Epcot is the one park I am totally okay exploring without much of a plan, though there are a few MUST HIT spots. Having a semi-guide to these key places for your one-day adventure will ensure you don’t miss all the “amazing.” At the very least, it will ensure you aren’t waiting in lines for hours.

Which brings me to my first -and probably most obvious- point. If you do not have Disney Genie+ and a Lightning Lane pass, you may want to grab one. Every. Single. Disney enthusiast on the planet will tell you that. It allows you to skip the slow line. Which can save HOURS. 

You will also want to download the Disney World App on your phone. It’s free, and allows you to see wait times for rides. 

Before you get Genie, or Lightning passes, before you even take your trip to Epcot, check the park reservations hours of operation as they can vary from month to month. You may also want to consult an Epcot crowd calendar; some days are packed to the brim, others are manageable. The busier the day, the less likely you are to fit everything in. Lucky for you, this 1-day itinerary was made during a moderately busy day. So it should still be helpful.  

Okay. Lets get down to it. There is no time to waste in a park that is 3x the size of Magic Kingdom and has 4 major neighborhoods. Pictured here….

Talk with the people you are traveling with and decide which rides must be taken. The most popular are Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, Guardians of the Galaxy, Test Track, and Soarin.’ The nighttime fireworks and drink/eat around the world showcase are two of the other main attractions most people enjoy. 

Use the Disney World app to stage a plan. Which line (or two) is the shortest and start there. Aiming to begin towards the front gate so you dont have to run through half the park just to make it on time to a ride. You can also plan ahead to be REALLY smart by logging into the Disney World app to use the Digital Genie Service and enter virtual line queues. This is actually the ONLY way to ride Guardians of the Galaxy (unless you have an individual lightning lane pass.) 

I digress. The first reservation you are allowed to make goes live at 7am for that day. And they “sell” out FAST! Like, seconds. They do launch again at 1pm if you miss it. Either way, once you have a reservation. You will get a one hour notification before you need to be in the physical line. Which is pretty slick and lets you explore instead of wait. 

Phew. All the details. Now, how to enjoy the day in a timeline of events: 

-8:30am: Get to the park

-9am: Head straight to Remi’s Ratatouille Adventure or Test track or Frozen Ever After when the gates open. Aim to ride as MANY that you want to hit -back to back- as the lines will be the shortest at this time. 

-After the initial three rides (or skip Ratatouille and Frozen if you don’t have little kids) hit up Mission Space, Soarin, Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, and Journey into Imagination IN THAT ORDER (or as many as you want to hit) in that order. 

-1pm (roughly): spend the afternoon walking the World Showcase in a clockwise direction. It is 1.25 miles in length, so bring good shoes and a refillable water bottle. Eat and drink your way “around the world.” You’ll experience Morocco, Japan, France, the UK, Canada, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, and Mexico. 

-6pm (roughly): Explore less of the “top list” items like Turtle Talk with Crush or go back to any big rides you missed. 

-9pm (Roughly… this time changes throughout the year): Grab a seat and prepare for the spectacular  “Harmonious.”

It is a state-of-the-art technology show featuring large scale floats, LED panels, fountains, fireworks, lasers, lights and is inspired by Moana, Aladdin, Coco, Mulan, and was created by more than 240 artists from around the world. It’s one of my favorite parts of Epcot and the perfect ending to a perfect day. 

Take note, I am writing this in the beginning of 2025, as Epcot renovations and transformations are taking place. The former Future World is being turned into Dreamers Point (behind Spaceship Earth) so be aware you will encounter some construction upon your visit. But don’t worry, it’s primarily just in the front of the park and you have a whole world to explore within Epcot gates. Literally! 

Eat everything, see everything, and enjoy the sites and sounds of all the amazing cultures Epcot brings into one place.