Having Trouble with Epcot Plans

[nat8199]

I am having serious trouble figuring out what attractions will and will not work for my kids at Epcot. They will be 2, 2, and 3 (turning 4), when we go. As of right now we have two days planned. All three love to eat, so I know that we will have fun walking around the World Showcase, eating, and seeing the various acts/crafts/shops. I really cannot tell what I should do and not do in the rest of Epcot, though.

Here are my plans so far... Can you please let me know what I should skip or add?

Thank you so much!

Day 1:
Akershus Princess Breakfast before opening
Living with the Land
Circle of Life (really not sure about doing)
Seas with Nemo
Turtle Talk
Walking around the Aquarium
Journey into Imagination
ImageWorks

Lunch

World Showcase


Day 2:
Spaceship Earth
Ellen's Adventure (not sure about)
Walk through Innovations
Mexico Ride
Norway Ride

Lunch

World Showcase

 

[nat8199]

I should add that we are staying at Beach Club, so we will walk back there as soon as WS gets old to spend time at the resort. Also, we plan on doing stroller naps. My kids all go to bed at 6pm, so we will be heading back early no matter what.

 

[smellyia]

What about character spot? That's definitely a RD thing. And I'm not sure if you listed but Figment is fun.

Also, you can check Kenny the Pirates blog for character WS times to try to pinpoint any you'd like to meet there.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

I think you have a great plan!
As far as attractions go, you've got it all covered..The only thing you might consider adding to your days plans is meeting the characters.

 

[pklein09]

My youngest is 12, so it's been a while since I've had toddlers in the park. Here's my $.02:

Circle of Life - skip. It's a movie about recycling. We've seen it once, and that was enough.

Ellen's Energy Adventure - this could work well if it coincides with naptime - it's a 45 minute ride.

The Piggy Bank Adventure and Where's the Fire are fun in Innoventions West.

I don't know what time of year you'll be traveling, but there are two water playgrounds in Epcot. One is near the walkway to Mission Space and the other is on the main walkway from Spaceship Earth to World Showcase.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[erincon23]

Living with the Land might be really boring for the little ones (it was really boring for me...). It's a very slow moving boat ride through a lot of things that look like fun to grab.

Little kids always like music -- try to stop and watch the Taiko drummers in Japan (outside), OffKilter playing by Canada, Mo'Rockin in Morocco. If they sit still for short movies, Captain EO (ok, I like this one, shut up ) might keep them entertained and give them a break.

Ellen might be a little overwhelming for a while and then a little boring for a while (for the kids I mean, I like it), and since you can't really get off and leave, you may want to really think about it (I know it's on your maybe list).

You might want to try the former Kim Possible/now Agent P "hunt" type of game -- if it doesn't work with your kids, nothing lost except a little time, just turn the gadget back in early. But they might love the little extra things that they discover and the things that happen only in the game.

If you're so inclined, bring extra clothes and let them play in the dancing fountains over toward Mouse Gears, especially if it's hot. (if you're not willing to let them get wet, figure out where it is and stay far clear of it, because you know they'll get in it or get upset if they see it and can't play there, at least that's the way it was with my kids).

Have fun!

 

[Jewel3k]

Ellen was 40 minutes of please get me out of here and 5 minutes of dinosaurs. I really wish we had skipped it. We enjoyed stopping at the cool spot and trying drinks from all over the world. My almost three year old thought it was really cool to drink out of little cups and work the soda fountain himself.

 

[DisneyEhCA]

Thanks for posting your Epcot plan. I have found this park to be the most difficult to create a plan for with a little one! I suspect we'll have a hard time seeing everything in two days.

 

[nat8199]

Thank you. Ellen is off the list. I had no idea it was so long! My boys would never last for the entire time.

I was wondering about the character spots. India not know when the best time to fit them in would be. I will definitely check out the blog for the characters around WS as well.

Thank you so much!

 

[dlove28]

How long are you going for? We are going in fall with DDs 6, 2 &2. We took DD. At 3& 4. Personally, at these ages 2 days at Epcot would be too much for us. We are going to MK for an extra day with some added pool time.

 

[TJDisneymama]

will maelstrom scare them? its pretty dark....

eta: for that matter so is spaceship earth!

 

[katt789]

It looks like you've got a pretty good plan!! They'll defintely enjoy the coloring & there are also many characters out in WS that you can stop to meet too!

 

[AppleSister1]

When the nephews were younger, they LOVED the kidcot stops in the World Showcase. You get a cardboard figure on a stick (they have Perry and Duffy now) and stop in each country to color in a bit of the figure, plus get charms from each country AND have the CMS write a message on the back. The CMs are young people from the actual country, so they write the kid's name in their language (Chinese, Arabic, etc.) or draw a pic of their country's flag, etc. It's super fun and for little ones I think it's a nice break from over-stimulation. And it gives kids a motivation to stop at each country so the adults can browse, snack, or grab a drink.

My nephews (at that age) loved Imagination (even tho it's lamer than it was, they still ask to go on it), Spaceship Earth, and Ellen's Energy Adventure (altho they napped through some of it.) They were afraid of Maelstrom at that age. They loved the Mexico ride (and even though it's different now, still do...there's something about going past the restaurant/pyramid that thrills them.) I'd suggest Turtle Talk and Nemo, too, just because they are cool and not scary, even tho they may not fully understand what's going on. They still love the aquarium as much as they did back then. And they are 10 and 12 now!

Have fun!

 

[nat8199]

I do not know about the dark rides scaring them... so far they have not really been afraid of anything, but we haven't done a dark ride.

We have 7 days at the parks, 2 MK, 2 EP, 1AK, and one day where we will repeat whatever we want to do.

We will definitely leave EP early and go to the Beach Club if we get bored. I can simply imagine my kids wanting to run in circles around the lake of WS, though. They are pretty easily entertained.

 

[AppleSister1]

Dark rides can freak them out (or not, depending on the kid and your reaction.) Maelstrom freaked my nephews out specifically because there are some "scary" trolls who want you to get out. It's not that scary...but apparently if you are 3 or 4, it can be.

And if your kids are easily entertained ....they will love WS! There are tons of performers out and about around WS...the Japanese drummers, the French waiters who balance chairs on wine bottles, bands like Off-Kilter, etc. They will love it (like my nephews did!)

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

Your guys are still little - I would skip Ellen and Circle of Life. They're both too long, although they are a cool break on a hot day. I think they may be too young for Maelstrom in Norway and the Phineas and Ferb experience as well. Innoventions has some fun activities like the play area outside the hurricane house (sorry, can't remember the name!).

I'd recommend you add the Kidcot stations (at least a couple), make sure to see Duffy and Winnie the Pooh and Friends in the UK pavilion, try the maze behind the UK , as good way to help them unwind a bit and the waterfall in Canada. Don't miss the little train village between Germany and Italy - my kids still spend ages watching the little trains, and if a bunny wanders in, there is no end to the thrills! - the Jammitors in World Showcase and perhaps the Sergio (Italy) and Chinese acrobat shows?

My kids also liked riding the Friendship Boats and we like sitting back and taking in the view!

Sounds like you have a good plan - I think your kids will have a blast - and the walk from BC is awesome! Don't forget to check out the Boardwalk performers in the evenings!

 

[DavidNYC]

Just got back with our 3 1/2 year old twins (and we've been there with them at 1 and 2 as well. My thoughts:

Akershus Princess Breakfast before opening - Great!
Living with the Land - Fine to ride through, they probably won't find it terribly exciting but easy to bring them on and we love the ride (also a very good thing to do with the kids if you're doing a child swap on Soarin!)

Circle of Life (unless you're doing it while someone is riding Soarin - you can skip this.
Seas with Nemo - Great
Turtle Talk - Great - they're a little young to full appreciate but it's a lot of fun.
Walking around the Aquarium - Yup
Journey into Imagination -Yup
ImageWorks - Yup (not too much there for that young but enough to touch and interact with)

World Showcase


Day 2:
Spaceship Earth - probably boring for them at that age - very dark so if any of them have issues, might not be great. But easy ride.
Ellen's Adventure - I'd skip this with kids that young. It's a 45 minute attraction. Standing for movie in beginning and lots of darkness and dinosaurs. I'd wait a year or two
Walk through Innovations - fine - afew things to interact with
Mexico Ride - Good.
Norway Ride - Iffy (and can't remember if there's a height requirement. They might be a little young).

Lunch

World Showcase[/QUOTE]

 

[kaybird]

I would still do Living with the land, has always been one of the kids and grandkids favorite rides at that age, they love riding in the boats, seeing the animals, fruits and fish.

I also think you might want to keep Ellen as a break. It is a slow moving ride, in the dark and cool, If you go after lunch, I can almost guarantee that they will fall asleep. Makes it nice for all of you, no going back to the room, no worrying about jostling in a stroller.