Epcot Strategy

[springtime]

This is our first time going to WDW and I have been trying to read as much as I can. I feel comfortable with our strategies for most of the parks, but Epcot is giving me fits. I have a son who will be 7, and a daughter who will be 4. Of course, my daughter will want to do FEA, my son will want to do Test Track, and I want to do Soarin'...all Tier 1. We also need to hit Character Spot since we won't be going to any other Character Breakfasts. Any advice on how to tackle this?

We have an 8am ADR for Akershus. Since we will already be at Norway should we take our chances on getting to FEA after breakfast and get a FP for Soarin'? Or should we flip and rush to Soarin with a FP for FEA? For the price of breakfast, we are not skipping any princesses, so I am not sure if our time frame will be too tight to count on beating any of the crowds. Also wondering if I am wasting a FP with the unreliability of FEA. Am I right in thinking TT is moving faster with another track and isn't the best use of our very valuable Tier 1 FP?

Any suggestions will be helpful...

 

[DrummerBoy523]

Soarin has an extra theater - don't think test track has an extra track but I could be wrong.

I would hit your ADR, then ride FEA stand by and FP+Soarin or TT.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

The never-ending Epcot dilemma. Here is what I'd do...

- Do your 8AM ADR but be prepared to eat fast and bail early closer to rope drop. I know you say you don't want to do this, but it's your best option for minimizing line time for FEA. I'm a fan of using those precious rope drop minutes for something productive.

- Do standby FEA first thing.

- Do standby for Soarin, the new third theatre helps keep things somewhat manageable, especially in the morning.

- Use a FP for TT.

I really dislike long lines so that's the basis for the above.

You could slice/dice it different ways but that's my gut reaction.

 

[springtime]

Glad I asked, it looks like I mixed up the ride with the extra theater/track

 

[Tomh]

Yes, Soarin is the ride with the extra theater (and Toy Story at DHS has an extra track). I agree with the previous poster, eat fast, be out before rope drop, do FEA standby, the line should be pretty manageable, then head to Soarin. You'll have a bit of a line, but it shouldn't be ridiculous. Use FP+ for Test Track. My guess on time. . . . I'd say make that Test Track FP+ for 10:00 - 11:00, and you should be good.

 

[AngelDisney]

Ask to pay for your bill as you are seated. It may take a while for them to get the bill ready. We always pay up first for early character breakfast before park opening so we can get in line before rope drop. Pixie dust!

 

[dreiwhit]

Every time that i've been to Epcot, the CMs let folks in well before 9am. On our last trip, people were going in the park at 8:40am when we got in line for the tapstiles. Keep that in mind for RD plans.

We like Epcot, so we split Epcot into two days. We didn't have problems getting FPs for TT and Soarin' on our last trip, since we spread them out over two day.

But for a single day visit, I would recommend getting a FP for TT and getting in the standby line for FEA. Try to get out of Akershus as soon as you can. After FEA, head over to Soarin and get in the standby line.

Edit: Keep in mind that FEA breaks down regularly. A breakdown could mess up your strategy.

 

[starjazz]

The never-ending Epcot dilemma. Here is what I'd do...

- Do your 8AM ADR but be prepared to eat fast and bail early closer to rope drop. I know you say you don't want to do this, but it's your best option for minimizing line time for FEA. I'm a fan of using those precious rope drop minutes for something productive.

- Do standby FEA first thing.

- Do standby for Soarin, the new third theatre helps keep things somewhat manageable, especially in the morning.

- Use a FP for TT.

I really dislike long lines so that's the basis for the above.

You could slice/dice it different ways but that's my gut reaction.

This is how its done. There's no reinventing the wheel with these things. Now, if the princesses are more important than saving 30-60 minutes in line, by all means, hang out with the gals, then do FEA, but I wouldn't be right there in Norway in the morning, and NOT do FEA so close to RD. And as everyone is saying, TT has to be the FP since Soarin' has the expanded capacity.

 

[Shellyb84]

We go to Epcot more than one day so our plan is different, however if I had one day I would RD FEA, FP Soarin' and do single rider on TT. Soarin' is a must for us and while we like TT, it's not a huge disappointment if we happened to miss it.

The single rider line would only work for you assuming your 7 year old is ok with it and your DD doesn't want to ride. We've always gotten lucky and I have always ended up in the same car with my DD7 but she would be ok if we weren't.

If you plan on being there until close, maybe FP TT and then try to get on Soarin' close to park closing.