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Are Epcot Fireworks Every Night?


Disney Answer: Yes

The nightly fireworks show at Epcot is currently called IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, and starts nightly at 9:00 PM and lasts 12 minutes, subject to the weather conditions or course. Illuminations is available for viewing all around the World Showcase, just find a good spot with a decent view of the water, and you are good to go.

Illuminations has been part of the Epcot landscape since 1998, and is scheduled to be replaced later this year. Sometime in the late Summer or early Fall of 2019, Disney will introduce Epcot Forever, an interim show that will feature classic Epcot tunes, surely to be a hit with long time Epcot fans.

Sometime in 2020, the new permanent show, A Celebration of Disney Music, will replace Epcot Forever.

While no exact dates for the changes have been announced, it appears that there will not be any transition period between the shows, and fireworks will continue to be displayed every night.

epcot fireworks

Filed Under: Walt Disney World Answers Tagged With: disney world, epcot

Which Epcot Rides Should I Fastpass?


Disney Answer: See Below

Questions like this are very subjective, and there isn’t necessarily a correct answer. I may love Soarin’ but you may think Test Track is better. So, please take these answers with a grain of salt, and pick which rides you think your family will enjoy.

FastPasses allow you to basically bypass the line at Disney. You are allowed to book up to 3 fastpasses per day either online or via the WDW smart phone app. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance of your trip.

In Epcot, due to the reduced number or attractions, they have put the fastpass options in two tiers, Tier 1 and Tier 2. Here are the options in each tier:

Epcot Tier 1 Fastpass attractions

  • IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
  • Soarin’
  • Test Track
  • Frozen Ever After

Epcot Tier 2 Fastpass attractions

  • Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
  • Journey Into Imagination
  • Living with the Land
  • Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot
  • Mission:Space
  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Turtle Talk with Crush

You are currently allowed to select 1 option from tier 1 and 2 options from tier 2. Once you have used all three fastpasses that day, you are allowed to make an additional reservation from any tier, if there are any times left.

So, which Epcot rides should you fastpass?

From tier 1, I would avoid Illuminations. Now, DO NOT avoid the show itself, it is fantastic, but the fastpass allows you access to a reserved standing area, and the view from there is no better than anywhere else. 15 minutes before the show starts, find yourself a spot somewhere around the lagoon with a good view of the center.

If you have little girls, get Frozen Ever After. Beware, these go super quickly, and are usually gone within a few minutes of being made available.

Both Soarin’ and Test Track are great options for a thrill ride, pick one of the two, and then arrive at Epcot a few minutes before opening and go directly to the other one and get in line. Your wait should be pretty short, and much shorter than any other time during the day.

From tier 2, it really depends. Mission:Space is a no brainer, it is the other thrill ride in Epcot. The other options would be wisely used on something your family would like. Personally, I love Living with the Land, and Spaceship Earth is fantastic, but you can usually find both of these rides without lines late in the afternoon. If you have kids, the Disney Pals meet and greet is quite fun, and a great way to meet a lot of Disney characters in just a few minutes.

When I do Epcot Fastpasses here are my choices:

  • Soarin’
  • Mission:Space
  • Living with the Land or Spaceship Earth

I think Epcot is harder to figure out then any other Disney theme park. It is pretty easy to pick the best 3 or 4 rides in the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, but because of the tiers, the three most popular rides are limited to you, so you have to pick between rides that really do not need a fastpass most of the time. Pick what works best for your family.

Which Epcot Rides Should I Fastpass

Filed Under: Walt Disney World Answers Tagged With: disney world, epcot

Can you see the Epcot fireworks from the Boardwalk?


Disney Answer – YES and NO

The first thing to understand is that most of the firework in Epcot (Illuminations) are close to the ground. If you are located somewhere around the World Showcase, the view is great. If you are outside of Epcot on Boardwalk or in that area, there are spots where you can see some of the fireworks, the ones that are not at ground level. So, while the fireworks in the Magic Kingdom can be seen pretty well from the Contemporary and Polynesian Village resorts, the Epcot fireworks are not as easily seen from outside the park.

If you want to catch the part of the Epcot fireworks you can see from outside the park, there are decent viewing areas on the Boardwalk near Atlantic Dance Hall or on the bridge that crosses over from the Boardwalk towards the Beach Club and the International Gateway. If you happen to be on the other side of the lake, you can view the fireworks from the Yacht Club boardwalk as well as from the Boat Launch at the Beach and Yacht Clubs.

None of these spots can replicate a view from inside of Epcot though.

Can you see the Epcot fireworks from the Boardwalk
Illuminations can be seen best from inside of Epcot, but on the Boardwalk, they can partially be seen in the areas marked with red.

Filed Under: Walt Disney World Answers Tagged With: epcot

What are Epcot Resorts?


Disney Answer: A collection of Disney Resorts close to Epcot

Located between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (but definitely closer to Epcot) sit several resorts that are referred to as Epcot Resorts. This area is my favorite place to stay at all of Walt Disney World, there is plenty to do, tons of restaurants and the resorts are walkable to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. There is also a friendship boat for those tired legs after a day in the parks. In fact, there is even a back door entrance to Epcot, the International Gateway, located just to the East of Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

All in all, there are 8 total Epcot Resorts, though technically one is not even close to the others, it is still considered an Epcot resort.

Epcot Resorts

  • Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
  • Disney’s Beach Club Resort
  • Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
  • Disney’s Beach Club Villas
  • Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
  • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
  • Walt Disney World Swan
  • Walt Disney World Dolphin

If you look at the two images below, you can see that the Caribbean Beach is technically close to the back side of Epcot, but not really an “Epcot Resort” in the same sense that the others are, with directly access to Epcot.

What are Epcot Resorts
The 7 resorts are are located between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Epcot Area Resorts
Epcot Resorts plus Disney’s Caribbean Beach

Filed Under: Walt Disney World Answers Tagged With: disney world, epcot, hollywood studios

Can you enter Epcot from the Boardwalk


Disney Answer: YES

Very few people realize that the Boardwalk are and Epcot are very close, just a few hundred yards separate the two. Everyone is familiar with the front entrance to Epcot, that is how most people arrive there, either by monorail, bus or car. But even if you are in the park all day, you most likely will not see Epcot’s second entrance, the International Gateway. The second Epcot entrance is located between United Kingdom and France in the World Showcase area of Epcot. As you exit the UK and head towards France, there is a pathway on the right hand side that heads downhill to a small shop right before you cross the bridge. If you head down that path, you will see the International Gateway right behind the little store.

From the International Gateway, you can access the Boardwalk Inn, Boardwalk Villas, Beach & Yacht Club Resorts as well as the Swan and Dolphin, and a bit further on is Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. If you are just headed to one of the resorts or the Boardwalk area, you can walk, they are just minutes away, but if you are going to Hollywood Studios (or maybe the Swan or Dolphin), hop on one of the boats and enjoy the ride.

The International Gateway operates just like the front entrance to Epcot, and is open the same hours. A bonus for entering Epcot through the International Gateway? The World Showcase does not open until 11 AM, so you get to walk through an empty, not yet open World Showcase, which is always a special opportunity.

Can you enter Epcot from the Boardwalk

Filed Under: Walt Disney World Answers Tagged With: disney world, epcot

Does Epcot Have Rides?


Disney Answer: YES

Even though Epcot is a bit of a different type of theme park, it does have rides. Not only does Epcot have rides, Epcot has some of the best rides at Walt Disney World, including many that can’t be found in any other Disney theme park, anywhere!

Current Epcot Rides

  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends – Go under the sea—without getting wet—on this attraction based on Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo which finds Nemo lost again.
  • Living with the Land – Sail through the greenhouses of The Land Pavilion on a boat tour and behold 9-pound lemons, Mickey-shaped pumpkins and more!
  • Soarin’ – Take flight on a breezy, airborne adventure as you hang glide above some of the most breathtaking wonders the world has to offer.
  • Journey Into Imagination with Figment – Figment the playful, purple dragon is your guide on this whimsical ride through the Imagination Institute.
  • Ellen’s Energy Adventure – Be entertained and enlightened during a zany, 45-minute multimedia trip through time and Ellen DeGeneres’s subconscious.
  • Mission: Space – Experience authentic NASA-style training and an out-of-this-world space launch on this shuttle simulator.
  • Test Track – Design a virtual concept vehicle and then go for a high-octane spin at this attraction that’s thrilling and creative.
  • Spaceship Earth – Travel in time and explore the history of communication on a ride that takes you from the Stone Age to the computer age.
  • Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros – Take in the sights of Mexico and the antics of the 3 feathered amigos on this gentle boat ride through the Mexico Pavilion.
  • Frozen Ever After – Hoist the sails in Arendelle aboard an ancient Norwegian vessel as you set out into the wondrous wintery world of Frozen!

There you go, and I only include the attraction that move around, or what one would consider “rides”. Don’t forget some of the other awesome attractions such as The American Adventure or Impressions de France, that don’t technically move around but are first class attractions.

does epcot have rides
Test Track – Speed up to 65 miles per hour in your test car

Filed Under: Walt Disney World Answers Tagged With: disney world, epcot

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