EPCOT touring plans...what would you do?

[aggiegirl1234]

Hello! I haven't been to EPCOT since Frozen and the new Soarin' opened and really want to see them both (as well as Test Track if there's not a long wait). We'll be there one day only, on a Thursday around the end of January so I know crowds should be manageable. We're also staying at a hotel where we'll be able to walk to the back entrance. Lastly, we'll have an extra magic morning hour to work with.

My current gameplan is to arrive at the back entrance to EPCOT right before the gates open for extra magic hours (or earlier? I'm guessing they won't open earlier than 8), and book it to Frozen. I think we would have an edge since most people probably arrive at the front of EPCOT and have a longer way to walk? Next we'd go to Test Track and hopefully there wouldn't be too much of a wait if we're still within extra magic hours. And then I'd use my tier one fastpass+ for Soarin'.

So what do y'all think? I'm basically trying to minimize any waiting for these three attractions. Is this the best way to go about it?

 

[glassslippergirl]

I think your plan for Frozen is a solid one. We RD'ed Frozon this summer coming from the front of the park, and the wait was less than 15 mins. Everything I've heard says that wait times are minimal in Soarin since they put in the third theater, so TT may be a better choice for FP. On the other hand, TT has the single riders line which can minimize wait times.

 

[lawboysam]

Depending on if you have kids and their ages, don't forget Test Track also offers Single Rider!

 

[5kidsmommy]

I always like the single rider line on TT, mostly because I don't like wasting time designing a car. I'm boring. But yeah your plan sounds like a good one.

 

[kbmartin]

I was there a few weeks ago on a day with an extra magic morning hour (it opened at 8). My DH and I got a FastPass for Frozen, and just a bit after rope drop (probably walked into the park at 8:15) went straight to Soarin'. We were able to ride twice with very minimal waits. We personally don't care for Test Track, but I'm guessing it would work well if you arrived at Rope Drop for that one.

I think if your goal is to efficiently do all three, consider that two of them are close together in Future World. You could easily go to both of those (TT and Soarin') upon Rope Drop and then set your Frozen Fastpass for when you estimate going to World Showcase. Just my two cents.

 

[aggiegirl1234]

Thanks y'all! Based on your information, I think my tentative plan now is to go to Frozen first, Soarin' next, and FP+ Test Track. Hopefully that works! And maybe if I'm lucky, I'll get to do Soarin' more than once. It's my favorite

 

[Naterfan]

Regarding Test Track, do you have to design a car, or can this be skipped? (sorry for the hijacking)

 

[Klayfish]

Yes, I would use my FP+ for TT, because it's line grows fairly quickly. To me, it's a toss up to RD Soarin' or FEA then do the other, I think the results will be about the same either way. If you want to hit Soarin' twice, maybe RD it, do it again right away, then book it to FEA. That may be better than walking back and forth, as they're physically far apart.

Naterfan, if you do the standby line or FP+, then you have to go through the design studio. You don't "have to" design a car, but since you're stuck there, you might as well. The only way I know of to completely bypass it is the Single Rider line.

 

[aggiedog]

Can you do Frozen at early EMH's? I thought the country pavilions opened an hour after the front opened.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Typically, Future World opens at 9, World Showcase at 11.

There are currently several places in WS that open at 9: Frozen Ever After, shops in Norway, and the Boulangerie in France. Akershus begins serving breakfast at 8. Everything else remains closed until 11.

If there is a morning Extra Magic Hour, then Frozen Ever After opens at the same time as Future World (usually 8)