4yr old in Epcot

[lisaes]

Does anyone honestly think, besides for illuminations, a 4 yr. old boy would enjoy Epcot or would a 3rd day at MK be more fun?

 

[zurgswife]

There are lots of things to do in Future world...Innoventions has a couple of places to play virtual games...there is a game of tag my kids still love to play...The Energy with dinosaurs the kids love, As well as the living seas...Journey into your imagination is fun and the playground afterwards my kids love, Watching the trashcans players is fun, Cool Station can be fun...

In the worldshowcase....Norway has a playground, UK has the world showcase players an improv group, the chinese acrobtics, My kids have enjoyed watching the films about the countries, Norway also has a ride with trolls (it's fun), plus you can stop at the countries and get a mask and a stamp...

 

[zurgswife]

There are lots of things to do in Future world...Innoventions has a couple of places to play virtual games...there is a game of tag my kids still love to play...The Energy with dinosaurs the kids love, As well as the living seas...Journey into your imagination is fun and the playground afterwards my kids love, Watching the trashcans players is fun, Cool Station can be fun...

In the worldshowcase....Norway has a playground, UK has the world showcase players an improv group, the chinese acrobtics, My kids have enjoyed watching the films about the countries, Norway also has a ride with trolls (it's fun), plus you can stop at the countries and get a mask and a stamp...

 

[robinb]

My 4 year old loves decorating her mask at the Kidcot stations and meeting the young people from all the coutries. She also likes the toddler "habitrail" in Mission:Space. It's the waiting area for the attraction. She also likes playing the astronaut game with one of us while the other is on the ride.

There is also plenty of musical entertainment .

 

[trez3]

We just returned from WDW celebrating our twins' 4 year birthday. We did Epcot the first day there (mainly because we had a PS at the PSB in Norway) and decided to stay there. I had more fun there with the kids than I did alone with my husband because it was fun seeing their reaction to all the rides and activities to do there.

The highlights for them there were: riding Test Track, Journey into Imagination, Cool Station (tasting soft drinks), The Living Seas and decorating their masks in the WS.

But if you have a Park Hopper Pass you could do the highlights in Epcot and go to the Magic Kingdom later in the day. My twins definitely preferred MK over the other parks.

 

[iluvtink]

I agree that Epcot has a lot that a 4 yr. old would enjoy. Is this the first trip? If you're going to do Epcot for sure, I would definitely do Epcot first, then follow up with Magic Kingdom on the next two days. General opinion in the guidebooks is that Epcot can seem not as "magical" to younger kids if they've been to MK the day before.

Suggestion: Buy the Unofficial Guide to WDW and read it for hints, etc. for young kids. It's my favorite.

iluvtink

 

[junderwood7]

We went on the first day of our trip last year and our (then) four year old loved Epcot. He really liked Test Track, Journey into Imagination, and the Living Seas (he really likes manatees). He also liked doing the Kidcot stations at World Showcase. Also there were plenty of characters around to get autographs. We did Mission: Space with him as well (he was just tall enough) and he liked the exit area better and thought the ride was okay.

He even asked to go back after visiting the other parks. This was a surprise to me as I thought he wouldn't like it as much as the others but it seemed to appeal to him as well.

 

[auntpolly]

My 5 year old DD wanted to go to the MK after after 1/2 day at Epcot. We were with other people and my husband stayed at Epcot with them, but DD and I needed a little more Mickey time. She wasn't unhappy at EPCOT, but it wasn't her favorite part of the trip by any means.

 

[stacilee]

our "little" love epcot! We usually spend 2 full days there. The more we go the more we discover!

 

[lisaes]

Thanks so much for all your replies. I don't know if DS will try Mission Space and Test Track. (me either for that matter). What little daredevils your little guys are! We had thought of the ice cream social though. Nonetheless, you're at Disney! What wouldn't be fun????????

 

[swilphil]

We are going to spend a lot of time at Epcot with our 4 year old and 2 year old since we are staying closeby at the Swan. Last summer we had a great time wandering around WS. It's such a nice break from the other theme parks and there's lots of live entertainment. There's also lots of room for the little ones to run around while waiting to decorate their masks. The boat ride in Mexico was fun, but we skipped the other films. We did see some characters though.

 

[Chicago526]

My 3yo nephew had a blast in Epcot! Oddly enough, more so in WS than FW (he's affraid of most rides). But in FW, he did the cookie baking thing in the Food Pavilion, and he loved Living Seas and he liked a lot of the educational displays at all the other pavilions.

In WS, he loved the model trains outside of Germany. He didn't do either of these, but I know the have Kidcot stations were the make masks at each country, and you can buy a "passport" that they can get staped at each country, too. He liked lunch in Mexico at the San Angel Inn, and loved looking at all the "neat" stuff in all the shops of the World, as well as the entertainers.

Mainly, he just loved spending time with his family!

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by lisaes
Thanks so much for all your replies. I don't know if DS will try Mission Space and Test Track. (me either for that matter).

Your child is too little for Mission:Space, unless s/he is a giant 4 year old! The minimum height requirement is 48 inches. She can play in the exit/waiting area while you baby-swap so everyone who wants to ride can. My daughter loves that area.

Test Track is only 40 inches, but I can't get my 4 year old on it. I own a convertible, too! I need to take the top down and drive fast more often while yelling "We're on Test Track!" .

 

[suerob]

I also say that a 4 year old can enjoy Epcot. Last time we were at Disney my dd was 4 and she loved Epcot. She kept asking to go back there throughout the trip. I really don't know why people think Epcot isn't good for little kids. There's plenty to do there.

 

[WDWLinda]

I laughed when I read your pretend Test Track ride - pretty funny!

My almost 3 yr old son LOVES EPCOT. He could spend an hour watching the model trains near Germany. Winnie the Pooh and a friend are often in the back of the store in England, where there's also a Thomas the Train setup. He loved the Ice Cream Social (make a PS because they make the ice cream sundaes ahead of time - and call to confirm your PS's before your vacation. They messed up our date and we almost didn't get to go). He really liked the drummers in Japan and the acrobats in China. He got a kick out of Ice Station Cool. Plus he liked to play in the fountain around Test Track.

Also, remember that its your trip too - you'll enjoy EPCOT more than a third day at MK. Go for it - your son will have a ball, and you will too!

~Linda

 

[shellybaxter]

Originally posted by robinb
Your child is too little for Mission:Space, unless s/he is a giant 4 year old! The minimum height requirement is 48 inches. She can play in the exit/waiting area while you baby-swap so everyone who wants to ride can. My daughter loves that area.

Test Track is only 40 inches, but I can't get my 4 year old on it. I own a convertible, too! I need to take the top down and drive fast more often while yelling "We're on Test Track!" .

LOL - that's how we explained Test Track to our 4-year-old niece as well. "It's just like Aunt Shelly's convertable". She loved it - it was her favorite ride, that and Splash Mountain. As I think back, I was afraid of Test Track on my first trip too, but my husband said to me that it was just like driving my car - too funny!!

BTW - Darling niece LOVED Epcot. She like the "golf ball" ride, the living seas, everything in the Land, Figment, and of course the Storybook Breakfast. She also loved the street performers in the world showcase. I think there's plenty for little one's to do in Epcot.

Shelly

 

[Tigger&Belle]

When I had my 4yo at WDW in February I asked him where he wanted to go on his last day. We'd already spent a day at each park and he chose Epcot, mainly because he wanted to go on Test Track again. We ended up spending the morning at MK and then went to Epcot before leaving for the airport in the early afternoon. If he had of been taller he probably would have liked Mission to Space, too.

T&B

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by robinb
Your child is too little for Mission:Space, unless s/he is a giant 4 year old! The minimum height requirement is 48 inches. She can play in the exit/waiting area while you baby-swap so everyone who wants to ride can. My daughter loves that area.

Unless the height restriction has changed since February, it is a 44" restriction at Mission to Space.

T&B

 

[decker96]

Our DD then 5 and DS then 2 also enjoyed the Living Seas, Innoventions and Journey into your Imagination. They also liked the Living with the Land ride, DD liked the greenhouse and DS didn't care about anything except that he was on a boat! DD is not too brave either, we tried to get her on Test Track, but she wouldn't go. In FW, DD's favorite ride was the boat ride in the Mexico pavillion, believe it or not! We had to go on it 3 times. They also liked playing on the Viking ship in Norway. We didn't make it around to the other countries, (probably because we spent so much time on that boat in Mexico! LOL!) but I'm sure DS would have loved the model trains in Germany.

 

[lisaes]

Test Track is only 40 inches, but I can't get my 4 year old on it. I own a convertible, too! I need to take the top down and drive fast more often while yelling "We're on Test Track!" .

LOL!

Okay you guys! Now I AM going to Epcot. I forgot all about the cookie baking. DS would love that. I have soooo much Disney info in my brain from these boards, I sometimes lose some to fit more in! For sure I am going to write up an itinerary because I know I am going to land there and totally spaz out and forget all this great info.