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Continuing on last week’s theme, it is now time to talk about the best spots to stay cool at Epcot as we enter the summer season. This park is the best when it comes to indoor attractions. Other than short walks between the pavilions, the weather really isn’t a factor at Epcot. There is no reason to be outside in the blazing sun or pouring rain for any length of time. However, there are some big rides that many guests can’t ride due to height restrictions or just plain fear. I’m going to highlight the best indoor spots (with seating) to take a break or wait for your friends and family who are braving the attractions.
Every pavilion in Future World has some good air-conditioned spots to take a break. However, they aren’t always easy to find, unless you know where to look. As you approach Spaceship Earth, the only way inside appears to be through the attraction entrance. If you don’t want to ride or you have a sleeping baby in a stroller, I suggest heading up the left or right side of the building and entering near the “Project Tomorrow” sign, which is also the exit of the attraction. Once inside, you will find a large “digital playground” with a soft bench near the wheel chair parking area.
Continuing into the center of Future World, you will find Innoventions East and West on either side of the Fountain of Nations. Although many of the attractions in these buildings are under refurbishment, some of the best seating areas in the park can be found here. There are benches and open areas that are ideal for larger groups or families with strollers.
Heading over to Future World West, you will find The Seas, The Land, and Journey Into Imagination. The best spot, in terms of size, is going to be the Sunshine Seasons food court area inside of The Land. There are plenty of tables and chairs, and unless you are coming at the height of lunch hour, you should have no trouble finding a place to sit. There aren’t too many indoor seats inside of The Seas, but you can sit on the carpeted ledges that can be found against the glass viewing areas of the aquarium. Imagination is actually your best choice if you have a stroller, as the other two pavilions make you park them outside. If you enter through the gift shop on the left side of the building, you will find a nice bench as you approach ImageWorks, the digital playground at the exit of the attraction. I rarely see anyone sitting in this spot.
Heading across to Future World East, we find Test Track, Mission Space and Universe of Energy, which all have excellent indoor areas that are often overlooked. Test Track has a large Chevy showroom after you pass through the gift shop at the exit of the pavilion. Once you get to the Chevys, you should keep making lefts until you get to the attraction photo display area. Here, you will find a good size bench to wait for anyone who may be on the ride. You definitely want to position yourself to see guests exiting, or they could walk right by you.
Mission Space is an interesting attraction. There are possibly more warnings listed at the entrance to this ride than any other attraction in Central Florida. That, combined with the fact that there are sick sacs on the actual ride, means that many guests won’t endure this trip to Mars. So, the non-riders tend to sit on the outside benches that are found near the exit. However, if you take a short walk through the gift shop, you will find yourself in the Advanced Training Lab, where plenty of air-conditioned seating can be found.
I’ve saved my favorite Future World spot for last. Ellen’s Energy Adventure is a great attraction to enjoy when it is super hot or raining outside. You are seated for close to 40 minutes, with strong air conditioning keeping you cool. However, there may be situations when you don’t have that much time to spare. Or, you may need to make a phone call or answer an email, and you need to find a quiet spot. The exit area to this attraction is excellent for this. You just need to walk to the left of the pavilion and you’ll find the bank of exit doors. If you look closely, you will see a handle on the one to the far right. When you walk in, there are benches on the left wall and you almost never see anyone sitting there. I have yet to find a quieter location to make a phone call in any Disney park. However, the doors open every ten minutes to let out the guests. So, it will get noisy for a few minutes, but it quickly quiets down and you’ll have the area to yourself once again.
Next week, I will talk about ways to take refuge from the Florida sun while walking around Epcot’s World Showcase. Stay tuned!
I hope you enjoy “Tour Guide Tuesday.” If you want additional tips while you’re in the parks, WDW Guided Tours is happy to help!
