Flower and Garden on VIP tour day - How much time?

[Raya]

We're going to be in the parks for 1 day, and are currently planning a VIP tour (starting in EPCOT but hitting at least two other parks). We are not gardeners, but we do like pretty flowers. Due to medical issues, we won't be eating a bunch (if at all). We'd go in via the International Gateway around 8ish or 9ish, and are thinking about starting the tour at 10 or 11am.

Would 2 hours before the tour begins be enough to see Flower and Garden?

 

[Mle8308]

We're going to be in the parks for 1 day, and are currently planning a VIP tour (starting in EPCOT but hitting at least two other parks). We are not gardeners, but we do like pretty flowers. Due to medical issues, we won't be eating a bunch (if at all). We'd go in via the International Gateway around 8ish or 9ish, and are thinking about starting the tour at 10 or 11am.

Would 2 hours before the tour begins be enough to see Flower and Garden?

It will depend if you plan on riding any attractions. VIP tours use the LL, so there may still be a 10-15 minute wait for attractions, it's not cut to the front of the line access. If you want to walk around and see the flowers and not ride anything, that's plenty of time. However, if that is all you are planning to do, I wouldn't even use VIP tour time at Epcot.

 

[StacyStrong]

I’m wrong! Ignore me!

 

[Mle8308]

World showcase doesn’t even open until 10-11 right? I mean, you could walk around and look at topiaries, but otherwise you wouldn’t experience the fest from what I understand.

I wouldn’t use the VIP tour at Epcot, at least I wouldn’t use it for Flower and Garden.

Currently, the whole park opens at the same time. Could be different when the OP goes.

 

[StacyStrong]

World showcase doesn’t even open until 10-11 right? I mean, you could walk around and look at topiaries, but otherwise you wouldn’t experience the fest from what I understand.

I wouldn’t use the VIP tour at Epcot, at least I wouldn’t use it for Flower and Garden.

I’m wrong! Ignore me!

 

[StacyStrong]

Currently, the whole park opens at the same time. Could be different when the OP goes.

The booths and shops aren’t open at 9 though, right?

 

[StacyStrong]

Wow! It looks like a lot of the showcase things are open with park opening! I had NO idea. When did that change?

 

[Mle8308]

The booths and shops aren’t open at 9 though, right?

Food booths are at 11am, there is one that serves breakfast, I can't remember what it is. Shops are varying times.

 

[focusondisney]

We're going to be in the parks for 1 day, and are currently planning a VIP tour (starting in EPCOT but hitting at least two other parks). We are not gardeners, but we do like pretty flowers. Due to medical issues, we won't be eating a bunch (if at all). We'd go in via the International Gateway around 8ish or 9ish, and are thinking about starting the tour at 10 or 11am.

Would 2 hours before the tour begins be enough to see Flower and Garden?

Do you mean is 2-3 hours enough time to walk around looking at the flowers & topiaries? It would be plenty of time for us. As PP said, most food booths won’t be open. Concerts don’t happen til later so you won’t see that. I don’t know if they still have any seminars but they probably wouldn’t happen that early anyway.

 

[musicguy856]

It will depend if you plan on riding any attractions. VIP tours use the LL, so there may still be a 10-15 minute wait for attractions, it's not cut to the front of the line access. If you want to walk around and see the flowers and not ride anything, that's plenty of time. However, if that is all you are planning to do, I wouldn't even use VIP tour time at Epcot.

Once when I was at Soarin the LL was backed up and a VIP group went over into the unused queue area to the left and skipped everyone waiting in the LL.

 

[Marthasor]

It depends on what you mean by "seeing" Flower and Garden. If you mean walking around and seeing the topiaries and gardens, sure. If you want to do any of the scheduled events, eat at the booths or see the evening shows, then it won't be enough time. If you want more time to simply meander in EP, you may want to schedule your tour for a later time.

 

[Raya]

Do you mean is 2-3 hours enough time to walk around looking at the flowers & topiaries? It would be plenty of time for us. As PP said, most food booths won’t be open. Concerts don’t happen til later so you won’t see that. I don’t know if they still have any seminars but they probably wouldn’t happen that early anyway.

It depends on what you mean by "seeing" Flower and Garden. If you mean walking around and seeing the topiaries and gardens, sure. If you want to do any of the scheduled events, eat at the booths or see the evening shows, then it won't be enough time. If you want more time to simply meander in EP, you may want to schedule your tour for a later time.

Seeing does mean looking at the gardens and exhibits. Beyond that I'm not sure what we could do. As I said, eating at booths is out due to medical reasons. Our plans for the day are:

EPCOT: ride Remy and Guardians of the Galaxy
AK: ride Everest
HS: ride Tower of Terror
MK: see Festival of Fantasy parade, ride HM, SM, BTMRR, Peter Pan, Pirates, Jungle Cruise, and Tron. See Happily Ever After fireworks.

The idea of the VIP is to make transfers between parks easier and to cut down on wait times. I'd be happy to walk around EPCOT/spend more time there, but since we can't eat or drink alcohol I don't know what we'd do with that time.

 

[T.G.I.Friday]

I’m going to work backwards, but knowing that you will be using at a minimum 6 hours of VIP time in the MK - you will need to be there at 2:30 for parade and 8:30 for fireworks - assuming 3:00 and 9:00 showtimes. So you have 4 more hours of available tour time to get the rest of your list accomplished.

Maxing out the hours means you can start the tour at 10:30.

If early entry is 8:30 for Epcot, you would have 2 hours to stroll around the park.

The morning would be less crowded and a bit cooler so it’s pleasant to just meander. I would normally say it’s worth it.

But, knowing that you have a busy day and a late night, there really isn’t anything there that is a must see. I’d want to save my (some physical but mostly mental) energy for the rest of the day and not wear myself out doing a lap around world showcase. You can still see a fair amount on the tour as you walk from Remy to the car behind the America area.

Make sure that your guide knows you want to see the parade. There are only so many seats, so you want to be on the list if it’s a must do!

Have fun!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Currently, the whole park opens at the same time. Could be different when the OP goes.

Unless things have changed, while guests can walk through World Showcase at park open, many attractions, restaurants, food booths and entertainment will not be available until 11:00.

 

[Mle8308]

Unless things have changed, while guests can walk through World Showcase at park open, many attractions, restaurants, food booths and entertainment will not be available until 11:00.

Ture, the first show at American Adventure starts at 11:30am. Remy is open for early entry as well as the films in Canada and China. So almost everything attraction focused is open by 9am, or earlier for early entry.