10 Best Rides at EPCOT: Ranking the Top Rides at Disney World

Find out our ranking of the very best rides at EPCOT, from Spaceship Earth to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

For many, a day at EPCOT is not about the rides. This Walt Disney World Park attracts tourists who are often after a culinary experience, a delicious cocktail, and a calm day exploring art and culture. With near-constant festivals and the legendary World Showcase, EPCOT is a park that you can enjoy with queueing up for a single ride.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t attractions worth your consideration. In fact, EPCOT has some of the best rides at Walt Disney World. Those who enjoy stomach-churning thrills can check out Test Track, Mission: SPACE, and EPCOT’s newest ride, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. If you’re after something a little more educational, check out Spaceship Earth or Living with the Land. And to be immersed in your favorite Disney classics, you can’t go wrong with Frozen Ever After or Gran Fiesta Tour.

With such a diverse lineup of rides and attractions, an official ranking of the best rides at EPCOT would look different for almost every person. That said, I feel confident that my ranking of EPCOT’s top rides will stand the test of time—even if most would think it crazy to put Gran Fiesta Tour so high.

What Are the Best Rides at EPCOT?

1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
2. Soarin’ Around the World
3. Spaceship Earth
4. Test Track
5. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
6. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
7. Living with the Land
8. Frozen Ever After
9. Mission: SPACE
10. Journey Into Imagination With Figment

1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is not only the newest ride at EPCOT—it’s the best. Photo by Danny Shuster

No surprises here: The newest ride at EPCOT is also the best ride at EPCOT. While fans of the old EPCOT may struggle with this massive injection of Marvel IP into the park, I think Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind feels right at home in World Discovery. The roller coaster (or, as Disney calls it, “storycoaster”) sits on the same spot where guests used to pal around with Ellen at the Universe of Energy in Future World East.

Cosmic Rewind is the thrill ride that EPCOT needed. Make no mistake: This isn’t a harrowing 300-foot-plus coaster like you’d find at Cedar Point. It doesn’t go upside down, and its top speed is nowhere near that of Test Track. (It’s actually more comparable in speed to Slinky Dog Dash.) But this family-friendly coaster, with its reverse launch, spinning cars, and unique music playlist, is one of the most immersive theme park experiences I’ve ever encountered.

The queue is an attraction itself, the star-studded pre-show builds excitement brilliantly, and the ride—oh, the ride—is a smooth, exciting masterclass in storytelling.

2. Soarin’ Around the World

You can explore World Showcase on foot … or the world itself by hang glider at Soarin’ Around the World in EPCOT. Photo by Laurie Sapp

Soarin’ is less than half as old as EPCOT, yet for many guests, it’s one of the most iconic EPCOT experiences. In fact, Soarin’ has likely sat at the head of many visitor’s lists of the top EPCOT attractions until good, old Guardians came along.

This unique ride system lifts guests from the ground to three separate levels, where each person individually feels as if they are hang gliding around the world, from the Swiss Alms and Mount Kilimanjaro to Fiji’s Lau Island and that slightly wonky Eifel Tower.

You’ll see famous spots from around the globe come to life across the 180-degree, 80-foot IMAX screen as the ride quite literally blows wind in your face, sprays immersive scents at you, and serenades you with an original score. Yep, Soarin’ hits on four of the five senses while you’re riding (five if you scarfed down something from Food & Wine beforehand and have mild indigestion).

Soarin’ is a classic EPCOT attraction because it exposes you places all around the world, a cultural showcase that is the hallmark of Disney World’s second park. It doesn’t hurt that it’s indoors and air-conditioned and spits you out by multiple food options (Sunshine Seasons Food Court and, if you have an ADR, Garden Grill) and Living with the Land (another can’t-miss ride).

3. Spaceship Earth

Spaceship Earth is impressive from the outside, but just wait until you ride inside the geodesic sphere. Photo by Laurie Sapp

Spaceship Earth is not a sexy, new ride with projection mapping, A-1000 Audio-Animatronics, and trackless vehicles. It’s not fast, and it’s actually educational. But it’s absolutely one of the best rides at EPCOT.

Guests travel through time while aboard Spaceship Earth, witnessing the evolution of communication since the dawn of humankind. The ending is still a bit dated—it’s difficult to imagine Spaceship Earth featuring Audio-Animatronics filming videos for TikTok—but it’s still a nice, relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of a park day with peak festival crowds.

The massive geodesic sphere is Disney World icon; it’s cool just to know you’re riding inside. And though Spaceship Earth has always been a beaut to gaze at (without needing to wait in line), it’s extra stunning now that Disney has outfitted it with its new lighting for the 50th Anniversary Celebration.

4. Test Track

Take a spin on Test Track for a unique EPCOT experience. Photo by Cliff Wang

Famously one of Walt Disney World’s most expensive attractions, Test Track is also one of the best rides at EPCOT. This car-themed thrill ride maxes out at 65 mph during the final sprint around the outer ring of the titular test track, but half the fun is designing your car while in the queue. Test Track challenges kids and adults alike to consider the attributes that will make their test car the most successful; after making their selections, guests get to see it all play out on the track.

Chevrolet branding abounds at Test Track in a place you’d rather see Mickey Mouse (or maybe even Vanellope von Schweetz). But this is America, so what do you expect?

Pro Tip: Queue up for Test Track at night. If you time it right, you could be launched outside for your high-octane sprint just as Harmonious is firing away over World Showcase Lagoon, which makes for a cool way to experience the fireworks. (Plus, the line should be shorter just before fireworks.)

5. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros

The Gran Fiesta Tour at EPCOT is a much better ride than most guests give it credit for. Photo by Laurie Sapp

Let me say this loudly for the people in the back: Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros is one of the best rides at EPCOT.  Yet so many people skip this ride altogether.

Sure, it’s a lazy boat ride that follows a story from an unpopular Disney film (The Three Caballeros) that’s nearly 70 years old, and it’s close by a much more popular boat ride (what’s up, Frozen Ever After?) that pulls guests out of the Mexico Pavilion altogether. But there’s so much to love about this ride. Here’s why it’s one of my favorite rides in EPCOT:

• It’s peaceful. The Mexico Pavilion is such a cool place to be. The low light, the cool air, the architecture itself. Plus, it’s air-conditioned. Now imagine you’re on a slow-moving boat with lots of cool scenery and festive music.
• It stars Donald Duck. If you’re after classic Disney at EPCOT and are a little overwhelmed or turned off by the recent additions of Frozen, Pixar, and Marvel, Gran Fiesta Tour is your ticket to one of the most iconic Disney characters of all time.
• It’s in Mexico. If you’re drinking around the world at EPCOT, Mexico is one of the best spots. It’s often the first stop of the day, so you can get your marg and sip it lazily while you wait in line for the ride.
• The line is short. Oh, speaking of lines: You won’t spend too long in a line for Gran Fiesta Tour. And if you do, it’s air-conditioned with easy access to another marg, should your cup runneth empty.

Fun Fact: Gran Fiesta Tour replaced El Rio Del Tiempo, an opening-day attraction. Some fans are hoping for a Coco retheme in the coming years, but Disney has given no official word that it will do as much.

6. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Get shrunk down to the size of a rat on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Photo by Tina Chiu

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure marked the expansion of EPCOT’s France Pavilion and brought the magic of trackless ride technology to EPCOT. An immersive, thrilling attraction, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure shrinks guests down to the size of a rat and lets them explore Gusteau’s restaurant.

As a new ride, Remy’s represents Imagineering at its finest. In addition to trackless ride technology, the ride showcases stunning architectural tricks, screen technology instead of Audio-Animatronics, and plenty of 4D elements (like heat, water, and the smell of cheese).

7. Living with the Land

Though it started with a slightly different name, Living with the Land is an EPCOT opening-day attraction. Photo by Cliff Wang

Though it originally opened as Listen to the Land, Living with the Land is considered an opening-day attraction. The gentle boat ride is educational, taking guests on a tour through EPCOT’s vision for the future of farming. You’ll see hot houses, fish farms, and massive vegetables. Just please stay in the boat …

My favorite time to ride Living with the Land is during Festival of the Holidays, when there’s a special Christmas overlay for the attraction.

Fun Fact: While the ride now boasts pre-recorded narration, Living with the Land once had a living Cast Member as the tour guide.

8. Frozen Ever After

Frozen Ever After marked major advances in Audio-Animatronics. Photo by Cliff Wang

I expect to catch some flack for rating Frozen Ever After so low on my list of the top EPCOT attractions, and I get it. Frozen Ever After is a good dark ride. The music is catchy, the Audio-Animatronics are well designed (if not a little creepy, thanks to the all-electric faces), and the actual boat ride has some thrills.

I’m just a little salty that they took out Maelstrom for this new attraction. That said, Frozen Ever After is near Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, where you can grab some School Bread to snack on while you wait in line.

9. Mission: SPACE

Choose from two different experiences on Mission: SPACE at EPCOT. Photo by Rich Ramos

Mission: SPACE is a unique experience that simulates the experience of going into space. Those who are sensitive to motion sickness should choose the less intense Green Mission (or just skip this attraction altogether), which takes riders into orbit around Earth via a motion simulator.

But if you want real thrills, sign up for the Orange Mission, which uses a centrifuge to simulate a mission to Mars. Just be ready for some stomach-churning spins while aboard.

10. Journey Into Imagination With Figment

Figment is the star of Journey Into Imagination. Photo by Judd Helms

Last on my list of EPCOT’s best rides is Journey Into Imagination With Figment, the third iteration of this classic EPCOT attraction. Fans of the original experience have never been quite satisfied with the later versions, and Figment the dragon is quite the divisive character, even on WDW Magazine staff. (But that didn’t stop people from waiting 7 hours for a Figment popcorn bucket.)

This dark ride takes guests on a journey into, well, imagination as they explore the five senses. It’s certainly worth your time if you’re over in this part of World Celebration, but it’s a ride I often skip, especially on festival days, when my main mission is food and drink.