Best Rides at EPCOT: Thrill Seekers, Kids, & Everyone In Between

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It may not have the most rides at Walt Disney World, but EPCOT has a collection of some classic attractions. From thrilling coasters like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind to immersive dark rides like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, this guide covers the best rides at EPCOT for every kind of traveler—kids, adults, thrill-seekers, and even first-time visitors.

Quick List: Best Rides at EPCOT

• Best Ride for Thrill Seekers & Teens: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Best Ride for Families: Soarin’ Around the World
• Best Ride for Small Children: The Seas With Nemo and Friends
• Best Ride for Older Adults & Adults Who Want to Relax: Spaceship Earth
• Best Roller Coaster: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Best Indoor Ride: Soarin’ Around the World
• Best Ride for Short Lines: Living With The Land
• Best Ride for Historians: Spaceship Earth

Why You Should Trust Me

I’ve studied the theme park industry for over 20 years, including spending some time working rides themselves. I’ve ridden over 200 roller coasters at the time of this post being written, and visited over 40 theme parks, zoos, and fairgrounds (including EPCOT), riding as many rides as possible at each.

While I myself do not have children, I base ratings for children and families on what I enjoyed as a child as well as what I’ve seen other children in my life enjoy. If you see a child smiling during a ride, that’s usually a pretty good sign.

Best Ride for Thrill Seekers and Teens

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is exactly what EPCOT needed. This roller coaster is actually the best ride at EPCOT, in my opinion.

Featuring a backward launch with cars that are designed to turn at certain points on their own, it’s kind of like an updated version of Space Mountain. Going with the Guardians of the Galaxy theme, there are five different songs you can get on your ride, and it’s always exciting to see which one you’ll get.

This roller coaster is currently the longest indoor roller coaster in the world and the most intense ride at EPCOT. Keep in mind, though that the spinning of the cars has been known to make some people motion-sick.

While it may not have the record-breaking speeds of the fastest roller coasters in Florida, it’s definitely a fun adventure that provides thrills without being too scary.

Expert Tip: When boarding, ask to sit in row 9. This ends up being the last row for the start of the coaster, and is the best seat in my opinion!

Best Ride for Families

Soarin’ Around the World

Soarin’ is a true classic, and one of the best rides at EPCOT, especially for families.

This simulated flight uses a giant screen and moving seats to take you across global landmarks. With stunning visuals and in-seat scents, Soarin’ delivers awe-inspiring moments without being too intense.

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This ride also features different scents, so you smell different things for each scene. It’s calm and relaxing, but the large screen makes it super enjoyable.

Best Ride for Small Children

The Seas With Nemo and Friends

The Seas is an omni-mover style dark ride that combines gentle movement with a kid-friendly storyline. It’s found in World Nature, and its connection to the The Seas Pavilion makes it educational too.

This underwater adventure has characters from Finding Nemo, though, so this slow-moving ride will be sure to keep little kids entertained. It’s also a great break from the Florida heat.

Best Ride for Older Adults and Adults Who Want To Relax

Spaceship Earth

Possibly the most iconic attraction at EPCOT, Spaceship Earth is the ride inside “the giant golf ball”. This slow-moving, educational ride explores the history of communication through time.

While some parts may feel dated, it’s still a must-do EPCOT experience. Ride it for the ultimate in EPCOT nostalgia!

Best Roller Coaster

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

It’s the only roller coaster at EPCOT, so this wins the best roller coaster category by default. Don’t let that fool you, though – it’s a great ride. While this roller coaster in the dark isn’t one of the biggest roller coasters in Florida, it still packs plenty of thrills. It’s a one-of-a-kind thrill experience that combines theming with thrills.

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Best Indoor Ride

Soarin’ Around the World

The vast majority of the rides at EPCOT are indoors, but there’s just no beating Soarin’ in my opinion. Relaxing, fun, and techonologically impressive – definitely on the best rides at EPCOT and something to check out when you visit.

Best Ride for Short Lines

Living With The Land

Don’t let the short lines fool you, Living With The Land is an enjoyable, educational experience and one of the best rides at EPCOT. It’s a slow-moving boat ride that educates riders on…..the land, and why it’s important. It features a trip through Disney World’s greenhouse, which is decorated with lights for the holidays.

While it may not be the most adrenaline-pumping ride at the park, it’s pretty underrated, so check it out – it’s near Soarin’ so you can hit both of these indoor attractions up one right after the other.

Best Ride for Historians

Spaceship Earth

This ride opened with the park, and also happens to be housed the park’s iconic structure. So whether or not you know it, you’re actually looking at a ride inside a building the entire time you see “the giant golf ball” at EPCOT.

It’s a great example of what EPCOT was when it first opened – a theme park focused on education through unique attractions. As I said before, it may need some updating, but it’s still one of the best rides at EPCOT.

Which Rides Have the Longest Wait Times?

Wait times are going to depend on the day, but most of the time, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, and Frozen Ever After tend to consistently have the longest wait times in the park.

If you’re looking to minimize wait times, consider purchasing Lightning Lane during your visit to EPCOT.