Dec.5: DHS or Epcot?? Can't decide!

[2sets]

Our 3rd family trip is coming up in early December. We have 4 kids (2 almost 3.5yr olds and 2 almost 5yr olds). We're doing MK on day one and I just can't choose b/t DHS and Epcot for day two.

For the record, my kids LOVED DHS last time we went (I know not all families do). I have one that loves Lightening McQueen and it's seriously enough for him to just see the car!! If we don't choose DHS, we're going to have to figure out how he can be okay with not seeing Lightening McQueen. They also loved TSM and the car stunt show, plus meeting Buzz and Woody! One thing though is that we can't go on day two until 10am. So, I'm worried we wouldn't be able to get on TSM (ie..if fast passes sell out or run too late into the night especially since it's an EMH early morning that day). Another thing is that I've heard the Osborne lights are incredible.

We've never done Epoct though and I'm thinking it would be fun to do something new. I have two that are tall enough for Soarin' and I know they'd love it. They all like Nemo. Also, they love going to our local Children's Museum so I can see them having fun in some of the educational areas (not sure of the names of the different areas, I'm not at all familiar with Epcot for kids!!). Also, there are fireworks that night which they'd love to see.

Any advice, thoughts??

 

[sharonabe]

Epcot is the recommended park on UG that day. I'm assuming you only have two days and hence your forced decision. I think HS will be crowded that day, so I'd go with Epcot. Besides, it's something new for all of you. Test Trak will probably make up for missing Lightning!

 

[henry72]

Actually I would think Epcot and HS both will be busy. This is a Saturday so locals might want to go to Epcot. HS has it EMH in the AM so it will be busy too. This is why we picked AK for this day. (Doing MK first day but avoiding on actual parade filiming day.)

 

[marshmellow86]

Our 3rd family trip is coming up in early December. We have 4 kids (2 almost 3.5yr olds and 2 almost 5yr olds). We're doing MK on day one and I just can't choose b/t DHS and Epcot for day two.

For the record, my kids LOVED DHS last time we went (I know not all families do). I have one that loves Lightening McQueen and it's seriously enough for him to just see the car!! If we don't choose DHS, we're going to have to figure out how he can be okay with not seeing Lightening McQueen. They also loved TSM and the car stunt show, plus meeting Buzz and Woody! One thing though is that we can't go on day two until 10am. So, I'm worried we wouldn't be able to get on TSM (ie..if fast passes sell out or run too late into the night especially since it's an EMH early morning that day). Another thing is that I've heard the Osborne lights are incredible.

We've never done Epoct though and I'm thinking it would be fun to do something new. I have two that are tall enough for Soarin' and I know they'd love it. They all like Nemo. Also, they love going to our local Children's Museum so I can see them having fun in some of the educational areas (not sure of the names of the different areas, I'm not at all familiar with Epcot for kids!!). Also, there are fireworks that night which they'd love to see.

Any advice, thoughts??

My kids favorite park behind MK is Epcot. Innoventions is great. Lots of activities to do in there. My kids spend hours in there. Kim Possible adventure in the WS is fun. Each country has a different mission, so they can do it more than once. Soaring is awesome. Nemo and Turtle Talk with Crush are great. There are kidcot stops in each country - where they make a mask. There are characters all around in the countries. The candy lady in Japan is awesome!!!! The acrobats in China are really good. Lots of people state that they don't think Epcot is good for young kids - my kids disagree. Unlike MK, where all of the rides smack you in the face, at Epcot you have to go and explore more. Walk into the countries. there is a boat ride in the back of Mexico, that we didn't find for several trips, as it is tucked in the back corner.

That being said, we do love the lights at HS at Christmas, in addiiton to TSM and Muppets. Hard decision, but given that you can't get there until 10 am and it is EMH at HS, I would probably hit Epcot.

 

[Cadiewampus]

I would go with Epcot as well. Both my sons love it. They especially liked the boat ride in Norway the last time we were there.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

Epcot, Epcot, Epcot

 

[WantToGoNow]

We will be at Epcot that day. But I don't know if I could choose between Epcot and DHS as DHS is my favorite park. My kids seemed to enjoy Epcot best on our last trip - they were 5.5 and almost 3.

 

[dkbnyc]

i think you should go to epcot that day, but thats only b/c i will be at DHS with my 2yo and 5yo

it was a tough decision for us too, but since our trip is only 2.5 days of parks we decided on MK on fri and DHS on sat.
this is our first trip so we will save epcot for another trip when the girls are older.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I vote for Epcot.

 

[twins4mimi]

Epcot is the recommended park on UG that day. I'm assuming you only have two days and hence your forced decision. I think HS will be crowded that day, so I'd go with Epcot. Besides, it's something new for all of you. Test Trak will probably make up for missing Lightning!

What is UG??

 

[happymommy]

Ug is Unofficial Guide.

My kids' favorite park is Epcot - over MK!

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

We just got back and without a doubt I'd say EPCOT! My almost 5 year old LOVED it, as did my 3 year old. DHS was ok, but not our favorite. My kids haven't mentioned a single thing about DHS since we were there on Sunday. Meanwhile, my DD5 can't stop talking about Epcot and actually says that it is her favorite park - over the Magic Kingdom. It's my favorite too.

DD5 loved: Soarin, Test Track, Mission Space, Nemo, Turtle Talk, the World Showcase, Illuminations
DD3 loved: Nemo, Turtle Talk, World Showcase, Illuminations, Innoventions

There are tons of characters at Epcot in the World Showcase and the Character Spot. Performances in the World Showcase are great. Then there's Kidcot.... Two days were not enough for us at Epcot - and we didn't see a single movie in the World Showcase. We also loved the Table service options there. We ate at Akershus, Biergarten, Coral Reef, and Rose and Crown and loved them all. Biergarten is a MUST DO for little ones - so much fun!

 

[2sets]

Hhmmmmm....

I'm leaning towards Epcot. I just wish one of my 3yr olds was tall enough to do Test Track.

Another thing is that Epcot is doing fireworks at 9pm that night.

My biggest fear is that they won't like Epoct and be upset that they're not at HS....but that is probably unrealistic, right?? How could they not like it?? I think b/t meeting characters and fireworks they'll not be upset about not going to HS.

We can't go until later in the morning that day too. Is Epcot like MK in that it's best to get there first thing to roll through some rides with short waits??

 

[happymommy]

Epcot is different in that Future World opens usually two hours earlier than World Showcase.

And no, you can't really get there early and "do" the major attractions, unless you are really good at planning! I am saying this only since Epcot is quite large. I have walked (honestly) about 15 miles in one day at Disney, and much of that was at Epcot (I am a big walker). That included much backtracking.

Now, you could get there at "rope drop" and grab fastpasses for Soarin, then Test Track (kids do grow, or take turns).

Also, don't assume they need to see so many characters. My kids never cared about them much the first few trips at all!

Epcot is actually the park that we end up at in the afternoon, usually every afternoon or almost every one, every trip. We love to stroll around the WS, eat and drink, and stuff. My son has special needs, so we can't stay in one park too long, just in case he gets out of breath. We get a pass that allows him to wait in an alternate place for a ride, which helps him (he has asthma and ADHD as well).

 

[pixarmom]

I love both, but (as you can tell from my name) we spend alot of time at DHS. So for little ones, that would be my vote. In part, it's because of all the Pixar - McQueen, Mader, Monsters, Buzz, Woody, the parade with all of them (and Bugs, and Incredibles) - is a huge draw for our almost 3-year-old. Our older boys like it for other reasons.

If you decide on EPCOT, Nemo is very big with our littlest one, and you could consider ADRs to see Remy at Chefs de France! But again, you can see I'm biased!!