Epcot FP strategy (what and what time?)

[toonaspie]

I'm looking to see what time to select my FP choices so I'm not running back and forth in this park due to its massive size.

We don't plan on doing much at Epcot because of our short schedule and we'll be park-hopping to DHS sometime in the afternoon (we're doing Star Wars dessert party that night).

But here's the plan I have in mind:

Get to Epcot at rope drop.

• Go straight to Test Track
• Then to Soarin'.
• Living with the Land
• The Seas with Nemo
• Spaceship Earth
• Head to World Showcase (starting on the west side with Mexico)
• (Gran Fiesta Tour is a maybe)
• FP - FEA
• Rest of World Showcase until we exit via backgate and walk to DHS

We have a 1:00pm reservation at Le Cellier which we may or may not keep. Depends on how of a hindrance it is on our schedule. We'll be spending more time at World Showcase than Future World obviously.

We'll be there on Dec 19th.

My questions are basically:

How long would it take, do you think, to do Test Track then Soarin' if I get there at rope drop?

Between Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, and The Seas with Nemo, which 2 should I pick for my Tier 2 FPs and what time frame should I aim for?

What time would be best to schedule my FP for Frozen Ever After giving everything I will do beforehand?

My FP booking will be in two weeks. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Elliemay2]

Following... We have two mornings and 1 evening at EP. I am planning on Soarin at rope drop, with a FP for Test Track on day 1. That evening we will do Mission Space and Spaceship Earth FP's. The next EP morning, we will do FEA FP. I'm not sure if we will grab another mission space and Turtle Talk with Crush, or if we will get They Seas with Nemo and Meet Disney Pals.

 

[toonaspie]

Following... We have two mornings and 1 evening at EP. I am planning on Soarin at rope drop, with a FP for Test Track on day 1. That evening we will do Mission Space and Spaceship Earth FP's. The next EP morning, we will do FEA FP. I'm not sure if we will grab another mission space and Turtle Talk with Crush, or if we will get They Seas with Nemo and Meet Disney Pals.

My first follow! I'm flattered.

But as it turns out, i may change my plans entirely. I did more research last night and it seems that TT tends to have a delay of 15-25 mins at rope drop. That kinda throws my plan off quite a bit as it would result in more waiting and line buildup at both TT and Soarin'.

They're REALLY not making this easy for us, are they?

The wheels in my head are turning and my new plan would involve completely changing around what parks i visit when. It might work out better but there are things it's dependent on. I will do a new thread on this later to explain it in better detail.

 

[Elliemay2]

My first follow! I'm flattered.

 

[toonaspie]

So basically my new plan changes my entire itinerary. The original plan was to do all the stuff I wanted to do at Epcot in a single day. I've decided to split that up a bit. Instead of going to DHS first thing on my first day and RD to TSMM, I will now instead go to Epcot on my first day and RD to Test Track, then maybe do 1 or 2 more walk on attractions, then monorail over to MK for the rest of day. The remainder of Epcot would be done the following day with the FEA FP and all. This might mess up my DHS plans of course, but I will work on that. The tier setup for DHS is far more manageable than the one in Epcot as far as what rides I wanna do anyway.

 

[Elliemay2]

Sounds good!

This is the plan I am trying for:
DAY1
GET TO Epcot Future World and ride TEST TRACK (FASTPASS).9AM
Go to Mission Space (FASTPASS) 10AM
Go to Spaceship Earth (FASTPASS) 11AM
Get another FP(S)?
12:30 Head out to WCC FOr 2:05 LUNCH
MVMCP

DAY2
9AM ROPE DROP to SOARIN
EAT QUICK SERVICE 10AM
The Seas with Nemo (FASTPASS) 11AM
Turtle Talk with Crush (FASTPASS) 12PM
FEA (FAST PASS) 1PM
Explore World Showcase (Pick a pearl?)
San Angels Inn 3:40 Candlelight Pro. Dinner Pkg.
Explore Wold Showcase (Pick a pearl?)
Head to Candlelight Pro. (8:15 show) 7:30PM
Find a good spot for Illuminations (9:30)