2 Days at Epcot with kids?

[Sunny dreams]

Orginally we were planning on 2 days at MK, 1 at HS and 2 at Epcot. My kids are 4 and 6. My husband and I are also going with my parents. Do you think 2 days is too much for young kids? Or should we do another MK day?

 

[lroger01]

Could you do Epcot World Showcase on your arrival day? This way you get to experience it before the kids have seen all the rides at the other parks. Then go back later for a second day that focuses on Future World.

This leaves you a third day at MK or a chance to go to Animal Kingdom. AK may seem like a zoo, but it's Disney's version. If you had a chance to go to arguably the best "zoo" in the country, would you skip it even if you have a zoo near home? The best part is you don't have to decide now. Go ahead and plan your last day for MK and get your Fast passes for there. Then if your group decides they don't need that third day you can pick another park. You can usually schedule FP's at AK for even for the best rides without much advance notice.

 

[ErinInCT]

Depends on your kids. Mine prefer EPCOT. They liked the tame rides in FW. They loved doing the masks at each kidcot station at each country in WS. They liked the shows too (like the Chinese acrobats, the mariachis and the Japanese drummers). We also liked hunting for the penny pressers (a good .51 cent souvenir). We always spend two days at EPCOT!

 

[Disneylover99]

My kids were 3 and 6 the first time we went to Disney. Their favourite park was (and still is) Epcot. So I think 2 days at Epcot and 2 days at MK should be fine.

 

[ness0905]

Agree with above my kids are now 5 and 8 but Epcot has been their favorite park for years good mix of rides, fun shops, kidcot stations. You will have no problems with 2 days.

 

[Nancyg56]

My DGD has enjoyed Epcot since she was 4, it is one of her favorite parks. Between the shows that take place throughout Epcot, both FW and the WC, and the exhibits, there is plenty to keep children entertained. WHen you add in Characters, kidcot stations and Agent P, WOW! There simply is not enough time for kids to get it all done! LOL!

My DD and DSIL used to rent a big stroller and when Kady would get tired or just need a break, she would curl up and relax while the rest of us strolled around the WC. She would take it all in but still was resting and the rest of us could continue to explore the World.

Epcot gets a bad rap I think. There is so much to see and do, eat and drink, for children and for adults. It is not filled with Thrill rides but I don't think Epcot needs many of those to keep young and old engaged. The pathways just lead you from place to place, with so much to see as you go.

 

[philharmagic fan]

A BIG advantage to doing 2 days at EPCOT is that you can get a fastpass for Soarin' on one day and Test Track on the other (assuming your kids want to try both).

 

[drb116]

I would suggest 1 day at Epcot and adding a day at Animal Kingdom. While Epcot does have a lot to offer, you will probably find that most of the rides you kids are interested in have very short lines and you can complete them in a couple of hours. Yes, you can only fast pass test track or Soaring, but if you get there early, you can ride one and fast pass the other.

Each family is different, but my two boys (4 and 6 last year) loved doing the experiences in the parks. So for Epcot, they liked visiting the countries to get stamps on their Duffy and Perry(Kidcot). They also liked the Agent P missions, but at 4 and 6, this wasn't their favorite.

At 4 and 6, their favorite was the Wilderness Explorer badges at Animal Kingdom. (This year at ages 5 and 7, they still love that, but are a little more into Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom). I would put Animal Kingdom in the middle of your week, as most of the rides and shows are longer and it always feels like a more relaxing day. Then you can mix in some of the WE badges.

 

[IWRBIE]

As far as my family is concerned, this is no such thing as too much time in Epcot.

 

[tink9702]

I don't think at 4 & 6 you need 3 days at MK. I'd either go 2 days to Epcot or go to AK.

 

[Moonwolf]

I think it depends on your kids and the rest of your family if 2 days is too much, just right, or possibly not enough.

There are some kids (and adults) that aren't having fun unless they are on a ride, the faster the better. Those are the kind of people that don't spend a lot of time at EPCOT because, as big as the park is, there are not that many attractions that one would associate with a traditional amusement park. And if they're not on a ride they get bored.

Then there are the kinds of people who can sit back a bit. They aren't just about the rides. Give them something interesting to look at or a place to explore and they are just as happy. I think those are the type of people that EPCOT really shines with. Because while there are not as many things to do at EPCOT as say Magic Kingdom, there's a ton of things to see and experience once you step into each pavilion (and do set inside each pavilion my first few trips we would run out of time to really explore so all I saw was the outside. On my last trip I finally got to really go deeper into each area and I was blown away by how much is back there). From the performers to the exhibits. Seeing all the unique items being sold in each country to trying some of the food.

There's nothing wrong with either view. People enjoy what they enjoy. You know your family best, would they like to stop to see something that catches their eye or are they the type that just bounce from ride to ride without pausing in between.

 

[nat8199]

While I think that 2 days at Epcot would go great, I also think that you should add in an AK day. It is an amazing park.

 

[nat8199]

Give them something interesting to look at or a place to explore and they are just as happy.

This is the best explanation I have seen as to the magic of Epcot (and AK). I love it, and my kids do, too, thankfully.

 

[tlmadden73]

I can't imagine spending two days at Epcot unless I was there for a special festival. It just doesn't have much anymore .. I would think most Kids find walking around World Showcase boring (I did as a kid).

Why skipping AK? Besides, MK, I think that is the best park for kids that age. It has a lot of family friendly rides and shows. It has a lot of animals to see. Kids LOVE animals (usually) ...
It has great theming and exploration to be had (I think my son enjoyed walking the trails or the Train Ride to Planet Watch the best ) and lots of characters to see.

 

[disnut8]

Orginally we were planning on 2 days at MK, 1 at HS and 2 at Epcot. My kids are 4 and 6. My husband and I are also going with my parents. Do you think 2 days is too much for young kids? Or should we do another MK day?

I would suggest you do Epcot your first day BUT, split it in half and just the round halves. As a PP said, you can only do Soarin one day and Test Track another so pick Soarin first and then do that half of Future World and then do half of World Showcase. That will let you know what your kids and your parents are up for.

 

[Kimosabe]

If you already know you don't like AK, I can't argue with you. But if just basing it on other people's comments, I would suggest taking the time to study a park map and/or a guide book to get a better feel for what is there. We used to go for Everest and the Safari and then head out, but the family decided they wanted to get a better feel for what was there, and when I finally stopped to plan out a day there, we quickly got pressed for time and didn't even get to do it all. Start with the Wilderness Explorers activity, and that will basically lead you around the park for the day.

 

[baldy6060]

We have to do 2 days at Epcot. At those ages I would do as a PP said and do half of Future World and half of WS one day then the other day do the rest. It's an amazing park!

 

[jolene63]

My kids have always loved Epcot and we will always go for at least 2 days, sometimes three on our trips. I agree with some others though and think you shouldn't miss AK. It's such a neat park. If you have park hoppers, you could start the day there and then head over to Epcot for the evening.

 

[Mainemama]

I recently asked my kids (prior to a surprise quick trip) " if you could go to only 1 park what would it be?" My DD picked Epcot, my DS said Epcot or Animal Kingdom. So, we went to Epcot. My favorite, too!

 

[JenB1104]

We only had 1.5 days at Epcot (went on our arrival day and then a full day) and it was not enough. I wish we had taken more time to see the countries etc. at World Showcase. DD who was five enjoyed all of it. We did not even get to see everything not in the World Showcase as well. We take breaks during the day though so we could have gotten more in without them.