Five Things to Know About World Nature in EPCOT

World Nature is one of the four neighborhoods in EPCOT. The design of this World is lush and immersive. You’ll find an emphasis on natural elements and interactive experiences. The exhibits focus on learning about the environment; why we need to preserve the beauty of our big world, planet Earth.

1. The message is built in.

The architecture, layout, and design of World Nature work in harmony to create the land’s theme. Ecology, sustainability, and environmental issues are all addressed. The two pavilions (the Land and the Seas) each contribute to this educational effort. But the style of the two pavilions is very different!

The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion features stylized, ocean-themed architecture. The entrance mural is a visual story that’s intended to draw you to ocean-inspired experiences inside. There are curves everywhere, evoking the waves of the ocean.

The Land Pavilion is a massive, glass-ceilinged structure with geometric shapes and greenery. When you enter, you’ll immediately notice natural light flooding the huge atrium. And you’ll probably feel that the interior sort of suggests a greenhouse. All this is fitting, since it’s EPCOT’s center for agricultural education and sustainability efforts!

The newest addition to World of Nature isn’t a Pavilion – it’s an attraction. Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana adds an interactive look at the water cycle on our planet.

Overall, everything about World Nature’s design reinforces its mission. Imagineers kept the layout simple, with curved paths that make space for lush gardens. And lots and lots of greenery!

2. You can fly, dive, and splash

World Nature is home to some of the best educational — and downright fun — attractions in EPCOT. There are four in the Land, three in the Seas, and one out in the open.

In the Land Pavilion, Soarin’ Around the World is a far-from-basic motion simulator ride. Through the magic of Tinker Toys and high-definition film, it takes guests on an aerial tour of global landmarks. Across the way is the terrific Living with the Land, an opening day attraction. You’ll take a slow-moving boat ride through the history of agriculture.

When you debark the boat, you might choose to take a Behind the Seeds walking tour. This upcharge tour takes you through the fish farm and four greenhouses in The Land. If you’re interested in gardening or ecology, this is the tour for you.

Finally, head upstairs to see Awesome Planet, a ten-minute movie about Earth’s ecosystems. This conservation-focused film showcases the beauty and diversity of the planet.

Over in The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion, you’ll find (wait for it …) The Seas with Nemo & Friends ride. Board a clam shell and take a ride through the sea as characters you know look for Nemo. Turtle Talk with Crush is an interactive show where Crush chats live with the audience. Because of the improvisational nature of the show, no two performances are alike!

My personal favorite here is the SeaBase Aquarium, a massive tank that’s home to more than 1200 creatures from 42 species. You can walk through exhibits on marine life and conservation, and see the fascinating underwater life of these animals. Along with the big tank, you’ll find interactive science-museum style activities that are fun for kids of all ages.

Finally, the newest addition to World Nature is Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. The interactive trail explores the water cycle with fountains, carvings, and Moana-themed design elements. In my experience, the adults loved it as much or more than the littles.

3. Dining and shopping in World Nature are unique, if sparse.

World Nature has two Table Service restaurants, one Quick Service, and a few food stands. Some of the restaurants use vegetables grown in the Land’s greenhouses. And it’s fair to say that both Table Service establishments offer a view you won’t get just anywhere.

The Garden Grill in The Land serves family-style meals with appearances by Chip ‘n’ Dale and other Disney characters. The prix-fixe menu offers all-American favorites like steak and potatoes. But the big draw here may be how the restaurant revolves around views from Living with the Land as you dine.

The other restaurant is in The Seas Pavilion. One full side of the Coral Reef is taken up by the Seas main tank. You can watch the amazing aquatic wildlife while you eat. Sad to say that while the views can be amazing, in our opinion, the offerings are less than see-worthy.

One of our favorites here is the Quick Service Sunshine Seasons in the lower level of The Land Pavilion. It’s a great place to grab a quick breakfast, and there’s something for everyone. The sharp eyes among you will notice the tables are designed so each represents one of the four seasons!

World Nature is not a shopping-heavy area, but inside The Seas Pavilion is the SeaBase Gift Shop. Finding Nemo fans will find Nemo-themed toys and apparel, plus products that focus on conservation themes.

4. This World was born of the Future (World).

The area we now call World Nature used to be part of EPCOT’s Future World West. The two pavilions have been around for a while, but each has gone through a lot of changes over time! You might say there’s enough history here to make it feel as old as the hills. Only one of the original attractions survives, demonstrating how the parks evolve.

As was true for many Disney projects, the Land Pavilion originally had a corporate sponsor, Kraft. (Later replaced by Nestle, who withdrew in 2009). Kraft had some influence on the content, so initially the emphasis was on advances in agriculture and food technology.

In the space where Soarin’ is now, Kitchen Kabaret was an audio-animatronics stage show. It was later replaced by Food Rocks – oldsters like me may remember the song “Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit“. In 2004, Food Rocks made way for Soarin’.

Upstairs in the Harvest Theater, Symbiosis was the opening day movie. The film explored our progress in learning to live in ‘symbiosis’ with our environment. In 1995, Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable replaced it, closing in 2018.

Living with the Land was first called Listen to the Land and was narrated by a Cast Member riding with you in your boat! Renamed in 1983, live narrators remained until the recording replaced them in 2008.

Meanwhile, the other pavilion wasn’t even there on opening day. The Living Seas opened on January 15, 1986, taking guests under the sea to “Sea Base Alpha”. United Technologies sponsored the pavilion until 1988; changes were made after their departure.

By December 2003, Disney began to give The Living Seas a new emphasis based on Finding Nemo. Turtle Talk with Crush opened in November 2004, and it was a surprise hit. So much so that it had to be moved to a larger space! Then, in August 2005, The Living Seas closed for a metamorphosis, reopening as The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Decor and signage changed, and several of the displays received a Finding Nemo focus.

5. World Nature has its secrets and surprises.

⭐ The World Nature pavilion is 253,780 square feet. That’s about the same size as all of Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom.

⭐ The aquarium in the Seas pavilion holds 5.7 million gallons of water, enough to fill up 54 Olympic-sized pools.

⭐ Keep your eyes open for many Hidden Mickeys in The Seas’ murals and even in the water tanks.

⭐ On the walk up to the entrance of the Land Pavilion, the wall on each side is covered by a huge mosaic. This mosaic is perfectly symmetrical, except for one tile. On the right side facing the entrance, near the door, is one emerald green tile that isn’t on the other side. There are a few competing stories about how it got there.

The Bottom Line.

This EPCOT neighborhood offers something for guests of every age and interest. Whether you’re soaring over the world’s landmarks, learning about sustainable agriculture, watching marine life, or playing with interactive water features, the feeling you get is one of peace and inspiration. So I guess you could say that World Nature embodies the soul of EPCOT: bringing science and storytelling together.

What’s your favorite attraction in World Nature? Let us know in the comments!