Experts.. looking for tips on doing EPCOT in one day?

[jenniferma]

HI-- we are going to try and do Epcot in one day. It is me, DH, DD7, DD5 and DD20 months. The day we are going has EMH in the morning. We have 4:45 dinner ADRS at Akershus and as of right now we are planning on taking a break in the afternoon for baby DD to nap. (we have a rental car and are staying at CBR).

Does anyone have any tips on doing EPCOT in a day with three little girls? I was planning on trying to do the Future World in the morning and Nations in the evening... possibly starting the day with Soarin and then doing the Nemo stuff next.

Thanks in advance for any advice! Jen

p.s we are going during a non-peak time-- First week in December.

 

[Lei]

Hi, I'm subbing this because we will also be doing Epcot in one day. In fact, we will arrive a bit late (around noon / lunchtime). I'm not trying to see absolutely everything, though.

Any suggestions?

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

When we went in October the crowds were very light (a 4 on UG) with the exception of Soarin. (I would do that first.) A CM told me that test track has a single rider line that is almost as fast as fast pass so if you don't need to stay together, you might save time that way. My DH got a fast pass for Mission Space but he didn't need it.

We got there at rope drop on a non-EMH day. Our kids weren't going on TT, MS or Soarin', so DH and I took turns riding and taking the kids through the character spot at Epcot. I rode Soarin' while he went to get FP for Mission Space. Then when I got done at Soarin' I got in line wioth the kids and took them to see the characters while he went on his rides. Everything else was pretty much walk on. We didn't stop to do any of the hands on stuff at innoventions and skipped some attractions that w just didn't think the kids would like that much.

Go through the rides before hand and decide which ones are must sees for you and which you would feel okay passing up. We really enjoyed our time at Epcot even though I know we missed the shows in Epcot. I figured we'll just catch them another time. Just accept that you're not going to do everything and you won't feel so rushed. BTW the tip board in FW is great for finding out wait times at attractions.

 

[suzicute20]

Well, during morning EMH at Epcot, the attractions that are open are Living with the Land, Mission Space, Soarin, Spaceship Earth, and Test track. Not sure how tall your 5 and 7 year olds are, but both Soarin and Test Track have a 40 inch height requirement, Mission Space has a 44 inch height requirement. Generally, morning EMH is an hour before regular opening. I would get there before the EMH starts and be there for rope drop.

Then, I would head to Soarin and do a baby swap. Let the CM know you want to do a baby swap and they should give you or your husband a fastpass to return to the ride. Usually they let the older kids come again as well. Or, you and the older girls could get fastpasses when you enter Soarin and you could ride with them after they rode with dad or vice versa. After that, I personally like Living with the Land, but it might not be interesting to a 5 and 7 year old. I would then head to Spaceship Earth - all of you can ride that.

After, that, I would Nemo should be open, so I would head there. Then head to the Imagination pavilion and do Journey w/ Figment and Honey I shrunk the kids. It should be around lunch time by this time, so I would head to The Land. If it's too early for lunch, you could try to see Circle of Life and then eat or vice versa if it is lunch time.

After lunch, I would head to the other side of Future World. Do Ellen's Energy Adventure, Mission Space if you want/can with height restrictions, and then a baby swap at Test Track. You might be able to do the single rider line at Test Track - we've done that many times and always got on really quickly. Just know that if you take the single rider option, your girls might be in a different car than you.

After that, let them take a break at Innoventions and play with some of the games. Maybe look around in the shops. Get a snack.

Then, I'd go to Mexico and do the boat ride and look at the shop. It should be about time for your dinner reservation. If not, try to do Maelstrom - I'd skip the movie - you can just walk through.

Then, for the rest of the night, just make your way at your pace around to the rest of the countries.

Hope this helps. Good luck and have fun. Make sure to see the Santas in the different countries that should be there. Take advantage of the Candlelight Processional at the American Gardens theater - the showtimes are 5:00, 6:45, and 8:30. If you want to go, you should plan on lining up early.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

We did Epcot in one day (in Feb) with our DD6 and DD4. We did Future World in the morning - got FP for Soaring, did Nemo, SpaceShip Earth (we call it "the big ball"), and Character connection for pictures with Mickey and friends.

We tried innoventions but there wasn't much we found that the girls could do at their ages (we're not a video game family - maybe that had something to do with it). It seemed to me that Innoventions was for kids a little bit older.

We headed to the World Showcase and started in Canada - we did not make it all the way around. We were interested in meeting characters in the countries - which we did. We had an ADR for a sit-down dinner in Italy - it was nice to have the dinner break to just sit and have a nice meal and relax.

After dinner we headed back to Future World for repeat rides on Soarin, Nemo and "the big ball".

We did not tour Epcot "efficiently" - we backtracked a few times. We had a great time though. You could do more if you didn't backtrack like we did! And the Character Connection took up some time. If that's not a requirement for you, you could skip that. You are seeing princesses in Akershus (which is wonderful, by the way).

We are also going back the first week of December!

 

[warpdarkmatter]

i normaly do soaring then test track then mission space once you get these tree out of the way you can enjoy the rest of future world at a slower pace you picked a great time of year to go so crowds won't be a big issue

 

[fla4fun]

Thinking about the heights of your children . . .are there going to be rides that the 7 year old can go on that the five year old can't (thinking TT, Soarin and MS)? Or are there some rides that one or the other of the parents can take or leave? I was wondering if you'd considered having only one parent take a break with the youngest (or youngest two, depending on height) while the older kid(s) and other parent do rides.

Also, have you considered just finding a nice chill spot and letting the young one nap in a stroller? Epcot is full of little nooks and crannies that wouldn't be too crowded or noisy. You could get in the nap and save the time you would use getting back and forth, and getting settled, to tour the park.

Unless, of course, the older ones were planning to swim or something like that during the mid-day break . . .

Epcot is big, and doing it all in one day is a challenge even without a break. Although child swap is a great idea, it will add some extra time to the attractions where you utilize it. I would make a list of the "must see" items so those don't get missed and be prepared to pass by, or briefly visit, some areas.

 

[ajcolorado]

Don't do Soarin' first - Fastpass soarin' and go right to the Seas w/ Nemo & Friends. Try to get into the first Turtle Talk showing. Then come back to Soarin'

The Seas is a great pavilion on its own but its proximity to Soarin' causes the crowds to build - with no FASTPASS option to help. Going first thing means getting the pavilion very nearly to yourself.

Remember that the live entertainment at the France pavilion closes earliest (around 4 or 4:30PM) so be sure to plan accordingly if you want to see "Serveur Amusant". It's a balancing act that my kids enjoy.

I also think girls should see Miyuki - the candy artist - in the Japan pavilion, she's very impressive.

Have you thought about getting a touring plan from on of these?

• The Unofficial Guide to WDW
• www.tourguidemike.com
• www.buildabettermousetrip.com/freetouringplans.htm

 

[jenniferma]

Thanks for the advice! I think we will definitely do the Soarin Fastpass and return to Nemo. The two oldest are: 51 inches and 41.5.. so I think we'll be able to do most of the fun rides.

I think we are skipping Mission Space altogether though...

thanks again!
jen

 

[Amboo]

I'm glad to see this thread. We'll be attempting to do Epcot in one day as well, and I was starting to think it was next to impossible. This thread is giving me a little more confidence that it can be done!

 

[The Sweetness]

On my next trip, we'll have 1 day at EPCOT, as we only have 3 days for WDW this time (AK will be out ) We cant miss TSM, the MK, or TT, MS, and soarin'. We'll do DHS on our last day (when we drive home) as it seems like it will be the quickest to gt through. We'll do FW first, than as much as we want of WS, and hopefully Illuminations (Ive never seen it, in all these years ) We'll just *try* to take it easy, and do what works for us

 

[srwarden1928]

touringplans.com has touring plans that will allow you to do all of Epcot in one day. That said, if you insist on the out-of-park break, I dont see how you could avoid skipping some attractions. I would definately try to see all of Epcot in one day if my schedule only allowed me one day in that park. But I NEVER take out-of-park breaks. DW would NOT put up with that. Once she leaves for the day, shes NOT going back.

 

[jenniferma]

Does anyone know which attractions are open at Epcot during morning EMH?

thanks again- jen

 

[ajcolorado]

Epcot:

Living with the Land
Mission: SPACE
Soarin'
Spaceship Earth
Test Track

Source: http://allears.net/tp/emhour.htm#newatt