The seating situation on Disney World rides and attractions is a cause for concern for many guests. Physical constraints and family configuration are two of many reasons why you might have issues with the attraction seating.
For example:
- I’m a single parent with two small children, will I be separated from them on rides?
- I’m a plus-sized person, can I fit into the ride vehicles without embarrassment?
- My knees are bad, will I have to step up or down to get into the ride vehicles?
- I’m in a wheelchair, do I have to transfer out of it to go on the rides?
- I have a large party, how will we be split up when visiting the attractions?
- I have balance issues, will the attraction vehicle be moving while I’m trying to board?
And now with COVID-19 precautions in the mix, there are more than the usual questions about ride vehicle procedures, though bear in mind that COVID-related procedures are a moving target and could change at any time. [Note: the row/vehicle capacity comments below are for non-COVID conditions. In many cases, attraction capacity is currently reduced. There are social distancing markers in all attraction queues.]
To answer these questions and more, here’s a photo guide to all the vehicle and attraction seating at EPCOT at Walt Disney World. Pull down on that lap bar, we’re going for a ride…
Currently Operating Attractions
The American Adventure, American Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: More than a dozen
- Seating capacity per vehicle: NA. Show-style attraction. More than 100 guests per show.
- Seating surface: Padded chair with back and armrests.
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Walk into theater
- Height requirement: None
- COVID procedures: COVID procedures: Attraction capacity is reduced. Rows and seats are blocked to keep guests socially distant.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and ECV users may ride directly into the theater. The theater is accessed via stairs or an escalator. Wheelchair and ECV users and guests with balance or mobility issues may use an elevator.
Awesome Planet, Land Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: Several dozen.
- Seating capacity per vehicle: NA. Show-style attraction. More than 100 guests per show.
- Seating surface: Padded chair with armrests.
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Walk into theater.
- Height requirement: None
- COVID procedures: COVID procedures: Attraction capacity is reduced. Rows and seats are blocked to keep guests socially distant.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and ECV users may ride directly into the theater.
Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, France Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: More than a dozen.
- Seating capacity per vehicle: NA. Show-style attraction. More than 100 guests per show.
- Seating surface: Lightly padded chair with back and armrests.
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Walk into theater.
- Height requirement: None
- COVID procedures: Attraction capacity is reduced. Rows and seats are blocked to keep guests socially distant.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and ECV users may ride directly into the theater.
Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360, Canada Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: More than a dozen.
- Seating capacity per vehicle: NA. Show-style attraction. More than 100 guests per show.
- Seating surface: None. Guests remain standing throughout the duration of the attraction. There are railings to lean upon, but guests may not sit on the rails.
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Walk into theater.
- Height requirement: None
- COVID procedures: Guests are directed to stand at socially distant spots in the theater.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and ECV users may ride directly into the theater.
Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Imagination Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: More than a dozen.
- Seating capacity per vehicle: NA. Show-style attraction. More than 100 guests per show.
- Seating surface: Lightly padded chair with back and armrests.
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Walk into theater.
- Height requirement: None
- COVID procedures: Attraction capacity is reduced. Rows and seats are blocked to keep guests socially distant.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and ECV users may ride directly into the theater.
Frozen Ever After, Norway Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: 3 adults. 2 adults may be seated with two small children.
- Seating capacity per vehicle: Approximately 10
- Seating surface: Hard bench with back
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Moderate step (about 12″) down to enter the boat
- Height requirement: None
- COVID procedures: One party per row. Rows left empty between parties.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and ECV users must transfer to the ride vehicle. Cast members can provide you with a transfer assistance device if needed.
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, Mexico Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: 3-4, depending on size
- Seating capacity per vehicle: Approximately 20
- Seating surface: Hard bench with back.
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Moderate step (about 12″) down to enter the boat.
- Height requirement: None
- COVID procedures: Rows left open between parties.
- Accessibility: There is a wheelchair capable vehicle. ECV users must transfer to a standard wheelchair.
Impressions de France, France Pavilion
This attraction uses the same theater at the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along. See above for information.
Journey into Imagination with Figment, Imagination Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: 3-4. Typical capacity is three guests in the front row, four guests in the back row. This may vary slightly depending on the number of small children or the size of the adults.
- Seating capacity per vehicle: 7
- Seating surface: Hard bench with back
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Small step up (less than 12″) into vehicle.
- Height requirement: None
- COVID procedures: Only one party per vehicle. Vehicles may be left empty between parties.
- Accessibility: There is a wheelchair capable vehicle. Wheelchair and ECV users may remain seated and ride into the vehicle.
Living with the Land, Land Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: 3-5, depending on size. Four average-size adults is a typical load per row.
- Seating capacity per vehicle: Approximately 20 guests per boat.
- Seating surface: Hard bench with back.
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Moderate step down (about 12″) into boat.
- Height requirement: None
- COVID procedures: Clear plastic dividers between rows.
- Accessibility: There is a wheelchair capable boat. ECV users must transfer to a standard wheelchair.
Mission: Space, Mission Space Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: 4
- Seating capacity per vehicle: 4 guests per vehicle. 10 vehicles per spinner. 4 spinners total.
- Seating surface: Lightly padded chair with armrests.
- Safety restraints: Over the head padded shoulder restraints.
- Boarding procedure: Small step up (less than 12″) into ride vehicle.
- Posted warnings: Standard motion sickness, pregnancy, and heart/back/neck warnings.
- Height requirement: 44″
- COVID procedures: One party per vehicle.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and ECV users must transfer to the ride vehicle on their own. Cast members can provide a special transfer assistance device.
- Note: There are two version of this attraction, green and orange. The orange version is more intense, with rapid centrifugal force added to the standard motion simulator of the green version. Motion sickness bags are standard equipment with both versions. Use of motion sickness bags is not uncommon in the orange version.
- Note 2: The ride vehicle closes around guests somewhat like a clamshell. This poses claustrophobia issues for some guests.
Reflections of China, China Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: More than a dozen.
- Seating capacity per vehicle: NA. Show-style attraction. More than 100 guests per show.
- Seating surface: None. Guests remain standing throughout the duration of the attraction. There are railings to lean upon, but guests may not sit on the rails.
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Walk into theater.
- Height requirement: None
- COVID procedures: Guests are directed to stand at socially distant spots in the theater.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and ECV users may ride directly into the theater.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Seas Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: 2-3, depending on size.
- Seating capacity per vehicle: One row per vehicle, 2-3 people depending on size. Standard capacity is two guests per vehicle. Cast members will usually allow two adults plus a small child, or one adult plus two small children, to ride in one vehicle.
- Seating surface: Hard bench with back
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Small step up (less than 12″) from a moving walkway to a moving vehicle. Vehicle exit is also onto a moving walkway.
- Height requirement: None
- COVID procedures: One party per clamshell. Vehicles are left open between parties.
- Accessibility: There is a wheelchair capable clamshell. ECV users must transfer to a standard wheelchair.
Soarin’, Land Pavilion
- Seating capacity per row: Varies, approximately 10.
- Seating capacity per vehicle: Approximately 90 guests per flight.
- Seating surface: Flexible fabric seat with back and armrests.
- Safety restraints: Fabric lap belt for each individual guest.
- Boarding procedure: Walk into theater, sit on attraction vehicle.
- Height requirement: 40″
- COVID procedures: Reduced attraction capacity. Seats are left open between parties.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and ECV users must transfer to the ride vehicle on their own.
- Note: Guests with a fear of heights may experience difficulty. Guests with severe motion sickness issues may experience difficulty. Motion sickness is not an issue for most guests.
Spaceship Earth
- Seating capacity per row: 2
- Seating capacity per vehicle: 4
- Seating surface: Hard bench with back
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Small step up (less than 12″) from a moving walkway onto a moving vehicle. Vehicle exit is also onto a moving walkway.
- Height requirement: None
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and ECV users must transfer to the ride vehicle on their own.
- COVID procedures: One party per vehicle. Vehicles may be left open between parties.
- Note: The vehicle slowly rotates and moves backwards during the second half of the ride. A very small number of guests with motion sensitivity find this problematic.
- Note 2: During the second half of the ride there is an interactive element. There is one ride controller per row (two per vehicle). If you have children with competition or control issues, you may want to seat them in separate rows so each can control their own interactive experience.
Test Track
- Seating capacity per row: 3
- Seating capacity per vehicle: 6
- Seating surface: Hard bucket seat with back.
- Saftey restraints: Center seat in each row has a fabric lap belt. The outer seats have fabric lap/shoulder belts.
- Boarding procedure: Small step up (less than 12″) over a wall, then moderate step down (about 12″) into the vehicle.
- Posted warnings: Standard motion sickness, pregnancy, and heart/back/neck warnings.
- Height requirement: 40″
- COVID procedures: One party per car. The interactive elements of the pre-show and post-show have been deactivated to reduce touching of common surfaces.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and ECV users must transfer to the standard ride vehicle on their own. There is a transfer practice vehicle available to assess guest fit and ability to board.
Currently Paused Attractions
Turtle Talk with Crush
- Seating capacity per row: Varies. Approximately 6-12 per row.
- Seating capacity per vehicle: NA. Show-style attraction. About 100 guests per show.
- Seating surface: Hard bench with no back. Children are invited to sit on the carpeted floor at the front of the room.
- Safety restraints: None
- Boarding procedure: Walk into theater.
- Height requirement: None
- COVID procedures: NA
- Accessibility: Wheelchair and ECV users may ride directly into the theater.
- Note: Children are typically asked to sit on the floor at the front of the theater. The bench height varies. The first few rows are close to the ground. Rows further back are closer to standard seat height. Adult guests in the first few rows may be somewhat hunched over when seated. Guests with back or knee issues may prefer the rows at the rear which may be easier to stand up from.
See our previous posts on Attraction Vehicles at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Attraction Vehicles at Magic Kingdom
The post EPCOT Attraction Vehicles and Seating: A Disney World Guide appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.
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Filed Under: Epcot, Walt Disney World (FL), COVID-19, ride vehicles
