Epcot ?/ F& W Concern

[LBKMAMA]

We are set to go to WDW from 9/27 -10/3...someone suggested doing Epcot on our first day...we'd arrive at park around 1:30 pm on a Thurs. - this is the day before F& W starts. ? could we still get fast passes for Nemo ride, Test Track and/or Soarin. Don't necessarily need to all three but Nemo is a must another one at least would be nice.

Other option is to go for a full day on Mon or Tues which is during f& W but after the first weekend....any thoughts or suggestions on crowds during the day? We've not explored Epcot that much and our kids will be 8, 6 and 4. The two older boys have seen the commercials for Test Track and Nemo and have asked why we didn't go there last year hence my ?'s

thanks

 

[LukenDC]

This year I went to Epcot the day before F&W and it was not too crowded. The crowds definitely picked up once the event began, but it was still not overwhelming.

 

[safetymom]

Nemo does not have fast passes.

 

[WildGrits]

It has been since Sept of 02 since our last visit. They didn't even have the Fast Pass booths open. I don't know if this is normal for Septmeber, or if Disney was still feeling the crunch from 9/11/01.

 

[tkd lisa]

F&W festival crowds are MOST noticeable on the weekends, because that's when most locals visit. Although it does impact EPCOT attendance, most of the impact is in the World Showcase area.

I would say that arriving at 1:30 on a Sunday in late September, you could probably get a FP for Soarin that would be valid about 7 or later (in other words, don't expect to ride within the next few hours). You could then go over to Living Seas and ride Nemo and experience Turtle Talk. By then, two hours should be up, allowing you to possibly get a FP for Test Track. I say possibly, because FPs for Test Track might be all gone by then. It just depends.

Test Track standby always seems awfully long to me, but if it's important to your family and the FPs are gone, you should have enough time to wait in standby before your Soarin FPs would be good.

One final thing to keep in mind. Soarin and Test Track are almost always open until 9:00, so don't think you have to finish them by the 7:00 Future World closing time.

Have a good trip!

 

[LBKMAMA]

Thanks for this info...so if it says it closes at 7 pm chances are those 2 rides might stay open? I've never heard this...

Based on your comments going to Epcot the following M or T might not be horriable either. Have you heard anything about wait times for Nemo ride since there is no FP? Just curious. Thanks!

 

[DOOM1001]

The major rides in Future World stay open until park closing even if Future World says it closes at 7pm.I've never really understood why Disney doesn't make this a bit clearer to people who've never been to the parks.

 

[tkd lisa]

Since the Nemo ride is new right now, it can have fairly long lines. I rode it as an AP holder during one of the previews, but since it's been open to the public, I've only gone on once because imo it's not worth a wait.

I will say that the last time I walked up, there was a 40 minute wait for this ride. That was at about 11:00 on Tuesday Dec 19th.

But don't run away in fright yet. I would expect that by this coming October, this should drop down to about a 20 minute wait. Obviously, that's just a guess, but it's what I expect.