2 NEW Unspoken Rules for EPCOT

Welcome to 2024 — the future is here! The EPCOT transformation is finally over, and most of the construction walls have officially come down.

As a result, we have several new attractions, including the most recent: Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana, a few new buildings, and more. But does that change how you now navigate EPCOT and plan for the park? Well, let’s discuss this with the NEW unspoken rules to follow in EPCOT.

Don’t rope drop from the front entrance

Rope drop can be so important if you want to ride one of EPCOT’s most popular rides. Before this year, the general rule of thumb was to rope drop EPCOT’s front entrance and head straight to Test Track. However, Test Track is currently closed for an update, and there’s no need to rope drop it right now.

Instead, if you still want to rope drop, enter EPCOT through the International Gateway entrance and rope drop Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in France or Frozen Ever After in Norway.

Don’t go out of your way to visit CommuniCore Hall and Plaza

So CommuniCore Hall and Plaza are the NEWEST additions to EPCOT, but you shouldn’t go out of your way to visit the area. Sure, if you happen to be walking by, pop in and check it out. But it’s just not worth planning your whole day around.

Of course, this could change during festivals. Disney has previously said these would be festival spaces, so we’ll have to see if these spaces get more interesting during the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. However, this IS where you can meet Mickey and friends at EPCOT, so if that’s a priority, you may want to head on over.

Mickey and Mickey & Friends meet and greet

These aren’t the only unspoken rules in EPCOT, though. We’ve got some that have been unspoken rules for a while, too, to share.

Skip Mission Space: Orange

Yes, we know thrill seekers are going to want to ride Mission Space: Orange just for the bragging rights of having survived an experience on a centrifuge that usually only astronauts have access to. However, this ride makes a LOT of people sick, so you’ll have to ask yourself if you want to risk losing the rest of your day in EPCOT because you made the bad choice to ride this attraction.

If you want a similar experience that’s less nausea-inducing, you can, however, check out Mission Space: Green, which is the tamer version of the ride (it doesn’t spin like the Orange does).

Don’t overdo it with food and drinks

Drinking around the world is a thing, but you should know your limits. You don’t want to be that person puking in the bushes at EPCOT (and, yes, it happens). Pace yourself and be sure to eat while you’re drinking.

Pace yourself when eating and drinking around the world

With that being said, you’ll also want to pace yourself as you eat around the world, especially when there’s a festival. You’ll have so many food choices, and if you don’t go in with a list of what your priority foods are, you might end up getting overwhelmed, eating too much, or more.

Get familiar with transportation options

Depending on where you’re coming from, you’ll want to know all your options to get to EPCOT. Most hotels will offer some bus transportation, while others have direct access to the Skyliner, which goes to EPCOT.

Disney Skyliner at International Gateway Station at EPCOT

There’s also a Monorail that goes to EPCOT, but make sure you understand that you’ll have to switch trains at the Transportation and Ticket Center if you’re coming from a Monorail resort or Magic Kingdom. You can also get a boat to EPCOT from the EPCOT area resorts, although EPCOT is close enough to walk to from those hotels.

Take advantage of Advance Dining Reservations

If you have a table service restaurant at EPCOT that you really want to dine at, you’ll want to make sure you make an advance dining reservation ahead of your trip to guarantee a seat at that restaurant.

You can make dining reservations 60 days before the first day of your trip on the Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app. If you don’t get the restaurant you want, keep trying — reservations could open up before your trip. If all else fails, check the Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist and see if there’s any availability there.

Don’t rely on Mobile Order

This is where our advice differs from other parks. Normally, we would tell you to use Mobile Order as often as you can. However, we’re telling you NOT to rely on Mobile Order in EPCOT because very few quick-service locations actually have it.

Mobile Order pickup at Regal Eagle in EPCOT

Now, there are some locations that DO offer Mobile Order, and you’ll want to use it when you can, but you’ll find that most quick service locations in EPCOT don’t have it as an option.

We hope this helps you in planning your next day in EPCOT, and we’ll be back soon with even more tips and tricks to make your Disney World trip the best ever. So check back with AllEars soon.