can you tell me the best way to avoid backtracking at Epcot

[Aljo]

I noticed on our last trip (2013) we did a lot of backtracking at Epcot due to our FP.s Now that we have FEA in the mix, what is the most efficient way to tour Epcot?

We are interested in TT, Soarin and FEA for FP. Not sure if we will be able to get there at rope drop (we are not morning people but may try!) can you give me best advice on those rides using RP as well.

Thank you!! by the way we are going Dec 6 - Dec 12th

 

[Tomh]

Epcot is best done in 2 or more days.

Since Soarin', Test Track, and Frozen Ever After are all tier 1, you are going to have to do one of them standby.

You are also there in December, when it is going to be relatively busy. I personally would rope drop both days, but certainly at least one. I would do Soarin' standby at rope drop, which should have relatively little wait, and us FP+ for Frozen Ever After that day, in the afternoon. After Soarin' I would go do The Seas, and Turtle Talk standby, then return to The Land for Living With The Land, and then do Journey Into Imagination, and Pixar Shorts. From there, you could do Spaceship Earth with FP+

Second day I would do Test Track FP+, Mission Space FP+ and Universe of Energy. It won't be as critical to rope drop that day, though honestly, I still would.

This should minimize your backtracking, with the only real back tracking being between The Land pavilion, and The Seas pavilion.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

How many days will you be going to EP? All the attractions you've listed are Tier 1 attractions, so you will only be able to pre-book one of them on any given day. FEA typically has the longest standby lines. If you are only going to EP on one day, I would recommend getting an FEA FP+ for sometime in the early afternoon. That will give you the morning to do Future World, ride Soarin and TT standby (or single rider in the case of TT if everyone is age 7 or above) and then you can start on World Showcase around lunchtime. I would get FEA for sometime around noon - 1:30 pm and start in Mexico. That way, you can wend your way around WS for the rest of the day and possibly get a 4th FP+ for another ride. If you are going for more than 1 day in EP, then I would adjust this plan accordingly.

 

[LSUfan4444]

We are interested in TT, Soarin and FEA for FP

You can backtrack or spend more time in standby lines but if you do both TT and Soarin you've got to choose.

what is the most efficient way to tour Epcot?

In my opinion (not using single rider), hit Test Track at rope drop then head to soarin standby. Then knock out the rest of that side of the park (Living with the Land, The Seas, Turtle Talk, Figment, etc) then warp up whatever else you want to do in future world before heading back to the world showcase and your FEA FP+.

If you don't arrive for RD you don't have to backtrack but in that case I would hit Soarin first and either hit TT single rider OR keep checking MDE and try to grab a FP+ for it later in the day as people cancel.

 

[LSUfan4444]

You are also there in December, when it is going to be relatively busy

Thats not a real busy week in december though. I would also recommend to visit Epcot on a weekday and NOT a weekend. The busiest days for epcot for you will definitely be a Friday evening and Saturday. Thursday the 7th or Monday the 11th would work the best.

 

[puffkin]

Here now and surprised how short the lines have been for Soarin', especially considering Mission Space is down for refurb and Test Track has only been running intermittently due to all the rain. Adding the extra theaters have really helped. My suggestion would be to book a FP for Frozen 11-12 time frame. Ride Test Track right at Rope Drop. Less chance for weather interruptions then and you aren't competing with as many Fast Pass riders. Then head over to Soarin' standby. Alternately you could book some other morning FP's and then as soon as you scan in for Frozen, you can book a 4th FP for Soarin. That is actually the exact itinerary we did yesterday and it worked out great. We booked Soarin' for early evening when we returned from an afternoon break. The standby waits for Soarin' both our days in Epcot have been about 30 minutes and there have been plenty of FP's available that day.

ETA we have visited that week in December quite a few times and it is busier and busier and on par with our early summer trips unless the weather is very cold.

 

[dreiwhit]

We do two days in Epcot, splitting the park in half into east and west sides. We also be sure to arrive in Epcot early, since its been my experience that the CMs are allowing folks in 15-20 minutes before 9am.

 

[ucfknight]

As stated already, that week should not be too busy in the parks except for the Friday night through Sunday when locals are much more likely to show up to see the Christmas festivities including Candlelight. If you are going to be there for one day, I would try to get up a little early and do Test Track at rope drop, then head to Soarin'. Work your way clockwise around Future World from there to avoid backtracking. So after Soarin'/Land go to Seas, Spaceship Earth, Energy (if you want), Mission: Space. Then head from there to the countries starting with Mexico. Get FP+ for Spaceship Earth around 10:30, then Mission: Space after that, and then Frozen Ever After in the early afternoon.