Walt Disney World (FL)

Indoor Children’s Play Areas in Epcot

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As much as I love walking around the parks, sometimes you just need an air conditioned retreat. With kids in tow, it can be even more imperative to escape indoors. And though it’s typically not considered the most kid friendly of the Walt Disney World parks, Epcot has plenty of great indoor play areas for kids of all ages to let loose. If you’re looking for a reprieve from that Florida heat, humidity, sun, or even an afternoon rain shower, here are some great locations in Epcot for kids to burn off some excess energy.

Home of the Figment-centric interactive games
ImageWorks – home of the Figment-centric interactive games

Stepping on the squares triggers a symphony of sounds
Stepping on the squares triggers a symphony of sounds
Use these stations to compose your own Figment
Use these stations to compose your own Figment

Imagination PavilionImageWorks: The exit of Journey Into Imagination with Figment houses an interactive area known as ImageWorks. Three different sections greet you as you exit the ride.

  • Figment’s Melody Maker: Found immediately on the right as you exit the ride, this area directs you to move your arms around in front of a screen to conduct music.
  • Compose Your Own Figment: Using the computers here, you can customize your own version of Figment by selecting different features (wings, color, etc.) and e-mail it to yourself.
  • Stepping Tones: Kids can run around this carpeted area and jump onto squares on the ground that trigger musical instruments to sound.

Mission SpaceAdvanced Training Lab: Not only are there interactive games in the exit for Mission Space, but there is also a big playground area for kids to climb and explore.

  • Mission Space Race: Two teams, Astronauts and Ground Control, compete to see who can send their rocket from Mars to Earth before the other team.
  • Space Base: You know those McDonald’s with the PlayPlace playground? Well this is similar, except with a space theme.
  • Expedition Mars: In this timed challenge, you’ll explore the surface of Mars.
Children's playground at the exit of Mission Space
Children’s playground at the exit of Mission Space
Compete against another team to get your rocket back to Earth first
Compete against another team to get your rocket back to Earth first
Complete a timed expedition on Mars
Complete a timed expedition on Mars and rescue your fellow astronauts

Spaceship EarthProject Tomorrow: Spaceship Earth’s exit has tons of video game style exhibits meant to showcase the newest technologies and technology of the future. While some of the educational aspects may be beyond some children, the games are meant to be fun for all ages.

  • Super Driver: Through this simulated driving experience you’ll learn about new and improving technologies in the area of accident avoidance.
  • Power City: While standing on a projected image of a city, you shuffle power and energy around to understand more about managing power responsibly with a growing population and higher demand.
  • Body Builder: Here you can construct a human body while learning about the future of remote medical treatment.
  • Innervision: This exhibit focuses on the future of medical diagnostics using non-invasive imaging procedures.

Project Tomorrow

Innervision in Project Tomorrow
Innervision in Project Tomorrow
Body Builder in Project Tomorrow
Body Builder in Project Tomorrow
Power City in Project Tomorrow
Power City in Project Tomorrow

 

 

 

Test Track: Test Track’s exit draws in kids and adults alike. Even though we are childless, my husband and I love to stop here to race our concept cars or design new ones. There are two interactive areas in addition to a display area with Chevrolet cars.

  • Chevrolet Design Studio: The extra design screens here aren’t timed like the ones before the ride, so if your kid (or you) loves designing the cars, this is the perfect spot. Without a time limit, I just recommend that you are considerate to those who may be waiting behind you.
  • Give It A Spin: Big tables with steering wheels attached display a virtual racetrack, so you can race other guests with the cars you just designed.
Design your own concept car
Design your own concept car
Race others using the concept cars you just designed
Race others using the concept cars you just designed

The SeasSea Base: There is an amazing assortment of fun and educational things for kids to do after exiting the Seas with Nemo and Friends. Kids can watch the sea life in the aquarium, which includes dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, rays, manatees, and various species of fish. And they’ll also love to put their head in the mouth of the shark Bruce from Finding Nemo in the play area known as Bruce’s Sub House, so have your camera ready. Cast Members are stationed at tables throughout the area with educational information and items like a shark’s jaw or starfish skeleton. During certain times of day, you can even watch fish feeding or dolphin training.

Bruce's Sub House in Sea Base
Bruce’s Sub House in Sea Base
Bruce provides a great photo opportunity for the kids
Bruce the shark
Even the smaller aquariums are fun to check out at Sea Base
Even the smaller aquariums are fun to check out at Sea Base

Note that for any of these, you don’t need to ride the attraction in order to experience the play area. You can actually walk in through the exit to get to them instead. For some of the more intense attractions, like Mission Space or Test Track, walking through the exit to wait with kids while the other members of the party ride might be your best bet.

Do you usually stop any of these when you visit or are you more focused on the attractions? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences with these areas in the comments below!

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Liz Mangan

Liz Mangan got her start in the trip planning business at the spry young age of five by color coding her mom’s Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with highlighters and post-it notes based on what she wanted to see and do on their upcoming trips. Over the last two decades since then, she’s enjoyed spending her spare time helping others plan their Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort vacations.

5 thoughts on “Indoor Children’s Play Areas in Epcot

  • I enjoyed Body Builder in Project Tomorrow quite a bit as a 33-year-old.

    Reply
  • We really enjoyed all of the playgrounds with DD11 and DS8 on our last trip. I had to drag them out sometimes, because the loved it so much. We also spent 5 hours at Disney Quest and hope it will still be open next year.

    Reply
  • Project Tomorrow was a lifesaver for me on our last trip in August when I had a migraine. I managed a little nap listening to the soothing tones of Judi Dench on the ride and then the kids played happily whilst I sat on a bench and rested in the lovely air-conditioning. The chance for a sit down makes this one of my favourite indoor play areas!

    Reply
  • Is Colortopia in Innoventions still open? My little ones and I spent a good 30 minutes playing the color games while the older kids did (now closed) Sum of All Thrills.

    Reply
  • Great article! On our trip in May my husband and I enjoyed both the Seas and Imageworks. As you say these work well for adults too! Next trip we’ll have to go by Mission: Space.

    Reply

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