Epcot strategy for AM

[the other micki]

I have worked out what I hope is a good strategy for our morning at Epcot...would like some opinions of the more experienced WDW travellers.
We will be there on a Monday in mid-May. There are no extra magic hours at Epcot that day (AM at AK and PM at MGM). I planned to get there hopefully 30 min. before park opening, then head to Soarin'. We may be doing baby swap on this as I'm not sure if my 3 year-old is tall enough to ride. Then we plan to head over to the Living Seas and after checking out the aquariums and Bruce's House, try to catch the first or second showing of Turtle Talk (this starts at 10am) before the lines get too long. After this, we'll head over to Imagination (so the earliest I guess we'll get over there is about 10:30). We'll tour around in there, and while my DH, DD 11, Dad and Stepmom watch HISTA, my boys and I will probably run over to Test Track to get FPs for later.

Well, what do you think? Will Imagination! have significant lines by the time we plan to visit? We plan on catching Spaceship Earth after our midday break.

Thanks for your input!

 

[WDWNicole]

Your plan sounds exactly like my plan for May, so I think it's a good one. This is our third trip to the World in 2 years and so I'm not worried about seeing everything, but I know that Soarin and Turtle Talk are two attractions I will not miss (and EE).

 

[Robo]

Other than HISTA, the Imagination Pavillion virtually "never" has a significant line.

You can ride "Figment's attraction" (Journey Into Your Imagination) all you'd like, and spend some time in the post area ("What If Labs").

That's not how it used to be, back when the ORIGINAL ride was operating, but the "new" version(s) are sadly lacking in, well, imagination... and ridership.

 

[Disney Fool]

TurtleTalk with Crush has become very, very popular. The lines get long. I'd go to TurtleTalk FIRST, then check out Bruce's, and the aquarium in that order. Other than that, your plan looks good. (unless TestTrak has broken down!) Oh, yes, the Flower and Garden show will be going on at Epcot during that time. Plan on spending some time checking out the character topiaries, and the butterfly garden. You'll being going to Epcot when, in my humble opinion, is the best time to see this park. It really is lovely.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I never see lines at the JIYIWF ride. Our family likes it well enough, but it doesn't seem very popular. I never saw the original, so I can't compare it .

I would definitely recommend seeing Turtle Talk early. It only gets more crowded as the day goes on. Same is true for Soarin'

HISTA is very skippable for me, so I can't comment much on that

 

[ryanally]

I'd get FP for Soarin'. When we were at Epcot in Jan and it was time for the rope to drop every single guest was making a mad dash for the Land to get in line for Soarin. I made a beeline as well, but went to the FP kiosks with all of our admission passes. The rest of my family leisurely strolled over to Imagination and I ran to catch up with them. By the time we got done Imagination and Image Works after the ride, it was 9:30 and time for our FP return at Soarin. Don't assume that the line won't be long just because its first thing in the morning. The line will be long. Heck, even the FP line takes longer than other FP lines for other attractions.
Enjoy!