Epcot World Showcase - Tips Needed

[Pink Flamingo]

I know that there must be so much to enjoy in the World Showcase at Epcot, but on our past trips, by the time we reached the World Showcase, we were so tired, that we didn't really have the energy to explore everything. We rode the boat rides in Mexico & Norway & happened upon the living statues (can't remember where) & loved them, but that's about it.

What are some of your favorite things there? Any suggestions on how to "tour" there? Many thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Judy from Boise]

as far as attractions "must do's" include the American Adventure ( one of the all time best ) and The movie in the France pavillion.

My most basic tip is don't attempt to do all of Epcot in one day ! Epcot is the perfect way to cap off each day since it is open until 9. You can see the park in a few bite size pieces !

 

[Aimeedyan]

Epcot is not a one day park... even a one week park! We don't ever attempt Future World and World Showcase in the same visit, as they are seemingly two diff parks within themselves!

I don't really have any specific tips, becasue I think the entire WS is awesome and shouldn't be missed. The dept store in Japan is incredible, all the special musicians and shows, the shopping, the dining, just sitting in the beautiful areas and people watching... I love it all.

Next time, try to split the park up. Visit Future World, get it all done, then transfer to another park. Then just come back and do WS one evening, and have dinner at one of the excellent dining places.

 

[cleo]

As the others have said, Epcot is not a one day park. I find it's easier to do a full day at Epcot, then hop to Epcot for a couple of hours a few more nights during my stay and spend that time in World Showcase. There is simply too much to see and the park is far too big to do in a day without dropping from exhaustion. For me, nights are most magical in Epcot anyway, and some of the best dining is found there as well.

 

[debkorb1]

If you've got one day, my advice would be to be skip Future World. Maybe a bit extreme but the only thing I really like is Test Track. If you like marine life skip the Living Seas and go to Sea World, Spaceship Earth and Universe of Energy are ageing, Journey into Your Imigation is dire and Mission Space off limits to the motion sick amongst us. Living with the Land can be a bit dry if you're not in the mood. I did enjoy the Circle of Life film (but you can only watch it once)!!!

The world showcase, however...now that is my favourite place in all of WDW. The atmosphere is just amazing. I'm from the UK and I really enjoyed going to the local for a pint and then onto Hyde Park to see the Beatles (it was even raining!!!). The architecture is great througout the showcase. There is just so much live entertainment, places to shop, films to see and restuarants to eat.

Get too tired in World Showcase so you have no energy for Future World!!

 

[ErinInCT]

Go to this website:
http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/index.htm
Click on EPCOT & it give info on all the different "activities" going on around the WS. It gives you a great idea of what to see & you can plan your sightseeing around it.
If you have kids, each country has a Kidcot station for the kids to decorate masks and interact with CM's from the respective country.
I too find that it takes 3 days to do EPCOT. 1 day for FW and 2 for WS.

 

[KevinFSU]

I'll say it to.... EPCOT is not a one day park.

 

[sugermouse]

Our favorite thing to do is to "eat and drink" our way around the countries!

 

[Pink Flamingo]

Thanks so much for the great ideas. ErininCT, the link you provided is very helpful . Believe it or not, we have actually split our Epcot visits over at least 2 days, but having children, we have always had to do the Future World sections or at least parts of them before heading to the World Showcase. This time we will be splitting our stay between resorts (Beach Club & Polynesian), so I'm hoping that by staying at the BC, we can enter in the World Showcase & start one afternoon there.

Are there any things your kids really enjoy in World Showcase? Mine (will be 7, 10, & 4 on next trip) have enjoyed the Kidcot stations & are looking forward to doing them again.

 

[swilphil]

We always start our Epcot visit in WS, unless we get there at opening then we do a couple of FW rides and get there at 11 a.m. We definitely spend more time in WS than in FW.

UK has the British Invasion (Beatles music), Thomas the Train table and Pooh characters in the Toy Shoppe, a hedge maze around the bandstand--my 4 year old LOVED this.

Germany has a little train village with a bridge that the kids can run over and watch the trains.

The African outpost has drums that the kids can play. Someone demonstrates then shows the kids. When no one is there, the kids can just play them.

Good shows are: Off Kilter, the Japanese drums, the Chinese acrobats, the Living Statues, and in France a guy who balances on chairs.

The holiday bus with characters stops at least once a day in WS, and there are lots of characters in the different countries. Ask a CM. I think they may be near the Kidcot stations.

We love World Showcase when we need a break from the usual theme park atmosphere.

 

[RickNWendy]

_____________________________________
Journey into Your Imigation is dire
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I must disagree. The new Imagination with the sensory lab and figment is quite well done...

 

[xyymom]

Next time we'll spend so much more time at Epcot, it's marvelous! I just love how you can turn a corner and feel like you're IN Morocco or Italy or France

We did half of the WS one evening (not even going IN all of the pavilions) and the rest the next day. We only went into the Land in FW. The kids loved the Land, they were Jr. Chefs & loved the Living Seas. They also loved emailing pics to Grandma from Kodak ImageWorks.

I'd love to spend a couple of days going into each Pavilion

 

[PoohnPglet]

Each time my DS and I go, we choose a word or phrase to learn in each of the foreign languages. It is a great way to start a conversation with the CMs about their home countries. My DS also likes to ask them what thing about their homeland is most different than here. We have yet to find a CM that was not thrilled to tell us about their homes.
(We usually do this at the Kidcot stations, although we have also had great conversations with CMs just about everywhere.)

 

[crow11ad]

Don't forget the band in Canada. They rock. Get a beaver tail and enjoy the music.

 

[xyymom]

Don't forget the band in Canada. They rock. Get a beaver tail and enjoy the music.

We got to see them for the first time when we were there early October. We loved it The Beaver Tails aren't quite as yummy as they are up here in Canada, but they're still OK. (they aren't made quite the same at Epcot and they don't have my favourite kind - Killaloe which is cinnamon & sugar with a squeeze of lemon - yummy!!)

 

[debkorb1]

Originally posted by RickNWendy
_____________________________________
Journey into Your Imigation is dire
_____________________________________

I must disagree. The new Imagination with the sensory lab and figment is quite well done...

Fair enough - there is some fun to be had there (I was being a bit absolutist!). That said, the ride itself was shocking by Disney standards IMHO.

 

[ILUVDXL]

See the movies in France, Canada and China. The street show in the UK is a riot. Stop by Germany and listen to the Umpapa band. Later in the evening there a lady who plays the piano at the R&C Pub (at least she use to) whose very funny. They use to have a great show in Italy, but that stopped and I don't know if they have replaced with anything yet, but I'll be finding out next week.