Next to Magic Kingdom, Epcot is my next favorite park. I really enjoy traveling the countries in World Showcase. The variety of food, drink and souvenirs is different in each world (minus the Disney branded items). It seems like Epcot has a festival going all the time. Festival of the Arts from January to March, Flower and Garden from March to July, Food and Wine from July to November and then the special events for Christmas. There are usually a couple short breaks between festivals; usually only about a week. You can find a complete list of Epcot festival dates here.
If you arrive via bus or car then you will need to stop at security on your way into the park. If possible, I like to take the Monorail to Epcot. You will go through security before boarding the Monorail so when you arrive at Epcot you can go straight to the turnstiles. There is usually a specified line for Annual Passholders which will get you through a little quicker. It's usually one of the ones on the far left but just look for the sign. Here's a great tip, everyone in your party doesn't need to be an Annual Passholder to use the line. As long as the first person in your party is an AP member, your whole party can go through.
When the park opens, we usually go straight to Soarin’ as it will have a minimal line. However, if you’re planning on doing Test Track, that should be your priority as it can get backed up very fast. Both rides have Lightning Lane passes but Test Track will usually sell out before Soarin'. Test Track also shows up on the Individual Lightning Lane list occasionally.
If you need a caffeine fix first, Starbucks is located is in the Connections Café on your way to Test Track. If you haven't been to Epcot since they started their major overhaul, Connections Café is where the old Electric Umbrella was across from the old Mouse Gears.
Did you know there is a walkway connecting Test Track to the Mexico pavilion? The walkway branches off next to Test Track and takes you past the Odyssey Building. This multi-purpose building has a consession stand which is usually open during very busy periods and some festivals. It also houses a set of rest rooms and the first aid station. The end of the path comes out next to the Mexico pavilion which makes it easy to pass up the crowds on the main walkway.
In the Norway pavilion behind the Kringla Bakeri Og Kafi there is a set of restrooms that are usually not busy. It’s tucked away so well that most people pass it up.
If you need a little break, inside the Reflections of China building there are some benches and air conditioning. Have a seat, let your feet rest and enjoy the cool air!
Between Germany and Italy is a fun feature many people just walk past. There is a wonderful outdoor train layout that is always running and is artfully done with many scenes. These scenes will sometimes be connected to whatever festival is currently happening in the park.
Half way around the World Showcase is the American pavilion. If you need a rest, to the right side there are usually some picnic tables and benches. The American Garden Theatre is also located here and hosts the many different musical entertainers that frequent the park during the festivals.
Inside the Mitsukoshi Department Store in the Japan pavilion is a Pick-a-Pearl location. The experience is pure entertainment! The ladies that work the booth are very enthusiastic and encourage you to participate the ceremony. (By enthusiastic I mean they are a blast to watch. They are so energetic and even have a little song they do before cracking open your oyster.) Even if you don’t purchase a pearl, it is rather interesting to watch. There is a cost for doing the Pick-a-Pearl, approximately $15.99 plus tax (as of 2020). Note that this is currently unavailable as the Japanese hosts have not returned since COVID.
There is a boat dock between the France and Morocco pavilions that is a relatively easy way to get back to the beginning of World Showcase. The boats do not run during the fireworks so it’s best to check out the sign by the dock for their working hours.
I usually do Space Ship Earth at the end of my day. Since it is directly in the path when entering the park, most people stop here first thing in the morning leading to long lines. It's also just a relaxing, classic, omni-mover that is a great way to end the day.
Epcot’s new night time show, Harmonious, is shown in World Showcase Lagoon. Due to its popularity many people start snagging viewing spots along the railing around the lagoon sometimes up to 2 hours before the show. There are a couple of small patio areas around the lagoon, one in Italy and one on the bridge between France and England, they do not have seating but do have good views.
Hydration: Epcot is HUGE! Walking in a straight line, it is 1 mile from the entrance to the beginning of World Showcase and then another1.3 miles around the showcase itself. It probably seems silly for me to tell you to drink water but you really need to. Even in the winter the sun will still get to you and during the summer the humidity makes it much worse.
Time for the kids to run off some energy? There are a couple of play areas in Epcot. The first one is small but gets the job done. This one is behind the Connections Shop facing Test Track. The other is in the SeaBase which is by the gift shop at the The Seas with Nemo and Friends. Themed to the characters from Nemo it’s a cool spot to catch your breath and let the kids have fun. Fun fact: the original name for The Seas was "SeaBase" and was set up like an underwater research station. When Nemo moved in, Disney changed the the name of the pavillion but kept the SeaBase name for the kids activity area inside.
Exit: If you’re riding the Monorail, bus or in your own car, then you need to exit the park at the main entrance. If you’re riding the Skyliner, use the exit at the International Gateway (between England and France). This is also the entrance and exit if you are staying in the Beach Club Resort/Villas, Boardwalk Resort/Villas, or the Swan and Dolphin.
A little trick: if we are visiting that side of World Showcase at the time we leave, we go out the International Gateway and walk to the Beach Club Resort and get a taxi. It is an extra cost, but sometimes you just don’t want to wait in line for Disney transportation (it's also a lot less of a walk).
We usually spend at least two days in Epcot every time we visit, not counting the times we stop in just to eat in World Showcase. Hopefully some of these hard learned tips will help you get the most out of however long you have in the park. Let me know if you have any great Epcot tips of your own.