Is EPCOT Sensory-Friendly?

If you are you thinking about heading to EPCOT at Disney World but some of your family members have sensory sensitivities, then you’re in the right place. Let’s jump in and find out if EPCOT is sensory-friendly.

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Image of spaceship earth from EPCOT. From moms make it magical dot com.

EPCOT is known for its iconic “golf ball” at the front of the park, aka Spaceship Earth. And it also gets tons of chatter for the various festivals that happen here throughout the year. It was the second of the four Walt Disney World theme parks to open, welcoming guests beginning in 1982. There’s definitely a lot of history here for Disney fans, but how does it do in terms of being sensory-friendly?

First, I want to acknowledge that some of this is very subjective. Individuals have varying sensory triggers. And each person will have multiple ways of finding relief from sensory overload. So this isn’t going to be a straightforward answer.

And if you want to know more about whether Disney World as a whole is sensory-friendly, that is written about in detail here.

RELATED: Is Magic Kingdom Sensory Friendly?

Sensory Friendly Aspects of EPCOT

But let’s start talking about the GOOD at EPCOT when it comes to how sensory-friendly it is.

SPACIOUS & SPREADOUT

One of the most sensory-friendly aspects of EPCOT is its layout. This theme park is very spread out. It is actually the second largest park among the four theme parks at a whooping 300 acres, with Animal Kingdom coming first at 500 acres.

But in terms of actual walkable area, EPCOT takes the cake. EPCOT is undoubtedly the park where you will track the most number of steps on your Apple Watch or Fitbit. Because it is spread out, there are more opportunities to get away from the crowds.

There are tons of quiet nooks throughout the World Showcase. This is especially true if you walk further into the pavilions, away from the main walkways (which can get congested). I especially love the United Kingdom pavilion, Morocco pavilion, and Canada pavilion for hidden nooks.

The area near Journey into Imagination with Figment also tends to not be crowded. The Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival is right next door, which can be a great way to get into air conditioning and away from crowds. There’s usually a Mickey meet and greet here without a long wait. 

Further down near the Seas area (with the Finding Nemo ride, and the aquarium), crowds tend to not accumulate here either. 

LESS THRILLING ATTRACTIONS

EPCOT also offers a variety of attractions that are less thrilling and could be considered sensory-friendly to some, as a good majority do not have any height requirements. Here are some highlights: 

  1. The Seas with Nemo & Friends: A calm, slow-moving ride that takes you through an aquarium with beautiful marine life.
  2. Spaceship Earth: Located inside the iconic geodesic sphere, this attraction is a slow-moving journey through the history of human communication.
  3. Living with the Land: A serene boat ride through greenhouses and agricultural displays.
  4. Journey into Imagination with Figment: A whimsical ride that engages the senses in a playful, non-threatening way.
  5. World Showcase Pavilions: These pavilions offer cultural experiences, food, and exhibits without any height requirements or high-intensity thrills.
Image of EPCOT attractions divided by height. mission space: orange is 44". Guardians of the Galaxy cosmic rewind is 42". Soarin' around the world and Test track are 40". All the other attractions do not have any height requirement.

The caveat here is that the lack of height requirement doesn’t always mean it WON’T be scary for every child. So while these attractions aren’t thrilling in the “traditional” sense, it could still be triggering and overwhelming for some sensory sensitive kids.

SEASONAL FESTIVALS

EPCOT is known for its seasonal festivals, such as the Flower and Garden Festival, Food and Wine Festival, and Festival of the Arts. During these times, the park is adorned with beautiful decorations and offers additional activities and experiences that are generally low-key and sensory-friendly.

Image of EPCOT during Flower & Garden Festival.

Some examples include: beautiful topiaries of Disney characters during Flower and Garden, various scavenger hunts, and Christmas storytellers for Festival of the Holidays. However, it’s worth noting that festivals can draw larger crowds, especially around the World Showcase. 

NON-RIDE EXPERIENCES

In addition to the festivals, EPCOT continually offers a lot of non-ride experiences that might be less overstimulating for sensitive kids. The KIDCOT stations around World Showcase is a fun touch for kids who want a little interactive activity as they visit each country’s pavilion.

EPCOT also has the most character meet and greets sprinkled throughout the whole park. This is a great plus if you have a child who may not enjoy rides and prefers character interactions.

The a cappella performers at the America pavilion, the Voices of Liberty, is an ongoing show which is really enjoyable and relaxing.

Other examples include the mariachi band in Mexico, and the JAMMitors drum show. Those could be a little loud for those with sensitive ears but its a more “chill” form of entertainment at Disney World.

ABUNDANCE OF INDOOR ATTRACTIONS TO ESCAPE THE HEAT

A major advantage of EPCOT, especially to those who are heat sensitive, is the abundance of indoor attractions. Even though it’s very spread out, there are SO many indoor nooks everywhere.

The Land pavilion, which houses Soarin’ Around the World and Living with the Land, is a great way to escape the heat. There are also multiple food options—Garden Grill (table service) and Sunshine Seasons (quick service)—inside the same building.

Just next door at the Seas pavilion, you can ride The Seas with Nemo & Friends, watch the Turtle Talk with Crush show, and explore the aquarium. An added bonus is that none of these attractions are ever overly crowded.

And around World Showcase, not every pavilion has an indoor attraction BUT its easy to escape into the gift shops for a little reprieve from the heat.

Sensory Challenges to Consider at EPCOT

ITS SIZE

Disney World parks ranked by size. 1st is Animal Kingdom. 2nd is EPCOT. 3rd is Hollywood Studios and 4th is Magic kingdom. Screenshots of each park from Google maps is included.

EPCOT’s expansive layout is both a blessing and a curse. While the spacious environment can be less overwhelming, it also means a lot of walking. This can be draining, especially for young children or sensory sensitive children.

Even if you are out of your “stroller era” at home, Disney World is a different story. Especially at EPCOT. It is highly suggested you bring a good, sturdy, and comfy stroller for your kiddos. I like this Baby Jogger for its huge canopy for a single stroller. And this is a great double stroller option if you have two kids who need to be in a stroller.

RELATED: 18 Essential Items to Bring to Disney World

CROWD BOTTLENECKS

This happens in parts of any of the Disney World theme parks, but it is especially notable at EPCOT. Certain areas in EPCOT can become very congested, especially during peak times and festivals. Popular attractions often create bottlenecks, which can be overwhelming for those sensitive to crowded spaces.

The entrance to World Showcase, especially around Mexico and Norway (near Frozen Ever After), or by France (near Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure) can be particularly crowded. The area near Test Track and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind can also be very busy.

FESTIVAL CROWDS

EPCOT hosts several popular festivals throughout the year. While these festivals add extra fun and activities, they also attract larger crowds, which can be overwhelming, especially on weekends and evenings. There are many young adults who are there to “eat and drink around the world”. So, it’s possible to encounter some unruly folks later into the evening.

If the festival offerings aren’t a major priority for you, definitely look into those “lull periods” between festivals. Aka “diet EPCOT”. There’s usually a week or two in between each respective festival. It’s likely you’ll notice a drop in the crowds then.

Infographic of EPCOT festival crowds vs. "DIET EPCOT" crowds. Jan 1-11 2024 is Diet EPCOT. Jan 12-Feb 19 2024 is festival of the arts. Feb 20-27 2024 is Diet EPCOT. Feb 28-May 27 2024 is Flower & Garden Festival. May 28-Aug 28 2024 is Diet EPCOT. Aug 29-Nov 23 is Food & Wine Festival. Nov 24-28 is Diet EPCOT. Nov 29-Dec 30 is Festival of the Holidays.

NIGHTTIME FIREWORKS

There are nightly fireworks at EPCOT. The entirety of the World Showcase will darken every night for the nighttime spectacular. Currently, the show is called Luminous—The Symphony of Us. It involves fireworks, moving water fountains, music, and light effects. It can be loud and overwhelming with some sensitively wired kids. And not only that, it can draw crowds, which can be difficult for some as well.

Related: 3 Ways to Manage Fear of Fireworks at Disney World

A LOT OF INDOOR DARK RIDES

Some kids find indoor dark rides very overwhelming and scary. And EPCOT has a LOT of these. And many of them have no height requirement, so it is easy to quickly assume that it’s “family-friendly” and that all kids will love it. Examples: Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Living with the Land, or the Seas with Nemo & Friends.

While it is helpful to have a lot of indoor attractions to get away from the Orlando heat and humidity, it’s often not a good fit for kids who are scared of dark rides or shows.

Journey of Water is the only attraction that is completely outdoors. And Test Track is the only ride with a portion of it that goes outside. Everything else is all indoors.

While this bodes well for those who are heat sensitive or sensitive to getting wet in Florida’s sudden rainstorms, it isn’t so great for kiddos who are more comfortable with outdoor attractions. 

So, is EPCOT sensory-friendly after all?

Overall, EPCOT isn’t the worst park when it comes to how sensory-friendly it is. While certain parts of the park can get bottlenecked and congested at times, there are still plenty of ways to escape the crowds.

You can find tons of hidden nooks to escape the sensory overload due to EPCOT’s sheer size. But if you’re not sure where to find them, EPCOT could easily become overwhelming.

EPCOT would also be a more challenging park if your child or anyone in your travel party gets sensory overload from indoor attractions. 

Making sure you prepare yourself and your children for what to expect and how to stay regulated, will be KEY to an enjoyable day at EPCOT.

If you’ve been to EPCOT before, how sensory-friendly did you find it? What’s working and what could be improved? I’d love to hear about your experience!

Find Community

If you need extra support and community from other parents of highly sensitive kids going to Disney World, I encourage you to join my Facebook group—“Planning Disney for Highly Sensitive Kids (and Adults too!)! You can ask all your questions and get feedback from a wonderful group of Disney-loving parents who are also looking to mitigate meltdowns and maximize the magic during their Disney World vacation.

FREE Disney Ride Planner Printable

Also, I wanted to remind you to download your FREE copy of my must-have Disney ride planner tool

With my Disney Ride Planner tool, it will be such a breeze to keep track of which rides you want to avoid and which you want to try with your highly sensitive kids. I promise it will make planning your park days SO much easier! 

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