How Big Is Epcot – Assessing Epcot’s HUGE Size
We all know that the parks at Disney World are large, especially Epcot. But how big is Epcot—both in terms of miles or acres—as well as compared to other Disney theme parks? Well, let’s find out!
How Big Is Epcot in Acres?
So, is Epcot the biggest Disney park in Orlando? Well, no, it’s not—but it is the second biggest! In fact, Epcot is about 310 acres in size and is second only to Animal Kingdom when it comes to size. You may have assumed that the Magic Kingdom was the biggest Disney theme park, but no, both Epcot and Animal Kingdom have it beat!
EPCOT is comprised of two areas: Future World and World Showcase. Within Future World, you will find three areas: World Nature, World Discovery, and World Celebration. In World Showcase, there are 11 countries to tour, including Mexico, Canada, Morocco, and more. Future World is around 200 acres with World Showcase just over 110 acres.
In Future World, you will find ride favorites like Soarin’, Test Track, and Spaceship Earth. World Showcase has a variety of shows, circle-theater movies, and rides like Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
How Long Does It Takes to Walk Through Epcot?
Well, Epcot’s World Showcase is around 1.2 miles and is shaped like a circle, which will take you about 20 to 25 minutes to walk if you aren’t stopping. But, that estimate is very conservative. There are many people walking alongside you, and it can actually take longer when trying to navigate through crowds. At peak park times, I would expect it to take you about 45 minutes to fully walk through World Showcase in a crowded day, and about an hour and a half to walk through the entirety of the Epcot theme park on a busy day.
There are two entrances to World Showcase. The first is from Future World, where you can choose to walk to either Mexico or Canada. (Pro tip: Mexico is better.) The other is at the International Gateway by the Skyliner, which lets you either walk towards the France or United Kingdom pavilions.
Future World is larger, but it feels more direct as there are multiple pathways throughout instead of having to navigate through a circle. So instead of having to follow a path, you can cut through the middle of the park, which makes the walk feel quicker than anticipated. But, with the current construction, anticipate longer than normal walk times.
Expect to be walking for a lot of your day, whether in World Showcase or Future World. Bring your good shoes! There is also little shade in either area, so make sure you wear appropriate clothing, bring water, and a cooling towel or hat. Also, consider bringing an umbrella or poncho as well. There are few covered spots beyond gift shops, which can be full when it starts to rain.
At this time, there are two transportation options at the park: your own two feet and the World Showcase Lagoon boats. The boats take you from the entrance of the Showcase Plaza to the other end of the lagoon near the American Adventure pavilion. To get to the park, you can take a car, boat, Skyliner, or monorail depending on where you’re coming from.
How Many Rides Are at EPCOT?
Right now, there are 11 rides at the park. It is actually the third least as far as rides go, only surpassing Animal Kingdom by two rides. Magic Kingdom has the most rides, followed by Hollywood Studios. That can be kind of a letdown if you are a fan of rides. If you want your vacation to comprise of riding roller coasters and dark rides, you’ll want to consider visiting another park.
But, the park also has some of the newest rides, including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. So if you’re focusing on hopping on rides you have not been on before, there are two reasons to visit this park.
How Tall Is the Epcot Ball?
You may know that inside the Epcot ball rests an attraction called Spaceship Earth. But, do you know how tall the Epcot ball really is? Well, this geodesic sphere stands tall as the symbol of the park at 18 stories (or 180 feet) high.
Fastest Ride at Epcot
The longest length AND fastest ride at EPCOT is Test Track, a zippy car simulation that lets you build your own vehicle and then put it to the ‘test’. First, you perform brake, swerve, and weather tests. Then, it takes you to the speed test, where your car ramps up to 60 miles per hour.
Longest Wait Times at Epcot
Ironically, this crown goes to Test Track again. For as fast as this attraction is, the queue can surely take a long time. The average wait time is over an hour, and Genie+ bookings go quickly as well. But, if you’re looking to try an increase your wait time, try going through the single rider line.
Longest Show at Epcot
The winner here is American Adventure.At almost 30 minutes long, this show is a summarized story about the United States, its people, and its history. You can find it at the American pavilion in the middle of the World Showcase loop. We wouldn’t consider this show a must-do, but it is a nice homage to the USA and a way to get out of the sun.
Visiting EPCOT
Visiting any Disney World park requires some planning, especially when going to the second-largest park on the property. It is also incredibly popular, with over 12 million people visiting every year.
If coming in by bus, car, or monorail, your day will start at the park’s entrance. Once you pass through the turnstiles, you are instantly in Future World and in front of Spaceship Earth. If rides are your go-to, go to World Discovery to hop on the most popular attractions, including Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Test Track. If coffee is your thing, head to Connections Cafe and enjoy a Starbucks coffee.
If arriving by boat or Skyliner, you will enter through the International Gateway. If you need to immediately hop on an attraction, Soarin’ is a popular ride that is on the left side of the park. You can also hop onto Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure easily. Otherwise, for a specialty coffee and pastry, Les Halles at the France pavilion is a great first choice.
Many shops and pavilions in World Showcase do not open until 11 a.m., so we recommend conquering the rides at Future World first before heading into the second half. There are two exceptions to this rule: 1) If you book Genie+ for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure or Frozen Ever After, or 2) having breakfast at Les Halles in the France Pavilion.
Ride queues at EPCOT fill up quickly, especially for popular attractions. So, we recommend heading to those first and then focusing on smaller rides like Imagination with Figment or The Seas with Nemo & Friends.
Once you have your fill of rides, it’s time to eat. Thankfully, EPCOT has the most options available at any Disney World park. Depending on the time of year, you can choose between over 50 restaurants and booths. From the adventurous to the classic, there are choices for everyone in your group.
You can choose between table service, quick service, or food booths at EPCOT. The newest and largest restaurant is Space 220, which seats over 350 people. Reservations are hard to come by, but it is worth the wait. We find that sitting in the lounge is easier than trying to book a table.
The park also has festivals going on throughout the year, including the International Festival of the Arts, the International Food & Wine Festival, and the Flower and Garden Festival. Each comes with its own experiences, concerts, and food booths. There is plenty to see and do throughout the day!
You can also get your shopping done at some of the largest gift shops at Disney World. Tour through The Yong Feng Shangdian in the China pavilion. Our favorite is the Mitsukoshi Department Store, which has plenty of pop culture souvenirs from Japan, including anime merchandise, unique snacks, and kimonos.
In the evening, pick out a spot to watch the nighttime spectacular. The firework and light show is situated around World Showcase Lagoon, which is a 38-acre lake. As of 2022, EPCOT is experiencing a transition between its shows. The most recent was Harmonious, which was one of the largest night shows at Disney World.
Wrapping It All Up
Simply answering the question of how big is Epcot is really just scratching the surface with this awesome theme park. Sure, the park is huge and you’ll end up doing a lot of walking, but there’s so many unique rides, restaurants and fun world culture here to experience. It’s definitely worth a visit.
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