Epcot plan help needed for 4 adults

[traveljunkie]

Hello,
I am trying to plan fp for 4 adults (2 who haven't been to Epcot before) and I need help with our plan.

• It's a non EMH day with a 9 crowd
• 2 ppl are coming from the Swan and 2 ppl from WL
• Park opens at 9:00 - we are willing to be there early, how early?
• We don't need the character meets and Mission Space will be down for refurb
• No ADR's at this point to worry about.

WHAT TIME should I shoot for FEA fp time? That's my biggest question since DH & I haven't ridden it yet ! Also, what would be the best timing for the other FP's I have listed?

Here's my thoughts so far:
TT (regular line so friends can see it all, come back later for single rider if needed)
Soarin' -- B1
Living with the Land FP
Turtle Talk
Nemo - wait until later or not necessary?
Figment - mixed on going here
Spaceship Earth FP
Gran Fiesta ride
FEA FP????
After this, we really don't have a plan other than taking our time around the World Showcase and Illuminations.

Please give me your input on how you would do it.
Thanks!!!

 

[ErinInCT]

I think you'll have to plan around the time you get the FP for FEA. I was on right at 7am to get mine for 10:30ish and already there was nothing until the afternoon. So, you can try to do the princess breakfast at 8am in Norway and be first in line at 9am. Or I'd do Soaring at Rope Drop and do the rest of your FW things except TT. Then do FW and your FP for FEA early afternoon so you can try to get your 4th FP at TT on your way out.
In other words, go straight to Soarin with no FP at 9am, then do The Land - no FP needed. Then either go to Figment (still fun to us) and Use FP for Turtle Talk (I found Nemo boring but if the line is short go ahead and do it) and Spaceship Earth. Then head back to WS and hopefully it'll be time for your FEA FP. As soon as you check your magicband for the FP go on the app to get another FP for TT.
Hope this makes sense.

 

[Marthasor]

You can only get 3 FP+, so if you want to FP+ FEA, you will need to drop one of the ones you have listed. I would drop the Turtle Talk FP+, you don't need. I would probably start the Living with the Land FP+ around 10:30. If you get off Soarin' and you need to wait for the FP+ time to open, you could always grab a drink or snack at Sunshine Seasons. If you are headed to the Seas after that, I would make Spaceship Earth for noon. I would probably aim for FEA around 2 pm to give you time to go into the Mexico pavilion and do Gran Fiesta.

 

[traveljunkie]

Thanks! oops on that extra FP+ for Turtle Talk, I just got carried away! I'm going to edit my first post. I was thinking since TT was now by itself (no Mission Space avail) and based on other posts that Soarin' doesn't back up quite as much at rope drop as in the past that I could squeeze TT in first?? Would I need to move the LwtL to 11 if I did this?

 

[DWillowBay]

What 'it all' are you hoping to see at TT? Obviously, there's no problem with doing Standby line for TT, but there not much to see in line. The cars, interactive games and such are available to everyone after the ride. Just so you know... Have fun no matter what you choose to do.

 

[caliope]

I logged on right at 7am at my
60 day mark and immediately started looking for FEA FP+ for the 4th day of my trip...and the earliest time I could get was 12:30pm. I imagine that the morning FPs went to onsite guests doing the +10 a few days ahead of me. So, as others have noted, if that's a priority for you, I'd wait to see what time you can get and then build the rest of your itinerary from there. No sense getting too stuck on a preferred time and then finding later that it's not available. The tier 2 FPs were plentiful.

 

[traveljunkie]

What 'it all' are you hoping to see at TT? Obviously, there's no problem with doing Standby line for TT, but there not much to see in line. The cars, interactive games and such are available to everyone after the ride

oh I forgot about that. I was thinking the line had some interesting stuff but you're right

 

[traveljunkie]

I logged on right at 7am at my
60 day mark and immediately started looking for FEA FP+ for the 4th day of my trip...and the earliest time I could get was 12:30pm. I imagine that the morning FPs went to onsite guests doing the +10 a few days ahead of me. So, as others have noted, if that's a priority for you, I'd wait to see what time you can get and then build the rest of your itinerary from there. No sense getting too stuck on a preferred time and then finding later that it's not available. The tier 2 FPs were plentiful.

Tomorrow my window opens up. You are right, I shouldn't even worry about times if I can't even get a FEA fp+ for my day! Hoping I will get them!!!
Thanks!!

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

I would maybe FP Nemo instead of Living with the Land. Neither really NEED a FP, but from my experience, Nemo will get a bit of a line more often than Living with the Land. I would try to get all of your FP in the middle of the day -- maybe from 12 to 3, but as PP said, that'll depend on your FEA FP.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Hello,
I am trying to plan fp for 4 adults (2 who haven't been to Epcot before) and I need help with our plan.

• It's a non EMH day with a 9 crowd
• 2 ppl are coming from the Swan and 2 ppl from WL
• Park opens at 9:00 - we are willing to be there early, how early?
• We don't need the character meets and Mission Space will be down for refurb
• No ADR's at this point to worry about.

WHAT TIME should I shoot for FEA fp time? That's my biggest question since DH & I haven't ridden it yet ! Also, what would be the best timing for the other FP's I have listed?

Here's my thoughts so far:
TT (regular line so friends can see it all, come back later for single rider if needed)
Soarin' -- B1
Living with the Land FP
Turtle Talk
Nemo - wait until later or not necessary?
Figment - mixed on going here
Spaceship Earth FP
Gran Fiesta ride
FEA FP????
After this, we really don't have a plan other than taking our time around the World Showcase and Illuminations.

Please give me your input on how you would do it.
Thanks!!!

Hello,
I am trying to plan fp for 4 adults (2 who haven't been to Epcot before) and I need help with our plan.

• It's a non EMH day with a 9 crowd
• 2 ppl are coming from the Swan and 2 ppl from WL
• Park opens at 9:00 - we are willing to be there early, how early?
• We don't need the character meets and Mission Space will be down for refurb
• No ADR's at this point to worry about.

WHAT TIME should I shoot for FEA fp time? That's my biggest question since DH & I haven't ridden it yet ! Also, what would be the best timing for the other FP's I have listed?

Here's my thoughts so far:
TT (regular line so friends can see it all, come back later for single rider if needed)
Soarin' -- B1
Living with the Land FP
Turtle Talk
Nemo - wait until later or not necessary?
Figment - mixed on going here
Spaceship Earth FP
Gran Fiesta ride
FEA FP????
After this, we really don't have a plan other than taking our time around the World Showcase and Illuminations.

Please give me your input on how you would do it.
Thanks!!!

As others have said, a lot depends on what time FEA FP you are able to get.

My first piece of advice would be to arrive no later than 8:30 to take advantage of rope drop. I'm assuming you will be entering at main entrance and your friends will be entering at International Gateway. Plan a meeting time/place in the park. Since you are wanting to do FEA, Soarin', and TT you will have to decide which one will be your tier1 FP. I would choose FEA, rope drop Soarin', and consider single rider line at TT if general standby line is long. Assuming this strategy is good for your group I would:

1. Meet your friends at Soarin' first thing and ride it.

2. Ride Living With the Land (no FP needed)

3. Next Figment if your so inclined but personally I would skip it and possibly stop there later in the day if you have time. Maybe while your waiting for Illuminations to start

4.Start heading towards Nemo and Turtle Talk and ride both. Make a FP for one or perhaps both of these if you can schedule them close together.

5. By now it should be somewhere around 11am and the line for Spaceship Earth ~might~ be reasonably short. We have found that it always seems to spike heavily at park opening. I think this is simply because it is the first attraction everyone sees upon entering the park in the morning and therefore they just jump in line for it.

6. After Spaceship Earth, hit Test Track and use single rider line if you're group is so inclined. Without single Rider, expect a long line.

7. With any luck you were able to get a FEA FP+ for sometime around now.
So it's time to start heading towards World Showcase. Mexico and Norway are right next to each other so decide which order you want to do FEA and Caballeros. Whatever the case, as soon as you scan your MB to enter FEA FP+ line jump on MDE app and reserve your 4th FP. I'm thinking since you mentioned Illuminations and if you want the reserved FP seating perhaps grab that if any are available. If not, there are many places around WS to view Illuminations so it's not really "needed".

8. It's early afternoon now and your probably getting hungry. Maybe you made a lunch reservation for somewhere in WS to enjoy a nice meal and an adult beverage or three. Or maybe if Food and Wine is still happening, instead of a sit-down meal just snack your way around WS. Either way, as lunch as the beverages are still part of the picture you'll be fine. LOL.

9. After lunch spend a few hours "walking it off" around WS at a relaxed pace enjoying yourselves and maybe a 4th and 5th adult beverage.

10.The sun will be setting at around 6:45 and you've got a few hours before Illuminations starts. Did you make a 4th FP+ for something other than Illuminations? If so, ride it (although it will most likely be a far walk from where you are right now) and maybe stop at Figmemt if you skipped it earlier in the day. After Figment, you will be very close to the reserved FP+ seating area for Illuminations. Grab another beverage and enjoy the down time with your friends while waiting for the show to begin.

ETA: #'s 5 and 6 will be the biggest time killers of the day. A lot depends on the wait times for Spaceship Earth and TT.

Having said all that, there is no right right/wrong way to tour. I'm sure someone will read my ideas and totally disagree as this would not work for them. Totally fine, OK, and good! I've seen so many different touring plans and each one of them is a beautiful thing for the person that crafted them.

Oh one more thing, if I may. You mentioned it will be your freinds' first trip. When in the park(s), avoid giving them too much information too quickly. Instead of telling them what's around the next corner, let them discover it for themselves. JMHO and worth exactly what you paid for it....not a penny more. Have fun!

 

[Nick6300]

Agree with Erin and others to plan around whatever Frozen FP you get. Frozen is the most valuable FP given Soarin can be done at rope drop, closer to entrance, and becoming less busy than in the past because of the new launch wing. Also, the downside of not having your first 3 FP's bundled tight together to get your 4th FP is reduced at EP, because there really isn't anything to spend a 4th FP on (not as many attractions or need for extra FP's).

As a resident last yr., I typically got to gate 30 min-1hr before park open to be near 1st in line. All gates get congested beginning about 30 min prior when the 1st buses arrive. They sometimes let you in 15 min early. Being early allows you to be among 1st to Soarin (make sure you know where it is beforehand). I always go to Soarin 1st (also ask to be in front row), then go Living with Land as it is right next to it (no FP needed as it is typically 5 min line or less). I then go to Test Track (TT), single rider. Often able to do single rider 2-3x with little wait in am. They also often put 2 single riders in same car just filling front and back seat of a 4 person group (6 seats). Also agree that the que for TT is not as must see as it used to be vs. the former TT version. The 1 advantage of waiting in the stand by is to create a group custom car concept... single rider line lets you pick a car but not all of the customizing features, if I remember right.

Our next ride after TT and 1st FP is typically Spaceship. Then we go to our 2nd FP which is usually Nemo (not really needed, but not many long wait choices for 3rd FP). The reason we do this backtracking from Spaceship is because Nemo is the entrance to the aquarium which can take time. Turtle Talk, because of the large waiting area, your FP goes wasted. Nemo, while often a short wait, is a good one to pick since Mission Space is down (we don't do it anyhow)... and again Nemo works as entrance into aquarium to look around and then go to Turtle Talk. I typically pick my 4th FP in any non EP park just after scanning my 3rd FP, while in line. But again, there really isn't anything left to FP at this point since Figment is often no wait and Short films: you just time for shortly before show time. From here, I go to Figment and short films and then proceed to WS. If Frozen is unavailable, I chose Soarin, still go there at rope drop (just go twice). We love Soarin, and have even gone on it 8x in a day. going through Frozen stand by to see the que should almost be done once to see it, esp. the ice house.

Have fun at EP!