Epcot lunch on MK day?

[parkgoer]

Advice please folks.

On one of our MK days we are looking for a TS lunch somewhere but nothing appeals (we have BOG, Skipper Canteen & all the MK resort meals we want to do booked for other days). There is however plenty of choice for us at EP! We love TS it is such a big part of our holiday - we aren't really fans of QS.

Is it a silly idea to leave MK to go to EP for lunch and then go back to MK? If we did this, would an hour be enough time to leave MK, take the monorail to EP, get through security etc. Or do you think this wastes too much time and we should just eat a hotdog and ice cream in MK for a change?

 

[holden]

I would allow around 3 hrs total if you want to do this. Figure 1 hr to get to the restaurant at EP and 1 hr back with 1 hr to eat.

Why not eat at The Wave in the Contemporary? You'll save some time. You can walk to/from there.

 

[JZCubed]

Advice please folks.

On one of our MK days we are looking for a TS lunch somewhere but nothing appeals (we have BOG, Skipper Canteen & all the MK resort meals we want to do booked for other days). There is however plenty of choice for us at EP! We love TS it is such a big part of our holiday - we aren't really fans of QS.

Is it a silly idea to leave MK to go to EP for lunch and then go back to MK? If we did this, would an hour be enough time to leave MK, take the monorail to EP, get through security etc. Or do you think this wastes too much time and we should just eat a hotdog and ice cream in MK for a change?

The Wave would save the most time, but Monorail to/from Grand Floridian and/or Polynesian would also take far less time than Epcot.

Keep in mind about your suggested Epcot plan - not only do you have to get there, you need to pass security at a very busy part of the day....and then you have to hike to World Showcase to any of those restaurants you might like.

If it's a weekend, you might try a brunch at CA Grill.

You can also take a boat to Wilderness Lodge for some antics at Whispering Canyon.

 

[sharonabe]

Is it a silly idea to leave MK to go to EP for lunch and then go back to MK? If we did this, would an hour be enough time to leave MK, take the monorail to EP, get through security etc. Or do you think this wastes too much time and we should just eat a hotdog and ice cream in MK for a change?

I agree with PP. Eat at one of the MK resort TS places. Kona Cafe at The Poly, Grand Floridian Cafe, or The Wave. That will take much less time away from park touring and still be very relaxing.

If you're eating at anywhere other than Coral Reef at EP, not only do you have the monorail with a stop at TTC and security, you also have the long walk back to World Showcase to your country of choice and then have to do it all in reverse after lunch.

 

[Hopefully]

I think it is a huge waste of time.
You have to Ferry/Monorail to TTC, wait for an Epcot monorail, 10 -15 minute Monorail ride. Then you have to go through bag check, security, tap styles to get in to Epcot. Then a 15 or so minute walk to WS to a restaurant. Eat
Repeat to return to MK including Monorail transfers at TTC bag check, security and tap styles.
I would never bother.
Just find something much closer or do a nice QS at Columbia Harbour House.

 

[parkgoer]

Thanks for the replies - you are all right it is too much time. I will look at the menus at the places mentioned.
Really appreciate your help.

 

[jimmytammy]

I agree with other posters as well. Unless you have the time to kill, that much transportation will eat up park time. Plus, you can't 100% count on transportation. Last time we were at Epcot, the Monorail stopped working and all the folks who were up on the pad to load, had to walk back down and get other modes of transport back to TTC. We like LTT for lunch at MK, plus you can walk 10 mins from front gate to The Wave, there lunch is great! Kona Cafe and Grand Floridian Cafe are just a Monorail ride away and both good lunch choices.

 

[Jennny]

My suggestion is taking the boat to Wilderness lodge and eating at Whispering Canyon Cafe

 

[Branflakes]

We hop around all the time on our trips to WDW. But we go often enough that time to do what we want is never really an issue. If you're coming from overseas, and I make this assumption based on the fact that you refer to your time as "Holiday" , you will likely be there for more than a few days.
And as stated, you'll be doing a good many table service meals. So my advice is do what ever you want. If going to Epcot for a TS meal is what you're feeling do it. But why not just for lunch grab some caseys corner and just relax on Main Street for a bit?

There indeed many other options straight off the monorail, wave, kona, GF cafe, 1900 park fare, and a boat ride to WL for whispering canyon
No matter how you look at it, a TS lunch is going to take up way more time than a good old fashioned QS hot dog and fries or a sandwhich and chips.
If you're doing TS for more than one meal per day, you are spending a lot of time traveling to, waiting for and participating in meals.

 

[parkgoer]

If you're coming from overseas, and I make this assumption based on the fact that you refer to your time as "Holiday" , you will likely be there for more than a few days.

Haha yes well spotted I am coming from the UK. I'll be in the US for 20 days.

 

[Pumbaa_]

unless,....... you pay for the internal transportation option

you take a bus from behind the scenes and travel directly to another park, behind the scene. No security to deal with! then (and only then IMHO) would it be worth it

 

[richmo]

Haha yes well spotted I am coming from the UK. I'll be in the US for 20 days.

In that case, I see no problem taking some time to do what you originally proposed, assuming many of those 20 days are at WDW. Sometimes its good to do something that uses a lot of time. Just give yourself plenty of time to get to Epcot.

 

[Branflakes]

unless,....... you pay for the internal transportation option

you take a bus from behind the scenes and travel directly to another park, behind the scene. No security to deal with! then (and only then IMHO) would it be worth it

This. Forgot about that. Perfect option.

 

[parkgoer]

unless,....... you pay for the internal transportation option

you take a bus from behind the scenes and travel directly to another park, behind the scene. No security to deal with! then (and only then IMHO) would it be worth it

Ah yes that's a good idea.

 

[steg]

Le Cellier, Rose and Crown, Spice Road and Chef's de France could be relatively easily accessed via taking a Beach Club or Boardwalk Bus from MK and walking/boating into World Showcase from the back. You could then just walk or take back out International Gateway and hop back on a MK bus from Boardwalk or Beach Club.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Yes, it will take a lot of time, but if you want to do it, why not?! If you are planning on eating in WS, you could also take a bus to BWI or YC/BC and walk to the EP IG entrance from there. Canada, UK, France and Morocco will be the closest pavilions to IG (we love Spice Road Table!). You could also simply take the bus to YC/BC and eat at Capt. Grille (which is good!) or Beaches and Cream. That way you don't have to go all the way into EP.

We also love Trail's End at Ft. W which is a boat ride away from MK. Ft. W is really fun to visit. There is a playground and the WDW stables right next to the restaurant (if you have small children, they can ride the ponies) and a really cute gift shop.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Usually when we are there on the deluxe dining plan, we do exactly what you are suggesting. Most of the TS at MK are not of interest to us or we have them planned already and the same for the ones around there so we will monorail over to Epcot and have lunch and head back.

Depending on the time of the year, it's a nice way to cool off and relax in the middle of the day too.

And it's been 9 months since we've been, but we have not found security to be that bad mid-day.

I'd go for it rather than maybe settling for something that doesn't interest you as much.

 

[eastendlights]

Did you look at The Plaza's menu? They are great for lunch and are a TS restaurant that stopped takings ADRs for most of the day about a year ago. Even with that, their wait times have been very reasonable-even less than they were before the new policy. We waited less than 10 minutes last month on a busy day.

 

[nat8199]

I would do it as long as you can take the express bus and skip the security and lines. The food really is much better at Epcot.

 

[snoopy352]

it comes down to how much you value your time at MK. I'd consider LTT for lunch to save a precious 2 hours' of MK touring. But if you will have enough time at MK on your trip, then use the express transportation and try one of the many fine TS Epcot options.