Disney planning, homeschool magic, and family learning adventures
retired Walt Disney World attraction Land, air, and water can get dirty. Scouts who visit Epcot’s The Land Pavilion and view the Circle of Life film featuring over 30 countries will be introduced to eco-friendly concepts to a cleaner environment. Laugh and learn as Simba teaches …
**Disclaimer: This attraction has been retired/discontinued.** About INNOVENTIONS at Epcot®Located in the heart of Epcot®, Innoventions is a unique attraction filled with hands-on, interactive exhibits. Guests discover how science and technology can simplify and enhance their lives today and tomorrow. This interactive playground allows guests …
Walt Disney World is a large place – almost the size of San Francisco or two Manhattans – there’s a lot of area to cover between the 4 main theme parks, 2 water parks, 26+ resorts, Disney Springs, and Disney’s Boardwalk area. Your family will have the opportunity to explore many different modes of transportation.
You and your scout will definitely get your steps in during your Disney vacation. Remind scouts to use the buddy system everywhere, from refilling their beverage mugs at the resort food court to navigating through a crowd from one attraction to another in the theme parks.
There are also some ‘off the beaten path’ areas which are perfect for mini-hikes. Places where you can explore the plants, animals, sounds, and sights made magical by nature and the Disney Imagineers.
To meet rank requirements, your scout should make a list of the different types of plants and animals they find.
WDW Boats Ferry Boats Pontoon Boats Jet Boats Boat Rides Boat Water Slides Marinas Boats at the Boathouse (Disney Springs) Learn about other WDW Transportation: Walt Disney World Transportation – boats, trains, and buses, oh my! Traveling to and around Disney World is exciting and …
Disney offers a behind the scenes tour of the Living with the Land attraction in Epcot’s Future World. Behind the Seeds is a kid-friendly, interactive journey backstage in The Land Pavilion living laboratories. Scouts visiting this agricultural exhibition will interact with amazing plants, insects, and fish—and even see American …
Spending the day at Epcot is fun for older and younger guests alike!
Epcot is a wonderful place for your family to find rides, attractions, and plenty of fun with the Characters.
There are two character dining locations in Epcot. Both have characters available at all three meals. As with all character dining locations, you’ll want to make sure to schedule Advance Dining Reservations before you arrive. They do book up quickly, and there are seldom tables available for walk-ups.
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall welcomes guests to dine with the Disney Princesses including Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Mulan (note that all of these characters may not be present at every meal). One thing to note about this restaurant is that lunch and dinner feature Norwegian food that may be a bit too unique for picky eaters! Plan for breakfast here if you don’t have an adventurous eater.
Garden Grill is a family-style, all-you-can-eat restaurant that rotates slowly around over the Living with the Land attraction. You’ll have a chance to meet characters such as Mickey, Chip, Dale, and Pluto while you dine. Ready to start planning your next visit to see Mickey and friends? The perfect vacation begins with scheduling your complimentary consultation.
Meet these characters throughout Epcot:
There’s a lot younger kids are sure to enjoy.
Rides
Other Attractions
Special Events
Don’t even think of skipping Epcot because you think it’s not for little kids! There is lots of fun to be had for younger guests. Beyond rides, there are many attractions which are just perfect for your little ones to enjoy at Epcot! Other Attractions …
Have you heard this before? “Epcot is just for older kids and adults.” It’s a popular misconception among parents of young children, but I couldn’t disagree more! Many parents of young children are worried that their kids will not enjoy Epcot as much as the …
When it comes to fireworks, light shows, and other nighttime spectaculars, no one does it quite like Disney! They are definitely worth waiting for!
Each day in the Walt Disney World theme parks is packed with fun… but when the sun goes down, the evening entertainment in the parks is second to none!
The Tree of Life is the central focal point of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. It is an impressive sight during the day but be sure to plan to see it at night! Once the sun goes down the “Tree of Life Awakening” happens every 10 minutes until the park closes.
The awakening celebrates the harmony and balance of all living things. The tree lights up with flickering fireflies and colorful lights illuminating the animals carved into the tree’s trunk. This is a sight you won’t want to miss!
Several times each night, the Discovery River in Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park comes alive for the Rivers of Light show celebrating the beauty of all living things. The show combines, water, music, and light effects in a stunning display.
Guests are transported to faraway destinations such as African savannahs, Asian jungles, the mountains of North America, and the depths of the ocean as they watch the light displays transform into the spirit forms of elephants, tigers, birds, and turtles.
You’ll want to find a spot for the show early to get a good view!
The popular Illuminations: Reflections of Earth show at Epcot ended September 2019 with a new show titled Epcot Forever to debut on the park’s anniversary on October 1st.
The new show focuses on the “spark of imagination” that started all of the Disney magic guests have come to love and will celebrate all things Epcot and will include fireworks, lasers, choreographed kits, and even jet skis all set to classic theme park music.
Epcot Forever takes place nightly at 9 PM in the World Showcase Lagoon.
Fantasmic! Is a fan favorite at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland… it is one of Disney’s classic nighttime entertainment options. During the show, Mickey Mouse dreams that he has become a sorcerer’s apprentice. In the dream, he has powers that allow him to control water, color, and magic as he fights off some of Disney’s most notorious villains.
Along the way, Mickey is joined by lots of classic Disney characters including Belle and the Beast, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Arielle, Aladdin, and the Simba. Of course, the villains come out to play too including the Evil Queen from Snow White and Maleficent, who takes on the persona of a giant, fire-breathing dragon.
This show can be a little intense for small children. If you are concerned, check out videos on YouTube to see if you think it will be right for the little ones in your party.
If you’ve got Star Wars fans in your travel party, you definitely won’t want to miss Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. The show features thrilling special effects, fireworks, lasers, pyrotechnics, and action sequences starring some of your favorite Star Wars characters all set to the tune of John Williams’ familiar Star Wars soundtrack music.
You’ll want to find a spot out in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater (Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway) well in advance to make sure you have a great view of the projection show.
This unique projection show is displayed right on the face of Cinderella Castle each night. Narrated by Mrs. Potts and her son, Chip from Beauty and the Beast, the Once Upon a Time show features scenes from classic Disney films such as Frozen, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast.
No Walt Disney World vacation is complete without watching fireworks exploding over the Magic Kingdom! If you are visiting near a holiday, or for a special event, there may be a unique, custom fireworks display but most nights the Magic Kingdom will feature the “Happily Ever After” fireworks show.
Since the show, which tells the tales of “heart and heroism” from several Disney classics, features both fireworks and projection displays on the front of Cinderella Castle, the best views will be around the castle hub and down Mainstreet, USA.
With all of the nighttime spectaculars, you will want to consult the theme park calendars for available dates and times. You will also want to plan to arrive and stake out your spot well in advance of the show times.
Don’t want to brave the crowds to find a good spot? Many of the nighttime shows offer special events or dessert parties with reserved viewing areas (these events are reserved in advance at an additional cost.
Of course, we also love making sure our guests have scheduling and tips for all of the evening entertainment to make sure they know how to avoid crowds and find the best viewing areas to watch the shows.
Walt Disney World Height Chart Are you planning your Walt Disney World trip with toddlers and young children in mind? Then you’ll want to know which rides have height requirements and which are suitable for little ones to enjoy. Print our Disney World Height Chart …
Pressed Pennies or Elongated Coin Machines are available throughout the Walt Disney World Resort and Parks. A pressed coin is created when it is squeezed, flattened, and engraved through two rollers. Most of the machines are electronic, but there are hand-crank machines too. Located in …
Walt Disney World Pin Trading and Pin Collecting are fun interactive experiences for Disney guests!
Pin trading and collecting is perfect for first-time Disney World guests as it’s an easy, inexpensive, and rewarding souvenir.
Related: Pressed Pennies and Autographs
1. Locate a Disney Cast Member wearing a pin-trading lanyard.
2. Find a pin you like.
3. Swap pins with the Cast Member.
It’s simple and fun!
These “Starter Sets” feature a uniquely themed Pin Trading lanyard and four (or more) Disney pins. They are a fun way to join the exciting world of Disney Pin Trading!
Starter sets and individual pins are available online and on property.
Online – before your trip
Purchase Pins for trading at the Shop Disney store or from resellers on eBay, Etsy, and similar online shops.
On Property – during your trip
Purchase Pins for trading at the theme park and resort shops. You’ll find a wide variety of individual pins and pin sets which may include lanyards.
Related Posts:
Celebration Buttons at Walt Disney World
Geocaching at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World Character Address
From resort rooms to specialty dining to character interactions, Walt Disney World offers princess lovers lots of fairy tale magic throughout the Resorts and Parks. You can treat your princess like a queen during your family vacation. If you have a fan of Princess Aurora …
10+ Ways to Plan a Trip with Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Disney World offers princess lovers lots of fairy tale magic throughout the Resorts and Parks. From resort rooms to specialty dining to character interactions, you can treat your princess like a …
Celebrating a birthday at Disney World is a magical way to enjoy your special day! The young and young at heart alike will marvel at the extra touches available to create a fabulously memorable birthday trip.
These tips are perfect for when your birthday date actually falls during your Walt Disney Vacation, however, WDW knows you may be celebrating a birthday before or after the actual date too.
It all starts before you even arrive at the Walt Disney World Resorts and Parks…
The celebration begins while planning your Walt Disney World vacation.
When you arrive at Walt Disney World Resorts and Parks, be sure to ask for a birthday celebration button – they are Free! A Cast Member will add your name and you will be able to wear the button for your whole vacation. Cast Members and other WDW Guests will enjoy wishing you a Happy Birthday! throughout your trip.
You will find FREE Birthday (and other celebration) buttons at:
Enjoy wearing your Birthday Celebration Button every day – you will be amazed at all of the well wishes from Cast Members and Guests – you meet along the way. Sometimes you will receive a little extra pixie dust from Cast Members at rides, attractions, and table-service dining locations.
Disney is known for their outstanding service and helping you celebrate your birthday is right up their alley. While celebrating birthdays with my family we have experienced several of the following, I’ll call them ‘magical possibilities’.
Magical possibilities (a.k.a. things that might happen when you are wearing your birthday button):
Most of the ideas above are FREE! and because they are free, they are also random and not guaranteed. If you want to add to the magic of celebrating a birthday at Disney, check out these popular options:
Related Posts:
Magical Extras ~ add a little bit of luxe to your Disney Vacation
10 Ways to Plan a Trip featuring Aurora from Sleeping Beauty
10+ Ways to Plan a Disney Trip featuring Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
10 Ways to Plan a Disney Little Mermaid Trip
Celebration Buttons at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World Celebration Cakes
Dreams really do come true when you plan a magical Walt Disney World vacation for your family! At iheartwdw “the planning journey” is made easy, we want to help you plan an exceptional family vacation. Whether your journey to Orlando, Florida is for the ‘once in a lifetime trip’ …
10 Ways to Plan a Disney Little Mermaid Trip Disney World offers princess lovers lots of fairy tale magic throughout the Resorts and Parks. From resort rooms to specialty dining to character interactions, you can treat your princess like a queen during your family vacation. …
EPCOT is one of the best Walt Disney World parks for families who love to explore.
It is part imagination, part science, part world cultures, part food adventure, and part “let’s follow that question and see where it goes.”
For some families, EPCOT is about attractions like Spaceship Earth, Soarin’ Around the World, Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and Living with the Land.
For other families, EPCOT is where Disney becomes a natural learning adventure.
You can talk about geography in World Showcase, conservation in World Nature, space and technology in World Discovery, storytelling and design throughout the park, and food, music, art, and traditions from countries around the world.
That is why EPCOT is such a good fit for I Heart WDW.
Use this page as your starting point for planning an EPCOT day that feels organized, curious, flexible, and meaningful for your family.
EPCOT is especially wonderful for:
EPCOT can be a full park day, a festival day, a dining day, a learning day, or a slower “wander and notice” day.
The key is knowing what kind of EPCOT day your family actually wants.
EPCOT is one of those parks that families sometimes underestimate.
If you treat it like a checklist of rides, you may miss what makes it special.
EPCOT is a park for noticing. It is a park for conversation. It is a park where a snack can turn into a geography lesson, a greenhouse tour can turn into science, and a walk through World Showcase can make the world feel a little bigger and more connected.
You do not have to turn the day into school. Just leave enough space for curiosity.
If you are just beginning your EPCOT planning, start with the posts and resources that help you understand the park, choose your priorities, and decide how EPCOT fits into your overall Disney trip.
These posts will help you think through your EPCOT day, especially if you want to combine practical Disney planning with learning, food, festivals, family memories, and a little breathing room.
EPCOT is a big park, and families often underestimate how much walking is involved.
Before your EPCOT day, think about:
Use a park day planner or Disney planning binder page to write down your must-do attractions, World Showcase priorities, dining ideas, festival snacks, and rest breaks.
EPCOT is one of the easiest Disney parks for adding learning naturally.
You do not need a formal lesson plan. You can simply notice, ask questions, and follow your child’s curiosity.
A few simple learning angles:
Homeschool Tip:
Let EPCOT be the beginning of the lesson, not the whole lesson. Choose one thing your child notices in the park and follow it later at home with a book, recipe, map activity, notebooking page, art project, or movie night.
World Showcase is one of the most natural places at Walt Disney World to blend vacation, culture, food, geography, and family conversation.
The pavilions represent:
You can enjoy World Showcase in many ways:
Resources:
A World Showcase passport, country notebooking page, map activity, or food/culture tasting tracker would be a natural fit here.
EPCOT can be wonderful with younger kids, but it works best when you plan the day around their pace.
Some children love the aquarium, boat rides, characters, snacks, Kidcot-style activities, fountains, music, and open spaces. Others may struggle with the walking, heat, and long stretches between attractions.
Before your day, think about:
Penny’s Planning Note:
EPCOT can be a sneaky park for younger children. It may not look as ride-heavy as Magic Kingdom, but there is a lot of walking and stimulation. A slower pace, a good snack plan, and a few indoor breaks can make all the difference.
EPCOT is one of the best Disney parks for families who enjoy food, snacks, and seasonal festivals.
Depending on when you visit, you may find festival booths, special entertainment, scavenger hunts, concerts, garden displays, art activities, holiday storytellers, or seasonal food items. Festival offerings change, so always check the official Disney information and My Disney Experience app before your trip.
EPCOT’s annual festivals often include:
For dining and festival planning, think about:
Resources:
A festival snack tracker, World Showcase food passport, dining planner, or family food rating sheet would be a wonderful match for EPCOT.
EPCOT can work beautifully for scouting-style family activities because it naturally includes observation, safety, citizenship, culture, conservation, food, communication, nature, and trying something new.
Because scouting requirements change, always check current official Scouting America resources if you are trying to complete a specific requirement.
But even when requirements change, EPCOT can still support the spirit of scouting: being prepared, learning by doing, noticing the world around you, respecting other cultures, caring for nature, and helping your family.
Explore these requirements, electives and more:
Family Adventure Idea:
Let your child choose one pavilion, one food, one plant, one animal, or one design detail to investigate. They can draw it, photograph it, describe it, compare it to something from home, or tell the family what they learned.
EPCOT has several experiences that can make the day feel more personal, educational, or memorable.
Some families enjoy behind-the-scenes tours, festival activities, scavenger hunts, cultural entertainment, or special dining experiences. One of our family’s favorite types of Disney learning came from going beyond the regular attraction list and seeing how things worked behind the scenes.
At EPCOT, those experiences can open the door to conversations about agriculture, conservation, technology, food, design, and global connection.
Link to posts such as:
Penny’s Note:
When we toured Behind the Seeds at Living with the Land, it felt like the kind of Disney experience that fit our family perfectly. It was still vacation, but it also gave us something real to talk about: plants, food, growing systems, and how much thought goes into what guests see for just a few minutes on a ride.
EPCOT details change often, so always check the My Disney Experience app and official Disney sources for current hours, showtimes, character appearances, dining availability, Lightning Lane options, festival dates, and attraction updates.
A few of Penny’s best recommendations and reminders:
EPCOT can be a relaxed day, a food day, a festival day, a ride day, or a learning day.
The trick is knowing which version of EPCOT fits your family best.
If you want help sorting through resorts, tickets, dining, park days, Lightning Lane options, festivals, transportation, rest time, and all the little details that make a Disney trip feel smoother, I can help through Embrace The Magic Travel.
You know your family.
I know Disney planning.
Together, we can build a trip that fits the people actually taking it.
Planning Your Day
World Showcase and Culture
Science, Nature, and Technology
Food and Festivals
Scouting and Family Adventure
EPCOT is not just a park to get through.
It is a park to explore.
With a thoughtful plan, a little curiosity, and enough space to follow what your family notices, EPCOT can become one of the most meaningful days of your Walt Disney World vacation.