Disney Epcot Tips: What to do First When Arrive

When you visit the Disney Epcot park during your stay, make sure you arrive early and do these things first as soon as you arrive.

This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you click and purchase something. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

Epcot at Walt Disney World is currently going through a serious transformation. I am so excited about what’s to come and I love the new designations they have given each area of the park to support an overarching theme. Epcot has always been so unique and compelling, but after 35 years it has become a bit stagnant. The new overhaul should revitalize the year-round elements far beyond what the seasonal festivals have done in recent years. Even though there is construction, there is still a ton to do if you don’t mind the pixie dust. When you visit the Disney Epcot park during your stay, do these things first as soon as you arrive and step foot inside the park.

Pick Up a Map, Schedule, Passport

Nowhere is it more important to pick up these materials than at the Disney Epcot park. Every time you enter a Disney park you should grab a map and a schedule of shows which you can easily reference throughout the day as you make important decisions. At Epcot, there is an added booklet which you can pick up during festivals which take place during most of the year. The passports contain information about the festival food and where to go for certain dishes. They also come with stickers to place on the food kiosks you visit and that makes it an awesome free souvenir.

Test Track

When you arrive early (at park opening), the first ride you go on is likely to have a short line. That’s why you should definitely not schedule Fastpasses too early in the day. Test Track is a Fastpass attraction and you can ride it later. However, there is a benefit to waiting in the standby line. There is a portion of the queue dedicated to designing your car. If you use Fastpass for the attraction, you miss this section. The “test” part of the ride is so much better when you can see how your design ranks.

Breakfast at Garden Grill

On the other side of Future World, a.k.a. World Nature, is a character breakfast in the Land Pavilion. This is a hearty, traditional, family-style breakfast that’s all-you-care-to-enjoy. It’s the best restaurant for meeting Mickey and his pals and you can even get reservations to enjoy your meal before the park officially opens. It’s a good way to get in early and fuel up for the day while meeting some popular characters you would have to wait in line for.

Get a Head Start on the World Showcase

The World Showcase doesn’t open until 11:00, but there are some places you can still go before then. For starters, Frozen Everafter at the Norway pavilion opens at 9:00 with Future World. Akershus, another character dining restaurant opens early as well. This is another breakfast location you can actually eat at before Epcot opens. On the other side of the World Showcase, the France Pavilion also takes early guests at Les Halles, the boulangerie and patisserie in the back of the pavilion.

Discover the Festival Welcome Center

There is almost always a festival in season at Epcot, from the arts to the Holidays, the Disney Epcot park has a major event 10 months out of the year. If you visit during this time, do yourself a favor upon arrival and drop in at the festival center. There are all kinds of seminars, workshops, and demos to discover, as well as merchandise, food, and beverage. It’s the best way to kick off your festival experience and you may find some things to do you didn’t know about.