EPCOT for Toddlers & Young Kids: The Complete Guide- 2023

Is EPCOT good for toddlers and young kids? Yes! Absolutely! EPCOT has a reputation of being a “grown-up” park, but it really is a great park for the WHOLE family and for ALL ages!

Having been to EPCOT close to 10 or so different times since my oldest was a baby, I know everything there is to know about taking young kids to EPCOT.

All three of my kids have been there as babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary schoolers and we ALWAYS have SO much fun!

Plan to spend the whole day at EPCOT, because it is packed full of fun things to do! In this guide, I will help you plan everything you need to know about taking your toddler and young kids to EPCOT!

Map of EPCOT

EPCOT is divided into 4 areas: World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and World Showcase. Download the My Disney Experience App or click here for a more detailed version of the map.

I am going to break down the best things to do in EPCOT for toddlers and young kids by each area.

World Celebration: Best Rides & Activities in EPCOT for Toddlers & Young Kids

Upon entering the main entrance of the park, you will enter the World Celebration area. Stroller rentals are on the left after entering the park. You will see EPCOT’s giant sphere here, the symbol of the park.

Spaceship Earth

Spaceship Earth is located in the giant EPCOT sphere. It’s a slow, gentle ride perfect for any age. You will travel back in time and into the future.

Journey Into Imagination with Figment

Journey Into Imagination with Figment is such a fun, cute ride at EPCOT for toddlers and young kids. This classic, EPCOT ride takes you through a tour of the Imagination Institute. You will explore the five senses: touch, taste, sight, smell, and sound with Disney’s favorite purple dragon, Figment!

Your toddler and young kids will love the bright, flashing colors and catchy tune. After the ride is over, you can explore the imagination area. This area is so much fun for toddlers and young kids. Wave your hands and play some music at Figments Melody Maker. Jump from block to block on the fun interactive ground.

There are usually character greetings in this building also!

Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival

The Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival is located in the Imagination building next to “Figment.” All kids love cartoons! Enjoy a few short Disney and Pixar films here.

This is a perfect spot to sit down and relax in EPCOT on a HOT day!

Club Cool

Take a walk in Club Cool and sample Coca-Cola products from around the world. This is such a fun activity for kids and the whole family. Try, Beverly, it’s great! 🤣 I’m just kidding! Give it a try though, just to taste how BAD it is!

JaMMitors

The JaMMitors are musical “janitors.” They are so much fun to watch. Their instruments include trash cans, brooms, and tin cans. Your toddler and kids will love watching these entertaining drummers!

Check out the “My Disney Experience App” or Park Times Guide for showtimes.

Character Meet and Greets

Mickey & Pals– At random times throughout the day, you might catch Mickey and some of his pals near the main entrance of the park.

Mickey Mouse– Mickey Mouse can be found at the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival building.

**If you are a Disney Visa Cardmember, you can enter a private location reserved just for Cardmembers to meet characters. (Located near the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival Building.)

World Discovery: Best Rides and Activities in EPCOT for Toddlers & Young Kids

The World Discovery area has two thrill rides plus a few play areas for your littlest ones! Here are the best things to do at World Discovery in EPCOT for toddlers and young kids.

Mission: Space

Experience what it is like to be an astronaut on Mission: Space! There are 2 different ways to experience this ride. One is the intense Orange Mission, which has a height requirement of 44 inches. The other is the “family-friendly” Green Mission.

The Green Mission is a gentle version of the ride. The only requirement is your child must be at least 40 inches tall.

PRO-TIP: Although the Green Mission is gentle and family-friendly, if you are claustrophobic, do NOT get on this ride! Trust me! I had a full-blown panic attack on this ride and I will never ride this again.

Test Track

I think Test Track is the best ride at EPCOT. Here your family will design a virtual car.

After you’re done designing, you will take it for a spin on the test track. This ride has some bumps and sharp turns. The intense part is at the very end when your car will accelerate quickly.

The height requirement for this ride is 40 inches. Although this is a thrill ride, I think it’s perfectly okay for the youngest kids, as long as they are 40 inches. All my kids rode this at a young age and they all loved it! I am a baby when it comes to thrill rides and I think this one is fairly easy.

Playgrounds & Splash Pad

While you or your older kids are riding Mission Space or Test Track, take your toddler and young kids to the fun playgrounds or splash pad nearby! Make sure to take advantage of rider swap, if the grown-up staying back with the little one would like to ride, so you don’t have to wait in line again!

Outdoor Playground: This outdoor playground is located near Test Track and the walkway going towards the World Showcase. It’s a great playground at EPCOT for your toddler and young kids to play on and explore. There are plenty of chairs for you to sit on and relax while the kids play.

Mission: Space Play Area: There’s also a play area located at the exit to Mission: Space. You can enter through the gift shop and it’s in that building. It’s one of those play areas you see in Chick-fil-A or Chuck-E-Cheese, where your child can crawl through tubes.

For the little older kids here, there are fun space-themed digital games!

Splash Pad: On a hot Florida day, the splash pad is the perfect place in EPCOT for toddlers and kids to cool down! This is located right outside the entrance to Test Track.

World Nature: Best Rides and Activities in EPCOT for Toddlers & Young Kids

The World Nature area is my favorite area in EPCOT for toddlers and young kids. I recommend stopping here first before anywhere else!

The Seas with Nemo & Friends

The Seas with Nemo & Friends is an amazing ride at EPCOT for toddlers and kids of all ages! Make sure to get your picture at the entrance and enjoy listening to “mine, mine, mine.” (If you have seen the movie, Finding Nemo, you know what I’m talking about!)

The Seas with Nemo & Friends is a slow, ride on a clamobile. The ride takes you through the journey of Finding Nemo. Your kids will enjoy seeing the familiar faces and hearing the familiar voices of Dory, Marlin, Bruce the Shark, Crush, and of course Nemo!

My favorite part of the ride is at the end. Hearing the song, “In the Big Blue World” and seeing the animated characters in the real aquarium is SO cool!

Explore the Aquarium

Once you finish your journey on The Seas With Nemo & Friends you will arrive at the Aquarium. This is a massive 5.7 million-gallon saltwater aquarium worthy of exploring! Here you find clownfish, sharks, and many other underwater creatures!

Make sure to grab the complimentary scavenger hunt booklet at the exit to The Seas with Nemo & Friends ride. This is a fun and educational activity for your kids to do while they explore the aquarium.

Your toddler and young kids will love jumping in Bruce the Shark to get their picture!

Turtle Talk with Crush

Turtle Talk with Crush is such an awesome, unique interactive show for kids. Kids are allowed to sit in the front and ask Crush questions. Your kids will enjoy seeing Crush and will be amazed that he is talking to the audience!

Soarin’ Around the World

Soarin’ Around the World is one of the best rides at EPCOT. This ride makes you feel like you are hang-gliding. You will glide over famous landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, The Great Wall of China, and the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

You must be 40 inches tall to ride. This is one of my top two favorite rides at EPCOT. It’s a gentle ride, great for the whole family.

Living with the Land

Living with the Land is a gentle boat ride that educates you and takes you through Disney’s greenhouses. A lot of what is served at Disney is grown right here!

This is a great ride to do with your toddler, while the other half of your family is riding Soarin’. And then ride it again, when the rest of the family is done with Soarin’.

Best Dining Options at World Nature for Toddlers and Young Kids

Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Harvest Feast at Garden Grill Restaurant

Garden Grill Restaurant is one of two character dinings in EPCOT. It is located in the same building as Soarin’ and Living with the Land. They are open for lunch and dinner.

Your toddler will love meeting Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale here! The food here is served family-style and is all-you-can-eat!

What’s so cool about the Garden Grill Restaurant is that it slowly rotates! You will see scenes from Living with the Land as it rotates.

Sunshine Seasons

Sunshine Seasons is a quick-service restaurant located in the Soarin and Living with the Land building. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Coral Reef Restaurant

Your toddler, young kids, and the whole family will enjoy the underwater view at Coral Reef Restaurant. Dine and be entertained by all the fish in the aquarium!

World Showcase: Best Rides and Activities in EPCOT for Toddlers & Young Kids

I absolutely love the World Showcase! I love traveling and learning about other cultures so this is my favorite area in all of EPCOT.

Here you will immerse yourself in 11 different countries by shopping, dining, and being entertained. Your youngest ones will enjoy all the character meet and greets here, the toddlers and kid-friendly rides, and the Kidcot Fun Stops!

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

Located in the Mexican Pavilion, The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros is a cute, fun ride at EPCOT for toddlers and young kids. It’s a slow boat ride that takes you on a tour of Mexico. The bright, festive Mexican decorations along with the upbeat music, including Donald Duck, make this a perfect ride for your toddler.

TIP: While in the Mexican Pavilion enjoy shopping in the beautiful indoor market here. Try on some sombreros and admire all the handcrafted Mexican goods.

Frozen Ever After

Frozen Ever After, located in the Norway Pavillion is a must-ride for your Frozen fan!

It’s a slow, boat ride through the town of Arendelle. The ride is dark and at one point it does move backward with a short, little drop. Your toddler and youngest kids probably won’t even notice this little drop. They will be in awe at the mesmerizing lights and their favorite characters Olaf, Anna, and Elsa.

It’s so much fun to hear Olaf singing “Do you want to build a snowman?” and Elsa singing “Let it Go.”

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is EPCOT’s newest ride located in the France Pavillion. This is a family ride that your toddler and the rest of the family will enjoy no matter the age. You will hop aboard a rat-shaped vehicle and go on a crazy adventure through Gusteau’s restaurant.

Similar to Disney’s other new ride in Hollywood Studio, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, uses a trackless system. No track means you have no idea which way this ride will go, making it so much more fun!

Kidcot Fun Stops

I absolutely love the Kidcot Fun Stops at EPCOT for toddlers and kids! This is a great way to have your toddler and young kids experience the World Showcase. Each of the 11 pavilions offers a “stop.”

EPCOT changes the activities they offer from time to time. Currently, your kid will pick up a memorable momento with facts and activities of each country listed.

Miniature Train Village

The Miniature Train Village, located at the Germany Pavillion is a must-stop for your train-loving kid. This train village is modeled to look like an old Bavarian village.

Chinese Acrobats

The Chinese Acrobats perform in front of the China Pavillion. These talented performers are so entertaining to watch. Your kids will love watching them flip and twist in the air!

Reflections of China Film

The Reflections of China Film located in the China Pavillion is an amazing 12-minute 360-degree film for all ages. China is an absolutely beautiful and amazing country, which is showcased through this film.

There’s a special place in my heart for the country of China and its people. Having taught online ESL to kids in China for years, I just love everything about this country!

My oldest has always loved China and its culture and this is his favorite pavilion in the World Showcase.

Drums at the African Outpost

The African Outpost is located between the China and Germany Pavillion. Playing on the drums here is a favorite activity at EPCOT for toddlers and kids. My kids always love to stop here and beat on the drums.

Nighttime Spectacular Fireworks Show

The Nighttime Spectacular Fireworks Show is an amazing way to end your night after a day spent at EPCOT. Grab your kids a snack and enjoy the wonderful display of fireworks!

Character Meet and Greets at World Showcase

Check your My Disney Experience App or Park Times Guide (which can be found at the entrance of the park) for the most accurate and up-to-date information on where to find the characters in EPCOT while you are there.

The following are regularly scheduled in the World Showcase:

Anna and Elsa– Norway Pavillion
Mulan-China
Snow White-Germany
Jasmine– Morocco
Belle-France
Alice-United Kingdom
Donald Duck-Mexico
Minnie Mouse-World Showcase Friendship Ambassador Gazebo
Winnie the Pooh-Imagination Pavilion

You might also see some random character appearances in the World Showcase. Winnie the Pooh is sometimes seen in the United Kingdom. Donald Duck will sometimes make appearances in Mexico.

Best Dining Options at World Showcase in EPCOT for Toddlers & Young Kids

EPCOT’s World Showcase has some of the best dining options in all of Disney. Each country will have at least one sit-down restaurant and one quick-service restaurant. You will find lots of toddler-friendly and kid-friendly food as you walk around the world!

Here are my favorite restaurants in the World Showcase that the WHOLE family will love!

La Hacienda de San Angel

La Hacienda de San Angel, located in the Mexican Pavillion is a great place to enjoy some Mexican food with the family at EPCOT. The atmosphere here is just amazing. You will feel like you are dining outside in a Mexican village. Located right next to the Gran Fiesta Tour boat ride, you will enjoy watching the boats ride by.

Biergarten Restaurant

Biergarten Restaurant, located in the Germany Pavillion, is one of my favorite restaurants to eat at in all of EPCOT. This is an amazing and entertaining restaurant in EPCOT for toddlers and young kids. You will sit down, feast on a German buffet, and be entertained by German musicians.

It’s common to see kids here dancing near the stage! Take your toddler and young kids down and dance with them!

It’s so much fun taking part in the German culture! It’s like Octoberfest here every day!

Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

You can never go wrong with pizza for kids. Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria serves up the best pizza in all of Disney World.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall located in the Norway Pavillion is the other character dining located in EPCOT. This is the perfect place to take your princess-loving little girl.

The princesses seen here are Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, and Ariel. Mary Poppins also makes an appearance.

They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Make sure to book your Advanced Dining Reservations as soon as you can. This books up quickly.

***Currently Closed

Tips for Taking Toddlers & Young Kids To EPCOT

✔Take Advantage of the EPCOT Baby Care Center

Take advantage of EPCOT’s Baby Care Center when visiting EPCOT with babies and toddlers. Disney is just the best when it comes to families.

All parks include a baby care center. EPCOT’s Baby Care Center is located near the entrance to the World Showcase, near the Mexico Pavillion.

The Baby Care Center offers a clean, quiet environment to nurse, change, and feed your babies and toddlers. They even have a toddler-size toilet!

Here you can purchase baby/toddler supplies such as diapers, pull-ups, pacifiers, sippy cups, and medicine.

PRO-TIP: If you have medicine for your child back at the hotel and just need 1 dose, I recommend just going to First Aid next door. Here they will provide you with a free dose of medicine!

✔Strollers are a MUST!

Strollers are a MUST when visiting EPCOT with toddlers and young kids!!! EPCOT is a HUGE park. Your toddler will not be able to walk around the entire park without one. Strollers are also great for catching naps throughout the day.

If you are not bringing your own stroller, you can rent one at the main entrance of EPCOT or the back entrance near the World Showcase.

Disney strollers are amazing and well worth the cost!! They are very lightweight and easy to maneuver.

Another benefit of renting a Disney stroller is you don’t have to worry about hauling your stroller on Disney transportation. We have experienced this many times. Trying to fold up the stroller quickly and fit on the bus can be a little stressful sometimes!

COST of Renting Disney Strollers:
Single Stroller- Daily $15; Multi-Day $13
Double Stroller-Multi-day $31; Multi-Day $27

PRO-TIP: If your toddler has an older sibling, that hasn’t ridden in a stroller in a while, you still might want to rent a double stroller. We have done this SO many times! Little legs tire very easily and this is so helpful.

✔Start Early!

Start Early!!! I can’t stress this enough! Starting EARLY is SO important when visiting EPCOT with toddlers and young kids. I recommend arriving an hour before the park opens. Arriving early will save you SO much time in having to wait in long lines. Toddlers and young kids do NOT do well waiting in line for long periods of time.

You will be able to do SO much MORE by arriving early. The middle of the day can get very crowded. Save this time to enjoy a relaxing lunch, shop, or let your kids run around one of the park’s play areas.

✔Check My Disney Experience App

Be sure to check the My Disney Experience App the night before to confirm EPCOT’s opening hours. Also, check the My Disney Experience App for schedules of showtimes and character greetings. Being prepared makes a huge difference in your experience at a Disney Park.

✔Bring a Backpack

Make sure to bring a backpack! Backpacks are an easy way to store your baby, toddler, and young kid’s things such as bottles, sippy cups, diapers, and snacks. You don’t want to have to carry a diaper bag or such while waiting in lines or on rides.

Here’s a cute, affordable Disney-themed backpack to haul your kiddie items!

🎒Check price for Mickey and Minnie Mouse backpack on Amazon here!

For more cute backpacks and information about taking a backpack to Disney World, check out Best Backpacks for Disney World 2023!

Where to Find Coffee in EPCOT

If you are anything like me, you’re going to need a coffee or two while at the park. Being a mom or dad of little ones requires some caffeine! 🤣 Here is where you can get your caffeine fix while at EPCOT.

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company at EPCOT
If you didn’t get your caffeine fix before arriving at the park, stop at Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company at the entrance to EPCOT.

Traveler’s Cafe/Starbucks
If you are a Starbucks lover, this is the place to stop at EPCOT. They serve all your favorite Starbucks beverages. I always frequent this one while at EPCOT.

I love collecting Starbucks mugs when traveling. Grab the EPCOT Been There Series mug here!

Throughout the World Showcase
It’s not too difficult to find coffee in the World Showcase. Joffrey’s has a few other locations here. The France Pavillion and Morroco Pavillion are great places to also grab a coffee.

Needing something a little stronger, go to the Norway Pavillion and order A Viking Coffee. A Viking Coffee is made with Baileys Irish Cream and coffee liqueur.

Festivals in EPCOT for Toddlers & Young Kids

EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival

Visiting EPCOT during the Flower & Garden Festival is an amazing time to go to EPCOT with toddlers and young kids. The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival usually runs from early March through the end of June. There are beautiful, amazing topiaries all throughout the park of your favorite characters.

The Butterfly House is a fun place to take the kids. Enjoy watching the butterflies fly all around you! During this festival, extra play areas are set up for the kids. They also have a fun scavenger hunt for the kids to do!

EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

The Holiday Season is a magical time to go to Disney. There are a variety of kid-friendly shows and entertainment going on around the World Showcase. Not only is it a great time to celebrate our own holiday traditions, but for our kids to learn about other countries’ celebrations!

Here are some of the entertainment you can expect to see around the World Showcase during the holidays.

• Mexico featuring Las Posadas Celebration
• Norway featuring A Mischievous Magical Barn Santa
• China featuring Chinese Lion Dance
• Italy featuring La Befana
• Candlelight Processional
• Meet and Greet with Santa!
• Japan featuring Daruma Storyteller
• Hanukkah Storyteller
• France featuring Pere Noel
• The United Kingdom featuring Father Christmas
• Canada featuring Canadian Holiday Voyageurs

**Check the My Disney Experience App or Park Times Guide for an updated show and time schedule.

The Wrap-Up: EPCOT for Toddlers & Young Kids

As you can see, EPCOT is a park the whole family will love. I hope my guide of EPCOT for Toddlers & Young Kids: The Complete Guide has helped you in planning your trip to the most magical place on Earth!

Check out my post on Best Animal Kingdom Rides for Toddlers for must-need-to-know information for taking your toddler to Animal Kingdom!

Check out my post Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Review: Plus a Peak Into the Newly Remodeled Rooms! for a resort within walking distance to EPCOT!

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