Epcot must-do with young kids?

[redwingsmickey]

We're making our second trip to WDW this November, and will be visiting Epcot for the first time. (On our previous 4 day trip, we skipped Epcot due to advice from friends that our young kids would enjoy a 2nd day in MK rather than Epcot.)

I heard that Epcot has "less magic" than the other parks and was more educational. Does anyone have any advice on attractions the kids would enjoy? DS 7, DD 3.

 

[Prince Eric1]

We figured on a short day there last trip and it took us most of the day. Your son will love test track, and your daughter would love the princess storybook breakfast in the morning. It has a lot of little things to do inside with things like the imagination ride (if i got it right) with the dragon, spaceship earth, and there are characters in many of the countries. The garden grill is a nice place to eat with the kids. I think as long as you have the hoppers you should try it out, I think you'll be surprised. My kids were 7 and 5 last trip and really enjoyed it. One ride i might skip though was Body Wars, a motion simulator that takes you inside of a body to rescue Elizabeth Shue (although a very noble cause in my opinion), as we all came out of that feeling a little woozy.

 

[MJwritestuff]

It's funny, everyone also advised us against taking our kids to Epcot. We went last September with DD6, and B/G twins 7, and it was our highlight.

We actually went back for a second day because it was fascinating watching our kids get into each country! Relaxing in Italy with a drink with my husband as my kids made masks in the KidCot stations was my personal favorite for the entire trip. They talked to all the shopkeepers who are from the country they work in, and that's what they individually decided to write in their journals about for school when they returned. Also, Biergarten was really cool - my girls got up on stage and danced with the guys and the food was incredible!

Don't miss Illuminations - the only time I ever saw my husband tear up in fifteen years. Unbelievable.

The beginning part is great for rides (Test Track for your older one is wonderful fun!) and also Ellen's Energy Adventure.

I think people who don't really "do" the entire place miss out on this, and we found that all the families we know who gave Epcot a try found they loved it as much as we did.

Have a blast! We'll be going back in November and can't wait!

Melissa

 

[Baloo]

WELCOME to the DIS redwingsmickey

You need to head on over to the Disney with Family Boards here at the DIS.There's lots of folks over there(me included! ) to give you great advice on traveling with little ones.Here's a link: http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=23

ENJOY!

 

[cinmell]

We weren't sure if our 2 year old would like Epcot but she loved it! She liked the Mexico and even Maelstrom boat rides, the kid cot stations, the water fountains, Journey into Imagination, Ice Cream Social, Illuminations, Spaceship Earth, Living Seas, Wonders of Life, walking around Innoventions and even Universe of Energy. She also enjoyed walking thru the World Showcase.

 

[CamColt]

Epcot is my kids 2nd favorite park! They are 3 1/2 & 6 1/2 and have been going once a year since 2000. I often hear Epcot isnt for young kids but mine find so much there that they enjoy. No there arent many rides but there is a ton of hands on exploring. We basically rushed through a lot of stuff and we stayed from 9:00am to 5:00pm. We could have used another day there.
If you are interested, my trip report is on the TR Board...Epcot was day 3.

 

[slp87]

There is also a lot of great entertainment in the various countries. We especially love watching the "candy girl" in Japan. Here's a link to a site that lists the entertainment schedule.

http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/

 

[funhouse8]

We were also told on our first trip not to take the kids to epcot because it was too educational. I am so sorry I listened. Well the next trip we took them and wound up going back for a second day. They loved it. Anyone who says the kids don't enjoy it must just run through. Please go, take your time, get them passports (They will write hello at every country) and eat everything! We usually get a dessert to share in every land. You'll be surpised just how much there is for them to do. And I agree don't miss Ellen's Energy Adventure. Your seven year old will love this. It also has Bill Ni the science guy in it. My family loves body wars also ( but we don't get motion sickness.)
Illuminations is not to be missed. Enough said, I can't wait to go back. Enjoy

 

[jenjenmouse]

I didn't read through all the replies but wanted to put in my 2 cents. When we went to WDW in 2001 my dd was 4 and we only planned a 1/2 day at Epcot. It was her absolute favorite day of our 5 day visit. So, in 2002, when she was 5 we spent a day and a 1/2 there. Again, she loved it but liked AK that year too. And in July of this year we went several days to Epcot and she enjoyed even more of the park. She loved MGM more than in previous years.
The must do's are, Food Rocks, the Garden Grill icescream social, if you have a package choose the story telling experience in Innovations West. Do Journey through the Imagination, Spaceship Earth and visit each country and make the masks. Visit with the characters various locations and try the Living Seas.

I know there is more but now we just like to wander through a do whatever we see. I bet some of the other posters were helpful too.

 

[cinder1]

Our 3rd trip in 2 yrs is in Oct. My kids: DD8, DD6, DS 3.5. We've gone to Epcot every time and will this time too. We usually do 1 to 2 days there. My kids love Epcot, especially Test Track.

Must dos:
Body wars (me, DD8)
El Rio del Tiempo (whole fam loves)
Ice Station Cool (whole fam loves)
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (DH & DD8)
Living with the Land (whole fam)
the Living Seas (whole fam)
Maelstrom (everyone but DS3.5 loves this, but he may like it now)
Spaceship Earth (whole fam)
Test Track (me, DH, both DDs)
DH and DD8 can't wait to try Mission Space
All the kid cot stops in WS and all the entertainers (belly dancer, Chinese acrobats, living statue, etc), the fountains are fun too.

Last March, there were some high school choirs performing while we were there. DH and DD8 went off to do some stuff that DD6 didn't care for. DS slept in his stroller while DD6 and I enjoyed the performances. DD6 LOVED this and looked the rest of the trip for any other performances like it. We rested, had a drink and had some alone time (since DS was asleep we felt alone. DH and DD8 had their alone time too.)

We love Epcot and can't wait to go back.

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

Ice Station Cool and make sure you get a big drink of Beverly!

 

[Donnainnj]

My kids have been going since they were babies, and love it. Don't miss Cranium Command or Illuminations.

 

[ToTLaugher]

We went 2 years ago with DDs 7 and 4 (at the time). For attractions, they loved test track and body wars (they are big thril ride kids). The loved some of the entertainment in WS - Chinese Acrobats and Living Statues were HUGE hits. And they LOVED trying all the sodas at Ice Station Cool.

 

[dijid]

We also were worried our kids (DD 3 1/2 and DS 1 1/2 at the time) would be bored at Epcot but they LOVED it. We found a perfect day to be MK in the am and then Epcot after nap. My kids are a bit weird in that they rode Spaceship Earth 6 times over the course of the week. They loved exploring in the Future World pavillions.

Biggest hits though were the fountains, the Coke Cool Station, the Kidcot Masks (They've got them hanging in their rooms and still talk about it), El Rio de Tiempo, exploring the gardens and pavillions in the World Showcase and the Chinese acrobats. They also loved Moroccan food, but like I said my kids are a bit weird...

 

[jksmom]

We just returned and our children are ds(7) and dd(3). My ds and dh rode test track and loved it. The kids really enjoyed innoventions. There was alot of hands on things for the kids to do. They liked all the areas in The Land and of course Figment.We visited the living seas also. The second half of the day my dd and I visited the World Showcase(ds and dh went to Disney Quest). She had fun making the masks(and one for her brother). We watched a masquerade show and the living statue in Italy. Again she loved it. There was so much we didn't get a chance to see, we could have spent another day here. I don't think my ds would have liked the World showcase as much as dd did.

 

[Kapp]

I recommend that you get the Epcot Passport and have your 7 year old take it to the different countries to be stamped and signed. My 7 year old LOVED doing this and we really met some very nice CM from the different countries.