Could someone explain Epcot to me. 2 visits and I don't get it at all

[Lavitz]

Been to DW twice, once in 2011 and once in 2013. First year we did a half day at Epcot with 2 kids under 7 (because of MNSSHP) and found we had just enough time to briefly walk in and out of most Pavillions, go on 3 rides, do Akershus and leave. The thing is, we didn't really see why we would need to spend much more time at Epcot, we felt we saw most of it.

2013 comes and we decide to spend a full day at Epcot with 3 kids (9, 3 and 1). Early lunch at Akershus so we wander the front area of Epcot until 11:00 and head for Norway. After lunch we walk clockwise around the lake and visit each Pavillion (again briefly for the most part) until we do the full circle. Besides seeing some great street performers along the way, we do almost nothing but light shopping at any Pavillion and spend only 15 minutes at each. We head to the entrance and finally find things to do (TT, Soarin, Mission Space) and leave again fairly underwhelmed.

I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong. Everyone has such high opinions of Epcot but we never see it. We're happy everywhere else. MK is non stop rides all day. DHS is relaxing and watching as many shows as we can. AK is kind of a mix. But we have no idea what to do at Epcot. Honestly if it wasn't for the fact the girls love Akershus we'd probably just skip Epcot next time.

Anyone know how we could adjust our Epcot plans next time to get more out of it?

 

[gwmort]

We believe the intent was to be like a worlds fair, with exhibits from different presenters up front and an international village around the lake. Its not quite an "amusement park".

My favorite things to do are the aquarium, and the greenhouse boat ride, as well as snacking around the world. We also usually hit Test track or Soarin, and whatever else we happen along, but its a day of family togetherness touring interesting things.

My kids are big fans of the Agent P missions which make the countries a little more fun for them and in a scavenger hunt kind of way forces you to look closer and spend more time exploring each.

We think of it as what would we do if we visited a foreign city for day, walk around, shop, eat, maybe a museum or zoo, well thats what we do at Epcot, we stroll and shop and eat, look and learn, and do some fun things too (like the couple of rides).

btw, in Mexico make sure you go inside the pyramid.

 

[adventure_woman]

My girls love Epcot - 7 and 3. Because of them I have come to enjoy Epcot a lot more than I did before kids. I find it very relaxing there. Some of the things they enjoyed this trip.

1. Playing in the water fountain before International Gateway. I always bring their suits. They can spend a while there.

2. Agent P - every mission is different and they love to see what funny things happen. (in World Showcase).

3. The Duffy and Agent P signs and get them signed at every country. We also have done the passport book, and it was fun to find picture on the sticker for each country.

4. They loved Figment this time and watching the dancing fountains.

5. The Seas - See the demonstration at the aquarium - the feeding one and dolphin presentation is neat. Also, I LOVE Crush.

6. The Land - besides Soaring there is Living with the Land and the Lion King Circle of Life show/movie.

We just went and it was the start of the Flower and Garden festival - and that was REALLY REALLY cool!!

We actually spend almost as much time at Epcot as we do MK!

 

[Nayan]

I love Epcot and for me that is my 'stop and smell the roses' park. I love to look at everything in each Country, the architecture of the buildings, the gardens, etc. I like the rides too, but taking a leisurely stroll through Canada's garden while having a beer, eating a pastry in France, enjoying all the entertainment, I spend all day there.

 

[Minnesota!]

Epcot is our favorite park. My boys - now ages 9 and 6 - have loved it since their very first trip.

Soarin, Living with the Land, Circle of Life movie - all favorites.

Seas with Nemo ride, the whole pavillion, actually...we can kill a long time there. Then Figment (we love this!).

Test Track, Ellen, Mission:Space.

World Showcase is so fun - the few rides, the movies, the shows, good eats, browsing in the stores. End the day with Illuminations!

We typically schedule 3 full days here..

Don't forget Ice Station Cool, too

 

[jiminykrikkit]

For us, World Showcase at Epcot is a stop and smell the roses kind of thing. We try to do it at a very leisurely pace.

-We love the food (planning a snack crawl through all the countries instead of lunch this time).
-Our son likes the KidCot stops (passport stamping more than duffy/perry coloring)
-The shows are usually fun (Mo'Rockin in Morocco is a fave!).
-There are a couple of rides (Maelstrom in Norway is fun, and we still haven't made it to the Gran Fiesta Tour boat ride in Mexio).
-There's a movie that's a nice break in France.
-I am obsessed with shopping in Japan and love seeing goods native to countries I may never visit in my lifetime.
-There are lots of character meet & greets in each country too.
-You can ride a boat across the lagoon.

We don't spend tons of time in each pavilion either, just depends on if we have an ADR or if I can't snap out of my shopping trance in Japan haha!

I think it's just like any park, there are going to be things you're interested in and things you're not. For example, Animal Kingdom is not our favorite. There are TONS of things to do there, but for us, a lot of them feel like things we aren't pumped to repeat when there are other parks that have TONS of things we really want to repeat, so we don't spend a lot of time at AK trying to do things we're lukewarm about. However, other people really love Animal Kingdom.

If you're mostly in it for the rides, I could see how World Showcase might not be your favorite. If you want to only spend half a day doing the rides in Future World because that's what fits your vacation style, that's cool!

 

[newdeal]

Epcot used to be way cooler. When I was a kid it was my favourite park. Seems like they have gotten rid of everything I used to love there. I still like Epcot for spaceship earth and soarin. The rest I could take or leave

 

[ShannonMB]

Well if it's any consolation, you are not weird! It took us several trips to warm up to EPCOT, and now it's DD's 2nd favorite park. After my first 2-3 visits there with a little girl, I felt exactly the same as you - what the heck am I missing?!

Like you said, we enjoyed some of the rides in future world, but we could never figure out what to do in the World Showcase! Since DD likes to meet characters, one trip we decided to make our WS afternoon a "character-stalking" endeavor. We met all the princesses in their respective countries, had some snacks along the way, picked a pearl in Japan, and went on the boat rides in Mexico and Norway. Along the way we found snacks we love, things we love to see (I am partial to the mini-train world in Germany), and, for me, adult beverages in which I like to imbibe. Now EPCOT has become a place where we head back for those favorite experiences and try to find new ones, all while making sure to say hi to all our favorite characters along the way. Like I said, DD (who is 13 now!) calls it her number 2 park after MK.

Give it a couple more tries, I'm sure you will figure out your family's EPCOT touring style and will grow to love it as we do!

 

[brymolmom]

I believe EPCOT isn't for everyone...It is a very different than most theme parks. That said, it is definitely something my family WON'T MISS and usually does at least twice on a trip. My kids have loved it since around the ages 5 and 6. They are 10 and 11 now and still love it. Here's some ideas for new things to try:

Have you ever done Turtle Talk with Crush? Your younger ones especially IMO might get a real kick out of this. We also usually spend some time looking the life in the aquarium.

A TRADITION for our family is Journey into the Imagination with Figment...A bit cheesy now that they're older - but since we've done it every trip since they were young, it's a must-do. Same thing with Spaceship Earth...They like the ride (not love) but really enjoy the exit area and the games to be played there.

They love TT and Mission Space, Ellen and Living with the Land.

And two hidden gems that we enjoy are in Innoventions East and West - The Great Piggy Bank Adventure and Sum of All Thrills.

Often the kids will do an Agent P adventure in World SHowcase while dh and I enjoy a beverage from that country.

Not my kids favorite, but they know it's Mommy's favorite so we have to go every time - is Voices of Liberty in American Pavilion. Acapella singers who sing patriotic songs. They are AWESOME and give me goosebumps every time. Then we usually watch The American Experience afterward. It's a nice break from the sun and time to rest in the afternoon.

Maelstrom and the Mexican boatride.

And we love eating at the Mexican CS place.

All that is a VERY full day!

I will admit that when the kids were really young, we went to EPCOT for dh and I and not for them really...We do family vacations for the whole family and not just for the kids enjoyment only. And as they grew they started really enjoying it.

We've stayed at EPCOT resorts the last two trips because we all love to be able to walk there!

 

[Disneyhabs]

My kids love world showcase and what was called Kid Cot where they got to make a mask and colour it and sit and talk to a castmemeber from each country and learn about where they were from. In China and Japan the CM would write their names for them in Japanese or Chinese and the kids love doing that even my oldest who is 17 still enjoys it. We also love going on the tour in the land pavillion and the seas with Nemo and friends. Spaceship earth is also a family fav at EPCOT.

 

[LadyLuck24]

Epcot is my favorite park (especially the WS), but now that I have kids I'm not sure we'll spend as much time there as we have on adults-only trips. I think there is a lot for kids in Future World (Nemo, TT, Soarin, Figment, Spaceship Earth, the fountains, character meet & greets, the Seas area (aquarium, divers, giant shark to climb on).

Not as sure about the WS though. We took my son at 18 months & he was happy to run around/ roam around each country. He will be 3 on our next trip and I can't see him having as much interest in the countries unless there's something there keeping his attention. We'll try out the passport thing and the color-a-mask (or Duffy bear? I've only seen kids doing this in passing so I'm not sure what they were coloring). I am looking forward to trying Agent P with him because I've heard it's fun, but not sure a 3 1/2 year old would get it (any thoughts on that?).

Anyway, the point being--I would go to Akershus as you usually do, then head to Future World and do all that stuff, which I think could take up a good part of your day. Then if your kids are up for walking around the WS, try out some of the kids activities instead of just walking around, so they have a "purpose" in visiting each country. Then let me know how it works out so I know what to expect for my kids.

 

[PrincessJo]

I love Epcot and for me that is my 'stop and smell the roses' park. I love to look at everything in each Country, the architecture of the buildings, the gardens, etc. I like the rides too, but taking a leisurely stroll through Canada's garden while having a beer, eating a pastry in France, enjoying all the entertainment, I spend all day there.

This is true for us too

 

[bastos]

Our first trip to Disney - we spent two days at Epcot, and ended up bored. That said, our last trip to Disney we only spent one day - and felt cheated. We changed over from the 'gotta see everything' and missed a bunch... to the slow down and REALLY see some of the stuff.

In fact, we skipped more than a few rides. But we DID do the Agent P mission (in the UK) and REALLY saw the country. Pick a place, and try it out. They are pretty darned fun.

 

[gwmort]

Someone mentioned the exits to the Future World attractions, do spend some time there.

If you just ride nemo then beat a path to the exit you are missing most of the Living with Seas pavillion, if you just ride Soarin and don't ride Living with Land you are missing virtually all of the Land Pavillion.

On testtrack the kids can design their own cars and upload them to the ride vehicle, but in the exit area they can also upload their cars to videogames and drive them around.

Theres a whole lot to do at the exit to Mission space, my kids won't ride the ride so we go in the exit just to play around.

Theres a little interactive area at the exit to the imagination ride thats worth checking out (long timers know it used to be way better but its still ok).

Spaceship Earth has an nice interactive area after it too I've always wanted to spend more time checking out.

The innoventions area can be a little odd to figure out, theres tons to see and do, but its not all obvious and some takes some reading to learn what you are supposed to do or learn from an activity. Talk to CMs in the area who will be happy to help explain (like Habit Heros or the innovation house, in addition to more obvious things like sum of all thrills).

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think everyone has a park that they like less than the other parks. I would be happy to never go back to Hollywood Studios again. My favorite park is Animal Kingdom. Epcot and MK I rank the same. I really enjoyed Epcot one trip when we stayed at Beach Club. I think being able to just walk over and take it in small doses helped me see how fun it can be. It's a geographically-large park, so you end up walking a lot for what seems like not-so-many rides. Anyway, don't fight it! If you don't enjoy it, skip it next time and spend your time in the other parks

 

[ajwolfe]

The nice thing about Epcot to is it that we tour in a relaxing way..It's really just wandering around and looking at all the neat stuff. For the kids, we try to make it a bit educational so they learn something new each time about the countries.

My boys love doing the KidCot stops and the Agent P mission. For the pp that asked if a 3.5 yo would get it, I think so. You would obviously have to help, but it would still be fun for them. You make things happen in store windows or what not, so there would be little magical surprises along the way for him.

The only thing that we have done so far in WS that we have not liked is the O' Canada movie.

 

[rpk1951]

Love EPCOT as others have said. Additionally if you can do it during Food and Wine or the Flower Show it adds another set of things to do and probably another day in the park.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

It's funny, because the opposite happened to us. We watched the planning DVD and had such low expectations for Epcot. Test Track looked to be the main thing there, and it was closed during our visit. But, we really enjoyed Epcot and I can't really put my finger on "why". So, I do get what you're saying, even though we really liked it.

 

[NavyDad]

We spend the morning in Future World.

Test Track & Mission Space are favorites of our kids (15, 11 & 8)

Then we head over to The Seas. The whole family loves the aquarium and Turtle Talk with Crush.

We usually eat lunch in The Land at Sunshine Seasons and take a nice relaxing ride through the greenhouse before using our Soarin FP. (This is probably our kids #1 ride at all of WDW)

The afternoon and evening is all about World Showcase. Sometimes we stroll around the whole thing and hit all the pavilions - sometimes just a few of our favorites. Norway and Mexico are great! Like PP said above - make sure you go inside Mexico.

We try and eat dinner at least once each trip at a different country. This last trip we stayed at Beach Club and came over to World Showcase for dinner almost every night.

We actually enjoy Illimunations more than Wishes. Probably becasue it's a little more laid back without feeling like you are going to be crushed by the sea of humanity like at MK.

 

[dwheaton]

EPCOT started out as an innovative park that tried to do something completely different in both Future World and World Showcase. Now it's still great, but some of the magic has been diluted by making it feel more like a typical Disney park with characters in weird places of the attractions.

Even so, I think there are plenty of great aspects of EPCOT today.

First of all, I'll second what others have said about it being the most relaxing park. There are wide walkways, plenty of gorgeous architecture, and a much different feeling than the other three parks. That's especially true at night, when the piped in music just adds to the atmosphere. It also has the best nighttime show at Walt Disney World with Illuminations.

I think it takes a while for newer visitors to warm up to EPCOT. If I lived in Florida, I could see myself just going there and not even riding anything. It's fun to walk around, have a nice dinner, and just hang out there. I can't say the same thing about Hollywood Studios.

While Disney should focus on some of the dated attractions in Future World, I still find myself spending more time there than at any other DW park.