While it does not have the magical castle of Magic Kingdom, or the exciting adventure of Hollywood Studio’s Galaxy’s Edge, EPCOT is definitely worth dedicating at least one day to during your Disney World Vacation. If you are planning your next Disney vacation you may be wondering what the best days to go to Epcot are.
To help you make the most of your day in EPCOT, I’ve compiled a guide to help you know when you can avoid the larger crowds and enjoy shorter wait times.
Is EPCOT Worth Spending a Day at?
Walt’s Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow is worth spending an entire day at! It is the home to most of Disney World’s newest rides and attractions and has some of the most delicious food out of all the theme parks. For many Disney World fanatics, EPCOT is considered a favorite out of the four Walt Disney World theme parks.
You can take a stroll around the World Showcase and visit the various pavilions for eleven different countries. You and your family can take a picture in front of Spaceship Earth, one of Walt Disney World’s most iconic backdrops for a photo.
They also have numerous festivals for you to enjoy, no matter what time of year you’re visiting. These festivals all offer unique food booths and fun activities for all ages.
Can EPCOT be done in one day?
While you may not experience every show and attraction in just one day, guests can experience most of EPCOT’s highlights in one day.
Wait times for attractions can get long, especially for popular attractions such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. If you plan your day out carefully and take advantage of Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, you can hit all of your must-do activities.
Overall, EPCOT has plenty to do and is worth spending a day at. Even if you were not to go on any rides or attractions, you could spend hours simply walking through World Showcase where you can shop, eat, and just enjoy the sights of numerous countries without ever needing to get a passport.
It’s one of my favorite theme parks simply because each country’s pavilion is beautiful and unique.
Tips for Doing Epcot in One Day
These tips can help you maximize your time at Epcot and get a lot done in one day.
Rope Drop—I recommend getting to EPCOT right when the theme park opens at rope drop. This is when wait times are at their lowest. I suggest hitting some of the most popular rides and attractions before even more visitors show up.
Advanced Dining Reservations – Advanced dining reservations are also recommended if you plan to enjoy a sit-down dining experience, though you do not have to have a formal meal to enjoy the food EPCOT has to offer. They have plenty of quick service and food booths so if you don’t have a reservation, there are still numerous food options to choose from.
Evening Extra Magic Hours – Extended evening extra magic hours is a perk of staying on property at Deluxe Disney resort. Make sure to check the calendar, as a different park stays open two hours later each night for Deluxe guests.
Early Theme Park Entry – If you are staying anywhere on Disney property or the Good Neighbor hotels you can get into any theme park 30 minutes early, for every day of your stay. There will be shorter lines, and great photo opportunities.
What is the Least Busy Month at EPCOT?
If you’re looking to avoid crowds, January, February, and September is typically the best time to do so. These three months do not overlap with school breaks as long as you avoid Labor Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.
Because these times are less busy, they also tend to be Disney’s ideal time for refurbishment. Make sure you check on Disney’s website to make sure your favorite attraction won’t be down during this time.
What Days of the Week are Best for Epcot?
Unfortunately, we have gotten to the point where Disney World always feels busy, however, there are some hacks to help you make the most of your trip!
EPCOT is popular among Florida locals, which means it is much more popular and busy on the weekends. Starting Friday afternoon, the weekend crowds begin to pour in. Because of this, the best days of the week to visit EPCOT is on any weekday between Tuesday and Thursday.
How Much Does Day of the Week Matter?
When it comes to EPCOT, the day of the week is more important than it is for other theme parks at Disney World.
EPCOT has much more than just rides and attractions, so locals like to spend their weekends or evenings in the theme park to grab drinks, get food, or hang out around the World Showcase. During the festivals, the weekends are also popular for locals so they can check out the new seasonal food offerings with friends and family.
By avoiding weekends and Friday evenings, you may be able to avoid additional crowds and higher wait times. Mornings during the week are going to lead to a much more enjoyable time at EPCOT.
What day of the week is EPCOT least crowded?
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the least crowded days since they are not attached to a weekend. Friday evening, Saturdays, and Sundays are usually more crowded as the locals come to enjoy drinks and food. This can lead to busy crowds and long lines.
What is the busiest day at EPCOT?
The busiest days at Epcot are the weekends where you are likely to see higher crowds. If you want to avoid the crowds, you should also avoid any holidays or weeks that tend to overlap with school breaks such as fall break, winter break, spring break, and summer.
Mondays also tend to have some of the longest wait times as many families who come for the weekend, also stay on Monday to extend their visit.
Should I go to EPCOT on Saturday or Sunday?
Weekends in general are going to be busy at EPCOT, but we can’t always avoid certain days when planning a vacation. If you can’t avoid EPCOT on a weekend, I recommend going on a Sunday as Saturdays are usually busier.
What is the Best Day of the Week to go to EPCOT’s Festivals?
For any festival, visiting between Tuesday and Thursday is going to lead to lower crowds. I also recommend getting there before the booths open at 11:00 so you can be one of the first to enjoy all the delicious foods.
Below, I’ll discuss which weeks can lead to fewer crowds at each festival.
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts is one of their shortest festivals and runs from mid-January through February. It features the Disney on Broadway concert series, fun art-themed activities, and delicious food booths. You can even help create your own artwork by contributing to a larger-than-life paint by numbers mural.
Because of the time of year, this festival is not as crowded as the others, but I still recommend trying to visit on a weekday to avoid the local Floridians who like to enjoy the festivals on weekends.
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
The Flower & Garden Festival in EPCOT runs from the end of February to late May. You can take in the gorgeous views of the character-themed topiaries and listen to live music while also sampling various plates from the food booths around the park.
Because of when this festival takes place, it tends to overlap with schools’ spring breaks so you’ll want to avoid April and March if possible. Early May is a good bet since most schools are still in session. The end of February also boasts low crowds since it is after the winter break visitors and before spring break starts.
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
This festival starts at the end of August and goes through the end of November. The end of August can feel less busy since most families are back in school. Unfortunately, this is also one of the hottest and most humid times of the year, which can make your day in the theme parks feel unbearable and uncomfortable.
As long as you avoid Labor Day, September can be a great time to enjoy the Food & Wine Festival. Because of the Halloween events such as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party over at Magic Kingdom and all of the decorations at the Walt Disney World Resort, October tends to get busy no matter what month you go.
Early November is much better, especially if you can get in before you get too close to Thanksgiving.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
The holiday season at Disney World is a fantastic time to visit because of special events like Mickey’s Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can also visit the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays from the end of November through the end of December.
Unfortunately, these holiday-themed events also mean that the parks are more crowded. Because of this, you’ll want to try to avoid the two weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
The entire week of Christmas is insanely busy. If you can go during the first week or two of December, that will be your best bet to avoiding crowds and high wait times at EPCOT.
Final Thoughts on the Best Day to go to Epcot
The best way to avoid large crowds and long lines is by visiting on weekdays, especially Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Avoid the weekends, holidays, and opening week of festivals. The mornings offer quieter hours, especially if you take advantage of early entry and rope drop.
Don’t forget to look at holidays and seasonal events that may be scheduled during your trip. This will make it easier to enjoy all that Epcot has to offer.
Read Also: The Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World in 2025
