Epcot with younger kids

[buggy2727]

There's a big debate going on in our house about Epcot and how much time we'll spend there. We have 2 days at MK, AK with MK in the late afternoon / early evening, DHS 1 day and Epcot 1 day - our kids are DS-8, DD-6, DD-4 (almost 5). I know there are tons to do in Epcot and some folks spend 2 full days there but how much of it will keep our kids engaged? For FP+, we have Soarin' and mission space (orange) and another is undecided. We'll be there on either a 3 or 4 crowd day in early May. As for TT, I think DS may do that but I don't know about DD(6) (definitely not DD-4 as she's not into that) so I don't want to waste a FP on it. Plus since we have an early ADR for day 1 of MK, plan to RD the 2nd day we go and also need to RD DHS for JTA, I was trying to avoid another RD day at Epcot.

So I guess my question is, is it a mistake to not do RD at Epcot and how long will this park engage my kids? We want to stay for Illuminations so I was hoping for a later start - even if it means 10am.

 

[ktlm]

Epcot has been my DD's (8) favorite park other than MK since she was 2. On her 1st trip at age 2, we spent one day there from open to close and realized that was not enough time for us there. Since then we have gone to WDW at least annually and always spend 2 days there. I would rope drop Epcot if you only have one day there.

Do your 8 year old and 6 year old like Phineas and Ferb? If they do, they could spend a good part of the day in WS doing all the Agent Perry missions. DD likes to do every single one even if she has done them on past trips (the mission changes up a little, so you might get a new special effect the 2nd time). DH really likes those too.

 

[aVASTGrl]

I think it depends if you think your kids will enjoy WS. I always loved it, but my adult sister still to this day makes us rush through because she finds it incredibly boring!

For me, I need at least a full day at Epcot because I love wandering around WS, but my sister requires a half-day at most. It all boils down to personal preference. If you think your kids will only be interested in FW, you probably won't need to worry about RD

 

[PEC]

My DGD (5) really enjoyed going through all the stores in the different countries. This kind of surprised me as we really were not buying anything. We were in the countries at least 4 hours and could have spent more time. Previous poster correct on Phineas and Ferb. I wold RD it because there are lots of different options at EPCOT and chances are something will be appealing to all of your children.

 

[3Gsandme]

IMO, World Showcase isn't that engaging for children unless you're doing Kidcot or Perry. It's just mostly shopping and restaurants, which is GREAT for adults, but not as fun for kids. We had one day at EPCOT (3 kids, 14, 7 and 4) and besides not having time to ride Figment one more time (which probably seems crazy) I think we did everything everyone wanted to do. We were tired, so opted to skip Illuminations since we were planning on Fantasmic! and Wishes.

I probably WOULD worry, a bit, about RD as you can't, at this time, get a FP+ for both TT and Soarin'. IMO, Soarin' isn't a must do, but I know those two usually are for most people and you kind of need RD to be able to get in line without much wait for one while you FP+ the other. I'd do RD, tour until you were tired, head back to the room for a rest and then come back for Illuminations in the evening.

 

[Disneyhabs]

EPCOT is my families fav park the kids love it over all the others. My kids are now 17/12/11/6 and the have loved it from the start.

 

[buggy2727]

The problem I'm facing is too many RD's and late nights.

Sat: 8:05am ADR for CRT, early night at MK
Sun: 8:20 ADR for Sci Fi SW meal (would need to RD for JTA anyway) and Fantasmic!
Mon: Epcot - to RD or not! Want to stay for Illuminations
Tues: AK (not RD but still early) then park hop for MSEP (break in between)
Weds: MK RD but there's no MSEP this day so we could leaven whenever tired
Thurs: flights back home

As for P&F, they've watched but it's not a favorite. I don't want to RD just for TT or Soarin', my 8 yo will do TT but the other two may not so I figured I'll FP Soarin' and if we can swing TT, we do it.

 

[shan23877]

IMO you don't really need to RD if rides are not a huge priority and you have FP for the ones you want.

My DD7 has never loved Epcot, and I was getting tired of always hurrying through World Showcase. Last trip I made a "scavenger hunt" for her. Just printed a sheet with each country's flad and a specific question she had to ask a CM at each one. If she finished all of them she won a prize. She was pulling us through WS!

That could be tailored to each of your children's ages and might keep them interested, if they like prizes as much as mine.

 

[Gillyrose779]

80

 

[Manders77]

It totally depends on your children. For us Epcot was a half-day park. The only thing my DD like in world showcase was the Mexican boat ride you can only ride that so much. Lol. Kidcot never interested my children either. If it was only DH and I we could spend multiple days at Epcot. Enjoy your vacation.

 

[buggy2727]

We are definitely going to do Epcot and I'm sure we'll be able to do a whole day, even if that means putting in an afternoon break however it was more about RD. And as one poster mentioned, if it's not about rides then we don't really need to do RD. We'll probably still get there early, just not 1/2 hour before the 15 minute early park opening rush! Thanks for all the info on some other things to do, even though P&F aren't favorites, they will probably enjoy the missions!

 

[cgerdon02]

I scheduled two days there last year and we only spent two half days. My kids get bored of it quickly and there is a ton of walking between attractions. This time we are planning a midday break at Beaches and Cream to try out the kitchen sink!!

 

[GillianP1301]

My DS6 really enjoys EP, we've been twice with him, once at age 4 and once at age 5. Both times, his very favourite was the Living Seas, he can spend easily 2 - 3 hours in there just looking in the aquariums. He also loves Spaceship Earth (we rode it 5 times last year) and the Land pavillion boat ride. As for World Showcase, we haven't spent a lot of time in there just due to not allocated enough EP time and not being able to get him out of the Living Seas pavillion.

This year, I'm planning two EP days and see if he'll have as much interest in the WS portion as he does in FW.

 

[Marthasor]

My DS6 loves EP - there really is a lot to do for younger children! He could spend about 2 hours just in Living Seas. Loves Innoventions, walking around WS, etc.

If you don't have to do TT AND Soarin', I wouldn't worry about RD. Get there when you get there and enjoy.

 

[tjmw2727]

My kids have loved Epcot since they were preschoolers and my niece and nephew do as well. Its probably their 2nd favorite park (adults favorite park!) but they all like live entertainment and the slightly more relaxed pace of Epcot. We have also had some of our best character interactions at WS - I think they really like seeing Snow White in Germany, Jasmine in Morocco etc.

Keep in mind I have only been to WDW once so far since they started FP+ - but I think your FP+ selections are good - and you will probably be able to do so much more. Both Innoventions Pavilions have hands on games and activities, turtle talk with crush is a favorite as is Nemo and you can probably ride standby without much of a line and I have a hard time getting my kids out of the living seas. Figment is fun as is Malestrom and the Mexico ride - again "shouldn't" have to much of a standby line.

My girls love the live music, cover band in the UK, off kilter in Canada - bagpipes (how often can you see them played?) and Mo-Roccin in Morocco including a belly dancer. If you want to give the kids something do I suggest the passport - they can get a stamp in each country, interact with a CM from that country and have their name printed in the language of the country. Check your times guide for other live entertainment that may appeal to your family.

Of course not everyone loves Epcot but I do suggest you at least give it a fair shot, you may find yourself scheduling more time later in the trip

Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[20yBWDW]

When we took our kids for the first time (at 6, 5, and 2), I expected them to be bored with Epcot because I was thinking of it in terms of the rides. I should have realized, based on the countless hours my kids can spend at the Science Center or Children's Museum, that there would be a lot to fascinate them there. They wanted to do everything in Innoventions and several of the Perry things. They sat to watch the Chinese acrobats, the Italian guy (was it a mime? a juggler? I can't remember, because it did not hold my attention as well), and had to be dragged away from a few other things. They had a million questions for the cast members and for us. They wanted to try foods from different countries. We spent one full day, and that was not enough. The two older ones would have traded either Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom for another day at Epcot.

 

[staceyrhood]

My son, 7, loves Epcot, it has always been his favorite park. You can do it in one day, and no need for rope drop in early May. Soarin and test track would be the busiest rides, if you FP one or both you will be fine. If you arrive around 10am you can do everything. Have fun, enjoy your trip!

 

[SmallWorld71]

My kids have always loved Epcot, and when DD was your kids' ages, it was her favorite of the 4 parks.
At the age of 5 1/2, she enjoyed in Future World:
Spaceship Earth
Test Track - a favorite!
Soarin
Livin with the Land ride - a favorite!
Mission Space Green side - I assume you know the orange is the intense side and that the FP+ are for the adults?
Nemo ride
Turtle Talk w/ Crush
The aquarium tanks inside the seas
Innoventions

In World Showcase:
The kidcot stops - it used to be a mask, now it's Duffy
Her older brother (9) loved the Passport book that you can buy and have stamped - thanks to the Passport book and the kidcot stops, it was the kids who insisted we visit every country
Maelstrom
The boat ride in Mexico
Meeting the characters - WS is a great place to meet characters!

Some of the most kid friendly restaurants are there too - great places that combine good food with entertaining atmospheres.

We could easily fill 2 days. That said, it is tiring walking around Epcot and we find it to be pretty easy to tour with a later arrival if you are not overly concerned with Soarin and Test Track.

 

[dachsie]

My niece and nephew both loved it. So much so that after my feet hurt so bad and I took the resort bus back to the room, they stayed with my SIL and went thru the entire thing again during EMH. LOL

They like the Kidcot stations and they loved going thru the world collecting pressed pennies.

 

[AndreaA]

Meh. I'm not a fan, and our boys could take it or leave it. I mean sure, they enjoy some of the FutureWorld stuff while they are there, but honestly, I'm very unimpressed. We have some excellent kids' and science museums in our area, so Epcot is a let-down in that respect. Same goes for the aquarium. The ride is cute, but the actual fish exhibits? Not so much.

World Showcase is even less interesting to them, and too much walking for me for what is basically overpriced "duty free" shops from various countries.

I fully realize I am probably in the minority.