Epcot and 8 yr. old . . .

[packerfan]

DIS newbie here. I hope this isn't a goofy question. I've heard both sides, that Epcot is more enjoyable for adults than kids and that Epcot is great for kids. We have a DS(8) . . . any opinions on going to Epcot first so it doesn't seem "boring" after going to MK? Any thoughts are appreciated!!

 

[Kallison]

Make sure you go to the Living Seas and do Turtle Talk with Crush. Get him up front, my 12 year old DD loved it. My kids get bored with Epcot, but I love it, so they have to put up with it. They love Test Track, Coke Station Cool, Honey I Shrunk, Imagination ride is cool and the email pictures you can send afterwards. Around the countries they like to eat and watch the acts -- Living Statues, Fife and Drum, British Invasion, World Showcase Players. We always stop in Norway for a pastry and rice cream and my middle DS loves Kaki Goris. Don't forget the candy lady in Japan, we saw her for the first time this trip. She was awesome.

 

[packerfan]

Make sure you go to the Living Seas and do Turtle Talk with Crush. Get him up front, my 12 year old DD loved it. My kids get bored with Epcot, but I love it, so they have to put up with it. They love Test Track, Coke Station Cool, Honey I Shrunk, Imagination ride is cool and the email pictures you can send afterwards. Around the countries they like to eat and watch the acts -- Living Statues, Fife and Drum, British Invasion, World Showcase Players. We always stop in Norway for a pastry and rice cream and my middle DS loves Kaki Goris. Don't forget the candy lady in Japan, we saw her for the first time this trip. She was awesome.

Thanks! Your suggestions are appreciated! I've got the Unofficial Guide (heavy duty bedtime reading for me ) so I'll mark those in the book. I think I could spend days in Epcot and never get bored! Maybe I'll have to send DH and DS off to play elsewhere and I'll meet up with them later . . .

 

[texas munchkin]

Hi there,


My DD loved Epcot at that age - she's almost 16 now. Here's what I did. On arrival day, check into hotel and go to Blizzard Beach until room is ready , then early to bed. First full day on site we went to Magic Kingdom and did Fantasyland,Liberty Square, Frontierland and AdventureLand. The Next day we did "left" side of Epcot. Then a day at The Studios and when Animal Kingdom came on line, we added a day there. Then back to Epcot for the "right side". Another day at Magic kingdom for the remaining attractions, meaning Tomorrowland and Toontown in the morning. Then after finishing there, we would head to DTD for shopping, so we didn't have to use park time for that. She knew we would have an afternoon for shopping, so she didn't ask for everything she saw in the parks. Last day there, one more stop at Magic Kingdom for Crystal Palace breakfast - especially good if it is NOT an EMH day because it's almost deserted at the front gate. We finish breakfast just about the time the park opens. We both get a choice of one ride we just "have to do again" and then head off to Typhon Lagoon to relax until it's time to head to airport.

This schedule worked well for us. Even on the two Epcot days, there for something beside just the countries in the WS, because we incorporated different parts of future world each day. Sorry, this is probably more information that you wanted, but once I start "talking Disney" I tend to ramble

We still pretty much use this schedule, but with the extra hours at night, we may have to change it around

Anyways, have a good trip!

 

[packerfan]

Hi there,


My DD loved Epcot at that age - she's almost 16 now. Here's what I did. On arrival day, check into hotel and go to Blizzard Beach until room is ready , then early to bed. First full day on site we went to Magic Kingdom and did Fantasyland,Liberty Square, Frontierland and AdventureLand. The Next day we did "left" side of Epcot. Then a day at The Studios and when Animal Kingdom came on line, we added a day there. Then back to Epcot for the "right side". Another day at Magic kingdom for the remaining attractions, meaning Tomorrowland and Toontown in the morning. Then after finishing there, we would head to DTD for shopping, so we didn't have to use park time for that. She knew we would have an afternoon for shopping, so she didn't ask for everything she saw in the parks. Last day there, one more stop at Magic Kingdom for Crystal Palace breakfast - especially good if it is NOT an EMH day because it's almost deserted at the front gate. We finish breakfast just about the time the park opens. We both get a choice of one ride we just "have to do again" and then head off to Typhon Lagoon to relax until it's time to head to airport.

This schedule worked well for us. Even on the two Epcot days, there for something beside just the countries in the WS, because we incorporated different parts of future world each day. Sorry, this is probably more information that you wanted, but once I start "talking Disney" I tend to ramble

We still pretty much use this schedule, but with the extra hours at night, we may have to change it around

Anyways, have a good trip!

Thanks. I'm hoping he enjoys it, too! We have park hopper tix but weren't sure exactly how we were going to use them yet. I like your idea of doing one side on one day and the other side on another day. I'm not sure MGM will be a whole day for us so it might be a good combination. Thanks for your input!

 

[texas munchkin]

MGM was never really a "whole day" either, we took advantage of getting to bed early after a dip in the pool. Same with Animal Kingdom. Chance to recharge after hitting the gate running so to speak.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I brought my 11yo to WDW last month. Before going he told me that he wanted to spend most of his time at Epcot. He liked Turtle Talk, Mission:Space, and Test Track, but that was pretty much it.

We spent most of our time at MGM--he loved RockNRoller Coaster, Tower of Terror and Millionaire. Did RnR 17 times and ToT 15 times. We also spent one day at MK and one at AK.

Hopefully your son will enjoy Epcot more than mine.

T&B

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

OP: We have 7.5 year old twins, and, I, too, like packerfan's left-side and right-side plan.

We have 4 day park hoppers and are planning on 3 MK mornings, 1 AK morning, 1 MGM PM, 1 left-side Epcot PM, 1 right-side Epcot PM, and 1 PM TBD.

In addition, the Epcot kidcot stations are something that many on this board have mentioned that their 4-10 year olds enjoyed. If ours seem interested, we'll definitely go for it.

Have a great trip!

 

[Stacerita]

The sweetpea was 8 when I took her to Epcot last year and she loved it. Of course she was thrilled with Test Track and Mission Space and enjoyed the other rides as well. But to my surprise she really enjoyed WS. She had the best time going to each country and having her passport stamped and seeing the various shows and such. She is now planning to "snack around the world" when we go back later this year. Epcot can be quite enjoyable for kids if there is the understanding that it isn't the MK. Enjoy!

 

[the kabuki]

Really depends on your child whether or not he'll like WS. My 11yr old DD likes it, my
7yr old DS could take it or leave it. We don't usually do too much in WS, he likes FW much better. But he's never been what one would call a "quiet" child, so WS is a little boring to him. Mexico & Norway have cute boat rides. Mexico really needs some updating though.

Turtle talk is a must!! Do not miss it. Go straight for it as soon as you exit the elevators.

BTW-a word of caution about Test Track, do a search here on these boards, there was a thread a while back regarding motion sickness and that ride. Might want to check it out before going on.

 

[MomofKatie]

We went last November with DD who was 6 at the time. She really liked Epcot- loved the Kidcot stations at WS, loved the different performers there, too. She loved Spaceship Earth, and liked Imagination, HISTA, Living Seas, and Ellen's Universe of Energy. She is not a daredevil, so Test Track was a no go. Mostly, she liked the atmosphere at Epcot. The fountains, the feel of the different countries, etc.

We did MK on Day 1- I think if we had waited to do MK later, she wouldn't have enjoyed the other parks as much. She was just SO antsy about seeing Mickey and riding the Fantasyland rides, I think she would have not enjoyed any other park until MK. So, we got it out of the way first, and did the others later.

 

[Leota]

Make sure you get your son a World Showcase Passport - That made all the difference in the world with my DS, who previous to that had only liked Future World. He was around 10 when we did the Passport thing, but I think it is certainly age appropriate for an 8 year old as well. The Passport is a book with pages for each country. It comes with stickers & you take it to a Cast Member in each country's shop & they will stamp it & write a little greeting in their native language to your son. Depending on how into this your son gets, you may wind up spending the entire day in World Showcase. We did 11 am to close to complete his passport & mask the year he did it. The passport peaked his interest into exploring the pavillions more than he had done before.

You can buy one in the shop just across the bridge into WS from FW. The joy of the Hunt for the Passport & the Masks at Kidcot stations have really helped alot of kids explore & enjoy WS more.

FW is easy, as far as things kids enjoy - there's tons there for them. Your son would probably really love almost everything in FW.

 

[slp87]

Epcot is our family's favorite park, so we always go there our first day. Some of the things my DD (9) enjoyed on our last trip was making the mask at the kidcot stations, buying a passport and getting it stamped, making a pressed penny for each country, seeing the candy lady in Japan, and watching the acrobats in China. We typically visit all of future world our first day and on our last trip we ate lunch at Garden Grill which had great character interaction. Because we stay at BW, we go through Canada, UK and a few other countries to see characters. Then, we come back another day and start at Mexico when WS opens and go to each country making the mask. Last 2 trips I've taken a picture of her with the CM at the station and her wearing a hat or holding a flag from each country. It makes a great scrapbook!

 

[packerfan]

Wow. Thank you so much everyone. Your experiences and suggestions are very valuable to us!
Does anyone know if you can buy small flags of the different countries in WS?
Thanks again.

 

[java]

My kids love Epcot. They used to have great individual kidstops in each country- now it is a theme of mask making they do at each country. But my kids loved this also as they met people from the countries at the stops. Could not get them away from a very funny lad in England. He had my DS rolling. The old ones though had a painting station in France that was just adorable- kids got to sit outside at easles and paint away. It was so cute. As for Future World my dd(7) favorite ride is Test Track. We hit it as many times as we can. DS(10) LOVES Mission Space. We all enjoy the Living Seas and are looking forward to trying Soarin on our next trip. Epcot to us is a more relaxing day than the MK days. You can wander- visit characters in the countries- eat your way through the park- get that passport stamped in every country-My DS -8 at the time- got to be in a minute man parade and he was in heaven. He was picked out of a crowd and got to be the one child in the show. He carried a "rifle" and marched with the band. He was awarded a certificate and still has this in his room. I have not read all the posts so forgive me if I repeat- The other country favorite thing for my children is in Japan- There is a woman that appears and spins sugar into beautiful designs- check the show schedule and she will be listed arrive about 5 minutes early and you should be able to take home a dragon or anything you can imagine and she can create. There really is so much to do here that my kids love. Just last nite they were asking if we could make dinner reservations for our trip to The Coral Reef and Mexico. Their two favorites. Have a blast and I think he will love it. From Dinosaurs to Space ships to race cars to video games there is plenty to entertain a young boy.

 

[slp87]

Does anyone know if you can buy small flags of the different countries in WS?

Yes! That's what we used in my DD's pics.

 

[Mymatisse]

I think it depends on your child's personality. My first EPCOT experience was when I was 10 ( a little bit older) and I absolutely LOVED it! It was my favorite park and continues to be.