Choosing between Epcot and Animal Kingdom?

[amberpi]

Epcot is our favorite park and has been since I was a child. I can't imagine missing it, nor can anyone in my fam...

 

[MerryJ]

Thanks for all of your thoughts!

I think the point that I shouldn't try to oversell it to my family makes so much sense. I can't take too much responsibility for their enjoyment (or not) of their holiday!

I think I am going to find a way that we can squeeze in both Animal Kingdom and Epcot. We have the afternoon on the day my parents arrive in Orlando - the day after I get there with my family. If they aren't up to it after their travels, then they don't have to come!

 

[North of Mouse]

Epcot, hands down for sure! If your parents went in mid 80's, it was just after Epcot opened. I loved it then, but it's even much better now. We are here now, and the Flower & Garden Festival is fabulous. AK comes in dead last for us.

If you have never seen the F & G Festival at Epcot, you are all in for a real treat!

 

[DOOM1001]

Epcot is my favorite of the 4 Disney parks and AK is my least favorite,there's still things I love in AK but I can't spend an
entire day there like I can at Epcot,especially during the festivals.

 

[fcole12369]

Wow. I'm surprised so many people like Epcot. As a "ride" person, I would take HS any day over Epcot. The rides at Epcot don't thrill me at all.

 

[fcole12369]

Sorry. Meant AK not HS.

 

[Art 1]

Epcot, easily. Not even a close.

 

[Stbissell]

Tough call. I hated EPCOT growing up. I think it's much better now for kids with new, better attractions. Growing up there was no TT, Mission Space or Soarin. With that being said I think Soarin then TT are the two most overrated rides in WDW. Also, for kids the WS has the Duffy to color along with the missions. My DSD loved going around the WS to the Kidcot stations to get the country stamps. As an adult it is one of my favorite parks. Along with top attractions I think it also fun to gets some drinks around the world and get a good dinner in the WS. We plan on eating three times in EPCOT this August. There is also some good entertainment in the WS. The park provides good balance.


AK easily has better shows. I know I may be in the minority but I think it also has much better attractions. EE is clearly the best thrill ride in the two parks. I also think Dinosaur is a really good thrill ride. For me it's better than TT in EPCOT. There is a few cons for this park. One complaint I've seen a lot which I agree with is you can get in done in about 6 hours if you do it right. Also it really spread out an requires a lot of walking. I don't know how your parents will like that. They do have a nice balance of attractions.

Overall, they are both good parks. For me I'd give the edge to EPCOT bc it offers a little of everything. However, the thrill junkie and older kids might like AK better. You just have to weigh the options.

 

[ladeedeb]

Okay, although your nature lover parents would probably like AK, they will probably enjoy EP just as much or more. That is where I would take my MIL and she sounds like your parents. I think your brother would like at least parts of EP. Tell him about innoventions with Sum of all thrills- he can create his own coaster. Also, there is a big kid (includes adults) play area at the exit to Mission Space that he may like. This is in addition to MS, TT, & Soarin. Your parents can enjoy the countries and if your brother runs out of things in FW, there are some show acts in the countries he may like once he's there. Also, your kids will like Nemo/Turtle Talk/Living Seas, Imagination, Jamminators, at the very least in FW and Phineas & Ferb, Germany Trains, & Kidcot stations in Countries. Good Luck!

 

[smitch425]

Wow. I'm surprised so many people like Epcot. As a "ride" person, I would take AK any day over Epcot. The rides at Epcot don't thrill me at all.

For small kids, though, EPCOT has far more rides than AK.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't see that Epcot has more rides for kids than AK. Which ones?

I think that kids (and grownups) can have a great time at either park. If he doesn't want to go then let him sit by the pool. You don't have to stick together every minute.

 

[smitch425]

I don't see that Epcot has more rides for kids than AK. Which ones?

I think that kids (and grownups) can have a great time at either park. If he doesn't want to go then let him sit by the pool. You don't have to stick together every minute.

Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Soarin', Nemo, Living With The Land, Figment, Universe of Energy, Maelstrom, Three Caballeros, and Mission Space.

Then there are all of the extras like Agent P and kidcot stations. Turtle Talk is great, too. Tons of pavilions to explore, as well.

 

[Jafar30]

Honestly and this is just me but I would forgo the Studios and do both AK and Epcot

 

[ZoZo]

Honestly and this is just me but I would forgo the Studios and do both AK and Epcot

Me, too!

 

[AntFarm]

I second going to Epcot, it is the essence of Disney World (after MK). I think you could pass on Hollywood Studios since you've been to Disneyland (assuming you did California Adventure). I would give Animal Kingdom a try too since it is unlike anything at Disneyland.

 

[Tazzik]

My goal for our trip this summer is to really give Epcot a chance. The past two times we went there, we treated Epcot as a place to tour during the evening, and pretty much just had dinner at the WS, did Test Track and Maelstrom, and a few of the smaller rides (Soarin had far too long of a wait). Our kids have zero interest in the world showcase (they were 6 and 3 last trip), and our oldest is a roalercoaster junkie already. So, we didn't see a big draw to Epcot going in, and I think we got about what we expected out of it. Since then, however, I have been constantly hearing about how so many families really love Epcot, so I really want to give it a longer day this time around.

As far as AK goes, that was our favorite park of them all for our kids last year. Both are really into animals, and Everest was probably the favorite ride for my 6 year old. Given the heat and the ages of our kids, we didn't do full days at any park, but we did spend two of our days at AK and an additional quick ride after having dinner at the rainforest cafe on a third night. Both kids absolutely loved the safari (our family's overall favorite ride at any WDW park), and our 3 year old must have gone on it 7 times. The 6 year old probably did 5 safaris and 7 everest rides, so this was definitely the park we have the most memories from during our trip.

Every family will be different, but we expect to spend 2 days at AK again this year (we didn't even do any of the good shows there last year). However, if we were looking to spend 8+ hours at one park in a day, I could easily see how AK might not have enough to keep everyone satisfied - especially as the lines get long.

Our family would have ranked the parks:
1) AK
2) MK
3) HS
4) EP

but reading these boards, I know we are certainly in the minority with those rankings. We'll see if we change our tune this year, now that we are planning a true Epcot day to add to our trip.

 

[Planogirl]

Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Soarin', Nemo, Living With The Land, Figment, Universe of Energy, Maelstrom, Three Caballeros, and Mission Space.

Then there are all of the extras like Agent P and kidcot stations. Turtle Talk is great, too. Tons of pavilions to explore, as well.

I was thinking very young kids. I guess that I can see that these are good for older kids. Even if it was always hard to get mine on Living With The Land. I also had the only boy in existence who wanted nothing to do with the kidcot stations.