When you go to a theme park like Disney World, you’re likely already expecting there to be rules to follow.
EPCOT
For example — no running, no horseplay, no vulgar words or disrespect towards other guests or the workers at the park — these are all the rules you expect, but Disney World parks come with a few additional rules that may have you giving them a second glance. EPCOT, in particular, has a few rules you’ll definitely want to know about before you plan to spend a whole day there!
Drinking Around The World Has A Specific Start Time
Drinking around EPCOT’s World Showcase Pavilion is what brings a lot of people to EPCOT to begin with, and we totally see why! Nowhere else can you visit eleven different countries (essentially) and try dining options specific to each one. However, if you’re planning to go drinking around the world, you need to know you can’t start until 11 AM.
La Hacienda de San Angel
This is because most EPCOT restaurants and bar/lounge locations in World Showcase don’t open until 11 AM! There are a few exceptions, such as character dining spot Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway, but that’s not where you’d go to drink around the world. So when you’re planning your EPCOT trip, keep this in mind!
Prepare For Motion Sickness Double Time
While motion sickness can hit different people for different reason, EPCOT is home to two of the attractions that seem to cause motion sickness most commonly in people — Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Mission: SPACE. This is especially true for Mission: SPACE, as it’s the only attraction in the entire resort that has bags inside each ride vehicle in case someone gets sick.
Mission SPACE
That being said, if you’re prone to motion sickness in any way, we strongly suggest staying far AWAY from these rides, or being sure you have your anti-nausea medication to take before or after the attraction. Trust us, you don’t want to feel awful for the entire rest of your park day.
If You Want to Ride Cosmic Rewind, You Might Want to Rope Drop
There are two ways to ride Cosmic Rewind — you can pay for a Lightning Lane Single Pass, which can get pricey, especially for those with larger families, or, starting February 25th, you can wait in the standby line. (Disney just announced that it is ending the virtual queue for this ride!).
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
So while you may have previously planned to rope drop Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure or Frozen Ever After, we’re guessing you’ll see the shortest lines for Guardians at rope drop. If you’re not into getting up early, try getting in line just before the park closes for the night.
You Can’t Bring A Sword In…But You Can Buy One
One of Disney World’s rules states that “Firearms, ammunition, knives and weapons of any kind” as well as “Objects or toys that appear to be firearms or weapons” are prohibited from being brought into the parks. However, in EPCOT’s Japan Pavilion, you can visit Mitsukoshi, an iconic store filled with many different kinds of souvenirs similar to those you’d find in Japan. And funny enough, that includes katanas!
Katanas in Mitsukoshi
If you’d like to purchase a sword and then ship it home nearly immediately to not worry about having to pack it in your checked luggage (you won’t be able to bring it in your carry-on), you can ship it from Mitsukoshi right then and there. However, you are allowed to carry it around with you throughout the rest of the park, but be warned that taking it out and wielding it will likely not be met with a good response from security. However, these swords are relatively dull, so keep that in mind as well.
We’re always here to bring you the latest Disney World news and tips to help you have the best vacation, so stay tuned to DFB!
2 New Rules Announced for Disney World in 2025
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Ahhh, but you CAN get a mimosa as early as 9am in the Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in France!