Epcot FP Help - A 15 year old boy and 11 year old girl

[Frozen2014]

Currently Epcot is planned for a Saturday late August. We probably won't arrive until 9:30am or 10am as we probably will book a breakfast ADR, but will be there for the full day. Epcot is day 3 of our trip (out of 4).

Need some help with Tier 1 selection and plan of attack for the rest.
We've been to WDW once before and we all love Test Track and Soarin.
DD (and I) are also interested in Frozen Ever After, but there's no way DS15 will go on it (Let it Go made him anti-Frozen).
Also, Ratatouille may also be around so that is on the list as well for all of us.

I'm looking at the map and while DD and I attempt Frozen (if it's even possible depending on the advice), DS and DH could go to either Test Track (single rider line or regular) or Mission Space (the non-barfy one).

So what do you recommend with rope drop not an option, and our entire family not interested in the Frozen attraction?
What should we try to FastPass, and when would we attempt the others?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[g-dad66]

Assuming Ratatouille is not a FP option, I would go with Test Track for the Tier 1 FP. It will be the hardest day-of FP to get. And standby waits for it will the longest.

The two Tier 2 FPs that will do you the most good are Mission Space and Spaceship Earth.

 

[Bjkandma]

Fantasmic isn't at Epcot. It's at Hollywood Studios. Epcot does have an evening show around the world showcase.

 

[gismo1554]

I would probably split and do Test Track and Frozen as you suggested as first ride. The chance of getting Frozen as an on day FP is low and realistically which would DD prefer?

In terms of the evening show, it changed in September to a new show so if you haven't been since then I'd say it might be worth seeing but I wouldn't FP I'd just find a spot in the evening.

I'd probably do Mission Space and Spaceship Earth as other poster suggested for the other two FPs.

 

[Frozen2014]

Fantasmic isn't at Epcot. It's at Hollywood Studios. Epcot does have an evening show around the world showcase.

Doh. Mixed up parks. Will modify my post. Thanks.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks for the replies. Ok..Mission Space and Spaceship earth as tier 2.

Then need to figure out when to try the other rides on standby.

 

[summerlvr]

Why not book a breakfast ADR in EPCOT? You could try for a PPO at Garden Grill or Akershus and then depending on where you eat, ride Soarin or you and your daughter could ride FEA while hubby and son ride TT.
Alternative could be to rope drop, knock out some high priority rides and then do a late morning ADR.

 

[Frozen2014]

Why not book a breakfast ADR in EPCOT? You could try for a PPO at Garden Grill or Akershus and then depending on where you eat, ride Soarin or you and your daughter could ride FEA while hubby and son ride TT.
Alternative could be to rope drop, knock out some high priority rides and then do a late morning ADR.

Thanks. I know this makes logical sense, but if we book a breakfast ADR, it's because DH loved Boma last time and wants to go back (although I am also looking at alternatives). At Epcot, wouldn't do Akershus as wouldn't make DS sit through princess meal again (did last trip when they were younger).

 

[CastAStone]

Thanks for the replies. Ok..Mission Space and Spaceship earth as tier 2.

Then need to figure out when to try the other rides on standby.

Spaceship Earth is very likely to be closed or refurb at that time.

I believe they will re-tier the rides when Ratatouille opens and I wouldn’t be surprised if Soarin goes to Tier 2, but anything could happen.

I probably wouldn’t bother with Mission Space FP if you want to ride the non-barfy one unless you have no interest in Living with the Land. Mission Space Green has basically a 15 minute max wait most days while Living with the Land goes crazy around meal times (and can sometimes be walk-on in between).

 

[Calee]

I have seen Soarin as a 4th past pass available even at busier times of the year. So I would FP TT for the boys and Frozen for the girls. If DD really wants to do TT then FP TT for everyone and then try to ride Frozen standby or pick up 2 FP for it. I have gotten Frozen for 5 standby day of as well (in July). IMO TT is the hardest same day FP to get as far as tier 1 in Epcot.

 

[CastAStone]

IMO TT is the hardest same day FP to get as far as tier 1 in Epcot.

Oh yeah. If Test Track breaks down at all, which it still does approximately 2-3 days a week, they don’t drop same day FPs for it for the rest of the day.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

Before you commit to anything. Maybe consider doing Soarin as your Tier 1 FP and some combination of Spaceship Earth/Mission Space/Living with the Land as your Tier 2.

I say this because the single rider line is a great option especially with the risk that Test Track is busted half the time. The lines for Frozen vary a lot. Sometimes it's only a 45 minute wait....

 

[gharter]

Agree with above posts. Unless the day you are there is extremely busy.
Tier 1 split to TT and Frozen.
Tier 2 As noted SPaceship most likely will be closed by then. Mission Space almost never needs a FP. With the changes, FPs in EPCOT are nearly as messed up as HS.
We have not had a problem getting a Soarin FP later in the day.
TT as single rider has been a short wait.
The new evening show should be going by the time you are there, so nobidy knows if everything will be up in the air like the current show or if a good view of the water is necessary.

 

[Frozen2014]

Spaceship Earth is very likely to be closed or refurb at that time.

I believe they will re-tier the rides when Ratatouille opens and I wouldn’t be surprised if Soarin goes to Tier 2, but anything could happen.

I probably wouldn’t bother with Mission Space FP if you want to ride the non-barfy one unless you have no interest in Living with the Land. Mission Space Green has basically a 15 minute max wait most days while Living with the Land goes crazy around meal times (and can sometimes be walk-on in between).

Yes...will be interesting to see what happens when Ratatouille opens. And then FP for it or TT or FEA? Would at least be great if they moved Soarin to Tier 2.

Oh no...quite liked Spaceship Earth. Too bad if we'll miss it (but better than having TT or Soarin under refurb)

I have seen Soarin as a 4th past pass available even at busier times of the year. So I would FP TT for the boys and Frozen for the girls. If DD really wants to do TT then FP TT for everyone and then try to ride Frozen standby or pick up 2 FP for it. I have gotten Frozen for 5 standby day of as well (in July). IMO TT is the hardest same day FP to get as far as tier 1 in Epcot.

That would be good if we could get a FP for Soarin once we complete our 3.

Yes that's the thing....We all want to ride Test Track. DS would be ok riding single rider, but don' think DD would be comfortable. And if single rider, do you get to build your cars together?

Also....how likely is it to even get a FP for Frozen if Epcot is only 3 days out from out 60 day mark?

Maybe we get FP for Test Track. Then we watch the app for wait times for Frozen and DS goes on single rider line (or Mission Space) while DD and I tackle Frozen line?

Another thought.....we are going late August so does Test Track close in the rain? What about the Frozen ride? Is it inside or outside?

 

[Remy is Up]

Assuming you arent after Remy so Ill set that aside. Arriving at 930 or 10. Prior to trip book a FP for Test Track as close to 10 as you can get it, book Mission Space for an hour later and the land for an hour after that. When you arrive go to your FP for TT asap. When you scan in, move Mission space up ( Will be easy to move up likely to within 10 Minutes), move Land up to an hour after that. When you scan into MS, likely around 1030 if you got the TT for 10 or earlier and moved MS up, Move Land up to within the next 15 minutes. Will be easy. Should put you scanning into the Land prior to 1130. Once you scan into the land, at 1125 start refreshing looking for Frozen. By 1135 you should have a Frozen FP, likely around 1PM or so. Now grab a bite or do something else until that starts. once you scan into Frozen, Start refreshing for Soarin. Will be easy to find especially if you start looking around 125 and keep it up till 135 or so. Youll get one.
If you want to do Remy that changes the plan a bit but not awfully. Just a slight adjustment.

 

[CastAStone]

Ratatouille shouldn’t be terrible to get a FP for even for a new ride. It’s capacity in Paris is 2200/hour and if they open the ride with Future World (a big if), that should translate to pretty much anyone who wants to ride getting to ride on a random day in late August.

Test Track will always be risky because it breaks down so much. That’s what I’d want as my FastPass forever.

 

[Frozen2014]

Assuming you arent after Remy so Ill set that aside. Arriving at 930 or 10. Prior to trip book a FP for Test Track as close to 10 as you can get it, book Mission Space for an hour later and the land for an hour after that. When you arrive go to your FP for TT asap. When you scan in, move Mission space up ( Will be easy to move up likely to within 10 Minutes), move Land up to an hour after that. When you scan into MS, likely around 1030 if you got the TT for 10 or earlier and moved MS up, Move Land up to within the next 15 minutes. Will be easy. Should put you scanning into the Land prior to 1130. Once you scan into the land, at 1125 start refreshing looking for Frozen. By 1135 you should have a Frozen FP, likely around 1PM or so. Now grab a bite or do something else until that starts. once you scan into Frozen, Start refreshing for Soarin. Will be easy to find especially if you start looking around 125 and keep it up till 135 or so. Youll get one.
If you want to do Remy that changes the plan a bit but not awfully. Just a slight adjustment.

Oh my gosh...that's an amazing plan. Last trip we didn't try modifying our FP selections when there, but have heard you can do so as per your suggestion. if the times work, then this is great.

Ok....and if we want Remy? If it's open by then (think now it says "summer" but Epcot would be Aug 29th so hopefully it should be open by then), then would want to figure out how to include it too. Do we know if Ratatouille will have FP? Obviously Tier 1 if it does....ugh.

 

[Frozen2014]

Ratatouille shouldn’t be terrible to get a FP for even for a new ride. It’s capacity in Paris is 2200/hour and if they open the ride with Future World (a big if), that should translate to pretty much anyone who wants to ride getting to ride on a random day in late August.

Test Track will always be risky because it breaks down so much. That’s what I’d want as my FastPass forever.

That makes me feel better. Sounds like TT should be the tier 1 selection. thanks!

 

[Remy is Up]

If you want Remy then I'd suggest when you scan into frozen instead of soarin find a Remy. You'll find soarin available even after you go on remy. Especially if you look between 125 and 135 after you scan into frozen

 

[Remy is Up]

This is based on experience of a local platinum ap holder who never stands in stand by lines no matter what. Refresh is your best friend.