Advice for Epcot 3 pm arrival?

[teach22180]

Hi everyone!
My 19 year old and I will arrive at Epcot about 3 or 4 on our first day in the world, and it's probably our only Epcot day. We're only doing 3 days and then the cruise. It's a late EMH day at Epcot, though. Any ideas of how to get into Soarin or other suggestions of what to hit and what to miss? We won't do the wild Mission Space, but everything else sounds so good!

What about the ride at the Imagination pavilion? I never hear about that.

Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[The Mick]

Heck, I'd make MGM the short day!

Anyway, take advantage of the fact that a lot of people don't realize that many of the Future World rides like Soarin stays open PAST 7 pm. Many times you can get on Test Track or Soarin or the mild Mission Space after 7pm without a huge wait because of this.

To be honest, I've never stayed for EMH, so I don't know exactly what's open that whole time. I think most of the World Showcase Pavilions close at 9, so may want to hit those during your afternoon hours (anyone who may know differently, please correct me here).

Figment's ride in the Imagination area is one of the few rides/attractions in EPCOT that I'm not crazy about. But you may want to experience it once if you have time.

Honestly, it's too bad you can't dedicate a full day to Epcot and use the short day for one of the others, because Epcot is so awesome it really does deserve a full day to see all it has to offer.

 

[bctripp]

I would probably make MGM the short day too, to me there's less that we like to do. I've never really liked MGM as much as Epcot. I've never done EMH at Epcot, so i'm not familiar with that either.

 

[teach22180]

Thanks for some good feedback! We are using one entire day for MK, and then splitting the 3rd day between AK (my DD19 loves animals, so we may be there a while!) and then going over to MGM to see what we can. I kind of figured the fastpasses may be gone at Epcot by the time we get there, but hopefully we can ride the more popular rides later in the evening.

 

[The Mick]

First thing I would do is consult with a CM there (preferably at the help desk) about what exactly is open for EMH. You can then go from there.

IF the World Showcase pavilions are open late for EMH, then you're in good shape. You can maybe then dedicate 4-7:30 or 8pm to Future World. Hit Soarin, Test Track and the mild Mission Space. The boatride in The Land is pretty cool. Imagination is more for kids, so if it's you and your mom, you'd probably want to save that for if you have time to spare. There a lot more worth seeing than that if you're pressed for time.

I'd begin hitting the World Showcase at about 7:30 or 8pm. If you drink and like frozen margaritas, try the frozen ones at the Mexican Pavilion. Make sure you ride the Maelstrom in Norway, and walk through their Puffin's Roost store after the ride (you can skip the movie). There's good, cheap Chinese Food at there pavilion. Their movie is worth seeing.

ILLUMINATIONS begins at 9 pm....DON'T MISS THIS. Do yourself a favor and make sure you see it.

Other Pavilions that are can't miss: Japan: walk through their Mitsukoshi Department Store, see their Koi fish pond. France: their movie is beautiful, try a pastry if you can. England has some great architecture and their stores are really cool. American Pavilion: if you're not too tired, the American Adventure presentation is really good.

Seriously, if you have time, at least stroll through each and every pavilion. They each have something really cool to offer.

 

[The Mick]

Oh! One more quick suggestion:

Sounds like it's what you had in mind anyway, but make sure you hit Animal Kingdom in the morning and MGM in the afternoon if you do them on the same day. The Kilimanjaro Safari ride is better in the AM since the animals are usually up and around in the AM hours more...but MAKE SURE you get an Expedition Everest Fastpass the first thing you do upon entering the park. Then go hit the Safari. If you can, hit the Kali River Rapids (but prepare to get a little wet! - but it's worth it - bring a change of clothes). The Maharajah Jungle Trek is well worth it too.

AK closes earlier than MGM usually, so that's another good reason to hit MGM in the afternoon. Rock and Roller Coaster is a must ride there. Get a fastpass if you can.

 

[MrsG]

Future world is a lot less crowded later in the day than earlier. It seems that most people start there and wind up in the World showcase later in the day and for dinner. The only problem is that fastpasses for Soarin, etc. are probably gone by that time.

I would also do my shorter day with MGM and save the full day for Epcot. You'll have a great time even if you don't see everything. It's a great reason to go back!

 

[The Mick]

Future world is a lot less crowded later in the day than earlier. It seems that most people start there and wind up in the World showcase later in the day and for dinner. The only problem is that fastpasses for Soarin, etc. are probably gone by that time.

I would also do my shorter day with MGM and save the full day for Epcot. You'll have a great time even if you don't see everything. It's a great reason to go back!

Personally, I'd be willing to sacrifice one of the two: MGM or AK, in order to get a full day in at Epcot. Unfortunately, it would probably have to be AK that got the boot, because it closes so early. But it would be worth in order to be able to take your time at the 3 other parks and really enjoy them.

 

[PrincessBrideJo]

I love Journey Into the Imagination, but I love it from when I was little and I will admitt the ride just isn't what it use to be. There is a site on the Disney's page that tells you what is open late. I will find it and put it on the bottom of the post. Also, find out how late they are open. They change the hours depending on the time of year you go. Don't go to the rides that are open late, when I went there was no lines after closing so save those till the end! Also while you are there are the parks open on any morning or nights? Maybe you could catch Animal Kingdom late or early on one day. I LOVE animals, I was even pre-vet for 2 years in college (switched to biology) and I wans't that impressed with Animal Kingdom.

Epcot®
Mornings:
Living with the Land, Mission: SPACE®, Soarin', Spaceship Earth, Test Track
Evenings:
Includes attractions listed above and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, Journey Into Imagination With Figment, Mexico-El Río del Tiempo, Norway-Maelstrom, The American Adventure

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/extraMagicHour?id=CalendarExtraMagicHoursPage

 

[teach22180]

I'm so happy to hear that y'all think Soarin, and some of the other FW parts of Epcot might not be too crowded during the EMH!

They just sound like our kind of rides!

I agree that compared with the national zoo, AK might not be as exciting as I'm thinking it will be for my DD19. We do plan to start on the Safari, as she isn't really into coasters, so no EE for us! That just means we'll get to MGM sooner, where Fastasmic is the only "must-see" on my list.

Thanks for the feedback. We know this is just a taste of Disney, and we can't see it all in 2 and 1/2 days! I'm just trying to use our time wisely. I'd go all 7 days, but you know kids, she wants the cruise!

 

[zurgswife]

I'm so happy to hear that y'all think Soarin, and some of the other FW parts of Epcot might not be too crowded during the EMH!

They just sound like our kind of rides!

I agree that compared with the national zoo, AK might not be as exciting as I'm thinking it will be for my DD19. We do plan to start on the Safari, as she isn't really into coasters, so no EE for us! That just means we'll get to MGM sooner, where Fastasmic is the only "must-see" on my list.

Thanks for the feedback. We know this is just a taste of Disney, and we can't see it all in 2 and 1/2 days! I'm just trying to use our time wisely. I'd go all 7 days, but you know kids, she wants the cruise!

Soarin' has always been as busy at EMH as any other time I have visited. I suggest that you get a fast pass as soon as you are allowed for EMH sometimes this is slightly before the 7pm start.

 

[NJDad18]

Chances are that if you arrive at EPCOT at 3:00 all of the fast passes for Test Track and Soarin' will be gone. They usually are out by the early afternoon.

 

[CarolA]

Yes, but they do start over with new fast passes at EMH. When I went last October EMH fast passes for Soarin' were avaialble after 9 PM. I would go that route on Soarin'

 

[jhorstma]

There's a tip board past Spaceship Earth that will list all ride wait times - a CM is stationed there who should be able to give you Fast Pass availability info as well.

Soarin' waits are huge (I saw 140 minute waits there) - I suggest that on MK day you park at EPCOT at 8:45, walk in and at rope-drop immediately head over to Soarin' where you'll be able to walk on. Then return to the monorail station and head over to MK for the day.

Test Track Fast Passes may be available at 3. Be aware that the singles line at Test Track experiences wide swings - you may get there and find that only a few folks are in that line, making it a short 10 or 15 minute wait.

As for Mission Space, if you can ride Star Tours and Body Wars ok you'll be fine on the less-intense Green side. Last week during peak times we could literally walk on to the Green side, as the Orange side was the popular side.

Finally I agree with the poster who recommends AK in the morning and MGM in the afternoon. The EE singles line moves very rapidly - last week during peak times the most we waited was 15 minutes. You should be able to knock out EE, the Safari, and Dinoland (worth going to for the odd combination of the Dinosaur ride and the carny rides) before noon and head over to MGM, where you shouldn't have any problems getting Fast Passes to the Aerosmith Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror. MGM is a far better place to deal with the afternoon heat.

Have fun!

 

[teach22180]

Thanks again for all the great ideas! I hadn't thought about going first to Epcot just for Soarin on the MK day, but since we aren't really interested in the mountains at MK, that's a good idea.

And, thanks also to the people who said they do fastpasses again on the EMH nights. That's also good to know.

I'm babbling about all this to my DD, and she is giving me a look like I've lost my mind....soarin....test track....fastpasses...monorail...