Difference Between Epcot and Magic Kingdom

Epcot and Magic Kingdom were the first two theme parks to be opened in Walt Disney World, Florida. Opened in 1971, Magic Kingdom aimed purely at entertainment. Epcot, which was based on a totally different concept, was opened 11 years later. Epcot is dedicated to technological innovation and diverse cultures whereas Magic Kingdom is built around fairy tales and Disney characters. This is the key difference between Epcot and Magic Kingdom.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Epcot 
3. What is  Magic Kingdom
5. Side by Side Comparison – Epcot vs Magic Kingdom in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Epcot?

Epcot (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow), the second theme park in the Walt Disney World, was opened in 1982. This theme park is nearly twice the size of Magic Kingdom and celebrates human achievements. Epcot is dedicated to technological innovations and international culture. Accordingly, the park is divided into two main sections: World Showcase and Future World.

Future World

Future World is dedicated to communication, energy, environment (land and sea) imagination, transportation, and space exploration. This section contains eight pavilions. The geodesic dome known as Spaceship Earth, which serves as the icon of the park, is at the front of the park and narrates the history of communication and the future avenues for communication. Other pavilions include Innoventions, Mission: Space, Test Track, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, The Land, and Imagination!

Attractions

• Soarin’
• Living with the Land
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• The Circle of Life
• Journey Into Imagination with Figment
• Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival

Place to Dine

• Electric Umbrella Restaurant
• Garden Grill
• Sunshine Seasons Food Court
• Coral Reef Restaurant

World Showcase

World Showcase, centered around a beautiful reflective lagoon, contains eleven pavilions representing eleven countries: China, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Germany, France, Italy, United States of America, Morocco, United Kingdom and Canada. Each of these pavilions features food, entertainment and shopping unique to their cultures.

Attractions

• An American Adventure
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
•  Frozen Ever After
• Reflections of China (China)
• Disney Phineas and Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure
• Impressions de France
• Canada!
• Kidcot Fun Stops
• IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

Places to Dine

• Funnel Cake
• Chefs de France
• Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
• Katsura Grill
• Biergarten
• Lotus Blossom Cafe
• La Cantina de San Angel
• Tokyo Dining
• Tutto Italia Ristorante

Epcot also holds two special events: International Flower and Garden Festival in the spring and the International Food and Wine Festival in the fall.

For many years Epcot was known to be more adult orientated, mainly due to its dedication to comparatively serious themes of technology and culture. However, with the introduction of kid-friendly attractions such as KidCot, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and Frozen Ever After, Epcot began to be popular as a park that provides both education and entertainment.

What is Magic Kingdom?

Magic Kingdom was the first theme park to be opened at Walt Disney World. This remains the most popular destination of Walt Disney World. As its name suggests, Magic Kingdom is dedicated to fantasy, fairytales and Disney Kingdom. Magic Kingdom has six main sections: Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, and Adventureland. All these sections meet at the top of Main Street USA, in front of the Cinderella Castle.

Attractions and Rides

There are many things to do and see in Magic Kingdoms. It may even take several days to experience all the attractions. We have listed below some of the most interesting rides and attractions in Magic Kingdom.

• “it’s a small world”
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Enchanted Tales with Belle
• Enchanted Tiki Room
• Jungle Cruise
• Mad Tea Party
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Swiss Family Treehouse
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Haunted Mansion

You can meet your favorite Disney characters such as Peter Pan, Mickey Mouse, Alice, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, Mary Poppins and Aladdin in this theme park. Magic Kingdom also has a selection of restaurants and cafes, providing a unique dining experience. Magic Kingdom also hosts special events such as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and Happily Ever After Fireworks throughout the year.

Places to Dine

• Crystal Palace
• Cinderella’s Royal Palace
• Be Our Guest,
• Casey’s Corner,
• Cosmic Ray’s,
• Gaston’s Tavern
• Storybook Treats
• Sleepy Hollow
• The Plaza Restaurant

Magic Kingdom has more attractions than other Disney parks, and it also tends to be more crowded than other parks. So, it is important to plan your trip well.

What is the Difference Between Epcot and Magic Kingdom?

Summary – Epcot vs Magic Kingdom

Epcot and Magic Kingdom are the first two theme parks to be built in Walt Disney World. Magic Kingdom is dedicated to fantasy, fairy tales, and Disney character while Epcot is dedicated to international cultures and technological innovations. Thus, Epcot is often considered to be more educational than Magic Kingdom. This is the difference between Epcot and Magic Kingdom.

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Image Courtesy:

1. “1114606” (Public Domain) via Pixabay
2. “Illuminations Lighting Up The Sky (7503038038)” By Lou Oms (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
3. “1247595”(Public Domain) via Pixabay
4. “Enchanted Tales with Belle” By Sam Howzit – Belle Talks With LumiereUploaded by themeparkgc (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia