
We must keep in mind that besides being big, this park has two main areas: Future World and World Showcase.
Future World has an East and a West section, and both sections surround Spaceship Earth (the iconic ball from this theme park). World Showcase has different pavilions that depict countries from all over the world. This is an attraction by itself and you should not miss it. Here is an illustrated map with the main areas and the order of the first three attractions that you should visit regardless of your group type:
If you wish to receive a printable version of this map, subscribe to our newsletter in the form below and let me know in the comment section which type of group you have!
Lunch
If you plan to have lunch at a sit-down restaurant, I recommend Space 220 or Garden Grill. Both will be super fun and unforgettable. Just remember to make a reservation 60 days in advance for your visit.
If there is a festival during your trip, I would skip table service restaurants and just eat around the world. This depends mainly on your little ones and how much rest they will need that day.
My main recommendation for lunch is: plan ahead. Know where you will have lunch before even arriving. You do not want to spend your precious time on this one-day itinerary just standing and thinking about where to eat.
Where should I start?
We must start our day with the attraction that has the longest wait times throughout the day. Our first item in our checklist will be the same for every group: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. This ride used to have a virtual queue, but it was terminated during January 2022. The lines can be very long, so it is best to go right after rope drop. It shouldn’t take us more than 30 minutes if we arrive 30-60 minutes before park opening.
Upon our exit, the route will depend on your group and tastes. In the upcoming paragraphs, I will try and create different strategies that you can adapt according to your priorities.
The second attraction to tackle will be Frozen Ever After. Groups with little ones MUST VISIT this ride. The queue is heavily themed and also beautiful. I also recommend this ride as a second stop for groups without kids. However, if you haven’t watched Frozen you might not be interested, and that’s fine too, you can go ahead and skip it.
Epcot in 1 Day: Groups With Kids
Now you have to exit World Showcase. Do not get distracted by the countries, you will visit them later in the day. Go straight to Test Track. If the children in the group still don’t meet the height requirements, you can go through the single rider line to access a bit faster. There are few attractions with single rider in all of Walt Disney World, so if you find one, you want to use it. Just keep in mind that single rider is for only one person, so even if three or four of you access the line as a group, you will be riding separately.
Depending on Test Track wait times, it may already be lunchtime. This is the time to make use of the tips from the previous paragraphs about food at a table service restaurant or a quick-service spot.
After lunch, the next ride will be Soarin’. Do not skip this one. It is a flight simulator with incredible sensory effects, it is beautiful and super fun. Soarin’ is located in The Land.
After Soarin’ we will be heading to the second largest aquarium in the United States, which is located in Future World West, right next to The Land. Here, you will find two attractions that your kids will love: The Seas With Nemo and Friends and Turtle Talk With Crush. The first is a walk through the movie Finding Nemo. It may be a bit dark, but they should like the colorful ride. The latter is an interactive show with the cool turtle from the movie.
If your visit to Epcot is centered on your children, I recommend spending a while at the aquarium. They can see fantastic animals, it’s relaxing, it has air-conditioning and you’ve already done the most important attractions in the park!
The rest of the day will be the same for groups with or without children, so you can read the following paragraphs or go directly to the plan for the end of the day.
Epcot in 1 Day: Groups Without Kids
The second attraction of the day (or third, if you chose to ride Frozen Ever After) will be Test Track. Here you can choose the full experience by entering through the regular line, or opt for the single rider if you don’t mind not creating your custom car. It’s a huge time saver to go for the latter, but if you want to customize your car, you’ll have to be patient with the regular wait time.
After Test Track, the next goal will be Soarin‘. It is a flight simulator and a must-see attraction, so despite the wait, do not skip this one.
When lunchtime arrives, you will depend on your plan for the day. If you have a reservation for Space 220 or Garden Grill, check your reservation time to see if you’re tackling Soarin’ before or after lunch. If you do not have a reservation, I recommend the quick service stands from the World Showcase. After lunch and Soarin’, you will have the rest of the day to complete your itinerary through the World Showcase.
Afternoon/Evening Itinerary
There is a pending attraction, and that is Spaceship Earth. It does not tend to have a long wait time, but it is a totally optional attraction. This ride tells the history of the world while allowing you to access the iconic Epcot ball.
“But Jimena, you are forgetting Mission Space.” I am not. It is not part of my 1-day itinerary. Its introduction is way too long, and the intense version can ruin your day with nausea (and I am a roller coaster lover and adrenaline junkie). If you are really into space, it may be worth doing, or if you have a reservation for Space 220 Restaurant.
After you exit Spaceship Earth, the rest of the day will be for you to explore the world. You can dine and watch Harmonious (Epcot’s nightly show) at the same time.
My recommendation for World Showcase is the following (I left some countries out because in just one day you will not be able to visit all of them – although all of them are worth visiting):
- The UK is beautiful. And it is home to the best Fish and Chips.
- France – just go and grab something to eat at Les Halles.
- Morocco is incredibly themed.
- Japan has a huge souvenir store.
- Italy’s theme is as good as Morocco’s.
- Mexico – you can access the pyramid, do not walk by it. This is actually a beautiful mini-land that depicts Mexico and it also has a cute Donald Duck attraction with no wait time.
