Disney World Epcot

Why Epcot? It stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Walt Disney's idea was that Epcot would be a visionary place to live and work. But it never quite turned out that way of course. Instead it became one of Disney's most innovative theme parks.

Epcot is divided into 2 distinct areas. Future World and World Showcase. It is more than twice the size of Magic Kingdom - there is a lot of ground to cover. The saying is that Epcot really stands for Every Person Comes Out Tired. It really isn't possible to see everything at Epcot in one day so if your schedule allows try and allocate 2 days to explore.

Epcot is divided into 2 distinct sections: Future World and World Showcase.

Future World is closest to Walt's original idea - it has attractions which represent technology of today and innovations of the future. Here are some of the best and most popular rides in the whole of Disney World: Test Track and Soarin Over California.

World Showcase is located around the lagoon - a 1.2 mile trail around 11 countries of the World.

Future World is open from 9am to 7pm each day. Some attractions such as Test Track stay open until 9pm.

World Showcase opens at 11am and closes at 9pm.

There are some seasonal variations so be sure that you check exact opening times of Epcot before you arrive.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

The first thing you will notice when you approach Epcot is the famous ball shaped structure. You can see it for miles around. This is the Spaceship Earth ride which dominates the park. I will never forget the first time that I arrived at Epcot and I have to admit that I still have the same sense of excitement each time I visit.

You will also notice how large the parking lot is! Always remember to note down somewhere exactly where you are parked. Believe me you can easily forget after a day in the park and you really don't want to be searching for your car after 12 hours walking around Epcot.

You can take the parking lot tram or walk to the entrance plaza. Many guests also arrive on the monorail from Disney resorts.

The first ride you will see is Spaceship Earth. If the lines are above 15 minutes then walk on by and come back later. Do not follow the crowd! Most guests try and ride on this attraction first so the lines form quickly. Move on instead to ride on Test Track or Soarin Over California or to pick up a Fast Pass for later in the day - these are the big headline rides where lines may be long all day.

What is Spaceship Earth? You will board a time travel vehicle and be taken on a journey from the start of time to the present day. Travel past scenes with audio animatronic scenes which tell man's journey though time explaining human advancement through communication. More fun than that description sounds! This is a ride suitable for all of the family.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

Mission Space is one of Disney World's most innovative attractions. This motion flight simulator ride will blast you off for a mission into space. You are seated in a 4 person capsule for your mission and each of you have a role to play in the mission. There are 2 versions of the ride. You will experience G Force on the original version of the ride. In 2006 Disney introduced a non spinning version of the ride.

When Mission Space was introduced in 2003 Disney had high hopes for this attraction. But it has not proved as popular as they would have liked. Tragically two guests died after riding Mission Space - and whilst neither death was directly linked to experiencing the ride it has certainly been that this is a major factor why the lines at this attraction never seem very long. Another big factor is that Mission Space can cause motion sickness. There are many warnings posted in the ride that guests with any kind of health problem should not ride and that it may induce motion sickness. Many guests just feel that it isn't worth the risk of feeling unwell.

My feeling is that many guests still do not realize that there is a non spinning version of the ride which is a good alternative for those who don't want to experience the G Force. I first rode Mission Space when it was introduced and experienced no problems at all. But I admit that these days I do not ride the original version and do not allow any of my children to either. Guests report that their reactions are unpredictable - those that are fine on other G Force attractions sometimes react to this one. The non spinning version is fine but has none of the excitement of the original for me - so Mission Space is a ride which I, like many others, walk on by these days.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

Test Track has to be my favorite Disney World ride. One of the most technologically advance rides that the Disney Imagineers have ever built this attraction whose back story it that it is for testing vehicles is just a lot of fun!

After the (slightly boring) pre show you board a 6 passenger vehicle and travel around the test facility. Along the way ou experience various tests including the handling test and braking test.

This is all well and good but of course what you are really waiting for is The High Speed Test. Narrowly missing a collision your vehicle pauses for a second and then the door to the outside opens. Suddenly you are accelerating fast around a banked track outside and reaching speeds of 65 mph before braking pretty sharply. Then you will want to go straight back around and ride again.

As you may imagine this is a popular ride. Lines form early in the morning. So if you want to get ahead then get to the park early. Aim to arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of opening time and then as soon as you get into the park run! Head for Spaceship Earth and turn left at the fountain. I can assure you that you won't be the only person doing this!

Another tactic is as soon as you arrive in the park head to Test Track and if the line is just too long then get a Fast Pass with a time to return to the ride later in the day. Or go on as a Single Rider. The lines here are usually pretty short but you definitely will not be seated with other members of your party.

There is a height requirement of 40" so check how tall the kids are before they go so that you can head off their disappointment when they can't ride.

Photos used under Creative Commons from auntie_rain

The Universe of Energy Pavilion houses the very popular Ellen's Energy Adventure staring Ellen Degeneres and Jamie Lee Curtis. The show starts in a huge theater with a Jeopardy style quiz with Ellen trying to compete against Dr Judy Peterson and Albert Einstein. She isn't doing too well so all the guests file into a separate auditorium and take their seats in a huge moving vehicle.

You are then taken back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth for Ellen to see where energy comes from and to learn how precious it is. The journey through the audio animatronics dinosaurs is impressive. It does get pretty dark and can be scary for young children.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

Located in the Land Pavilion this is a difficult one to describe - I thought this picture does it pretty well though! The Soarin attraction was such a hit at Disneyland they brought it to Epcot in 2005.

Essentially Epcot's Soarin' is a movie tour of California with a twist. You actually feel as though you are flying. When you enter the theater you are seated in one of 3 rows on a huge metal structure. The lights dim and you are lifted up to 40 feet in the air in front of a huge projection screen. The seat gently moves and created the sensation of flying over the California landscape from the north to the south.

The best view is on the front row as this only row where you do not have other guests feet in your line of vision - but all the rows give a great view. I am not a big fan of flying but I love this ride. Personally I don't think that you get too much of a sense of how high you are as you are so mesmorized by the scenery. A truly unique and unmissable ride.

There is a height requirement on Epcot's Soarin' of 40 inches. It is of course a very popular ride so get a Fast Pass when you can. I have seen 120 minute lines even when the rest of the park didn't seem that busy.

Photos used under Creative Commons from hyku

What will you find in The Imagination Pavillion. This part of Future World which is right at the side of World Showcase houses Honey I Shrunk the Audience and Journey Into Imagination With Figment.

For some reason my 7 year old son's absolute favorite Disney ride is Journey into Imagination With Figment.This 6 minute ride takes the imagination theme and translates it to the world through the eyes of the character Figment. With Eric Idle as the host you board a slow moving vehicle and travel through different rooms each with something to stimulate each of your senses. Often there is little wait time for this attraction - it is tucked into a corner and a lot of guests miss it. Not one of my favorites, if you have limited time then you can probably walk on by without missing too much.

As you exit the ride you go into the What If Labs. This attraction is a little disappointing for me. You can conduct an orchestra, send an email,and use the green screen technology to put yourself into a Disney picture. Nothing particularly exciting here for grown ups but young children usually want to spend a huge amount of time here!

The 17 minute 3D movie Honey I Shrunk The Audience is a lot of fun. Put on your 3D glasses and enjoy the multitude of special effects,water sprays, moving seats. This can get pretty intense and some young children are overwhelmed by it. Try and avoid the first couple of rows so that you get the proper 3D effect. There is a Fast Pass available if the lines become too long.

Photos used under Creative Commons from auntie_rain

There are two parts to the Innoventions pavilion. Innoventions East and Innoventions West. Both are just along from Spaceship Earth and house huge displays of technology and interactive exhibits. Popular attractions are the house of the futurek virtual reality games and computer games. It can get pretty busy at times and frustratingly of course the things that you want to try tend to be the ones with the long wait line.

Innoventions has improved a lot in recent years and is worth a visit. But I would suggest that if you have limited touring time you can give these a miss on your first visit.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

Once just The Living Seas but now renamed and redesigned as The Seas With Nemo and Friends this pavilion has become a much loved attraction once more.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends ride invites you to board a calmobile and take a swim through the underwater world of Disney Pixar's Nemo. This slow moving ride is suitable for everyone and has some truly amazing effects. The ride passes next to the 5.7 million gallon seawater tank while Nemo and his friends magically appear in front of you. When the ride is over then step into the viewing area and enjoy the amazing aquarium.

Turtle Talk With Crush is another Nemo themed attraction. This interactive show lets the audience talk with Crush. Entertaining and well worth a look. The show is around 10 minutes long.

Photos used under Creative Commons from auntie_rain

The Land Pavilion houses Epcot's Soarin Over California,Living With The Land and The Circle of Life.

Living With The Land is one of my favorite attractions. A gentle 12 minute boat ride telling the story of how agriculture has progressed through technology. Whilst I don't agree with it's commentary very much these days it is a pleasant journey through animatronic scenes and you get to ride through the Epcot greenhouses.

The entrance to Living With The Land is right next to a huge food court. This is actually one of the better counter service places to eat in Future World and it gets very busy. Guests tend to eat and then join the line for Living With The Land so try and avoid major meal times and you will have a shorter wait.

Circle of Life is a Lion King themed conservation movie. An important message buy for me this is not one of my favorite attractions. It just misses the mark somehow. But many others enjoy this 12 minute show. Usually there is not much of a wait and shows run continuously.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

Traffic patterns at Disney World theme parks are more of an art than a science. It can be difficult to predict which day is best to visit a particular park but there are some general trends which have developed over the years.

Epcot is a very large park so it is rare that when walking around it actually feels crowded. There are exceptional days of course - I remember one New Year's Eve when I thought I would be stuck in World Showcase forever more!

But the lines to get pretty long to the headline attractions such as Test Track and Soarin. Waits of 120 minutes for these rides are not unknown.

So which is the best day to visit Epcot? Of course there is a lot of difference of opinion about this one! But Disney's own site says that Tuesday and Friday are the most popular days at Epcot. Other sites will tell you differently to that but I guess that as Disney is the only one which has all of the figures I would rather go with their opinion.

What are the opening hours of Disney's Epcot? Generally Future World opens at 9am and World Showcase at 11am. What you will find is that guests generally head for World Showcase at around lunchtime - crowds tend to be low at opening times.

Future World usually closes at 7pm although some attractions such as Test Track and Soarin do remain open until 9pm. World Showcase usually closes at 9pm. There are seasonal variations to these times and you should check exact opening times before you visit by either checking the Disney World official website or calling 407 824 4321.

Extra Magic Hours also make a difference to attendance levels at Epcot. On certain days guests of the Disney World resort hotels have exclusive extra hours access to the parks. You can check the Disney website for when these extra hours are going to be during your visit. For Disney World resort guests they will be given information about this when they check in. If you are a Disney resort guest then it really is worth it to make use of these extra hours which are either before of after official opening times. For Epcot the park will usually open one hour early on one day of the week, and on a different day or two of the week it will stay open for up to 3 hours later. If you are not a Disney resort guest then it can be wise to avoid a park in the morning of an Extra Magic Hour when the park opens early as you will find higher attendance. If the Extra Magic Hour is for late opening then resort guests will usually start arriving late in the day.

Whenever you plan to visit Epcot make sure that you use the Fast Pass System or Single Rider lines at attractions where they are available - it will most certainly save you a lot of time standing in line. You can also plan to arrive at the parks around an hour earlier than official opening time and you will find that the gates do often open early. If you are an early riser there is definitely an advantage to arriving early at the theme parks to hit the major rides before the crowds start to build.

The idea of the World Showcase is to create a taste of the experience of different countries around the world There are 11 Pavilions located around the 40 acre World Showcase Lagoon. Here you will find miniature versions of famous landmarks, beautiful gardens, restaurants, shopping and entertainment of each country.

The countries represented are:

Canada,
The United Kingdom
France
Morocco
Japan
The United States of America
Italy
Germany
China
Norway
Mexico

Which way should you tour around Epcot World Showcase? I always tend to go in an anti clockwise direction and start in Canada. For no other reason than it is just a habit - I don't think there is any advantage to one way or the other. Do be aware though that the path around the lagoon is 1.2 miles long and you will have to walk back to the parking lot, the monorail or your hotel after your visit. So save some energy by taking some rest stops and also trying not to double back too much - you will walk miles! This picture is taken from the Japan Pavilion which is a little less than half the way around the World Showcase lagoon - you can see how far away Spaceship Earth is.

Epcot's World Showcase is seen by many guests as being a very adult orientated park which is not much fun for kids. I would disagree with this as it is one of my kids favorite parts of Disney World. We have been fortunate enough to visit many of the actual countries which are represented and they enjoy the restaurants and entertainment and love browsing around the stores.

But I can see why some parents feel that there is not that much in this part of Epcot for kids. There are no major rides and some children must find the experience pretty tiring too if they are walking. So take a stroller or rent one if you have young kids. Also The Kidcot Fun Stops are a fun way to travel around the park. At every Pavilion there is a table where you collect a mask to color. Travel around and collect a stamp from each country. When you collect all eleven stamps the kids get a certificate. This incredibly simple and free idea keeps children entertained. You would not believe how many masks I have in my home from many years of collecting......

Now I will take you on a journey around one of my favorite parts of Disney World country by country in Epcot's World Showcase.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

Canada is the first pavilion you will come to if you turn right as you go over the bridge from Future World.

Enter the movie theater to experience the 360 degree film O! Canada. This 14 minute presentation highlights the beautiful and diverse landscape of the country. A wonderful overview of Canada but the unfortunate feature of the theater is that guests have to stand. The movie is shown on screens all around you so you do need to move to appreciate it all, but I often wish I could just sit down!

You will find the Kidcot Station just outside the exit to the theater. I often sit there with my 2 year old when he has reached his limit of time on the movie and we need to exit early!

The Le Cellier restaurant is steakhouse which is one of the most difficult restaurants to get a table for in the whole of Disney World. The combination of being very popular and not having that many tables makes this a restaurant which you would be well advised to make Advance Dining Reservations for by calling 407 WDW DINE up to 90 days ahead. You could be lucky and get a walk in but in my experience it is pretty rare. Steaks are the specialty but you will find the king salmon really good too.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

An interesting collection of historic buildings including a Hampton Court influenced palace, a Tudor cottage, Georgian and Regency inspired buildings make up this delightful picture of The United Kingdom. You can even have a traditional British pint in the Rose and Crown.

The United Kingdom Pavilion does not have a movie or ride attraction. One of my favorite entertainment spots though is the band stand where The British Invasion, a Beatles tribute band regularly play. Check the show times for performances as this attraction is tucked behind the buildings and many miss it.

The United Kingdom store sells traditional favorites such as tea,chocolate, Thomas the Tank Engine and of course Winne the Pooh toys.

If you want to dine in The United Kingdom you have a couple of choices. Harry Ramsden's is a great spot for counter service dining. This famous British fish and chip chain translates pretty well to Epcot. The only disadvantage is that there is limited outside seating.

If you want a restaurant meal then the Rose and Crown serves traditional British favorites such as Banges and Mash (sausages and mashed potatoes), Fish and Chips, and Vegetable Curry. Not one of my favorite restaurants in Epcot as I think the quality of the food is somewhat lacking - but the restaurant is an excellent place to be if you can snag a table overlooking the lagoon and time it to be there for the Illuminations Reflections of Earth fireworks.

Photos used under Creative Commons from auntie_rain

The French pavilion is one of my favorites. The buildings are traditional French architecture such as you would expect to find in Paris. I recently visited the city and found myself realizing just how great the representation of the look and feel of the city is at Epcot. The scene is of course dominated by a replica of the Eiffel Tower.

The French pavilion has a movie attraction - Impressions de France. A truly spectacular 18 minute film which is projected around the theater onto 5 screens giving a 200 degree panoramic view of the beautiful scenery and sights of France.

The shops sell perfume,wine,clothing,kitchen items and a lot of replica Eiffel Towers!

The food in France is of course excellent - ranging from fine dining to a Boulangerie Pâtisserie. One of my favorite things to do is to treat myself to a cake or pastry and sit on one of the outside tables and watch the world go by. Or enjoy a crepe and a glass of wine overlooking the lagoon - yes the glass is plastic but the wine still tastes pretty good.

If you want to enjoy an authentic French meal then you have a couple of choices here. If you are looking for the ultimate fine dining experience then visit the Bistro de Paris for the more upscale experience in this pavilion. Enjoy lobster,rack of lamb,duck breast or pork tenderloin. Or a Menu Degustation is available for $75 or $120 with wine pairings.

My favorite is the Chefs de France with excellent food, great service and an informal atmosphere. You will find traditional French favorites such as onion soup,escargots,broiled salmon and of course the creme brulee. If you eat for lunch there is a great value 3 course menu for $19.95.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

Stroll from France to Morocco and experience a complete change of sights, sounds and cultures. Designed to look like a Moroccan city - Casablanca, Fez, and Marrakesh are represented.

Morocco includes the Gallery of Arts. This is often overlooked as many guests walk straight by but it is well worth venturing in to see the displays of science, music and technology. The Fez House is an example of a typical Moroccan house.

I always enjoy the shops in Morocco as it has so many things which you just don't seem to find anywhere else. They sell rugs, leather goods, and clothing. I particularly like the colored lamps - I have one here in my home office.

The sounds of MoRockin can be heard for quite a distance. They are another of my favorite entertainers in Epcot. A blend of traditional Arabic music and rock with a belly dancer to entertain you.

Don't be afraid to try the Restaurant Marrakesh. It offers traditional Moroccan food,friendly service, live music and even a belly dancer. Try the lemon chicken, kebabs, couscous. This restaurant is often easier to get a table at the last minute as it is one of the most overlooked in the World Showcase - it really shouldn't be as it is a lot of fun and although not the best, the food it pretty good.

A favorite counter service restaurant of mine is the Tangierine Cafe. There is seating inside and out and you can enjoy traditional mediterranean food. My kids really like it here too. We enjoy the Tabouleh, Couscous Salad, Olives and the Baklava dessert.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

Japan is one of the most beautiful and elaborate of the pavilions. The pavilion is built around a courtyard surrounded by traditional Japanese buildings and enclosing a garden. To one side is a pagoda where at select times of the day Matsuriza the traditional Japanese drums are played.

A huge Torri gate dominates the edge of the lagoon near the entrance to the pavilion - this is one of the most distinctive landmarks of Epcot.

The store in the Japanese pavilion is my favorite in the whole of Epcot. The Mitsukoshi Department Store is huge and has clothing,food,jewelry,books and even Japanese swords. A place to browse around for a while.

We always have to stop to see Miyuki - a Japanese candy artist. She makes beautiful animal figures out of colored candy.

The food here is excellent too. Another counter service restaurant which tends to get overlooked is the Yakitori House. Tucked away at the back of the pavilion behind the gardens it serves sushi,udon noodles,teriyaki chicken and miso soup. This is a good place for a healthy meal in Epcot. There is limited inside and outdoor seating.

There are now 2 full service dining restaurants in the Japan pavilion. Tepan Edo and Tokyo Dining. Tepan Edo is the new Teppanyaki dining room where guests are served with food prepared by chefs right in front of them. Both restaurants are of a high standard and very popular with guests.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

Look across the lagoon from the Future World side of Epcot and you will notice one pavilion which is directly across from you at the most southerly point of the park - this huge structure built in Colonial style is The American Adventure Pavilion.

At the front of the pavilion at the edge of the lagoon is The America Gardens Theater. This stages outdoor concert and events such as The Candlelight Processional which is a very popular event at Christmas time.

The huge American Adventure building is impressive in it's attention to historical detail. It houses the 30 minute American Adventure show which is an audio animatronics marvel detailing the history of the United States. Your hosts Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain take you on a journey through time. All of the US Presidents appear on stage and the attraction is currently closed awaiting the arrival of President Obama - it will be interesting to hear his speech.

Whilst the American Adventure is impressive I have to say that the store and the dining are not that great in this pavilion. The store is very small and has few items - mainly books and clothing. There is no full service restaurant. The Liberty Inn is counter service and has favorites such as hamburgers,hot dogs and chicken strips. Popular but not exactly exciting!

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

You will immediately see that the Italy pavilion is based around St Mark's Square in Venice. There is even a boat dock in the lagoon with some gondolas (unfortunately for decoration only). The entrance to the pavilion is marked by a 105 foot bell tower. To the left of this is a replica of the 14th Century Doge's Palace. The buildings are so well done you just feel like you are really there.

Unfortunately there are no attractions or shows in Italy but I enjoy spending time there just soaking up the atmosphere. Grab a cappuccino - much cheaper than the ones in the real St Mark's Square - and watch the world go by.

The store in Italy is full of authentic Italian goods such as wine, beautiful masks,books.clothing, jewelry and gourmet food.

The full service restaurant is Tutto Italia. A traditional Italian menu with pasta and fish dishes being the main attraction. I have only dined in this restaurant once since it reopened and I have to say that it really wasn't that special. But if you love Italian food try and get one of the outside tables overlooking the square.

Photos used under Creative Commons from lemoncat1

You get the feeling of being in an historic German town as soon as you walk into this pavilion. The design of the buildings is actually a mixture of various styles. There is a Biergarten towards the back of the pavilion which is modeled around the 16th century town of Rothenberg.

There are shops on both sides of the town square. One of my favorites is the one selling Christmas ornaments. There is a huge selection of specialty food and wine,toys and traditional cuckoo clocks.

As you approach the pavilion from Italy don't forget to look at the model railway. My children love to spend time watching the trains go around.

The Biergarten is a lot of fun. A traditional German buffet is worth it not so much for the quality of it's food but for the entertainment and atmosphere. Open for lunch and dinner this buffet restaurant offers selections of traditional German favorites: Bratwurst,Pork Schnitzel,Bavarian Sausage Salad,Rotisserie Chicken,Braised Red Cabbage,and Black Forest Cake. The main attraction of this buffet is the oompah band complete with leder hosen wearing entertainers. What more can you ask for?

Photos used under Creative Commons from lemoncat1

China is certainly one of the most beautiful of the Epcot pavilions, particularly at night. You enter the pavilion through a large gate and step into a courtyard which is bordered by a huge store, and 2 restaurants. The dominating back drop is The Temple of Heaven building inside of which is the Reflections of China Movie Theater.

The store sells clothing,furniture,jewelry,kitchen ware,silk furnishings and paper fans.

The Reflections of China movie in circle 360 vision is well worth seeing. This attraction is, like the one in Canada,a standing only theater. Whilst it needs to be as you are surrounded by the images and have to turn around to appreciate them fully, this does mean that this is not always the attraction to take small children or tired adults who need to have a rest!

The Lotus Blosson Cafe is the counter service dining option in the China pavilion. It serves very average food with a limited selection. Not one of my favorites!

The Nine Dragons full service restaurant serves all the Chinese cuisine favorites which you would expect: Sesame Chicken,Sweet and Sour Pork,Fried Rice and Shanghai Beef and Tofu. I have eaten here a couple of times but it really isn't one of my favorites. I enjoy Chinese food but here it just doesn't seem that special. And with entrees averaging out at a price of around $20 a plate I just feel that I can enjoy a great Chinese meal elsewhere.

Be sure not to miss the Dragon Legend Acrobats. Amazing performances from some of the best Chinese young acrobats. Check the schedule for show times and be sure to get there early to get a good viewing spot.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

The Norway Pavilion was built to represent Bergen, Oslo, Alesund and Setesdahl. This picturesque pavilion includes a replica of the 14th century Akershus castle, a stave church and replicas of historic traditional buildings.

This is one of only two Epcot pavilions which has it's own ride attraction. Here you will find Maelstrom a water ride which takes you on a dark journey though Viking history. The ride is approximately 4 and a half minutes long and takes you over water falls and gentle drops. This is one of those Disney rides which I could go on again and again. Really well themed and with a sense of humor. But it is pretty dark and although it does not have a height requirement some children (my youngest included) find it pretty scary. At the end of the ride you disembark into a movie theater showing a 5 minute film about Norway. It is worth seeing (once) but if you want to skip this then simply walk straight through the theater - you will of course find yourself in the store!

The store sells trolls,perfume, jewelry,books and hand knitted sweaters.

Akershus restaurant used to be one of my favorites as it was a really high quality buffet of Norweigan food. Unfortunately it now houses the Princess Storybook Dining. Now I know that many people love this. But the food is now I would say the worst in the whole of Epcot. A selection of entrees is cooked to order (these used to be good but the standard has gone way down). The cold buffet used to be my favorite but has been cut down so much there is barely anything there worth eating. Also I don't like it when I see servers emptying food onto a buffet table out of a bag and a bucket but this is what I saw here! So now for the good. If you want to meet the Disney Princesses then this is the place to be. Forget the food and enjoy the interaction with the Disney Princesses and you will love it here. The breakfast here is the best option - also the least expensive.

Mexico is the very first pavilion you will come to if you turn left when exiting Future World. The huge and imposing exterior of the pavilion is modeled after an Aztec Temple of Quetzalcoatl at Teotihuacan. Climb the steps and enter the Temple for a wonderful experience of the sights and sounds of Mexico.

Mexico is the only Epcot pavilion which is housed completely inside a building. This creates a magical atmosphere. You feel as though you are stepping inside a bustling Mexican market place with stalls selling everything from jewelry to traditional carvings, clothing to tequila.

Mexico is the other pavilion in additional to Norway which has it's own ride. The Grand Fiesta Tour Staring the Three Cabelleros. This replaced the El Rio de Tiempo ride but it is pretty much the same. You board a boat and sail past the candlelit restaurant and into scenes depicting ancient Mexico. This 7 minute ride is suitable for all ages.

The counter service restaurant Cantina de San Angel serves decent quality Mexican food. This is a great place to view the Illuminations Reflections of Earth so if you are looking to eat here and snag one of the best tables then arrive early before the show starts at 9pm. One of my favorites here is the frozen margarita.

The San Angel Inn is inside the pavilion in a beautiful candlelit setting at the side of the boat ride river. You can watch the boats sailing past as you dine on the excellent Mexican cuisine.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston

Every night at 9pm Illuminations Reflections of Earth is staged around the World Showcase Lagoon. A combination of fireworks,pyrotechnics and laser technology create this spectacular show. At busy times you do have to pick your spot early to get the best place. The Cantina de San Angel outside the Mexican Pavilion is a good place to view, also the Japan pavilion on the second floor near the restaurant, The Rose and Crown outside dining area alongside the lagoon and the bridge between the United Kingdom and France.

Illuminations Reflections of Earth is a wonderful way to end your day at Epcot. You have to leave the park when it ends and so one thing that you should consider when picking a viewing spot is how you will exit the park. It can be a long walk back to the parking lot. If you are staying in an Epcot resort hotel then you have the perfect location as you can leave through the World Showcase exit. The majority though will walk through Future World to the monorail and the parking lot. Sometimes at busy times it is just easier until the crowd lessens, or dash out when the last firework crosses the sky!

I thought I would end this lens with one of my favorite pictures of Epcot. It is a really unusual picture taken from high up on the Contemporary resort by one of my very favorite Disney photographers. It shows how distinctive the huge Epcot geodesic dome is but how it also seems to belong in that landscape. I will never forget the first time that I visited Epcot. It was the first ever Disney World theme park I visited way back in 1994. It is a place which will always be very special for me - I have spent some great moments there and look forward to many more in the future.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Joe Penniston