Advice please re: Epcot

[mshanson3121]

Initially, we were going to split it into two half days (probably 4-5 hours each), however, for the sake of adding a water park, we're going to condense Epcot to one day. We know we're not going to see everything, and we're okay with that. Our main goal for Epcot is the World Showcase, anyways. For rides we're planning Test Track, the Nemo stuff, Figment Ride and Spaceship Earth.

My first question is - does Test Track really take an hour? I had someone on here say that by the time you do the pre-ride stuff, then the ride, then the post-ride, it's about an hour.

Then, I'm just wondering how this sounds for a plan:

Epcot is going to be our first day. We arrive on a Wednesday after 3 days of driving. My initial thought was to head into Epcot around 1 or 2, that way we could all sleep in and have the morning to rest after our long drive. I figured we'd focus on FW first. Then, do an early dinner at Rose & Crown Pub (we have an ADR for 4:00 tentatively booked), then hit the world showcase.

So how does that sound? We have FP+ booked for Test Track, Figment and Spaceship Earth. We're going the end of June so I know we're going to be in the park during the worst of the heat, however, will it really be that bad in FW, since all the rides are indoors? We won't hit WS until around 5:00 or so.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Test Track can take up to an hour or more depending on how much you get into the post show area.
The pre-show, car design isn't a long drawn out process, but the wait from car design to the actual ride can take about 10-15 minutes. The post show area has so many interactive elements that can draw you in and take up a lot of time that you won't ever realize how long you are there. We normally just walk right through the post show and head on out.

 

[Hopefully]

Epcot is our favorite park. We always go there in the afternoon of arrival day. We focus completely on WS that day. Then we spend at least another whole day and evening, plus several additional evenings over a 7 night stay. We love the International Restaurants for dinner in the evening. I can not imagine only arriving at 1 PM for your only day.
Good Luck

 

[lovndisney12]

We can do it in a day with similar priorities to yours but it is a full exhausting day. We would go to RD and hit the main rides in the AM - Soarin and Test Track. Then hit the World showcase in the afternoon. However, if you are going during a slow time and utilize FP and stay until park close - you can do it arriving later as long as you don't mind if you miss some stuff in the World Showcase. If a trip to the waterpark is worth more than seeing some additional stuff at Epcot - then that is what I would do. There have been many times where we are all so tired by the time we are making our way through the world showcase that we leave earlier in the evening because we are done and getting back to the resort and relaxing, is more appealing.

 

[wisblue]

To the OP, given the rides you want to do in Future World, your plan should be fine.

As a PP poster said, the amount of time you spend at TT is largely up to you. With a FP, the ride itself, including the car design preshow, shouldn't take more than about 30 minutes at most. Some people could spend a lot of time with the interactive displays and games in the post show area, while others will speed right through it on their way to their next attraction.

The same can be true in varying degrees at SE, Figment, and the Seas. With 3 FPs, you could easily do all 4 of the rides and spend some time in the post ride areas at all 4 places in 3 hours or less. Someone who skips all the post ride things could do them all in significantly less time.

If you arrive at 1 and spend about 3 hours in Future World you will have plenty of time to tour the World Showcase before Illuminations at 9.

If you're starting at 1 you will at least be in the area of the park that offers more A/C at the hottest part of the day.

 

[Fantasia79]

Couple questions to help your plans. Where are you staying, how long are you in the parks, have you planned which days for which parks? Do you have kids with you?

Your plan is totally possible though.

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

What exactly are you wanting to do in the WS? You say it's your priority, but you will be there maybe 4 hours. That's about 30 minutes to spend in each country. And that's if you don't want to find a spot early for Illuminations.

 

[mshanson3121]

Couple questions to help your plans. Where are you staying, how long are you in the parks, have you planned which days for which parks? Do you have kids with you?

Your plan is totally possible though.

Staying off-site, approx 12-15 minute drive to parking lot, two kids, boy 8, girl 5. Son LOVES other countries and cultures and is really excited about WS. Currently have 5 day passes, but are in Florida for 9 days. Our current plan is as follows:

Day 1: This is the day we're planning for Epcot
Day 2: Magic Kingdom
Day 3: Non-park day. Going to Old Town in the afternoon
Day 4: Blizzard Beach
Day 5: Animal Kingdom
Day 6: Non-park day. Going on the Citrus Swamp Tour, HDDR at 4:00
Day 7: Magic Kingdom
Day 8: Hollywood Studios

 

[mshanson3121]

What exactly are you wanting to do in the WS? You say it's your priority, but you will be there maybe 4 hours. That's about 30 minutes to spend in each country. And that's if you don't want to find a spot early for Illuminations.

Basically do all the countries except US/Canada pavillion. Pick a Pearl in Japan. Boat ride in Mexico, watch the Chinese Acrobats. We're not staying for illuminations. And aren't interested in shopping. Just strolling around, looking. Probably stopping to get a drink/snack somewhere.

 

[Tomh]

Ok, either get a FP+ for TT first thing, OR get there at rope drop, and make a bee line to TT, you can get on it with a very short wait that way. Don't play around in the aftershow area too much, and you could be done in perhaps 30 minutes.

After TT, head for Nemo, get that out of the way before it gets too busy. Figment is seldom more than a walk on. I'm guessing it will take about an hour, maybe a bit longer to do the Seas pavilion (Nemo) and about 20 minutes or so to do Figment, so you are probably pretty close to 11:00 by now. You should find that Spaceship Earth has a reasonable line at this time (it is often busy when the park first opens), and after that, you can head for the World Showcase, and LUNCH

 

[itchin2go]

Ok, either get a FP+ for TT first thing, OR get there at rope drop, and make a bee line to TT, you can get on it with a very short wait that way. Don't play around in the aftershow area too much, and you could be done in perhaps 30 minutes.

After TT, head for Nemo, get that out of the way before it gets too busy. Figment is seldom more than a walk on. I'm guessing it will take about an hour, maybe a bit longer to do the Seas pavilion (Nemo) and about 20 minutes or so to do Figment, so you are probably pretty close to 11:00 by now. You should find that Spaceship Earth has a reasonable line at this time (it is often busy when the park first opens), and after that, you can head for the World Showcase, and LUNCH

Yeah - this illustrates my initial problem with OP's first plan.

Now, admittedly, I'm a rope drop enthusiast, so take that into account. Plenty of people do not do rope drop and they have a great time. I have trouble wrapping my mind around it, but I know it's true.

That said, when you enter at 1:00, the lines will have been building for hours. So what would have taken a short amount of time in the morning will take a longer amount of time.

You can still have a good day. I might plan on using your FPs in FW when you arrive, and not really worrying about doing too much else there, unless lines are short. There are things like Club Cool that are "anytime" activities, where there is no line that you can do as well.

If lines are too long to do much else in FW, go on over to WS and do a portion of it before your ADR. Maybe an Agent P adventure or 2 thrown in. Then do the rest of WS after your ADR. (I will also say, that it's a long way around WS,

I don't know your family, but if it were my family, I would move that ADR later so you could try some snacks in WS. That's just a personal preference. I love trying as many things as possible in WS.

So much of this can be played by ear. Have the possibilities in mind, and "roll with it".

I plan my vacations to the minute, and then by day 3, my family (who couldn't be bothered to participate in the planning) all of a sudden has some really strong ideas about what we should do, and my plans tend to go out the window. This has happened so often, that NOW, if something is really important to me, I put it at the beginning of the vacation. The only reason I say that is to reassure you that every decision doesn't have to be made now, nor is it carved in stone. But you will have a great time anyway!

 

[Kkb0517]

Reading this makes me want to ask a semi-related question: what do people think is better to go test track at rope drop and fastpass soarin later or go to soarin at rope drop and then fastpass test track later? I also hear the sum of all thrills is cool and presumably the best time to get to that is early in the morning. I just anted to hear people's thoughts. Thanks.

 

[itchin2go]

The advice I got was to FP Soarin and do Test Track standby because Test Track has the better queue area. FP bypasses the queue. Test Track also has a single rider line.

 

[Tomh]

I agree with what itchin2go says. You don't miss anything by using FP+ for Soarin. The queue in TT is pretty cool. I would do TT standby first thing, and then FP+ Soarin.

Though, to be fair, and honest, I don't do it either way. I always spend multiple days in EPCOT, and so I do one side of Future World each day, FP+ TT one day, and Soarin the next.

 

[Fantasia79]

Just to get bang for your buck, it's easy to pull in from a long car ride and go for a swim, not to mention very refreshing. You don't have sweat a traffic delays etc. Plus, most off site resorts will have your check-in after 3pm. That way you don't haven a check-in to think about while in a park.

You could budget a whole day for EPCOT and make the most of your admission. Plus World Showcaee opens late, so you don't have to rush into the park. You can easily get Soarin' & test track in with a fast pass (use it for Soarin') and test track with a fairly entertaining wait.

Please feel free to disregard as you know your families likes best!

 

[Rosebud123]

If I were you, I wouldn't bother with the ADR. That's going to consume a lot of time. Just snack around World Showcase!

And I'd be tempted to do RD - noon, long break, WS from 5 - 9 with no ADR. I think that's a nice easy, day.

 

[Rosebud123]

Or maybe you could switch your Epcot day with your AK day? Would you be willing to get to AK by noon? That would give you 6 hours, which should be plenty of time w/FP+.