It’s my last day of vacation, and so, my last Disney World park report. So, I figured, why not finish my exploration of the most visited theme park in the world feeling inspired! I walked into EPCOT, exhausted but excited, and damn was I met with just pure positivity! EPCOT is unlike the other Walt Disney World Parks. While it has ride and attractions, it isn’t about that. EPCOT is all about learning, exploring, and making a beautiful future, one positive step at a time.

EPCOT is actually a pretty small park but has a huge lake in between the main area and The World Showcase, making it the second biggest park at 300 acres. So it’s actually pretty easy to do most of the main park in a short time before beginning the long journey around The World Showcase lake. The park itself only has three areas  and does not have a specific name for the entrance, differentiating it from the other parks. Instead the entrance has the “big ball,” which looks like a giant golf ball, called Spaceship Earth. This is the main attraction of EPCOT, it is a slow ride through human history focusing on our ability to learn and adapt, from prehistoric times, to the Roman Empire, to our world today. It finishes off by taking the riders through a starlit sky, invoking our ability to decide the future. It is an incredibly moving and educational ride, and one that truly represents Disney’s original concept for EPCOT.

Each area of the park is focused on innovation and development and the betterment of the world, starting with Future World West, which has the impressive areas called The Land and The Sea. These two areas have some pretty amazing features. The Land is an exploration through the world we have today and has one main ride, Soarin’ Around the World, which is a 4D ride where you fly above the ground on a bench (supposed to simulate hang-gliding) and view a wrap around screen of the world. This ride takes you all around the major wonders of the world, from the Egyptian Pyramids, to the Great Wall of China, to the Grand Canyon. It’s an absolutely beautiful journey, further enhanced by stimulating many of our senses.

The Sea features one major ride, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, where you explore the waters with Nemo and other characters from the movie. While this ride is fun, the real attraction that made This Chick excited was the giant Sea Aquarium that immediately follows. This facility is for hurt and endangered animals. It holds 5.7 million gallons of water and is home to sharks, dolphins, manatees, seahorses, turtles, and thousands of fish. The aquarium, as with Animal Kingdom has marine biologists to educate tourists on the type of animals, the reason for their decline or injury, and Disney’s steps to help them. For the Disney kid in all of us, Future World West, also has multiple characters spots where you can meet Baymax from Big Hero 6, Joy and Sadness from Inside Out and of course Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy, all in one building.

The second main area of the park is Future World East, where innovation truly lives. In this area you can race through space in; Mission: Space. You and three others control a rocket as it launches into space and around the world, or around Mars. This ride has two levels, green for less daring riders, where you fly around the world, and orange for brave riders where you fly to Mars and back in an intense, spiralling, G-force ride. For any claustrophobic riders, this one is not for you, but for those able and willing to make the journey, I recommend orange.  The second amazing ride that you must try while in EPCOT is the Test Track, the longest and fastest ride in Disney World. It takes sharp turns, simulates riding up tall hills and spins. But be prepared to wait or go early as this ride is extremely popular.

The last area in EPCOT is the World Showcase, this area is centered around a giant lake and is a tour around multiple countries including, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan, America, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, and Mexico. This area does not have any rides except for in Mexico where you can take a boat ride called the Gran Fiesta Tour that shows the main sights of Mexico with the help of three feathered flamingos. The only other attraction is American Adventure, which is a film that takes you through American film and music. The rest of this area is designated to shops, restaurants, and sights.

Overall EPCOT is a pretty amazing park to visit. It creates the urge to be better, to strive forward, and to make a brighter future. And while it is a part of Disney World, it really stands on its own as a park of science, innovation, exploration, and ultimately progress.

Visit this park, not just for the great rides, but for the amazing inspiration you will feel.