It’s true that the Epcot theme park isn’t really the first place you go to in Disney World when you’re really jonesing for a terrifyingly thrilling ride. Yet it offers its own share of terrific attractions, which explains why it manages to draw in up to 10 million people on average per year. It does help that it focuses on world culture and hi-tech achievements, which make the place unique in its own way.
If you’re one of the visitors to Epcot, then you should really make an effort to include the following attractions in your itinerary.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
This is at the top of the list because it’s currently the most popular ride at Epcot. Part of the reason for this popularity is that it’s the newest attraction here, as it only opened in October, 2021. Disney based the ride on its Ratatouille animated feature, and it’s another version of the original attraction in Disneyland Paris.
The ride takes about 4 minutes and 40 seconds, and there’s no height requirement so young kids can enjoy. The animation here for the ride is simply state-of-the-art, while the storyline is fun and engaging. You and your family go with Chef Remy on a gastronomic adventure, as your ride gets you though a busy kitchen, a sophisticated dining room, and into the very walls of Gusteau’s restaurants.
Soarin’
You’ll find this in the World Nature section, and it was deemed the best of the attractions here until the new Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. And it’s still a great flight motion simulator that you really shouldn’t miss. It simulates a hang-gliding flight, and you soar high in the air with the help of a mechanical lift system.
The IMAX digital projection dome is huge at 80 feet, and it offers a 180-degree immersive adventure. It’s extremely realistic, and you even get artificial wind and scents to get you into this other world. It’s a flight over the most famous wonders in the world, both the natural and manmade.
Your flight starts high up in the Swiss Alps, and then you fly over the Greenland polar bears and the sailboats in the Sydney Harbour. You’ll swoop down through herds of African elephants, over the Great Wall of China and the Egyptian Pyramids, and even the majestic Taj Mahal. Then you’ll soar over South America, and finally over Paris and the iconic Eiffel Tower.
It’s truly invigorating and distinctive, and it’s one adventure you need to experience. It’s a slow ride with small drops, and it lasts 4 minutes and 45 seconds. Your kids will have to be 40 inches tall to get in.
Spaceship Earth
This is perhaps the most famous of the Epcot attractions, and it’s so iconic that it often serves as the symbol of the whole park itself. The ride takes you and your family way back in time, starting with the Stone Age and the scenes of cave paintings.
Then you go through the historic eras, including the invention of the world-changing printing press and other monumental events like the televised landing on the moon.
The whole ride takes a while, as it lasts a full 15 minutes. The whole time-traveling journey is quite entertaining with its vivid scenes. The vehicle you ride even has touchscreens to let you design your own future as well. This is open to kids, and it is surely educational (while also lots of fun too).
Test Track
Yes, Magic Kingdom admittedly has more thrill rides than Epcot. But Epcot is where you’ll find the Test Track, and there’s no other ride in the entire Disney World that will get you going faster.
Here, you’ll go as fast as 65 miles per hour when you’re going straight, but part of the ride also involves 50-degree turns. In fact, you’re also careening through bad weather and rough terrain.
It actually starts with your entry into the Chevrolet Design Center. Here, you’re able to design your own virtual concept car. After that, the ride transfers to a SIM Car that can hold up to 6 passengers. The succeeding ride is actually a test of your car design, and you get a score afterwards. It’s both thrilling and quite educational, especially if you’re an automobile junkie who dreams of designing their own Fast and Furious speedster.
The whole thing lasts for 5 minutes, and it’s open to kids who are at least 3 feet and 4 inches tall. While it only features small drops, it sure is a thrill ride nonetheless!