EPCOT with 4-year old dd . . . what to do?

[MinnieMom]

Can anyone give me some ideas for what attractions they think a 4 yo girl would like at Epcot?

Dd has been to Disney 3 times in the last 4 years and we always have a blast, but we have never gone to Epcot. I haven't even been there since I was 10 years old! I didn't really care for it then, so I just haven't gone back, but I'm thinking maybe it's time for dd to see this park also.

So, what attractions would you suggest for a 4 yo - or do you think she would be too young to really enjoy the park?

Also, if I do take her do you think we would spend an entire day there or only need a 1/2 day or so?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[herprettiness]

The thing that first comes to mind is the Candy Maker in Japan. She does a show throughout the day. Kids really love it.

 

[CheezDoodle]

I first went when I was six and loved it!(I'm ten now) If you do go, make sure to stop at the kidcot stations so she can make a free mask. Also go to Ice Station Cool so she can taste some of the different sodas. Mexico and Norway have cute little boat rides. Journey Into Imagination is a must-see. The Living Seas has a cool Crush exhbit.(Crush is the turtle from Finding Nemo) Also keep an eye out for the living statue in Italy. Oh! Make sure to see the fountain show!

Megan

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Epcot is awesome. DD, now 5, loves Epcot. There are characters at each country -Mulan at China, Belle and the Beast in France, Pooh & Friends and Mary Poppins in the UK, etc. DD loves the mask making at all the countries. The Chinese acrobats are fantastic.

The Princess Storybook breakfast at Norway was such a hit that it has become breakfast/lunch/dinner - DD talks about it almost every day.

The Living Seas is all Finding Nemo themed and is great. Skip the beginning movie and go straight to the attractions.

The Land has movie with the Lion King characters. The boat ride there through the greenhouse is fun...they grow mickey shaped pumpkins in there. Also, at the Land food court the kids can make chocolate chip cookies (for free) every half hour or so. They give them big paper chef hats to wear. Great for them and you can sit for 20 min.

Test Track is great if you like fast rides. A little jerky at the beginning but smooth at the fast part.

Epcot staggers its opening. The front opens earlier than the world showcase - so, I think that one could spend an entire day easily. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions.
Good luck and have fun.
Karen

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

DD (3) loved the boat ride in Mexico , 3x. The ride in Norway, The princess storybook breakfast, the boat ride in The Land, but mostly she loved playing in the fountain. Had to drag her away from that one.

 

[zurgswife]

There is a game at innoventions East "Innoventions Internet Zone presented by Disney.com " My kids have loved the toon town tag for lots of years...perfect for a 4 yr old...

 

[bishop1989]

Definitely Maelstrom in Norway, El Rio de Tiempo in Mexico, Figment in Journey into Imagination, maybe a pearl in China.

 

[kimwim8]

I think you could easily spend all day there with a 4 year old. Just walking through the World Showcase, stopping at the kidcot stations to let her color on the mask & meet the CM's from each country. Some countries have rides, some have shows. Some of the other posters mentioned some of the rides and attractions in Future World. In the Land building there is a food court, and she can make cookies at certain times.

 

[SammieG]

its been my DS5's favorite park since he was 3.. there is so much to do at Epcot.
His favorite thing is Mission Space the play area in the exit (you can still get in, without doing the ride!)

 

[swilphil]

The Kidcot stations are a must. She will like coloring and decorating her masks. The characters are often near the same area. If you have a specific character you want to find, ask a CM. There is a miniature train village in Germany and a hedge maze in the garden at UK. It's by the Toy Shoppe which has some neat rooms--Pooh and Mary Poppins, I think.

 

[MinnieMom]

You've sold me on it! I will definitely be taking her now. The only proble is that dh is a little jealous! Epcot is his favorite park and he hasn't been there in years and he isn't going along on this trip!

We'll just have to make sure we discover all the cool things this year so when we all go back together next year we can show him!!

 

[MinnieMom]

 

[ccgegg]

I don't think anyone mentioned the bongo drum show at Morocco. And the Character Bus is neat too-- check the times on the schedule when you arrive.

We just took DD4 to Epcot (first time at that park) and she absolutely loved it. We did too because the World Showcase area just seemed to have a more relaxed pace to it. If your DD loves arts & crafts as much as mine, you MUST do the mask. My DD would come out of each country bouncing off the walls and gleaming with pride to show me what she added to it.

She also loved Test Track, but I suggest doing it via Fastpass.

And if your DD is into aquariums, she'd love to cap her day with dinner at The Coral Reef. It has a huge wall looking inside the aquarium (large sea turtles, big fish and even scuba divers). Good food, but small portions given the steep price.

 

[Unofficial Fan]

Don't forget to do the Talk with Crush Show at the Living Seas. It features Crush from the Finding Nemo movie and he talks with kids who sit in the front. It's great!

 

[Disney Fool]

Put her bathing suit on under her clothes, and let her romp through the dancing fountains. There are two of them at Epcot, one at the entrance to Test Trak, and the other on the walkway to World Showcase, on the right.

 

[ErinInCT]

We were so surprised when we went to EPCOT b/c it turned out to be dd4's favorite park!! Here are some things she'll enjoy:

FW:
TT (my dd loves thrill rides)
Figment
Turtle Talk with Crush (Living Seas)
Ice Station Cool (gotta try the Beverly)
Nestle Junior Chef program at The Land (by Sunshine Food Fair)
Fountain shows
Talking trash can near Electric Umbrella
Talking water fountains (behind Innoventions West, near the restroom, between Innoventions and HISTA Pavilion)

WS:
BE SURE TO GET A TIMES GUIDES for all the shows/characters
Characters in every country (autographs & pics)
Kidcot stations in each country (I could hardly pull dd away)
Penny presses in each country (although I don't think China had one)
Passport (you can buy one to get stamped at each country)
Pin trading
"Talking" to CMs, we taught dd how to say hello & thank you in each language
Norway Maelstrom & the viking ship play area
Mexico Rio de Tiempo, mariachis
China acrobats, buy a fan & a CM will personalize it with dd's name in Chinese
Germany clocks & model train
Italy Living statues
USA funnel cake w/cherry topping
Japan kaki gori, pic-a-pearl, candy lady (Miyuki)
Morocco drummers
France mimes
UK fish & chips, hedge maze
Canada beaver tail

We actually only spent a 1/2 day (not realizing how much dd would love it). Next time we'll spend a half day at FW & a full day at WS. We always take a mid day break but we would do a half day am in FW & 2 half day pm's in EPCOT (gotta have dinner & see the shows which are primarily in the afternoon). She did not see Illuminations b/c it was too late at night (goes to bed around 8pm but of course at WDW she would not fall asleep until later!).

Hope this helps!

 

[justlikeeyore]

Turtle talk with Crush at the living seas

 

[ajcolorado]

My daughter absolutely loved Spaceship Earth at that age. Also, the Biergarten restaurant in Germany generally gets rave reviews from the younger crowd. They like the Oom-pah-pah atmosphere.

Children are welcome to play on the Viking ship in the Norway pavilion.

You might want to know that the Maelstrom ride has a troll that some kids find a little scary.

I saw a neat idea recently - someone said that each of the country pavilions sell hats that are more or less representative of that country. These people said they take a picture trying on the hat in each of the areas as their fun photo op. My daughter LOVES having her picture taken - yours might too.

Remember that Epcot is the park where people generally do the most walking. You may want to have a stroller if she's likely to wear out.