Epcot - Please share your best tips and not to miss attractions

[Chip126]

I will be visiting Epcot with my two sons (14 & 11), my mom, my SIL, my nephew (14), and my niece (4) in December. We will be spending at least one full day there and possibly another 1/2 day.

I have done futureworld before, but I have not explored the World Showcase. Therefore, I am asking for your best tips and what attractions we should not miss! There is so much to see and do in the World Showcase and I would like to narrow it down to make the most of it!

Also, what characters have you seen in the World Showcase and where? I would love to see the characters from Mulan and Beauty and the Beast!

Many thanks!

 

[mariamouse]

World Showcase Attractions---
France:
**Impressions de France
America:
**The American Adventure Show
Mexico:
*El Rio Del Tiempo: The River of Time
(explore the pyramid's interior)
Norway:
**Maelstrom & Movie
Canada:
*O Canada!
China:
*Reflections of China
**Illuminations (show on the WS lagoon once nightly-amazing!)

I basically listed all of the attractions in the World Showcase because they are all great, although the attractions with 2 ** should definitely NOT be missed.... It sounds like you have a good amount of time to spend around the park, so you should be able to do everything. Be sure to explore each country thoroughly, as they are all wonderful! There are some great restaurants and shops...

As far as characters go, I cannot help you there too much. I recall seeing Pinocchio and friends in Italy & Beauty and the Beast in France, although this was a few years ago. I know there are plenty of entertainers around the WS, though... there are people painted white and posing as statues in France (very funny!), Italian costumed performers, a Mariachi group in Mexico, a group of singers in America, stunts people, etc... it always varies.

There is so much to see and do in the WS, it can occupy you for hours!!! Have fun!

mariamouse

 

[Eeyore1954]

I like to tour WS counter-clockwise -- since most people tend to head toward Mexico when WS opens. You can visit Canada and England, maybe France before the crowds hit.

Snacking around the world -- sometimes it's fun to just snack throughout the day and WS makes that easy to do. Sample things from different countries. My DW and I love stopping at the bakery in Norway. She loves the Red Bean ice cream in China. We always stop for a Kaki Gori near Japan (yes, it's just flavored crushed ice, but it's very refreshing.) Save room to sample the bakery in France -- ohh la la!!

Use the Friendship boats to cross back and forth, especially when the crowds start gathering mid-day and mid-afternoon. This will save your feet, too.

Don't miss the ride in Norway... it's loads of fun.

 

[Kallison]

Two things our family love are the Beatles and Monty Python -- so we usually try to time lunch with grabbing some fish and chips at the UK stand and eating while we watch the British Invasion. After BI the World Showcase Players come out and do their Python-like skit. If you look in the back of the toy store you might find Pooh characters with little or no lines. We also love seeing the Living Statues in Italy and Off-Kilter in Canada. Snacks we love are Rice-Cream and the sweet pretzels in Norway, Kaki-Gori in Japan (my son almost had a meltdown on our last day because he thought the stand was closed), crepes in France. Look for Belle around FRance, I've seen BEast there a few times.

 

[Chip126]

Friendship boats?? What and where are these?? I have never heard of these!

Thanks!

 

[helenm29]

We've been to Epcott several times and the show cases are great! I like different countries for different things....China has a wonderful acrobatic team that does shows in front of the pavillion, so does Morocco and Italy. There are small troups of actors in front of many of the pavillions that get the audience involved with their skits and it is really great fun..for all ages!
Don't forget to try some of the foods! Germany is a personal favorite because it's where I was raised. England, China, Japan, Mexico all have really good food. Norway is a bit different..really bland food but the desert is to die for! try all you can and HAVE FUN! Helen

 

[ead79]

My World Showcase favorites are as follows:

The American Adventure--it's a wonderful audio-animatronic stage show (bring a tissue--it makes me tear up every time)

Maelstrom--boat ride in Norway (might be a little intense for the 4 year old though)

El Rio del Tiempo--slow boat ride in Mexico that is relaxing

Illuminations--nightly fireworks/laser extravaganza

As far as meals go, lunch at Le Cellier (in Canada) is delicious! The cheddar cheese soup is a must!

 

[Eljay]

Originally posted by Chip126
Friendship boats?? What and where are these?? I have never heard of these!

Thanks!

The Friendships cross the WS Lagoon to save your feet. They go from either side of the entrance to WS, one across to Morocco, the other across to Germany. I personally never use them, although they are nice, I'm afraid I'll miss something along the walkway!

 

[jdads2]

You might want to try to get a PS for the Storybook Princess Breakfast in Norway. Your boys are justthe right ages to appreciate the finer assets of the princesses so I doubt if they will put up much of a battle. It goes without saying that your neice would enjoy it. You also get a chance to walk around the WS before it opens to the general public. That makes for some great unobstructed pictures around the lagoon.

I really was impressed with Voices of Liberty and American Vibe. Their singing is second to none.

Also try to see the Candlelight Processional. I haven't seen it yet but we'll be there on the 4th of Dec and probably 3 or 4 times more during the foloowing 11 days.

 

[whozit]

As far as character sightings in the WS, check your park map for the icon (Mickey's pointing finger) of locations to find characters, then check your "Times Guide" for the time frame that you will find them there. At those locations shown on the map, here is who we saw in last August:

France (near the perfume shop): Belle and the Beast, Clippen(?) from Hunchback (we did not see Quasimodo, but the CMs said he was there the day before and was scheduled to be there the day after).

United Kingdom (toy store): Mary Poppins and Pooh characters

Morocco: Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie

In addition to the attractions, check out the street performers that some posters. Very entertaining and the kids will enjoy them. Check your TImes guide for the times of the these performances. Here are some that we enjoyed:

China: acrobats

Italy: Imaginarium (this is a living statue), the statue comes out and poses. Family groups are invited to come up one at a time for pictures with the statue....the statue also interacts with some of the guests. Lots of fun.

Italy: Masquerade. This is a sedate performance, there are a number of performers in royal looking costumes, show lasts about 10 minutes.

France: A Chair act. This is fun......a performer shows up pushing a cart that has a table and chairs, he sets up, and then the show begins.....this is a balancing act, a performer balanced on top of a chair...then another chair is added....then another. Eventually, this artist is balancing on a stack of chairs that is about 15 feet or more off the ground.

Japan: Miyuki, a candy artist. She starts with a glob of taffy-looking stuff on a stick and fashions it into a lollipop in the shape of an animal. She makes a wide variety of animals and birds.... and the detail is unbelievable.....especially on the birds.....the feathers are all fanned out....very impressive....the alligator was also very neat. These are not for sale, Miyuki will select a number of children (one at a time) and ask them what they would like her to make.....after it is completed, that child is presented with the lollypop. She appears for about 10-15 minutes at a time, and makes about 4 lollipops per session.

Japan also had a group of drumming performers, but we missed those performances.

America: There is a performance by a Fife and Drum Corps

Lots to check out.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

there's also Off Kilter in Canada and the fish & chips stand in UK.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

The fountains by the Imagination Pavillion are incredible. Kids love them.

Send an email postcard home from the innoventions plaza.

Ride Spaceship earth more than once, you will notice things in the scenes you may have missed before.

Try soda from around the world at the cool off station.

The Chinese acrobats are incredible. I always stop to watch them.

Climb the viking ship in Norway (is this still there?)

Aladdin & Jasmine can often be found in the back of the stores in Morroco with little line. Also, I used to see the Hunchback characters (Quasimodo, Phoebus, Esmeralda and Clopin) and Belle a lot in France.

Learn how to say a basic phrase in the language of each country. The CM's are more than happy to talk about their homelands and it's a great way for kids to learn about other cultures, languages and people.

I've never had the chance to see Impressions but in the theater waiting area in France, there are a number of gargoyles (Young boys like gargoyles) and pictures that tell the story of the architecture of France.

Snack. Snack. Snack. France, IMHO, has the best snacks. Try a pastry at the bakery. In the United Kingdom, try some of the yummy British candy bars!

The Rio de Tiempo in Mexico is a relaxing boat ride. It's not a technologically advanced ride by any means, but it's very peaceful and slow and a good way to cool off on a hot day.

Look around the shops and try to take in the atmosphere of each country. I feel that Mexico and Morocco are the best for this. I get lost there browsing through the shops. It really feels like you are in another place.

 

[TimeWarp]

I agree with all the great attractions listed, I just wanted to add a souvenir idea. My 2DSs have their small flags, purchased in the country's gift shop, displayed in their rooms. The cost was minimal $1.50-$3.00. Boys tend to be hard to please when it comes to momentos so I just thought I would share.

 

[meeko_33785]

There arn't too many attractions in World Showcase, so I would sugest at least trying to see them all. The Maelsrom boat ride in Norway, the American Adventure show, and the Impressions de France film in France are IMO the best attractions World Showcase has to offer, so if you don't see any of the others, be sure to do these. I also like El Rio Del Tiempo boat ride in Mexico. Very peaceful and pleasant. The movies in China and Canada are pretty good too.

Be sure to explore all the countries and watch all of the entertainment they have throughout the afternoon and evening. i assure you that you're sure to find something you like. There are rock groups in Canada, UK, and Morocco, Acrobats in China, A couple of outstanding singing groups at America, Mariachi band in Mexico, a Venitian masquarade in Italy, and lots more. http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/ has a full listing of all the entertainment they have there, so you might want to check it out and see what interets you.

As for characters, Belle and the Beast are often found in France in a shop to the right of the Impressions de France theater entrance. Mulan is usually supose to be in China, but she seems to change locations often and could be at Innoventions or the International Gateway insteed. Be sure to ask one of the CMs who escort the characters in the park (I believe they wear yellow shirts with Mickey gloves on them at EPCOT) where she will be appearing that day.

 

[awatt]

Character bus stops in Japan at 12:20 daily.Everyone is still in Futureworld at this point. Noone was there in Japan and my daughter got to see a dozen or so characters with no lines,and to her it was all a big spontaneous surprise. Pure magic!

 

[beatnik]

We are just back and would suggest that you approach World Showcase by trying to see as much of the "street" entertainment as possible. There is a person in Japan who makes these really amazing animal shaped lollipops out of taffy-- check your entertaiment schedule (although she does not perform every day). She was really remarkable and gives the lollipops to the audience member who requests the specific animal. She makes 5-6 animals per "set" and people seem to hang out around her kiosk before she starts in order to get their requests in-- so show up early. The World Showcase players in England are also great and very funny. The British Invasion (Beatles cover band) is excellent and they perfom different songs with each set they do all day. On some days, there is a band in Canada called "Off Kilter." Rock and roll with bagpipes-- even amusing to my husband, who hates bagpipes (the best part was the aborted "Purple Haze" cover). There is an excellent acrobat show in China, great drummers in Japan, a living statue in Italy (with excellent photo ops), and Fife and Drum show in USA, and so on.

I would recommend changing your mindset a bit for World Showcase. Big attractions with big waits are uncommon. So instead of "powering" through this part of the park, trying to get from point A to point B to beat the crowds, just take your time. Sit and watch some shows. Shop a bit. Sample a snack here and there. Have fun!

Beatnik

 

[Mike Jones]

..It's all been said above! If you can spare the time, make a plan for at least one visit, incorporating character greetings, performers and static attractions, and then a day (at least!) to just cruise the WS without a plan, stopping when something happens (it always does, in my experience!) and making best use of the food/beverage opportunities. Mike