2023 Epcot for Kids Guide

2023 Epcot for Kids Guide

2023 Epcot for Kids Guide

This article is your complete 2023 Epcot for kids guide! EPCOT often gets the reputation as the “adult” park in Walt Disney World because of the focus on food, culture and even education! Luckily, this WDW park is packed with EPCOT attractions for kids, festival offerings for little ones, and plenty of characters for the whole family.

We even recommend EPCOT for toddlers, as there are plenty of mild attractions and even kid-friendly restaurants that are perfect for the littles. So if you’re ready to look at the best way to enjoy Epcot for Kids 2023 read on!

We really hope you find this post helpful, and if you are planning a trip to Disney World be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time on your next vacation and find the cheapest Walt Disney World vacation packages!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Disney World be sure to go straight to our Disney Crowd Calendar!

 Disney Crowd Calendar

Is EPCOT for Kids 2023?

Yes! We actually get that question a lot with parents concerned that is EPCOT good for toddlers and kids? Many people hear about the International Festivals, which revolve around food, drink and culture which tend to be more adult centered. Luckily, Disney has been adding more and more offerings for EPCOT with kids, making it a must do park.

What are the best things do for at EPCOT for kids in 2023?

• Kid rides at EPCOT
• Seasonal International Festival activites
• KIDCOT activities
• Interactive playgrounds

Are there any shows at EPCOT for kids?

Yes, there are! At the end of a hard day of play, you and your kids can gather around the World Showcase Lagoon for a pyrotechnic extravaganza! Grown-ups and little ones alike will be dazzled by colorful fireworks, lasers and even choreographed kites as they enjoy this tribute to Epcot’s past, present and future.

Be sure to stop by Walt Disney World for the brand new fireworks show Harmonious staring October 1st, 2021. This show is meant to be perfect at Epcot for kids, where Disney celebrates all classic music throughout the years. Start planning your trip now to make sure you get your Walt Disney World Anniversary tickets!

Related post: Complete Guide to Epcot Attractions and Rides

What are the best 2023 Epcot Rides for Kids?

There are over 10 rides without height requirements, which we think qualify as the best EPCOT kid rides. These rides range from Frozen Ever After, a fun boat ride that takes you through Arendelle, to The Seas with Nemo and Friends, where you take an adventure under the ocean.

A huge concern is that is the little ones in your family will be able to have as much fun as the adults or older children. Luckily, there are plenty of kid rides at Epcot! There are a number of Epcot attractions for kids with familiar Disney characters, making them family favorites. So what are the best rides at EPCOT for kids?

List of kids rides at Epcot 2023:

• Frozen Ever After
• Figment: Journey into Imagination
• Spaceship Earth
• Living with the Land
• Gran Fiesta Tour
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends
• Beauty and the Beast sing-a-long

What are the best rides for toddlers at EPCOT? 

• Living with the Land
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
• Gran Fiesta Tour
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends
• Beauty and the Beast sing-a-long

All of these rides listed do not have height requirements, making them wonderful Epcot rides for toddlers. Some great rides that are great for older kids, but are not Epcot attractions for toddlers are Soarin’ and Test Track. Both rides have a 40 inch height requirement, and could be a little bit too thrilling for Disney Epcot toddlers!

Related post: Best Ways to Avoid Long Lines at Disney World

Best Kid Rides at EPCOT 2023 – Frozen Ever After

One of the most recent additions to Epcot, Frozen Ever After at the Norway Pavilion is one of the best rides at Epcot for young kids. Hop aboard a boat and float your way through Arenfelle on a “Summer Snow Day”. Your little ones will be able to see Elsa’s ice palace and their favorite Frozen friends, including Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, Sven and even Kristoff’s troll family!

After you disembark, head next door to the Royal Summerhaus to meet Anna and Elsa themselves, or make your way to the nearby gift shop for Frozen toys and treats.

Tip: Frozen Ever After and Anna and Elsa’s meet and greet are two of the most popular Epcot attractions for kids, and wait times are often significant. Be sure to either rope drop or do some serious ride planning because you do not want to miss this!

Related post: Best Attractions at EPCOT Ranked

Best Toddler Rides at EPCOT 2023 – Under the Seas with Nemo and Friends

If you take a left at Spaceship earth, you’ll find yourself at The Seas with Nemo & Friends: one of the best attractions at Epcot for toddlers.

Climb aboard a “clamobile” and take a gentle ride beneath the waves with Nemo, Dory, Marlin and more undersea friends, featuring music from Animal Kingdom’s “Finding Nemo the Musical”.

Afterward, you can head over to Turtle Talk with Crush for another educational experience. Little ones can ask Crush any question their hearts desire about life under the sea, and Crush will respond with a personalized answer! And when I say any question, I mean any question. The last time I was there, one undersea explorer wanted to know if sea turtles wore underwear, to which a shell-shocked Crush replied, “no”.

Tip: The Seas with Nemo & Friends is also home to a 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium! Your kids can marvel at real sharks and manatees while they learn even more about the ‘Big Blue World’.

Related post: Complete Guide to the Best Hotels Near EPCOT Orlando

Best Kid Rides at EPCOT – Journey into Your Imagination with Figment!

Have you ever really thought about your EXTRA sense? Sight, sound, smell, touch, taste and … IMAGINATION! You and your family get to visit the Institute with a tour with Dr. Nigel Channing to explore all of your sense. That is, until a silly, playful dragon named Figment takes over the tour and teaches you all about imagination.

Figment is a wonderful Epcot attraction for kids, because afterwards, you can play along in the Imagination Institute with interactive games!

Related post: A Complete Guide to the Festival of the Holidays at EPCOT

EPCOT Rides for Toddlers – Living with the Land

While this may not be the most entertaining Epcot ride for kids, it certainly is an Epcot favorite among all Disney fans. Float along on a gentle journey through EPCOT’s greenhouses, where you learn all about Disney food production. We learn the story of the Earth and how food plays such a major role in our every day lives.

This is a wonderful Disney Epcot ride for toddlers, because there are no drops or surprises, and your boat moves at a gentle pace.

Related post: Complete Guide to the  Epcot’s Festival of the Arts

Rides at EPCOT for Toddlers 2023 – Gran Fiesta Tour featuring Los Caballeros

Join Panchito and Jose as they search for Donald Duck among all of Mexico’s most beautiful sights and sounds on the Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico pavilion. The Gran Fiesta Tour is great Epcot ride for toddlers due to its slow pace and bright and colorful theming.

This is also a perfect Epcot attraction for kids because of the catchy music and silly antics Donald is put through while trying to find his friends. The Mexico pavilion is also a must-see with how gorgeous the theming is.

You will be awe-struck because Disney outdid themselves on this beautiful architecture. After the ride, you can even stop over at San Angel Inn Restaurant and dine right next to the boats floating by from the ride!

Related post: Complete List of EPCOT Events 2023

Things to Do at EPCOT for Toddlers 2023: EPCOT Festival Kids Games

Any International Epcot festival is bound to draw crowds of adults for a full day of eating, drinking and an interactive cultural experience. What a lot of people don’t know is that these EPCOT festivals are totally geared toward families too! Every single festival has Epcot for young kids themed activities, games and more! Next, we are going to talk about the best Epcot attractions for toddlers and kids at festivals.

EPCOT Festival of the Arts Kids Activities

• Kid’s Chalk Art sections
• Animation Academy – learn how to draw a Disney character!
• Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt – $9.99 with prize
• Paint by Numbers Mural – Just like regular paint by numbers, but bigger!
• Chalk Full of Character – Look for famous Disney characters hiding around the World Showcase

EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Kids Activities

• Disney character topiary viewing – all around the World Showcase look for these living works of art
• Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration Scavenger Hunt – $9.99 with special prize
• Health Full Trail presented by Advent Health – Find fun ways to stay active and creative with the whole family
• Garden Graze – Collect stamps along your fresh tasting journey and get a free prize at the end

International EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Kids Activities

• Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak Scavenger Hunt – $9.99 look for Remy and get a prize!
• Cheese Crawl – Emile’s Fromage Montage – Eat 5 cheesy dishes at festival kitchens and get a free tasty prize
• Try kid-friendly specialty foods and drinks – this festival has the most options

Festival of the Holidays Kids Activities

• Holiday Cookie Stroll – try 5 different holiday cookies and get one free!
• Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt – $9.99 – find all the Olaf’s and get a free prize!
• Meet Santa Claus, Father Christmas or learn about other culture’s holiday experiences!

Related post: 2022 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Guide

Epcot Rides For Kids Older Than Toddler Age

But what if your kids are old enough to enjoy some more exciting rides? Are there other rides at Epcot for older kids? Of course! There are also a handful of rides for kids at EPCOT who are looking for a little bit more thrill.

What are the best kid rides at EPCOT for older kids?

• Soain’ Around the World
• Test Track
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Go “Soarin Around the World” at the Land Pavilion

Perhaps Epcot’s most well-known attraction, Soarin is a must-do for fans of adventure and heights.

Kids 40 inches and up can climb aboard a hang glider and take a breezy trip across the world’s most scenic locations, including the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China. Although it’s often touted as a thrill ride, Soarin is actually gentle as far as flight simulators go. It’s complete with soothing scents and an epic musical score by an Academy award-winning composer.

Test Track

Kids 40 inches and taller can meet their need for speed at Test Track, another of Epcot’s signature attractions. Somewhere between a dark ride and a thrill ride, your kids will be able to design their own vehicle and test it out! This attraction does speed up to 60 mph and does have some rough and jerky turns.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Help the Guardians save the planet again on this rotating coaster ride through space. This is EPCOT’s newest ride for kids and adults, located in World Discovery in the Xandar Pavilion. This ride is pretty intense, and can trigger motion sickness, so keep that in mind if you’re wanting to blast off into the galaxy. There is also a rather intense backwards launch, but kids tend to really enjoy this attraction!

Related post: The Best Disney World Park By Age Group

What is Kidcot? – Kidcot Fun Stops for Beginners

Located at each pavilion around the World Showcase, Kidcot is one of Epcot’s signature attractions for little ones. Kids can collect stamps and decorate a (free!) cardstock Duffy the Bear with the help of a Disney cast member. It is a mini game of discovery, where you can learn about different cultures and countries as you make your way around the World Showcase. This is a great EPCOT activity for kids, and typically isn’t too crowded around each station either!

Related post: The Complete Guide to the Best EPCOT Restaurants

Are there Character Meet and Greets for Kids at EPCOT?

Yes, there are! With shorter wait times than the Magic Kingdom, Epcot is a prime location to meet and greet your favorite Disney characters. Say ‘Bonjour’ to princesses like Belle and Aurora in their native France or ‘hola’ to Donald Duck in the Mexico Pavilion. Epcot is also ideal for meeting hard-to-find characters at Dinsey World, such as Mulan and Joy from Inside Out.

Epcot is also one of the best places to eat at Disney World with kids. But you might be wondering, is there character dining for families with kids visiting EPCOT?

There are two character dinners at Epcot:

• Chip & Dale’s Harvest Feast at The Land pavilion
• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway pavilion

Often hailed as an easier-to-get-into alternative to Cinderella’s Royal Table, Akershus is one of the best kid friendly restaurants in Disney World. This Epcot princess dining experience is an excellent way for your little ones to meet all their favorite princesses in one spot.

Tip: if you make an 8 am reservation at Akershus for an Epcot princess breakfast, you can get into the park before it opens to other guests! This is ideal if you couldn’t get for Frozen Ever After or the Royal Summerhaus, since you’ll already be at the Norway Pavilion when the rest of the crowd is just getting in.

Related post: Top 10 Best Disney World Restaurants

EPCOT for Kids FAQ

Q: Is EPCOT good for kids?

A: Yes, EPCOT is a great park for kids, which is often overlooked. There are many attractions suited for little ones, as well as, activities around the parks like playgrounds and scavenger hunts that kids will enjoy.

Q: Is EPCOT good for 6 year olds?

A: Yes, EPCOT is good for 6 year olds. Many of the attractions at EPCOT are perfect for kids between the ages 5-9, as they are themed after kid favorites like Frozen and Ratatouille. If you need breaks, there are indoor interactive areas for kids and even outdoor playgrounds.

When is The Best Time to Visit Disney World?

Our Disney  World Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disney World based on specific times of the year and special events.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

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Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at Theme Park Today, as well