Help cutting attractions and choosing fastpasses please?

[Surgie2]

This article http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/epcot-with-young-children/
really helped me narrow down my Epcot itinerary for next May. I also had a lot of great advice from experts on these boards. We will have four kids from ages 1-5 in our group. We have the luxury of building in 2 Epcot days into our schedule and we will be there during F&G Festival.

Our plan is to visit the "east side" of FW and WS on one day and the "west side" on another - not back to back days. Based on advice and my own experience with Epcot in previous trips, we will not be going to Ellen's Energy, or any of the movies at WS countries...France, Canada, China (where you must stand during movie) or the show at America. Not to say we won't wander in to see shops, treats or other entertainment but we would only do a movie in a seated theater if we desperately needed an AC break.

We'll also likely skip Agent P. Even Living with the Land is a maybe, though I enjoy that ride. I want to leave time for the kids to explore things like the jumping fountains outside Imagination, take the boat from Showcase Plaza to Morocco, Take the Gran Fiesta tour outside Mexico, visit the Kidcot stations, take as long as they want inside Living Seas, wander passageways at Morocco, pick-a-pearl in Japan, etc. etc. Let the day be guided by their interests and stop to smell the flowers!

So my advice on your itinerary is to remove all the movies which eat up a chunk of the day if you add up all the time. Or some adults could go to movies while others take the 4 YO to more kid-friendly activities. Your plan only allows 10 minutes each at Japan, Morocco and Italy which is far too little for the kids to soak up any of the culture and see whatever live show might be taking place...juggler in Italy, drummers in Japan.

 

[ChristineOH]

I'm incredulous. I always thought to do the opposite, breeze through World Showcase in the morning. Then return to Future World later when everyone is headed to World Showcase, and ride our FPs at that time.

Remember, WS doesn't open until 11:00, so you can't really spend your morning there. At least not the whole morning. But we also try to hit it as soon as it opens and then we always do at least one evening in FW when it's dead.

 

[CAS239]

There seems to be a consensus for getting a FP for Spaceship Earth. I don't get it. My experience is that Spaceship draws the early crowds. It is the Epcot attraction everyone sees first when entering the park, and is one of the most recognizable structures of any theme park. It fills quickly in the morning, but return in the afternoon/early evening for minimal lines and no waiting. I can't understand why people FP this attraction.

A lot of people head there in the morning yes, but more times than not in the afternoon, it has a decent wait. It's rare for me to see it with less than a 20 min wait. I usually check it when I'm there and see it with a 30-40 min wait. Then add to it that 99% of the queue is outside and depending on the time of the day, most of the line can be in the sun.

Then personally, I don't do mission space so that's out. Figment doesn't need a FP, Nemo can be like spaceship earth but the wait is indoors, and my other FP is usually living with the land.

So I do a SE FP if we plan on riding it to avoid a 30 min wait outside in the heat

 

[maryj11]

We do because the last 2 trips to Epcot there have been waits of 30-40 min. at Spaceship Earth. Why wait if you can FP it? We don't care for Mission Space. So no need to let a FP go to waste when we can be guaranteed a short or no wait at all.

It seems of all the tier 2 rides Spaceship Earth has some of the longest wait times. Not long always but it is a good choice for a tier 2 FP.

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

Remember, WS doesn't open until 11:00, so you can't really spend your morning there.

That changes my Epcot touring plans, and brings another question to mind...

Is there a rope drop for the 11am opening of World Showcase? And what would be a good time to queue up at International Gateway for an early entry into WS?

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

Is there a rope drop for World Showcase?

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

I'm floored. I always thought to do the opposite, breeze through World Showcase in the morning. Then return to Future World later when everyone is headed to World Showcase, and ride our FPs at that time.

 

[minniegirl19]

Is there a rope drop for World Showcase?

Hi! Just read through this thread... Ellen's will now be closed so take that out and mission space will be open so you could consider that as a FP. Also don't do circle of life it's pretty boring. There is no rope drop for world showcase. The frozen ride opens at 9am fastpasses start 11 so people go in and out of world showcase whenever. I'd start in future world and go to world showcase when you're done. With food and wine going on you'll want to enjoy it and not go back and forth. Also I don't think anyone has brought this up yet but I saw you have a garden grill reservation at 8pm... is that cortect?

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

I saw you have a garden grill reservation at 8pm... is that correct?

I did have a question about the California Grill last month, but it turned out to be the Garden Grill. I haven't made a reservation yet.

 

[minniegirl19]

I did have a question about the California Grill last month, but it turned out to be the Garden Grill. I haven't made a reservation yet.

I would not have a reservation that late for anywhere if you plan on seeing illuminations

 

[epcotty]

I'd get rid of Mission: Space, it's too enclosed and really not enjoyable in my opinion