Epcot - WS which way? Timing?

[lily2521]

Does it matter which way you travel around WS?

I originally had my TP done to go Mexico-Canada, but I noticed that the stuff in Future World closes at 7 on our Epcot day, and WS closes at 9.

I re-evaluated my TP to have more time in Future World in the morning, and head out to WS a bit later then originally planned, so we can do the things we want to do in Future World and then go to WS, when we get done with WS, the Future World stuff might be closed.

I've never been to Epcot, but I want to make sure we have lots of time in WS to explore (we only have one day there). The TP I put together gives us plenty of time in the AM for the things we want to do in FW, including our Akershus lunch, and we'd have about 6-7 hours in WS (we have more we want to do after lunch, that's why we're not heading to WS right after Akershus, otherwise I'd stick with my original plan to go Mexico-Canada).

But in doing this, it puts me near Canada before heading out for WS, so now I'm thinking Canada-Mexico. Does it really matter?

 

[darrendavis]

I have tested both ways but seem to prefer Canada-Mexico route. One reason for this is it seems to be easier to hit all the princess (if that is an interest to you). Also love to start my WS tour with fish and chips in UK

Not sure it really matters much though either way.

 

[Alesia]

It doesn't matter.

Are you sure future world closes at 7:00? I thought they stopped that several years ago.

 

[lily2521]

I have tested both ways but seem to prefer Canada-Mexico route. One reason for this is it seems to be easier to hit all the princess (if that is an interest to you). Also love to start my WS tour with fish and chips in UK

Not sure it really matters much though either way.

Yes - the princesses/characters are actually something we want to do - we'll be with DD (6), we want to see Mulan, Aladdin/Jasmine, Mary Poppins. Alice are on our to-do list.

 

[lily2521]

It doesn't matter.

Are you sure future world closes at 7:00? I thought they stopped that several years ago.

That's what WDW website shows, park hours are 9-9 (WS 11-9) and it does say future world 9-9, but when you look at the times of certain attractions in future world it lists them closing at 7 (Circle of Life, Ellen, ImageWorks, Innoventions, Figment, Living with the Land). We don't' want to do all of these, but some of them we do, so I want to make sure we get them in in the AM

 

[ANforever1030]

I've gone both ways and never found one that seems any better than the other. I see you leave in THREE DAYS!!! Have fun!

 

[lily2521]

I've gone both ways and never found one that seems any better than the other. I see you leave in THREE DAYS!!! Have fun!

Thanks - just going through the TP one last time as we get ready to go! Can't wait!!!

 

[lily2521]

Also in regards to Epcot, how much walking is it from one side to the other, not taking WS into account? Like walking from TT to Figment or Living with the Land? I'm trying to avoid a lot of back/fourth because it looks like a lot of walking (although I'm okay with and prepared for some walking, I don't want to zig-zag too much)

 

[darrendavis]

Yes - the princesses/characters are actually something we want to do - we'll be with DD (6), we want to see Mulan, Aladdin/Jasmine, Mary Poppins. Alice are on our to-do list.

In Feb we built a plan to take advantage of the way Disney stagers the princesses meet and greets. They seem to be on a 30 minute rotation so you can flow through the countries in order and meet a princesses in almost all.

Sorta of like this:

Meet Alice in UK 11:30 ( be in line early for her 11:30 set)
Meet Mary Poppins in UK 12:00 ( if you are early for Alice you will be early for Mary)
Meet Aurora in France 12:30 ( same as before)
Keep this up for several more countries

The goal is to be in each line about 10 minutes before their actual set begins.

 

[Disneylover99]

Pick which way works best for you.
Personally, I prefer to start in Mexico because I like to start my tour around the world with a Margarita.

 

[dljacob]

I think I read that Mulan is only in the morning in China. Is that correct? We have done most of the princesses in the past but haven't met Mulan (will be our first time in Epcot). My girls really want to meet Mulan but seems like limited opportunities.

 

[ANforever1030]

Pick which way works best for you.
Personally, I prefer to start in Mexico because I like to start my tour around the world with a Margarita.

A margarita is always nice, but I also enjoy a Molson's in Canada or agood English beer to start the day, or one of the Grey Goose slushes in France.

 

[darrendavis]

I think I read that Mulan is only in the morning in China. Is that correct? We have done most of the princesses in the past but haven't met Mulan (will be our first time in Epcot). My girls really want to meet Mulan but seems like limited opportunities.

Looked back at my Feb plan and we meet her at 2pm. BTW she was fantastic. We were the first in line for her 2pm set and when she walked out she grabbed my little girl and kissed her on the check leaving a huge lipstick mark. My little girl was tickled.

 

[Disneylover99]

A margarita is always nice, but I also enjoy a Molson's in Canada or agood English beer to start the day, or one of the Grey Goose slushes in France.

I hate beer. That's another reason I head towards Mexico.

 

[dsanner106]

We have settled into a Canada to Mexico routine. Mexico is where the path narrows and traffic jams ensue. When you are just arrived, the last thing you want to do, particularly with excited kids is the heel-to toe shuffle working through a crowd. Canada is wide open, you can stop or zip through to another destination. Also, I would rather wrap up with a marguerite and be able to sit and enjoy it following the trip around the world.

 

[ktlm]

My DD s a character nut. We usually get to WS between noon and 12:30 for a lunch ADR, and then we start at Mexico and we typically stay in WS until the park closes at 9. Mary Poppins and Alice are pretty easy. If you get there before they come out, the lines typically are short. Mulan takes more planning. Her line can be closed within 5 minutes of her coming out. You want to get to her a good 15 (or 20) minutes before she comes out. You also want to do her early as her lines tend to get longer as the day goes on. Last time we were there, her last meet and greet line closed before she even came out. Unless it has changed her last meet and greet is at 4:50. Aladdin/Jasmine can be crazy. Again, the earlier in the day you can do them, the better. As it gets later in the afternoon, the lines get longer. Aladdin and Jasmine's last meet unless it has changed is around 5:30. The lines for Mulan's and Jasmine/Aladdin's last meet and greets will build up very early as people realize that is their last chance. Also, at age 6, does your DD like Phineas and Ferb? My DD is crazy about the Agent P missions scattered throughout WS. They are really fun, even if you aren't a Phineas and Ferb fan. They get a communicator, and then they go to a country and follow clues to complete a mission. Their communicator triggers special effects throughout the country as they complete the stages of the mission.

We have gone both directions. It really is just a matter of preference. As your time is limited, I would start on the end that has the most things you are interested in. DD has loved the Donald Duck boat ride inside Mexico since she was little, so we typically start in Mexico.

Figment does typically close at 7. Not sure about Living with the Land. Soarin, TT, Mission Space and Spaceship Earth are all typically open until 9:00. We have done all of those after 8.

 

[Oneanne]

I've turned to the left/Mexico so many times that if I do head to Canada (which would be when I have an ADR at Le Cellier) it feels backwards to me... but as others have mentioned either direction works. EPCOT front to back is on average a 30 minute walk, side to side is maybe 5 minutes, but going back-and-forth gets old pretty quickly.

 

[HatBoxSteve]

To answer your walking question FW isn't bad at all, what path you take in FW should dictate where you start in WS. After Spaceship Earth you can head right towards Nemo, The Land, and Imagination, or you can head left towards Ellen, Misson Space, and Test Track. If you finish right it'll be easier to walk towards Canada, if you finish left it's easier to walk towards Mexico. But WS is A LOT of walking its about a 2 mile walk from Canada to Mexico

I think either way is fine. it also depends on what you're looking to do in WS. Epcot as a whole you can do in about 6 hours so in reality if you want to see everything in WS it should only take 2-3 hours. Also take into account if you want to eat dinner in a country (if so i'd make reservations now because it'll take time to make reservations at customer service, plus all the good restaurants may be booked by the time you get there). There is only one ride in WS, which is in Mexico, so most of your time will be walking and going into the shops. As far as meet and greets I haven't really done them so someone else can give you better advice.

I hope that helped, if you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

 

[darrendavis]

This was our Feb plan, it worked out great. I was mistaken, we meet Mulan at her 4pm set. Myself (Dad) did all the waiting in line and Mom did all the meeting with my little girl.

(UK) MEET ALICE 11:15-11:35
(UK) IN LINE FOR MARY POPPINS 11:40
(UK) MEET MARY POPPINS 11:50-12:10
(FRANCE) IN LINE FOR AURORA 12:00
(FRANCE) MEET AURORA 12:15-12:35
(FRANCE) IN LINE FOR BELLE 12:20
(FRANCE) MEET BELLE 12:45-1:10
EXPLORE FRANCE/MOROCCO 1:10-1:25
(MOROCCO) MEET JASMINE 1:30-1:55
(GERMANY) IN LINE FOR SNOW WHITE 2:10
(GERMANY) MEET SNOW WHITE 2:15-2:45
(CHINA) REFLECTIONS OF CHINA 3:00-3:20
(AFRICA OUTPOST) FACE PAINTING 2:55-3:20
(CHINA) IN LINE FOR MULAN 3:25
(CHINA) MEET MULAN 3:40-4:00
(MEXICO) GRAN FIESTA TOUR 4:15-4:35
DINNER MEXICO SAN ANGEL 4:40-5:20

 

[CAS239]

That's what WDW website shows, park hours are 9-9 (WS 11-9) and it does say future world 9-9, but when you look at the times of certain attractions in future world it lists them closing at 7 (Circle of Life, Ellen, ImageWorks, Innoventions, Figment, Living with the Land). We don't' want to do all of these, but some of them we do, so I want to make sure we get them in in the AM

Those rides are the only ones that close at 7. They always close early due to low crowds on them. Living with the Land normally closes once the sun sets. The rest of the rides will be open until park close.

As far as Mexico or Canada..we start by what we're near (test track or The Land). But we normally always start at Mexico and end with Canada. Doesn't matter at all where you start unless you have a place to be, like dinner at Canada then start in Mexico.