Inside the Behind The Seeds Tour at Epcot

Our family loves Walt Disney World for the obvious reasons that most everyone does- visiting is an experience that brings heaps of entertaining joy to our lives each time we visit!  We also love Walt Disney World for some not-so-obvious reasons like the ability to connect with nature in an adventurous way through activities like the Behind The Seeds tour at Epcot.

From the very first time I visited in the summer of 1983 (a few months after the official park opening,) Epcot captured my imagination and fueled my passion for world exploration.  Each ride, exhibit, and landscape feature is designed to facilitate curiosity and a deeper understanding of the world around us.

Plenty has changed over the years with new rides, lands and shows.  Newer events like the International Festival of the Arts and the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival are delightful additions that further foster the creative, rich environment.

This year, we embarked on a journey at Epcot that truly spoke to my earth steward soul: a behind-the-scenes view of the agriculture housed in The Land Pavilion. The tour is called “Behind The Seeds” and is available to all Epcot patrons year-round for an additional fee (currently pre-tax $25 per adult, $20 per child.)  The second I learned of it, I knew we had to go!

If you love nature, agriculture, the Living with the Land attraction at Epcot, everything farm-to-table or just have a keen desire to find out more about the exciting innovations in gardening techniques or see some unusual crops from around the world up close, then this is the tour for you, too.

Without giving away too many spoilers, I can share that the tour takes place behind the attractions off-the-beaten tourist path in several greenhouses and a fish farm.

Throughout the tour, you’ll learn about organic gardening techniques, pest control, hydroponics and other innovative plant-growing techniques, natural sciences, characteristics of unique crops and more.  You’ll also have learning about and spotting some very fun “hidden Mickey” sights along the way.

What to know before you take the Behind The Seeds Tour at Epcot

Behind The Seeds tour at Epcot is a walking tour that also includes hands-on experiences.  Temperature ranges in the green houses will vary.  You will spend a little time outdoors and you may be standing in some spots for a 5-10 minutes.  Do keep all of this in mind when you schedule the tour and plan your outfit for the day.

You’ll definitely want to wear comfortable walking shoes.  You may also find wearing layers, sunhats and sunglasses to be desirable.  There will be some water stops along your tour, but it’s also ideal to bring a water bottle with you.

You can find more information on the Disney website at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/behind-the-seeds/

We (2 adults and 2 teens) truly enjoyed this experience! Our family found that it not only gave us a better understanding of the Disney farm-to-table connection but enhanced our understanding of modern agricultural techniques. We can now apply our learning to our farm and our home gardens.

It’s also led to some great conversations with our teenage sons, which is always a wonderful bonus! This is a tour we paid for on our own and I would gladly do so again.

Making memories with family activities like this is what Disney is all about.  The Behind The Seeds tour is no exception.  If you are thinking about embarking on this tour – do! It will be a one-of-a-kind adventure you are sure to treasure.