This article answers the question, “What are the best Epcot rides for adults?” to help you plan your time at the park. We have Epcot rides ranked just for you Disney grownups out there.
Epcot, which stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, is one of the best places to spend a Disney for couples evening. Whether you’re cruising through the cosmos on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or getting schooled on horticulture via an immersive boat ride (Living with the Land, anyone?), Epcot is a constantly evolving hub of adult-friendly fare.
This isn’t to say there isn’t anything for the kiddos to do here, though you’ll find quite a bit less fairy tale whimsy spread across the park’s numerous attractions.
Today, we’ll be ranking all the best Epcot rides for adults so you’ll know which parts of the park to prioritize on your next Disney couples adventure!
You may also like:
- How Many Epcot Rides Are There?
- What if I Need To Leave Ride Lines at Disney World?
- You Need This Disney World Park Icon Stickers Set
8 Best Epcot Rides for Adults
Epcot is home to one of our favorite rides ever — Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — and an incredible list of equally thrilling, immersive, and educational attractions.
Race to save the Cosmic Generator, coast through a Judi Dench-narrated history of communication, or take to the virtual skies on Soarin’ (once Patrick Warburton says you’re ready, of course). It’s your world, fellow grown-ups. 😎
Here’s a list of all the best Epcot rides for adults, ranked in order from maybe-do-it-next-trip to have-to-do-it-eight-times-in-one-day.
Awesome Planet
⭐️ Rank: C-
An attraction less sought out at Disney Parks than most others, Awesome Planet is located down a long corridor in The Land pavilion. Nature documentary fans are going to love this one, as well as anyone looking to take a load off in AC until the next Lightning Lane booking.
Read Next: Staying Cool at Disney World: Everything You Need To Know
Let’s not beat around the bush, though: It’s a somewhat dry 10-minute film covering the many visual marvels of the blue and green sphere we call home, with the occasional 4D effect thrown in for good measure.
The theater is rather stuffy, and the film itself is a bit dated at this point, especially when you consider all the cutting-edge nature docs that frequently hit our go-to streaming platforms, including Disney Plus.
Mission: SPACE
⭐️ Rank: C
On Mission: SPACE, you’ll be donning a spacesuit (not really) as you join fellow cadets at the International Space Training Center.
There are one of two cosmic pilgrimages you can partake in once you’ve been space-certified: an Orange Mission that simulates a spacecraft launch and re-entry as your vehicle voyages to Mars, and the more leisurely Green Mission that orbits Earth.
Thrill-seeking Disney adults will want to stick to the Orange Mission, while the less daring should opt for the Green Mission. Oh, and word to the wise: Be mindful of what you have (or haven’t) eaten or drink before you board either ship. Nauseous is a common complaint.
Test Track
⭐️ Rank: C+
Sponsored by GE, Test Track puts you and yours behind the wheel of a virtual concept car that may or may not (leaning toward the latter) be safe or practical to drive in the real world.
Get ready to be tossed around as your SIM Car barrels through one vehicle test after another, culminating in a 65 mph mad dash around the exterior of the show building. One of our favorite sounds at Epcot is the whizzing of the ride vehicles as they blast through the aforementioned final circuit.
Currently closed for a third-generation reworking, the newest edition of this attraction could be very different from the Test Track we’re used to. Just please don’t change the last part, Disney!
Living with the Land
⭐️ Rank: B-
Who knew horticultural education could be so fun? Living with the Land takes guests on a 20-minute gentle boat ride through the history of agriculture.
You’ll be treated to some wild sites once your vehicle hits the greenhouse sections. 😉 We’re talking gigantic fruits and vegetables and a dizzying amount of underwater pals in the fish farm leg of the ride. There’s even a Behind the Seeds tour that gets you up close and personal with many of The Land pavilion’s agricultural practices.
Oh, and let’s not forget to mention that certain food items from Sunshine Seasons and Garden Grill Restaurant are sourced directly from the utopian gardens of Living with the Land!
The American Adventure
⭐️ Rank: B-
Our Epcot sleeper hit, and one of Disney’s most impressive and endearing Audio-Animatronics showcases, The American Adventure is a half-hour show hosted by automaton likenesses of Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain. Guests sit in a large, cozy theater as various sets rotate in and out of the stage area, each lifelike diorama representing a critical moment in the history of the United States of America.
This isn’t the kind of Epcot attraction you can get through in less than 15 minutes, so it’s best to watch the show on a day you don’t have dinner reservations or other Epcot plans.
Soarin’ Around the World
⭐️ Rank: B-
An Epcot trip doesn’t feel complete for us until we’ve ridden Soarin’, which took its first flight in 2005.
To ride, park guests strap into a mechanized hang glider that flies high in the sky above the many wonders of the world. Get a literal bird’s-eye view of inspiring architecture from the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China to the Eiffel Tower. You’ll even see polar bears, elephants, and a bunch of humans walking around Epcot (the park itself is the final frontier).
While the monstrous screen and projection system don’t always play nicely together (there’s an odd fisheye effect during many of the flyovers, depending on where you’re sitting), Soarin’ makes up for this with immersive 4D effects, an awe-inspiring soundtrack, and a fun bit of pre-boarding schtick from one Patrick Warburton.
For another great Disney adult ride that uses similar hang-glider vehicles, you should also check out Avatar: Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom.
Spaceship Earth
⭐️ Rank: B
Not only is Spaceship Earth the official park icon of Epcot, but it’s also an incredible dark ride that traces the evolution of human communication, as told by Dame Judi Dench. Lasting about 15 minutes, the journey starts in the prehistoric days, where cave etchings rapidly give way to technologies like the printing press, newsreels, telephones, TV, and computers that fill up an entire room.
Featuring impressive sets and Audio-Animatronics, Spaceship Earth is one of the most classic Epcot-feeling attractions in the park. It’s also a perfect Disney adults ride, especially after you’ve downed a few cocktails over in the World Showcase and need to have a sit.
👉 Check out our Disney cocktails sticker set here!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
⭐️ Rank: A-
Like a never-ending dance party in outer space, GOTG: Cosmic Rewind is a high-speed thrill attraction that could be described as “Space Mountain on steroids.” Experience one of the most exciting vehicle launches ever (think Rock n’ Roller Coaster but in reverse), reaching a top speed of 60 miles per hour.
As you blast through the stars, you’ll hear one of six incredible tracks, including Conga by Gloria Estefan, September by Earth, Wind and Fire (Lindsay’s favorite), and Tears for Fears’ Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Mike’s favorite).
Parts of the pre-show are painfully overdone, and wait times can be brutal, but this is definitely a ride you don’t want to miss.
👀 Must-Read: How to Avoid Ride Lines at Disney World
Bonus Picks: More Epcot Attractions for Adults
SeaBase Aquarium
⭐️ Rank: C-
We weren’t too sure this was going to make it on the list at all, and even now, we’re thinking, “It’s just an aquarium.” Still, it’s a Disney aquarium, and if you’re looking for a smart way to cool off while gandering at manatees, sharks, and other inhabitants of the terrifying abyss that is the ocean (Mike doesn’t like the sea), you could do worse.
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
⭐️ Rank: B-
Yes, Disney’s Moana is a very kid-centric IP, but that doesn’t mean Disney adults can’t enjoy the enchanting walkthrough that is Journey of Water, too. Plus, it always pays to brush up on your knowledge of the water cycle. 🤓 And don’t get us started on the waterfall that magically stops water-falling when you walk under it…
What Is the No. 1 Ride at Epcot for Adults?
Ask either one of us what the No. 1 ride at Epcot for adults is, and we’ll both give you the same answer: The Living Seas with Nemo and Friends!
No, in all seriousness, our knee-jerk answer is, of course, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Actually, it’s our favorite ride in all of Walt Disney World.
The brilliant Imagineers really outdid themselves with GOTG. Oh, and if you get the right combination of song and alcohol level, there’s a good chance you’ll even shed a tear or two. Now that’s what we call a true emotional roller coaster.
Wrapping Up
We love Epcot for more than just the rides, but it’s also one of the best places in all of Walt Disney World to indulge in multiple jaw-dropping, kinetic experiences.
And if you’re in a scholarly mood, rides like Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land are the kind of educational experiences that’ll make you resent your second-grade teacher for taking your class to that boring life-in-early-America exhibit (Mike has some stuff to work through, apparently).
Download your FREE Disney World park bag checklist today! Print it out, use it on a digital device, or both.
This post includes affiliate links. I may earn a commission (at no cost to you) if you click on a link.
