1 day in epcot - what to skip

[sdd1841]

Hi there - my friend and i are coming to disney in march for the princess 1/2 marathon. we have decided to do Epcot while we are there but will only have one day. my question is...what should we skip? i have looked at a few of the one day touring guides but wanted the DISers advise as well. thanks!!

 

[Berlioz70]

Epcot is my favorite park... you should be able to hit everything in one day... but if you have to cut it close here is the list of attractions that I like to skip with a tight schedule!

SKIPS:
Finding Nemo and Friends... it's a quick line with some really advance technology (cartoon fish swimming with real fish) but I find it boring and repetitive.

Journey into Imagination with Figment... another quick line, but overall it's made for kids (bright colors, catchy tune)

Malestrom (Norway)... the ride typically has a longer line for a VERY SHORT ride. I would only do this if the line is short, it's generally not worth the wait.

Mission: Space... I skip this because I get motion sick pretty easily and am never interested in putting myself through this attraction.

 

[NMK62303]

First, congrats on doing the Princess 1/2 marathon, I hope you have a great race! Now, on to Epcot -- you are right, there is a lot to see but totally do-able in one day. I agree with PP on skipping Mission:Space, Figment, Nemo (great for kids but if you are looking to cut things out I'd do those). Also unless you're really into big screen type movies of the countries I'd probably not do those. You can stroll through the countries and get the "flavor" of them, maybe even grab a snack, and not spend the long time that the movies take. In Future World I'd be sure to do Test Track and Soarin, should probably get a FP for Soarin. Spaceship Earth does not take too long and is a continuously loading attraction so the line moves quickly.
Have a great trip!

 

[constanze]

I would definitely skip Maelstrom

 

[MomofKatie]

For 2 adults, there is a lot to do at Epcot. A long as you arrive at rope drop, use FP, and aren't going on a super-busy day, you should be able to do most everything you want. The things you can skip, IMO:

Turtle Talk w/Crush- great for little kids, but not as cool for adults.

Nemo ride in the Seas- again, more for little kids. If there isn't a line, great. But don't waste more than 5 mins on it.

Journey Into Your Imagination- it's OK, but not worth the time it takes to get in and out of the pavilion for adults.

Ellen's Energy Adventure- it's cute once, but it takes over 30 mins to see, start to finish (and this doesn't include wait time). If you don't have a lot of time, skip it.

Gran Fiesta in the Mexico pavilion- a dull boat ride.

Maelstrom in Norway- IF there is a line longer than 10 mins. The ride is very short, and the line gets very long.

Circle of Life in the Land pavilion- cute, but not worth the time if you can't do it all in the park.

And, I hate to say it, but
Test Track- IMO, this ride is highly overrated. I can do it once every 5 years and be OK. If you really want to ride it, go first thing in the morning before the line gets over 15 mins, or get a FP.



The attractions I think ARE worth the wait (or the FP) are:

Mission: Space- awesome ride!! If you get motion sickness, do the green side. If not, go for the orange side.

Soarin'- woo hoo!!

Living with the Land- educational and interesting.

Honey I Shrunk the Audience- I love all the 3D movies.

Innoventions- lots of cool interactive stuff to do in here. Give yourself a time limit, or you could spend some serious time in here.

Club Cool- never a wait, but it's nice to come in and get out of the heat, quench your thirst with some free Coke products from around the world, and watch people's faces when they try Beverly.

World Showcase- stroll around. Have a meal. Do some shopping. What's not to love?

The Canada, France, and China movies- all are really well done. They are short (less than 15 mins) and never really have a line.

The American Adventure- I personally loathe this show, but everyone should see it once to judge for themselves. Very patriotic, and amazingly well done Animatronic characters.

 

[PHXscuba]

DL and I went in September and pretty much covered it in one day. We did all of Future World (including Test Track and Mission Space twice each) and broke for lunch in the Land about 1:30. We didn't spend a lot of time in the exhibits after you exit some of the rides. After that we wandered through the World Showcase all afternoon. I could have saved some serious time not walking through every gift shop! We ate gelato, saw the China movie, did the America pavilion, rode the boats in Norway and Mexico. We should have done Innoventions before we went to WS because we really didn't get much time there when we came back before it closed.
We did have pretty sore feet when we were done with the day! Not sure how that fits with the half marathon.

PHXscuba

P.S. I actually really liked "Turtle Talk with Crush" as well as "Ellen's Energy Adventure." I wouldn't go in every time I went, but if you've never been I'd try to make time. I'd skip gift shops before unique rides.

 

[june@imsarc.com]

The Nemo ride is terrible, skip it. Crush's Turtle Talk is great, though.

 

[Berlioz70]

Ellen's Energy Adventure- it's cute once, but it takes over 30 mins to see, start to finish (and this doesn't include wait time). If you don't have a lot of time, skip it.

Ellen is down for referb, so you wouldn't have to worry about this one. I'm not positive, but I doubt it'll be open in March.

 

[neffernie]

i'll probably get flak for this, but i'd skip Soarin'.

That's right. I said it. Soarin'!

What a waste of time. I can sit in a lawn chair with a fan blowing on me while i watch a movie at home.

 

[pickles]

OMG I would never tell someone to skip Maelstrom, nor Figment, nor any ride at Epcot. They are cute silly rides, but usually low lines and easy to do and lots of fun.
Personally, with not much time I would avoid the Future world stuff inside the building. If you have lots of time it is fun to do, but when pressed I would skip it. I would get rides done and then wokr my way around the showcase.

 

[LovesHauntedMansion]

You said that you are going with a friend. Do you usually go with kids? If so, I would definitely focus on the world showcase because some kids don't enjoy that section as much. On my last trip we spent almost all of our time there because I knew that on my next trip I will be with a four-year-old.

Don't skip Maelstrom! It's my favorite ride at Epcot. I would skip Crush's Turtle Talk. Personally, I skip Mission Space and Test Track because I am chicken.

 

[OHSNAPaduck]

i'll probably get flak for this, but i'd skip Soarin'.

That's right. I said it. Soarin'!

What a waste of time. I can sit in a lawn chair with a fan blowing on me while i watch a movie at home.

completely agree, my dad and I went on it in July, as soon as we got off we said "we just wasted 40 minutes for that?!". The only good thing about it was we were chosen by the Dream Squad to stay an extra hour in the park after it closed

 

[paintnolish]

Don't skip Soarin' but do get a FP. I was going to say to skip Ellen's but it will be closed, so no worries there. I wouldn't skip the boat ride in Mexico. It moves really quickly and is fun in a cheesy IASW way. If the line is long, skip the MAelstrom. Like pps have said, it is very short. I would not skip Test Track either, but try for early or late or with a FP. The WS is usually not as crowded and there is little to no wait for the movies there. Also, be sure to snack around the world. Lots of yummy stuff, and hey, you've just done the 1/2 marathon. You've got calories to burn! We do skip MS, though. It's my least fave there.

 

[NurseJamie]

I think there are more skipp-able things at Epcot than MUST-DO's. So I am going to give you my MUST-DO's at Epcot instead of my meh attractions.

Spaceship Earth - it's a classic, and it's a constant loader so the wait is never that long.

The Seas with Nemo and friends - I LOVE Nemo, and I think that ride is so clever! It's not like the other dark rides, and it's quick. Even if you end up not being crazy about it you won't lose more than 5 minutes of your day. And the aquarium upstairs is incredible!

Soarin' - aaahhh this is amazing. Love it.

Club Cool - AC, free drinks, and the amusement of watching people try Beverly. I go in here any time we are remotely close to passing it.

Test Track - it's just plain fun.

World Showcase - the rides/movies are fun if you have the time, but I don't think you'll feel like you missed out if you skip any of them. There are some stores and snacks that I feel no Disney trip is complete without...
Norway - stop at the Kringla Og bakery and split a School Bread or Almond Pretzel with your buddy. Mmmmmmmmmm.
China - the gift shop is just fun, some stuff you won't see anywhere else. And some of the stuff is surprisingly inexpensive!
Japan - the Mitsukoshi department store is wonderful! You can spend a mint on a kimono or $1 on Japanese candy. Make sure you browse around. I also always stop and pick an oyster and get a pearl! And get a Kaki Gori (kind of like a snow cone) on your way in.
Morocco - best counter service at Epcot IMO. Got a henna tattoo last time that was wicked neat, and it lasted for WEEKS!
UK - fun shops, get an Aero bar as a snack, and fish & chips!

OK - I think that's all for me. Whatever you do, make sure you have fun! Epcot is HUGE and a LOT of walking, more than most other parks, make sure you wear your comfiest shoes and bring a change of socks!

 

[wings91]

Skip Boarin'. The wait will be 90+, and no fastpasses in sight. That ride gets too much hype for being a swing in front of a movie screen. You'll get to see a lot more by skipping it and doing three other things in the same time.

 

[battleflag12]

I would definitely skip Maelstrom

Malestorm is an amazing ride and a classic! You might want to skip the films but you can do all of epcot in one day we have done it!

 

[vettegirl]

I would not wait more than 10 minutes for Test Track, it was so disappointing for us. I agree that Maelstrom is not worth waiting for as well.

 

[fla4fun]

What to skip and what to ride really depend on your personal preferences. I'm not a thrill junkie, so for me, Mission: Space is a skip. A lot of people would disagree. I like watching the live shows in the different countries, and some people find that boring.

If you're into thrill rides, be sure to hit Mission: Space and Test Track. Otherwise, pass.

Soarin is more of an immersive ride than a thrill ride. I like it a lot, but if I can't get a Fastpass, or the standby sign says more than 40 minutes, I pass - standby lines can be two hours or longer if it's busy.

I always go to Spaceship Earth. It's the last of the classic Epcot dark rides left, and it just doesn't feel like Epcot to me unless I go there.

Imagination. the Land greenhouse, and Living Seas are OK if they aren't too busy. I will go in if there's no line, but otherwise, I skip for another trip.

Of the live performances in WS, my favorites are Voices of Liberty and Off Kilter. I try not to miss those. But there are some quirky ones, like the mime in Italy or the French balancing act, that are fun to watch as well. I'm not really into the Beatles, so the copy act in the UK doesn't interest me - although the UK improv troupe can be a hoot if you get good audience participation.

The 360 movies make me motion sick, so I don't do those too often because of it. If you don't have motion sickness issues, they are OK (I prefer China to Canada). I like the French movie much better - I don't get sick there (I think because it's more like a regular theater).

I may get some flack for this suggestion, but I wouldn't plan on dining at any TS restaurant if you are short on time. You can get a wide variety of decent CS meals, especially in WS, and going to a TS restaurant can take a big chunk of your touring time. So unless it's a restaurant that you've been just drooling over, I'd skip it until you have a longer stay.