October 1st, 2022 marked the 40th anniversary of the grand opening of Epcot aka the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Over the course of its 40 years, Epcot has seen a lot of changes, with new transformations continuing to take place in the year to come.
Throughout its existence, Epcot has seen fan favourite rides and characters come and go, shows disappear, and theming throughout the park change with the recent addition of Disney IP. However, despite all the change that surrounds Spaceship Earth, there is one thing Disney Imagineers continue to do in every Disney Park, but especially Epcot, plant hidden gems and Easter eggs throughout the park for Disnerds to search for each and every time they visit.
While many of these hidden details aren’t as secretive anymore with various incredible Disney+ shows like “The Imagineering Story” and YouTube Channels like Mammoth Club sharing these Easter eggs with the world (some of this writer’s favourite things to watch on repeat), they continue to be a part of the fabric of what makes visiting a Disney Park like Epcot so special.
There are literally hundreds of details and secrets throughout Epcot that have been listed out by many other Disnerds online, but we at Frozen Mouse Fever are going to keep it simple when celebrating the park’s 40th and countdown our 12 favourite hidden details and Easter eggs throughout Epcot.
Now let’s take the skyliner to the international gateway and start exploring.
12. Germany Train Display
It’s no secret that Walt Disney loved trains. This love was basically the inspiration behind the creation of Disneyland. To honour one of Walt’s first passions, the Germany Pavilion houses a miniature train village. Depending on when you visit the village you will notice festive décor that both celebrate the holiday going on at the time as well as the Epcot Festival going on at the time – take notice of the little banners the next time you pass by this train display.
11. The Tea Caddy
The Tea Caddy is a shop in the UK Pavilion where you can brew a cup of tea and purchase tea accessories, British sweets, cookies, and royal memorabilia. In the backside of the shop you will see a storefront for a “seamstress”. While it may seem to be a façade for everyday guests, it seems to be open for Mary Poppins. If you look in the window you will notice Mary Poppins’ dress is set up for its appointment. Needle and thread must not be inside her magical bag.
10. Norway Waterfall
Next to the entrance of Frozen Ever After you will find a waterfall, which has been situated in the area since the opening of the original Norway attraction, Maelstrom. When that ride was operating, you could watch the boats drifting up to the hole at the top of the waterfall. That spot is now filled in, but one piece of Viking history that remains is a sword stuck into the rocks. It’s hard to spot unless the water is turned off, but if you squint your eyes and tilt your head just right, you might be able to spot it.
9. Living with the Land Farmhouse
Living with the Land is one of Epcot’s most beloved attractions where you learn about the park’s vegetation and green houses. During the boat ride, you will come across a farmhouse. The bedroom upstairs with the light on is supposedly decorated as a recreation of Walt Disney’s childhood bedroom. The lamp’s light is always left on, just like Walt’s apartment in Disneyland, as a way to honour his memory. If you want a good view of this room, dine at Garden Grill. You will not only get to eat the vegetables you saw on the ride, but also get a much more detailed look at Walt’s bedroom.
8. Spaceship Earth
This one is part secret and part pro-tip. When travelling to Disney World, it’s almost impossible not to be stuck in a down pour of rain at some point. While getting drenched is never fun, the point of entry at Epcot is the place to be if it does start to rain. Underneath each panel on Spaceship Earth is a system of trenches and gutters that funnel the rainwater down through drains in World Showcase Lagoon. So if you stand underneath Spaceship Earth, you won’t get wet. A lot of people have figured this secret out though, so try to get there as soon as possible if you are nearby when it starts to rain.
7. Ratatouille/Toy Story Crossover
One of Epcot’s newest additions has a lot of fun details and Easter eggs to spot. Yet the best one for Pixar movie lovers happens in the opening scene. While Remy is trying to decide what to whip up in the kitchen, look quickly to the lit window and you will see a vehicular-shaped shadow. This shadow looks identical to the Pizza Planet delivery truck seen frequently in the “Toy Story” films. It seems as though Pizza Planet has been able to expand their franchise all the way to France!
6. Come on out Dreamfinder
Journey Into Imagination with Figment has seen multiple iterations over the years, with the original featuring the Dreamfinder, being the most beloved. For business reasons we won’t get into, the attraction was closed in 1998 and reimagined in 1999 as Journey Into Your Imagination. This attraction only featured Figment sporadically and removed the Dreamfinder entirely. It was panned by guests to the point that Disney reimagined it again in 2002, with Figment more prominently featured. Alas, Dreamfinder is still nowhere to be found, except behind a door labeled “Dean Finder”. Come on out “Dean Finder”, ’80s Epcot kids would love to have you back.
5. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Pointing out every detail and Easter egg in Epcot’s brand new ride is an article within itself. There are nods to Disney Park history and Marvel comic book lore. For now, we are going to shout out Cosmic Rewind’s multiple tributes to the ride it replaced, Ellen’s Energy Adventure. In the enchantingly detailed queue, you can spot some Xandarian writing on the columns that can be translated to Ellen, Alex, Dino and E=MC. Ellen Degeneres, Alex Trebek, Dinosaurs, and Albert Einstein were all featured players in the ride’s former iteration. Also, when the Guardians fly in, they are listening to a rock cover of the old Universe of Energy (the ride’s original title) theme song.
4. Hollywood Studios, is that you?
It’s widely known amongst Disney World travellers that Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are the parks closest to each other, given they are both on the Skyliner route. Epcot was already built when Disney’s Hollywood Studios was developed, and when the Tower of Terror was being constructed, it became clear it would be seen when walking around Epcot. So, Imagineers designed the building to match the buildings in the Morocco Pavilion when viewed from a distance.
3. Soarin’ Hidden Mickeys
Hidden Mickeys have become a staple of the Disney Parks experience. Some are expertly done by Imagineers, and others are just figments of the imagination from guests and Disnerds. Throughout your journey in Soarin’ you will find a few Hidden Mickeys in the attraction including a hot air balloon over Monument Valley, Utah and in the final scene over Epcot, where a Hidden Mickey is formed with Spaceship Earth and two fireworks. Soarin’ is one of many attractions and locations across Epcot you can find Hidden Mickeys, but these ones feel extra special as your gliding across the world.
2. Epcot Foliage
Most people only pay attention to the plants and flowers in Epcot during the Flower and Garden Festival. However, throughout the year, Imagineers upkeep plants that were specifically chosen for each country pavilion based on what you would find in that area of the world. With 11 areas to explore, botany experts will notice you won’t find the same plants in the Canada Pavilion that you would find in Japan. Even better during festival season, you will usually find plants growing around the booths that allow you to sample the foods they grow.
1. The Seas with Nemo & Friends
The Seas is arguably the most underrated attraction in Epcot, despite the fact that Spaceship Earth could fit inside of it. Epcot houses the second largest aquarium in the US, and throughout the aquarium there are over 60 total species and 60,000 inhabitants, some of which can be seen on the actual The Seas with Nemo and Friends ride. Some of those inhabitants include sharks. Many wonder why they don’t eat and attack their fellow fish in the tank and it’s because they have been trained to know that feeding time happens in complete darkness with light shining on the food provided by them by the aquarium’s keepers. They are fed fish like salmon and mackerel which keeps them from being hungry and eating other fish populations in the tank.
These are just some of many secrets and details hidden around Epcot. What are some of your favourites? Let us know in the comments below or on one of our social media channels. And make sure to follow Frozen Mouse Fever for all your Disney needs.
Happy 40th Birthday Epcot!
Frozen Mouse Fever 