The American Adventure at EPCOT: Everything You Need to See, Eat, and Do
Explore The American Adventure at EPCOT, including Voices of Liberty, the American Adventure show, Regal Eagle Smokehouse, festival concerts, snacks and more.
Estimated reading time: 22 minutes
The American Adventure is one of those EPCOT pavilions that I think can be surprisingly easy to underestimate.
There isn’t a ride here. There isn’t a Disney character meet-and-greet. And unlike some of the other World Showcase pavilions, you probably aren’t coming here primarily because you want to wander through a bunch of shops.
But there is actually quite a bit to do.
The American Adventure is home to one of my absolute favorite entertainment experiences in all of Walt Disney World, a massive Audio-Animatronic show about American history, a rotating art and history gallery, one of my favorite quick-service restaurants at EPCOT, and several additional places to grab snacks.
And then there is the America Gardens Theatre sitting right out front, which basically becomes entertainment central during EPCOT’s festivals.
So while this may not be the flashiest World Showcase pavilion, don’t automatically walk right past it.
Especially because you really, really need to see the Voices of Liberty.
Yes. We’re starting there. 😂
Where Is The American Adventure at EPCOT?
The American Adventure sits along the back side of World Showcase Lagoon between the Italy and Japan pavilions.
It also feels like the center point of World Showcase, and that’s pretty much intentional. The pavilion occupies a prominent location directly across the lagoon, with the huge colonial-style building rising behind America Gardens Theatre.
The main building itself is designed in a Georgian Colonial style, drawing inspiration from places including Colonial Williamsburg, Independence Hall, Monticello and Boston’s Old State House. Disney refers to the building as a sort of “people’s mansion.”
And it is BIG.
That makes sense once you realize how much Disney has hidden inside it.
What Is There to Do at The American Adventure Pavilion?
There are no rides in The American Adventure, but there are several actual attractions and experiences here.
The biggest are:
- Voices of Liberty
- The American Adventure
- American Heritage Gallery
- America Gardens Theatre
- Art of Disney
- Kidcot Fun Stop
And honestly, if you actually stop and do the first three instead of just walking through on your way from Italy to Japan, you could easily spend an hour or more here.
But if you’re only going to do one?
Oh boy.
I know exactly which one I’m picking.
Do NOT Miss the Voices of Liberty
The Voices of Liberty are phenomenal.
There. That’s the section. Moving on.
Okay, fine. 😂
The Voices of Liberty are an a cappella vocal ensemble that performs inside the rotunda of The American Adventure. Performances are only about 15 minutes long, and Disney schedules several throughout the day. Exact times change, so definitely check the My Disney Experience app when you arrive.
This isn’t something I necessarily have to see every single day I visit EPCOT.
But I pretty much have to see them every trip to Disney World.
And I could easily watch them multiple times because every performance is different. The music rotates, so you aren’t necessarily going to hear the exact same songs every time you stop by.
They perform a mix of traditional Americana, patriotic music and sometimes Disney songs, all completely a cappella.
And they are ridiculously talented.
But part of what makes the performance so special is actually the room itself.
The Rotunda Is Part of the Experience
The Voices of Liberty perform beneath the dome in the center of The American Adventure rotunda, and the acoustics in this room are incredible.
This isn’t a theater where you’re sitting 100 feet away watching people perform on a stage.
You’re right there.
People sit on the floor around the center circle, grab spots along the benches lining the walls, or stand around the edges of the rotunda while the singers gather just a few feet away.
Then they start singing.
And WOW.
The sound fills the entire room.
Disney actually recommends sitting or standing as close to the center circle as possible to get the full effect of the acoustics.
I agree.
If you can get there a little early and grab a good spot, do it.
One of the Best Shows at Disney World
I have ranked a LOT of Disney World shows, and Voices of Liberty is way up there for me.
Top ten easily.
Possibly top five. (update: it’s #7. lol)
It’s certainly one of my favorite things to do at EPCOT.
And I think people sometimes overlook it because it doesn’t sound particularly exciting on paper.
A cappella singers performing American songs.
Okay.
But then you hear them.
There is just something about the combination of those voices, that rotunda and those acoustics that makes the whole thing special.
Plus, it’s only 15 minutes!
You don’t have to devote a huge chunk of your EPCOT day to it. Check the performance schedule, arrive a few minutes early, sit down in the air conditioning and listen to some absolutely gorgeous music.
This is one of those Disney experiences where I want to grab people walking past the pavilion and say, “No, seriously. Go inside. You need to hear this.”
The American Adventure Show
After Voices of Liberty, you can head upstairs for the attraction that gives the pavilion its name.
The American Adventure is a large-scale theatrical presentation that takes you through major moments in American history, with Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain serving as your guides.
And this is some seriously old-school Disney Imagineering.
The show uses 35 Audio-Animatronic figures, enormous sets, rear-projection imagery and a 72-foot screen to move through everything from the Mayflower and Revolutionary War to the Civil War, Great Depression and beyond.
It is impressive.
It’s also roughly half an hour long.
And I realize those two facts are going to land very differently depending on who is reading this. 😂
Is The American Adventure Worth 30 Minutes of Your EPCOT Day?
I think it is.
I genuinely really like this show.
It’s patriotic without feeling ridiculously corny, and there are parts of it that are surprisingly moving. As a veteran, there are moments in The American Adventure that hit me a little differently, and I’ve always appreciated the way Disney tells this story.
It’s also just an impressive piece of Disney history.
The attraction took Imagineers five years to create, and there is an enormous system underneath the stage that stores and moves the different sets into place throughout the performance.
But let’s also acknowledge the practical reality.
You’re at EPCOT.
Maybe you’ve got Lightning Lane reservations. Maybe you’re trying to eat twelve festival foods. Maybe your kid desperately wants to ride Guardians again. Maybe you have a dinner reservation in 47 minutes on the opposite side of World Showcase.
A 30-minute historical presentation may be one of the first things voted off the island.
I get it.
But if you have the time, I think it’s absolutely worth seeing at least once.
And if nothing else?
You get approximately 30 glorious minutes sitting down in air conditioning.
People absolutely nap in here.
The American Adventure and Carousel of Progress: quietly providing exhausted Disney World guests with climate-controlled recovery time for decades. 😂
No judgment from me.
Don’t Skip the American Heritage Gallery
Before you leave the main building, take a few minutes to look around the American Heritage Gallery.
This is another area that’s incredibly easy to miss because people are usually focused on either Voices of Liberty or getting upstairs for The American Adventure.
But the gallery hosts rotating exhibits exploring different pieces of American culture and history.
Currently, the gallery houses Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian Art, an exhibition featuring both historical Native American artifacts and contemporary works representing Native communities from seven geographic regions across the United States. The exhibition was created in collaboration with the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.
Because the exhibits here can change, it’s worth popping in even if you’ve visited The American Adventure before.
The Former Portraits of Courage Exhibit
One of my favorite exhibits I’ve seen here was Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors.
The exhibit featured portraits painted by former President George W. Bush honoring American service members.
And I really wish this one had stayed longer.
As a veteran myself, I found it incredibly moving.
These weren’t just generic paintings of military members. They were portraits of individual men and women, presented along with their stories, and there was something incredibly personal about seeing them displayed together.
The exhibit is no longer what you’ll find in the gallery, so don’t go expecting to see it on your next trip. But it is a great example of why I think the American Heritage Gallery is worth checking whenever you visit.
You never quite know what Disney will put in this space next.
Take a Minute to Look Around the Building
Even if you aren’t particularly interested in American history, don’t race through the building without looking around.
The rotunda itself is beautiful.
It’s bright and enormous, with soaring columns, a domed ceiling and artwork lining the walls. And because Voices of Liberty performs here throughout the day, the building feels less like a queue for an attraction and more like an actual gathering space.
That’s one of the things I really like about The American Adventure.
You don’t necessarily have to be doing something every second.
Come inside.
Get out of the Florida heat.
Look through the gallery.
Listen to the Voices of Liberty.
Sit down for a while.
Then, once you’ve recovered sufficiently…
We can talk about barbecue.
Because The American Adventure has a surprisingly large amount of food for one pavilion—and Regal Eagle Smokehouse is one of my favorite quick-service restaurants at EPCOT.
And yes, I have opinions about the barbecue too. 😂
Where to Eat at The American Adventure
The American Adventure has a surprising number of places to eat for a World Showcase pavilion without a table-service restaurant.
You’ve got barbecue. Pretzels. Turkey legs. Funnel cakes.
Basically, America looked at World Showcase and said, “Would you like some meat and carbs?”
Yes. Yes, I would. 😂
Regal Eagle Smokehouse
If you’re actually looking for a meal, my pick is Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue.
I really like Regal Eagle.
I’ve eaten here several times now, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad meal.
The restaurant serves American barbecue inspired by different regional styles, so you’ll find things like smoked chicken, ribs, pulled pork and brisket rather than one single style of barbecue. There are also classic sides like baked beans, macaroni and cheese and fries.
And unlike some EPCOT quick-service restaurants where I feel like I’m eating there mostly because it’s convenient, I would actually choose to eat at Regal Eagle.
That’s an important distinction. 😂
Don’t Ignore the Sides
I know barbecue is supposed to be about the meat.
But I am very much a what-sides-do-you-have? person.
Regal Eagle has some substantial sides, including baked beans and macaroni and cheese, and depending on what you order, you can put together a pretty filling meal here.
I’ve also gotten watermelon with meals here before, which I appreciate immensely after approximately seven consecutive Disney snacks involving cheese, chocolate or both.
Sometimes your body is just like:
PLEASE. A FRUIT.
😂
And Then There’s Dessert
Regal Eagle has also offered a s’mores-style dessert that I’ve tried.
It was fine.
I didn’t hate it.
But you’re at EPCOT.
There are approximately 4,372 desserts between you and the front gate, and quite a few of them are more interesting to me.
So while I’d absolutely come here for the barbecue, I would probably save my dessert appetite for somewhere else around World Showcase.
RELATED: Best Quick-Service Restaurants at EPCOT
Grab a Snack at Block & Hans
If you don’t need an entire meal, Block & Hans is one of the smaller food stands in this area.
This is primarily known as a place to grab American craft beer, which is not particularly useful information for me because I barely drink.
But they also have pretzel snacks.
And I’ve had them.
They’re good!
Think more along the lines of the warm pretzel bites you’d get from a really good mall or airport pretzel shop.
That’s not an insult, by the way.
I like those pretzels. 😂
They’re warm, salty, easy to share and exactly the kind of snack that works when you need something substantial but don’t want to stop for an entire meal.
Are they reinventing the pretzel?
No.
Germany is sitting practically next door with a giant Bavarian pretzel, so let’s manage expectations here.
But if pretzel bites sound good right now, you’ll probably be perfectly happy.
RELATED: Best Snacks in the American Adventure Pavilion at EPCOT
Fife & Drum Tavern
There’s another small food location here called Fife & Drum Tavern.
This is where you’ll typically find some of the classic American theme-park foods, including the famous gigantic Disney turkey leg.
I have never purchased one.
I have nothing against turkey legs.
I just feel like if I desperately need to wander around eating an enormous piece of meat with my hands, I can do that at the Renaissance Festival. 😂
But people LOVE these things, and if you’ve been dreaming about a Disney turkey leg, this is one of the places to find one.
Menus can change, so check the current offerings in My Disney Experience before deciding what you want.
Save Room for a Funnel Cake
And then there is literally a stand called Funnel Cake.
Disney is not making you work very hard to figure this one out. 😂
You can get classic funnel cakes here as well as versions topped with things like ice cream and other rotating toppings.
I actually haven’t gotten a funnel cake from this particular location.
However, I have eaten plenty of Disney funnel cake—including over at Epic Eats in Hollywood Studios—and if you love fried dough covered in powdered sugar, you already know where you stand on this issue.
This is also one of those snacks that is absolutely shareable.
Or don’t share.
I’m not in charge of your vacation.
RELATED: Best Snacks at EPCOT
Browse Art of Disney
Food handled, let’s move back toward the pavilion itself.
You’ll find Art of Disney in The American Adventure area, and this can be a fun stop if you enjoy Disney artwork and collectibles.
I do like Disney art.
I just apparently don’t like Disney art enough to routinely spend several hundred dollars on an art print. 😂
So this isn’t a store where I personally spend a ton of time.
But if you’re looking for something more substantial than a standard Disney souvenir—or you’re an actual Disney art collector—it’s definitely worth browsing.
And, as with practically every indoor World Showcase location, it suddenly becomes considerably more appealing when Florida decides to unleash a torrential downpour.
Stop at the Kidcot Fun Stop
The American Adventure also has one of the Kidcot Fun Stops found throughout World Showcase.
Kids can collect the pavilion-specific activity card and spend a little time coloring before continuing around the lagoon.
Is this the most exciting thing at The American Adventure?
No.
But if you’ve been walking around World Showcase with a six-year-old for three hours, never underestimate the power of a chair, some markers and an activity card.
That applies to the parents too. 😂
The Kidcot location is tucked into this general area near Art of Disney and the large restroom complex, so it can be easy to miss if you aren’t specifically looking for it.
Speaking of the Restrooms…
Yes.
We’re talking about bathrooms.
Welcome to the glamorous world of family travel blogging. 😂
There is a large restroom complex at The American Adventure, and this is actually useful information because the pavilion sits around the far side of World Showcase Lagoon.
By the time you’ve reached this point, there is a decent chance you’ve been walking for quite a while.
It’s also a useful landmark when you’re trying to coordinate your family:
“Meet me by the bathrooms at America.”
Not magical.
Extremely practical.
Sometimes those are the same thing at Disney World.
America Gardens Theatre
Directly across from The American Adventure is the America Gardens Theatre, and although I think of this as slightly separate from the pavilion itself, you really can’t write a complete guide to this area without talking about it.
Because during EPCOT festivals, this place is HUGE.
The outdoor amphitheater hosts many of EPCOT’s biggest seasonal performances throughout the year.
Depending on the festival, that can include:
Disney on Broadway during Festival of the Arts.
Garden Rocks during Flower & Garden.
Eat to the Beat during Food & Wine.
And then, during Festival of the Holidays, America Gardens Theatre becomes home to the Candlelight Processional.
If you’ve read my other EPCOT festival guides, you already know how I feel about some of these.
I LOVE them.
This Area Becomes Festival Central
This is one reason your experience of The American Adventure can be completely different depending on when you visit EPCOT.
On an ordinary day, you might come here for Voices of Liberty, watch The American Adventure and grab barbecue.
During a festival?
You could find yourself coming back here repeatedly.
I’ve watched Disney on Broadway here. I’ve planned evenings around festival concerts. And Candlelight Processional is one of my absolute favorite Christmas experiences at Walt Disney World.
During Festival of the Arts, the theater has also been used for Animation Academy sessions, which gives you yet another reason to end up over here.
So even though America Gardens Theatre isn’t sitting inside the main pavilion building, for practical purposes I absolutely consider it part of the experience of this area.
How Much Time Do You Need at The American Adventure?
This depends enormously on what you actually want to do.
If you’re just walking through and grabbing food?
Maybe 20 to 30 minutes.
If you want to hear Voices of Liberty and look around the gallery, I’d allow closer to 30–45 minutes depending on the performance schedule.
Add The American Adventure show, and you can easily spend an hour or more here.
And if you’re eating at Regal Eagle or attending something at America Gardens Theatre?
Now we’re talking about a substantial chunk of your EPCOT day.
That’s why I think this pavilion is a little deceptive.
It doesn’t have a ride.
But it absolutely has things to do.
What Should You Do If You’re Short on Time?
This one’s easy.
See Voices of Liberty.
That’s my pick.
The American Adventure show is excellent, but it requires a much bigger time commitment.
The gallery is worth seeing, but it doesn’t take priority over Voices of Liberty for me.
Regal Eagle is great, but EPCOT certainly isn’t suffering from a shortage of food.
Voices of Liberty, though?
That’s special.
It’s 15 minutes.
You’re inside.
You’re sitting down if you get there early enough.
And you’re listening to some of the most talented live performers at Walt Disney World.
Make time for it.
Is The American Adventure Good for Kids?
Yes, although I wouldn’t necessarily call it one of the most kid-focused pavilions in World Showcase.
There isn’t a ride or a character meet here.
Younger kids may not be particularly enthralled by a 30-minute presentation about American history, although obviously that depends entirely on the kid.
But Voices of Liberty is short enough to work for a lot of families, Kidcot gives younger kids something to do, and there are plenty of extremely kid-friendly foods nearby.
Barbecue.
Pretzels.
Funnel cake.
America has you covered. 😂
Is The American Adventure Worth Visiting Without Kids?
Absolutely.
In fact, I think adults may appreciate this pavilion even more.
You can take your time listening to Voices of Liberty, explore the gallery, watch The American Adventure, grab some barbecue and then catch a concert at America Gardens Theatre.
There are also several places to grab beer if that’s your thing.
And if it isn’t?
There’s always funnel cake.
What Should You Absolutely Not Miss?
Have I mentioned Voices of Liberty?
😂
Seriously.
If you do one thing at The American Adventure, make it that.
I think The American Adventure show itself is also worth seeing at least once, particularly if you enjoy Disney history, American history or classic Audio-Animatronic attractions.
But Voices of Liberty is the experience I come back to again and again.
I don’t need to see them every single time I walk into EPCOT.
But I want to see them every Disney World trip.
There aren’t many attractions or shows I say that about.
Is The American Adventure Worth Visiting?
Definitely.
And I think this pavilion suffers a little from the fact that none of its best experiences are particularly flashy.
There’s no Frozen Ever After.
There’s no giant Mexican pyramid.
There’s no Remy.
There’s no character meet drawing a huge line.
Instead, The American Adventure asks you to slow down.
Walk into the rotunda.
Listen to people sing.
Look at some art.
Watch a show.
Sit in the air conditioning.
Eat barbecue.
It’s a very different kind of EPCOT experience.
And I think that’s exactly why it works.
Final Thoughts on The American Adventure at EPCOT
The American Adventure is never going to be the pavilion I race toward at rope drop.
But it is absolutely a pavilion I would miss if I skipped it completely.
I’ve found myself genuinely moved by the American Heritage Gallery. I really enjoy The American Adventure show. Regal Eagle has consistently given me good meals.
And Voices of Liberty?
They’re extraordinary.
Sometimes the best Disney experiences aren’t the ones with a 90-minute wait and a Lightning Lane.
Sometimes it’s standing under a rotunda listening to a group of ridiculously talented people sing for 15 minutes.
Don’t walk past this one.
The American Adventure During EPCOT Festivals
One last thing before we leave America.
This pavilion becomes even more important during EPCOT’s festivals.
America Gardens Theatre is one of the primary entertainment venues for essentially the entire festival calendar, so there’s a good chance you’ll spend time here even if The American Adventure wasn’t originally high on your list.
During the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, this area hosts Disney on Broadway performances and has also hosted Animation Academy. You’ll also typically find fun photo opportunities and festival food nearby.
During the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, America Gardens Theatre hosts the Garden Rocks Concert Series.
During the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, it becomes home to Eat to the Beat.
And during the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, this is where you’ll find the Candlelight Processional—which, for me, is one of the absolute highlights of Christmas at Disney World.
The festival food offerings around The American Adventure also tend to be worth checking. I’ve had some very good food here over the years, and unlike certain other World Showcase countries that shall remain nameless…
Italy.
😂
…America generally manages to get its festival food situation together.
So if you’re visiting during a festival, don’t treat The American Adventure as somewhere you visit once and move on from.
There’s a very good chance you’ll be back.
Possibly several times.
And hopefully at least one of those times will involve the Voices of Liberty.
