top of page

Read along for step-by-step information that takes you through a day at EPCOT!

Lightning Lanes

​Lightning Lanes Multi Pass

Lightning Lanes can be purchased through the My Disney Experience App, so you can go through the line more quickly than the standby line.  Prices vary depending on the theme park and time of year.  If you are park hopping, you can buy the multi pass for the first park you will be visiting.  Walt Disney World Resort guests can book 3 lightning lanes 7 days in advance for the duration of your visit, and all other off site guests can book 3 lightning lanes 3 days ahead.

​

One Tier 1 Lightning Lane can be purchased ahead of time:

  • Frozen Ever After

  • Remy's Ratatouille Adventure

  • Soarin' Around the World

  • Test Track

​

Two Tier 2 Lightning Lanes can be purchased ahead of time: 

  • Disney and Pixar and Short Film Festival

  • Journey Into Imagination with Figment

  • Living with the Land

  • Mission: SPACE

  • Spaceship Earth

  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends

  • Turtle Talk with Crush

 

STEP 1: Once you use your first Lightning Lane, you can book your next Lightning Lane in any park in either Tier 1 or Tier 2.

STEP 2: Repeat. Repeat. Etc.

​

Single Pass Lightning Lanes

There are some lightning lanes that you can purchase individually. Multi Pass and Single Pass Lightning Lanes are two separate purchases.  You can purchase one without the other.  You can only buy up to two Single Pass Lightning Lanes per day and only one per ride.

​

Guardians of the Galaxy Single Pass Lightning Lanes can be purchased at Magic Kingdom.

​

All Walt Disney World Resort guests as well as guests staying at Shades of Green and Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels can purchase Single Pass Lightning Lanes 7 days ahead of check-in starting at 7 A.M. EST.  Single Pass Lightning Lanes can be planned for the duration of your stay (up to 14 days). 

 

All other guests can book their Single Pass Lightning Lanes 3 days ahead of their visit starting at 7 A.M. EST.

Typical Park Hours

EPCOT has the most consistent park hours in Walt Disney World.

​

Almost always, EPCOT opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 9:00 p.m. During the busy holiday season when the International Festival of the Holidays start, the park closes at 9:30 p.m.

Early Entry time starts at 8:30 a.m.  The main entrance and International Gateway entrance will open about 30 minutes prior to Early Entry.

​

On nights when there is Extended Evening Hours, the park will be open 9:00-11:00 p.m. for guests staying at a deluxe or DVC resort.

​

Disney lists park hours as early as 70 days ahead on the My Disney Experience App. HOWEVER, the finalized the park hours are updated two full weeks ahead.  When planning, finalize your itinerary 1-2 weeks before your trip with the updated park schedule.

​

Example:  The day you visit EPCOT, the posted hours are 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

​

Transportation starts: 7:00/7:30 a.m.

Gates open: 8:00 a.m.

Early Entry: 8:30 a.m.

Park Opens: 9:00 a.m.

Park Closes: 9:00 p.m.

How To Get To EPCOT

Transportation options vary depending on where you're staying:

​

Walt Disney World Resorts

If you're staying at a Walt Disney World Resort or Swan and Dolphin Hotels, there are many modes of transportation available for guests. 

​

The Skyliner is the newest transportation option for EPCOT:

1. Art of Animation Resort

2. Caribbean Beach Resort

3. Pop Century Resort

4. Riviera Resort

5. Yacht & Beach Club Resorts & Beach Club Villas

6. Boardwalk Inn & Villas

7. Swan & Dolphin Hotels & Swan Reserve

8. Hollywood Studios

​

Water taxis run to EPCOT from resorts along Crescent Lake.  You can also use the walking paths from these resorts:

1. Yacht & Beach Club Resorts & Beach Club Villas

2. Boardwalk Inn & Villas

3. Swan and Dolphin Hotels & Swan Reserve

4. Hollywood Studios

​

Buses transport guests from the rest of the on-site resorts:

  • All-Star Resorts

  • Animal Kingdom Lodge & Villas

  • Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower

  • Fort Wilderness Campgrounds & Cabins

  • Grand Floridian Resort & Villas

  • Old Key West Resort

  • Polynesian Village Resort & Villas

  • Port Orleans French Quarter Resort

  • Port Orleans Riverside Resort

  • Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

  • Wilderness Lodge & Copper Creek Villas & Cabins & Boulder Ridge Villas

​

*The Disney World website states that all transportation options start operating 45 minutes prior to theme park opening.  However, there are many reports of transportation much earlier (up to 90 minutes before early entry).  If your goal is to go to early entry, make sure you leave your hotel room 60-90 minutes before early entry time!

​

Off Property Hotels & Rentals​

If you decided to stay off property, make sure to check to see if your hotel has a shuttle option to EPCOT.  All hotels have different transportation schedules, so it is important to look for this information on the hotel website.  

Early Entry

Early Entry Attractions open 30 minutes before official park open. All Walt Disney World Resort guests have access to early entry benefits as well as the following hotels:

  • Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel

  • Walt Disney World Swan Hotel

  • Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

  • B Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista

  • DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando

  • Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista

  • Four Seasons Resort Orlando

  • Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace

  • Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista

  • Holiday Inn Orlando

  • Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort

  • Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

  • Waldorf Astoria Orlando

  • Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista

  • Wyndham Lake Buena Vista

*Make sure to check shuttle times so you can make early entry time.

​

The Main Entrance and International Gateway will be open to early entry guests 30 minutes prior to early entry start time. The following attractions will be open during Early Entry:

  • Beauty and the Beast Sing-A-Long

  • Frozen Ever After

  • Mission: SPACE

  • Remy's Ratatouille Adventure

  • Soarin' Around the World

  • Spaceship Earth

  • Test Track

  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends

​

Some shopping & dining will be open during this time:

​​

World Celebration:

  • Connections Cafe

  • Creations Shop

  • Gateway Gifts

  • Pin Traders - Camera Center

​

World Discovery:

  • Mission: SPACE Cargo Bay

  • Test Track SIMporium

​

World Nature:

  • The Garden Grill Restaurant*

  • The Land Cart

  • SeaBase Gift Shop

  • Sunshine Seasons

​

World Showcase:

International Gateway

  • World Traveler

​

Morocco

  • Oasis Sweets & Sips

 

Norway

  • Akershus Royal Banquet Hall*

  • The Fjording

  • Kringla Bakeri Og Cafe

Disclaimer

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

This site is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company or any of its subsidiaries. This site and the views that are expressed herein are those of Magic Planning Time. For official Disney Parks information please visit Disney.com.

© Magic Planning Time 2026
bottom of page