Epcot fun for 2 and 4 yr olds?

[vs0204]

This is our first time at disney. My friend told me to skip Epcot because my 2 and 4 yr old would be bored. Can you tell me if there are attractions available for toddlers and do you recommend this park or should i skip it?. I have this planned for our last day and now am reconsidering it. I want their last day to be fun for them. A few reasons why i hestitate to change it is because i have Coral Reef ressie and that restuarant seems so cool for children.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. In fact i am get am getting on my own nerves worrying about it.

 

[CEDmom]

Epcot is a lot of fun for kids. It's my DD's favorite park. She's 7 and was 1st there at about 2 1/2. Most of the countries have performers which is a lot of fun for kids. WS is open enough to give them some space to roam. Each country has a table set up for kids to do a craft which is a lot of fun. We also saw lots of characters and they weren't swarmed like they are in MK.

The fountain sidewalk on the way out of WS near Mexico is also a lot of fun. Have your kids wear their bathing suits under their clothes or bring a change for them.

Nestle has a cookie making booth set up near the Living for the Land ride. About every hour kids can make and bake cookies to take with them. They get chef hats. It's really cute.

 

[Wenda]

We took our son to WDW when he was three. Magic Kingdom was (and still is) my favoriate park so imagine my surprise when EPCOT was his fav. He talked about it all the time until we took him back 3 years later. At 6 he remembered a lot of what he had seen when he was 3.
We didn't spend a lot of time in WS, just walked thru and stayed for some of the entertainment. We saved the movies for when he was older. Universe of Energy was his fav as he was really into dinosaurs.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Theres Figment!
Spaceship Earth, Innoventions.... the lighted rainbow tunnel, computer games like Toontown tag... my son LOVES this game!!! He played it one trip for hours!!! (a group of 4 kids play a virtual cartoon game; probably OK for your 4 year old).
They can play in the splash fountains, Honey I shrunk the audience, boatride at mexico, Maelstom is a fun boat ride. Illuminations (the fireworks show) is in my opinion, the single best nighttime "thing" ANYWHERE in the WORLD!!! Not just Disney either!!! Illuminations is half the reason we go. Just be sure to land a spot early on a parkbench where you can see.
Granted, its no magic Kingdom, but Its definately worth a trip. The innoventions area is filled with things that will keep them wide-eyed, and the characters at Epcot are kinda hidden, but they are there. Aladdin and Jasmin are almost always near Moracco. Mulan is usually in China.

There wont be as many things for them there, but there ARE many things for kids there.
Epcot is DEFINATELY more cultured and for adults, but what about YOURSELF!?! Epcot is by far my favorite! On a 6 day trip, we spend 3 days in Epcot.

 

[3DisneyKids]

I agree--this was my kids' favorite during our May trip (3.5, 5 and 6), Two words: TURTLE TALK! Crush rules for kids (and ok, us too!). They are still talking about it! Figment is another big draw. Hello? What kid doesn't love playing around int he interactive play area in Innoventions! We spend tons of time there each trip and always find cool new things to try. Plus, we did the Princess Breakfast in Norway--another home run.

The 4 y.o. may be able to do Test Track & Soarin', both of which are great. Plus, the character meet-n-greet is usually not crowded AT ALL (compared to MK), so a great place to interact with the characters.

There are also lots of characters to find in the countries...Belle is in France, the Brother Bear guys (Koda and Kenai) are in Canada...Princesses in Norway, and more.

One of the highlights of our trip 2 years ago was my kids being in the mini-Parade in the American pavilion. True, it is not as "magical" maybe as MK...meaning that you have to plan a bit more to find those great things for the kids, but if you know where to go...it is a great park for the kids.

 

[MichiganMommy]

My sons have enjoyed Epcot since they were toddlers also. The pace isn't as hectic as MK and it usually isn't so crowded (density of people per square foot).

Think about it this way, at MK you... walk, walk, walk... wait, wait, wait.... ride a short ride. Then do it over. Only a small fraction of your time is spent actually doing something entertaining. At Epcot the waiting time is (usually) minimal and most waits have preshows. There is much more to see and enjoy as you are walking around. At this age, my kids loved fountains and lots of things that aren't necessarily considered part of the "entertainment".

Definitely make sure you have a great stroller. Epcot is a huge park. The rental ones are nice because you can push and steer easily with one hand. DH once pushed a stroller with both sons around Epcot one-handed while sipping a Rignes beer without any problem.

 

[webray]

I wouldn't skip it.

Go into innoventions, walk around the world showcase. As you check out the countries, the kids can stop at the kidcot stations and make the artwork projects..it was a mask on a stick they added on to at each station. There are characters depending on where you are at what times. The big bus full of characters that sing/dance. Of course good food treats along the way.

Definately don't skip EPCOT.

 

[Demosthenes]

We have a 2 1/2 year old who enjoyed Epcot on his first trip (he was 21 months). He definitely preferred MK, but he had a good time. If you can rearrange your schedule and ADR, I would go to MK last, just in case yours are bored with Epcot (some kids are).

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

We went when our daughter's were 18 mos and 4 and then again six months later when the youngest turned two. We LOOOOOOVE EPCOT. The Land ride, Mexico ride, Norway ride(can be a little scary), THe Living Sea, Spaceship Earth. 4yr old road test track and soarin. She LOVED SOARIN. Be sure to get a schedule guide as soon as you get there for the performers. The chinese acrobats are amazing. What is neat about Epcot is where you find the characters. We found Aladdin shopping in Morrocco and Belle and the Beast dancing by the fountains in France. Also be sure to talk to the CM's at each country. They have kidcot stations set up where you get a mask and you can go to each country and get a piece to go on their mask and decorate it. The empoyees are from the country. get your four year old to ask one or to questions at each(or you do it if two shy). For example, what is your favorite food. Favorite TV show, favorite sport of your country etc. They wrote my daughter's name in Italian and Chinese. Very neat. We usualy got to Disney for 10 days and part of at least four of those are spent at Epcot, Taking our time and enjoying it all. Illuminations can be a bit scary.. My now five year old loved it when she was 2 1/2 and ever since. My youngest finds it a little scary at 2 yr. and had to have my hands over her ears. We ate at Biergarten last time for lunch. WOnderful break. Not my first choice of food, but great entertainment. The kids all dance in front of the stage. Lots of fun.

 

[Magic2000]

We also LOVE Epcot!!! My youngest loves making her mask at all the kidcot stations. She makes sure we don't skip any countries! Take your time and enjoy.

I'd also try to rearrange your schedule and maybe do Epcot on the second to last day - then you can go back to MK on the last day and re-ride any favorites!

Have a great trip!!!!!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

The big bus full of characters that sing/dance

I thought that was removed. I thought I read somewhere that they werent doing the double decker bus anywhere.

Any official word?

My daughter was a spec scared of Illuminations too, at first, because of the loud sounds. Now she LOVES it. AAMOF, when she hears the Illuminations music in our car, she screams with joy "Fireworks! I go Epcot! I go THERE!" (meaning she wants to go see Illuminations. She was scared of it from 1.5 years to about 2 years. Now, shes 3 and she loves it.

 

[vs0204]

thanks everyone for the great feedback. I will definitely go. Now i am getting excited about it!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

My almost 2 year old loved Epcot. He colored a mask and went on the boat ride in Mexico and Norway and loved it. He still plays with the mask on a stick every day. He now has put stickers all over it and most of the country cutouts are ripped off but he carry this thing all over the house. He loved the lights in the ground by inovations and the pop up jets in the main walk way. I think he was just mezmorized looking at everything and all the CMs in the countrys kidcot stops were so nice. We wouldnt dream of missing Epcot again in November. There were actually very few things that he couldnt do. The land boat ride was another favorite and we had to spend an hour watching the manatee's that he thought were big swimming dogs. Go figure is he 20 months old. Do it you will love it. I could go on all day. I think he may have had more fun here than MK.

 

[Lynne1]

Please do not skip Epcot..you will really miss out on a great time! We just came back with our kids, (1 and 3) and we had a ball.. Definitely dress them in clothes that they can get wet in, there are a few water spray areas that you will want to stop at. I think my kids had the most fun there.
You will want to go to World Showcase for sure, maybe have a yummy snack at the bakery in France...
There really are a lot of fun things for the kids to see and do there...
Oh, on an adult note...don't miss Soarin.....even if you have to go one at a time, it is a fabulous ride. Enjoy!

 

[erinch]

there's a kids play area in mission space...you can go in the "exit" and not do the ride

lot of fun to watch the train in Germany;
they'll love just wandering around