Epcot in Early December - How Much Time Needed to Do Everything?

[DisneyFamily123]

How many hours or days do you think is needed to do nearly everything in Epcot (1st week of December) including all the holiday stuff? Our current plan, subtracting out time at restaurants, is about 7 to 9 hours in Future World and 13 hours in World Showcase. Enough? Too Much?

We will do just about everything, meet as many characters as possible in World Showcase (WS), see all the holiday storytellers, meet Santa, candlelight processional once or twice. Listen to music and entertainers in the countries, and some of the special things like the Germany shops, and the Mexico and Norway boat rides. I hear there is holiday music at showcase plaza too. Soarin and Test Track a few times each, Nemo stuff probably more than once. The only things we will skip are mission space and sum of all thrills, probably skip Ellen's energy adventure, and maybe skip 1 or more of the WS movies.

Here's our plan. We are lucky enough to be in WDW for 9 nights / 10 days.

Arrival Day - MK during the afternoon (closes 7pm for MVMCP), Flying Fish Cafe 5:50pm, then Epcot Future World for an hour or skip and go to HS Osbourne Lights, then back to resort.

Day 3: 11am-3pm
Epcot at 11am or as soon as we can, can't get there earlier, will be up late at MK the night before. Coral Reef 11:30am. Future World (FW) only. Nemo area stuff, test track or soarin if we get fast pass (FP), character spot. Then off to visit the Grand FL resort, dinner, and MVMCP.

Day 5: 8am-8pm
Extra magic hours at 8am and stay all day. But, if we go to MK's evening EMH the night before (not likely), we may arrive later. Start off in FW, get some FPs, Cape May Cafe at 9:20am (or might cancel), more FW, then WS. Chefs de France 1:00, WS, CP at 5pm (no package, will watch the line forming and get in line when needed), Le Cellier 6:15pm, some more WS and leave by 8pm (need rest to get up early next day).

Day 8: 12noon-11pm
Cannot get to Epcot earlier... will be up late at MVMCP night before. Almost all WS, Biergarten 12:45, Garden Grill 6:40. Possibly CP a 2nd time at 5pm if line not too bad. Epcot has evening EMH, but we will probably only stay until 10 or 11 (the latest). Will see illuminations this night.

Day 9: 12noon-4:30pm (Optional)
More time in WS if needed. San Angel Inn 12:50pm. Then off to MK for the evening.

 

[Missytara]

Honestly, I do the front part of Epcot the day I get there and get it out of the way. I am in the parks by 11:30 am or so.

Other than Soarin', I don't mind if I don't get back to that part again.

But I do like to spend an entire day in the World Showcase.

 

[Nadjalu]

Personally I think you need 2 days in Epcot to do it well.
We always do just 1 day and have never gotten all the way thru WS. LOL

This time around it is our intent to do so.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

It seems like there is a lot more to do at Epcot in December with all the holiday and Christmas stuff. And even though this is my 3rd trip, there is much we never did -- innoventions, the Mexico and Norway boat rides, and just spending a little more time looking at stuff in the countries. And we didn't really do much of anything in WS last trip.

I know dining in restaurants takes up time too, but we want to do table service and try new restaurants.

And we don't want to do our trip commando, hurry style. It will be DH (me), DW, and DS5 -- first time with no stroller. We didn't use it much last year anyway. So, a slower pace is in order -- especially since Epcot has so much walking. I can still carry DS for a bit if needed. God help my back! I'd rather slow the pace.

And I do NOT have the CP package. I figure I'll start checking out the line around 3pm for the 5pm show, get in line when it starts to form, and take turns with DW standing in line while the other does stuff in WS with DS.

 

[skier_pete]

We took about 2.5 days back last December. We did manage to see most of World Showcase, but we skipped some things in Future World. (Though we didn't do EVERYTHING - we skipped the Canada and China movies for instance, and also Maelstrom. However, we did spend time in each country.)

 

[dqpowell]

The problem with these kinds of questions is that nobody -- the asker or answerers -- ever clearly defines what they mean by "everything."

If you truly considered everything happening at Epcot, then listed the durations of each thing, it would take well more than two full 12 hour park days to do it all, and that's ignoring wait time in lines and time to move from one thing to the next. Such a list would look something like this:

Soarin': 10 minutes
Test Track: 5.5 minutes
Ellen's Energy Adventure: 45 minutes
Watch the British Invasion: 28 minutes
Sample sodas from around the world at Club Cool: 4 minutes
Kim Possible Mission to Japan: XX minutes
Kim Possible Mission to Germany: XX minutes
Meet & Greet Princess Characters in Norway Pavilion: XX minutes
Watch O Canada movie in Canada Pavilion: XX minutes
...

Now consider that it also takes time to walk between attractions, and it takes time to wait in lines, and it takes time to eat and take bathroom breaks, etc.

You can't do everything in Epcot in less than four or five full park days - that's a WAG (wild-a$$-guess).

David

 

[ccgirl]

I am going the same week as you and spending 2 full days at Epcot and I know there is no way we can do everything. Especially with table service restaurants. Cape May Cafe is actually not in Epcot....not sure if you knew that. So, you have to leave some walking time. Plus, with ADR's you spend time sitting and waiting for a table. Be careful with holding places in line for the CP. There are only so many seats so your party may get split up. Plus, you may get some angry people behind you. By everything, do you mean every country? What rides in particular? Do you plan to use fast passes? Are you doing the kid cot stops?

 

[DisneyFamily123]

The problem with these kinds of questions is that nobody -- the asker or answerers -- ever clearly defines what they mean by "everything."....You can't do everything in Epcot in less than four or five full park days - that's a WAG (wild-a$$-guess).David

You have a point there... I tried to add up the time for each ride/attraction, plus wait time, and some walking time. I guess a good approach would be to do the MOST important things first, then the others if time.

By everything, here's what I mean...

Epcot

• Illuminations/Fireworks (one time)
• Candlelight Processional (One night, maybe two)

• Soarin (6 min) FP (twice)
• Test Track FP (two or three times)
• Living with the Land Boat Ride – greenhouses and fish farm (14 min)
• Jouney Into Imagination with Figment
• Image Works (30 min) – if open.
• Michael Jackson’s Captain EO
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends (4 min plus exhibits) (twice)
• Turtle Talk with Crush (17 min) (once or twice)
• Innoventions (60+ min)
• Club Cool – sample sodas from around the world (by innoventions)
• Disney Visa Character Greeting at Innovations West 1:30-4:30, Free 5x7, Usually 2 or 3 Surprise Characters (couple times)
• Epcot Character Spot
• Jammitors
• Spaceship Earth (16 min)
• Ellen’s Energy Adventure (35-45 min) – Skip unless extra time.

• Get passport kit and collect stamps from all the countries. Kidcot Fun Stops.
• Santa Claus - America
• Holiday Storytellers: Mexico – 3 Kings, Norway – Julenissen the Christmas Gnome, China – Monkey King, Germany - Christmas history and musical carols, Italy – LaBefana Christmas witch, America – Santa, Hanukah, Kwanzaa story tellers, Japan – Daruma vendor, Morocco – Taarji drummer, France – Pere Noel, United Kingdom – Father Christmas, Canada - Canadian Santa Claus (repeated various times Vary 12-8, about 15 min each).
• Showcase Plaza – holiday music and singing, special viewing for illuminations.
• Mexico – Gran Fiesta Boat Tour (7 min) Mariachi Cobre Band, exhibits inside pyramid. Margarita Stand.
• Norway – Malestrom Boat Ride (14 min) Movie after ride – can skip if want.
• China – Movie: Reflections of China, Dragon legend acrobats (3-7pm), Si Xian harp music, mulberry tree, rose gardens.
• Germany – Music (1-7pm), Clock chimes on the hour, Der Teddy Bar toy shop – mechanized displays, Die Weihnachis Ecke Shop – Christmas decorations, carvings, smokers; model railroad, wine.
• Italy – Clowns, Acting Troupe, Music.
• America – Fife and Drum Corps (12-5), Voices of Liberty (12:30-5), American adventure show (26 min), National Treasures – American artifacts.
• Japan – Koi fish ponds, Japanese drumming.
• Morocco – Mo Rockin’ music and belly dancing (3-8pm)
• France – Movie: Impressions du France (18 min), Server amusant balancing act, wine shop.
• United Kingdom – Toy soldier toy shop, British invasion band (3-8pm), hat lady – piano music.
• Canada – Movie: O’Canada (14 min), bagpipes?, Kilter rock band.

 

[kathymc]

Another thing to remember is that the shows do not specifically go in order of the countries, meaning you may have to backtrack to see certain shows that only go on at certain times. If we have hoppers we generally plan on two full days and then 2 or 2 nights

If we dont have hoppers than 2 days get us most of what we want

 

[ccgirl]

Very unlikely you will be able to fit it all in during just 2 days. My best advice would be to rank them in order and do what is most important to you first. That way, everything else is just icing on the cake. Even with FP's you still need to wait in line.

Have a great time! I know we can't wait to go to the countries in Epcot to see all of the Christmas stuff.

With the Visa Meet&Greet you can get one free picture per day per card. I keep telling myslef we are going to do this and have yet to make it. We always seem to be nowhere near there during the time needed. It is on the list again this year so, hopefully, we will make it.

 

[dreaminboutdisney]

Does anyone know the times the storytellers are in Epcot World Showcase? Visting end of Nov/beg Dec.

 

[mrsltg]

Does anyone know the times the storytellers are in Epcot World Showcase? Visting end of Nov/beg Dec.

They are scattered throughout the day beginning in the afternoon. They don't begin until after Thanksgiving so, for now, there is no set time (that I have seen!). It would generally be difficult to see all of them in one day given the the fact that they do not start in a one-by-one-by-one fashion around the WS. We usually break them up into two days.

 

[TisBit]

Honestly, one of the biggest problems that I see, is that you aren't really even spending "full" days at Epcot and are doing half days. To do soarin or test track, even with fast passes, usually the passes at 11 am is starting a return time of mid to late afternoon (slow times) to late evening (busy times)....so your first day that you are doing MVMCP, you probably won't have time even for fast passes. WS takes a lot of time to go through, without shows or passports, so that will be quite time consuming.

Other than Soarin and Test Track, FW is relatively easy to do....but those two rides will sink you with very long standby times. You said early Dec, not sure what you mean by "early", the first two weeks have historically been relatively slow, but they have been picking up in recent years.

The best way to do Test Track and Soarin is to get to the park early (like rope drop) and knocking them out. I wouldn't discount the time these two attractions take and if you can get one early start, you will probably go a long way to accomplishing your goals.

 

[DJNOWICK]

Depends on how many in your party and how old they are and how fast they can move.

I can do everything you mentioned in 2 days in early December (crowds are typically light, especially mid-week) but it's more "Check, we did that, move on" rather than savor and enjoy things -- a little too commando for my taste. Also, to do Soarin 2x with FP you MUST get to Epcot at or near rope drop. Even on light days, an hour into park opening the wait can be 60 minutes and in 2-3 hours FPs may be sold out.

13 hours in WS with kids can be more challenging because for some kids there is just less to hold their interest over a long day (even if you do 2 6-hour days).

 

[mollybeasley]

How many hours or days do you think is needed to do nearly everything in Epcot (1st week of December) including all the holiday stuff? Our current plan, subtracting out time at restaurants, is about 7 to 9 hours in Future World and 13 hours in World Showcase. Enough? Too Much?

We will do just about everything, meet as many characters as possible in World Showcase (WS), see all the holiday storytellers, meet Santa, candlelight processional once or twice. Listen to music and entertainers in the countries, and some of the special things like the Germany shops, and the Mexico and Norway boat rides. I hear there is holiday music at showcase plaza too. Soarin and Test Track a few times each, Nemo stuff probably more than once. The only things we will skip are mission space and sum of all thrills, probably skip Ellen's energy adventure, and maybe skip 1 or more of the WS movies.

Here's our plan. We are lucky enough to be in WDW for 9 nights / 10 days.

Arrival Day - MK during the afternoon (closes 7pm for MVMCP), Flying Fish Cafe 5:50pm, then Epcot Future World for an hour or skip and go to HS Osbourne Lights, then back to resort.

Day 3: 11am-3pm
Epcot at 11am or as soon as we can, can't get there earlier, will be up late at MK the night before. Coral Reef 11:30am. Future World (FW) only. Nemo area stuff, test track or soarin if we get fast pass (FP), character spot. Then off to visit the Grand FL resort, dinner, and MVMCP.

Day 5: 8am-8pm
Extra magic hours at 8am and stay all day. But, if we go to MK's evening EMH the night before (not likely), we may arrive later. Start off in FW, get some FPs, Cape May Cafe at 9:20am (or might cancel), more FW, then WS. Chefs de France 1:00, WS, CP at 5pm (no package, will watch the line forming and get in line when needed), Le Cellier 6:15pm, some more WS and leave by 8pm (need rest to get up early next day).

Day 8: 12noon-11pm
Cannot get to Epcot earlier... will be up late at MVMCP night before. Almost all WS, Biergarten 12:45, Garden Grill 6:40. Possibly CP a 2nd time at 5pm if line not too bad. Epcot has evening EMH, but we will probably only stay until 10 or 11 (the latest). Will see illuminations this night.

Day 9: 12noon-4:30pm (Optional)
More time in WS if needed. San Angel Inn 12:50pm. Then off to MK for the evening.

1. I think you've scheduled enough time (technically) to see almost everything, BUT I can't tell if you've chosen the RIGHT times to avoid lines.

2. You have 2 - 3 TS dinners a day some days. That will eat up a big chunk of time (and money). (It would also make me sluggish.) I'm assuming you have ADRs for them all?

3. You may need more breaks than you've allowed yourself. A LOT more breaks if you're bringing kids. (Everything will take longer if you're bringing kids.)

4. Arrival Day = It's probably not realistic to go to Epcot for an hour after dinner. You'll be too tired, and transportation or parking will eat up some time.

5. Day 5. This is important. GET THERE BEFORE EARLY OPENING OR DON"T GO TODAY. If you can't get there before the Early opening, go someplace else on this day. EMH days are always more crowded ALL DAY. The early morning may be your only real chance to do Soarin and Test Track without long lines. I would cancel your first ADR.

6. Day 5. If you have kids, plan to get to Santa long before he's scheduled to be there. I'm guessing there will be a long line.

7. Day 8. You've picked another really busy day for Epcot with the late EMH. This Illuminations will be the most crowded of the week. The end of the late hours might be your best chance for TT and Soarin if you haven't already done them. If you're not staying really late, consider going elsewhere, or just enjoy your meals and expect crowds in between.

You have plenty of time to do a lot, you might just need to shuffle some things around.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Thank you everyone again for the additional tips.... 2 weeks to go and I'm still modifying my plan a little bit....