I hear it with almost every client…”There’s really not much for my kids to do at Epcot, is there?” Epcot is the hidden gem of the Walt Disney World Resort in my opinion! My kids have been visiting Epcot since they were only 18 months & 3 1/2 years old and they enjoy it just as much as they do every other Disney World theme park. We spend at least 2 days in Epcot on every trip! Epcot is a bit different offering fewer rides and maybe less character themed attractions, but it is just as much fun as the other 3.

The Living Seas w/ Nemo and Turlte Talk seem to be the first (and often only) things people think of for kids. But there is so much more… Journey Into Imagination w/ Figment & ImageWorks, Ellen’s Energy Adventure (dinosaurs are involved), Spaceship Earth (the big ball), Living with the land, Gran Fiesta Tour starring the 3 Cabelleros in Mexico, Maelstrom in Norway (for brave little vikings) and lots and lots of characters. From our experience, lines for characters are shorter at Epcot because so many people overlook it. Innoventions East & West also offers lots to be discovered…from a station of Disney video games to a fire safety house.

And let’s not forget the AMAZING entertainment throughout pavilions of World Showcase, the Dragon Legend Acrobats in China are incredible! Head on over to Japan to watch Miyuki the “candy lady” practice the ancient art of candy making and possibly be lucky enough to go home with one of her masterpieces. Miyuki is the only female candy artist in Japan. My kids also enjoy watching “Serveur Amusant” or the comical waiter in France stack and climb chairs as tall as the building it seems! Over in the UK pavilion you can find a quiet area to take a break with a maze made from boxwoods that is the perfect height for small children to wonder through. The boxwoods are very low so that you can see your child as they run & play and you can take advantage of some shady benches. What an incredible way to introduce your children to so many different cultures without even needing a passport!

The Kidcot Fun Stops are also a great way to learn and have fun while you have your little ones at Epcot. There are 16 Kidcot Fun Stops where children engage in fun and FREE activities throughout Future World and World Showcase. The main element of the Kidcot Fun Stops is a mask and kids make charms to go on it.

And don’t forget the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, a fairly new technology based game where Team Possible is sent throughout the World Showcase to Kim and Ron Stoppable save the world one country at a time!

And I haven’t even touched on the fabulous dining experiences you can enjoy while in Epcot. My son’s personal favorite is Coral Reef in Future World where you dine at the aquarium! How fun is it to sit next to a giant aquarium and watch a sea turtle swim by as you eat your chicken nuggets? My daughter’s favorite is of course the Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus in Norway…the only place to get Ariel’s autograph while she’s in her ballgown! Recently Les Chefs de France has started to rival my children’s favorites with the addition of the Remy from Ratatouille. Chef Remy makes a limited number of appearances throughout the day on his own silver plater. Here’s more info on Remy at Les Chefs de France. Only at Disney’s Les Chefs de France can I get my children to eat Blanc de Poulet Aux Nouilles (aka breaded chicken strip over pasta) or a biscuit au chocolat (chocolate chip cookie).

The attractions in Epcot lean towards more educational than the attractions at the other parks, but the important thing is that Epcot makes learning fun and the kids don’t even realize they are learning on vacation! Give it a true and I bet your kids will like it!