Epcot without Soarin...will anyone bother

[big_ol_lineman]

While Soarin' is a great ride it isn't a make or break for me. I don't HAVE to go on it. In fact I've only been on it twice and I was an annual pass holder. On our next trip, the wife and I plan on spending at least half a day in FW.

 

[hakepb]

What will Epcot will be like before 11 am? Other than test track is there anything ride that requires one to be in Epcot before 11am to avoid long lines. I don't imagine World Showcase will be any slower. I also wonder if Sunshine Seasons will be much quieter during this time. I always make at least two visits to the Land each trip apart from Soar'in. Seasons and Living with the Land are still enough for me to make that trek as I really love both the ride and the restaurant.

Sum of all Fears is helped by an early entry.

 

[mamabear4]

We just returned from WDW and were pretty bummed that it was closed. Epcot has a lot of other things to enjoy though so that didn't diminish our enjoyment. Looking forward to its return though.

 

[JJsmama]

mistake. Ignore.

 

[agavegirl1]

Soarin is a nice ride but I go to Epcot for World showcas for the most part. I would still go.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

EP is my favorite park and continues to be even with Soarin closed. We've been on many trips where we didn't even ride Soarin'. IMHO, it got a little old after a while - hence the the big change, I suppose! When in EP, our must-do's are TT and walking around WS. DS8 loves Sum of All Thrills. On our last trip we also enjoyed some of the new attractions - meeting Baymax, the Glidden experience in Innoventions and the Disney/Pixar shorts. We also enjoy the entertainment in WS. Honestly, one ride closing doesn't impact my enjoyment of any park - many times we go and certain favorites are down for refurb, so we simply go enjoy something else!

 

[larryz]

Last week, wait times continued to be down at EP.

http://blog.touringplans.com/2016/01/21/disney-world-crowd-calendar-report-january-10-to-16-2016/ - and I quote, "Epcot’s wait times appear to be lower than usual despite the closure of Soarin’, its main headliner. A significant closure can affect a park in one of two ways – the reduced capacity increases waits at the other attractions or the closure dissuades guests from heading to the park and wait times decrease. So far, the wait times we have seen suggest the latter is more likely."

So, despite everyone on here saying they will still visit EP as planned, that does not seem to be what is actually happening. Or perhaps people are just bypassing FW and heading straight to WS?

Clearly, they neglected to mention WS's ability to absorb crowds without increasing wait times at the remaining rides/attractions. So I take their conclusion with a big grain of French Mediterranean salt.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

There is lots to do and see throughout Epcot........as many times as we have visited the countries, there always seems to be something new. The American Adventure by it self is a E ticket attraction. A balanced, multi media presentation that makes me remember each time I see it and listen to the singers, how lucky I am to have been born in the USA!


AKK

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We were there in the days leading up to the Soarin' closure, and for about a week thereafter. Epcot was as crowded as usual in the days leading up to the closure, and a ghost town afterward. We still went twice because we love the countries, and most families will probably hit it once in a trip, but the crowds indicate that people are now spending almost all of their WDW time at MK.

So, if your favorite park is Epcot and you will not miss Soarin', go now. But if MK is your favorite park, avoid WDW until Soarin' and the Frozen ride reopen and draw guests away from MK.

 

[MrKnight]

Epcot has always been and continues to be my favorite WDW park, with or without Soarin, so yes I will still continue to go and spend time at FW visiting my other favorite attractions in that area, I will even continue to visit The Land pavilion for Living with the Land!

 

[UmmYeahOk]

EPCOT used to be my favorite park, but so many attractions are closed either permanently or for refurbishment. We land at MCO next week at 10am. It will probably be 12-1 by the time we even get to a park, so I decided to make EPCOT our half day. =(

 

[Dariansue]

I love FW! Can't imagine skipping over Spaceship Earth. Even the shops are awesome!

 

[UmmYeahOk]

I love FW! Can't imagine skipping over Spaceship Earth. Even the shops are awesome!

Yeah, but there used to be two big shops IIRC. The other being on the mirrored side of Mouse Works, AND was TWO stories. The second story contained more of what that little art of Disney near Spaceship earth had, but included a lot more painted cells. I go there to pee, but haven't actually seen what it looks like since it became a meet n greet.

 

[mdiplacido13]

The older I get the more I enjoy epcot. When I was on vacation a week or so ago we spent more time there than another other park. Future world is still great without soarin'. Can't wait until it reopens. That will be enough for me to justify a trip.

Plus what is a trip to Disney without spaceship earth?

 

[B-Ride]

There is still lots to do at Epcot but no Soarin' causes a couple of big problems - no Soarin' (our favourite Epcot attraction) and increased crowds at the other headliners - Test Track and Mission Space.

 

[MrKnight]

EPCOT used to be my favorite park, but so many attractions are closed either permanently or for refurbishment. We land at MCO next week at 10am. It will probably be 12-1 by the time we even get to a park, so I decided to make EPCOT our half day. =(

Even you arrive at Epcot by noon it will still be more than a "half day" as you will have 9+ hours to enjoy the park. IMO I prefer Epcot in the evening, I love WC all lit up at night and always stay to watch Illuminations! I honestly cant remember the last time I arrived at Epcot before noon.

 

[Shanti]

I noticed on the Touring Plans blog a side comment that some think without Soarin all the "attractions" (I'm using that word loosely) in Future World of Epcot will see a decline. I have noted on these boards my lack of interest in Epcot (from year 1 btw), so I don't think I'm in any position to assess this, but I am curious. Do you think without Soarin' that Future World will become a ghost town? Or at best, a brief stop on the way to the World Showcase?

I was there today and it was bustling. Still plenty to do.

 

[DisneyDetective]

EPCOT is my favourite theme park as I find it more relaxed compared to the others. I've not been on Soarin for a few years because of the wait times and not bothered (still great ride), i mostly go to wander round World Showcase or do the less crowded attractions such as Living With The Land. I do agree however that EPCOT is beginning to show it's age but I don't see any update coming since the AVATAR and Hollywood Studios expansion taking place.

 

[TGM]

We still have Spaceship Earth, Mission Space, Test Track, and some of the greatest architecture, food, music, and people in the world, so yes, people will still visit EPCOT.

 

[PSUGuy]

I didn't read the whole thread so this may have been said, but I recall a time when Soarin hadn't been built and Epcot was still quite crowded so if it was worth the bother then, it will be now. That said, I am glad it will be open by the time we return in Oct.

Bill From PA