Epcot help??

[foxxxy83]

Hey guys! Just wondered how good Epcot really is?? I know it's a Disney park so really I should spend a full day there but is there enough to warrant spending a full day there. We're likely to do Test Track and maybe the whole Figment thing. Just wondered if there's anything else people would say you HAVE to see/do when you're there?? TIA!

 

[Elise79]

Epcot is great but not everyone "gets" it.

Attraction wise in future world I think your son should do Test Track, Soarin, Living with Land, the Seas with Nemo, Turtle Talk and journey into imagination with figment.

Ones I would question would be mission space and Ellen's energy adventure. MS you are in an enclosed capsule as a group of 4. Ellen's is 40 minutes long with no exit once you are in the ride vehicles.

Don't forget to explore the innoventions areas as there things for kids (and adults too!) in there,

Once you get to World Showcase there are rides in Mexico (with Donald) and Norway (Viking themed but very good). The rest of the countries have movies/shows but the actual pavilions are worth looking at by going in not just walking by.

There are Kidcot stops in all the countries where kids can colour either a Duffy or Agent P. If they take it to each country they stamp it and write something on the back.

 

[foxxxy83]

OK cool.. have to admit, I did think World Showcase was just a load of restaurants. My son wouldn't do Soarin' coz it means having his feet dangling and that a BIG no-no for him but he LOVES Nemo so will most likely be riding that one all day (thanks to the Autism!) Thanks for the info!

 

[wayneg]

Our first visit 20 years ago we left Epcot til the end of the holiday, we were all parked out, had a walk around but never saw what the attraction was.
Over the 20 years its changed to one of our favorite parks, we can easily visit 3 times per trip.
All you can do is try it and see what you think, most really enjoy the park but as Tracy says some don't "get" it.

 

[wilma-bride]

Over the last few trips, Epcot has become our favourite park.

The first time we visited, I was one of those who didn't 'get it'. DH and I loved the rides and Future world but saw World Showcase as a big snoozefest - lots of shops and restaurants and not much else. Little did we realise that the time of year (and time of day) we visited had a big impact on the atmosphere. Now we tend to spend late afternoons/early evenings at WS and watcht he shows/entertainment, chill out around the lake, drink a little, eat a little (or a lot) and watch Illuminations. We like to stay at the Epcot resorts so we can pop in and out as we feel like it. We definitely spend more time at Epcot than any other park (except perhaps Magic Kingdom).

With your son, you should definitely do the Agent P Missions (at least one) - I can imagine he would love it (it's my son's favourite thing to do at Epcot). DH and I get to relax and have a drink while following him around on his mission. It's great

If you get the chance, make sure you catch Miyuki. She makes candy art (on sticks) but she leaves the World showcase soon (after next month, I believe) so this could be your only chance to see her. If your son likes music, Off Kilter (Canada) and The British Invasion (UK) are really worth a listen - again, another opportunity to relax while the kids enjoy dancing

The main advice I would give is to avoid Epcot at weekends while you are there as the food & Wine Festival means weekends are very crowded - OK for the adults but not so great for kids. Also, don't make the mistake of trying to do the park in a day - it's HUGE! We normally do a morning or two at Future World, then a couple of afternoons/evenings at World Showcase. We let DS do the Agent P Missions while we explore whichever particular pavilion he is doing the mission at.

 

[MrRomance]

Epcot is a funny one in my opinion. I've been travelling to WDW for over 20 years and honestly, I didn't have any fondness for it for most of that time. I think the PPs comments are spot on... I really didn't "get it" for a long time. As Wayne said, it seems to be a park that really grows on you with age. I actually really enjoy Epcot now, in fact our first day when we arrive next month is planned for Epcot.

For me, there is not a great deal that appeals as far as rides are concerned and the rides that are good tend to have huge wait times (Soarin, Test Track) but I definitely think it's a full day park. Innovations is cool for the kids, character meets are also good. There is a lot to see and do there and also you have the option to skip out at the International Gateway exit and pick up the boat or have a gander down the boardwalk.

I guess my advice would be don't be surprised if you don't "love" Epcot first time around but it's definitely worth spending time there.

 

[2Tiggies]

Epcot is a funny one in my opinion. I've been travelling to WDW for over 20 years and honestly, I didn't have any fondness for it for most of that time. I think the PPs comments are spot on... I really didn't "get it" for a long time. As Wayne said, it seems to be a park that really grows on you with age. I actually really enjoy Epcot now, in fact our first day when we arrive next month is planned for Epcot.

For me, there is not a great deal that appeals as far as rides are concerned and the rides that are good tend to have huge wait times (Soarin, Test Track) but I definitely think it's a full day park. Innovations is cool for the kids, character meets are also good. There is a lot to see and do there and also you have the option to skip out at the International Gateway exit and pick up the boat or have a gander down the boardwalk.

I guess my advice would be don't be surprised if you don't "love" Epcot first time around but it's definitely worth spending time there.

I was like that with Hollywood Studios.

Strangely, Epcot was an instant draw for us and for a few years it trumped MK as DD's favorite park!

It was the first park we ever went to so that was her introduction to Disney at age 6 and perhaps it helped in setting the stage for what she perceived to be a 'typical park' rather than having anything to compare it to. She loved Innoventions and thoroughly enjoyed WS and all the Kidcot stops. At the time there were Kidcot stations in Future World which are no longer there and perhaps it helped as it was Easter weekend so they had all kinds of other Easter and Flower & Garden related activities for the kids but she loved it. I do think with children especially, which park you do first seems to have a bearing on how they sort it all out in their minds.

It is one park where you can clock a LOT of mileage though. Especially if you use a touring plan in busy times and do a lot of criss crossing and backtracking but we adore Epcot

 

[Nicnic]

We are lovers of Epcot. It's now DD10's favourite park. So much so that we have pushed the boat out and are staying at the Beach Club this year.
I do love the Boardwalk area too so that's a bonus but for my DD to be able just to walk to Epcot everyday, she is over the moon.
We love the all the countries and she loves to look in them and get her stamp form the kidcot stations and shows all her friends back home.
Last time we went, she got a little souvenir from each country and still treasures them.
Can't wait to be sitting on a bench overlooking the water there in 4 weeks with a margarita!

 

[2Tiggies]

Can't wait to be sitting on a bench overlooking the water there in 4 weeks with a margarita!

Oh go on then .... rub it in, why don't you

 

[Just-Pete]

Epcot is my fave of the parks! It's not magical in an MK sense, but I think it has a magic of it's own! At first glance I realise it's selection of attractions doesn't seem amazing, but I would go for Mission Space alone, and I'm looking forward to trying TestTrack this year now that it's refurbed.

And Illuminations is just AMAZING! I prefer it to wishes. And listen to the soundtrack all the time! It's great to spend a day there, and finish off a leisurely afternoon with dinner somewhere in World Showcase followed by huddling with your group to watch the fireworks!

Plus we're there for the Food & Wine festival for the first time this trip!!!!

 

[starrysky]

We are lovers of Epcot. Can't wait to be sitting on a bench overlooking the water there in 4 weeks with a margarita!

I agree we love EPCOT and with food and wine festival on when we go it changes the feel of the park.

I love the feel of the different pavilions and manage to find new things each time. Last year it was the mini Terracotta Army in china.

Count me in on the margaritas heavenly

 

[chmurf]

I love EPCOT especially at this time of year with F&W (and also in the spring with flower&garden)

 

[Disneymad]

Another Epcot fan here, it's our favourite park!

However it is obviously going to be subjective.

To me, MK is a park of smoke and mirrors - lots of 'magic' and seeing what you (and Disney for that matter) want to see.

Epcot is a park with depth, if you whizz around then you miss a lot because on the surface it doesn't offer as much as other parks.

However if you relax a bit, soak up atmosphere then it comes into it's own in the World Showcase. To me, it's closer to going on a regular holiday - albeit artificially created - where you might spend your time strolling through a resort and generally just seeing stuff rather than actively 'doing something'.

It's less about the goal (getting to the next ride asap) and more about the journey (enjoying the general ambiance while you spot lots of cool little things all around you).

 

[pampat]

Another Epcot lover here. We always go at least twice and always on our last day - family tradition - when we have a signature late lunch/early dinner (this year at Le Cellier, our first time there) and then cry over the fireworks, knowing that we will be leaving the next day. Husband says it is just how the music washes over you, but we find it very relaxing, lots of places to just sit and people watch and lots of different foods and drinks to try.

Pam

 

[queendisney]

another huge Epcot fan here. I think its our most fav park by just a tiny bit over MK for all the reasons as stated above. This is the park we always pop into if we have any time spare. For some reason Epcot just doesn't appeal to a lot of people who have never been before. It must just be how WDW promote it. I know two lots of friends who have been to WDW several times and they have never been into Epcot because they 'just don't fancy it'?!! IMO it's well worth a visit.

 

[ninamouse]

I love Epcot and would definitely recommend it.

World Showcase is a lovely part to walk around and there are lots of great thins to see and as other's have said on this thread - there are some cool rides there.

I think it's a more laid back day than some of the other parks and you cannot miss the fireworks at the end of the day. A-MAZ-ING!

 

[Disneymad]

For some reason Epcot just doesn't appeal to a lot of people who have never been before. It must just be how WDW promote it.

Perhaps in part due to the reasons I like it that I mentioned above - on people's first (or second) visit, most are going primarily the smoke and mirrors experience more than anything else - everyone loves the magic after all

But there's only so much of that you can take before you start to want to diversify into some other things.

I think there's a bit of a Ying and Yang thing going on. At the beginning when we're on our 'once in a lifetime' trip (yeah right ) it's ALL about the Ying, baby

When it then turns into a long haul investment of years of holidays then people usually realise they need some Yang in their lives too, and for many I think that's where Epcot starts to come through more.

 

[bex7583]

we loved epcot

walking round world showcase is great , we didnt bother with the movies but just strolled round kids did the kids stamp thing they enjoyed watching the acrobats and japanese drummers , plus all the cm in the countrys seem to really enjoying chatting to the kids they were teaching them how to speak in other languages and making origami birds etc

we enjoyed some amazing cocktails

plus we had a major rain down pour and found epcot was very easy to hang about indoors , there were interactive areas after lots of the rides where the kids could have played hours and the mission space also has a little play area they loved

 

[queendisney]

Perhaps in part due to the reasons I like it that I mentioned above - on people's first (or second) visit, most are going primarily the smoke and mirrors experience more than anything else - everyone loves the magic after all

But there's only so much of that you can take before you start to want to diversify into some other things.

I think there's a bit of a Ying and Yang thing going on. At the beginning when we're on our 'once in a lifetime' trip (yeah right ) it's ALL about the Ying, baby

When it then turns into a long haul investment of years of holidays then people usually realise they need some Yang in their lives too, and for many I think that's where Epcot starts to come through more.

yes totally agree. I asked DH just now if he could only do one of the parks which one would he pick? He said Epcot. Our family who came with us a few years back now, didn't 'get it' at all. The Nephews just had no interest at all in World Show Case..I just love the place.

 

[foxxxy83]

Well, after so many people raving about it, we will definitely be doing it. I bought a Disney travel guide off Amazon a few weeks back called 'The Hidden Magic Of Disneyworld' and I'm starting to see why SO many people go back time and time again. I don't think I really "got" the whole concept apart from the obvious "it's a place to meet Mickey Mouse and has great rides". Am assuming each park is impossible to really do in a day esp given the sheer size but I'm now hoping we can do just a taster of each park and then build on that the next time we go (I've got a feeling we'll be going back year on year!) Have already priced up for next year! Lol! Thank you all SO much for all your posts!