EPCOT Questions

[DisneyFan06]

I am going to EPCOT in 7 days. We really never stayed there the whole day but this time we are looking forward to being there from opening to closing. Because the park guide map for this park is rather confusing and misleading I do have some questions that I need some help on finding the answers. Can you help? Keep in mind we will be there October 28, 2006

1. Where is the best place to watch Illuminations? We never seen this and we are looking forward to it. Also what time should we reserve this place?

2. Does the new Nemo ride have the fastpass machines or no?

3. What is Journey into Imagination and where is this located? I hear so much about it, but when I look at a park map, I can't find this ride or attraction. What is it?

4. Visa Character Greeting. Mom has Visa Disney Card and we are going to take advantage of this, hopefully. Where is this located? Is there times of operation? Would you suggest this or is it a complete waste of time?

5. What is Club Cool? Where is it located? Is only soda offered? I am not a soda drinker but my folks are so they would really be into this. More information is needed please. Are there hours of operation?

6. Turtle Talk. Three people going: 21, 41, 43. Would we get a good laugh out of it or anything? Should we skip it? Suggestions please.

7. What are the current wait times, how are the crowds?

8. Below is a brief plan of attack, can we do it?

Part at TTA (because we love riding the monorail.)
Get to EPCOT before opening.
At opening go to Soarin and get Fast Passes.
Go straight to Nemo in the Seas ride.
After that we pretty much dont know if she should continue that side of the park and world our way around future world or cut to the other side and go back to watch Honey I shrunk the Aduience later. Ideas?

Thanks. Any tips?

 

[resol37]

I can answer some of the questions:

2. The Seas w/Nemo does not have Fastpass at this time. I was there this past Monday and the lines were very long around noon. We returned in the evening around 8 pm (just before we could use our Soarin' Fastpasses) and walked right on.

3. I've only been on Journey into Your Imagination once and it was years ago, so I couldn't describe it accurately, but it's right next to Honey, I Shrunk the Audience in the Imagination Pavillion. I happen to have a current Epcot map with me (it's helping me with my in progress trip report). The Pavillion is numbered on the map, but the two individual attractions within it are not - they are listed on the side of the map as being in this pavillion, however.

7. We walked right on to Mission: Space first thing in the morning. Test Track reported a 20 minute wait (we used single rider line and were on in less than 10), long lines for Nemo and Soarin' (we used two Fastpasses for Soarin', but noticed the queue got up to 90 minutes long). Living w/the Land had about a 10 min wait. Walked right on to Honey and the Universe of Energy. Overall, it wasn't that crowded in Future World. World Showcase was a little more crowded (I assume due to the Food and Wine Festival), but still not that bad.

8. The first part def. sounds good (Soarin' and Nemo). With crowd sizes, I'd say you can pretty much do things in any order you choose with exceptions of Soarin', Nemo, TT, and M:S. If you're not worried about TT or M:S, you're plans sound fine and you should be able to do Honey, I Shrunk the Audience whenever it's convienent for you.

 

[mmeb144]

1. Where is the best place to watch Illuminations? We never seen this and we are looking forward to it. Also what time should we reserve this place?

I like to watch over by the Germany pavilion. Over the years, I've sat at different spots around the lagoon. Try to get right up next to the rail, away from trees. The bridges over the lagoon are good, too. There's a stage area by the shops at the International Gateway, you can get really close, but that's a really hard place to get a good spot at. Lots of competition.

I usually snag a spot at the 1 hour out mark, but that's just me. It depends on how many are in your party, how cold it is, if you care about being on the rail, etc.

6. Turtle Talk. Three people going: 21, 41, 43. Would we get a good laugh out of it or anything? Should we skip it? Suggestions please.

This is laugh out loud funny! Don't skip it, just stand in the back and enjoy the interaction. Crush rocks!

Marie

 

[DisneyFan06]

Thanks for the ideas. Does M:S have single rider lines? I am the only one going to be riding this (the intense version) everyone else in my party wont be riding it.

Also what about Soarin'? Does that have a single rider? My parents are worried about the height of this and might skip it.

 

[resol37]

If I remember correctly (though I may be wrong - feel free to correct me, somebody!), M:S does have single rider and Soarin' does not.

 

[zookeeper]

If it's the same attraction I'm thinking of, Journey into Your Imagination features the character Figment (a kind of purple dinosaur thing) and one of the guys from Monty Python (Eric Idol??sp?) You ride in a car as Figment explains how you can use your 5 senses to imagine all kinds of things. It's a cute attraction and exits out to the Kodak lab where kids can play with making different images and you can even email a picture to someone who isn't fortunate enough to be in WDW with you. It is located next to Honey I Shrunk the Audience.

Club Cool is a Coca Cola themed store with free samples of Coke products from around the world. It's attached to one of the Innovations buildings next to the big fountain. Sorry I can't remember exactly which building off-hand. It's a pretty small little store, but if your parents are soda drinkers they may find it interesting.

Turtle Talk is really cute and I think it's worth seeing at least once. Plus, the Living Seas building is so cool you really should see inside.

As for a plan of attack, all I can say is give yourself lots of time if you want to see all of EPCOT. In 2 trips, I've yet to make it to the World Showcase because we spent so much time in Future World. Oh well, I guess that gives me a reason to go back, right?

HAVE FUN!!

 

[Lora]

Illuminations location: I like being on the Future World side of the lagoon for Illuminations - just right or left of center inside the boat docks. We were just relaxing on our last night (Thurs 19th) and had done what we wanted to do, so we took our spot at about 7:40. That may be a bit extreme, but after a long trip, we were ready to just sit on the ground with a snack and enjoy the surroundings. It was a great spot because it's close enough to see the center (the spots on the sides - between UK and France for example are kind of far from the action). The speaker was right in the boat dock awning, so we had great sound. Specifically, we were on the right side of the wheelchair area and left of the right boat dock (as you face the lagoon). The railing goes straight to the left from the boat dock and then makes a corner and a curve out toward the lagoon. We were just to the right of the bend in the railing.

You may also want to be aware of the wind direction. Having the smoke and ashes blowing in your direction can really a real problem. On the 19th there wasn't much wind, but the smoke got carried toward maybe Germany?? Another time on this trip, the UK got the smoke and ashes and we walked through it on our way out the Int'l Gateway.

 

[english rose 47]

Can anyone tell me what time Living Seas opens I heard 10a.m. .Is this right?

 

[rlovew]

1. Watching Illuminations- I have never worried about saving a spot for Illuminations off season- as long as you can see the big ball from where you are standing you can enjoy most evrything about Illuminations. I have watching it from a number of places but I mainly look for someplace not too crowded but where the ball is visible.

2. Nemo machine does not have Fastpass. It is a quick loading ride like the Huanted Mansion but it very new- I suspect it will not have such long lines in awhile but for now it will. Keep in mind it is in soft opening and may not be open at times.

3. Journey into Imagination was described earlier- we enjoy it as a place to relax but hold your nose at the end of the smell lab.

4. Vise greeting is in Innovations West- near the firetruck and is open from 1:30-4:30 daily- DH and I go to this every time we go up- I think a short wait is worth a free photo.

5. Club Cool is on the other side of the bakery from Character Connection- it has soda stuff to buy and some interesting soda from around the world to try.

6. Turtle Talk is cool but it is not worth a really long wait- if you only have to wait for one show then I would say go but if you will be spending a long time waiting then skip it.

7. Although we were at EPCOT last weekend I wouldn't guess what you wait times might be it will depend on a lot of factors.

8. Futre World plan of attack- get FP for Soarin and ride it- then head to Living Seas and ride Nemo- don't stick around come back for the rest later- head to TT and ride if the ine is less than 20 minutes if not then head to Mission Space- those not riding can wait at the end where they can play a group video game- get a FP for Test Track as you passes should be good for Soarin now- head back across the park and take a look at Character Connection and stop in if it isn't too crowded- use your FP for Soarin and ride Living with the Land- head back to the Living Seas and look at the aquarium and maybve do Turtle Talk- head up and do Honey I shrunk and Imagination- explore Innovations and ride Spaceship Earth- if you need a long break off your feet do Universe of Energy but if it is after 2 head into the World Showcase so you have some time to explore each of the countries.

 

[mecllap]

If it's still going, the Visa photo is in Innoventions (West --I think it's the one to the right past Spaceship Earth (by the way, go on SE later in the day, it will be less crowded). There was some talk that it would continue past the end of HCOE, but it was scheduled to end with that.

There are lots of good places to watch Illuminations, even without staking out a spot very early. Of course it's awesome if you can work out getting a spot by the lagoon at the cafe by Mexico, and have some dos equis while waiting! or at Rose and Crown.

The technology and humor in Crush are wonderful, but I wouldn't wait too long for it, without a youngster along.

At Soarin' you can ask to be in the bottom row when you're lining up so you won't go up very high -- of course the top row is great -- but it's a good show -- it's very gentle and fun.

 

[mecllap]

I forgot to say that the Visa character photo place is near the firetruck in that building. You can take your time and get cute pictures -- but you can do that over at the Character Connection in the other Innoventions building also. If the VISA thing is still going, you do get one photo free -- I think you need to pick it up that day. It/they can also be put on your PhotoPass card, so you'll get the photos if you get the CD.

 

[Robo]

Can anyone tell me what time Living Seas opens I heard 10a.m. .Is this right?

"The Seas with Nemo and Friends" pavilion (the Name "Living Seas" is no longer used) opens at 9am on Non-AM EMH days.

It is very possible that this pavilion will be open at 8am on AM EMH days.

However, up to this point, TURTLE TALK does not have its first show until 10am.
I have not heard any different timing since the Clam-mobiles have opened.

 

[tiberius]

Mission: Space did have single rider lines, but I heard they took it out to make the tamer version of the ride.
I believe Soarin' has a single rider line, but they were not using it at the time I went since it was so busy.

 

[PocahontasLookALike]

We've been told by castmembers that a good place to watch Illuminations is anywhere where you can see the giant barges in the lagoon (aka - the big ball). Because it has a 'theatre in the round' setting there are a NUMBER of good places to watch. Pretty hard to get a 'bad seat' unless it's insanely crowded.

 

[Robo]

We've been told by castmembers that a good place to watch Illuminations is anywhere where you can see the giant barges in the lagoon (aka - the big ball). Because it has a 'theatre in the round' setting there are a NUMBER of good places to watch. Pretty hard to get a 'bad seat' unless it's insanely crowded.

Ditto.

(Although the term "big ball" can be confused with Spaceship Earth.
We are talking about the globe in the LAGOON. And it actually MOVES a great distance DURING the show.)

 

[Robo]

Mission: Space did have single rider lines, but I heard they took it out to make the tamer version of the ride.

I believe Soarin' has a single rider line, but they were not using it at the time I went since it was so busy.

These statements are correct.