Epcot evening with a 5 yr old?

[BubblyTrip]

We are doing a quick 2 day trip and I was going to do both days at MK (we tend to be ride focused). Now that the FP tiers system is down at least temporarily, I thought maybe we'd do an evening at Epcot and use our FP there (have TT, Soarin and Turtle Talk). I know DS will flip for TT.

Do you think it's worth it to be at Epcot for a few hours? I'd have to upgrade from base tickets.

MK is the least recommended park that day and Epcot is most recommended. We'll be at morning EMH at MK.

 

[amym2]

We are doing a quick 2 day trip and I was going to do both days at MK (we tend to be ride focused). Now that the FP tiers system is down at least temporarily, I thought maybe we'd do an evening at Epcot and use our FP there (have TT, Soarin and Turtle Talk). I know DS will flip for TT.

Do you think it's worth it to be at Epcot for a few hours? I'd have to upgrade from base tickets.

MK is the least recommended park that day and Epcot is most recommended. We'll be at morning EMH at MK.

EP has always been our kids' favorite park, so for us it would be worth it, although we'd probably just go ahead and spend the whole day there. You could do EMH at MK and then head over to EP once MK gets crowded. Good choices for FP!

 

[MandiC]

My 7 and 9 year olds LOVED Epcot, they really enjoyed Soarin, Test Track, The Seas, Innoventions and they loved all the little stuff to do in the World Showcase (passports/kidcot/secret agent cell phone game, can't remember the name...)

 

[monorailsilver]

We love Epcot and our kids have no choice or say in that matter but I think they like it too.

They love test track, soarin, turtle time, my oldest loved the maelstrom, I had to pull my son away from the video game wall in the communicores (yes I still all it that!).

They love illuminations or at least I think they do.

They love the yummy and not so yummy cokes,

But just to go there for 1/2 of a day to me wouldn't be worth it to add on a hopper.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Have you been to MK before? If yes, I would consider adding the hopper to get a taste of Epcot too. We all, including kids, love Epcot. If you have been to MK before, I would add on hoppers and spend morning and afternoon at MK and hop both days to Epcot to finish the day. Use FP at MK the first day, and at Epcot the second day. If you have never done MK, just spend both whole days there.

 

[BubblyTrip]

We did MK last year two days.

This year I was going to do mornings at MK, break to swim if warm, then evenings at MK. Second day I was going to see if he could make it to the parade at nine.

New plan would be to go to Epcot the first evening. It's going to cost me an additional 120$ To add hoppers just for this, which I will spend if it's really worth it. I think we'd be there from about 5-8 PM.

We live near DL and will do that for the first time within the next year I am sure.

 

[lovetogowdw]

I didn't until like my third trip with kids.

Then we discovered the boat rides in Mexico and Norway and the Living with the Land boat ride.

And Spaceship Earth -- AND all the games at the end of it.

And all of the games at the end of Mission Space.

No rides here, but . . . Innoventions - wasn't boring at all by age 5. In fact, when we went when oldest was 6 and again at 7, he was dragging me in there.

And the Agent P (of Phineas and Ferb fame) "missions" -- could keep you going for hours. A mission isn't a ride, but it is definitely entertaining. Most trips we have to do at least two of those.

So I'd vote for one day at each and skip the hopper. And if those are evening EMH at MK on your Epcot day and the schedule is 9 pm Illuminations and 10 pm Wishes at MK then you could potentially do both. We've done it this way: watch Illuminations from sidewalk area that leads to the back of Spaceship and leave Epcot immediately after fireworks, then you can be in the front of the line to jump on the monorail to the TTC, then dash out to the beach at the Poly and have a great view of the MK Wishes. And both my kids still count riding the monorail as a "ride".

 

[GrtWtNorth]

I went Easter week with DD at that age. We went to MK most mornings, but migrated to other parks later each day.

Epcot favorites: Playing the Agent P adventures (we did 4 in one afternoon!?), coloring at the kidcot stations, and riding test track. Soarin' and Living with the Land were ok, but she wasn't as enthusiastic about those compared to the others. The Land Pavilion was very crowded when we were there.

 

[tzolkin]

I would also suggest the full day at Epcot.

We go for a few hours at a time (like you mentioned from 5-8) but only as part of a longer (10+ day) trip so we will go to Epcot multiple times. It has always been our favorite park and we go there for a few hours more than half of our park days each trip.

That said, you can't really see Epcot in three hours. I think you will leave wishing you had more time to explore more of what the park has to offer. In the few hours you mentioned you could do a few attractions in future world but I believe it would be better to spend less money (not upgrading to the hoppers) and get to experience more if the park.

 

[BubblyTrip]

Ugh! You guys are making this hard. I don't think I can give up a full day at MK, and I'm pretty sure we will need an afternoon break. So I just have to decide if the hopper upgrade is worth it for one 3-4 hr evening.

Need to drag DH back for a longer trip.

 

[Theaberdeenkid]

Our 5 and 7 year olds love Epcot, it definitely is an all day park for us. But don't feel the need to spend the extra money, 2 days in MK is fine. Plan your next trip to include other parks, but for a 2 day trip I wouldn't upgrade for a park hopper.

 

[MandiC]

Our 5 and 7 year olds love Epcot, it definitely is an all day park for us. But don't feel the need to spend the extra money, 2 days in MK is fine. Plan your next trip to include other parks, but for a 2 day trip I wouldn't upgrade for a park hopper.

Completely agree. We all loved Epcot, but in your situation I would choose to skip it this time.

 

[BubblyTrip]

Completely agree. We all loved Epcot, but in your situation I would choose to skip it this time.

Thank you so much everyone. After much thought and all the advice, I decided to save Epcot for when we can dedicate a full day to it. I changed my FP back to MK. I know DS will love to have a few repeats in his ride schedule, and we can have a little time to enjoy shows, shopping, and wandering around, which we did not really get to do last time.

Hoping to hit DL for Halloween or Christmas, since we live closer to it, and next year come back for a longer DW trip. Lucky me, I have family in Orlando, so I know we'll be back!