On one side of Epcot Future World, guests are careening around a track at 65 mph as others are shrinking in their seats. Across the promenade, guests travel though time. At The Land pavilion, characters from the hit Disney animated feature "The Lion King" are using light-heartedness to convey a serious message about our environment. And at Innoventions, Epcot guests are catching up with the future while testing and trying high-tech products.

A Walk Through Epcot

As you enter Epcot you are met with the sight of the 180-foot-high geodesic sphere known as Spaceship Earth, the symbol of Epcot. Behind the silver-colored landmark is a showplace for man's achievements past, present and future, and an international fellowship of nations.

Epcot is divided into two different 'lands' - Future World, which brings guests face to face with scientific achievements and tomorrow's technologies; and World Showcase, which opens the door to cultures from around the globe celebrating the sights, sounds and cuisines from 11 nations.

Future World

Once through the entrance at Epcot, you walk past Spaceship Earth, and into Future World.

The sculptures in front of Spaceship Earth are 'Leave a Legacy', a chance to have your image etched onto a tile & placed on one of the sculptures.

Spaceship Earth is Future World's landmark adventure. Dramatic new scenes in the attraction and its post show depict life in the 21st century's "Global Neighborhood." With all-new narration by actor Jeremy Irons and an impressive new musical score, guests experience a time-travel journey from the beginning of time to the electronic age.

Just beyond Spaceship Earth, on each side, you'll find crescent-shaped buildings, which house Innoventions, a dazzling new showcase where guests can be among the first to touch the technologies of today that will shape their lives tomorrow.

To the east of Spaceship Earth: Test Track, presented by General Motors, is a mile-long, heart-pounding adventure that takes guests through hairpin twists and turns. The high-speed attraction mimics an actual proving ground where vehicles are put through their adrenaline-pumping paces -- testing brakes, acceleration, incline and climate control -- all in the name of safety.

Universe of Energy, presented by Exxon, features "Ellen's Energy Adventure," with Ellen DeGeneres, Jamie Lee Curtis and Bill Nye the Science Guy. DeGeneres plays a woman who dreams she's on the popular game show, "Jeopardy!" -- only to discover that all of the categories deal with one thing she knows nothing about -- energy. Her challengers on the show, hosted by Alex Trebek, are former roommate and current "rival" Dr. Judy Peterson (Curtis) and Albert Einstein. As part of the show, guests venture into a re-creation of the primeval world complete with moving, roaring life-size dinosaurs.

Also to the east: Wonders of Life, featuring "Body Wars" flight-simulator thrill ride - shrink to blood-cell size for a turbulent ride through the heart, lungs and brain of a human body. Cranium Command, where you'll go inside the mixed-up mind of a young boy to catch the antics of famous comedians playing his heart, brain, stomach and adrenaline.

To the west: The Living Seas, a ride through a Caribbean coral reef contained in a tank 200 feet in diameter and 27 feet deep. Descend fathoms into an incredible man-made coral reef at Sea Base Aplha. View tropical fish, sharks and manatees, while exploring secrets of a new frontier.

The Land, which features the motion picture "Circle of Life," an environmental fable starring several characters from "The Lion King," "Living With the Land" boat ride through greenhouses of the future, and the zany "Food Rocks" concert about good nutrition.

Go next door to Imagination, where you'll find "Honey I Shrunk the Audience", a madcap 3-D misadventure, where Professor Szalinski's shrinking machine turns and zaps the entire theater! Prepare to color outside the borders of your imagination, in the all-new "Journey into your Imagination". Hop aboard this ride through the secret testing labs of the Imagination Institute. Journey through the outrageous possibilities of sound. Unveil the mysteries of illusion. Even discover the color of your voice.

World Showcase

World Showcase Lagoon separates Future World from the World Showcase. Guests can either walk around the lagoon, or take a boat ride in a 'friendship' boat across the lagoon to World Showcase.

Across World Showcase Lagoon, 11 nations offer distinctive wares, ethnic cuisine, shows, entertainment and architecture representing their cultures. Even the landscaping changes from country to country around the 1.3-mile promenade.

Clockwise around the promenade: Mexico, with a boat ride through Mexican history and lively Mariachi bands; Norway, taking guests on a voyage through time beginning in a 10th-century Viking Village; China, with a Circle-Vision 360 film that takes guests to exotic sites like Beijing's Forbidden City, Mongolia and Shanghai; Germany, inspired by towns along the Rhine and in Bavaria; and Italy, with its reproduction of Venice's Doge's Palace and outdoor theater.

The American Adventure, presented by American Express, with an ambitious show that takes guests through important moments in U.S. history; Japan, showcasing Japanese gardens and dancing outdoors; Morocco, where 19 Moroccan artisans spent months re-creating the intricate, colorful tilework of this North African country; France, the setting for an enchanting film tour through its cities and countryside; United Kingdom, with lovely flower gardens and cobbled streets; and Canada, with entertainment by a bagpipe band and a Circle-Vision 360 film through some of Canada's most picturesque regions.

Each World Showcase pavilion is a celebration of the nation's life, culture and heritage. World Showcase ambassadors come from across the globe to represent their homelands at the theme park. As part of the show, holidays and festivals are commemorated by the ambassadors in ways they would be celebrated "back home," allowing Epcot guests a chance to get "caught up" in these international celebrations.

Between the France & UK pavilions you'll find the International Gateway, Epcot's smaller entrance. From here you can walk to the Epcot Resorts (Yacht & Beach Club, BoardWalk, Swan & Dolphin), or take a boat ride to the resorts or Disney's Hollywood Studios.

World Showcase Lagoon plays host to 'IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth' each night. This fabulous firework show will encircle you with dazzling special effects, colorful lasers, brilliant fireworks, and fiery torches performing to a stirring, original symphonic score - not to be missed.

As dusk arrives, the World Showcase Promenade becomes the stage for Tapestry of Nations. The towering Sage of Time calls all nations together. Drums pound. Torches blaze. And colorful, giant puppets dance to harmonies filling the air. Bang a drum. Dance along. Free your spirit and get swept up in the celebration surrounding you.

Dining at Epcot

The restaurants of World Showcase offer authentic cuisine from around the globe, from traditional Italian at Alfredo's in the Italy showcase to chicken couscous in Morocco's Restaurant Marrakesh. Guests can make priority seating reservations for nearly two dozen restaurants through Epcot Guest Relations or at the individual restaurants.

In Future World, restaurants feature regional American favorites from gourmet pizza to fresh seafood. All Epcot restaurants have children's value meals and can accommodate special dietary needs with advance notice.

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