Epcot is loved by adults for many reasons including the obvious plethora of food and beverage, but also the fun entertainment and rides.

Epcot has a large selection of rides that appeal to adults, including the brand new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. We’ve put a list together of the best grownup rides, along with some insider advice to help you enjoy your time at Epcot.

After planning your rides for the day, be sure to check out our picks for the Top 13 Best Epcot Restaurants for Adults.

Ranking the Best Epcot Rides for Adults

#7: Living with the Land

The first ride on our list is slow and educational, perfect for any age adult. Living with the Land is an original Epcot water ride where guests sail a boat through a huge greenhouse system. This greenhouse showcases Epcot’s current idea and uses of agriculture and food production, plus it educates you on the value of different staple goods grown around the world.

The greenhouse also serves as Epcot’s in-park farm. Fruits and vegetables are grown using innovative techniques developed by Disney horticulturalists, which in turn are harvested for some of the restaurants at Walt Disney World.

There’s also a section of the ride that highlights a hydroponic system, complete with sturgeon, catfish, and tilapia. The water is recycled from this system to fertilize the surrounding vegetation.

Living with the Land is slow-paced and won’t knock your socks off, but it’s a very interesting ride that appeals to adults more so than children. It almost always has a very low wait time and will have special decorations during the holiday season.

#6: Frozen Ever After

The line queue for the ride is well executed and shows the kingdom of Arendelle in preparation for a celebration of the winter thaw. In the Frozen movie, winter ended when Anna saved her sister Elsa, who then restored the warm weather to the kingdom. You’ll load up into a boat that will take you through some familiar scenes from the Frozen movie.

Frozen Ever After is less about thrills than it is the presentation, but it does have one decent drop toward the end of the ride. It also features some of the best animatronic work at Disney World. It’s extremely popular and frequently has wait times north of an hour. A Lightning Lane reservation is highly recommended if you intend to ride this one.

Frozen Ever After is one of only three Epcot rides in the World Showcase.

#5: Test Track

Test Track is a long-time Epcot staple and many adults consider it to be their favorite thrill ride in the park. We think it’s a really cool concept for a roller coaster.

You’ll start off by designing a vehicle on a touchscreen monitor in the ride queue. Once you board the ride, your creation will be implemented and you’ll see how your vehicle stacks up against other riders with places awarded at the end.

You’ll wind through courses that are meant to simulate real-life car testing, including brake, traction and acceleration tests.

The best part of the ride takes place toward the end. You’ll leave the indoor test facility and run wide open down the outdoor portion of the track. Here’s where Test Track reaches pretty high speeds – 62 mph to be exact. We think all these factors combine to make a thrilling and enjoyable ride for adults.

#4: Spaceship Earth

Everyone is familiar with the iconic Epcot “golf ball” at the front of the park. The ride inside that golf ball is called Spaceship Earth and it is arguably the most iconic ride at Epcot. This is another slow and educational ride that takes you on a journey through time from the beginning of world history to the potential future.

Spaceship Earth is a slow continuously moving coaster that really highlights the best of humanity. The theme of the ride is our progress throughout history and the advancements made in each era. The ride’s track will take you through scenes ranging from ancient Egypt to the Sistine Chapel to a 1970’s computer room. Each scene has it’s own narration and unique smell.  

Adults will appreciate the historical nature of this ride and the painstaking lengths Disney took in order to create impressive animatronics and historically accurate sets. This ride is a must-do for anyone who wants the quintessential Epcot experience.

It’s a good idea to have a Lightning Lane for this one, but wait times are often not bad. You can get more in-depth details about the ride experience on this post about Spaceship Earth.

#3: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

This brand new ride is impeccable, showcasing lots of Disney’s state-of-the-art ride technology. It’s impressive by many standards and is a favorite for adults who love thrill rides and Marvel movies. The best way we know how to describe the ride for those who have never been is to compare it to both Space Mountain in Magic Kingdom and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in Hollywood Studios.

Guardians currently runs on the Virtual Queue system, so you’ll have to be prepared to book your spot as early as 7am the morning on your Epcot trip. If you miss booking a time slot at that point, another set of time slots comes available at 1pm, but you have to be physically in the park to get a slot. Individual Lightning Lane is also available for purchase.

First, you’ll walk through the Galaxarium which compares the world of Xandar with our own Earth in several different exhibits displayed in the queue. At the end of the tour Nova-Prime (or Glenn Close), leader of Xandar welcomes you to the planet. The Guardians suddenly interrupt the tour to warn you about an incoming danger to the planet and urge you to escape as quickly as possible. Guests are led to a room where they’ll board their escape pod which rotates 360 degrees to view different features of the ride. 

This is Disney’s first ever reverse-launch coaster so prepare to fly backwards through space while listening to Star-Lord’s Awesome Mix in the background.

#2: Mission: SPACE

Many people don’t realize that Mission: SPACE is actually the most intense ride on the entire Disney World property. It’s a space shuttle simulator that generates some serious g-force, making it a perfect adult-friendly ride.

The theme of the ride revolves around taking a trip to Mars in a shuttle. You and three others will load into a tight capsule and will be “launched” into space. The most intense part of the ride comes early, as you’ll feel the force of blasting off. Screens directly in front of you will show you where you’re headed.

Mission: SPACE’s intensity can be surprising for first-timers. The capsules will spin fast to create a huge amount of force. It’s definitely not a ride for those who get motion sickness. There is a “less intense” version of the ride for those who may not be capable of handling the full effect. The “More Intense” and “Less Intense” options will be presented to you when you enter the line queue.

Lightning Lane for this ride is definitely recommended. It’s reasonably popular and 45 minute wait times are very common for it.

#1: Soarin’

The number one pick on our list of best Epcot rides for adults is Soarin’, the undisputed king of Epcot rides. Soarin’ is truly unique, taking you on a “hang glider” tour of some of the world’s most impressive settings. It’s an awesome concept and it definitely makes you feel like you are flying.

You’ll strap into your glider before lifting high into the air in front of a huge IMAX screen. Adults will enjoy the variety of impressive locations ranging from the tip of the Matterhorn to the Taj Mahal. The ride even includes scents that will change depending on your scenery.

Soarin’ is unique, impressive, and especially good for adults. It hits its mark as a lifelike simulation of what it would feel like to glide over amazing landscapes and famous areas. It’s very, very popular, so Lightning Lane is usually a must, unless you don’t mind waiting for what could easily be 60-90 minutes or more. It’s absolutely worth a Lightning Lane slot and continuously receives high praise from Epcot guests of all ages.

Need Help Booking Lightning Lane for These Attractions?

We built a whole post on booking ride passes and selecting the best ones for your group on the Insider’s Guide to Epcot Fastpass Tiers. Check it out before planning your trip!