Indoor Children’s Play Areas in Epcot

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.

Imagination Pavilion – ImageWorks: 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 Space – Advanced 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.

Spaceship Earth – Project 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.

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.

The Seas – Sea 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.

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!