EPCOT world showcase with a 3 yr old??

[torpedoseal]

My wife and I have been to WDW a few times now but we have always focused on the rides more than the shows and shops. In two weeks we are returning with our DS 5 and DD 3. We were thinking of maybe slowing our ride pace down and trying to enjoy more of the ambiance and shows. What can we do in EPCOT World Showcase that is age appropriate? Should we just skip it since it is so huge and our kids so young? What are you favorite things to do there with kids?

 

[Mom2T&G]

We are going in Dec with our 5yo and 3yo and we plan on going to world showcase. We went when they were 3.5 and 1.5yo and they liked it. They have a mask that you make at the kidcot stations and they liked doing that. There was a play ground at one of the countries (forget which one now), they also liked the rides in Mexico and Norway. Germany has a neat train display that they loved watching. We didn't spend as much time as we would have alone, but they had a good time. Have a fun trip!!

Kelly
ds 5yo
ds 3yo
ds 4mo

 

[MNdisneymom]

My DS (then 3) loved the World Showcase. He liked both of the rides (Mexico and Norway). He liked the band Off Kilter (at the UK pavilion)--really fun music for a little kid to dance around to. For food, his favorite was Norway's quick service (forget the name, oops!), because he got open faced sandwiches and lefse (think like a tortilla, only it's made out of potato...butter and sugar, yum!) We also bought a bunch of little snacks at the different countries (Rice candy in Japan, Aero mint chocolate from the UK, etc.) He only did 2 kidcot stops because he just wasn't interested.

Oh, another thing...I don't know if your kids like fireworks or not (my little guy loves them, doesn't mind the loud noise) but he absolutely loved Illuminations. He was really fascinated by the globe, how it showed videos on it, and how it opened up at the end. We listen to the music almost every day in the car, too. (It's quite peppy and fun.)

 

[tinkandpan]

We always use the worldshowcase as a bit of downtime for the kids. We get a stroller for both (same ages as your kids). We get special snacks (new fav's are the snowcones from Japan). We do skip the movies, but we do the other shopping things. The kids love the kidcot stations, the bands in Canada and the UK. We stop and watch the trains in Germany, see the characters along the way, take in the boat rides in Norway and MExico. It's a fun time for all of us and a nice but of downtime as well.

 

[Ariel8676]

My girls LOVE Epcot..they say that it is their favorite park..lol
They Love the bands, the Kidcot stations and the snacks!!!

 

[ajcolorado]

Here's an called "A Guide to Epcot with Young Children" that might be helpful:
http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/article-epcot-with-young-children.html

 

[torpedoseal]

thanks for the great help. Are the Kidcot stations anything more than making masks? Are there other things to do at those stations? Is illuminations worth having the kids stay up so late??

 

[momofdrewluke]

There are passports that you can buy ($10) in the gift shops that the CM will write a personal messages in their passport/write their name in the patricular language and there are stickers included that they can decorate the pages. My DS 5 & DS3 loved doing the masks and the passports. Also, after they have been to all the kidcot stations they receive a special certificate.

 

[Ellielovesdisney]

I am sorry to say that DD did not really get into epcot when she was 3. She loved the princess dinner, but that was about all. The masks entertained her briefly...but it was a short night.

 

[MNdisneymom]

Is illuminations worth having the kids stay up so late??

Definitely...I had been planning on an early evening on our Epcot day, as my DS 3 didn't nap at the hotel. However, he fell asleep on the bus to Epcot, napped in the stroller for an hour (while I toured and shopped around FW ) and was raring to go after that. I don't know if your kids nap or not...but I know that my little guy wouldn't have been able to stay up that long if he hadn't had a nap earlier.

Staying for Illuminations was definitely one of the nicest impromptu things that we did on our vacation, because he was well-rested after the unplanned nap, and because he also enjoys fireworks so much.