Walt Disney World's Epcot, a Hidden Gem.

In all of my wonderful travels to Walt Disney World, there have been all too many times that I have skipped Epcot. After the past few trips I have taken to Walt Disney World, I am begining to think that I have missed a TON of time at Epcot. I can honestly say that Epcot is a hidden gem! Epcot has an abundance of overlooked free things to do. Take a peak at what I have complied from my last few trips and a fellow Disney Site www.themouseforless.com, Enjoy!


Epcot offers an out of this world entertainment schedule!! Take a stroll over to Future World or World Showcase where you can see street performers. Also in the lineup, Off Kilter, British Invasion, World Showcase Players, and Dragon Legeond Acrobats among others). In Future World you can find the Jaminators. If you are visiting during Epcot's Food and Wine Festival, grab a bite to eat from around the world and relax as you are surrounded by the sights and sounds of the street performers.

Do you visit Walt Disney World during a hot time of year, or do you have little ones with you that are just not quite tall enough for some of those thrill rides? Epcot offers several opportunities for water play. I took full advantage of these areas with my 2 year old on our last trip. These areas made for a great respit while we waited for our party to get off of the rides. Check out the "Cool Wash" area just outside of Test Track, this is my personal favorite. In addition, you can watch the water leap from fountain to fountain right outside, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, there's also two play fountains, one located on the main walkway from Future World to World Showcase, and on the walkway to Mission Space( for these I would recommend having a change of clothes for your children....they will get wet!) Also, outside of the Imagination Pavillion is a water fall....or should I say a water up? We think that this one is so cool! The water is actually flowing up rather than down. Last, do not forget to spend some time watching the fountain in the middle of future world. This fountain has been named, "The Fountain of Nations." My perferred time to watch this fountain is at night. The dancing waters, copuled with the lights and music is enough to give anyone the chills.


Are you looking for a cool beverage? You must be ready to try something very different from what you are used to. Stop in at Club Cool, this is located on the west side of the main fountain, in the middle of Future World. Not only is this a free attraction, but you will be able to sample Coke products from around the world! Be sure to try Beverly....but have the video camera ready. :0)


Walking to Test Track? Look for a butterfly garden on path to the ride. After you have taken a ride on Test Track, compete in a game against another team, let the little ones climb in their area, play some video games, or send some cyber postcards to your family back home (there are also some video email and cyber postcard areas in Innovations).


Slow down and take some time to see what Innovations has to offer, both East and West, it’s a great way to get out of the heat. Visit the World of Plastic in Innovations East for a free souvenir, and a great workout. Try the Pixography station in the Xerox area for a free picture calendar to take home. Try out Toon Tag for some fun.



If you are walking past Spaceship Earth at night, make sure and look down for a fascinating fiber optics light show. The kids (old and young) will love it. And often there’s no line at Spaceship Earth at night, maybe hop in for one last ride? While you are in there look for the scene at the top where the moon is showing, you may see a lift that is used to get Mickey and others to the top for special events.

Do you have an urge to become a secret agent? Disney's Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure is an ultra interactive quest at Epcot theme park based on the Disney Channel animated series, Kim Possible. Transform into secret agents, join Team Possible and help save the world from super-villains with the help of a high-tech "Kimmunicator". 









A marker that (was) the center of WDW is on the path to Living with the Land, just west of Innovations West, behind the fountain and towards the Lagoon. It once the marked the center of property, but now it's just a circle in the pavement. This is most likely not the center of WDW now, if it ever was, but tradition says it once was!

Norway

As you enter Norway the first building has a roof made of real sod, back in the “ole country” this would be trimmed by the goats, however here in WDW the horticulturists take care of it. Make sure and go into the Stave Church, there are only 28 of these left in Norway. I also know of one larger than the Epcot model built in the Black Hills of South Dakota, all the pieces for that one were shipped in from Norway.

China

Make time for the acrobats show in China, then check out the temple ceiling, and lastly for an inexpensive souvenir, see the man in the back of the gift shop for a personalized fan.

Germany

Germany offers wine tasting for a small fee, and then you can order up your favorite and have it sent to your hotel room or the front gate for pickup later in the day.

In Germany make sure and spend some time enjoying the train exhibit, which often has seasonal differences, and look for the clock with the figures that pop out on the hour, and the pickle tree. If you are not familiar with the pickle legend, ask a cast member.

U.S.A.





Stop into the American Pavilion, don’t pass it by as you figure you spend enough time in our grand country, the shows here are worth stopping for and they have different exhibits that change. Take time to enjoy the pictures painted through out American Adventure pavilion.

Japan

Try on the traditional Japanese garments in the department store in Japan, pose for a picture, then head upstairs to the bar for a bit of quiet and a beverage.

The Japanese Pagoda has 5 stories and each represents an element the Buddhists believe all things were created from: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Sky.

Morocco

The Morocco pavilion offers a free tour of their “country” including cultural and historical bits about this fascinating country. This might even induce you to exploring all the other countries to find some hidden areas, such as the maze garden in the back corner of the UK.

Notice the wall mosaics in Morocco, each one has at least one flawed or cracked tile on purpose, as they believe only Allah can create perfect things.

France

The bridge crossing from France to the UK represents crossing the English Channel, Disney’s version of the Channel? Look for a bike and an easel around the channel as if an artist were painting and just stepped away for a minute.

United Kingdom

Look for the butterfly garden in the UK; it is located in the Not-a-garden where the apothecary grows his herbs. There is a butterfly box here where the butterfly cocoons are protected until they hatch.

Other

World Showcase Passports (approx $12 at shops/carts throughout Epcot), you can get them rubber stamped and signed in each country at the Kidcot station; they also come with a stamp for each country and a button that reads “World Showcase Traveler.”

Speaking of the Kidcot Stations, your child (or I am sure you if you are so inclined) can make a free mask, they can color it and decorate it, there are ornaments to hang from it and they can get a stamp in each country and a signature from the Cast Member (remember the Cast Members are from each country, so they are a wealth of information for inquisitive minds, young and old alike). If you finish up all the countries you get a special prize!