Critique my Epcot Touring Plan Please

[lily2521]

Hello - This is our first big trip to DW. I'm trying to loosely plan our days. Will be me, DH, and DD (6)

So...our Epcot day. Touring Plans says crowd level 4. Park hours are 9-9, but we have a 8:05 ADR at Akershus.

My FP window opens in a couple of weeks, so the times I have are guesses

8:05 ADR at Akershus (how long should we expect this will take us?)
Head straight to TT after breakfast
Soarin (FP ~ 10:00?)
Living with the Land
The Seas w/ Nemo
More time at the Seas (DD loves sea life)
Turtle Talk (FP ~ 11:00?)
Journey Into Imagination with Figment
ImageWorks
Innovations West
Innovations East
Spaceship Earth (FP ~ 12:00?)
Lunch (no ADR so this is very flexible)
Head out for World Showcase and walk around, we may get lunch in World Showcase
Through World Showcase - Kidcot
Pick a Pearl in Japan
Dinner - open
IllumiNations

My questions:

*Do most people do World Showcase Mexico-Canada, or the other way around? Is one better than the other?

*Also, can someone give me an idea of how long will the kidcot stations take us in the different countries?

Thank you!!!

 

[Turn the Page]

Hmm....I'm not sure how realistic this is.

Epcot is not a park you can really tour like you do the Magic Kingdom. Epcot is kind of like Animal Kingdom as there are lots of little nooks and crannies to look into and spend time in.

I do think you have a pretty good plan in that you aren't criss crossing the park needlessly. However, I do wonder if you have given yourself enough time to really explore some of these areas.

Just try not to stick to a really hard and fast plans and go with the flow some. For example, there are lots of areas in the Seas for your daughter to explore so she may want to spend more time there while you may all be really bored in the Imagination pavilion or Innovations so you may not want to spend much time in those areas.

Also, don't discount the time it takes to really explore WS. All the pavilions have neat little shops and things to look in and some have shows and street performers and things.

 

[DisneyFive]

Soarin (FP ~ 10:00?)
Living with the Land
The Seas w/ Nemo
More time at the Seas (DD loves sea life)
Turtle Talk (FP ~ 11:00?)
Journey Into Imagination with Figment
ImageWorks
Innovations West
Innovations East
Spaceship Earth (FP ~ 12:00?)

Hmm... This seems very compressed. Soarin FP time is is o.k., but fitting all the rest of it in before SE FP and lunch, is asking a LOT. You could easily eat up 4 hours with the stuff you have listed above. Maybe schedule SE for after lunch, like 1-2pm? Then hit the world showcase.

Dan

 

[lily2521]

Hmm....I'm not sure how realistic this is.

Epcot is not a park you can really tour like you do the Magic Kingdom. Epcot is kind of like Animal Kingdom as there are lots of little nooks and crannies to look into and spend time in.

I do think you have a pretty good plan in that you aren't criss crossing the park needlessly. However, I do wonder if you have given yourself enough time to really explore some of these areas.

Just try not to stick to a really hard and fast plans and go with the flow some. For example, there are lots of areas in the Seas for your daughter to explore so she may want to spend more time there while you may all be really bored in the Imagination pavilion or Innovations so you may not want to spend much time in those areas.

Also, don't discount the time it takes to really explore WS. All the pavilions have neat little shops and things to look in and some have shows and street performers and things.

Thanks, this was actually part of my concern, are we cramming too much into a day?

I don't want to rush WS. I'm wondering if I should take some of the things I have before WS in the morning, like our 'tier 2' things (Journey Into Imagination, ImageWorks, etc.) and save them for after WS. That way, if we have time, great, if not, no big deal. After looking at map, once we walk around WS we pretty much end up at the same area anyway, in Future World, so if time allows we can do those things after WS.

 

[MagicMike203]

I don't think you have any chance on getting all of that done before lunch. Breakfast will be at least an hour, if not an hour and a half.

Being very aggressive, this doesn't get you to Test Track until 9:15-9:30 at the absolute earliest. By then the standby wait will be 30 minutes. No Mission Space or Character Spot?

Don't use the fastpass for turtle talk. If anything use it for The Seas w/ Nemo, but I'd use that for either mission space or the character spot. The green is easily handled for a 6 year old.

What date are you looking at?

But, assuming the rides you have listed, I'd shoot for these fast passes:

10:00 Spaceship Earth
11:00 Sea's With Nemo
12:30 Soarin

Plan to get to Spaceship Earth towards the end of the 10-11 window.
Then get to the Sea's as close to 11 as you can. You'll have until 1:30pm to get to soarin so the sooner you get there, the more time you'll have.
After soarin, you can start World Showcase on the Canada side, possibly doing Figment on the way.

 

[lily2521]

No Mission Space or Character Spot?

Don't use the fastpass for turtle talk. If anything use it for The Seas w/ Nemo, but I'd use that for either mission space or the character spot. The green is easily handled for a 6 year old.

What date are you looking at?

But, assuming the rides you have listed, I'd shoot for these fast passes:

10:00 Spaceship Earth
11:00 Sea's With Nemo
12:30 Soarin

Plan to get to Spaceship Earth towards the end of the 10-11 window.
Then get to the Sea's as close to 11 as you can. You'll have until 1:30pm to get to soarin so the sooner you get there, the more time you'll have.
After soarin, you can start World Showcase on the Canada side, possibly doing Figment on the way.

No mission space, won't appeal to my family.

The character spot DD doesn't want to do. That might change, but for now she doesn't.

We're going mid-May.

Thanks for the FP suggestions Touring plans suggested the turtle talk one, so that's why I selected it.

 

[lily2521]

Based on suggestions here - I have revised my plan, thoughts?

Akershus breakfast - 8:05
TT (if time allows, if we're too late and don't do this one, it's okay)
Spaceship Earth (FP ~ 10am)
The Seas w/ Nemo
More time at the Seas (DD loves sea life)
Turtle Talk (FP ~ 11am)
Innoventions West
Soarin' (FP ~ 12pm)
Lunch (QS)
Start world showcase, on Canada side
Through World Showcase - Kidcot
Three Caballeros
Pick a Pearl in Japan
Dinner somewhere along the way (QS)
IllumiNations


Then, if we're done with WS and have time before IllumiNations, we can fit in:
Living with the Land
Journey Into Imagination with Figment
ImageWorks
Innoventions East


These are all okay to miss, if we simply don't have time.


Does this seem more realistic?

 

[Arielle71]

Yes it seems more realistic...
When you will go in the building for Soarin, check the wait time for Living with the land, if it 's less than 15 min do it right there (before or after Soarin)it will save you some walking later on!

 

[SPSRAS]

We did a very similar day last April with our 6 Yr old DD. I think your plan sounds more realistic now. To be perfectly honest, Living w Land and Figment were not big hits at all so don't feel bad to miss. We only made it through Innovations West. My suggestions are to have lunch at Sunshine Seasons - its the best QS and you're there for Soarin anyhow. And try to schedule in viewing some of the performances in WS - my DD loved those the most and they made a big impression on her. And she still often plays with her Epcot passport which we bought in Canada and got stamped at each Kidcot station - she wasn't so interested in the activities but really liked getting the stamps.

 

[lily2521]

We did a very similar day last April with our 6 Yr old DD. I think your plan sounds more realistic now. To be perfectly honest, Living w Land and Figment were not big hits at all so don't feel bad to miss. We only made it through Innovations West. My suggestions are to have lunch at Sunshine Seasons - its the best QS and you're there for Soarin anyhow. And try to schedule in viewing some of the performances in WS - my DD loved those the most and they made a big impression on her. And she still often plays with her Epcot passport which we bought in Canada and got stamped at each Kidcot station - she wasn't so interested in the activities but really liked getting the stamps.

Thanks for the info! Did you schedule the WS performances, or just happen to see what you saw when you got there?

Did you do TT or Soarin' with DD? Since I can only FP one of these I'm leaning towards Soarin', but then worry we might not get to do TT at all, as I don't know that we'll be done with breakfast at Akershus in time to hit it early enough, before the lines get too long.

 

[DisneyFive]

Based on suggestions here - I have revised my plan, thoughts?

Akershus breakfast - 8:05
TT (if time allows, if we're too late and don't do this one, it's okay)
Spaceship Earth (FP ~ 10am)
The Seas w/ Nemo
More time at the Seas (DD loves sea life)
Turtle Talk (FP ~ 11am)
Innoventions West
Soarin' (FP ~ 12pm)
Lunch (QS)
Start world showcase, on Canada side
Through World Showcase - Kidcot
Three Caballeros
Pick a Pearl in Japan
Dinner somewhere along the way (QS)
IllumiNations


Then, if we're done with WS and have time before IllumiNations, we can fit in:
Living with the Land
Journey Into Imagination with Figment
ImageWorks
Innoventions East


These are all okay to miss, if we simply don't have time.


Does this seem more realistic?

That's very doable. I gotta say, our first trip we picked three must do's at each park and let the rest happen organically. Was fantastic, and left plenty of time for what if's, browsing, the unexpected...

Dan

 

[dreamseeker9]

Since you won't start touring WS until the afternoon, I don't think it matters as much if you start in Mexico or Canada, crowd-wise. But for your 6-year old, the Mexico boat ride with the Three Caballeros will be entertaining, probably more than anything else in WS besides the Kidcot stops and any characters you see. So I suggest starting first in Mexico, in case you don't make it all the way around before IllumiNations. Definitely leave time to explore the pavilions and take mini-breaks, soak in the atmosphere in each one, notice the little things like the different types of music, sometimes even different scents in the air. I love WS!

Check times for the dolphin shows at The Seas, your daughter will love that. Definitely allow time to walk through the aquariums and check out the manatees.

Unless there's something you really want to see at Innoventions West, I'd cut that out as well to save time. You still have a very packed day with not many breaks.

ETA: If you ride Soarin' and then want lunch, Sunshine Seasons is great and is right there in The Land pavilion.

 

[KathyNY76]

I agree with Sunshine Seasons. I had my best QS meal there of salmon with green beans and roasted potatoes. Delicious! Another adult had a tasty and large turkey sandwich. My kids said the mac and cheese was the 'so good'!

We went to TT around 9:30 after our breakfast and the wait was only around 25 minutes. It wasn't that busy in the parks that day, though. But, frankly, I was glad to have some time for my food to digest before the ride! I'd really try to wait for TT if it's not too long - it's a great ride!

 

[lily2521]

Check times for the dolphin shows at The Seas, your daughter will love that. Definitely allow time to walk through the aquariums and check out the manatees.

Unless there's something you really want to see at Innoventions West, I'd cut that out as well to save time. You still have a very packed day with not many breaks.

ETA: If you ride Soarin' and then want lunch, Sunshine Seasons is great and is right there in The Land pavilion.

I didn't know they had a dolphin show!

There isn't anything in particular in either Innoventions (East or West) that I think is a big deal from what I can tell - granted I've never been so it's hard to tell just looking online. What exactly is in the Innoventions stations?

But good suggestion to maybe move it down to our 'not a big deal' list

 

[KathyNY76]

Oh I just reread that you are level 4 crowds. You should definitely have time to make TT!

 

[KathyNY76]

I didn't know they had a dolphin show!

There isn't anything in particular in either Innoventions (East or West) that I think is a big deal from what I can tell - granted I've never been so it's hard to tell just looking online. What exactly is in the Innoventions stations?

But good suggestion to maybe move it down to our 'not a big deal' list

One of the sides (West I think...) has some fire safety stuff and some giant piggy bank game we never got to. And a video game station. My 7 year old DD enjoyed it, but would have never cared if we missed it. It was sort of like a fancy children's museum, imo.

 

[lily2521]

I agree with Sunshine Seasons. I had my best QS meal there of salmon with green beans and roasted potatoes. Delicious! Another adult had a tasty and large turkey sandwich. My kids said the mac and cheese was the 'so good'!

We went to TT around 9:30 after our breakfast and the wait was only around 25 minutes. It wasn't that busy in the parks that day, though. But, frankly, I was glad to have some time for my food to digest before the ride! I'd really try to wait for TT if it's not too long - it's a great ride!

I think we'll make sure to put Sunshine Seasons on our lunch list - it was either that, or Electric Umbrella that I was looking at.

Good to know about TT, we really would like to do it. I'm hoping if we get there early for our ADR, maybe we can be in and out in 1-1 1/2 hours?

 

[lily2521]

One of the sides (West I think...) has some fire safety stuff and some giant piggy bank game we never got to. And a video game station. My 7 year old DD enjoyed it, but would have never cared if we missed it. It was sort of like a fancy children's museum, imo.

The children's museum thought makes me want to skip it altogether, LOL. If we have time in the PM, great, if not, great. Thanks for the tip

Can you tell how I find the dolphin information? I'm having a hard time finding anything online, all I see is info about a dolphin encounter - Disney Dolphins in Depth, for $199??

 

[dreamseeker9]

The children's museum thought makes me want to skip it altogether, LOL. If we have time in the PM, great, if not, great. Thanks for the tip

Can you tell how I find the dolphin information? I'm having a hard time finding anything online, all I see is info about a dolphin encounter - Disney Dolphins in Depth, for $199??

They may not have times for the actual 'show'. My experience has been that if I'm at The Seas in the first hour or so that the park opens, then the dolphins aren't around - typically, they are at that Dolphin Encounter or are being fed in another tank. A CM told me once that they forgot to set their alarms and must have slept in. Later in the morning, there's a little show where the CM will give the dolphins commands, and there are some toys involved - the CM is using a microphone in the aquarium area during this show, it's maybe 10 minutes long. I don't know if times are advertised, it may be on the list of daily events that you pick up when you enter the park. Or you could ask someone when you arrive at The Seas, so then you can fit it in between Nemo and Turtle Talk - both which are must-do, especially Turtle Talk for your DD! Have a great time!

 

[BrerNashville]

Your schedule highlights one of the most frustrating and unpredictable things about Disney -- a delay of five minutes can create 30 minutes of line waiting. I have no idea what the line buildup for TT will be after Akershus breakfast if you aren't able to get there until 9:30 rather than 9:05. For that reason, I'd be tempted to reschedule the Akershus for earlier breakfast or better yet, for lunch (my wife swears by the mushroom pasta, and the Kjottkake is awesome, if you like swedish meatballs). You can get scrambled eggs and assorted pastries anywhere. If you move your ADR for Akershus for lunch, get to Epcot for rope drop, head straight to TT and there shouldn't be much of a wait. Other than that, your schedule looks good, except that I'd spend less time in Innoventions at the beginning of the day, and more time in the WS. If you have time, breeze through Innoventions as you leave the park. There's nothing particularly compelling there (although my kids have an unusual fettish for the oh so slow admitting piggy bank attraction) and you will find the WS much more interesting.