For the Love of Epcot - DVCers, help me understand

[OneMoreTry]

Epcot is the best park just to "be." If you have to rack up a list of great rides, it won't satisfy. If you want to experience the day -- if you know how -- it's the place.

Our family's best-ever WDW experience occured at the Garden Grill. We had so much fun being with each other for that lunch. None of us will forget it. To me, that's what it's all about.

 

[kaw1106]

We own at BWV and have visited BCV 2 times in the last few years, we stayed at AKL and VWL this year and the whole time we were missing Epcot!!!

We have 2 small children ages 6 and 3, so they can't do a whole day open to close at the parks. SO what we do is spend the morning and early afternoon at MK or AK and then we will go back to our Villa, maybe swim, shower and rest and then walk to the World SHowcase for a fantastic dinner in another country, maybe shop, or ride a few rides and then Illiminations. IT has been a sort of tradition, this year I felt lost not having the option of walking to Epcot for a glass of wine or dinner. We love our home near Epcot and will for YEARS

Kathleen

 

[OneMoreTry]

.....and then we will go back to our Villa, maybe swim, shower and rest and then walk to the World SHowcase for a fantastic dinner in another country, maybe shop, or ride a few rides and then Illiminations. IT has been a sort of tradition, this year I felt lost not having the option of walking to Epcot for a glass of wine or dinner. We love our home near Epcot and will for YEARS

Kathleen

If we ever buy AP's it will be for the purpose of strolling around Epcot whenever we want, eating in the restaurants and enjoying the wine and festivals.

 

[newholidayx2]

this Aug will be our first time staying at an EpCot resort -
spending first 6nights at VWL, 2nights at WL then 6nights at BCV
cant wait

 

[SoCalKDG]

Soaring will help Epcot FW out tremendously. Its an "E" ticket ride thats on the other side of the park is for the whole family(4-80). Its leading to the Land receiving a nice update, and will make FP distribution that much better. Plus its a short walk from BW or BC.

I'm getting to go to my first F&G show; look forward to F&W and Christmas time. The first time we were there I didn't even visit half the things there. The place is huge. My wife is looking forward to eating her way through the world(she's pregnant).

 

[WDWLVR]

Epcot is definately our favorite park.

I love walking around the countries. The sights, smells, and just learning a little about each culture.

I love watching the entertainment. From Off Kilter, to British Invasion, and all the street performers.

I love the wide variety of food. Even though I'm a bit of a picky eater, DH loves trying new things and this is a great place to do it.

Test track is fun! Mission Space is cool! Journey into Imagination is better than the middle version (but not as fun as the original).

Illuminations is fantastic!

Most of all it is a great place for DH and I to just walk, and talk, and sometimes sit and people watch.

Throw in special things like the Flower and Garden Show, Food and Wine Festival or the holidays and you just make it that much better.

To me Epcot is the one park that seems to be a little different every time we go.

 

[plamp]

I too miss the Making of Me, and I also really miss cranium command. I thought it was really clever.

I even liked Food Rocks, although I have been flamed for that. Sure it was cheesy, but my kids and I always got a laught out of it.

Darn, those were three of my favorites. And I was really looking forward to sharing them with my kids.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Another thought that might help you understand Epcot lovers, like me.

It's like walking through a really great park. You can walk through a park or along the beach or even down a city street just for the experience of being there. It's not so much a specific feature, it's just the place.

 

[Beca]

I also miss "The Making of Me". I never got to see it post "having my daughter"...I would've liked to have seen that now...it would mean SOO much more to me!

I also agree about the bands. One thing that really "swayed" DH in the direction of Epcot was the bands in WS. He has told me that "someday" he is going to spend an entire day just sitting and watching the bands play (he is a musical director and pianist).

I love talking to the CM's from the other countries. The "boys" in Norway are ALWAYS so HOT!!!!! (although, I am getting a little old to be thinking about them that way....funny....when I was younger...I remember being "too young" for them!!! ) Although, last time we were in Epcot...the Norway CM's were not very friendly. I was in the shop for a while trying to decide whether to buy some of that WONDERFUL perfume, and they were NOT very friendly. They kept talking about the guests in their own language...and, maybe it's the language....but, I swear they were not saying nice things about the guests!!!!

And, maybe I am just "sentimental" about the "good old days" of Epcot (I completely understand that it HAS "gone downhill" in some Aspects...and, I HOPE that WDW puts some serious $$$ back into it. Epcot shoud ALWAYS be renovated...it is, afterall about emerging technologies), but I LOVE SSE...I love the details...how the smells change as you go from scene to scene...I think the ride is beautiful!! I love how, when you go to WS, you never really know what will be there (like when they brought in the Irish Stepdancers to the American Pavilion). I love eating in Mexico. Even though the ride is pretty cheesy...the ambience for a dinner is AMAZING (especially on a hot summer day). I love Illuminations....I love "Crush" (but, I still think the living seas are pretty cool).

Actually, the ONLY ride in Epcot that doesn't do much for me is Test Track...maybe it is just me...but it seems an awful lot like "everyday driving" (okay...maybe I AM a really bad driver).

I don't know...maybe I love Epcot only for sentimental reasons....but, I get as much thrill out of seeing WS as I do from seeing Main Street and the Castle...it is as much a part of my childhood as MK.



Beca

 

[Pa@okw95]

I used to love EPCOT with the World of Motion, the Living Seas with the sea caps to ride which are not there now, Horizons, etc all made for a great day as well as a walk around the World Showcase, but now you have little left, no sea caps at Living Seas, the Land is closed, the Imagination ride was cut in half, no World of Motion, no Horizons-all gone and with it for me the joy of going to my favorite place at WDW. We used to spend the whole day there, no more. Maybe "Soarin" will give me a reason to go back. It sounds like my kind of attraction, something Walt Disney wanted in his family parks, not the thrill rides of today. Space Ship Earth has even been stripped down to just the ride now. What next!!

 

[quentina]

Well, Let chime in. Prior to test track, I absolutley despised Epcot. Now, I go for TT and basically that is all.

We met family down there last month and they treated us to dinner in Italy. Now, I am far from cheap however, when I am spending 25 bucks on a dish of spaghetti, it should be more than 6 noodles!!

As we are eating this, all I am thinking is ...I hope they are paying. There were 9 of us total and everyone except me, hubby and son had wine and dessert. Their bill probably cost more than our airfare down.

Well....enough of that, Epcot...Please update that ball. We have half the things they talk about as coming in the future. So, I am in agreement...I also do not get it!!

Kim

 

[DrTomorrow]

First, thank to all of you for taking the time to respond; this was a sincere (I'd say serious, but I'm rarely serious) question that had been bothering me - sort of like having a group of people ooh-ing and ahh-ing over a work of art that when I look at I go "huh?"

Second, I agree with rinkwide - there are very few sights in this world that can't be improved upon by knocking back a fifth of tequila in 90 minutes. . Honestly, beer / wine came up an awful lot in this thread....

Now a few more serious (I'll try) comments.

From all the comments, I see two big things that give me trouble with Epcot: DW and I find dining at WDW to be one of our least favorite parts of a Disney trip; and I guess that I still have a bit of a "what ride are we gonna do next" mentality. Yet many mentioned eating at Epcot to be one of the "plusses"; also, strolling / people watching / general.unfocused.being.there seemed to rank high.

One other thing that occurred to me only after reading this is that, in all our trips to WDW, I can only remember being at Epcot after 2PM twice: once in the early 90s for our first Illuminations, and MH last May. I always associate WS with staggering around after a long morning at FW, sun beating down on me, waiting to get back to our room.

So, this trip I think we'll try a few things: arrive later in the afternoon, a meal at Germany (we've always threatened, but never done it), and strolling around noticing the little things (hey, I can make a list of all the 'little things' I'm supposed to see, and check each one off when I see it! ). Oh, and try to make an effort to catch the entertainment (I hear many good things about some gents who take their kilts off )

I'm pretty sure that my "Epcot Fade" is caused primarily from doing the same thing, every time, every trip: arrive for rope drop on non-EMH morning, do FW, grab a bite at The Digital Bumbershoot, then fatigue our way through WS, stopping at AA to let Mark Twain lull us into air-conditioned slumber.

So, thanks again - I got a much better understanding from all of you who lurve Epcot as to why, and I got a little comfort that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I caution you Epcot cheerleaders - just hope you haven't done such a good job that I feel the need to get B_V add-on!

Now, for something completely different:

JimMIA: I guess Epcot would seem different if DW went off to shop, and I sat and had a beer.

bobbiwoz: we'll be there during F&G, so we'll try to catch one of the concerts.

Caskbill: My DIS account still works - thanks! And DW and I went to DLR for the first (and only) time in Sept 2002 (were there for the 1 year anniversary of 9/11: nice, but sad). Anyway, SOC was indeed my favorite ride; we stayed at the GC, and their entrance to DCA was right by Soarin - so we got the jump every morning.

gopherit: I think part of the problem with FW is that Disney didn't learn from Tomorrowland how hard it was to keep up with the future (I love the retro-future look TL has now!). I mean, Ice Station Cold is interesting (and the Beverly gag never fails to amuse me) but "The Future" it ain't.

To all Canadians: I grew up in Detroit, so I developed a special fondness for our neighbors to the south (look on a map!). The CMs at Canada are some of the nicest - and chatty-est - in WDW. But I agree - the movie seems more and more like "Canada Of Yesteryear". But I'd be happy if they just showed reruns of "Mr. Dressup", "The Friendly Giant" and "SCTV"!

Be well, all!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I'm with you. Epcot is our least favorite park. We go, just to ride TT, Maelstrom, and the Mexico boat ride. We also hit The Land and Living Seas.

Epcot is great for a "slow" day. We do not go around the world showcase with the kids. The kids love to get wet in many of the shooting water spots. So, DH and I can sit and just watch the kids run through the water.

You know, we give Epcot such little consideration, my DS 8 was asking me about Illuminations. He insisted he has never seen it. I insisted he has, then I realized, he was not even 3 years old at the time! LOL

I think our next trip, we need to hang around for Illuminations!

 

[Tink10]

My Daughter is highly gifted & we spend the bulk of our time at WDW at Epcot, primarily in WS because it's always been my daughter's favorite park since our first visit when she was 6. She's always been very shy but always very curious.

World Showcase gives her endless opportunities to learn about other cultures. She loves talking to the CM's and they're always more than happy to tell her all about where they came from. She's really become much more comfortable talking to people because of her interaction with the CM's. SHe spent nearly an hour on our last trip talking to a CM about birds. Now that she's started pin trading, she's come out of her shell even more.

Future World, in our opinion, has gone a bit downhill, but she still loves it as well. Hopefully, we'll see FW improve over the coming years. We do love all of WDW, but Epcot has become a home to us.

I personally like the beer choices in Epcot....But I really miss Ringnes!!!

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Darn, those were three of my favorites. And I was really looking forward to sharing them with my kids.

Just in case you don't already know--If you go during busy season you may get lucky and be able to see Cranium Command, and The Making of Me (and Body Wars too). The building they are in, The Wonders of Life Building, is only open seasonally at this time. I avoid high season and holidays at WDW at all costs, so I'll never have the pleasure again unless the policy changes.

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Oh, and try to make an effort to catch the entertainment (I hear many good things about some gents who take their kilts off )

If I'd been drinking anything when I read this I would spit it all over the computer--possibly even some down-the-nose involvement. I made my kids come up and read it, since they were wondering what the peals of laughter coming from Mom's room were being caused by.

Let me know what you think of Off Kilter once you get a chance to check 'em out, hope you enjoy them!

Mar'

 

[TDC Nala]

Epcot's my favorite park. You can do rides, eat and drink or just walk around, maybe check out some shows on the way.

MK would be my favorite if I could buy adult beverages there. Not that I would advocate selling them there. I understand Walt liked a cocktail, but I can see his point in choosing not to make them available in his Magic Kingdoms, sort of.


do they really take the kilts off?

 

[thelobstershanty]

I love Epcot and find it to be the most repeatable park because it is always changing. There are more special events that take place in Epcot then any other park. The biggest are the Food and Wine Festival, the Flower and Garden Show and the Candlelight Processional and the Holidays around the world celebrations. There there are other smaller special events like the Doll and Teddy Bear Show, the Goebel show in Germany, the May celebration in Mexico, and the list goes on. Each of these special events brings addditional actiivites that include foods, music, meeting artists, lectures, seminars, etc.
The many restaurants in Epcot also change menus and offer special entrees, they also change chefs which inpacts on the menu; the stores have a variety of changing merchandise, unlike every other gift shop at WDW; the CMs are always changing and very interesting and fun to talk to, and a large % of the entertainment in Epcot is live entertainment, so that is never the same twice.
I have the exact opposite view of Epcot then the OP has.

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

do they really take the kilts off?

Naw, they're glued to their bodies, they even sleep in them.

Actually there's an internet group called the Off Kilter Shrine. After reading the message boards there it's evident that the women that belong would Love to see the guys in the band kilt-less. (However, from what I've read they wear bicycle shorts underneath so I guess it wouldn't actually be that exciting).

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

We love Epcot because (especially the World Showcase):

1. Lots to do & see without standing in line.
2. Lots of great places to eat (with entertainment or great ambiance).
3. Less crowded than MK!
4. More adult-oriented (and are kids are 17 & 15 now).
5. Your always learning something new (in a enjoyable way).
6. Very repeatable
7. Shopping items are not all Disney items.
8. You can walk there from BW.
9. It's so large, you can spend a lot of time there and still have more to see!
Epcot rocks!