When you think about Epcot the first thing that comes to mind is never its rides and attractions. For me at least, it always all the incredible food and restaurants options around the world showcase.
However, although limited, when you think about all the rides currently offered at Epcot, there are definitely some big hitters.
Below, I’m going to rank all of the top attractions and rides at Epcot from best to worst. Please just remember that this is entirely my personal opinion and preferences, especially if I rank something way too low or too high 🙂
So with that being said, here are the best rides at Epcot!
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Best Rides at Epcot (Attractions too!)
Here’s my ranking of the best Epcot rides:
1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
This is by far the best ride at Epcot, if not the entirety of Disney World. Heck, it might even be the best ride in all of Disney World and Disneyland.
Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind is an omnicoaster that features a reverse launch, the first at any Disney park. Plus, each individual coaster cart rotates 360 degrees during the ride which is such a cool experience.
The entire ride is set to a soundtrack of 6 random songs including September, Disco Inferno, Conga, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, I Ran, and One Way or Another. Plus, they even have a holiday overlay with a whole new soundtrack.
Guest that want to experience this ride can’t actually wait in line, but instead use the virtual queue system through the My Disney Experience App. The virtual queue opens up daily at 7 AM and again at 1 PM. As long as you have a park reservation for Epcot, you can attempt to join the virtual line from home. However, in order to participate for the 1 PM drop, you need to be in the park.
If you are unable to secure a spot in the virtual queue, you can purchase an Individual Lightning Lane at 8:30 am. Personally, I always go this route because I’m able to choose a specific time slot as opposed to waiting all morning until your boarding group is called.
So if you’re looking to ride this ride for the first time, I recommend you try the free virtual queue and then purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane. Once you ride it for the first time, you’re going to immediately want to go on it again!
- Category: Thrill Ride, Dark Ride
- Height Requirement: 42 inches or taller
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Virtual Queue or Individual Lightning Lane
- Location: World Discovery
2. Test Track
Test Track allows you to hop onto a 6 person car and zoom around the Chevrolet Test Track that features winding roads, sharp turns, instant acceleration and deceleration along with a 65 mph final run outside that hugs curves banked at 50 degrees. It’s exhilarating.
But before you hop onto the car, you first get to design your own virtual car that you then get to test on the tack.
Now although this ride isn’t amazing, it is fun. The outdoor portion of this ride is definitely what makes Test Track my second favorite attraction at Epcot. Plus, it does hold the title of fastest ride at Disney.
This is also the only ride at Epcot that has a Single Rider line.
- Category: Thrill Ride
- Height Requirement: 40 inches or taller
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Lightning Lane
- Location: World Discovery
3. Soarin’ Around the World
Soarin’ is a fun “thrill” ride where you hang glide above beautiful wonders of the world.
Essentially you’re on this massive hang glider that flies in front of an 80 foot IMAX screen while also blowing air and smells right on you.
Although not as good as Soarin’ Over California, Epcot’s version of Soarin’ is fun and entertaining.
The only negative about this ride is that if you sitting too far to the right or left, then the images on the domed IMAX screen will be warped. You’ll see what I’m talking about during the Eiffel Tower scene.
- Category: Slow Ride, Small Drops
- Height Requirement: 40 inches or taller.
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Lightning Lane
- Location: World Nature
4. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a 4D trackless ride where you join Chef Remy on a journey through the bustling kitchen, fridge, and dining room of Gusteau’s in Paris, all through a rat’s perspective.
If you like that scene from Ratatouille when Remy was being chased around the kitchen, then you’ll love this ride.
I also really enjoy how the ride is in both English and French. If you ever been on this ride at Disneyland Paris, then you’ll immediately notice a lot of similarities with the main difference being the ending at Epcot’s version.
- Category: Trackless Dark Ride
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Lightning Lane
- Location: France Pavilion
5. Frozen Ever After
Take a fun voyage to Arendelle aboard an ancient Nordic vessel as you take a musical tour of the wonderful world of Frozen.
The music is what makes this slow-moving boat ride so fun, not to mention some of the rough waters you might experience on the way down.
But don’t worry, it’s not an intense ride. Just picture Pirates of the Caribbean but with better music and decent animatronics.
Wait times are usually pretty long at over an hour on average, no matter what time of day you visit. That said, you best bet for a shorter wait time would be at park opening or during the Harmonious show and fireworks.
If you do plan to wait in the line, no matter how long, be sure to first stop by the Kringla Bakeri og Kafe and grab a frozen Viking Coffee or snack.
- Category: Slow Ride, Dark Ride, Small Drops
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Lightning Lane
- Location: Norway Pavilion
6. Mission Space
Blast off on the X-2 Deep Space Shuttle on a journey to Mars.
During this ride, you have 3 other people are assigned a role of navigator, pilot, commander, or engineer and will board a shuttle pod that will take your to Mars or around earth, depending on the mission you choose.
There are two missions – Orange and Green.
Orange Mission is the more intense version that uses a centrifuge that spins and tilts to simulate the speed and G-forces that actually space ships may encounter. If you have any health issues, then it’s recommended that you avoid the Orange Mission.
Green Mission is a family-friendly version of the ride that takes you around earth without any spinning. Instead, it’s just a motion simulator that’s actually pretty gentle to the point that it should limit any chances of motion sickness.
All I can say, that as someone who has never been to space nor ever plans on it, the takeoff on the Orange Mission is chest-crushingly realistic. It’s insane and worth getting motion sickness from – well at least once.
- Category: Thrill Ride, Dark Ride, Spinning
- Height Requirement: 40 inches for Green and 44 inches for Orange
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Lightning Lane
- Location: World Discovery
7. Living with the Land
Look I don’t care. I’m gonna say it again. I don’t care! I love this ride. Sure it’s not really a ride but more of an attraction but it’s cool. When I used think about Epcot, the first thing that always came to mind was innovation. And the second half of this ride is the epitome of innovation.
Living with the Land is an indoor boat ride that lets guests cruise through greenhouses while also discovering a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables from the around the world. Plus, you get to see some innovative growing techniques, as well as catch a glimpse of their fish farms. And you might even see a watermelon shaped like Mickey’s head.
But by far the coolest part about this attraction is that some of the food actually send on this ride are actually served at Garden Grill and Sunshine Seasons.
This ride is highly educational and pretty relaxing, especially if you want to take a load off your feet and escape the heat or rain. This is probably the one true ride that’s catered to adults.
- Category: Slow Ride
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Lightning Lane
- Location: World Nature
8. Journey Into Imagination with Figment
I’m going to be honest, I don’t get the hype with Figment in general lol. I mean yes, this is a entertaining ride but I still don’t get it.
That said, Journey Into Imagination with Figment is a dark ride where Figment guides you through a sensory lab where Dr Nigel Channing sets out to prove how the 5 senses capture imagination.
It’s a cute ride that has quite a few sensory elements. It’s something that you have to visit at Epcot at least once in your life. If not, did you really have a true Epcot day?
- Category: Slow Ride, Dark Ride
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Lightning Lane
- Location: World Celebration
9. The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Climb aboard a “clamobile” as you descend slowly below the waves to where Nemo and his friends reside in the brightly colored coral reefs and sea anemones. Just be sure to dodge any stinging jellyfish, underwater mines, and Bruce.
It’s a cool attraction that essentially goes through all the scenes from the movie and ends with a song that will be stuck in your head all day long.
This is a pretty gentle ride, that reminds me of Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid at Magic Kingdom. The only difference is that you get to catch a ride on the EAC (East Australian Current) with Jelly-man.
- Category: Slow Ride, Dark Ride
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Lightning Lane
- Location: World Nature
10. Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth is Epcot’s most recognize landmark because it’s actually that massive “golf ball” shape building at the entrance.
Spaceship Earth is a dark ride that slowly takes you through history from the dawn of humanity to the present.
This 16 minute ride is filled with history and animatronic storytelling.
I was so excited to hear that they were going to reimagine this ride with new scenes and technology, but it appears that they idea may have been shelved post-pandemic. As a result, I can’t really rank this ride too high. Yes, it’s iconic and something that you have to do at least once. But I would never wait over an hour for it.
Side note, it’s nice to use Spaceship Earth as a indication for how busy the park is. If the line is crazy long, chances are that it’s gonna be a packed day at Epcot.
- Category: Slow Ride, Dark Ride
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Lightning Lane
- Location: World Celebration
11. Turtle Talk with Crush
Turtle Talk with Crush allows you to gather around a window to the ocean and have a real life conversation (in real time) with Crush from Finding Nemo.
I only rank this attraction so low because I very rarely visit it.
But I do love how improvised the show is. It’s highly interactive and pretty funny and great for kids.
- Category: Show
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Lightning Lane
- Location: World Nature
12. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
The Gran Fiesta Tour is a gentle boat ride through the Mexico Pavilion that features 3 feathered friends.
During this ride, you stroll down the Rio Grande on a dark boat ride that pasts some of the most famous sights and cities in Mexico.
This really isn’t a major attraction, but if you’re looking for a gentle, relaxing, and music-filled ride, then this boat ride is a great option.
Plus, it’s a nice way to escape the heat or take a breather from drinking around the world.
- Category: Slow Ride
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: None
- Location: Mexico Pavilion
Best Rides at Epcot for Genie+ and Lightning Lane
When planning out your day, there are a few priorities that you should use Genie+ for. These not-to-be-missed rides and attractions are:
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Frozen Ever After
- Test Track
Cosmic Rewind, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Frozen Ever After are arguably the most in-demand attractions at Epcot.
Currently, the only ride that you can pay-to-ride via Individual Lightning Lane Selections is Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind. And honestly, it’s one of the few Individual Lightning Lanes worth the price of $14 to $17 per person.
The other three rides are equally as popular so I recommend that you book using your Genie+ selections.
The rest of the rides at Epcot usually have decent wait times that aren’t discouragingly long.
For example, Mission Space is a thrill ride but the wait times are usually pretty low. You can expect to wait around 45 minutes or less between both the Green and Orange sides. The rest are usually sub-30 minutes minus the longest wait time being for Soarin’ or Figment.
But if you could only ride a few rides, then Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind, Frozen Ever After, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure are a must.
Epcot Character Experiences
Here are all of the wonderful characters that you can meet and greet at Epcot:
- Alice (United Kingdom)
- Anna and Elsa at Royal Sommerhus (Norway)
- Belle (France)
- Donald Duck (Mexico)
- Joy (ImageWorks)
- Mulan (China)
- Princess Jasmine (Morocco)
- Snow White (Germany)
- Vanellope (ImageWorks)
All of these characters have specific meeting times so please check out the schedule on the My Disney Experience app.
Hopefully as Epcot continues to be reimagined, new characters are introduced at Epcot, or at least bring back a few personal favorites like Baymax.
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So how’d I do? Are there any rides and attraction at Epcot that you would rate a lot higher or lower? If so, please let me know below.
Thanks for reading and hopefully this helped you learn more about the best rides at Epcot, while also making it easier to plan out your Epcot day priorities!
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