Each of the Disney World parks has so much to offer with the variety of rides, shows, and activities available, and EPCOT is no exception. In fact, out of the four theme parks, EPCOT has arguably the most interesting assortment of experiences to choose from. In addition to the attractions located throughout the park, there are so many areas to explore, and there are typically over a dozen entertainment options running too.
Unfortunately, this means that you likely will not be able to experience everything within the park during your trip, and you’ll have to decide which offerings are most important to you. Even removing performances and extra activities from your list, you still may not be able to get on every ride while you’re there. We'll break down the rides you can skip during your next EPCOT visit!
In this article:
Deciding Which Rides to Skip
It may be disappointing knowing that you will not be able to ride everything at EPCOT, and it may also be challenging trying to choose which attractions you will have to skip. Fortunately, most attractions have at least one aspect that not everyone in your party will enjoy, so make sure to consider all the features of each ride when deciding which ones to pass on.
The main features you should consider when choosing which EPCOT rides to skip are the intensity of the attraction, the length of the attraction, and the theme of the attraction. Each of these factors will be more or less important to different people in your group, and if the majority can agree on what they do or don’t like, that will make the elimination process easier.
How Will the Ride Features Affect Me?
The most important feature to think about is the ride's intensity. Everyone has their own unique tolerance levels, and each attraction operates at a different pace. Do you enjoy fast-paced rides that spin and throw you around or rollercoasters that take you high into the air before dropping you down? You may want to skip some of the slow-moving dark rides to make time for the thrills. Do you get motion sickness easily? In that case, you may want to skip the high-intensity rides in favor of calmer ones.
The second factor to consider is the length of the attraction. There are so many great options in the park, but some of the ride times exceed 30 minutes in addition to waiting in line beforehand. If you are in a time crunch, you will want to bypass those much longer rides.
The third ride feature is the theming. Some attractions have a much higher-energy storyline, while others are less exciting and more educational. And if you have kids coming with you to the park, you'll want to consider which rides they will enjoy and that will be most age-appropriate for them.
Read on to learn about the attractions to pass on and which ones you shouldn’t miss!
The American Adventure
Unless you or someone in your group has a fascination with American history, The American Adventure is a good attraction to pass on. It is another spot that provides “edutainment” with its exploration of different time periods throughout United States history, which will not be your cup of tea if you are a thrill-seeker.
The American Adventure is located at the very back of the park—far from the majority of the other rides—so unless you are making your way around World Showcase, it is out of the way and will take a lot of time to walk to. It is also one of the longest attractions in the park, sitting at just over a half hour in length. If you are trying to pack as many rides as possible into your day, this one is a time-eater.
The audio animatronics of famous historical figures are cool to experience, and the air-conditioned theater provides a nice break from the heat, but if you only have a short time to spend in EPCOT, The American Adventure is definitely an attraction to consider skipping.
Mission: SPACE
The objective of Mission: SPACE is to pilot your own spaceship and learn firsthand what it’s like to be an astronaut. While the theming is fun and interactive, especially for those with an interest in space, this ride is also considered a thrill ride. If you get claustrophobic or experience motion sickness in any capacity, Mission: SPACE is definitely a ride to avoid.
There are two different versions of the attraction, the Green side and the Orange side. The ride vehicle for both versions is very small, and once the experience starts, areas of the vehicle close in even further for the duration of the attraction. If anyone in your group has a fear of tight, dark spaces, they will likely not handle Mission: SPACE well.
The biggest difference between the Orange and Green versions of the ride is that the Orange experience is much more intense. The ride vehicles move very aggressively and even spin in a fast circle at some points, which can make even the most strong-stomached riders feel nauseated. And while the Green version does not spin or move as quickly, it can still be too much for younger or older riders to handle. If your group prefers well-lit, slower-paced rides, Mission: SPACE is definitely one to skip.
Living with the Land
On the other side of the spectrum, if you are a thrill-seeker and enjoy fast, wild attractions, Living with the Land is a ride you will want to skip in favor of others. Living with the Land is a slow-moving boat trip that gives riders a behind-the-scenes look at where the food served in EPCOT's restaurants comes from. It also shows off some of the new innovations in farming technology Disney World uses to produce large amounts of high-quality food.
While the ride is a great “edutainment” opportunity (education and entertainment combined), it will likely be very boring if you enjoy attractions that have a high intensity level. Plus, it’s not based on any Disney movies and does not have its own unique theme, so it’s not very attention-grabbing either. If a laid-back, quiet attraction is not something that interests you, Living with the Land is an easy option to pass on.
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
Another slow-moving boat ride that can be skipped at EPCOT is the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros. This ride is located in the Mexico Pavilion in World Showcase and is one of only a few attractions in that area of the park. It stars Panchito Pistoles and José Carioca, two of the Three Caballeros, chasing after the third member of the group, Donald Duck.
While some of the scenery throughout the attraction is pretty, most of the action takes place on video screens rather than through audio animatronics. That aspect, combined with the fact that there isn’t much of a story to keep you entertained, makes the ride feel very lackluster. If you are visiting the park with kids, it is a cute attraction that they’ll enjoy while taking a break from the heat. Otherwise, it can be skipped in favor of more exciting rides!
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
The final ride to skip at EPCOT is The Seas with Nemo and Friends. This dark ride takes you through a variety of scenes featuring the characters from Finding Nemo. If you have kids in your group, they may enjoy it because it combines Nemo, Dory, and the rest of the movie characters with live fish in the aquarium located inside the building.
While the attraction is relatively short, it just isn’t that exciting when compared to other rides in the park. It can sometimes have a line up to 30 minutes or more if the park is extra crowded as well, which is not worth spending time in if there are other things you’d rather be doing. Save those 30 minutes for a ride or performance you’re really going to enjoy!
The Seas with Nemo and Friends is not the only attraction that has long wait times. Learn more about some more of the longest unexpected lines at Disney World!
Best Rides at Epcot You Can't Skip
Now that we’ve discussed the rides you can afford to skip during your EPCOT trip, here are a few of the all-around best attractions in the park that you and your party should definitely experience.
Spaceship Earth
One ride that should absolutely not be skipped during your day at EPCOT is Spaceship Earth. Located inside the big silver globe at the front of the park, this attraction tells the story of where human communication started and where it will continue to go in the future. This attraction is one that is great for all ages for several reasons!
Between the beautiful design of the ride, the interesting theming and storyline, and the experience of traveling up through the famous sphere to the top as the ride progresses, there is something for everyone to enjoy. It moves slowly as it travels past all the different audio animatronics, so it's a great option if you have little ones with you or are not a fan of intense rides. There are things to see on both sides of the track, so you'll also be able to catch all the small details.
However, the most fun part of the attraction happens as you're traveling back down to ground level. There are screens in the ride vehicles that allow you to “create your own future.” A photo is snapped of you at the very beginning of the attraction, and at the end, you get to decide how you want your future to go by choosing between different options. Then, a video plays that puts all that information together and shows you (with your photo!) what your future can look like.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Another can't-miss EPCOT attraction is Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, found in the France Pavilion in World Showcase. This 4D ride shrinks you down to Remy's size and takes you on an adventure through Gusteau's restaurant. It is a trackless ride, meaning that you travel through the ride in a smoother manner than other dark rides balanced on a track.
Having no track also means that Remy's Ratatouille Adventure can twist, turn, and move at increased speeds and without warning. Because of this aspect, the ride is definitely more middle-of-the-road in terms of intensity. It's not a high-speed thrill ride, but it's also not a slow-moving dark ride.
The main factor to consider before deciding to ride Remy's Ratatouille Adventure is whether you or anyone in your group experiences motion sickness. Most of the attraction uses screens to show the action happening on either side of your vehicle, so that combined with the movement of the ride vehicle may be tough to handle if you are easily nauseated. Otherwise, this attraction is a great one to experience during your park day.
Soarin’ Around the World
If you enjoy the intensity of a thrill ride but don't like being tossed around or speeding up and down hills, Soarin' Around the World is a perfect option. On Soarin', you are lifted up into the air and flown past some of the world's most beautiful places and well-known landmarks. It still gives you that rush of a rollercoaster but without the bumpy movement and twists and turns.
Keep in mind that if you have an aversion to heights, you may not handle this ride well. The seats are lifted very high into the air to begin with, and the footage you're watching as you fly makes you feel as though you are hundreds of feet up. Because you are watching a large video screen and experience the swooping and sailing sensations of the hang glider vehicle as the ride progresses, there is also the potential for motion sickness to occur. However, if you can handle both those features, you will love riding Soarin' Around the World during your trip to EPCOT.
To learn the most up to date information about the park's rides and other experiences, be sure to read our 2023 guide to what's changed at EPCOT. Let us know in the comments which EPCOT rides you skip and which ones you never miss!
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Three Caballeros ride was a hit with my kids and my niece and nephew.
Ages, 7, 7, 5, 4.
Telling people to skip The American Adventure makes me lose respect for you as a quote “Disney Expert” .
You are not a true Disney Fan if you think someone should skip The American Adventure. This is a Classic Disney Epcot attraction that should not be missed and the main reason aside from Spaceship Earth , another
animatronic marvel, that I go to Epcot.
It not only showcases American history which people should be proud of and interested in, it also one of the last attractions that features awesome Disney animatronics which is the foundation and lure of the original Disneyland.
I for one am tired of the cheap projection updates and and new thrill rides some of which I have no desire to go on. Also many people cannot even go on these rides and is against Walt’s original intentions.
I go to Disneyland and Disney World to marvel at the Disney Animatronics not Magic Mountain roller coaster type thrill rides. If you want thrill rides go to the many thrill ride based theme parks. I will gladly enjoy shorter lines for true original Disney attractions. That is what I pay the much higher admission price for.
TS, I completely agree! The American Adventure is a magnificent presentation that still wows me with each show.
Any ride or attraction can be skippable depending on the person. I believe this article would have been more informative by just going through all of them and list why it should be skipped and then why it shouldn’t. Those who skip Nemo will also be likely to skip Figment, which is amazingly absent from this list. Another thing that stands out is the fact that we are advised to skip American Adventure, but the Panoramic movies of Canada and China (which are far less exciting) are again, surprisingly, not included.
American Adventure is the penultimate experience of what Walt wanted,
Bull.