Could Epcot be skipped?

[rkmassa]

You're probably going to have a lot of people tell you to go to Epcot, but I think you could probably skip it with a 3-year old. Honestly, there's not a whole lot visually stimulating for her there.

That being said, I'm sure she'd enjoy Turtle Talk (although, like you said, you're going to Sea World so there's your "aquarium" visit there) and Journey Into Your Imagination, but that would probably be it attraction-wise.

I wouldn't "waste" a day on your ticket. However, if you have enough days on your tickets to go to a park on your arrival day, you could do what you said and arrive at the hotel and take a nap and then go to Epcot.

Your other option is that if your tickets have park-hopping privileges, you could go to Epcot early one day and ride Soarin', Journey, and see Turtle Talk, and then go to AK afterwards. If you can do this on a day that AK is open late with the Extra Magic Hours, this would work out fine and would give you the opportunity to see what you wanted to at Epcot and still be able to see a lot at AK.

I'm sure many will disagree with me on this, but two days at MK, and one each at MGM, AK, and Sea World sound fine to me with a 3-year old.

We took our 2 year old, and she loved it. Amazed at everything. We had to drag her out of The Living Seas. Loved "the big ball" as she called it. Living with the Land we had to do several times. She just loved everything. I am glad we didn't skip it. Of course each child is different. If we had to skip a park it would be AK.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

We'll likely skip Epcot when we go this fall with a 7-turning-8yo and a 2yo (except for dinner and maybe a short visit in the evening, since it's open latest and we have park hoppers).

Last time we were there, dd was 4 and she hated Epcot. She found a few things she enjoyed, and she really loves museums, technology, learning about other countries, etc, when we're at home. But when you've traveled 2,000 miles to see Mickey and the princesses, and ride the classic Disney rides, being in Epcot when you know MK is just up the road, well it just doesn't compare! (for our family, anyway)

I think the trip you've planned sounds awesome. There are so many wonderful things for a 3yo to do at MGM, AK, SW and especially MK. You'll have a great time. Don't worry about missing anything at Epcot.

 

[HeatherinVT]

If we can check into pop early adn catch a nap on arrival day then we will more then likely make an appearance at Epcot.

Thanks for all the replies i appreaciate it!

 

[FSUMARCHIEF]

I would say it depends on the child. Our 3 year old Loves Epcot. His favorite rides at Disney world are at Epcot. He loves Norway with the trolls and bears. We rode Mexico 7 times in a row because he didn't want to get off and the lady at the booth kept letting us go. Figment is another favorite and he loves Spaceship earth too. Wecouldn't go to the world without visitng epcot - even with our 3 year old!

God bless!
Mark

 

[tinker-kyle]

my two cents ....

1. With a 3 year old it could be a disaster to go to any park on your arrival day ... there is plenty to do and see at POP - just wondering around the resort and getting a good night sleep might be a wise choice. it will still be hot in October ... you can swim and play in the goofy fountain and check out all the BIG things ... she will love that.

2. You would probably enjoy EPCOT more than she ... remember she will not be tall enough for a lot of the "best" rides (test track, soarin', MS) and there are a lot of loud and dark rides ... Energy with the Dinosaurs can be scary and HISTA is LOUD and even the golf ball (pardon Spaceship Earth) is dark.... you will end up doing a lot of switching off.

If were not planning on returning to WDW within the next few years ... (heaven forbid) i'd try to get there this trip ... but if this trip is just one of many trips i would skip it.

personally, we took DD there at 2 for half day ... she liked living with the land and running from one of those balloon ball venders to the next ... that was it

we skipped it when she was 3 and 4 ... went for another 1/2 day when she was five ... and for the last few trips we spend at least one day a week. she really enjoys it now. By 5 she was tall enough for test track and so loved making her epcot mask.

have fun on your trip!

 

[Pixie Mommie]

When DS was 3 we went to all 4 parks. I agree with others depending on your interest some could say you could skip instead AK or MGM. AK was sort of still new in folks minds when we went and we got a lot of comments that AK was just a zoo, and the the Wild Animal Park in San Diego was better, but we found we really enjoyed it. We also had folks, LOL telling us since we can go to DL with semi regularity we could skip MK. Glad we didn't listen to that either. MGM was the park we planned to scrimp on if needed, we enjoyed more than I thought we would and could have probably spent more time at but like some one mentioned even though visually DS liked it, I don't remember a lot geared towards his age except for Fantasmic which he completely slept through.

I think it depends on the kid, I also have a DH that can get a kid excited about a ride on an elevator, and DS is very accomodating. We also had folks tell us alot that Epcot was great but boring for kids. Maybe we didn't have high expecations but we found we personally enjoyed it alot and spent more time there than we had planned. We loved the Land character meal when apparently the menu was good , DS loved the land and sea rides. Rememeber Food Rocks. DH and I made a big deal about we were magically going from country to country in the WS and DS loved the boat rides. DS enjoyed universe of energy because of the dino's and he was too little to do what's now Dinosaur in AK. And one of my best pictures is from the wonders of life area with him standing behind one of those fake xray thingees. He was the perfect size. Spaceship earth was fun until he had to go to the bathroom we did make it but most of the ride was spent with him hopping in his seat. DH was completely taken by Illuminations so we enjoyed that. And like someone mentioned even though it wasn't a MK you could enjoy at a slower pace, take it all in. Oops, I can't believe all that was bottled up there, I'm getting all excited about going again.

DS seems to talk/remember? about MK and Epcot the most out of the 4. If I had to skip one I would probably pick MGM, although that might not have worked this trip with the whole Star Wars thing going on. I actually wonder at the btwn age he's at - 8,if he'll enjoy as much as he did then or if he needs a few more years.

Again, I think it really just depends on your kid and what kind of things you enjoy as a family. Your already thinking in terms of making this fun for her which means your going in with the right attitude, you'll have a blast with what ever you do.

I say take in all the advice and look at the UG and official guides reviews of the attractions of each and make a judgement what works best for your family. I understand about Sea World, DH just shakes his head and smiles when I get all misty eye'd and choked up over Shamu.

 

[MommytoMJM]

We don't do Epcot very often....MJ (almost 4.5) doesn't like it at all....too far between attractions, not enough to keep her interest at WS.....We wish she liked it more, we'd like to go more often...

 

[disneyholic family]

My kids have been visiting Epcot since birth and love it, so..

When my daughter was 2.5 her favorite rides were Journey into the Imagination (but it's not the same now as it was then). She rode that one about 20 times in a row. But since it's different now, I don't know how a 3 year old would react.

She also loved the Living Seas, but it was also partially a short ride then that has since been taken out. But she loved looking at the fish there.

She also loved the Kitchen Kabaret, which is long long gone (replace by Food Rocks, which she loved as well, but that's also gone).

She loved Horizons, but that's also long long gone.

I think that Spaceship Earth may have scared her, just because it was dark.
The universe of Energy scared her (dinosaurs).
Living with the Land also strangely scared her.

So since much of what she liked when she was a toddler is no longer there, it's quite possible that your daughter wouldn't really miss anything.

As I mentioned at the beginning, my kids have always loved Epcot and at ages 20 and 18 they still do today.

But if you have time constraints, I would say that with a 3 year old, the Magic Kingdom is of course a must. After that would be MGM, then Animal Kingdom, then Epcot. (That's NOT the order of my family's preference)

 

[debkorb1]

I agree with most posters that there isn't much at Epcot for a 3 year old. But Epcot is an amazing park, especially the World Showcase. My boyfriend and I went last Summer and I think the WS was our favourite thing in all of Disney. The atmosphere is amazing. It was also nice to pop into our 'local' (Rose and Crown Pub) for a quick drink.

Have fun.

 

[abay]

My sisters and I have loved Epcot since we were little babies. Maybe it is the slower pace, maybe it is the absolute beauty of the World Showcase, maybe it is all the cool stuff to look at and play with whithout waiting in long lines in Future... I don't know exactly, but it is all of our favorite park (6 of us in family)

And it is NEVER too early to focus on educational, in my humble opinion. Especially when educational is also fun!

 

[novastar]

On my next trip I will be spending almost a whole day at WS (...it does only open at 11 am...so not a 'whole' day), apparently there are lots of little secrets hidden that you can find only if you spend the time.

 

[clori]

I'm in the minority but I would not skip epcot with a 3 year old. My daughter went at 2.8 and 3.8 and loved it both times. She wasn't afraid of any of the rides/shows that she could go on. She loved seeing the flying water, the ice cream social at garden grill (no longer availible). The countries were a lot of fun with the many performances. She loved marching in the parade at the America pavillion, seeing several characters like belle, alladin with no lines at the world showcase. She loved the little train near Germany, dancing at Biergarten, dancing to Beatles music etc. The mask was also a lot of fun to do. If we had to skip one park we would also skip mgm. .

 

[BCT]

I Think it depends on what you want. Personally we loved Epcot and were sorry that we could only spend one day there.

 

[allisonwonderland]

we LOVE EPCOT,,we dont have kids either..BUT there is sooo much to look at.

 

[GADISNEYGIRL]

You certainly can skip it, if you don't feel you have the time~but I will tell you, my DS, who is also 3, LOVES Epcot. He even prefers it over MK, to tell you the truth. He loves the "Figment" ride, Norway, Mexico, The Land, The Living Seas, Spaceship Earth... not to mention getting to see characters that aren't very accessible in other parks. Last trip, we saw Esmerelda in France. We have also seen Sleeping Beauty there, as well as Belle and Beast. Pooh and Friends are always in UK, along with Mary Poppins. Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie are often found in Morocco. The Characters on Holiday are fun, and you never know who might turn up then!

 

[Luv2trav]

I wouldn't skip it either. It's my son's favorite park (3year old). The only reason he loves it is because we DON'T make him go on rides. He feels he can walk around without being mobbed by adult legs everywhere... It's slower pace and he loves the outside performers especially the Japan drummers....

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Though we love Epcot and wouldnt miss it when we go to WDW, I remember me and my siblings hating it as a child. Now, 3 is a little younger than I was but I think it would be okay to skip it this trip and do all the others you suggested. It really is preference-there is a lot to see and it might be nice to go there and be able to tour at a more relaxing pace.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Due to your child's age you can miss it IF you must. Frankly, I think it's better than SeaWorld. They have alot of things for a small child. However, you will be missing out more than DD. That's up to you. Best to you.

 

[HeatherinVT]

Thanks for all the ideas!

We will be going to Epcot IF we can check into our resort and grab a nap when we arrive

 

[jjarman]

Not wanting to offend anyone but since when is a trip to WDW just for the children? Granted, my son is 14 and will be 16 our next trip but even when he was 12 if there was something DH and I wanted to go see DS went along even though he may not have enjoyed it. If we had taken him at 3 it would have been the same story. When he was small we lived in an area where there was no family to babysit and I didn’t like leaving him with a babysitter so he went everywhere with us. He learned early how to behave in a restaurant and other not so kid friendly areas. I think your daughter would love Epcot. There are several kid friendly attractions, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Figment, the Energy “show”. She may love just relaxing and riding in a stroller around World Showcase. I guess my point is don’t skip Epcot just because it is not completely geared to young children. You will enjoy it yourself.