Family needs advice Epcot or Animal Kingdom?

[holodoc]

I am leaving my current job around March 30 and starting a new one April 11. For many reasons now is the perfect time to drive down to Florida and do a trip at Disney with our 7 year old and 5 year old. We’ve been wanting to do this for a while but not sure the best park to take the kids.

For big crowds, AK or Epcot? What would be faster? Our kids like animals quite a bit but not motion rides like the Dinosaur attraction. What has been your experience with the lines? My wife and I have been on the animal attraction but not during busy season. Anything special to see our kids might like at Epcot vs AK? Thank you all.

 

[Andrew78]

I guess it depends how old the kids are. I would personally probably bring mine to the Animal Kingdom just so they could see real Animals and learn about them. The Safari can have a long wait as it's the most popular.

The best thing about Epcot to me is the fireworks, and the pavillions. The biggest lines in Epcot will be for Test Track, but if your kids don't like motion rides, thats not an issue.

If possible, I think a good idea might be to spend the day at the Animal Kingdom, then see the fireworks at Epcot

 

[Disneyforus]

When I asked our kiddos what they would choose if they could only pick one, they all said Epcot.

At Epcot they like:
Nemo Ride
Turtle Talk with Crush
The Aquarium sea animals
The living with the land ride
Soarin
Mexico Ride
Norway Ride
Test Track
Mission Space and play area
Space Ship Earth
The Candy Lady in Japan
The Drummers in Japan
The Acrobats in France
Illuminations

At AK they like:
The Safari
Dinoland
Dinosaur Ride
Expedition Everest
Bugs Life Show
Lion King Show
Nemo Show

We are currently planning our park days for an upcoming trip, and AK will be a short day for us, get there at rope drop and be done by 2ish...and use the rest of the day at our Villa or Downtown Disney.

HTH...it really depends on your kids...my kids love animals too and we have a membership to our local zoo...but while at Disney they tend to be focused on other things....not so interested in the animals.

 

[sschro3]

I vote for Epcot. We had so much fun at the Imagination Pavilion, Innoventions, and ImageWorks "what if labs". The kids got to bake cookies in the Land Pavilion and enjoyed watching the dancing fountains. Plus there are the Kidcot Fun Stops.

 

[ktlm]

HTH...it really depends on your kids...my kids love animals too and we have a membership to our local zoo...but while at Disney they tend to be focused on other things....not so interested in the animals.

My DD (5) is the same way. I thought she would love AK since she loves the zoo at home, but it is absolutely her least favorite park and has been since she was 2. She loves Epcot. Epcot would definitely be her choice.

 

[raenyny]

My kids like Epcot so much more than AK...AK is always a short day like a previous poster said we usually go to downtown disney afterward

 

[mom2travel]

My kids like Epcot so much more than AK...AK is always a short day like a previous poster said we usually go to downtown disney afterward

This is us as well. Our kids do like AK, but we pretty much always went, did what we came to do, and left early afternoon. We always have parkhoppers, so we plan another park for the evening. We always spend the equivalent of a full day (or more) at Epcot each trip.

 

[sls_ontario]

We were just there in FEB .... DS had just turned 8 and DD is turning 6 this month.

We LOVED EPCOT!!!! PPs have mentioned lots of reasons.

We like AK fine ... but it was our shortest day. We got there around 11 AM and left when it closed at 6 PM. Just not as much to see ... plus a bit claustrophobic!!! I love the wide open spaces of Epcot ... you can really enjoy how beautiful the park is. Also, great for meeting characters at the Character Spot and the paviliions.

 

[teacup princess]

For us those are both short day parks, but it really depends on your kids interests. My kids are all action and don't really have the patience for the kidcot stations, the pavillions, or the world showcase at Epcot while on vacation. They just want to get on to the next ride or show. Therefore we usually get to epcot at rope drop, do future world before lunch, eat and then leave and go back to the resort or downtown Disney. We've never made it around the showcase. It's just not for us.

My kids do like Animal Kingdom. It's not as big so it's another short day. However, I would not attempt it on a busy day. That park is just not laid out well and has the highest percentage of traffic jams, people stopped in the middle of the pathways looking at a map, ect... That just drives me crazy.

 

[DisDadDoc]

Depends on your kids. My 8 year old daughter could spend all day at AK, but Epcot is probably my kids overall favorite. It has something for everyone: thrill rides, outdoor street shows, indoor activities for all ages. The only downside is that it is a large park and so 7 and 5 year olds might get tired walking, but that's also a problem at AK.

 

[Tricia's mom]

I would HAVE to say Epcot...Animal kingdom gets crowded VERY quickly and the lay out of the park doesn't allow the crowds to go anywhere??? And its always 15 degrees warmer than the other parksI swear it is.
They may like the idea of AK but if you break it down ...Epcot has more options. On my last rip we didn't do AK..didn't miss it...Up coming weekend get away NO aK...We will aso be doing a big trip to WDW next Easter and probably no Ak..unless things change that we haven't seen. If they want to see the same animals ( minus lions) take them to dinner at Boma in AK lodge....they can see animals there too./COLOR]

 

[amym2]

I'd say EPCOT as well. When our kids were that age (and now at 9 and 7) it is their absolute favorite... and mine as well.

Here are their favorites:
Test Track
Mission Space
Soarin (my favorite)
Mexico ride
Kim Possible missions (love this!)
Turtle Talk with Crush
Living with the Land
Spaceship Earth
Model trains in Germany
Street entertainment in the various pavilions
Innoventions exhibits
Pizza at Via Napoli

We love Animal Kingdom as well, but if we had to choose, we'd definitely pick EPCOT.

 

[5 for WDW]

Another big EPCOT vote!

 

[emo6565]

Yet another vote for Epcot. My kids thought AK was fun but wanted to go back to the hotel pool after a short time. Epcot I have to drag them out the door. There is a lot more stuff to do at Epcot unless your kids are really into Animals.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Epcot gets my vote too. There is so much to see and do there! Your kids would probably enjoy the Kim Possible missions in World Showcase - my kids love them. And I never think a trip to Disney World is complete without seeing Epcot's nighttime show Illuminations at least once. It's amazing! Animal Kingdom closes earlier that the other parks, so I don't think it's as good a use of your time as Epcot.

Have fun!