Epcot Pavilions: What's to See or Do?

[BusterBluth]

When we visit WDW, we typically spend 2 days for Epcot. Instead of simply rushing to hit the high spots, we like to take our time and check out some of the pavilions, but we haven't been to WDW since Epcot's construction has finished. We're arriving next week, so we'll be there for Food & Wine, hitting Epcot on 9/12 and 9/13.

Test Track is down, so I'm assuming that pavilion is totally closed off. We've never spent time on the Mission Space Training Lab. It looks cool. Is that worth doing?

Does the new Guardians ride have anything to do with energy, like the old pavilion or is it simply a thrill ride? If it's the latter, what exactly is this ride doing in Epcot?

It looks like there's newly opened pavilions, something called Communicore Hall. It sounds like this is getting used as festival space. Are there any other interesting pavilions or displays worth checking out while we're there?

 

[C&Jx2]

Guardians is a thrill ride. It fits with the space theme. I loved it. But GOTG is one of my favorite movie franchises.

 

[Skywalker3]

We often like to hang out in the aquarium area, just watch the fish/sea creatures for a while. DH and kids have spent a lot of time in the Mission Space area, after the ride, but that's been a while. I don't know what all is in there now.
Like PP said, Guardians is a thrill ride, one of the absolute best, most innovative rides/coasters they've added in a long while. Does deal with space, life on other planets somewhat. But we also love the Guardians franchise, so we love all of the set up, pre-show areas, etc. I have varying degrees of nausea on it though....last 2 rides were not pleasant at the end, very nauseated, but I still plan on riding it next month.
We used to LOVE the Phineas and Ferb missions in World Showcase. We have not tried the new Duck Tales game...but that might be fun, and there's usually a scavenger hunt for the FW festival.
Have a great trip!!

 

[lovethattink]

Communicore Hall has one of the F&W food booths in it, festival merchandise and tables and chairs.

 

[Laura's Dad]

As far as World Showcase goes, there would not be a great deal of new experiences to try. Just about all of the construction area dealt with the old Future World area of the park. The newest area in World Showcase would be the expanded France pavilion. That being said, we also like to stroll around the World Showcase pavilions. We always find something new.

 

[Newsies]

If we're being very honest, the "finished" Epcot construction to World Discovery/World Celebration/World Nature (what was previously called "Future World") is a little underwhelming. If you're looking for new things to do, you can experience the Journey of Water, which is a walk-through attraction with different water features to look at. Some people say it's moreso for little kids, some people just think the water features are neat. If you like Moana, you can also meet her in the area where Journey of Water is.

As others have said, Communicore Hall is more or less just an air conditioned building where you can sit down, buy merch, or eat at one of two different festival booths. One is a macaroni & cheese booth that they're offering for Food & Wine, the other is a "festival favorites" booth that lives year round and features different dishes from all of the different festivals. Mickey & Friends also meet at a new meet and greet location in Communicore Hall. If you're familiar with how it worked at the old Character Spot, it's exactly like that.

GotG is one ride you can't miss if you love roller coasters. As others have said, it's a thrill ride that lives by Mission: Space and Space 220 and fits into that overarching "space" theme. No inversions but it does move backwards very fast. I'm not familiar with Guardians of the Galaxy but I love the music of the ride! It's really fun to zoom around while listening to "One Way or Another", "September," and other retro hits.

Have so much fun!

 

[lovethattink]

The Mission Space Training lab use to be so much fun. But now the biggest feature, the team game, hasn’t been up and running any time I’ve been in there lately. There is still the individual games that are ok and the play area for little kids.