EPCOT can be a tricky park to maneuver.
EPCOT
Yes, part of it is because of those massive walls that are still up (but they’re coming down soon! …hopefully), but we’ve said for years that while the park may open at 9AM or 10AM, that doesn’t always mean that’s the best time to EPCOT. We’ve stood by that advice for YEARS but now things are changing in the parks, which means we need to change too.
The truth still stands that many EPCOT festival booths don’t open until around 11AM, which is part of the reason we recommended not getting into the park, or at least not heading back to World Showcase until then.
World Showcase
So what’s the issue now? Well, OTHER things are opening up with the park that are important to cross off your list before you go on with the rest of your day.
Mexico Pavilion
Yes, attractions almost always open up right with the park (and even earlier for Early Entry), but now some of the restaurants in EPCOT open earlier than 11AM too, which can be a big change in your day.
Oasis Sweets and Sips
For example, even though Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is a table service restaurant that you have to get advance dining reservations for (so you can’t just walk up and dine), their opening is scheduled as 8:30AM!
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
And if we’re talking quick service spots, it’s the same thing: the quick service side of La Crêperie de Paris opens at 9AM most days, and La Cantina de San Angel? 10AM! Les Halles also opens at 9AM, which is a great spot to grab breakfast and enjoy your stroll around World Showcase or your wait in the Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure or Frozen Ever After queues.
Frozen Ever After
So if you’re looking to grab some breakfast in the park and take advantage of the rope drop situation, you can now actually DO both at the same time! This is a pretty big change, and it may take a while for it to catch on, so you may still see some lower morning crowds for a little while, especially while festivals are going on.
EPCOT
Keep in mind though that a lot of EPCOT restaurants don’t list their opening and closing times on the My Disney Experience App, so you may need to ask a Cast Member around the park entrance before you walk all the way over to your destination, or check the actual Walt Disney World website. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news!
What’s your favorite thing to rope drop in EPCOT? Tell us in the comments!
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I’ve downgraded Akershus from 5 stars to 2. Now it’s family style instead of buffet where you can get what you want, the selection is much smaller and doesn’t include the awesome cultural food, and the princess parade is gone, now they just visit your table and march around without the kids.
I miss the brioche they had at les Halles and would like to see the Troll Horn come back at Norway (never got to try it), and my daughter is still grieving the end of Harmonious!