After waking up early the previous morning to go to Animal Kingdom, we were very happy to sleep in a little the next morning. EPCOT didn’t open until 10AM so we didn’t have to wake up nearly as early.

While Animal Kingdom is focused on more of the nature aspect, EPCOT is worldly and futuristic in a sense. The front of the park lends itself to a more “futuristic” take while the back of the park is sectioned off into different countries for a global feel.

Heading to EPCOT

 Since we didn’t have to rush off early morning we had a chance to go down to the resort cafeteria to eat breakfast.

Sky and I really wanted crêpe for breakfast so we didn’t eat at the resort. We just watched while everyone else ate. We’d regret this later.

After everyone else finished eating, we headed towards the skyliner. Part of the reason why we decided to stay at the Art of Animation was because it had access to use the skyliner to get to some of the parks. EPCOT was one of them.

I kept calling them “sky buckets” because that’s what they’re called in Six Flags Over Georgia (before they were removed from the park). Some of the “buckets” had Disney characters and some were just a color. We’d hoped to get a character (we nearly got Miguel from Coco), but we ended up in a plain bucket. It was still really fun to go up and look over the Disney property. I thought of it as another ride.

We did go through another skyliner station on the way to EPCOT but since the cast members knew that was our final stop, we didn’t have to leave our bucket.

Around the World at EPCOT

When we landed in EPCOT, we were actually at the back entrance, not the main entrance. Because I mapped out our itinerary ahead of time, I knew we’d stop here which was close to the crêpe station and restaurant.

Mission Crêpe – France

The flower festival was happening during our visit so we all took some pictures before heading to our first ride. Sky and I went towards what we would thought would be the crêpe cart but it didn’t look like it was opened. We thought maybe they were closer to the actual crêpe restaurant which more towards the back of the “France” area.

The rest of our friends got in line for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure while we continued our mission to find the crêpes. The restaurant itself had a long line but it looked like a sit down restaurant which wasn’t what we wanted. Finally, we asked a cast member where the cart was.

“Oh, the crêpe cart is closed today,” they said. We instantly deflated. We were both so excited to have crepes for breakfast and this was one the place we could get them.

“What about the restaurant?” Sky asked.

“That’s reservation only.” We both groaned in annoyance. Not that we had time for it but I checked the Disney app just to see if there were any reservations. There weren’t. Honestly, I knew that by just looking at the line of people.

Jaded, Sky and I walked back to our friends, who didn’t move much in line. Remy’s ride was the newest ride in EPCOT at the time so I knew it’d have the longest line. Since we were put at the entrance closest to France, I thought we might as well get it out of the way.

The wait was about two hours but I’d say it was worth it. The ride was pretty fun as we rode around with Remy as “fellow rats”.

Food (Finally!)

After the ride, some of us started the drinking around the world venture. Since part of this trip was to celebrate Sky’s birthday, she said she wanted to drink around the world. In France, we bought wine. One of the cast members recognized the city I lived in from my ID and I felt a sort of kinship to find another Georgian.

While we all sipped on our wine, Sky and I were still hungry since we couldn’t get our crêpes. We skipped through “Morocco” and “Japan” to go to “America” where we split a giant turkey leg. It definitely hit the spot.

Sky and Skye split a cocktail in America. I thought I would also participate in the around the world drinking but already I knew I wasn’t going to drink much. Instead, I went to the Outpost area to get a pineapple skewer with tajin. I saw a couple of walking around with one and all of sudden craved some fresh fruit. Everyone stayed seated in the shade and drinking while they waited for me in the somewhat long line.

A Little Shopping

Instead of going back to Morocco and Japan, we decided to keep moving forward. As we walked a little we’d already seen Jasmine, Mulan, and Aurora (Sleeping Beauty). We didn’t take a picture with them but it was nice to see a few characters.

In Italy we went inside a gift shop (mostly to get away from the sun). I saw a tea cup set that would match perfectly with my kitchen color palette. I’d just put an offer on a house earlier that month and I would be closing on it shortly after coming back from the trip.

Cali and Skye saw me eyeing the set. I’d put it back because I didn’t want to spend too much money on the trip. But the two of them went in together and got the set for me as a pre-housewarming gift. I was so touched I nearly cried!

In the next shop which was more like a jewelry store, Sky bought herself a crown for her birthday. We helped choose between Cinderella and Aurora. They were made of rhinestones but each crown had its own unique shape.

We continued our trek around the world and stopped in “China” which had a lot of tempting things to buy. We’d all separate here at one point some going into one store or another. I knew I didn’t want to be tempted so I wandered into “Norway” and into a dark, very well air-conditioned room (which I now know is the Stave Church Gallery). Skye and Elise found me and joined me in the cool.

The “Rest of the World”

After the brief shopping stint, we all got some sweets from the bakery. Then, we got in line for Frozen Ever After because, why not? Waiting in that line was peak heat. I could wait to get to the shaded part of the line.

I’ll be honest, the Frozen ride wasn’t too memorable. However, I was surprised that it was a water/boat ride. I didn’t know what to expect.

Once we finished we got off the ride, we hit a crossroads. Elise said she wanted to go to Japan before all of the shops closed so she went back. There was a little drama between two other friends after that so we took the time to separate a bit.

We still snacked on something a little more savory in “Mexico” since we didn’t really have lunch. Once everything had settled, the four of us continued around the world.

Cutting across, our next stop was “Canada” but we kind of skipped over it and went to the “United Kingdom”.  Sky got another drink from one of these places but I remember she didn’t like it.

At this point we were back where we started, stop by Morroco again, and met Elise in Japan for dinner. We ate at Katsura Grill. Even with the heat, I still ordered ramen. I love ramen! That being said, I wasn’t that impressed with it.

After dinner we all split up again. Elise, Skye, and I went to the shops in Japan. Cali and Sky went to get more drinks. Sometime passed and Cali told us Sky spilled wine on herself so she’d gone back to the room to change.

It was getting close to the end of the day so I wasn’t sure if we should’ve gone with her but she said she’d be back.

Last Hours in EPCOT

We decided to fit one more ride in (or I guess two more) at the front of the park. Instead walking all the way around again, we waited for the ferry to take across the lake. We’d been walking all day so anything to cut that walk short, we’d take.

We tried to stall as long as we could to see if Sky would make it back so we could all ride another ride together. When we got in line for Spaceship Earth, it went by much faster than we expected. I had my reservations about riding based on my previous experience on this ride. Thankfully, this time it didn’t get stuck.

Harmonious!

Sky met us outside the ride once we got off. We would’ve rode it again but we didn’t have enough time before the firework/waterworks show, Harmonious started. It was new at the time so we wanted to see what they’d do.

We walked back down to the back of the park to find a good spot (which is harder than you think).

Ya’ll…When I tell you this was my favorite firework show out of the entire trip! I absolutely loved this. It had songs that we knew and loved from all the different films that featured other cultures and some were in the native language that film took place in.

As an example, Mulan’s song was in English but there was another singer that sung in Chinese. There was the Hunchback of Notre Dame which is set in France so they had a singer singing in French.

I love music and I love different experiencing different cultures so this was so ecstatic for me. I even looked up the soundtrack when we got back to the room.

EPCOT used to be a park I’d consider skipping but I would go just to see the Harmonious show alone.

There were a few rides we didn’t get to ride so I hope I can do those next time. How would you spend time in EPCOT?